Customer Complaint Gone Wrong.

It's safe to say that you just can't please everyone in life... I was reminded of that this morning... and well, in the spirit of embracing lifes madness with a smile, I thought of this. Yes, it is true, things can ALWAYS get worse!



from an August post:

It's safe to say you just can't please everyone in our business. No matter what you do to try and "make it right" sometimes it just isn't good enough. I have seen and heard more ridiculous customer complaints than I can even begin to tell. This reaction by this customer tops them all. I am trying to figure out how to get it on YouTube (you've just GOT to hear the actual voice to believe it), if anyone knows how, let me know! For now a transcription of his phone call will have to do.

This customer (affectionately known as Doug) was unsatisfied with his experience at one of our stores. He called the 1-800 line who contacted me and I passed along his information and complaint to the proper people (happens to be my brother). Zack contacts this customer, gives him a free meal and an apology. Well Doug is mad because Zack called his work number to talk to him.... apparently Doug FORGOT he GAVE us that number to reach him at. How else would we have found it? He was not happy about us calling his work number so he called the 1-800 number AGAIN to complain stating that how dare we contact him at work? (well sir, for starters leave a different contact number!) Zack calls again to explain to the customer that he gave us this number and it was the only way to reach him, again apologizes and tries to make it right. Doug is not happy, now we have called twice! (again, I say, LEAVE A DIFFERENT CONTACT NUMBER, seems easy enough right?).... So Doug and Zack have some phone tag regarding the calling of the work issue and finally Doug

leaves this message on the restaurants answering machine: (parental advisory, please pardon the profanity, this is not suitable for children under the age of 18... or anyone for that matter)

" this here's Dougie and I'm just calling to let you know that I'm gonna hide in the bushes outside your house, or I might hide in the bushes outside your job, or i might be hiding in the bushes at the fucking McDonalds. But I'm gonna be hiding in the bushes somewhere. And I'm gonna catch you by yourself and I'm gonna be butt ass naked with a chicken mask on, and I'm gonna jump on your ass and i guarantee I get a little bit of that ass before you be able to beat me off of you. Ohhhh I've been waiting for this for a long time. You've been teasing me, ohh you've been fucking teasing me, oh the teasing is over bitch, when I see you, that ass is mine baby..... I'm gonna get that ass."

and THAT people is what we deal with on a daily basis... America's finest. All that over some French Fry's??? People are certifiably crazy!

Now there are a few interesting things going on here:

1) where do you even get a chicken mask at?

2) hiding in the bushes naked, well sir, thats called indecent exposure and is illegal.

3) the fact that you left YOUR NAME on the voicemail proves you're ignorant, indignant, and just plain retarded

4) did I mention that everything you said you were going to do is just illegal, and now if you even try anything we've got proof it was premeditated... and thus a felony?

Congratulations, you sir are an idiot!

Yo Gano!

Actions

Something to think about on this cold morning: "You’re going to come across people in your life who will say all the right words at all the right times. But in the end, it’s always their actions you should judge them by. It’s actions, not words, that matter.

Nicholas Sparks"

Hello Monday. My how quickly you came upon me this week. Woke up to the alarm blaring as I was deep in sleep. Although maybe thats a good thing as I dreamed I quit my job and joined the army? It was pretty cool though, I was a special ops renegade raising hell all over the place.

Maybe it is a sign I need a little adventure in my life? Maybe its a sign I've completely lost my marbles? Sadly something tells me the latter is a bit more likely.

Welp, Monday you sure do keep me on my toes. I've got lots to do today, and this week for that matter. Thursday marks the end of Fall Quarter 2010, THANK GOD. No more group projects, papers, and presentations for a whole month. What am I going to do with all of my time... SLEEP and WORKOUT. I can't wait :)

Thursday also marks the 25th bday of my beloved best friend. So sad I cant be there to celebrate with you, but we WILL make up for it in a few weeks. DC, watch out :)

Sending love, hugs, and smiles to all of you lovely blog readers.

Hope you love your (crazy) lives as much as I love mine.

~ T

Happiness

So, I’ve been thinking about this whole being happy thing, and I feel like people get lost when they think of happiness as a destination. We’re always thinking that someday we’ll be happy; we’ll get that car or that job or that person in our lives that’ll fix everything. But happiness is a mood, and it’s a condition, not a destination. It’s like being tired or hungry, it’s not permanent. It comes and goes, and that’s okay. And I feel like if people thought of it that way, they’d find happiness more often.

One Tree Hill

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.♥ 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Give Thanks!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my lovely blog readers. This is by far my favorite day of the year...

This years Caldwell Family menu includes:

~2 20lb Turkeys

~ Mashed Potatoes

~ Homemade giblet gravy

~ Stuffing

~ Corn Casserole

~ Dennis' Green Beans

~ Deviled Eggs

~ Olives

~ Cranberry Sauce

~ Cranberry Salad

~ Pumpkin Pie

~ Peach Pie

~ Lemon Meringue Pie

~ Wine, Wine, and more Wine

I absolutely love Thanksgiving. Not only does it celebrate this country's past time, but it brings friends and families together to reflect upon the year, to be thankful and grateful for all the wonderful opportunities that we are afforded. Family. Friends. Food. Wine. Laughter. Not much else we need in life. This year I have a lot to be thankful for, and below are some of the many reasons I have to praise God for being so good to me.

1. I have the most wonderful family who is always there for me.

2. Health

3. Happiness

4. Friendships that will last a lifetime.

5. I got to experience the happiest day of my life, celebrating the biggest moment in my best friends life. And it was magical.

6. There are only 37 days left in 2010 (sorry, I'm hoping 2011 will be better to me).

7. The hardest ending turned out to be the best thing thats happened to me in a long time. God surely works in mysterious ways.

8. New friends

9. I am ALMOST done with my MBA (16 classes down, 8 more classes and 6 months to go :) )

10. By the end of the year I will be a home owner, and the house is pretty darn cute if I do say so myself.

11. SAC WP DC... Exploring Northern California one meal and one glass of wine at a time. You guys have finally made this city feel like a home for me.

12. The Dream Team... riding the A+ train

13. Kate Gaskins, Delia Perez, Chandara Phanachone .... because "Girls' Nights" just wouldn't be the same without you.

14. Enchanted new beginnings

15. I successfully completed my first marathon (and it won't be my last) in 1:54:71

16. Soccer World FC

17. My Second Family: Mom & Dad 2, Danielle and Mark, and Gma & Gpa - I love you guys!

18. Keeping in touch with best friends

19. Visiting with Doug after 7 years, so good to see your face!

20. Finally getting my car back after 100 days in the shop (thanks GMC).

21. Having the patience to live out all of life's uncertainties and trusting in God's plan.

22. Laughter

23. Adventure

24. Having the strength to embrace the mystery and craziness of my life, learn from it, and most importantly grow from it.

25. My super, awesome, wonderful, crazy, chaotic, successful, vibrant, adventurous, sweet, beautiful life.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Love you lots!

T

Days Like These

Ain't no cloud up in my sky

I couldn't worry if I tried

I got an open road just air and me

To pick you up and take you for a ride

I got a new shine on my car

Sun is tannin' my left arm

And while I'm waitin' on the red light

I'm burnin' up a little air guitar

Turn it up a little bit louder

Turn it up I love this song

Come on (boy) the world is ours

Let's do something right or wrong

Life is short

Lets go live it

No time for wasting time

Days like these they go too fast

Yeah, days like these you wanna make them last

Rest your feet up on the dash

Leave your toe prints on the glass

Sing it like you mean it baby

Close your eyes and lay your head on back

Turn it up a little bit louder

Turn it up I love this song

Come on (boy) the world is ours

Let's do something right or wrong

Life is short

Let's go live it

No time for wasting time

Days like these they go too fast

Yeah, days like these you wanna make them last

Speakers layin' in the truck bed

No this day ain't done yet

'Til the sun goes down

Turn it up a little bit louder

Turn it up I love this song

Come on (boy) the world is ours

Let's do something right or wrong

Life is short

Lets go live it

No time for wasting time

Days like these they go too fast

Yeah, days like these you wanna make them last

Frankl

When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.

Victor Frankl

Life is not a matter of black and white. At least I think it shouldn't be. There are no thick lines or fine lines of what is right or proper given this situation or that. Life it seems to me is a blank canvas and we are the painters. We have an endless array of bright and vibrant colors at our disposal. We may paint what we wish. If we go astray, white wash the canvas and start again. Add details. Blur the lines. Create the world that is perfect for you; with all things in it just as you wish them to be. You want happiness and light, paint a sun. If you want joy and laughter, create it. Whatever you want, is yours, but it is up to you to create it. No one else can create your life for you, you must do it for yourself. Believe it. See it. Make it.

~ T

Happy Birthday Mama!

Happy 57th (oops.... I forgot she's all of 39 ) to my beautiful mama.

I'm a day late on the posting, but hey, it's been a crazy week.

She's gonna be mad about most of these pics but I think they reflect her personality the best. My mama, the adventure seeker, my dive buddy, my friend. She has a fearless zest for life and all of its adventures and is the first one to sign up for the next life changing experience. I feel so fortunate to have such a wonderful person to look up to in my life. She is always there to support and love myself and my brothers.

So happy birthday mom, you're the best!

I'm sorry I'm a day late but, better late than never!

Love you!

~ T

Devote Yourself

"So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning." -Morrie

It's Monday.... you have a whole week ahead of you to do something meaningful.

Help a family member.

Help a friend.

Help a stranger you've never met before.

Tell someone you love them.

Celebrate those around you.

Make yourself vulnerable.

Work hard.

Have a litte fun (we all need some R&R).

Work out.

Eat healthy.

Love yourself.

Love your life.

Smile.

And most of all.... be Happy.

<3 T

"Can you see me? All of me? Probably not. No one ever really has."
Jeffrey Eugenides

I dare you to move

As you’re reading this, your life’s getting shorter.
It’s ticking away.
I’m not saying this to frighten you.
Or even scare you.
Though it may.

I’m saying this to awaken you.
To inspire you.
To rise you out of your deep slumber.
To really know you won’t live forever.
To share your unique gifts.

To ignite your great inner fire.
To ignite your great inner strength.
To ignite your great inner light.
To shine.
Brightly shine.
To awaken your great inner beauty.

To motivate.
Yourself and others.
To love.
Yourself and others.

To paint.
To write.
To teach.
To innovate.
To sing.
To dance.
To care.
To feel.
To listen.
To learn.
To laugh.

The clock’s ticking.
The world needs you.
Make your move.

Mike Litman

Hello Monday....

...You sure did sneak up on me! Where did the weekend go? Guess I was too busy loving life and having too much fun to realize how quickly you went by.

Monday, I'm not a big fan of you today, perhaps next week will be better.

For now, I'll just think about my fabulous trip wine tasting yesterday with 10 super AWESOME friends and pretend you aren't here.

That's why God invented Facebook right? 6 hours of work, 7 hours of class, no biggie.




(image: google images)

Sometimes all you need is a good dose of SATC to put things in perspective!

"Some people are settling down, some people are settling and some people refuse to settle for anything less than butterflies." - Sex in the City

Happy Weekend Y'all!

The Lakers beat the kings last night....

normally I'd be pretty upset about that, but not today, that one was for you Travis.

I just KNOW you're smiling up there in heaven about this one.

I'll be rooting against you again on April 13th (with a big Kings win)

Miss and Love You,

T

SMILE!

We made it to the weekend. Almost :)

Everybody Poops

Everybody poops. It's a fact of life. There are childrens books and rhymes and stories out there that teach children not to be afraid or embarrased about it. Everybody poops. I guess at some point every parent has to teach their child about it. I get that. But I guess I just assumed that parents did that in the privacy of their own home.

WRONG!

Last night Philip and I were out to dinner and we were seated in a back room where only one other table had guests. A small family: Mom, Dad, and 3 children. Two of the kids couldn't have been older than 4, the other was a well behaved 6-7 year old. The two youngsters were yelling at the top of their lungs "daddy im poooooooooooooping, im poooooooooping daddy!" At first I laughed, thinking "kids really do say the darndest things," assuming Dad would tell them that was not appropriate to talk about at the dinner table and take them outside to quiet them down. Nope, instead "Dad" starts making faces and noises like he is trying to push out a monster terd. Seriously? I thought it would stop there, but no, then the kids chime in doing the same thing. Then the little starts yelling "I think its a big one" and is throwing up hand guestures to guess how big it actually is. Again I think mom or dad will step in and say that this is not appropriate behavior for the dinner table.

WRONG. This time. They both start explaining to their kids the reality of how big it actually is. And they are showing them the right size with their own hands. I couldnt believe it. Seriously, what parents let their children yell and scream about bodily functions at the dinner table in a public place where people are around EATING!!!

Is this what parenting has come to? I know for a fact if I EVER was eveng screaming at the dinner table my parents would have carted me outside until I quieted down. They would NEVER have let me poop at the dinner table, discuss my poop and its size, and make visible gestures about it that the other diners could see.

Hey mom and dad, thanks for the good parenting. I appreciate it now!

<3 T

It is easy to get caught up in life and all of its madness that we forget to stop and take the time to tell our loved ones that we love them and that we care. Sure its easy enough to say it, but as they say, actions speak louder than words.

There are so many quick and easy ways to let people know that they are important to you and that you value their friendship in your life.

Here are some great examples, and a few of my favorite ways to show those around you how much they mean to you.

1. Notes. Preferably in an unsusual place. But notes are perfect. And always get a smile in return. Just think about it, you go to open your cabinet to grab the coffee cup and BAM right there inside the door is a little sticky note with a "have a great day" or an "I miss you" or a "you make me smile, :)" or a "I love you!" or whatever. It's quick. Its easy. But most of all, its effective. (ok, I know, a bit sappy, but seriously, its super cute.)

2. Home made dinner! Takes a bit more time but really its a great gesture. Anyone can go grab takeout or make reservations at a restaurant. But there is nothing like coming home to a delicious dinner at home with those you love.

3. Hugs. Everyone needs a hug every now and then. Family, friends, significant others. Hugs can make people's days that much brighter. Go give someone a hug. I know I can't get enough of them.

4. Massages! Who doesn't love a good back rub after a hard days work? Its thoughtful, its easy, its free. Perfect.

5. Holding Hands. Does this one really need an explanation? :)

6. Be thoughtful. This one is actually pretty easy. Pay attention. Listen. And find a creative way to say "hey you, you're pretty awesome and I appreciate you."

7. Speak! Sometimes, we just need to hear it.

8. Help out. Lend a hand when someone needs some help, or better yet, do the chores for them before they even have to ask for your help.

9. Listen.

10. Quality time!


By now everyone who is reading this is thinking, hey, she is SUCH a sap. And maybe I am. But it seems to me like the world be such a better place if we all took the time to stop and tell all those pretty awesome wonderful people in our lives that we care about them, we love them, and they are important to us.

Don't you want someone to do all those things for you??

Welcoming in November

November. My favorite month of the year. 23 days till Thanksgiving (my favorite day of the year). I'm starting the month off right with a super awesome happy fun week planned.

I'm pretty excited about this week, lots of fun things happening, so I thought I'd share them all with you!

Monday: Giants Win the World Series!!!!!
Tuesday: Indoor soccer game and catching up with Katie Ulan :)
Wednesday: Kings vs. Lakers w/ Philip Alan & hearts
Thursday: 12.5 miles with the lovely Kate GaskinsFriday: Indoor soccer game with the cool kids followed by movie date night & hearts
Saturday: Semi Pro "Friendly" game, Soccer World FC @ Estadio Azteca (5 pm, come watch!!!) Followed by the Scorpions Mens home game.
Sunday: Amador County Wine Tasting Extraveganza with the Dream Team
Yup. That is a fun week. Now with work, school, and 3 papers to write, perhaps I will get some sleep in there sometime. Nahh. NO rest for the wicked.

My life, it is pretty brilliant.

Hope yours is too!

Happy November!

10.16.10

For my best friend on her wedding day:


Danielle and I have known each other since we were 13, she’s my oldest and best friend. It didn’t take long for our friendship to form. We met on the soccer field in 7th grade as we both were newcomers to a big local soccer team. I remember two things about meeting Danielle, 1) have you seen those thumbs!!! And 2) what an infectious smile. I’ll never forget that first practice, for that is when our friendship was born. It didn’t take long for Danielle and I to realize we had a lot in common, after all it was just the two of left sprinting extra 120 yard windsprints after practice. Nothing like “get on the line” to make you feel welcome to the new team. Danielle and my bond grew fast, much like our sprints, and I’m certain all those extra hours of sweat, tears, and countless running drills laid a solid foundation for the friendship that remains today.

When I think back about all my fond memories growing up, most of them were with her. There was picture day for the soccer team on a Sunday morning after freshman year homecoming… Danielle and I chose to go in our “up-do’s” as it added a bit of height to our stature. Then there was our sweet 16’s. I’ll never forget Danielle’s. Ron and Christy surprised Danielle with her first car, a silver Ford Focus. We drove that thing all over tarnation the first weekend, and I’ll certainly never forget returning it late Sunday night with 300 new miles on the car and seeing her parents exasperated faces. I believe the exact words they said were “just where did you go for 300 miles?”…. and Danielle’s (like any teenager) response was “we were just cruisin’…” As we’ve grown older Danielle and I have remained close spending holiday’s with each others’ families, planning vacations together, and continuing to grow in our friendship. Danielle you told me once that you look up to me, that you can always come to me as a source of wisdom and guidance. Well, D, I’ve left it for today to tell you this, it is not you who looks up to me, but me to you. I am proud of the woman that you’ve become and more than anything I am proud to call you, my very best friend.


Danielle I have known you for what seems like forever. I have seen your ups and your downs. I have watched your heart break, and through all of the bumps life has challenged you with I’ve seen you stand tall and strong. You are a beautiful woman, one who is dedicated, passionate, warm hearted and gentle. You are kind, tenacious, sometimes ferocious, but always sincere. Your personality is bright and bubbly and your enthusiasm for all of life’s adventures is both infectious and inspiring. I am so proud of you for waiting to find someone as equally as special as you are. Someone who shares that same thirst for life, love, and adventure. A man that will stand beside you as your equal, all the while challenging you to continue to grow as a person. I know that you have found this in mark. Mark, your vivacious spirit encourages others to relish in life and its endless possibilities. You are supporting, genuine, passionate, and sincere. I know that you will be a wonderful husband and friend to Danielle in your life together. There have been so many good moments that I have had the pleasure of sharing with Danielle and her family, and over the years our friendship has grown so strong that we’ve become family. So I feel it is only fitting for me to say to you Mark, welcome to the family, as well.

I think I can speak for everyone when I say how happy and proud of you we all are. It didn’t take me long to realize the special bond the two of you have, I saw it immediately and it is one that can only be found in a pair of soul mates… two people destined to be together, two pieces of a puzzle that have finally found their home.


There is no doubt in my mind that the two of you were destined to be together. The bright sparkle that you two have in your eyes for each other fills the world around you with hope. I know you have both waited a long time to find that special someone to share the rest of your life with… your best friend, your companion, your shoulder to lean on, someone to come home to, the person you’ll grow old with, and the person you’ll create a family with…


So everyone lets raise our glasses. For Danielle and Mark. I hope many years from now as you sit back and reflect on this moment you realize a few things. I hope you know there is no one story or one speech that you can write that can ever possibly explain how much your love has changed your life, and how very lucky you are that you chose each other to be your best friend forever. May your life together be filled with love and laughter.
Congratulations, you’ve done it. The long wait is over. Enjoy this special time in your life. Live each day to its fullest, appreciate the other. Relish the love that you have, and never take it for grjavascript:void(0)anted.
Love with your whole heart and live the most extraordinary life together.


I love you both, congratulations.

An Unholy Alliance

A friend sent this to me today, and I was so moved by what I read I thought I would share it with you all. It's easy to lose our way in life. We are searching so deeply for answers to our questions, we need to know (and now) what to do given this situation or another, we are running around on a quest for some deep revelation - an A-HA! moment where suddenly "we've got it," we are doing anything and everything to "figure it out," and as such we forget to do the simplest thing of them all... ask for advice, and listen for God's reply.

This is a great message and one that couldn't have come at a better time for me. On that note, I've got to stop, look deep inside myself, and listen. I hope God speaks.


An Unholy Alliance
Over the years we've come to see that the only thing more tragic than the things that have happened to us is what we have done with them.

Words were said; painful words. Things were done; awful things. And it shaped us. Something inside of us shifted. We embraced the messages of our wounds. We accepted a view of ourselves. And from that we chose a way of relating to our world. We made a vow never to be in that place again. We adopted strategies to protect ourselves from being hurt again. A woman that is living out of a broken, wounded heart is a woman who is living a self-protective life. She may not be aware of it but it is true. It's our way of trying to "save ourselves."

And, we also developed ways of trying to get something of the love our hearts cried out for. The ache is there. Our desperate need for love and affirmation, our thirst for some taste of romance and adventure and something to be wanted for is there. So we turned to boys or to food or to romance novels, we lost ourselves in our work or at church or in some sort of service. All this adds up to the woman we are today. Much of what we call our "personalities" is actually the mosaic of our choices for self-protection plus our plan to get something of the love we were created for.

The problem is, our plan has nothing to do with God.

The wounds we received and the messages they brought form a sort of unholy alliance with our fallen nature as women. From Eve we received a deep mistrust in the heart of God towards us. Clearly, he's holding out on us. We'll just have to arrange for the life we want. We will control our world. But there is also an ache deep within, an ache for intimacy and for life. We'll have to find a way to fill it.

What A Beautiful Day

There are moments in life that affect us greatly, they hit us deep in our core, they touch our souls, and sometimes they change the way we view the world around us.

This weekend I had the pleasure of experiencing a moment like that. And while you had to be there to truly understand the depth of the emotions involved, I will do my best to try and capture them through words.

For the first time in my life I cried tears of joy. Pure, raw, happiness. And not for myself, but for my best friend. I didn't know that kind of happiness existed, and I don't know how to describe it except to say that it is an emotion far deeper than one I've ever felt. When you think about the moments that will make us happiest in life we naturally would think of ones that would be self serving. What makes this one even more memorable is that I wasn't happy for myself but for someone else.

I cannot begin to describe the reasons why I am so happy for Danielle and Mark except to say that they are two of the most exceptional people I've ever met and my life is far greater because they are part of it. The past year has been extremely difficult with the passing of Danielle's brother. As her best friend I wanted this special day to be perfect, and as such I paid attention to every little detail. Despite my devoted attention, there was one thing that was out of my control but I believed deeply that God would come through.

Friday night I was talking to Danielle and told her that I believed her day would be complete, that Travis would be there. I told her he would be there in the sunlight, in the soft melodies of the music, but most of all he would be there in our hearts. What happened Saturday was nothing short of miraculous. The weather was far from perfect, it was overcast and misty out, and we'd yet to see any real sunlight all day. Yet, as the entrance song started and Danielle took her first steps down the aisle the sun came out over the horizon, and only over the Casa. As Danielle continued down the aisle it disappeared almost as quickly as it first appeared. A few minutes later as the Priest was talking about the importance of marriage suddenly the ocean went silent. Not for long, maybe 15 seconds, but for that brief moment in time no waves crashed, the world went silent. There is not a doubt in my mind that was Travis, watching his big sister from up above. God works in mysterious ways sometimes. And while the signs of Travis' presence on Saturday are no consolation for him being taken from us here on earth, it was the greatest gift that could have been given on that day.

The wedding was perfect, despite some minor setbacks in weather and last minute changes. The bride was absolutely stunning. The groom was as handsome as ever. And the love shined so radiantly that it penetrated everyone in the room. I am still in awe of the entire event. I thought I knew what true love looked like, I thought I'd felt it before in the past, but what I witnessed is something far greater than anything I've felt. We all felt it, and we were all touched deeply by the magic of it all.

I think I'm pretty lucky to have a best friend set such a good example for me and I can only hope that one day I am fortunate enough to find a love like she has. One that is kind, caring, trusting, and deep. I want a man to look at me and know he doesn't want to live a day without me. I want to be someone's hopes and dreams. I want to be their world. I want my best friend and my soulmate. I want it all and I'd love to find it sooner rather than later. But I tell you what, after seeing how good it really can be, the last thing I want is to settle for anything less than everything. A lifetime is far too long to be anything short of perfect.

Doing What Matters

I recently read a book by James Kilts titled “Doing What Matters” and once again I was moved by some of the seemingly simple principles Kilts suggests offer success in the business world. These ideas are nothing new, in fact they are so simple that most of probably forget them, or gloss over their importance. For Kilts making a difference can be obtained through intellectual integrity, generating emotional engagement and enthusiasm for your product/brand/company, providing action, and understanding the right things by examining them through the proper lens. While arguably all of these are critical to running successful companies the one that struck me the most was the idea of intellectual integrity.
As Kilts says, “nothing gets done when you try to do too much. You either whirl around in circles or slump into a paralysis when facing endless options simultaneously…. People trying to make themselves and their companies all things to all people” When I think about this I think how many of us get stuck in this constant downward spiral of obligations and commitments? We overload ourselves to the point where we make no real contribution to anything, nor do we really learn or gain insight because we are spread too thin. It seems to me it would be better to take on an active role in a handful of activities and have a real, tangible, and most importantly, valuable, contribution than to be a participant of many things. After all isn’t this the main point of leadership and being a leader. Put simply, I cannot maintain a profound leadership role in all activities I choose to participate in (both personally and professionally) if I am so overloaded that I am extended thin. I know in life it is hard to choose what you can and what you can’t do, but the bottom line is this, we are human, and we just can’t do everything. And when we try to do everything, we over extend ourselves, we limit our contributions, we hinder our growth, and more than likely we don’t keep our promises.
This concept flows in nicely to the idea of making promises we can’t keep. In the business world, as Kilts explains, it is as simple as promising earnings you just can’t generate. How often in business and in our personal lives do we make promises we can’t keep? How often do we fall victim of others making promises that they can’t keep? When I think about the fundamental values that drive me both personally and professional, trust, honesty, and integrity, this concept hits at the root of those principles. Do I do the things that I say I am going to do? Do I deliver on the promises that I can make? I know I am not perfect, and I know that I try to keep my word. I believe that trust (both trusting and being trustworthy) are the heart of strong relationships, and in the professional world (as well as my personal life) developing relationships with strong roots is the key to success. So how in a world that is consumed with ever increasing results do I maintain my values, how do I keep integrity, honesty, loyalty, and trust at the heart of business? For me I start with myself. I believe that if I uphold and demonstrate these values on a daily basis then I am displaying the right kind of leadership. Beyond that I must analyze the character of those around me and seek to find a team that is as focused on integrity as I am. In today’s world this seems like a daunting task, but there are good people out there, and chances are, the more I focus on my values, the more likely people with similar values will surround themselves with me.

If we want our lives to be wonderful, and really, why would we want them to be anything else, then we must start by making ourselves wonderful... For our lives are really a mirror reflecting ourself back at us. You want happiness, be happy. You want love, love deeply. You want laughter, smile brighter. Our lives are all about our choice of how we perceive them. Mines pretty amazing and I hope yours is too! Xo!

Wedding Week

It's official we are less than a week away (5 days to be exact).

I am SO EXICTED.

Watching my best friend get married, it is going to be AH-MAY-ZING.

I am so happy for Danielle and Mark. Seriously, aren't they so cute? And HOW CUTE is their wedding present? A big thanks to Shauna at: littleshopofshavs.com for her fantastic painting.

There is so much to do in the final days before I head down to San Clemente to celebrate with the love birds. It's going to be a whirlwind but so worth it.

Can't wait for the reception, I've written the best speech ever, cake, and gonna boogie on the dance floor all night long.

Happy Monday people!

As always... SMILE, the weekend (and the big day!) is almost here!

<3 T

I. Am. An. Athlete.

As an athlete I've spent my life cultivating the aura of being invincible. I spent most of my younger years chasing crazy dreams of being the worlds greatest. I've spent an immeasurable amount of hours on the practice field, in the gym, running, and lifting. My early life chasing my dreams shaped me into one defined by hard work, perseverance, dedication, and the inability to ever give up. As I have grown older I have slowly come to the realization that my dream was unattainable. Needless to say this has been a difficult insight to grasp and I spent a long time fighting off that notion with every ounce of energy I had. At some point I came to terms with my fate. I realized that I was in fact fallible, I was not invincible, and that no matter how much I loved sport that it could no longer define my existence. Yet despite the fact that I am now far past my prime, as a lover of sport there will always be a thrill of competition that defines me. I love nothing more than an intense match. In those moments I have glimpses of my past, of playing night games under the lights, listening to the national anthem before the whistle to start the game. Sure these games now mean nothing and are marked more by the festivities that take place after than the actual events that take place during them.

But I tell you this... no matter how far removed I am from my prime, no matter how insignificant the games that I play in now, there is still no greater satisfaction for a lover of sport than completing the perfect play that brings memories of the past. Sure those moments are now few and far between, but still there is nothing sweeter than ripping a side volley upper 90, smiling, and saying "I still got it!"

Let's face it. I am an athlete. And always will be.

<3 TC

Expectation

I just finished reading Jim Collin’s book “Good To Great.” It is a book about transforming good companies into great companies and includes many examples of some of American’s iconic companies. The success of these firms is centered on a few major premises: the presensce of a level 5 leader, someone who is charismatic and humble having an unfailing desire for the company to succeed; an executive staff that is talented, educated, and driven towards success; the right people in the right places who are motivated on their own accord; a culture of discipline; and the tools and resources necessary to succeed in today’s dynamic global business environment.
This book was an interesting and debatable read. While I agree with many of the premises and statements that Collins makes, I feel that he over generalized too many critical items. I also feel that the teachings in this book are not practical for every industry. Finally, I think in business, as in life, we often learn more from failures than from success stories. There are countless success stories of companies in America, as Collins depicted. These companies are led by charismatic and humble leaders, they have fabulous executive teams, and an organizational culture that fosters creativity, innovation, and prosperity. Can we really define while some business have luck and others do not? I just don’t think so. That being said, I think what this book does provide is a great foundation for the elements a successful business needs. If you don’t have these traits, it is not likely that you will be successful in the long term. But I also think that there are plenty of examples of great companies out there that may be lacking one or two of these elements.
I work in the restaurant industry, operating seven McDonald’s franchises. The biggest problem that I face on a daily basis is how to motivate people that are only motivated by a paycheck. The majority of our business is run by teenagers and people without a high school education. Quite frankly they don’t have the knowledge, drive, or dedication to run multi-million dollar restaurants, but the nature of the industry forces us to put the stores in their hands. With low profit margins, high labor costs, and high food costs, it is nearly impossible to hire and retain level 5 leaders. Sure we have a great senior executive team, full of knowledge, drive, and desire that works endlessly to help keep the business running. But in an industry that operates 24 hours a day 365 days a week this staff just can’t be at every store every minute of every day. And thus ensues the problem. Turnover in the industry averages 300%. Through a lot of hard work, dedicated hiring/interviewing practices, and a disciplined training team my company has managed to reduce turnover to about 150%. I’d love to abide by the principal of firing someone the moment I realize they need to be terminated, but with today’s unemployment practices and labor laws, frankly, that just isn’t practical (or legal). I have to discipline and document, numerous times, suspend employees and put them on probation, and then I can fire them. Now the next argument is, “if you have the right people in place they will be motivated and you won’t have to fire them!” I have dreams that this would be true, in my business, it just is not. Again, I revert back to the fact that we employee mostly teenagers looking to earn a paycheck for spending money in high school. So what do we do in this instance? Does this mean we can never be great? Do we settle for “good?” Of course not, we always strive for perfection and never settle for mediocrity. But it leads me to wonder if our expectations might be too high and therefore we will continually be disappointed. At what point does the rift between desired and actual become so great that expectations need to be changed? If our company is the flagship operation in McDonald’s entire West America Division and we are only “good” is there even such a thing as great in this industry? Is that possible? I tell you this, the entire executive team is dedicated towards achieving greatness, but if we can’t get the workforce to produce these results, what do we change? Our perception, our expectation, or our philosophy?

Obviously this applies to life as well. It is a well known fact that have the highest expectations of everyone I hold in my circle of trust. My friends and family all know this. I expect nothing but the best from them, but more importantly from myself. I've thought about this a lot. At what point are expectations so high that they are just unrealistic and lead to a life of disappointment. And if we are continually disappointed is it because our expectations are in fact too high or are we just not trusting the right people? It seems to me like if we surround ourself with the right, good, honest, trustworthy people our expectations should always be met? Inevitably there is a constant struggle between settling for disappointment and settling for mediocrity. I tell you this, I cannot under any circumstances settle for anything other than great. I refuse to. Not in life. Not in work. Not in school. Not in friendship. And certainly not in love. What in the world is the point in settling for anything less that everything?

~ T

"The quality of your life will be in direct proportion to the types of relationships you choose to build. Relationships can help or hinder you. They will help you endure distractions on your journey, or they can be distractions." Lorber

As I think about this and the relationships I have around me, professional, personal, friends, family.... I am pleased with the decisions I've made on who to surround myself with. I am lucky to have a plethora of love, wisdom, guidance, and friendship in my life. I have friends, near and far, who are always there for me. I have close relationships and mentorships with people who provide endless amounts of wisdom and guidance just because they enjoy helping me grow and develop. I think in life it is often easy to get caught up in the quantity of people around us. It is easier to have a hundred acquaintances around us so that we always have an event or outing to attend. The truth is that often leads to many meaningless relationships whereby we have few to really rely on. In my opinion it is an undeniable fact that we just can't do life alone. I shouldn't say can't, because we can do anything. But why? Life is so much better when enjoyed with others, with friends and family. Surround yourself with people who love you, who support you, and who will be there for you no matter what. Fill your life with a few strong relationships and you have foundation for a wonderful life. Trust and be trustworthy. Give and receive. Allow yourself to be loved and love deeply in return.


<3 T

Attitude

Nobody is perfect. As humans we are all fallible. We make mistakes. We act inappropriately. Sometimes we are rude when we are frustrated or upset. We take a bad day or an unfortunate incident out on those around us. This is a simple fact of life. We all have acted in this manner at some point or another for whatever the reason, or for no reason at all except we were just "in a mood."

This morning I had a good reminder of just how ugly that kind of behavior makes us look. A woman came through all in a huff and no matter how big I smiled, tried to please her, or how many times I said "have a great day" she just wasn't going to have it. As she drove off in a furry and a huff I started thinking about letting moments like that define our character. This woman was aesthetically quite attractive. I'd say in her late twenties to early thirties she dressed nicely and looked presentable. But while her physical appearance might be "attractive" her behavior made her quite the opposite, she was just plain ugly. Literally and figuratively. It makes me wonder how often do others perceive us in this manner? And when those around us, our friends, family, and loved ones, are behaving in such a negative fashion do we tell them about it? Do we try and help each other grow as individuals and force each other to be better people... to make those ugly negative moments happen less and less.

Nobody is perfect, this is quite true. I know for a fact that I let bad days at work, low blood sugar, or unfortunate circumstances get me down every now and then, and I know there are situations in my recent past where I probably was perceived by others in the same manner as i perceived this woman today. Shame on me. I am not perfect but I try to be. I am glad this woman came through in her ferocious fashion today because it was a good reminder for me to try really hard NOT to act like that. The truth is I hope people never see me in such an ugly light... and to all my blog readers out there, if you ever do see me behave like this, remind me of this woman and of this post. Life is too short to waste precious moments being mad at the world for God knows what (and it is probably nothing at all) and to take it out on those around you. There are too many wonderful bright and shining people out there waiting to fall in love with your smile... don't let them pass you by because you choose to have a bad attitude. Attitude after all is a choice, and it is yours to make. You choose your reaction to every situation life has to offer you, and while every circumstance certainly doesn't deserve a super happy positive attitude, there are no situations in life with which you should behave that badly.

Nobody is perfect, we all make mistakes, I know I do... but once I know I've made them, I try to learn from them, correct that behavior, and apologize for the damage that resulted from it.

<3 T

Simple Things

I often think about values, what is important to me, things that I am looking for or things that I cherish. It's easy in life to get wrapped up in the big moments, to get caught up in the glamour and finer things that life can offer. A true judge of your happiness and satisfaction with your current situation, with your life, comes not from the fancy things. Life is not about the big moments, but the little ones. The truth is, if you can't enjoy the small moments of life, then the big ones just don't matter. A perfect weekend afternoon doesn't need to consist of an elaborate trip somewhere, or a fancy dinner... contentment in life can come from something as simple as an afternoon stroll around the neighborhood, talking, and holding hands. When I think about this one thought resonates soundly, life -as stated - is not about the material things, but the immaterial, it is the little moments shared with family, friends, and loved ones. Put simply, life is better when shared with others.

So now I ask you this, who are you sharing your little moments with? And do you look to the big glamourous events for your happiness, or do you look forward to the simplest moments that bring the biggest smiles to your face?

<3 T

Happy Birthday Daddy!

September 25th

Happy Birthday to the best Dad a girl could ask for. Always there for me. Full of wisdom and guidance. A best friend. We are all so lucky to have you in our lives. So here's to you dad, I hope your birthday is full of love and laughter, just like the man that brightens all our lives.

My Daddy. My Hero. My Friend.

Happy Birthday!

Love you Always!!

<3 T

Rules of the Drive Thru

The Top 15 Do's and DONT's of the ordering process...

1. If you're on your cell phone... GET OFF... how am I supposed to know if you're talking to me or someone else?

2. If you want fast service, know what you want, speak up, and have your money ready... it really isn't that difficult.

3. Speak clearly, and preferably in English. If you don't speak English come inside and point at a picture, otherwise I can't help you.

4. If you want something ask for it, I do not read minds, and NO you cannot add on at the second window.

5. PAY ATTENTION. If I repeat your order to you, listen and make sure it is correct, don't tell me 5 minutes later this wasn't what you wanted when I asked if your order was correct and you said yes. Ordering takes two... you speak, I listen, then I speak, you listen.

6. Go to the bathroom BEFORE you order... it is not my fault you took 8 minutes for your BM and your food sat there and got cold.

7. Extra sauce costs 50 cents... get over it. This is nothing new.

8. Distribute the food to your 5 screaming kids after you've pulled out of the drive thru, there are people behind you waiting patiently to pull forward.

9. My arm span is not 8 feet, pull next to the window, I will not climb out the window to hand you your food... and its probably not a good idea for you to climb through your sun roof WHILE you car is still in drive... and when you do, how is this my fault? Last time I checked, the building was stationary.

10. Ordering in the DT is not the time for: domestic disputes, child abuse, arguing, yelling, or cursing. Save it for later.

11. No I cannot throw out your garbage for you - 1. I don't want to touch it and 2. do I have garbage girl written on my forehead? Clean out your car every once in a while and throw it away yourself.

12. Do not pull up the speaker, say "This is Steve" and expect me to know you prefer your coffee half decaf/half regular, 2 creams, 5 sugars, one ice cube, stirred well, and spoon on the side...

13. Do not skip the ordering process in general pull to the second window and wonder where your food is... you sir forgot a critical step in the process, not me.

14. Do not expect me to recognize you by your car, do you know how many white pickup trucks come through every day (Steve)?

15. If you're deaf or mute... this might be a good time to come inside, and bring a pen and paper it expedites the process immensely. Do NOT however curse me out via pen and paper when I give you EXACTLY what you wrote down - I'm sorry, but this language barrier just isn't my fault, maybe YOU should be a bit more patient.

The Ledge

There are moments in life all around us which define us. Moments where we are forced to make choices, usually difficult ones. They aren't easy because they require us to define who we are, what we want, and what we are willing to risk. In business we often talk about the risk to reward trade off. The more you are willing to risk the greater the potential reward. Of course there is the chance you loose it all, and that is why we call it a risk. The greater the risk-reward ratio, the more you can potentially gain, but the greater the probability you loose it all. As I think about life and the decisions we are forced to make many of them follow this same school of thought. The greatest risk-reward ratio is the one that involves matters of the heart. The thing about life is no one can make the difficult decisions for you. No matter how hard we try we just can't make people do things, they either want to or they don't. Some people are risk-averse, they avoid it all costs and only choose to go down paths where the outcome is certain. Others are risk seekers, fearless and willing to take a chance on almost anything, knowing that they are sure to fail many times along the road.

I am a risk seeker in all aspects of life. Failing doesn't scare me. I think in life we learn the most from our weakest moments, from the times that challenge us the most. For in these moments we are forced to define ourselves. Who am I? What are my values? What do I REALLY want? I know what I want and I will go after it time and time again. I embrace the heartaches of defeat and of losing everything because I believe that one day all those challenges, all those bumpy roads will lead to pure happiness. I believe that the most difficult moments in my life make the good moments that much more wonderful. I often talk about the way I view love and risking your heart. Anyone who knows me knows that I wear my heart on my sleeve. Some people teeter on the edge of falling in love and are just too scared to take that leap of faith. Me... well, its safe to say I take about four steps back then go running, take a huge leap over the edge, throw in a few back flips and well, lets hope I learn to fly, and quickly. Sure I've slammed into the ground broken into a million little pieces, but I've always put myself back together, each time a bit stronger and a bit better of a person that the time before.

So what happens then when a risk seeker meet someone who is risk averse. One person wants to go flying over the edge, the other just can't seem to get over the hump. I've said it and I'll say it again, you just can't force people to do things, no matter how hard you try. The risk seeker can't push the risk averse over the edge... that's just not how life works. You can tell them to have a little faith until you are blue in the face but that won't work either. At some point the risk averse has to make a choice, take the leap or don't. The cool thing is, unlike the business world, in matters of the heart you don't have to do it alone. You get to take that risk with someone else. Kinda cool if you ask me. So you risk averse people out there, have a little faith, take a risk, yes you may loose a lot, but I promise you, you risk a whole heckofa lot more if you risk nothing. Don't let a great opportunity pass you by because you were too scared to put your heart out there. Grab the hand extended to you, close your eyes, and enjoy the fall...

...I will catch you.

<3 T