Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Here’s another quick hello before I leave early for work. As a relief, last night didn’t bring new snow, so this morning needs no window scraping.

The weather impacts my work in the Garden Department without customers. At least, not enough of them to keep us all busy. As the department’s newest employee, I’m stuck with plant watering; it’s a one-person job.

The hose watering system is turned off, as it’s still cold enough for the pipes to freeze. So, I drag around the store’s one smallish portable waterer. To prevent leaving puddles on floors, I haul plants outside, drench them, and bring them back inside. That makes me be outside in the cold and also is b-o-r-i-n-g.

Garden customers will start arriving at the beginning of real spring. That could be in late April or mid-May. Meanwhile, I don’t enjoy the hours of watering plants and have begun wanting other work. I like being at HD, but I am uncertain how to go about altering my role at this point.

As usual, in order to move forward with a question, maybe a long-time employee will be informative. I would start creating a personal “road map” to my next steps.

Dear Friends: Now, it’s off to work for me. Diana

In the workshop with Peaches

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Peaches is residing in his new cage and appears to love being there. I’m disappointed because this cage isn’t smaller than the one it replaces. Anyway, it’s prettier and will be easier to clean. The structure is made of stainless steel and brightens the area where it sets. Soon I will have photos to post.

Right now, I’m off to work. This week all my workdays are requiring early entries. Bummer.

Dear Friends: More snow fell last night and this is a window-scraping morning. Diana

My neighbor, Johnny, and my 3 equines

Monday, March 27, 2023

Today, I’ll walk my equines down the street to a neighbor’s pasture, where they will graze all afternoon. That neighbor came into Home Depot yesterday, and we caught up with each other. My animals haven’t gone to his pasture for months because the neighborhood vehicle traffic is becoming too challenging for me.

Usually, as vehicles pass us my equines are unflappable. However, if one of those big animals should happen to spook, its quick hooves could endanger me. There are new factors limiting my walks with them on the street.

One is the increase in silent electric vehicles. They come from behind; suddenly I’m aware of one whizzing past. Another is the population explosion in this previously small community. New residents driving many of the passing cars have never seen a human walking with horses on the street.

In the old days, being out on the street with my horses felt comfortable and fun. The locals gave horses the right of way, and drivers slowed or stopped. While passing, they smiled and waved. I could hear car motors coming and would move my animals nearer one or another side of the street.

Anyway, my equines have been trapped in their dry lot for months. Today, I’ll take a deep breath and give them an overdue, well-deserved outing to pasture, by taking that walk.

Dear Friends: The improving weather soon also will be great for riding horses. Diana

Bacon for Breakfast

Sunday, March 26, 2023

Peaches’ new cage has arrived. It’s in a large, heavy box and unassembled. The effort to put together this stainless steel parrot cage seems daunting, but soon it’ll happen.

Peaches’ current cage has been his lifelong home. But, he’s the smallest type of Cockatoo, and his old cage doesn’t suit his size. It came with the bird. He easily gets around in it and loves all his space.

It’s me, who considers the cage too large, and oversized for my living room. It’s also too wide. I can’t move it through the hallway, and into other areas.

I’ve not replaced his original cage because of its great asset, as a very heavy structure with welds Peaches can’t break, and he’s both determined and capable of breaking them. He used to have a secondary cage with places wired together that were evidence of his destructive skills. Anyway, that other cage no longer belongs to Peaches. It’s long been the home of Gilbert, a rescued racing pigeon.

After assembling the new cage, I’ll move his old one onto an outside deck. It’ll become a secure bird-playing area in nice weather. What’s cool is that Gilbert’s smaller cage can be rolled outside and parked near Peaches’s cage. Companions!

I’ve not been able to find an appropriate cage locally, and the new one comes from an online source. I hope it turns out to be smaller, while also large enough for the very active Peaches. Also, hopefully, this cage will be easier to clean; the old one has been cumbersome to clean.

Dear Friends: Before and after photos soon will come. Diana

Saturday, March 25, 2023

Oh dear, snowing again. Yesterday’s snow action was on and off, but overnight lots fell. Outside this morning, it’s beautiful but not deep for snow-blowing. What has landed calls for windshield scraping. I’ll do that before leaving for my work in the Garden Department. Today, we will be overstaffed. Few live plant-oriented customers show up in snowy, buyer-limiting weather.

When we are overstaffed, necessary chores are dispatched early. And then, we start searching for tasks to keep us busy. The store’s long-timers tell me that customers will crowd us nonstop when our area’s spring weather calms.

I’m not much of a gardening person and thus fill quiet time at work by learning more about plants. While working in the store, we are allowed to use our personal phones, and I do lots of searching online for plant information. That can keep me busy and inform responses to potential questions.

Yesterday, I asked the store’s HR person for an org chart. Guess what, there isn’t one. However, she kindly wrote out one for me. The helpful reference raises questions. Why doesn’t a massive company like Home Depot routinely provide individual store org charts, employee handbooks, and, mostly, essential sales training?

Okay, I’m old school. I know the times have changed. So have the economy and businesses. Nonetheless, many workers’ needs haven’t changed at all. I’m just sayin’.

Dear Friends: That “org chart” will inform me more about who’s speaking with me. Diana

Friday, March 24, 2023

This little dog’s treats come in tiny bits torn from the cheese stick his person carries. He knew how to keep the heavenly bites flowing his way.

In a switch from little to super-size. This Great Dane, a 9-month-old puppy, was bigger than me.

Yesterday, my funniest dog sighting was a Border Collie. He was riding on a flatbed that his person was pushing.

A matched pair of therapy dogs. They help to ease their Vetran-person’s PSTD. Both pups are incredibly sweet.

And, for good measure, another cutie. A sleek Manchester Terrier.

Dear Friends: While at work, playing with dogs isn’t all I do, but I do lots of it! Diana

Thursday, March 23, 2023

Yesterday, while I was working part-time at Home Depot, I received a “Homer Award” and learned that’s a big deal.

That day, I had clocked in at work at 6 a.m. Having learned the store’s routines, I stayed busy until 7 a.m., until HD’s daily team meeting started. During that meeting, the store’s assistant manager spoke of numbers, goals, and changes ahead. Meanwhile, I wondered why he didn’t include some direct sales training. I’m an occasional customer in the store and have seen missed sales opportunities from inadequate staff training. After the meeting, I took a deep breath and approached the manager.

I asked why sales staff weren’t receiving direct sales training, and explained some of my own customer-oriented expectations and failed sales opportunities. He didn’t interrupt but listened, and he heard me. Then, he explained the store’s structure, sales trends, and leadership in HD’s larger territory. He spoke of ways HD attempts to improve staff performance. Above all, he said how well he appreciated my observations and feedback. He encouraged me to speak similarly among my co-workers. When we parted, I felt good that he had listened, heard, and cared.

Later in the morning, that manager appeared in the aisle where I was working. He said that my name often has come up as an impressive employee. He added that my observations and caring were worthy of a Homer Award. Another person was working in that aisle and applauded. She told the manager that early on I had questioned her about details of her job, and said such questioning is unusual. The entire feedback in that aisle surprised me.

I’ve had several part-time jobs over the last year. Yesterday, for the first time, I really felt proud, and essentially became unplugged. On returning to my work, I greeted customers more enthusiastically and worked harder to assist them. I am eager to increase our sales. Besides supporting me, HD notices my efforts.

I tracked down the coworker who had witnessed my Homer Award. She explained how I could respond to that manager’s kindness by filling out an HD feedback card, detailing what had occurred and why it was good. I completed a card, handed it to him, and he was pleased. He pinned that card onto the store’s big feedback board.

Today, I’m eager to return to work. I am looking forward to greeting customers and practicing ways to support the store’s goals and objectives.

Dear Friends: Finally, genuine support for my sales knowledge, in today’s working environment. Diana

Sorry, but today I’m unable to pause, think, and write, for having to be at work by 6 a.m.

Tomorrow morning will allow more time for saying hello.

Meanwhile, do have a good one!

Best, Diana

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Today is my final day off in a lovely string of three days of not having to work. I’ve reserved this morning to take tax-related documents to my preparer in Redmond. While there, I may visit a few favorites: Oregon Feed, Super Walmart, and Bi-Mart. I could visit some of them here, but I enjoy checking out the Redmond stores.

Yesterday, I cranked up the tractor for the first time after a couple of years. Its engine started immediately, and the machine handled all I asked. High on my list was removing several heavy concrete pieces that forever have seemed unmovable. After that, I used the tractor to redistribute accumulated winter-frozen horse muck; this warmer weather has softened the dry lot. Overall, my property began looking much better. That inspired me to consider cleaning even more and planting flowers.

That work happened to occur on the calendar’s official “first day of spring.” A surprise that I didn’t tune into before completing all the work. So, all the focus and accomplishments were serendipitous!

Tomorrow’s return to work has me showing up at 6 a.m.: the pits!

Dear Friends: The sun, shining early, indicates that today will be beautiful. Diana

Monday, March 20, 2023

We often read about AI and how that technology will affect commonly understood jobs, with its powerful potential for doing the heavy lifting, communicating across workplace functions, and influencing complex creative arts, like writing, illustrating, and filming. While learning about AI and how it may alter elements in our lives, I consider what’s lacking at a very human level and is fixable.

My thoughts are about selling skills which are becoming a lost art. Selling is communicating; today, that seems to be happening too little in customer-oriented environments. I work for a large building and home supplies retailer and will illustrate using some personal buying experiences.

I was seeking a battery-powered sander. The salesperson recommended a tool that would work but didn’t include a battery. Upon my request, the salesperson pointed me to a standalone battery/charger package. I bought the tool and battery, but driving home, I thought about not being asked if I could use another tool, one packaged with a battery that could drive both devices. Possible additional sales lost.

On another occasion, seeking a battery-operated tool, a salesperson directed me to one that didn’t include a battery. Upon my request, that person showed me a packaged battery. On arriving home and examining my purchases, I didn’t see an included battery charger. The salesperson had not asked if I needed a charger.

Selling is all about communicating. It’s about asking questions. What’s the intended project, what materials may be needed, and is there an adequate working plan? Questions open a world of advising, coaching, and selling possibilities. A salesperson taking time to communicate with a customer initiates a relationship. Even without a sale on the spot, communicating invites a customer to return for assistance from a helpful salesperson.

We all have experienced similar situations; examples are in the millions. What puzzles me is the ballyhoo about new technologies and their potential to improve worker performance. I ask, what has happened to good old-fashioned training? If workplace performance equates to dollars, why aren’t companies providing better job training and incorporating the invaluable attribute of communicating?

Humans who do less than necessary in their jobs, and perhaps even as little as possible, are forcing more AI technology usage in workplaces. However, AI never will replace people and couldn’t because communicating well is the key to optimal outcomes. Instead, companies must train employees more thoroughly and teach them how to converse with customers to explore their needs.

Dear Friends: Here’s another rant from an old-school former sales trainer. Diana