How did I know?
I knew when other voices
became only opinions.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Yes, Please! — Thank You! — You’re Welcome!
I’ve been thinking about a post called Dante would be proud, at the Church of the Customer for two weeks now. The post is only 7 lines long, but points to a Wall Street Journal article about a law firm that is teaching it’s partners to have manners.
It sounds like they’re learning via PowerPoint. Ouch!
I can understand the position they’re in. I lost my manners once. I’m not sure when or where they went. Maybe they left when we changed to a casual dress code at work, or maybe they flew the coop when parents let their kids call adults by first names. I don’t know
I just know that mine were restored by a lovely 8-year-old Australian girl.
We were at a gathering at a home where I was staying while working on a publishing project. The young lady’s mother was an author on the project and is a friend. This young lady herself is a fabulous conversation partner. While we were talking, I volunteered to help her fill her plate from the massive buffet that was being offered. My arms were longer.
Each time I asked, Would you like this?
My sweet new acquaintance answered with, Yes, please. Thank you! or No, thank you.
How could I NOT say You’re welcome to a smiling face saying that? How could I not MEAN You’re welcome? It felt good to help her choose what she liked.
Several Yes, pleases in a row took me back to second grade, hearing my teacher say, We’re polite to show other people we care and to give them our respect.
I’ve been saying, Yes, please. No, thank you. and You’re Welcome. ever since. In a way, saying, Yes please, makes me feel brand new — like a kid again.
Yes please is so much more fun to say than just saying Yes.
This weekend I’m going to be saying Yes, please! Thank you! You’re Welcome! whenever I can
Thank you for reading this. . . . Thank you again. 🙂
That Christmas Week — When No One’s There
This is a Friday when most folks aren’t in the office. When I used to have an office away from my home, this day and the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day were my favorite days to sneak in for an hour or two to organize things.
It was the “be there when you don’t have to be” feeling.
It was the “be with the handful of folks who are also there” camaraderie.
It was the “I can clean out my files and talk about anything” freedom.
It was the “everyone has taken a vacation from deadlines” lack of stress.
It was the “I can toss this, move that, and add a picture” comfort and pride of ownership.
It was the space, the quiet, the room to breathe.
We spend more waking time in our offices than in our living rooms. It only took an hour or two to make my space somewhere I wanted to be.
The Work We Do
A Few Words from Michael E. Gerber
I read this last night, and I had to share it with you.
“He said,’The work we do is a reflection of who we are. If we’re sloppy at it, it’s because we’re sloppy inside. If we’re late at it, it’s because we’re late inside. If we’re bored by it, it’s because we’re bored inside, with ourselves, not with the work. The most menial work can be a piece of work done by an artist. So the job here is not outside of ourselves, but inside of ourselves. How we do our work becomes a mirror of how we are inside.’ ” –Michael E. Gerber, The E-Myth Revisited, pp. 199-200.
I can’t add a word to improve that.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
The book is in my store and at Amazon.
6 Easy Steps to a Career Basecamp in Cyberspace
It Was Someone Else’s Turn
When our son was 9 months old, my husband said to me, “I’ve done everything I want with my career. From this point I don’t expect a lot of new challenges — 21 years is a long time. It’s someone else’s turn. . . . You’re having such fun with what you’re doing. If you can replace my salary, I’ll stay home with the baby.”
I did. He did.
This morning I realized that 21 years later, I had a similar conversation at a trade show. A VP asked why I started blogging. This was my reply.
“Because I was a VP of Publishing, this industry sees me as a product person. Folks don’t value my experience in marketing, acquisitions, and training.”
He said, “You’re right. When I look at a resume, I look at job titles first. Then, if I’m interested, I look at skill sets.”
“That’s why I blog,” I said. “My blog is a 360 degree resume. It’s an ongoing interview in cyberspace.”
It’s true. A blog can be that.
These days no one has job security. Everyone needs an updated resume. Why settle for only a resume?
You can blog your way to brand that defines who you are and what you do much more completely. Make your blog a foundation — a career basecamp in cyberspace — a showcase of skills and expertise you have that future employers and clients need.
Turn the page. I’ll show you how.
How to Age Ideas Like a Fine Cognac OR Making Compelling Writing the Center of Your Brand
I Love My Pocket Journal
Yesterday in the comments to Inside Out Thinking: Catching Ideas Coming In and Going Out, Hans at Blogosquare asked a question that was one I had when I first started writing. That made me think that others might have it as well. You see, Han’s problem is that he has too many ideas and his exuberance makes him anxious to use them all as soon as he gets them.
. . . I just don’t have to sit back and wait for thoughts, actually they are filling me. When I get a thought, . . . I just can’t wait for that thought to leave me. So I write it down quickly, quickly and post it and there when I see it I feel much relieved.
How in fact to you deal with thoughts when they come in? Should I set myself to some relaxation or things like this? All day long everything I see, read, and hear just give me thoughts and ideas. . . . Right now after reading the post above, I just got that thought and couldn’t wait to put it down, to get it off my mind. Am I not normal? [edited with Hans permission]
Hans, my friend, I value you and your passion for writing. Turn the page and I’ll answer your question with the seriousness it deserves.
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