Socially Savvy – a Positive twist and a 7 day Challenge

 We wake up each day with a boat load of things to get done, people to see, relationships to start, build and even end, running half crazy most of the time.  And it seems that only when strong emotions are triggered do we stop to take notice and usually those strong emotions are negative.  Someone has irritated us, mistreated us or through their lack of awareness let us slip thru the cracks.  This poses a problem if we are to create a more positive culture.

            Think about this for a moment.  All the businesses…. restaurants, lounges, department stores, repair shops,  construction companies, postal services………. All the business associates, mechanics, grocery clerks, sales associates, wait staff, garbage men and customer service people that make our lives easier and nicer on a day to day or visit to visit basis.  How often do you let them know you appreciate what they do?  Do you just expect it to be fab everytime? 

            We all need that positive reinforcement that what we are doing is making a difference in someone’s lives so someone needs to be the catalyst for this……will it be you?  Take time over the next 7 days to look the people in the eye that serve you and say “thank you”.  Follow up with a Review on google or Yelp, a customer service letter or comments to their manager.  Best is to commit it to paper so they can see it over and over again, to remind them that what they do makes a difference, and so that other’s may know what their strength are as well. 

            1 week to focus on the positive…… I wonder what will become of it…….

Socially Savvy Drinking

Here's one for the road folks!  Socially Savvy Drinking......kinda sounds like an oxymoron, but we are going to go there anyway! 

     There is a big part of Today's Social experience that includes drinking of alcoholic beverages, so i felt we should cover some of the do's and don't of Socially drinking as there have been quite a few examples of late of what NOT to do!  So let's start with the definition of Savvy: shrewd and knowledgeable in the realities of life.  Drinking: consume or be in the habit of consuming alcohol, esp. to excess......

With those definitions in mind, it is possible to be a Socially Savvy Drinker?  The answer, of course, is Yes…. It just takes some effort!  So, let’s start with this little bit of reality.  When we decide to go out and have a night on the town, we are usually wanting to let go, relax, step away from the reality of our daily lives, stresses, jobs etc or celebrate milestones in our lives.  With that said, I would think it would be assumed that part of being Savvy when people are drinking would be to NOT be the person or persons to mess up a perfectly good Buzz that we just paid good money to enjoy, by being rude, inconsiderate, Obnoxious or just plain stupid!  Here are some facts to consider:

1. Drinking is expensive…..don’t be the one to waste peoples money by messing up their buzz! 
1. Friends:  Stay positive and up beat – now is not the time to bring up topics of tention
2. Businesses:  Reminder – we are PAYING you to get intoxicated!!!!  Anything you do to mess that up is not only rude, but just plain bad business.  Teach your employee’s to think ahead, have solutions to problems BEFORE you approach customers with issues, and make sure to accommodate accordingly when your company has made a mistake or planned poorly.  Don’t make us quite literally pay for it!
3. Drinker – use discretion – you are paying good money to enjoy these beverages…..  don’t waste it by over indulging!  This is a Social experience….if you want to get wasted, go home where you won’t mess up anyone elses evening!!!
2. Know what kind of drinker you are: 
1. Happy drinker
2. Don’t drink often
3. Abnoxious drinker
4. Loud
5. Angry
6. Sleeper
3. Know where you body is:  be aware – have you been eating much that day?  How about working out a lot and rapidly droping your body fat levels?  These all affect how your body process the alcohol you are ingesting so think before you get going so you don’t go to far!

Driving arrangements – Have these set in place BEFORE you start drinking!  If you’re the DD, don’t change your plans and expect someone else to drive your drunk friend home!  Make sure to have cab money just in case or check with your restaurant/lounge manager – lot’s of times they have worked out special rates with local hotels so you can stay in town and be safe!

     Here are some Socially Acceptable & Not acceptable things to consider...

Socially Acceptable –

1. To not drink a drink someone buys for you!  To often this is where trouble begins – you order your drinks knowing you limits but then people start buying you drinks and you lose touch.  Thank them and ask for a raincheck
2. Apologize if you do something stupid while drinking – don’t blame it on the alcohol, just say sorry

(LB) Socially Unacceptable

1. To not know what level of drinking is too much for you!
2. Argue in public when drunk – keep it to yourself till you get sober – usually works out better that way
3. Drop your drinks on someone elses tab!  WHY do I even have to say this?!!!?

If Social is the goal, than remember, to do that people have to want to be around you! 

xoxo

LB

Savvy Power outage & snow tips

 

Ok – so the power is out and there is snow on your deck……  time to turn the house inside out!  Here are some tips to keep your house and your family afloat till things are back on track!

Food – Grab your cooler and through it out on the deck!  Your refrigerator & freezer will get warmer but your food can stay cold!  Milk, juices and spreads do great just placed in the snow! 

Cooking with no power - 

            BBQ – it’s great for more than just summer weather and you can put a pan in it and cook everything from meats to chocolate chip cookies! 

            Car power – For those of you who have car’s with an outlet or have a outlet adapter for your cigaret lighter: you can plug in a portable grill and tailgate it – put on some music and make the best of it! 

            Wood stoves – Need I say more – these things are the quintessential life saver when power goes out – so don’t be afraid to throw on a pot and make some tea or soup!!!

Don’t forget things like:

 ~ Letting your water drip to keep freeze from happening in the pipes

 ~Try to clear snow off your wood decks – it is uber hard on the wood and will age it

        fast

~ check snowy branches around entry ways, windows and driveways – try to get the heavy snow off so you don’t have blockages and breakage.

Places to go for the family:

            The Mall – is of course the first and most diverse place – food, shelter & heat

            Entertainment places:  Bowling alleys like Lucky strike, Work out gyms,  YMCA, the movie cinemas, and gaming stores usually are open if they have power. 

            Local Hotels – create a staycation by staying a night in town and enjoying in door pools, workout rooms and walks around the surrounding shopping areas.

Driving ~ The thing about driving in the snow is not the moving part.....its the stopping part.  Down inclines and hills:
Make sure to leave lot's of room between you and others so you can navigate through sliding and slipping.  Move slow and remember brakes are the enemy on snow and ice so avoid using them when possible.  
Up Hills:  The key to success with this is NEVER stop....  slow moving, power thru and steady eddy are the name of the game if you are going to make it up anything.  Look for fresh snow to grip when you can and salted areas.  Not a bad idea to keep some sand, salt and a shovel in your car just in case you get stuck - sometimes it only takes a couple inches of traction to get you going. 

Have a Generator?  Maximize your usage with things like pluggin in your hot water heater and taking bath's instead of showers......after bathing - leave the hot water in the tub and keep the door open - the heat it produces will continue for a couple hours atleast and take the edge off!  

Hope this helps and be safe!

A Savvy Start to your New Year

 

     Here we are at the beginning of a brand new year..... Full of hope, possibility and opportunity.  What do we do with it from here to make sure we can make the most of our year?  Here are some tips on how to get started AND keep the momentum going!

1.)   Write down the top 10 things you want from this year – make sure they are at least somewhat attainable!  ;)

2.)   Write down the steps you believe you need to take to get to those goals:  i.e. time invested, contact’s necessary, financial needs and personnel commitment

3.)   Set things in motion:  each week, make sure you are doing something to keep on track for where you want to be – follow up, follow thru and maintain.

4.)   Track your progress – there is nothing like being able to see even the slightest results to help keep you moving forward

5.)   Be prepared for failure.  When attempting anything, you will run into walls, loss of motivation or just downright hopelessness…. Remember this one thing – at any given moment thru your own actions, you can redirect or change your course if your not getting what you want….. You simply have to DO something and not wait for something to happen

6.)   Reward yourself – every self help, motivational book and speaker all say the same thing – make rewards for yourself along the road to your success!  You have earned them!

7.)   Reach out and bring in other’s to help – People love to help and be a part of things so look to those around you and don’t be afraid to approach them to bounce ideas off, pick their brain for idea’s or just get encouragement

8.)   Review and adjust.  Make sure you take time to check that you are where you wanted to be and not derailing of course.  Life will throw lot’s of things at you and some can be very tempting…. be sure that if you redirect, it feeds your original intention before jumping out there.

9.)   Finally, enjoy the fruit’s of your labor and share.  People need to see other’s succeed!  Feed the Hope of other’s around you by sharing in a positive uplifting manner, your success and encourage them on their own path!

Have a GREAT Start to this New Year!

A Socially Savvy end to the Year

As the year comes to a close we typically write off the last 2 weeks in hectic running around preparing for Christmas and New Years Eve.  This year I suggest trying to take some time to push for one more goal instead of waiting until the 2nd week of the New Year to start your Resolutions, Revelations or Revitalizations.  Stop for a moment and look around.  See the sky, the city in which you live, the home you have made for yourself, the friends you have and the work you do and celebrate what you have accomplished even if it is just maintaining or even starting over.  Make your new goals from a place of recognition instead of a place of desperation and see what falls into place well before the New Year Begins!  Wishing you the Best with Hope in your Heart and Success in your Future!

Socially Savvy Social Media for Dummy’s ~ Social Media Rules of engagement

 

     Ok……. Now I am ticked off!  Really?!?!?!  I have to write a blog on what should be common sense and basic curtesy?!?!?  FINE!  Here it is!

            Let’s look at the facts:  Social Media is an extension of who we are in a virtual world.  Where in the History of mankind did it ever say that just because you don’t see the person in front of you that it is okay to break every cardinal rule of curtsey, grace, social acceptance and just down right common sense?????  Am I missing something here?  Has Bart Simson and South Park really tweaked our perspective so dramatically that we cannot use our God give Brains to figure out what should and should not be acceptable?!?!? Apparently NOT – So Here is the Starter edition for Socially Savvy’s Social Media for Dummy’s!

1.)   If it’s not YOUR page – don’t post your agenda, link your business or promote your event WITH OUT ASKING FIRST on someone else’s page, blog or event!!! 

2.)   If it’s not your Picture, don’t post your agenda, link your business or promote your event with out asking first on the comment’s!

3.)   DO NOT use pictures to manipulate – tagging me in a picture I am CLEARLY not in, makes you look like an indigent….

4.)   Don’t complain about how people treat you on facebook if you don’t expect respect!  Swearing, being vulgar and posting lude pictures just proves you have no class, so don’t complain when someone calls you on it

5.)   Do not invite people to be part of a group they don’t fit in – i.e. – married people to a singles group

6.)   Do not forget that something posted can be retied!   Be aware!

7.)   Treat social media contact as you would a well-respected public figure or the president. 

8.)   Be positive in your interactions

9.)   Be aware of marital status when engaging in conversations

10.) Be considerate when posting opinions – if you want to keep friends

11.) If your account get’s hacked, message everyone and let them know!  They may not know you well enough yet to know that your not a low life sleeze after they have been flashed with a disturbing picture.

12.)  Understand the actual definitions of the words you are using – in a virtual world people only have the words in front of them so know what you mean and mean what you say.

13.) Don't spread Gossip...... you usually end up with egg on your face                  

Some things to consider when posting –

1.)   Be like Thumper….. If you don’t have anything nice to say……. Don’t say anything at all!!!  Don’t be a part of the virtual verbal vomit circling the globe! 

2.)   Being Politically correct was a kick back to the 60’s and the peace love and joy feeling of “Hey man, everyone is cool”…… It didn’t work then and it’s not working now – If your not willing to stand up and fight for what you believe in, sit down, shut up and stay out of the way

3.)    

I will be adding to this as new things come up!

Socially Savvy Listening

This Holiday season I have spent a lot of time watching and listening to people.  The Happy ones, the sad ones, the content and the discontent.  And one of the things I notices when they interacted talking with others was the difference between forming and opinion or judgment on what other’s were saying or just listening. 

            Let me explain.  With our interactions with each human being we cross, our minds make decisions on what passes between us…. we form opinions, make judgments, size up and draw conclusions bases on what people say.  It is when you don’t control your mind on these actions that you can do the most harm to yourself and your relationships.  We as a culture need to learn to “Listen” again. 

To Listen: give one's attention to a sound

• Make an effort to hear something; be alert and ready to hear something

This part of the definition I think gets so lost in our current state of culture.  To truly listen you have to try, and to try you can’t be busy forming opinions, judging or anything else while people are talking.  Quiet your mind and really hear the people you are taking precious moment’s of your life to interact with.  Then when they are done, take a moment and if it is appropriate, share how you feel too.  It is a different approach than putting forth your opinion or judgment a part of the way into a conversation.  Give people the floor; hear what they have to say and breath.  Sometimes it isn’t necessary for you to even have an opinion and recognizing this can help keep you from giving yourself ulcers and being left out of conversations.  Celebrate listening this season and see where it puts you.