What is the economy going to do on the shopping season?
Being that I have worked in retail and currently work security at Short Pump Town Center I have some really good stories of people shopping on black friday and the whole Christmas shopping season for that matter. But, as I worked this past friday for 12 hours I got to thinking about the state of the economy in the world today and how that will effect shopping over the holidays. I had not heard it yet, but sitting beside my grandmother at thanksgiving dinner, and she is telling everyone that a neighbor had told her not to buy gift cards for people because you can never tell which companies will exist after Christmas. I can tell you from experience, no one was scared to go shopping this friday. If it wasn't more busy than last year, it had to be just as. Which was good to see. With the stock market up and down it will interesting to see what kind of shopping season America has. So I want to know; What are you doing this christmas shopping wise? Are you spending the same, or cutting down buying gifts?
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Left to Take the Blame...
This summer I completed my first internship in New York. I was looking to do anything to be noticed in this new environment in a positive light. I got there early, stayed late, and did any job they threw at me. So, one evening I am walking out the office door and Cynthia, the designer’s personal assistant, lets out a huge sigh of frustration behind me. So, I turn around and ask if there is anything I could do to help her, and she quickly accepted the offer. She was preparing inspiration images for the designer to take on the plane to Italy the next day to begin working on designs for the new collection. She had about 50 images to scan, resize or touch up in Photoshop, and print. So, we each took 25 images and began working.
It was now 9:00, and Victoria, the designer, came into the studio looking for her inspiration pack. We had just sent everything to the printer, so the work was not finished. Victoria was livid and started to yell. I was completely mortified, and I turned around to look at Cynthia and realized that she had snuck out and left me there alone in the room to take the blame. Victoria yelled at me for about five minutes about responsibility and pride in your work and I promised that I would get the work done as soon as possible and get it to her at her home. So, she left the office, and Cynthia and I continued to work.
We finally left at 10:30 and Cynthia got into a taxi without even thanking me for staying to help her with her job, which I got blamed for being incomplete. She also left me to take the subway to Victoria’s apartment to drop off the work. I was so angry and frustrated with the situation. But, I quickly learned to watch out for myself early on in my internship. I never did anything to resolve this problem because it would have looked poorly on me to complain about another employee. But, both Cynthia and I know what happened and I came out knowing I was the bigger person and have no regrets about the experience.
It was now 9:00, and Victoria, the designer, came into the studio looking for her inspiration pack. We had just sent everything to the printer, so the work was not finished. Victoria was livid and started to yell. I was completely mortified, and I turned around to look at Cynthia and realized that she had snuck out and left me there alone in the room to take the blame. Victoria yelled at me for about five minutes about responsibility and pride in your work and I promised that I would get the work done as soon as possible and get it to her at her home. So, she left the office, and Cynthia and I continued to work.
We finally left at 10:30 and Cynthia got into a taxi without even thanking me for staying to help her with her job, which I got blamed for being incomplete. She also left me to take the subway to Victoria’s apartment to drop off the work. I was so angry and frustrated with the situation. But, I quickly learned to watch out for myself early on in my internship. I never did anything to resolve this problem because it would have looked poorly on me to complain about another employee. But, both Cynthia and I know what happened and I came out knowing I was the bigger person and have no regrets about the experience.
Monday, November 10, 2008
So, you shipped it back to China?
During my periods of insomnia and excessive spending habits, I have found my “frien-enemy” to be amazon.com. They have an amazing tool that allows you to save your bank account information to utilize the “1-click purchase”. The 1-click purchase allows you to click only once to purchase, then immediately obtain a confirmation of your order through email.
Because of this wonderful tool, I often purchase things, such as clothes, bags, books and various gadgets that “look fun”. However, there is a cost of my sleep-shopping, I forget what I have purchased and seem to always delete the handy email that indicate the estimated time of arrival of the item.
This past week I received a note card from the US postal service in my mailbox, indicating that they missed me for a package that needs to be signed for; and that they will try to redeliver it, however, did not indicate another date that they would do so. The card stated that if the package is not signed for by 10/30, then it would be sent back to the sender.
This simple note card raised many questions, like if they had attempted to deliver it and obtain a signature, why was the card in my mailbox, and not at my door? Moreover, packages can be dropped off at the rental office, which is directly beside the mailbox, why was not it left there? Moreover, if they had actually tried to deliver the package as the card indicated, what time had it been? Because I work overnight, I am always home during the day.
Well, the result was the package being shipped back to the sender… in China! Unfortunately, I was unable to locate any products purchased during my sleep shopping that would have been from that area. I can only imagine if the package could have been a surprise from my BFF, Cathy, who lives in South Korea, but travels to various countries in Asia all the time.
I guess that it will always be a USPS mystery.
Because of this wonderful tool, I often purchase things, such as clothes, bags, books and various gadgets that “look fun”. However, there is a cost of my sleep-shopping, I forget what I have purchased and seem to always delete the handy email that indicate the estimated time of arrival of the item.
This past week I received a note card from the US postal service in my mailbox, indicating that they missed me for a package that needs to be signed for; and that they will try to redeliver it, however, did not indicate another date that they would do so. The card stated that if the package is not signed for by 10/30, then it would be sent back to the sender.
This simple note card raised many questions, like if they had attempted to deliver it and obtain a signature, why was the card in my mailbox, and not at my door? Moreover, packages can be dropped off at the rental office, which is directly beside the mailbox, why was not it left there? Moreover, if they had actually tried to deliver the package as the card indicated, what time had it been? Because I work overnight, I am always home during the day.
Well, the result was the package being shipped back to the sender… in China! Unfortunately, I was unable to locate any products purchased during my sleep shopping that would have been from that area. I can only imagine if the package could have been a surprise from my BFF, Cathy, who lives in South Korea, but travels to various countries in Asia all the time.
I guess that it will always be a USPS mystery.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
It's About Who You Know
We’ve all heard the old saying “it’s not what you know, but who you know” and this can be rendered true in regards to communication. When it comes to job and opportunities, it all starts with the right communication and hopefully with the right people.
Recently, I was struggling with some major life decisions, especially what am I going to do after college, what about graduate school, and possible career. After speaking to a few people—about three—the connections just came flying in and I’m amazed at what I have accomplished in a matter of weeks.
I went from only having a faint idea to having regular email and phone conversations with people in the FBI, the forensic science unit, police departments around the state, and with various people in the United States Government—all whom are working with me to find the right place and right job (or internship) that fits my needs. Communication has been the basic tool in my minor self discovery trip and due to my branching out through communication I have a clear path ahead—if everything goes my way.
None of this would have been possible if I did not take that first step and professionally consulting with a few professors and other professionals about the steps to take. So next time when somebody tells you it’s all about who you know, listen!
Recently, I was struggling with some major life decisions, especially what am I going to do after college, what about graduate school, and possible career. After speaking to a few people—about three—the connections just came flying in and I’m amazed at what I have accomplished in a matter of weeks.
I went from only having a faint idea to having regular email and phone conversations with people in the FBI, the forensic science unit, police departments around the state, and with various people in the United States Government—all whom are working with me to find the right place and right job (or internship) that fits my needs. Communication has been the basic tool in my minor self discovery trip and due to my branching out through communication I have a clear path ahead—if everything goes my way.
None of this would have been possible if I did not take that first step and professionally consulting with a few professors and other professionals about the steps to take. So next time when somebody tells you it’s all about who you know, listen!
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