Taiwan Matt

Matt left for Taiwan today. He'll be gone for 17 days and I'll be counting down every second.

In the meantime, I have decided to fill my time with some apartment revamping.

I took Rick and Andrew to help me pick out a new bed today. Trying out beds is always a good time. My current queen size is great, but a wee bit too big for our room so a nice comfy full size will be delivered tomorrow evening.

Other things on my list include:
- painting the kitchen
- painting the bedroom
- touching up the white trim in the family room

Matt has given me full reign to do whatever I want so we'll see what else I can come up with. His one and only stipulation: nothing alive. Damn that Matt for ruining my best puppy purchasing plan!

things I learned/was reminded of at work today:

1. a small compliment goes a long way

2. one can be easily misunderstood when feeling defensive

3. everyone does things differently, but we are all working towards the same goal

4. show support for your team

5. don't overanalyze everything... you will go crazy

apt 35 additions

Lately it's been my mission to make our home more comfortable. I haven't had time to do any of my big projects like painting the other rooms, but I have checked a few things off my list:

I begged Matt and Sean to let me get a new kitchen table and throw away the circular one that jut out into our family room. Matt and I picked this one and it fits perfectly! Sean no longer has a chair blocking his doorway.

This seems like a really small detail, but I bought a new shower curtain. You can see in the picture that our bathroom is very tiny. Tinier than tiny! Matt has to turn sideways if he wants to use the sink. We had a dark plastic shower curtain which I absolutely hated. The white has really brightened up the room, especially in the mornings.

***my next bathroom update is to change the toilet seat. Why is it black???

And... Matt got a waffle maker!!! It came this afternoon and I used it the second I got home from work. Yippee! More kitchen appliances make a happy Michi and well-fed roommates.

running for gifts update

After reading my last post about running, Matt laughed and told me that there is no way that I will get all of my running done by July 23rd. (such the supportive boyfriend) That just gave me one extra reason to complete my 50 runs- SPITE. I've been running 3 times a week and am extremely proud of myself. I'm actually getting better and am able to run a little farther and faster. Going up the Williamsburg bridge was actually easier today, and I felt pretty good when I was done. Last week I even bought a runner's ipod armband so that I can look like a real runner with cool accessories!

retail is not rocket science.

According to Wikipedia, customer service is defined as the provision of service to customers before, during, and after a purchase. Micah Solomon, quoted in Inc. Magazine, states that the perceived success of such interactions are dependent on employees “who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest.” This is the key point. A good c.s. person listens to the needs of the guest, helps them find what they are looking for or gives them to someone who can better assist them, and makes sure they leave satisfied, wanting to come back.

Young people often enter the retail field thinking that the industry is an easy job where they can do the minimal amount expected because it’s just retail. I’m here to say, “NO! Absolutely not!”

At any job, I understand that everyone has off days- they aren’t feeling well, are tired, or are having a bad day. Everyone has times when things go awry and people/customers get angry; however, there are people who just don’t belong in the c.s. industry. Over the course of my life I’ve run into too many rude, uneducated, lazy people to count and after leaving each experience I’ve thought, “Why did this person apply for this job?” Maybe they were really gung-ho at first and then lost that spark and settled into a cold, hardened shell of a person. But even then, why would you stay in a job that you hate and turns you into an extremely salty human being?

I have my monthly prescription filled at Duane Reade in SoHo. I dread picking up my prescription because I absolutely hate the girl who works at the pharmacy. She doesn’t smile, hasn’t been nice to anyone as far as I’ve seen, and will blatantly ignore you if you’re standing in line in front of her. Her lack of “I’ll be with you in a moment” leads me to the conclusion that she has no soul.

I was raised to work hard, earn my keep, and not expect anything. Entitlement is not a becoming quality and I have met a lot of people who think they deserve the crown jewels just for showing up. Customer service is not hard, but one has to actually want to be helpful. I think the main challenge is keeping a good attitude and adapting to the needs of each person you work with.

Lastly, doesn’t everyone like being helped if needed? Having someone available to answer questions? Not ignore you??? “Treat others how you want to be treated” should be part of everyone’s life motto no matter what job you hold. I mean, have some freakin pride in your work!

end of rant.