My post-graduation life: Operation – Take Chances

With university classes starting up again, I’ve been thinking a bit about my days at Albion, (here in MI), Bowling Green (OH), and of course, Clemson University (SC), and how I ended up where I am today. Okay, the fact that college football has started may play into this nostalgia too.

It’s a well-known fact that I long to live in the Southeast again, and that I NEVER thought I’d end up living in MI again, especially near Detroit. And, while I’ve been enjoying my time here over the past nine months, I still don’t believe Detroit is where I’ll grow old. 

People often ask me why I left SC in the first place, and I usually respond with a sarcastic “who the heck knows!!”. In reality, I do know why I left.  The fact is that, with more than a semester left in school, I had a job offer at a company near Spartanburg, SC, and I opted to decline that offer and accept a position with Corning Incorporated in Corning, NY. I thought the career path would be better by working for Corning.  And, I believe it was.  My first job out of college was designing Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifiers (EDFAs) for  fiber optic systems.  It was high-tech, interesting, and I supported European accounts, so I was jet setting off to Europe at least once a quarter! 

I stayed in New York for almost five years, working in several capacities within Corning Inc, before opting to leave the area.  The reason I left was that my demographic had all but been abolished by the dot-com bust and subsequent layoffs. It simply was no longer a fun place to live.  

So, I moved back to my hometown in Ohio and worked as an engineer, sales rep, and marketer for almost five years there.   It was through my extensive travel (80% at times) that I discovered a longing to give west coast living a try.  So, I hounded a woman at Behr for a few weeks, managed to schedule 30 minutes with her, and ended up chatting with her for 80 minutes!! And, then proceeded to secure a job offer.  I moved out to southern California later that year.  

My time in CA was great.  I was introduced to the world of digital marketing, introduced to life by the beach and the mountains, and introduced to only two neighbors in my three years there.  The culture was simply not for this Midwest gal. I like to look people in the eyes, and greet them with a warm smile.  Southern Californians found that disconcerting, though my coworkers were tremendous people, and amazing friends. I love those people!!

So, when Behr’s parent company created a new role centered around eBusiness and offered me the job, I made a decision I never thought I’d make…I moved to Dearborn, MI – in November!!!

I know a lot of people who have never left the comfort of “home”, or the location of their first job. I respect folks who have remained loyal to their companies – I thought I would retire from Corning when I started there, because it’s an awesome company! However, I’m really glad that I kept my mind open to new opportunities, tried living in different areas, and continued to expand my own experiences.  

I encourage young adults who are preparing to enter the workforce to keep an open mind and to take some chances as opportunities present themselves. You never know what’s around the next corner!  Perhaps, for me, it’s something in the Carolinas… . (and, if my mother’s dream comes true…my true love might be around the corner!)

Has business communication changed that much?

I have read several articles about the decline of the English language and how people simply don’t communicate well anymore. I have no interest in going into the history of the evolution, but I have noticed more recently that communications from “professional” contacts have been less and less, well, professional.

In my position, I am often seeking out technology vendors or partners for large corporate initiatives. I introduce myself with a formal note that clearly identifies who I am, what my areas of responsibility are, and what I am trying to accomplish by reaching out to someone. I don’t send overly long notes, just the facts, ma’am!

In return, I expect either a brief note or phone call to schedule some time to discuss in more detail. Sometimes that’s the case, but recently, I’ve received responses like this one:

Or, worse yet, this unsolicited email from a hopeful prospective vendor.

Whether right or wrong, these types of communications cause their authors to lose credibility with me.  If you can’t take a few minutes to properly address me, properly introduce yourself, and leave a signature with contact information, why do I want to enter into a business arrangement with you?  Am I wrong on that point?  Is this the new style of business communication?

Life’s simple pleasures

Tonight, I’m sitting on my (tiny) patio, on a gorgeous evening. It’s about 75F out, there’s a slight breeze, and fluffy white/gray clouds partially cover a gloriously bright and warm sun. I’m hoping those clouds will later unleash another wicked summer thunderstorm, but I don’t really think that’s in the cards tonight.

A beautiful Dearborn sky.

That simple pleasure of mine will likely have to wait for another day.

I am, however, indulging in another simple pleasure. I’m taking the note cards I received from a charity event, and I’m sending friends notes to let them know I’m thinking of them – old school notes! By “snail mail.” So, if I have your mailing address, don’t be surprised if you receive a card from me. And, if you’ve already been one of the lucky folks to receive a random animal-themed card, yep, those were from a Humane Society event earlier this year.

Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE writing and receiving mail. I just hope my friends remember to check their mailboxes, and not just their inboxes!!

Cheers to the simple pleasures, folks!!

Cast your vote…

I had my cranky pants on yesterday.  I’m not sure what the cause was…probably the overcast skies, but who knows!  The day just got worse as people acted stupidly to and around me, so I was glad when folks responded to my call for some laughs.  Via Twitter, I simply requested that folks send a corny joke my way.  Below are a few that I received, and I’m just curious to know which one made you laugh – or groan – the loudest.

 

And, though it wasn’t a “corny” joke, shout out to Phil B Hughes for the first big laugh: “University of South Carolina is a great school!”  Big belly laugh from this girl!!

I admit…I have my work cut out for me.

My family and close friends know that I was an extremely shy child.  I wish I could find one of the pictures of me hiding behind my dad’s leg – that was SOP for me whenever men were around – until I was well into my teen years!  People who know me now also know that while I’m dramatically different, in general, I still get shy in large groups.  One on one, one on a few, I’m a “social butterfly” and very engaging.  I love people.  However, in larger groups, I get very self-conscious.  I wish it weren’t the case, but it is.

I’m writing this because two related things came to mind while I was doing my post-Insanity treadmill workout today.  And, while I don’t necessarily like to share in front of large groups, writing a post that any number of people may read is somehow cathartic.  Odd, I know!

1)      While on the treadmill, I was reading an article in “Shape” magazine; the article was about a woman who had lost a lot of weight, but was still struggling with seeing herself as her current, thinner self.  She still exhibited traits of being heavy and insecure.  It made me think about my own insecurities.  As a teenager, I was a thin, athletic girl who was considered by many to be a pretty girl.  I was a college cheerleader and was recruited for softball and track (though, not heavily recruited like top-notch athletes!).  These days, I’m not that skinny little athlete, and I’ve come to grips with the fact that I’ll not likely ever be like her again.  It doesn’t mean that I don’t have insecurities – believe me, I have plenty! 

Let's throw in the token "cheerleader hair" shot! (junior year of H.S.)

Continuing on with the article, I was struck by something the woman’s friend told her.  She said that she needed to shed her insecure self-image and be confident in the woman she is today.  Now, in her case, she’s thinner and more healthy than she used to be.  In my case, not so much!  Still healthy, as all of my doctors will attest, but definitely not thinner!  However, it did bring me back to a series of conversations I had with the last man I went out with.  He (a beautiful and very fit man) was almost disconcertingly frank with me.  He literally took my head, told me to stop talking and to really listen to him, and he told me that I am a beautiful woman.  He didn’t allow me to brush off his remarks, and he made it clear that he was very genuine.  Now, it didn’t last with him, though he is still a friend of mine, but months later that message resonated again.  And, I’m really thankful to him for having demanded that I hear those words.  Time to work on accepting my current self and in being confident in the beautiful woman I am.

And, the "current me"

2)      The second thing that came to mind, actually more so in the locker room, as I was approached yet again by a few colleagues, is that I need to be more confident in larger groups.  Some of you know that I presented at my company’s employee meeting last week.  The audience may have been as large as 400+ people, though it didn’t look like that big of a turnout this quarter.  I loathe public speaking, and I’m always a nervous wreck!  I fear that I speak too quickly, I forget key points, etc.  I think it stems back to my run at 6^th class president where I got on stage in front of my entire elementary school and subsequently FROZE.  I’m not talking about an uncomfortable pause…I’m saying the teacher had to take me off stage before I passed out in front of the school.  The tone was set for my non-career in public speaking!  Now, over the years, I’ve been required to speak at industry conferences, executive retreats, even simultaneously broadcast in another language – and every time, I panicked! 

I think the saving grace this time may have been that I didn’t have much time to prepare or rehearse.  Apparently, I presented pretty well.  Since the meeting, I have literally had 30-40 coworkers come up and introduce themselves to me and congratulate me on a “great presentation”.  I was encouraged to speak at the Toastmasters meeting (are you kidding me?!?!).  And, each morning while I’m doing my research in our café, folks stop by – today (four workdays later) I had five coworkers, including the CEO (again) stop to say “great job”.  In the locker room before my workout, I had three additional coworkers approach me to give positive feedback.  I have tried to be very gracious, but it’s really embarrassing for me to accept that feedback.  I feel like I’m in a perpetual spotlight, and it stinks!!!  I’m also terrified that it means I’ll be asked to present again!! (and, one of our executives actually did joke that he would ask me to speak every quarter (he best not!!)) But, it may be time to work on accepting a little bit of the spotlight and to really appreciate that folks found my message and my work to be important and interesting. 

Dear God, today has been a day of epiphanies!!

Take Me Out to the Ballpark – The Tribe Did!!!

Last year, my friends (and one is literally my childhood friend!) at the Cleveland Indians decided to take a really progressive (yes, a little play on words since “The Jake” was officially renamed “Progressive Field” – ick!) approach to marketing.  The marketing and PR team in the Tribe’s organization decided to introduce the first-ever area dedicated to Social Media enthusiasts.  They dubbed the section in the left field bleachers “The Tribe Social Deck”.  For each game, the Tribe organization would provide tickets to Indians fans who were engaging with others on Twitter, Facebook, blogs, etc.  It was a brilliant move and planted the seed for fantastic grass-roots marketing. Read a little more about the Tribe Social Deck here. 

Proudly sporting my Tribe shirt!

I grew up near Cleveland, and have been a life-long Indians fan, but if you recall, this time last year, I was living in Orange County, CA – thousands of miles from the CLE.  So, although the team reached out to me and offered me tickets, I was not able to arrange a trip to make it to a game and check out this ground-breaking program.  Instead, I read tweets from others who were really excited to be part of the Social Media action. 

Now that I’m living in MI, it’s easier for me to make a 3 hour drive (vs a 4+ hour flight) to visit my family on the east side of Cleveland.  I decided to take a week off last week and enjoy some golf (okay, LOTS of golf), and I took the opportunity to ask @TribeTalk, the Indians’ PR team, if they had any spare tickets for the newly upgraded “Social Suite” while I was in town.  It couldn’t have been even ten minutes before Rob Campbell got back to me and offered me tickets to the first game in the Toronto Blue Jays series on July 7, 2011!  I was really excited, and grateful to Rob and the team.

Then, I realized that I could have requested tickets to the Yankees series – which the Tribe took for the first time since 2006!  I might have been disappointed to attend the Blue Jays series, since they’re hanging out at the bottom of the division, but everything happens for a reason. More on that in a minute.  First, when we arrived, we were warmly welcomed and equipped with the official game program “Batter Up”, and 8 pages (Legal paper size!) of team notes, stats, and fun facts to share with others, etc.

Welcome to the Social Suite Batter Up! Game notes, stats, fun facts, etc.

The team at the Tribe is engaged and takes time to arms their guests with all the right info!  We’re also encouraged to utilize Twitter hashtags: #SocialSuite and #Indians, to help other fans follow along.  And, we did “nerd it up!”.

Here a screen, there a screen, everywhere a screen!

All Tribe communications are very thorough and professional, but encourage attendees to show their own personality and enthusiasm for the team.

So, here’s the kicker about being at first post-Yankees series game…those of us who hung around through the bottom of the ninth inning saw Travis “Pronk” Hafner come up to bat with bases loaded and one out AND HIT A WALK-OFF GRAND SLAM!!!  The Indians would take the “W” after seeming to hand the game over to the Jays early on.  The atmosphere in the ballpark was electric!!!  It was awesome, to say the least!  I couldn’t have asked for a better game to attend!

Bottom of the 9th, 1 out, bases loaded...PRONK!!!!!!!

Some other highlights from the night:

1)      Seeing my former physical education teacher, Rik Danburg and his son, my former classmate, Curtis Danburg – both employed by the Cleveland Indians in the suite. (see pics)

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2)      Meeting other wonderful people like@ImThatGuyJG, @LeighAnneD, and of course, @TribeTalk!

3)      Not a highlight, in the sense that he took a major hit to the helmet & face, but being able to quickly tweet hopes for a quick recovery to Lonnie Chisenhall b/c the Tribe has a comprehensive list of staff & team on Twitter was nice.

4)      Spending quality time with my brother at the ballpark.

5)      Having a private bathroom!! 

All in all, my evening in the Tribe Social Suite was an awesome experience, and one that I hope many others get to enjoy.  I extend great personal gratitude to the @TribeTalk team for inviting me to the game.  I hope to return to see Rob, Curtis, Rik and the rest of the team soon!

Cheers!  And, GO TRIBE!!!!!

The “Make Somebody’s Day” Date

I went to lunch with a coworker the other day, and as we were checking the bill to pay for our meals, she mentioned that she and her fiance occasionally have “Make Somebody’s Day” dates.  It’s a simple concept: Give your server a generous tip, just to make their day.  My coworker mentioned that sometimes they do this at a Huddle House (where a server once chased them down in the parking lot to thank them and to explain her “down on my luck” story), and sometimes it’s at a 5-star restaurant.  Sometimes, it’s over a couple of beers.  But in all cases, they tend to tip 100% or more, and they do it as a random act of kindness.

I’m not suggesting that everyone should do this.  My friends are blessed enough to be able to afford to do something very generous for others on occasion, and I think it’s beautiful that they do it.  As a former server and bartender (as I’ve written about before), I tend to show my appreciation for good service, but not generally to the extent that my coworker and her fiance do.  It’s something I’ll definitely consider. 

I’ve always been a fan of random acts of kindness.  I’ve fed meters that were expired and screaming for a ticket.  Added quarters to drying machines that had stopped but still had wet clothes?  Yep, I’ve done that.  Occasionally, I’ll buy a Starbucks gift card and leave it at the store with instructions to buy random folks a drink throughout the day (and, here in MI, people really get taken aback by it; a factor of the local economy?).  I’ve also been known to give a few dollars in a drive-thru to cover some of the bill when I see a mom and a car full of kids (I can just see my mom friends cringing at the thought of going through a drive-thru!).  I’ve anonymously sent flowers to my bank teller when I knew he was having a rough time. Even a small gesture like returning a grocery cart for elderly person really makes his/her day.  It’s not all about giving financially, but just taking a moment to make a gesture to improve someone’s day. 

Think about it, won’t you?  Perhaps today is the day someone needs a little pick-me-up. 

Image from: http://rakslove.blogspot.com/2010_09_01_archive.html

An Example of How Good Customer Service Can Flip a Customer Experience for the Better.

I wrote a post about various experiences with customer service  a couple of months ago. One of the experiences that really got me fired up was one with Jack Demmer Lincoln Dealership in Dearborn. I was so fired up that I pulled out my “colorful” language on the service consultant who was blowing me off. I can count on one hand (two fingers actually) the number of times I’ve done that. So, basically, I’m saying that it’s not normal behavior for me, and I’m actually a little embarrassed upon reflection.

Shortly after I wrote that post, a representative from Jack Demmer, Jackie, posted a comment apologizing for the inconvenience, the confusion about my information, and informed me that the service consultant had been made aware of how to handle issues like mine. I replied to her that I really appreciated her response, and that I may consider going back there – after I had cooled off.

I have no problem admitting when I’m wrong. That earlier, isolated incident, was completely different from my recent experience with Jack Demmer. I have had a wonderful set of experiences over the past few days.

Last Friday, I stopped into Jack Demmer - on a whim. My lease wasn’t due to be up for about four months, but I wanted to check out my options. One hundred twelve minutes later, Jack Demmer had bought out my lease, and put me into a new 2011 Lincoln MKX with everything I wanted – and at a price I was happy with. I couldn’t pick my car up until Monday, but so it goes… On Monday, I picked my car up, and although the Sync system was not properly upgraded, I was happy! I simply had to surrender the car for a few hours on Wednesday for the upgrade, and I’d be all set for my first road trip Memorial Day weekend. Scott, the Sales Professional, was courteous, paid attention to detail, and was very understanding when I told him I couldn’t find the second key to the car I turned in because it was still packed from the move. I really appreciated his advocacy on my behalf (Jack Demmer didn’t charge me for the missing key). So, now I have my car “Coco” back, with proper upgrades and we’re ready to roll together. Color me happy!

Coco's look-alike. It's been raining nonstop since I got her, so no actual pictures of her.

Let me mention that just as I was writing this post, Jackie (the aforementioned Jackie) called me up to make sure my experience at Jack Demmer was a good one. Yes, Jackie, it definitely was!  Thank you.

In Memory of Great Memories (and sad ones too)

I received a card in the mail yesterday, and it sent a wave of emotions over me.  The card was written in shaky, familiar handwriting.  My friend Amy’s mother (Kathy) had written the card.  I usually receive a card from her at Christmas, but this past year I didn’t.  It turns out she had several medical issues and was focusing on rehabilitation over the holidays.  While I feel for Kathy, that wasn’t the part of her note that really affected me.  The part that really shook me was when she reminded me that this year marks the year that Amy will have been dead longer than she was alive. 

Amy was one of my best friends during elementary school and junior high school.  Along with our friend Jen, who went on to become a celebrity of sorts via reality TV successes, Amy and I shared many “Judy Blume moments”.  We behaved as I understand sisters to behave.  We talked about growing up, school, other girls (catty, yes – at times we were), and boys.  Lots of talk about boys!  We were all pretty and smart girls.  We were generally very nice girls too.  I remember sitting in Jen’s room laughing for hours together.  Beautiful, innocent memories. 

Amy chose to go to the Catholic high school in town, while Jen and I went to the public high school.  We naturally saw less of each other during high school, but Amy remained a friend of ours.  It was during summer and Amy was driving to her job at Sea World – early in the morning.  The police report stated that she had fallen asleep behind the wheel and died on impact.  Her funeral was attended by hundreds of people, and I can still see myself standing beside the casket bawling uncontrollably.  It was a surreal experience, and one that no teenager should have. 

Amy was an only child, and Kathy and Joe (Amy’s dad) were completely lost without their baby girl.  I made it a point to keep in touch with them.  In some ways, Kathy liked to imagine Amy’s life through my experiences.  She saw me graduate high school, then college.  She saw me move to New York for my first job, and then back to Ohio for a while.  She kept up with my adventures in California, and is now staying in touch with me from just a few hours away.  Like my parents, Kathy is probably just waiting to attend my wedding!  I suspect Amy would have been married with children now.  Perhaps I’ll have to send Kathy some magazines highlighting Jen’s wedding and her new baby girl.

I can’t believe it’s been so long since Amy left us.  What does one to do comfort a mother who’s still grieving after all these years?  The only thing I can do is celebrate the lovely memories I have of Amy, and keep her alive in my heart.  XOXO Amy.

Could it be I’m falling in love…

This is a follow-up to post I recently wrote about the passion folks have for Detroit. Let it be known that I am starting to fall into that category!

This past weekend, my friend @big_f_n_al came to visit me from Atlanta. So, for the first time since I moved here, I had the chance to play tourist. I wish I could say tour guide, but alas, my total lack of navigational skills does not permit me to own that title. Really, when someone is with me, s/he ends up wherever s/he does most likely by chance! It’s one of my (charming?) shortcomings.

On Friday, we stuck close to home and dined at my favorite spot in Dearborn. Crave Lounge . It’s a trendy chic, but casual place, and the sushi is delicious. In fact, all the food is delicious! We then hit a few other bars before being convinced to head home as the rain started pouring down.

Saturday morning, I took my friends to my favorite neighborhood diner for breakfast – Tina’s Place in Allen Park. I love this diner for its comfortable atmosphere. The waitresses yell to the cooks, the cooks yell back. The service is fast, and the food is good. Unfortunately, on Saturday, breakfast was a bit of a “miss” as Tina’s was out of a few key items. But, it’ll still be my go-to for breakfast out.

Following breakfast, we hit The Motown Museum (aka: Hitsville USA). Please, please, please spend $10 to spend an hour or so learning about the history of Motown. The staff is incredible – extremely knowledgeable, engaging, helpful, and funny! And, the museum has so much interesting history on display.  And, the fact that a group of ~30 people spontaneously started singing Marvin Gaye’s “War” together was just awesome.  Very cool.  I’m so glad @big_f_n_al suggested going.

The Motown Museum; Location: Hitsville, USA

We tried to hit Slow’s Bar BQ for lunch, but the wait was tremendous! People were hanging out on Michigan Avenue just waiting for their pagers to go off. So, instead, we headed back to Dearborn and I introduced my friend to “Redwings” pizza, courtesy of Buddy’s pizza. Believe me when I say we didn’t leave hungry!

With the rain finally halting, just long enough for the Tigers to beat the Royals at Comerica Park, we spent the afternoon at the ballpark. Being born and raised near Cleveland, and spending my high school years at “The Jake”, I have a deep love for nice ballparks (no, they should not be “stadiums”…I’m directing that at you Dodgers & Angels). Comerica is a lovely ballpark, and made for a really enjoyable game.  Josh Gracin did a nice job singing the national anthem, and on the way out, we saw an elderly gentleman hand the usher a cash tip.  I’ve never seen that before, and it was just a delightful nod to good old-fashioned manners and appreciation.  The whole Comerica experience was great.

Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers

And, for good measure…I sported my Detroit Moxie shirt on Saturday.

Showing off my "Moxie" - Detroit Moxie!

Finally, on Sunday, we were able to make it to Slow’s for lunch. Even arriving at ~11:40, we waited for 35 minutes. My friend enjoyed a nice bourbon (he says the bourbon selection is impressive – I have no idea!!), and I found myself loving the Corktown Red local brew. And, once we were seated and ordered…oh my! The portions are huge, and the meat was tremendous.

Slow's BBQ lunch

It was as good as the many reviews I read indicated it would be. Though, I do have to write that my friend was not impressed with the “NC” and “Mustard” sauces. I did love the green beans coated in the Mustard sauce. Delish! The “Sweet”, “Spicy”, and “Apple” were definite winners in both of our books.

So, friends…a weekend out in Detroit was full of fun, great food, and rich history. And, I haven’t even begun to scratch the surface!