Slightly Off KIlter

Normal is overrated

Random Thoughts

  • Whose Reputation Is Really At Stake?

    When you work in Customer Service, your job is Customer Satisfaction. Whether you're in a call center, at the returns desk in a store, or working in a restaurant, your job is to keep the customer happy and wanting to come back again. While you're on the clock, you represent the company. You should never… Continue reading

  • People Leave Managers

    Axiom: People join companies, but leave managers We had dinner with a friend last night. She was feeling the relief that comes from having made, and accepted, a major decision. She's giving notice at her job on Monday. Her manager has been creating a hostile work environment. It probably would not be considered "hostile" in… Continue reading

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  • The Price of a Cup

    — Or A Tempest in a Coffee Cup There's a sign at Starbucks that says "Love your beverage or let us know. We'll always make it right." I think we can agree that arguing with a customer doesn't make things right; it makes things wrong (and annoying). I like Coffee Frappuccinos. I like them a… Continue reading

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  • Challenges

    I had an interview two days ago… One of the questions stumped me. The manager asked "Tell me about some challenges you've faced." Now, I know from reading Ask A Manager (AAM) that the subtext is "work challenges that can be related to the position we're talking about." So, even if I broke my toe… Continue reading

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  • Dreaming of Shoes

    The weird "logic" of the dreaming mind… First, let me say that I am not a person who goes barefoot. I occasionally walk around the house in socks. But I haven't gone barefoot (outside or indoors) since I was maybe 9 years old. Nevertheless, one of the dreamplots on my regular playlist is "I have… Continue reading

  • Who Represents the Company?

    Do you represent the company you work for? If you're the CEO, you probably agree that you do. What about a vice president? CTO? Customer support staff? Surely these roles do. What about a first-line manager? An engineer? An accountant? A receptionist? Precedent has shown that if you make it clear that you work for… Continue reading

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  • No WYSIWYG, Please. I Prefer Markup

    I recently applied for a writer/editor position with a company that looks like a good match for my interests. As part of their application process, they ask candidates to complete a few writing exercises. That seems like an excellent idea to me. There was just one small gotcha. Although the company uses a wiki for… Continue reading

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  • Our Industrious Day

    Our industrious day: breakfast at the diner fixing the garage door 1/2. The "spool" at one end had gone out of sync with its mate, causing the door to have a 1" or so gap at one end when it was "closed". Rich used vice grips with a chain jaw to twist the spool to… Continue reading

  • My Name is Me

    (Posted under the category, Supporters at My Name is Me. The site supports your freedom to choose the name you use on social networks and other online services. My name is Vicki. That's not the name on my birth certificate or how the IRS knows me. It _is_ the name my mother gave me. My… Continue reading

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  • “I don’t want Borders to go.”

    This evening as they were driving along, the child suddenly looked very happy. She shouted and laughed, "Lets go to Borders Book Store." Grandpa explained they couldn't because Borders were out of business. A while later he looked in the mirror. She was sitting very quietly. Her face was all scrunged up. The tears where… Continue reading