Yesterday was Mother’s Day, and Mona asked me to post something here. Since I believe I was obligated by law to agree to any wish she made on Mothers Day, please take a look at her Jewelry site.
She got into making jewelry when she and a few other moms she hangs around with had a girls night out at some jewelry and pottery make store. She enjoyed it so much that she started making stuff at home in her spare time (usually when The Peanut is napping). She’s made a bunch of necklaces and such and feels like the only way she can make is to get rid of what she’s got now. Think of it as a garage sale kind of thing.
I promise there will be no further commercial messages after this.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Friday, May 9, 2008
The Hinge and The Axe
Not to get on my soapbox, but I really believe there's a difference between a professional sales person and a person who is selling something. I actually have a Bachelors in Sales, it says just that on my diploma.
A professional sales person is looking to find a need and demonstrate how his or her product solves a problem for a customer. Sometimes we have to really do some digging to find that need, but they are real when we find them. And we don't always uncover a genuine need. If that reps products or services don't meet a need then he or she says so and everyone parts as friends. Either everyone wins or no one losses.
Someone selling something is in it for themselves and has no regard for his or her customer. He wins, the customer loses and that's just too bad.
While I have a responsibility to my company, I also have a responsibility to my customer. I represent the company’s interest to the customer and the customer’s interests to the company. I am the pin in the hinge. Without me the door and the frame never meet. The door can't do it's job and the frame is just an empty hole in the wall.
The person selling something is like a fire axe. The axe does not pity the door. It is merely a thing to be rid of to get where it's going.
The analogy falls apart at this point, but I'm going to say it anyway. Fire axes make hinge pins look bad.
But you get my point. I'm nothing like Herb Tarlek or the guy you expect to find on a used car lot. No real salesperson is.
A professional sales person is looking to find a need and demonstrate how his or her product solves a problem for a customer. Sometimes we have to really do some digging to find that need, but they are real when we find them. And we don't always uncover a genuine need. If that reps products or services don't meet a need then he or she says so and everyone parts as friends. Either everyone wins or no one losses.
Someone selling something is in it for themselves and has no regard for his or her customer. He wins, the customer loses and that's just too bad.
While I have a responsibility to my company, I also have a responsibility to my customer. I represent the company’s interest to the customer and the customer’s interests to the company. I am the pin in the hinge. Without me the door and the frame never meet. The door can't do it's job and the frame is just an empty hole in the wall.
The person selling something is like a fire axe. The axe does not pity the door. It is merely a thing to be rid of to get where it's going.
The analogy falls apart at this point, but I'm going to say it anyway. Fire axes make hinge pins look bad.
But you get my point. I'm nothing like Herb Tarlek or the guy you expect to find on a used car lot. No real salesperson is.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Good news and other news.
First the good news. I’m done with school for the next year. I need to place out of a psych class, but that shouldn’t be a big deal. I got an A- in Anatomy and Physiology II and an A in Microbiology.
Mona was offered a job at my company and will start in about 2 weeks. She’ll be in a different department on another floor, so we won’t really work together as much as we’ll work in the same place.
The Peanut has been healthy and happy and is a crack up in the way I imagine most other kids her age are.
Not long ago I was lamenting that I never see weird stuff. Well, I am now seeing weird stuff pretty regularly. Now my lament is that I don’t have a camera to prove to everyone that I really do see this stuff.
“For example?” you say. Alright. A few weeks ago we were headed to a relatives house to celebrate Orthodox Easter. We made a turn to to get on the freeway and stopped at a light. And there in the crosswalk was a guy in a motorized wheel chair. No that’s not the weird part. There was a guy in an unpowered wheelchair right behind him. Upon closer examination we could see what looked like a tow strap wrapped around the frame of the powered chair and the leg holder parts of the other chair. The second guy was under tow. It was crazy looking.
Last week I saw some kid on a pair of these stilts wearing a bike helmet an picking his way tentatively across my street.
I have got to get a little camera.
Last weekend we took The Peanut to the local petting zoo. They had an “Exotic Animal” day and it was really cool. They had snakes and lizards which we skipped, camel rides, which we skipped because we figured it would freak The Peanut out, lemurs, a sloth , a zebra and a few monkeys. None of the biting type animals were pet-able. But the coolest part were the Kangaroos. I learned that kangaroo fur is really soft, like extra fluffy fleece. I was really surprised. Who knew?
Lastly, I am now very dissatisfied with my job. As you know, I’m a commissioned sales rep. Right now I have 2 deals on the table that could take me to 125% of quota for the month. But we changed a policy on Thursday that let me make deals and offer discounts. As it stands, the offers I made are no longer good. And my bosses boss isn’t looking like he will help me. He’d rather walk away from the sales than do what we need to do. That’s right, it’s better not to sell at all than to violate a poorly constructed policy.
And all I want are some up front dollars. We’ll get our usual revenue from day 1 and it will run for years.
Oh, and if I don’t hit my quota they’ll can me. I have a little wiggle room, but nonetheless, it can and does happen. 3 guys have been let go in the last 2 months for performance.
In my opinion, if it’s not illegal, immoral or unethical then my management needs to do everything in it’s power to help me close deals.
So I’m thinking I need to look for another job. The response I’m getting tells me that the management here is not concerned with my success.
Does anyone know someone who is hiring sales reps? I’ve got experience in dental instruments, software, computer hardware, telecom, transatlantic containerized freight service, and cars.
Let me know.
Mona was offered a job at my company and will start in about 2 weeks. She’ll be in a different department on another floor, so we won’t really work together as much as we’ll work in the same place.
The Peanut has been healthy and happy and is a crack up in the way I imagine most other kids her age are.
Not long ago I was lamenting that I never see weird stuff. Well, I am now seeing weird stuff pretty regularly. Now my lament is that I don’t have a camera to prove to everyone that I really do see this stuff.
“For example?” you say. Alright. A few weeks ago we were headed to a relatives house to celebrate Orthodox Easter. We made a turn to to get on the freeway and stopped at a light. And there in the crosswalk was a guy in a motorized wheel chair. No that’s not the weird part. There was a guy in an unpowered wheelchair right behind him. Upon closer examination we could see what looked like a tow strap wrapped around the frame of the powered chair and the leg holder parts of the other chair. The second guy was under tow. It was crazy looking.
Last week I saw some kid on a pair of these stilts wearing a bike helmet an picking his way tentatively across my street.
I have got to get a little camera.
Last weekend we took The Peanut to the local petting zoo. They had an “Exotic Animal” day and it was really cool. They had snakes and lizards which we skipped, camel rides, which we skipped because we figured it would freak The Peanut out, lemurs, a sloth , a zebra and a few monkeys. None of the biting type animals were pet-able. But the coolest part were the Kangaroos. I learned that kangaroo fur is really soft, like extra fluffy fleece. I was really surprised. Who knew?
Lastly, I am now very dissatisfied with my job. As you know, I’m a commissioned sales rep. Right now I have 2 deals on the table that could take me to 125% of quota for the month. But we changed a policy on Thursday that let me make deals and offer discounts. As it stands, the offers I made are no longer good. And my bosses boss isn’t looking like he will help me. He’d rather walk away from the sales than do what we need to do. That’s right, it’s better not to sell at all than to violate a poorly constructed policy.
And all I want are some up front dollars. We’ll get our usual revenue from day 1 and it will run for years.
Oh, and if I don’t hit my quota they’ll can me. I have a little wiggle room, but nonetheless, it can and does happen. 3 guys have been let go in the last 2 months for performance.
In my opinion, if it’s not illegal, immoral or unethical then my management needs to do everything in it’s power to help me close deals.
So I’m thinking I need to look for another job. The response I’m getting tells me that the management here is not concerned with my success.
Does anyone know someone who is hiring sales reps? I’ve got experience in dental instruments, software, computer hardware, telecom, transatlantic containerized freight service, and cars.
Let me know.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
A favorite recipe
Mona decided to have me make dinner last night. I used to do it all the time, but after The Peanut arrived she started cooking because she was at home. After she went to work neither of us cooked and I got fat. I was in school at the same time, so take out or frozen pasta was quick and easy. Now that she's off, she's doing most of the cooking again. And now that school is done, I'll cook some more too.
She asked me for one of her favorites. I like it too, and the best part is it takes about 15 minutes from start to service.
So here's what Mona had me make last night:
Pesto encrusted Tuna steak.
The recipe:
Any number of Tuna steaks
an equal number of TBSP of your favorite Pesto sauce
an equal number of TBSP of Parmesan/Romano/Pecorino cheese (whichever you prefer.)
1 TBSP or so of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Warm a nonstick pan with a metal handle on a burner set to medium or medium-high.
Turn on broiler on High
Add olive oil and Tuna steak(s). Cook the Tuna on 1 side for about 60 to 90 seconds (for rare tuna). DO NOT touch the fish while it cooks. You're searing it.
Remove pan from the burner, turn over steaks and coat the top of each with pesto, followed by cheese.
Place the pan into the oven on an upper rack. Broil for 90 seconds or until cheese melts and starts to brown (watch closely, it will happen FAST).
Remove from the oven, serve.
I like to have a risotto on the side with some vegetables. Zucchini or Asparagus are favorites.
She asked me for one of her favorites. I like it too, and the best part is it takes about 15 minutes from start to service.
So here's what Mona had me make last night:
Pesto encrusted Tuna steak.
The recipe:
Any number of Tuna steaks
an equal number of TBSP of your favorite Pesto sauce
an equal number of TBSP of Parmesan/Romano/Pecorino cheese (whichever you prefer.)
1 TBSP or so of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Warm a nonstick pan with a metal handle on a burner set to medium or medium-high.
Turn on broiler on High
Add olive oil and Tuna steak(s). Cook the Tuna on 1 side for about 60 to 90 seconds (for rare tuna). DO NOT touch the fish while it cooks. You're searing it.
Remove pan from the burner, turn over steaks and coat the top of each with pesto, followed by cheese.
Place the pan into the oven on an upper rack. Broil for 90 seconds or until cheese melts and starts to brown (watch closely, it will happen FAST).
Remove from the oven, serve.
I like to have a risotto on the side with some vegetables. Zucchini or Asparagus are favorites.
Friday, April 18, 2008
It's been a while.
Next week is my last week of classes for a year. I'm ready for the break. Anatomy and Physiology II along with Microbiology is tough on the schedule. But I don't want you to think I've abandoned the blog.
The good news is that I should have A's in both classes.
Mona has not been hired by my company, but the hiring manager liked her and has kept her resume open with HR. They expect some growth and as soon as there's another slot she should get a call.
In the meantime she's taken a part time job at a large ad agency that will look good on her resume and give her a chance to see what it's like to work in a civilized business.
She's also feeling much better.
The Peanut is doing well too. She's happy at school and likes to hang around with Mona when she's home. Her vocabulary is growing (even though the only people who usually understand her are her parents) and she's starting to form short, though incomplete sentences. She says things like "Daddy shoes" when she finds one of my shoes or "Momma shower" when Mona takes a shower.
The dog is glad for the warm weather, she's getting walked again. Who knows what the cat thinks.
And that's the quickie update.
The good news is that I should have A's in both classes.
Mona has not been hired by my company, but the hiring manager liked her and has kept her resume open with HR. They expect some growth and as soon as there's another slot she should get a call.
In the meantime she's taken a part time job at a large ad agency that will look good on her resume and give her a chance to see what it's like to work in a civilized business.
She's also feeling much better.
The Peanut is doing well too. She's happy at school and likes to hang around with Mona when she's home. Her vocabulary is growing (even though the only people who usually understand her are her parents) and she's starting to form short, though incomplete sentences. She says things like "Daddy shoes" when she finds one of my shoes or "Momma shower" when Mona takes a shower.
The dog is glad for the warm weather, she's getting walked again. Who knows what the cat thinks.
And that's the quickie update.
Friday, April 4, 2008
How'm I doing?
I got this survey from Kathleen.
Frankly it's a lot better than I expected.
At the same time, I remain incredibly busy. But, as the table seems to suggest, I'm doing well.
I hope your results are even better than mine.
Frankly it's a lot better than I expected.
| This Is My Life, Rated | |
| Life: |  7.4 |
| Mind: | 7.4 |
| Body: |  4.2 |
| Spirit: |  6 |
| Friends/Family: |  6.8 |
| Love: |  9.1 |
| Finance: | 9 |
| Take the Rate My Life Quiz | |
At the same time, I remain incredibly busy. But, as the table seems to suggest, I'm doing well.
I hope your results are even better than mine.
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