Erika Tedesco

I’m preparing for our first family trip to Disney World and, as you may know, Disney takes a lot of planning. I found a great packing list on DIS Boards and put it into a clear plastic page protector. This way, I can use a dry erase marker to check off what I’ve purchased, and then use the same list to note when I’ve packed everything. Easy packing!

I’ve been spending some free time getting ready for a trip to the Disney Institute. My husband and son are coming along and I’ve made them matching shirts to wear while they are running around Disney World.

I also started making Jackson’s valentines for his daycare class. He loves treats, so I thought these would be perfect:

Looks good!

Educators often are so focused on educating others that we sometimes neglect our own need to learn. Certainly, I learn new things in the course of my day- just today, I learned how to run reports using a new LMS (learning management system) and how to create a survey using an online tool. However, for someone who loves to seek out knowledge I sometimes find I don’t make time.

My 2012 goal is to carve out time each week to expand my professional knowledge about corporate training, team development and the healthcare industry I work within.

 

I have used Chick-fil-a as an example of great customer service in many of my presentations. Typically you find the service there courteous, helpful and polite. This was not the case as my family and I traveled in Chicago last weekend. We were tired and cold and just wanted to feed the little ones and enjoy our food. We found the only Chick-fil-a in downtown Chicago (practically brand-new) and went in for a bite.

We walked into the restaurant, four adults and two 15-month-olds both in strollers. The place was packed and we waited for a table to open. As we waited, the manager came over THREE TIMES to tell us, “I don’t have room for those strollers in here.” Oh, someone’s tongue must have been bleeding not to shoot back a smart-aleck retort!

He then came by a fourth time to suggest that we fold one of the strollers up. Only when we pulled out the baby with tiny little leg braces did the manager realize what a jerk he was being and help.

When we sat down to feed the boys their kids meals each bag was missing something, to which we had to get back up again and request the missing item.

The entire experience was so far from a typical Chick-fil-a meal that I emailed the company to complain. Contrary to belief, I don’t often do this and I was interested to see what, if any, the response would be.

Within 24 hours I had a email back from the company expressing concern and regret and offering me free meals. Three days later I received a phone call from the Owner/Operator of the franchise. As I described the manager she knew exactly who I was speaking of and promised to address the issue (and send me more free coupons!)

The coupons and phone call don’t make up for the aggravation we experienced, but I do appreciate their quick, personal responsiveness. I suspect if I had made the same complaint to another restaurant I never would have heard from them again. So, to Chick-fil-a Chicago… I will just chalk this one up to inexperience. Good luck achieving the Chick-fil-a service standards.

Word has gotten out around the office that I’m a baker and I was asked to contribute to the holiday bake sale. While everyone in my house was sleeping last night I was up baking cookies and cupcakes. The final product was Chocolate Caramel Brownie Cupcakes and “Three-Time Kentucky State Fair Blue Ribbon Winning Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies” (yes, that is their official name- until next year, at least!) I packaged the cupcake in plastic punch cups tied in a snack sack with a bit of ribbon. The cookies got a tag made from festive scrapbook paper stapled to the plastic baggie. Cute and only pennies more!

I’ll be giving a presentation on Wednesday on the value of SMART goals. SMART stands for: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time Bound. SMART goals turn vaguely well-intentioned ideas into attainable goals. I created a goal worksheet designed to help you walk through your own goals- feel free to use it to turn your New Year’s Resolutions into next year’s achievements!

What kind of learner are you?

In training, we say that there are three types of participants in any training session: prisoners, vacationers and learners.

The prisoners are people who see no real value in what you are teaching. They are only there because someone is making them. Having taught in some very tough prisons, I know that real prisoners are actually wonderful students. They want to learn; this is not the case for your average corporate participant.

Vacationers are just happy not to be doing their normal grind. They are ecstatic to not be at the cubicle. It doesn’t really matter what you are teaching- as long as there is catering.

Learners are the ones invested in discovering something new and worthwhile. They understand the WHY of training and have a commitment to growth.

It’s the job of the facilitator to turn the prisoners and vacationers into learners.            Which are you?

 

 

 

 

 

This Sunday I made Taco Soup, made courtesy of my idol, Miss Paula Deen. I took it to the office to share during a marathon planning meeting- it was a big hit!

This would be a perfect recipe for a post-Black Friday supper! It goes in the crock pot and is warm and ready when you are.

 

What would you do if given a combination of items like the ones to the left?

My challenge to the board of directors today was to create a transportation mode for my horse. (Who, luckily, was only three inches tall.) They could only use the materials given to them in those folders.

Instructions were simple. In small tables, each team was supposed to create a structure that, when combined with the other tables’ structures, would create a transportation mechanism. (Okay… maybe not so simple.) They had five minutes for each part of the challenge.

First part: creating six independent structures. Result? Failure. They tried to combine their efforts first, leading to five wasted minutes trying to talk over each other, rather than using the benefit of their small groups.

Second part: creating a traveling mechanism for the horse. Result? Iffy. They created something, but my (3-in tall) horse didn’t fit in it.

The moral of the story? Listen first, act second. Work with a collective vision. Be ready for challenges. Had they done these things, the challenge would have been more successful.

A successful team creates a successful organization.