The Four-Hour Work Week

from a book called The Four-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss:

"Facing certain burnout, I decided to see how Pareto's 19th-century concept applied to my company by pinpointing the sources of most of my sales - and my problems - so I could spend my time more efficiently. I quickly realized that of more than 120 wholesale customers, a mere five were bringing in 95 percent of the revenue.

In the next 24 hours, I made several simple but emotionally difficult decisions that changed my life forever. First, I decided to stop pursuing most of my customers so I could profile and duplicate the most profitable ones. I was spending most of my time working on small accounts, when the big five already ordered regularly, without any follow-up.

I put the customers in the unproductive majority on passive mode. All my complaints came from them. If they ordered, great -- let them fax in the order. If not, I would do absolutely no chasing: no phone calls, no e-mail, nothing.

Jenny's words:

When Mr. Ferriss writes that all his complaints came from the lesser 5% of his customers, I must completely agree with him. In my business I spend more time handling complaints from non-customers (people who don't buy anything but want to complain about it anyway), performance managing the 5% of non-performers, and removing the less than 5% smelly dirty people from my store. That takes time away from my being able to focus on my high performers...those who can be GMs one day in the near future. And it takes time away from my loyal customers.

Now on more personal terms...

Think of all the friends and relatives you have....that huge vast number. Now think of the one or two (or three or four) people who emotionally drain you, take up your time and energy, and leave you depleted when you go to spend time with your uplifting and enjoyable friends. Do you have people in your life like that? If you do, what are you doing about it? I have no friends like that, because I shed them long ago. I have a few relatives that try to pull that with me, but I tell them I'm having none of it, and they need to change their behavior because they are not going to act that way to me.

All my years of managing people has made those very direct conversations much easier. When casual talking about the 'issue' won't work, a directive now does. But I do recognize I have it 'easy'. I don't have a husband or in-laws or a kid to take into consideration. So at home the 5% of people who drain me is actually closer to 1% or 0%. I get to base all my decisions on what I want, and not worry about taking into account the wishes of others.

Anyway, I really like what Timothy Ferriss said in this article (it was somewhere online at AOL, I think), so I believe I'll be checking out the book very soon. He also had some ideas on efficiency and personal productivity that I liked.

And that is your first installment of "Arm Chair Psych Girl". Have a pleasant evening.

This Week

I guess I was sick earlier this week, though I didn't realize it until I was mostly better. Funny how that works. I remember feeling sore and beat up on Sunday, having a bit of a queasy stomach, but with no real problems on Monday, and being incredibly hot Monday-Wednesday. I chalked this up to the warmer weather we're having (the daily rainstorms having subdued for the time being). Then I noticed on Thursday that I felt pretty good, which is what prompted me to remember that I hadn't been feeling well.

Funny how that works. Clueless person am I. However, I am a person who doesn't believe herself sick unless actively puking, which is probably why I didn't really notice.
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I was off yesterday and today. Yesterday I lounged around and read "Twilight" by Stephanie Meyer. It is the first of 3 books (so far) in a Young Adult series that has become quickly popular. It was a good read, though mostly geared to the girls. I also looked online at more vacation rental properties in Florida, and received some emails back from a couple stating they can definitely do nightly rates. Yessss. This trip is 2 1/2 months away, and I'm already at excitement level 8 out of 10. I think I need to tone it down.
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Today I worked up the non-laziness-factor-ish-ness to do laundry (which I actually don't mind doing), clean the kitchen, sweep and mop floors, and clean the bathrooms. Yes, Emma, I have TWO bathrooms. I actually don't need the second one now that Graice is gone...it was her bathroom...so that I wouldn't have litter and peepee all over mine. I'm also gathering garbage and will make a big trash run later when I leave to meet a couple of friends for dinner.
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I also started reading Scott Lynch's "The Lies of Locke Lamora", because Joe Mallozzi www.josephmallozzi.blogspot.com recommended it. I'm not very far into it, but it is not holding my interest, so if it doesn't hurry and pick up the pace, I'm going to stop reading it. Joe says he gives books about 100 pages to catch him. I am less forgiving. If I'm not entralled by page 40 or 50, I'm out...and that's about where I am now. We'll see.
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Tomorrow (Saturday) I had scheduled myself to close, like I normally do. One of the gentlemen who works for me was given a concert ticket for tonight (his friend's band is opening for Berlin at House of Blues), so I swapped shifts with him so he could attend the concert and not worry about being at work at 7am the following morning. I almost always close on Saturday, so I won't know what to do with myself when I get off work at 4pm. Maybe more house hunting?
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That's enough for now. I need to call my friends to see what time we're meeting. Enjoy your weekend.

OMG, Schell, I Have HIS Phone Number

...you know who I mean.

Note: This post also relates to the 'name-dropping' post.

Discuss

I Need Your Googling Abilities

Howdy, all of my blog readers!

I have a work conference coming up in late October in Tampa, Florida. I am going to turn the trip into a vacation following the meeting. I need your help in tracking down a suitable abode while there. Here are the parameters:

Needs to sleep 6-8 people
Needs to be a house, not a condo or apartment or a hotel
Needs to be within an hour's drive of Tampa
Needs to be on the GULF side, not on the bay side or river or 'waterfront'
Needs to be on the beach, or within a few hundred feet of it
Needs to accept a nightly rate, as we won't be there for a full week and will be overlapping the normal Sat-Sat week (will most likely be a Thurs-Monday stay)
The entire stay needs to be under $2,000.

I've done some searching and think the Clearwater to Gulfport peninsula looks good.

I'd appreciate any links you can send.

Superthanks!

Name Dropping, Part II

Wentworth Miller was in my store again this evening. I suppose all the people associated with Prison Break have been back from hiatus for a few weeks now. He came in while I was getting ready to take my dinner break. I procured a savory herb and cream cheese pretzel and a bottled orange soda from my cafe for dinner and took it up to my office, where WM was walking about the second floor. So, I thought you'd want to know that I had dinner with Wentworth Miller. If you don't think this is funny, then read the post a couple of posts down.

Yes, I Was Brilliant

Did you expect anything less? My staff and my store were also brilliant.

The visit schedule changed multiple times due to bad weather and flight delays, but hey, we're adaptable. We get big head cheese visits at least once a year, and the regional/zone office is less than a mile from my store, so I have people popping in all the time. Still, it's nice to make a good impression with big head cheeses that are new to the company and don't yet know the brand that is Jenny.

Big Executive Visit in about 11 hours

...wish me luck

I've been looking over my numbers and have most everything memorized, but I've created a one-sheet just in case. Wanna know my Travel % to sales, big guy? No problem. Wanna know my G&S comp? Got it right here.

And I want to make my boss and her boss look good, too, so the store is ready.

Go team.

Name Dropping

This blog post was inspired by Charles, a person whom I adore while having never met. I guess I should also say that he inspired it with something he mentioned in his most recent blog post (see the link to the right to check it out), but I in no way am attempting to ridicule or poke fun at him. Stop laughing.
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I know a man. This man is about 10 years older than I am and has had a lot of intense and spectacular life experiences. He also is a first class name-dropper. And no, I'm not going to mention his name.

This man was in a position where he met authors, celebrities, sports stars, and political figures on a regular basis...and he told us this constantly. Conversation with this person was always peppered with Deepak Chopra this, and Price Albert that. The funny part is that this man actually had met or was firm acquaintances with all the people he mentioned. One could even say he was a friend of a couple of them.

But none of this diluted the effect his name-dropping had on me and my peers. One day Mr. X told me he had eaten dinner with Dr. Phil. Big whoop. I've hosted Dr. Phil at 2 different book signings in two different stores. But I learned later that he had eaten dinner in the same restaurant at the same time as Dr. Phil, and thusly a running joke was born.

Then the unfortunate behind-the-back comments began. When Prince Rainier of Monaco passed away, we began to joke amongst ourselves that Mr. X could possibly be called upon to be a pallbearer. After all, Mr. X had Prince Albert's cell phone number programmed into his own cell...he showed me!

I could go on and on and on...and on. But the interesting thing is I really like Mr. X. He's smart and funny, and I also like his fiance. I'm always very happy to see them both. If name-dropping is the worst thing to be said about a person, I suppose he's doing well in the grand karmic scheme. And he did get me a free signed and personalized Peter Max print a few years ago.

Still...I think it's really really funny.

Some day I'll post my name-drop list.
Who is on your list?

Goldfish-a-rama

I've posted this pic before. Here you can see Salieri fishy and Rimsky-Korsakov fishy swimming in front of a Worf action figure. I don't remember how I got ahold of Worf, but I enjoy the unique contribution he makes to the tank at work.

Today I picked up the remains of my Gracie kitty. I thought I was done with crying over her, but I guess not. Her ashes are enclosed in a plastic bag which is placed inside a small cedar box. Her name is engraved on a nameplate on the lid. I also was given a round clay pawprint of her feetsies, which I am baking in the oven right now to harden it.

I should have cleaned house today, but I'm afraid my slothishness won over cleanliness.

That is all.

Smatterings

I like this picture of an elk in Rocky Mountain National Park. Apparently when I fiddle with photos on my computer, they are saved in a different folder called 'modified', and I didn't notice until recently that this was happening. Anyway, the sepia tone works nicely with the scene.

I finished HP7 last night. I've been discussing it at work with a couple of people on my staff who have also finished it. I like being able to do that. I'm still extremely exhausted from the weekend, but will be able to sleep in Wednesday. Excellent.

After work today (and today was my 7th anniversary with Borders) I went to the local big petstore to pet the kitties up for adoption. There was a beautiful DMH tabby kitty with green eyes and a bright pink tongue. Her name card said Cissy, but she looked like a Chloe to me. And then there was a ginger tabby kitty named Lonnie, but he looked more like an Oliver. He really wanted some lovin', so I scritched him for a long time. I'm not ready to get a kitty again, but it was nice to visit some.

The 10th season of Stargate SG-1 came out today, so I bought my copy and have watched a few episodes. I'll go back and watch the eps with commentary next, as that is always a hoot.

I am very tired, so off to bed go I.

More Harry Potter Pictures

Well, I got a full 90 minutes of sleep early Saturday morning before returning to work. We continued to sell books so quickly that we had to hustle to fill up the table. The energy was great, and people were very excited to get their copy. I've been trying to read my copy, but am making slow headway, as I am physically exhausted, though I actually feel great, all things considered.

I'm still so wired over all the excitement and jazzed at how well the entire weekend has progressed. My staff was fabulous, and I count myself lucky to work with each of them.

Above are pictures of various costumed customers, some of my cafe staff, and others.

Harry Potter Grand Hallows Ball

It is 3am Saturday morning, and I've just returned home from my store to catch a nap before going back to work in a couple of hours. The Harry Potter 7 book release was a GINORMOUS success, with 1,000+ happy people, and only one inappropriately behaving, disgruntled person. I figure a 99.9% happy rate is pretty darn tootin' good.

Two trolleys were running as the Hogwarts Express, and we had an absolutely huge assortment of activities, games, etc., occurring all evening.

I am so proud of my staff that I cannot adequately express it in written words. I've posted a few pics, as you can see. The first one being part of my staff that was still in the store at 2am.

I received so many compliments from customers about how we ran the entire evening. The customers were ready and willing to help make the event a success, and so I give them a big shout out!

We have plenty of books left, so I am looking forward to making even more people happy tomorrow and throughout the weekend.

I'm a bit exhausted, as I went to work at 8am Friday morning, and I will probably be at work until mid-afternoon Saturday, but it's all worth it. I was a part of making history tonight. It's not every day that a person can say that.

Go books!

Goodnight, Gracie, and Goodbye

My precious Gracie kitty passed away this morning. She died in my arms. I loved Gracie dearly...I still do and will forever.

It had been a terrible past 10 days for her. She had a host of compounding health issues during this time with a very grim prognosis and a painful future. So, while I am grieved beyond anything I can truly relate, I also am choosing to actively remember all the gifts she gave me in the 7 years I called her mine.

Gracie taught me love and patience.
Gracie listened to me when I talked, and talked to me in return.
Gracie reminded me that keeping the apartment clean is important (especially the litter box).
Gracie showed me the excitement of a great catnip toy, the pleasure of a good belly rub, and the bliss of a kitty brushing.
Gracie knew that a comfy place to nap is a top priority, and that ice cream is a delicious treat.
Gracie was a sweet, pretty, good girl, and I will miss her.

I love you, Gracie.

Gracie Very Ill--No Posts for a While

Glacier National Park---One Year Gone

It has been one year since I visited Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. The beauty I saw was overwhelming, and I remember it to this day.

I've posted the first picture above many times. It is still my favorite of any photo I've taken. The second picture is evidence of what the power of a mac can produce in conjunction with the iPhoto program. I've placed a piece of white paper to cover the my name and my friend's name, though you know 2/3 of my name already. And the 3rd pic displays the high quality of the photo reproduction. In essence, it is a photograph of a book of photographs. Enjoy. And if you don't have a mac, you're missing out on great things.

If All of the Raindrops Were Lemondrops and Gumdrops

Imagine a young woman...yes, 34 is still young!...who knows full well it has been raining and flooding every day for the past 6 weeks...and this young woman leaves the house (ok, nice 3rd floor apartment on the edge of ghetto-ville because she refuses to pay $1,800 for a one bedroom across the highway) without her simple little black umbrella.

Imagine this young lady running errands on the first dreary Monday of her vacation week. Imagine her listening to Wicked in her Honda Element's CD player as the rain falls in a torrential dance from the sky and washes up over the street curbs because the storm drains are not able to sweep it away quickly enough. Imagine her delight at knowing her seats and floors are waterproof and her 4 wheel drive will keep her safe.

Now...imagine this young woman needing to run one more errand...to the grocery store...and deciding that she is young enough and quick enough to dodge the raindrops. Now imagine the looks she received from the people huddled near the grocery store entrance when she approached them with a sopping wet head, shirt, and jeans.

And lastly...imagine her not really caring, because after all, it is her vacation, and what those huddlers haven't yet learned is that young women glow when touched by raindrops.

Red Clawed Crab Is Alive

I was adding more water to my 29-gallon aquarium a while ago when I spotted my red clawed crab perched on a bit of fake rock that juts up out of the water. This is only the second time I've seen him since I added him to the aquarium about 3 months ago.

He must spend most of his time holed up inside this particular ornament. I have a clown loach (orange and black wide stripes) who also hides in the ornament most of the time. I originally got him to help eradicate the tiny snail problem last year. He made quick work of that and now spends his days hiding or running from me.

A couple of weeks ago I lost my most favorite balloon bellied molly.

The current inhabitants of the tank include: 1 red clawed crab, 2 plecos, 1 clown loach, 2 neon tetras, 4 black skirt tetras, 2 lemon fin tetras, 2 gold micky mouse platys, and 2 balloon bellied mollies.

Aquariums reduce World Suck.

I Think I Almost Killed My Kitty

I must be the worst kitty mommy in history. Gracie has been drinking too much water lately, and using her litter box too much, which means that she needs a little bit extra insulin to help her balance things out and get her blood sugar back on track.

So last night I gave her a little bit extra. This morning I woke up around 10am (I'm on vacation), and she was acting oddly. I put down her breakfast which she ate a bit of, then I picked her up and took her into this room where I noticed she had been ill. I cleaned up that (hooray for the SpotBot), and I put her in front of the computer keyboard. She was almost totally limp, but purring and breathing fine.

Then her poor little kitty head started to move almost like she was going to have a seizure due to extreme low blood sugar. I ran to get her treats and anything I thought would have sugar in it. Within a few minutes, she was fine, and she drank some milk (has sugar) and ate more treats. I must have given her too much insulin last night, as she is a bit tired now, but otherwise behaving mostly normally. I haven't given her insulin yet today and will give her a smaller dose tonight.

My poor poor kitty.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

We've had an overabundance of rain here since the beginning of May. It has rained something like 20 out of the 31 days in May, and this is the rainiest June on record. It is supposed to rain for at least the next 7 days as well.

I fully support rain and all of it's political, emotional, and spiritual ideologies. I do not, however, support flooding, transportation debacles, and personal safety concerns arising from too much rain, something I shall now dub Over-Rain.

Yesterday afternoon, we had severe severe rain. It usually doesn't just lightly fall here in Texas. We get flash floods (gulley washers), severe thunderstorms, and all manner of nasty weather along with Over-Rain.

I had a heckuva time driving home the past several days from the Hotel where the training was taking place. I live next to downtown Dallas, so driving around this area is a congested maneuver at any time, but there were any manner of washed out vehicles and accidents alongn the route.

My biggest concern is for the 6 people from my training class who have been stranded in Dallas because their flights were cancelled. Fortunately, during the pre-training phone calls I had with people a couple of weeks ago, I gave people my cell phone number. I'm glad they had it handy. I first received a call last night from a person whose flight to Oklahoma City was cancelled, and we were able to work out his renting a car and driving home. Thank goodness he has a company purchasing card!

The second set of people to call are from the San Antonio area. Their flight had been cancelled, and they were standing in an extremely long line of people at the airport to see what their options were. While they were in line, I called my contact in Atlanta who booked all the travel arrangements for us for the training session, and talked through some options with her. She tried calling the hotel that we had used for the training session, and wasn't able to get through. I had an inkling that the hotel had lost power. A couple of hours later, the group of people called me back to say they were all 3 booked on a 7:05am flight out of Love Field...a totally different airport from DFW, and not at all close to each other. We talked through their options, and they decided to rent a car at DFW, drive to find a hotel near Love Field, and get a couple of rooms so they could get some rest before getting up god-awful early for their flight. I asked them to call me back when they landed in S.A., but I haven't heard from them yet. I'll try calling them in a little bit. I've been hearing planes flying overhead all morning, so flights are obviously leaving Love Field...I just don't know if S.A. is able to receive flights because the entirety of Texas is underwater. At least one of these 3 has a company purchasing card, so they won't have to pay out of pocket for the car rental or hotel. Whew!

And this morning I got a phone call from one of my fellow facilitators. He was back at the original hotel along with a participant whose flight we knew was cancelled yesterday afternoon. Being the problem solver that he is, he had worked with our contact to see about renting a car. But when he learned from both his wife and AAA that his drive back to Tampa, Florida would take him 20 hours because of flooding along the most direct route, he decided to stay another day in town and take another flight in the next couple of days. He also told me that the hotel's power was indeed out for several hours.

It must be so frustrating to be stranded in an unfamiliar city, and without your luggage no less, because they had all checked their luggage, and it is now 'somewhere', but not with them.

So, here in a bit I need to make some follow up phone calls with people to see how they are faring.

...and it just stopped raining here...for now...

I Was Brilliant

I truly was brilliant. I could feign modesty, but I try not to be a liar. So, I was awesome.

And I'm also excruciatingly tired.

So, goodnight.