Mistake #15: Mistakes are failures

I am grateful. I am grateful for my family, my friends, and my job. I have been through no jobs, working three jobs at a time, and bad jobs. But, I love my blog and I love my job. In fact, this past week I succeeded in winning a huge proposal (and several year contract) for the company, which will start off the New Year (once the contract is signed) in more than a plus.

I’ve had not-so-great experiences job hunting this time of year. My friends would say, “take time off, enjoy the holidays, and start looking after the New Year.” The problem is that when you are without a job, it is a full-time job to look for a job. Trust me on that one.

Then there are those who absolutely hate their job. (Been there, done that, have the T-shirt.) Regardless, find a way to count your blessings. Career Encouragement Blog gives great advice on ways to be grateful.

So, for 2008, when I look back and think of all the losers I worked for (and with), all of the jobs that were railroaded and/or set up for failure, I am grateful.  Some would look at those experiences as failures. I see these as opportunities. I learned so much from these experiences. I learned to be me.

For all of my readers, friends, and family – Happy Holidays!

 

Mistake #7: Experience, ex-smearience

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat in a business lobby waiting for my appointment, only  to get to listen to the receptionist complaining to her co-worker in the lobby about someone or something, and answering calls with a different personality in between the conversation.  I have walked out of those buildings thinking, “glad I don’t work there!”  Sound familiar?

What about customers? What do they experience? How do they feel when they walk away, hang up the phone, or log off?  Are they treated as a guest, or a pest?

 

I connect experience-related customer service to Disney.  I think Disney, I think fun. Disney Institute, a unit of Walt Disney World Company, just announced it is teaching classes at the nation’s lowest-ranked service airport, Miami International, to terminal employees on the foundations of Walt Disney:  giving customers a good experience.  Fun at Miami International Airport?  Hm.  That’s one to think about.

 

But my favorite example is Build-A-Bear.  Maxine Clark has defined the retail shopping experience, just as Tiger Woods has defined golf.  She combined shopping with entertainment.  So, what do you call that?  “Shoppertainment?”  Could Starbucks be defined as “Shoppertainment?”   I buy a latte, a CD, then sit and listen to music, and contemplate life while I log on and blog. I feel as if I have escaped for a short while.  Escape-ism + experience = shoppertainment.

 

What’s your Shoppertainment?