Hi from Destiny

I have a six year old niece.

She sent a message to me today via a coworker who's son goes to the same school. She said to say hi and to have a good day.

Is it amazing that a six year old understands the power of making a connection? Or have we (as adults) just forgotten how?

A blog is about making a connection. If it wasn't, it would be a diary.

I absolutely want to make a connection... I want to share my ideas, to learn from others, and then to grow those ideas.

So, in the spirit of my very wise six year old niece... Hi. I hope you have a good day.

Survey's

I often hear: if you don't know the answer to something, you should ask. So, who better to ask then the people you are there for, right?

Last week I was invited to participate in 2 different surveys. One from my employer and one from a web community.

The employer survey went like this:

1. An enterprise email from the Behavior Improvement Team (sic) promising it will only take 20 minutes and is anonymous.
2. 29 questions, of which 25 are required.
3. When you put the first 5 questions together, you can figure out who the responder is.
4. A follow-up enterprise email stating that it really is anonymous.

The web community survey went as follows:

Q1: How likely are you to attend and event in Milwaukee?
A: 1 (unlikely) to 10 (very likely)

Q2: What is the reason for your answer?
A: a text box where I can enter my reason how ever I choose.

So what's the point of highlighting these two surveys?

The web community survey made me feel as if a real person was reading the responses. Then this real person would actually use these responses to determine if the event was good as stated, or needed to be modified. Also whether Milwaukee is a good choice of location. Two thoughtful answers from one question for less than 2 minutes of interruption from it's constituents.

My employer's survey, felt more like bait and switch. True, employee satisfaction is meatier than a one-time event, but... (1) a Behavior Improvement Team feels like something you would encounter in a Corrections Facility, (2) multiple promises of anonymity makes me feel they don't mean it, (3) previous similar activities resulted in no action.

Wouldn't it have been better for the employer to actually observe their constituents, make changes accordingly, and lead with action not words? This builds trust. Then they could use the survey tool for one topic such as "Do you know how you fit into the company mission?"

I don't think organizations want to intentionally irritate or insult their constituents.

Laughter

Sometimes my husband and I just start laughing. Laughing for no reason. Once we get started, it gains a life of it's own. When it's over we feel great. Energized and Happy.

Laughter really is the best medicine.

First Frost

Today, I scraped ice off my car windows.

It's the first time this season.

Winter is coming!

Decisions

This weekend a campaign canvasser came to visit.

She was not the first from this campaign, nor will she be the last. I politely told her that I had made a decision, would not share it with her and that I intended to vote on actual election day.

After she left I began to wonder why there is so much focus on the Presidential election. Why not more attention for the 4 of 5 congressional seats that are up for election? What about the several judges, district attorney and bonds we are also voting for this year? Why is it that we only seem to care about the President?

Of course, if my canvasser had been paying attention, she would have noticed the yard sign we put up in support of her candidate less than 2 hours before she came by.

Babies

In one of my earlier posts, I label myself as an Alpaca Breeder. Here's proof. Introducing:

Alpacamundo's Augustus - white male, born 8/22/08

Alpacamundo's Daisy - brown female, born 9/13/08

Optimism

It's hard to be optimistic when it seems as if the world is falling apart.

• Financial Systems
• Outsourcing
• Disease and Illness

But really, the world is an amazing and wonderful place.

• Babies being born
• People helping people
• The sun coming up every single day.

I love our planet and I love my life. I have no idea what tomorrow (or even today) will bring, but I do know it will be an adventure.