November 1, 2008
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A Brand New Month
And so near the BRAND NEW YEAR and already the fall back set the clocks thing.
Wow. That is what I have to say about that.
Five days of my new job under my belt. Today I did the orientation. It was quite disorienting really. I am glad that I have already spent some time in the store I will be working at and have had some real mind boggling deli training. Today was all about the store CULTURE and MISSION and VISION and FIVE CORE VALUES statements. Powerpoint and videos were involved.
Enthusiasm or Herd Mentality?
Watching these videos were akin to witnessing a Holy Roller Church Glory on High kind of sermon only with Costumes, Wigs, Dancing, large vehicles and grocery bagging contests (called Bag Offs). This store, or family or CULTURE is pretty hyped up on itself. But, it is true that they have been climbing the numbers ladder of the Forbes 100 Best Places to Work since 2006. I guess everyone is just as excited as heck to be there.
The thing is I do not want to wear wigs, do a dance or yell out Mission Statements from memory.
One of those Bagging Champions is from the family owned and operated grocery store that I am now employed with
So I called a close friend that I know who has been there for about a year to see what she thought about all this. I told her about my impression of todays orientation but I also told her that working in the store and meeting my new “associates” has been very positive. I also felt the actual Deli training and facilitator for the training was very winning also. She laughed and laughed. She said that she was taken aback by the enthusiasm bordering on hysteria team slogan yelling stuff too. She said that she attended a couple of the huge rallies, events, raves and bag off competitions but stayed a very short few because they are mostly aimed at the many many many younger kids that work there. The baggers, curtesy clerks, check out kids and so forth. She said it would be ok. I would not have to wear wigs, dance but that I would eventually memorize all those slogans and probably win a some cash for doing it.
Huuuuuhhhhh? Win some cash? Well, I suppose I could memorize a slogan or two….
A Derik Van Beers piece in our exhibit
Tomorrow I head over to the gallery to help hang a new show. It should be cool. It is the “Art of War” exhibit along with some works by a father and daughter team of beautiful watercolors. Marie and Jean Pierre Pascal. I love her work, her dad’s work is a little more vigorous while Marie’s is delicate. They are French and her dad lives in France while she resides in the states with her husband. (I could find nothing on the net for their work, I am sorry!). The gallery guy says they want to keep me around to help with stuff. I say sure. I love that place.
I started a new job and my friend Deborah started a new romance this week. Well done, something she can appreciate more than I could right now. I wish her luck and love. I met the guy. He seems very nice.
Alas, alak, Alaska! Beautiful Girls, Beautiful Music
My daughter and her band hit the road tomorrow for a two month and coast to coast tour. One of the first shows is up in Portland with her brothers band. I miss him a lot. Those kids of mine. Joc has her new cd completed and my son has a record deal. So does Joc but I am not sure which label she has decided to release her new disc on. I got a burned copy though. Before everybody else. A first. Check out her site and go see a show near you. Pretty please…
Well, that covers that or at least the this of that. Oh, and it is raining. I am so happy about that.
Comments (10)
Cass-i
The Derik Van Beers piece you have on here is very good! Very creative.
I’m glad things are going well, or that you are being positive as usual and plugging along, smiling while walking through nails and broken glass. ?
Hey, you need to check out a guy named Ray Lamontagne. I’ve posted three of his songs on my site this past week. He’s good.
You take care. : )
John-o
ps: I’m giving you this mini for being your wonnerful self, and because I do not hate camping, and because it’s funny.
It’s raining in Davis. That makes me homesick.
Congrats on the kids! That is awesome. They are making their way in the world and it sounds like they are doing a great job!
Good LUck on the job. Those slogans and chants always weird me out.
I would certainly prefer to memorize slogans than to dance or put on wigs, but whatever it takes I suppose, to a certain degree…lol! I hope it all works out well for you!
Welcome to the rah rah world of positive corporate culture. The way I look at it, if a company doesn’t emphasize the positive and get people to talk and think about the positive things then things usually devo-lve into the negative. Things will work out for you once you get situated and firing on your own cylinders in your department.
Congrats on the continued music success your kids are having! You have a right to be proud mama!!
Happy Sunday!
What a schedule they have! If I happen to be in Nashville December 4, I’ll try to see them.
Congrats on the kiddos! Pretty amazing that both are musical and are following their dreams! I am so glad the job is going well, it sounds like fun, except the crazy part!
I hope your kids have an amazing adventure in the next months as Joc goes on tour and your son as he is living in Portland. I hope for you that you enjoy the job and really get the money you need for living a good life.
I would be seriously weirded out by some shit like that at a job, lol. I can see where it would be more aimed at the youngsters, though. I don’t wanna scream & dance & yell slogans… nor do I wish for my coworkers to have to do it. I just wish for them to do their damned jobs… which seems to be some sort of Mission: Impossible…
I’d be all down for working for some place that is among the best places to work, though… I can’t seem to find anything that even remotely resembles that around here.
@warweasel - Mission: impossible….nicely done war. Nicely done. You know I will be laughing (on the inside) about this in the weeks to come while at work and reciting all the stuff they are going to make me recite. ha ha ha….