When Growth is not always good for business

I love my furnace guy. Shawn is funny, customer-service oriented, caring, passionate and makes you feel like you're his ONLY customer.  When you call him, he gets back within an hour -- MAX.

Others must feel that way too.  Why?  Because, he's gotten busy and started parcelling out assignments to his workers.

They don't have his personality and appeal. They're straightforward, no-nonsense, in and out and BYE.  But, they do fix the issue.

I insisted that he call me so I could talk to him.  Sure enough, he got back to me right away.  He explained that through aggressive marketing, his business has soared.  I'm thinking that part of the business' appeal is HIM and his vivacious, sparkling and charming style.

I guess I haven't made the cut in terms of being one of his "preferred" clients because I'm getting the gloomy, unpleasant technician.

So, I may start letting my fingers do the walking and find another furnace server.   After all, it's the little differences that allow a business to thrive and survive, or die.

While I want him to grow, if you haven't trained your staff to bring the same style to their negotiations and work, the growth may be negated if folks start looking for someone else.

That is the juncture I'm currently in.

Greatest find in 2017 -- Greatest Achievement

This is not what you'd expect to be on the list but, as I reflect, these two items keep bubbling to the top.

The first is the discovery that I had GPS on my cellphone -- for YEARS!  I went to a Personal Trainer in Wilmette. She was giving me directions on how to get back home but insisted I must have GPS.  I told her "NO."  I always printed out directions from MapQuest and struggled to drive and read.

She looked at my phone and said:  THERE IT IS.  It was under MAPS.

Since discovering that, my life has been easier navigating to different places.  It's been a life saver.

The second "Achievement" was rebuffing the pleas of an ex-boyfriend to see me. You see, he left unceremoniously without a word --leaving me hanging, bewildered and hurt.  Nine months later, he called.  But, by this time, he had a fiancé. He wanted to connect and I refused. I told him he'd hurt me in the worst way and refused to meet or connect. I loved this man and wouldn't play the game.

And, while it would have been easy to see him, meet on the quick and become the "side chick," I wouldn't.

It was hard...but worth it for my self esteem.  Had I given in, that would have been another series of hurts and I love Melody too much.

So there.

37 years later...RECOGNITION

Yesterday, I was recognized by a mover and shaker in a tribute that surprised -- but humbled -- me.

I hired her when she first moved to Chicago and she did a great job.  I, however, moved on and rarely saw her.

But, she opened her own business and ascended in the business world -- leaving me WAY behind.

She was honored last night and she reached out to me to attend.  She overnighted a ticket to me.

Well, with it being such an upscale event, and because she'd reached out...of course, I went.

At the height of recognition, she stopped to salute those who'd helped me along the way.

Much to my utter surprise, she paid tribute to me and hailed me for the knowledge I'd passed on to her.

I was flabbergasted as the entire room trained their eyes on me....as she told me to stand.

Sometimes, when you least expect it, you get your due.

And, I was happily surprised but glad that my professionalism and mentoring, helped propel her.

I felt proud and today, feel the aftereffects of that.

Feels kinda good.

The Rumors -- ARE TRUE!

Today, my former Mayor, David Webb, was indicted for a scheme where he was given kickbacks from contractors in return for business.  This had been rumored but, I couldn't believe it.

I've always liked him and he appointed me to the Library Board, where I have done well.

But, if the charges are true, then he has put a black mark on the City of Markham, which I've grown to love.

I pray that these charges are false....for the sake of the good people in the City...and for former Mayor Webb.

Happy for Harry

Just heard the news that Prince Harry is engaged to Meghan Markle.

Harry has always been his own man and he's demonstrating it again with this milestone.

She is bi-racial.

She is a little older.

She is not royalty.

I'm smiling because he broke the mold and is going his own way.

Happy for Harry.

Don't live scared

OK.  So, a guy I met over the Internet sent me money to go to New York to visit him.

I said YES.

I'm going to put a lot of precautions in place...like I'm staying at a hotel, and have given his information to my sister, checked him out to see if he's legit, and I'm on my way.

I don't share this information with cautious friends.  If I told them, they'd set up a lot of barriers and judgements and I'd end up not going.

So, I don't tell "certain" friends about my carefree ventures.

I get a chance to go to New York, see the Christmas tree, go to Rockefeller Square, get a ride on the Staten Island Ferry, eat at Sylvia's

..and maybe meet someone special.

Sure, I could stay home out of caution but I don't live scared.

Is she really a friend?

I have a "friend" who is very judgmental of my carefree spirit.  I like her in many ways but I've learned to stop sharing tid bits of my life with her because she always has a negative opinion of some of my "free spiritedness."

I love taking chances and living life to its fullest.  Some people admire me for living life on the edge at times and taking chances. But, others -- like this "friend," has issues with it.

Last week, we had lunch and I stayed on safe topics...without triggering the "opinion mode." It was her birthday so I treated her to lunch.  While she tends to be unpleasant at times, I found our lunch together fun and engaging.

But, it occurred to me that, if being with her requires putting a filter on what I share, then, perhaps she really isn't a friend after all.