lunch

so what if i ate an ice cream bar for breakfast

at 2:30.... in the afternoon

which is really like a late lunch.

all because i laid in bed all morning.

so what. it was good.

employees

i have learned quite a bit in the last couple of years about running a business. what to do, and what not to do. i think one of the most important things i've come to understand is how important employees are.

let me just share a couple of thoughts with you. i could go off on this subject but i will refrain for the time being.

1. employees are important!
2. if you are not willing to invest in good employees you need to do some re-evaluating
3. employees should be happy to work for you
4. you should treat employees like you are happy they work for you
5. a hard working, competent, reliable employee is hard to come by...so appreciate them!

sometimes there are situations where your employees need to be taken care of above other needs. unfortunately this may come as a financial or personal loss. yet, there are times that these losses are more effective in the long run to continue to have the loyalty of your employee.

let me share an example of bad employee relations:

say its tuesday and as a sales team there is a daily goal to reach in order to receive a bonus. after a hard days work the sales goal is reached and each person goes home that night with a $50 cash bonus in their pocket (good employee relations). a few days later you hear a customer service concern with one of the customers from tuesday. a few more days pass and you learn that despite your VERY strong policy of no returns the owner has decided give this customer a full refund due to a mistake on the stores part. the mistake was caused by the manager who pushed the sale when she could not guarantee that all services would be met. this is fine. the store knowingly made a mistake and went against policy to satisfy a customer. BUT since this sale was originally made on that tuesday and was refunded it essentially is removed from the sales numbers that day. therefore that goal technically would not have been reached. since that is now the case, the bonus is now void. and despite the fact that each employee walked home with CASH in their pocket the employer has asked for that $50 back from each employee 7 days later. ONE whole week. either in cash or to be taken from their next paycheck.

seriously? this is NOT ok, so not ok. had the bonus not been cash it may have been a different story. but money was given to employees that night! for a mistake that their boss made!

awful employee relations, awful.

if as an employer you are not willing to lose money in an unusual situation like this, that type of incentive should not be in place. but this should be one of those situations where employee needs should be taken care of above a financial loss in the store. (let be honest....$150 to employees is not that bad compared to a $5000 sales day) it just leaves a very bitter taste in employees mouths, and can potentially negatively affect the company in the future.

so treat your employees well! dont be afraid to show them that you are willing to take a loss for them to be happy.

the end.

glide

in the mornings they glide on the south side,
and in the evenings they glide on the north.

i always count to see how many of them are there when i pass the point.

i've always wanted to try it.

some days are lonely.
and things are kept to myself.

so i try to turn them into my little moments.
where i enjoy something for myself. and just myself.

A Mother

I love the difference between the pamphlets for fathers and mothers. The one to the men is essentially a list and very to the point. Whereas the one to the women is very touchy feely. It explains more of why the things listed are important and include a lot of praise for the women. It is made very clear that a mothers calling is the greatest of all. The following are from Ezra Taft Benson.

A mothers responsibilities are (with a few reasons why) :
--first and most, mothers are to conceive, to bear, to nourish, to love, and to train children. "to multiply and replenish the earth"
--eagerly and prayerfully invite children into her home
--to not postpone having children
--have children, and have them early. mothers who enjoy good health, be sure not to curtail the number of your children for personal or selfish reasons. to have those sweet spirits come into the home is worth practically any sacrifice. (did you get that......practically ANY sacrifice. that's huge.)
--spend her full time in the home in rearing and caring for her children
--take care of the family
--be an assistant to her husband, to work with him, but not to earn the living except in unusual circumstances
--make home a heaven for her family
--spend time with her children
--take time to be at the crossroads when her children are coming or going, when they leave and return from school, when they leave and return from dates, and when they bring friends home
--be a real friend to her children
--listen to her children, really listen
--talk with her children, laugh and joke with them, sing with them, play with them, cry with them
--hug and honestly praise her children
--take time to pray with her children. have children feel her faith as she calls down the blessings of heaven upon them
--take time to have meaningful weekly home evening. make sure to have her children actively involved in this
--teach children correct principles
--take time to be together at mealtimes as often as possible. work at sharing the days plans and activities. have special teaching moments at mean time
--take time to do things together as a family. make family outings and picnics and birthday celebrations and trips special times and memory builders
--attend events as a family where one of the family members is involved
--attend church meetings together and sit together as a family when you can

"The ability and willingness properly to rear children, the gift to love, and eagerness, yes, longing to express it in soul development, make motherhood the noblest office or calling in the world. She who can paint a masterpiece or write a book that will influence millions deserves the admiration and the plaudits of mankind; but she who rears successfully a family of healthy, beautiful sons and daughter, whose influence will be felt through generations to come, ...deserves the highest honor that man can give, and the choicest blessings of God." David O. McKay

"I promise you the blessings of heaven and 'all that the Father hath' as you magnify the noblest calling of all-- a mother in Zion."

I'm so grateful to have such a wonderful mom. She has taught me so much.  I hope as I learn and grow and continue to develop myself now that I can prepare to be the a good mom, just like her.

i admit

when i open facebook and see announcements that people are engaged or having a baby....my heart gets sad and drops a little.

you may be saying, "oh lucy, don't be a baby." but seriously..EVERYone is getting married and making babies. its not uncommon on my news feed. just today i had three announcements of this exciting news.

its a bitter sweet feeling.

dont get me wrong...i'm excited for them, maybe just a little jealous.