Retail Managers: Wake UP!!

If you're in a management position in a retail setting, you need to know, need to remember, that *YOUR ACTIONS* are teaching the new employees what's right and what's wrong.  Which creates employees with less and less motivation and skills to do a good job.  And *THAT* makes a difference to your bottom line.  So wake up and smell the dollars!!

When I left on Tuesday, the aisle that I'm responsible for was perfect.  I noticed that a new employee was creating a new section across from my aisle.  The next morning, I find that two shelves were stolen from my side and were used to create the new section on the opposite side. What should have happened is that the manager should have showed the new employee how and where to get whatever shelves or supplies are needed.  I happen to know that new employee was taking direction from  a manager, and frankly, I'm livid about how this was handled.  I wasn't ever impressed with this particular manager as he prefers to delegate rather than jump in a show someone new how things should be done.  Now I'm even more unimpressed with him.

RESPECT is a two way street.  If this particular manager ever needs something from me, the answer will be NO.  I've reached a dead end on this street with him.  

Tomorrow, on the white board where I write a daily inspiration,  that's going to be my quote:

RESPECT IS A TWO WAY STREET

However, I doubt he will get the message. 

Until he needs something.

*rant over*

Little Accomplishments = A Great Big Life

 I just watched the episode of ER when Dr Mark Greene dies; when Dr John Carter sits with an old man who's dying.  I was sad.  That's not exactly correct.  Watching the show made me sad. And maybe that's not all of it.  Watching this particular episode sometimes brings up thoughts about dying, the dying process, and those in my family who have already died.  

And then I watched an episode of 7th Heaven where Chandler Hampton needs to make peace with is father who is dying of lung cancer.  Father and son have never seen eye to eye, but despite their personal feelings about each other, they somewhat make their peace with each other.

All these shows bring up a wide mix of feelings inside me.  At my age, you begin to think about your own mortality.  Like the man Dr Carter was sitting with, who says "I could have done more.  I should have done more."  

But what would that more be? 

What can each of us do in our lives that would give us contentment when we're near the end?  Is it something that you've done? or something more you can do ?  When we're young, we have plans, we accomplish some of them, but never all of them.  Plans change every day and with every change in our lives, our plans change.  

But I think these feelings would be easier to deal with in the long run if we started looking more at the short term.  Make small goals each week or each month, to do something positive.  Doing these things are the important part, but its also important to remember those things we did, and how they made us feel.  That's the part that will help us deal with those questions at the end, remembering our little accomplishments, each one of them.   

Lots of people start a gratitude jar.  It's good to recognize that we're grateful for a house, or a job.  But why not take it a step further?  Why not write down the little accomplishments in a journal.  Just think what it could do for you if someone in your family could read them to you when you're nearing the end?  Or even better, how much more would your family members know about you after reading them - - even if they discovered the book after you're gone?  

Little accomplishments turn into a great big life!  So go out and live it!