Seeing opportunities and appropriately presenting them at the right time

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Quite a mouthful and quite hard to do.  

When my 4 brothers come to my house they always ask me for “good & naughty stuff” (sweets & treats), but I’m not the mom, I can’t make that decision, and so off they go to find mom. They are still learning what to ask whom. Right after Christmas they always get excited about a new toy one of their friends got, don’t they know I’m broke from being Santa and that they just got 100 new presents that are still scattered across the living room?! They are still learning timing….they are not selfish, or spoiled, they are just excited at the opportunity of the new toy! In a few years these boys will learn, when mom is in a good mood she will bake cookies, when she is depressed she will buy you clothes.

I’m not sure why but it is always easier to see inappropriateness from the outside, rather than when you are in the mix. I have so many ideas but many times I don’t know where they would fit, how to tell someone, or when would be a good time to talk about it.

(find opportunities that improve)

Your uniform is all black and you want the shirts to be maroon: If something is working don’t change it unless it is a substantial improvement. Why maroon? Will this bring in more sales? Do people with maroon shirts work harder? Does maroon hide spills more than black?

(ideas are great, but they need to enhance, not clash)

If you are having a black tie event, don’t serve wings: A mistake I have made many times is trying to fit an idea (different flavored wings) into a situation that just didn’t fit (black tie event). Default to traditions that have worked in the past if you see yourself in a jam, just serve something you can eat with a fork and knife.

(timing is everything)

Your boss just got back from a vacation in Jamaica and there was a huge catastrophe while he was out: Chill, if this catastrophe can’t be fixed let him get his coffee, second if it was so bad you should talk to his boss to help you out. Timing is important, this catastrophe will have to be explained but figure out a time that he would be able to help you, don’t overwhelm him the second he walks through the door.

(don’t make spam)

“Boss, Boss, look at this awesome new desktop collage I made for everyone in our department”….Don’t waste work time to create things that no one else cares about. Just because you are passionate about it doesn’t mean it will contribute or interest anyone else.

Hailey Schultz