Community Ties

This morning I ran to the local gas station/deli for gas. I'd fed and packed for the little boys, seen the big boys off on the bus, showered and dressed. I wasn't well dressed...khaki pants, a white polo, sneakers. With my glasses on and wet hair I went inside to pay and the owner noted, "you're looking a little disheviled today."

Usually I go to get gas on my way to the store. I'm dressed in a business suit and heels. I go there to buy gas even though gas is more expensive than the Hess station in town. I don't get any points on my college savings plan (where I would at a Mobil station) but I like the idea of supporting the family who owns the deli. They're my neighbors.

And because Dave cares to ask about my day. "Well, I'm working 6 days this week. Today is my day off but I'm going to go to my second job, even though I gave notice a month ago, because they haven't been able to hire anyone. And I'm bracing myself, because I need to take my 3-year-old with me." (I ultimately decided against this idea, but this was my thinking at 8 a.m.).

Dave replied, "whoa."

Some folks I grew up with came into the store last night and worked with another rep (even though they know I work there. They've been in before. We've talked.) Their son Mark showed me his beat up ENVY phone. He was rather proud of the way he could use it as a flash light as the back light glowed through the face plate, now in pieces.

"Whoa."

The rep, a "visitor" from Tenesee, sold him a Chocolate Touch phone. I had to resist the urge to ask why in the world he convinced the family to buy that particular phone. It's not the least bit durable. I already knew the answer...the Chocolate Touch is cheap. When we sell it we make money.

This rep would go home to Tennessee, leaving me to face his disgruntled customer.

I had to wonder, why didn't this family ask to work with me or make an appointment with me? I could have helped them by charging them less AND by finding a phone that was more durable and well-suited for Mark.

It's about community.

Celebrity

We have a Discussion Board at work shared by reps from across the country. Recently, someone posted the question, "Have you met any celebrities while on the job?"

It turns out that most of the celebrities who had come into Verizon stores for service were athletes. Or, those were the names that the reps remembered or decided to brag about.

Me, I got to meet "Mud Freak" this week, an enormous lime green monster truck right out of the video, "Trucks Gone Wild." The truck's owner needed a new line and a new phone and I sold him the "Cosmos." I thought later that I should have sold him a lime green cover for his phone (to match his truck) because we do sell those.

I've also met the father-in-law of the maid-of-honor at Francesca Batistelli's wedding. The wedding reception took place at Michael W. Smith's place.

Now I'm only three steps removed from Frannie B. :)+

A Bittersweet Farewell

This morning I drove around campus for a good 20 minutes before finding an empty parking space. Because the campus is bordered on the north by the Erie canal and on the south by a school campus, its shape is long and narrow. Parking is limited and students, who tend to arrive with few minutes to spare before class, "hover" in the middle of parking lots. When a spot opens up, they strike.

I won't miss trying to find a parking spot, or paying $80 a semester for a pass.

I gave my notice a few weeks ago but agreed to keep working, on a limited basis, until a new Business Manager could be hired.

I will miss working in the same building as a Barnes & Noble bookstore, KFC, pizza shop, and coffee shop. This morning I popped into the bookstore and found a book by Susie Orman for just $3. Wouldn't she be proud of me for saving money over full retail price?!

I registered for a free conference here on campus. It takes place next Thursday and we'll be hanging out with "Mrs. Huxtable", actress Felicia Rashad.

I'll miss the fact that I can blog at work in a quiet, windowless basement, with few to no interruptions. Isn't that "few to no interruptions" part priceless?!