Full Story
Monday, July 31, 2006
Sunday, July 30, 2006
My Manipulation
So i'm going to try to keep this brief.
I've been thinking lately and noticing more and more how work has changed me. I've noticed that i've learned how to become manipulative of people. It's actually kind of scarey to think about it like that, but to keep it simple and at it's basic level that's really what's going on.
So maybe some clarification of sorts is due cause that would probably be a bad place to leave this post. Manipulative is probably a horrible way to put it with all the negative connotations involved but a quick trip to dictionary.com only left me with a list of words that didn't really fit, but it did give me wily which is just fun, so we'll go with it...
Perhaps it's just who i am, but i've always been someone that others could consult easily (whereas the converse of that involving me opening up is generally a much longer process we'll side that for another blog post in and of itself). And not to jinx that it's just that i am genuine in what I do and understanding it's just something that comes naturally to me.
So now we start to bring all that in. As this is something that has always been there for me, and let me tell you this is a killer skill for an intense game of mafia, i have just worked on using what i got.
I find that when i go in with customers i now have a process. First i have to prove myself to them. Walking in people assume they know everythign and since, as they say, i'm as young as their kids, they assume i must only know what their kids know. Well they are wrong. and after i show them i know my stuff.
With success I now proceed to step two: Getting them to open up. This is where the magic starts. The nature of my job is to fix things and generally just help the customer with their job. So they have to confide in me for them to be helpful. The hard part of this is that i'm a salesman and they know that, and they put up this wall which makes the job hard sometimes. going back to people easily opening up to me i'm able to hurry this part along quickly.
Next we start to part three: convincing them that I know somethign that they need to know. People are fickle. We are all selfish and if we are all honest, despite how we want to be and act, we end up investing resources in those that have something we want. If i can't prove to them that i can fix their problem they aren't going to have me around that often, and without that i get no sales...
that's about all their is to the steps that i go through that are pertinent to this blog.
So now we will lead with some example. In my current big account, i have been able to position myself with the side of the customer so that they empathize with me for being the young person on the account, and to keep the story short having the customer side with me in what you would easily call a big bully small kid scenario.
Who know why it works like this, but the part that is scarey to me is that i find myself using this as an advantage often these days, such as when i take my car to be serviced so that I get bumped in line for faster service. It's like a super power, it's crazy.
Anyways, that's my thoughts, thought i would share since there's been a personal type blog here. What do you think is it wrong that i'm using that as an advantage. I mean in the instance for work, i really do have the customers best interest out there as I want to solve their problems, and there has been times when i've referred them to the better solution in which i make no sale. I know i can still sleep at nite and look at myself in the mirror when i wake up, so worse case i've just lost all remorse...
thoughts?
DISCLAIMER: This could all just be made up for story purposes...
I've been thinking lately and noticing more and more how work has changed me. I've noticed that i've learned how to become manipulative of people. It's actually kind of scarey to think about it like that, but to keep it simple and at it's basic level that's really what's going on.
So maybe some clarification of sorts is due cause that would probably be a bad place to leave this post. Manipulative is probably a horrible way to put it with all the negative connotations involved but a quick trip to dictionary.com only left me with a list of words that didn't really fit, but it did give me wily which is just fun, so we'll go with it...
Perhaps it's just who i am, but i've always been someone that others could consult easily (whereas the converse of that involving me opening up is generally a much longer process we'll side that for another blog post in and of itself). And not to jinx that it's just that i am genuine in what I do and understanding it's just something that comes naturally to me.
So now we start to bring all that in. As this is something that has always been there for me, and let me tell you this is a killer skill for an intense game of mafia, i have just worked on using what i got.
I find that when i go in with customers i now have a process. First i have to prove myself to them. Walking in people assume they know everythign and since, as they say, i'm as young as their kids, they assume i must only know what their kids know. Well they are wrong. and after i show them i know my stuff.
With success I now proceed to step two: Getting them to open up. This is where the magic starts. The nature of my job is to fix things and generally just help the customer with their job. So they have to confide in me for them to be helpful. The hard part of this is that i'm a salesman and they know that, and they put up this wall which makes the job hard sometimes. going back to people easily opening up to me i'm able to hurry this part along quickly.
Next we start to part three: convincing them that I know somethign that they need to know. People are fickle. We are all selfish and if we are all honest, despite how we want to be and act, we end up investing resources in those that have something we want. If i can't prove to them that i can fix their problem they aren't going to have me around that often, and without that i get no sales...
that's about all their is to the steps that i go through that are pertinent to this blog.
So now we will lead with some example. In my current big account, i have been able to position myself with the side of the customer so that they empathize with me for being the young person on the account, and to keep the story short having the customer side with me in what you would easily call a big bully small kid scenario.
Who know why it works like this, but the part that is scarey to me is that i find myself using this as an advantage often these days, such as when i take my car to be serviced so that I get bumped in line for faster service. It's like a super power, it's crazy.
Anyways, that's my thoughts, thought i would share since there's been a personal type blog here. What do you think is it wrong that i'm using that as an advantage. I mean in the instance for work, i really do have the customers best interest out there as I want to solve their problems, and there has been times when i've referred them to the better solution in which i make no sale. I know i can still sleep at nite and look at myself in the mirror when i wake up, so worse case i've just lost all remorse...
thoughts?
DISCLAIMER: This could all just be made up for story purposes...
Sunday, July 23, 2006
two things
So coming home from church tonite i realized some things about my neighborhood.
1) I am by far and large the only person at the end of the cul de sac that is conservative, let alone that by and by likes the current President.
2) My new renters across the street are already getting on my nerves. they are going two deep on the parking on the street. THis is a problem considering they leave their garage empty and no car in their driveway. Just because your driveway is steep doesnt' mean you don't park in it. It is hindering my parking manuvers and thus a change must occur. It must really bother the house beside them since they are parking in front of her house...
3) I only said two things, did you really think there was going to be a number 3?
Ok time for bed so I can make it against traffic and on time for the morning meeting.
Ok for real this time.
3) I just tried logging into my myspace account and their site is down. I'm thinking this is going to have some people very upset. I on the other hand enjoyed a nice game of pac man that they put on their site down page...
goodnite
1) I am by far and large the only person at the end of the cul de sac that is conservative, let alone that by and by likes the current President.
2) My new renters across the street are already getting on my nerves. they are going two deep on the parking on the street. THis is a problem considering they leave their garage empty and no car in their driveway. Just because your driveway is steep doesnt' mean you don't park in it. It is hindering my parking manuvers and thus a change must occur. It must really bother the house beside them since they are parking in front of her house...
3) I only said two things, did you really think there was going to be a number 3?
Ok time for bed so I can make it against traffic and on time for the morning meeting.
Ok for real this time.
3) I just tried logging into my myspace account and their site is down. I'm thinking this is going to have some people very upset. I on the other hand enjoyed a nice game of pac man that they put on their site down page...
goodnite
Friday, July 21, 2006
Promo
Check it out:
Our Office Promo for NBC
Now doesn't that make you want to watch the office?? I hope so...find out soon if our clip will be on tv this fall...
Our Office Promo for NBC
Now doesn't that make you want to watch the office?? I hope so...find out soon if our clip will be on tv this fall...
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Blowout
So while on the road monday I was coming down Wade heading towards the Beltline and right after Blue Ridge some joker in a truck not paying attention decides not only to start to merge way early, but to merge without looking.
Now that last part was crucial as its what would have kept him from merging into me. Noticing this occuring I have to swerve over into the far lane which puts me apparently right into line with some glass, or maybe even a roofing nail, i'm not sure, but anyways I get a really loud pop and I immediately swerve back over right in front of the guy that cut me off so that I can get my exit.
Now all the time post loud pop i'm accelerating to get ahead and make my exit, I am hearing a dreaded sound of a flat tire. I take the Hillsborough St Exit and Here off the side of the Beltline I sit on the hotest day of the year, changing a flat. I immediately regretted wearing the thicker dress clothes that day. It was a blowout as there was a chunk about the size of a 50 cent peice missing from the inside outer tread.
So as the story goes I get the spare tire on and make my way home to get approval for the replacement. I make my way to the NTB in crossroads, and stress to the guys that I need to have the car out of there by 4 pm. It was 3.10 at the time and they said it wouldn't be a problem. 3.50 they take the car from the front lot into the shop. I was not out of there by 4pm.
moral of the story, it's hot...now i'm going to go mow the yard...again...
Now that last part was crucial as its what would have kept him from merging into me. Noticing this occuring I have to swerve over into the far lane which puts me apparently right into line with some glass, or maybe even a roofing nail, i'm not sure, but anyways I get a really loud pop and I immediately swerve back over right in front of the guy that cut me off so that I can get my exit.
Now all the time post loud pop i'm accelerating to get ahead and make my exit, I am hearing a dreaded sound of a flat tire. I take the Hillsborough St Exit and Here off the side of the Beltline I sit on the hotest day of the year, changing a flat. I immediately regretted wearing the thicker dress clothes that day. It was a blowout as there was a chunk about the size of a 50 cent peice missing from the inside outer tread.
So as the story goes I get the spare tire on and make my way home to get approval for the replacement. I make my way to the NTB in crossroads, and stress to the guys that I need to have the car out of there by 4 pm. It was 3.10 at the time and they said it wouldn't be a problem. 3.50 they take the car from the front lot into the shop. I was not out of there by 4pm.
moral of the story, it's hot...now i'm going to go mow the yard...again...
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Let's go out to the Movies...
Ok so here comes a barrage of Movies. I'll start with the most recent and move into those that were not so recent...
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
I was really looking forward to this movie which in the case of a summer blockbuster it generally leads up to a bad thing. Over expectations and less than spectacular performances will lead to an un-enjoyable movie experiences 9 times out of 10. That was not the case for this flick, however that's not to say this goes without it flaws.
Hollywood has been less than receptive in past years of pirate films. They just haven't seem to catch on as the case with Hook. It was good but it wasn't that successful. Cue 2003 and Depp's performance of Jack Sparrow in Pirates: Curse of the Black Pearl. An overwhelming success, and we all know what success in Hollywood means...a follow-up in the form of a trilogy.
The returning cast is well pretty much everyone that lived through the first movie, which is one of my gripes with this movie. To be honest it almost seemed like they thought we wouldn't catch on that this was a sequel. The film was littered with references a plenty to jokes and comic relief from the previous film. While funny in parts, I found myself growing tired with so many throwback. Which brings me to a crucial point. If you have not seen Curse of the Black Pearl, you will undoubtedly be lost in the slew of throwback.
The swashbuckling (haha yeah i just said it) trio of Bloom, Depp, and Knightley return after some short amount of time has passed. The plot line is somewhat odd at the beginning and seems almost too convenient as if just to make the story work, but once it gets started, Verbinski does well at developing the plot put out by Elliot. By the end the story is rather well rounded and it does a great job of leading up to the final part of the trilogy. That's right there is no conclusion to this film, and if you want one, wait till next year. Think a typical 3 part opera, and well Verbinski follows like the rest of Hollywood.
As for the acting: Depp delivers again as a drunken/flamboyant Pirate. I found myself really liking Bill Nighly as Davy Jones. He conveyed the different layers of his character amazingly for a role layered with CG-over the top. I would almost say oscar worthy, but that's just me. Knightley again returns as some great eye candy, some people complain of her being irritating, I disagree. I find her acting rather good in this film, she grabs a lot of the camera's attention in this film. She is definately improving with each film she acts in, I forsee a future powerhouse actress, or maybe i just really love the accents. Bloom continues to deliever as Will Turner, which is kind of dry as with the last film, but I personally think that's a part of the role of Will Turner rather than poor acting on Blooms part.
An overlooked factor by most, is the soundtrack. The themes developed by Klaus BLENDT in the first Pirates really brought the first of the Trilogy over the top. Hans Zimmer takes the podium in the sequel and he doesn't miss a beat. Each of the characters themes are reprised throughout and with each of the new characters Hans brings a new sound to the table. Davy Jones theme in particular brings out all the layers of the character. Well Done.
In the end I really enjoyed the movie and to be honest I would go see it again. The film is already smashing box office records, and with that I'm sure there are plenty of people that are quite disappointed. Don't go in with expectations of this being the first film cause it's not. It's not something fresh and new, but it is a fun film (I really wanted to use "swashbuckling good time" there but I am going to refrain). This is a more adult film, and definitely more phantasmical than the first, so I don't know if I would want small kids going to see it, but that's just me.
I recommend the flick.
Superman Returns
I came to this movie in high hopes. A recovery from Superman 3 and Superman 4 was due, or this franchise should be put to rest for good (And yes I do realize that without Superman 3 we wouldn't have Office Space, but honestly, have you seen Richard Pryor in this movie? It's ridiculous).
Superman Returns Delievered. In the same fashion as last years Batman Begins, rather than a plot driven movie we get a character driven film. I really like this. We get a look at the hero, and their struggles of what they are dealing with rather than just watching things blow up and bad guys get beat up. The beauty of this is that all the other elements are still there. There are still explosions and of course the bad guy always looses.
Brandon Routh does an amazing job at a playing Superman. Many were against a Superman other than Christopher Reeve, but Routh does not disappoint, bearing a striking resembalance to Reeve.
I think this movie has plenty to offer and is definately a redeeming film for the series. Due to their timing and with Pirates coming out the week after, they will be hurt in the box office, but with the success they got opening week, and the ending, Superman returns II is definately going to be in the works.
This review is gonna stay short cause i don't have as much to say, other than I recommend this flick as well.
Mission Impossible 3
After MI:2, I honestly did not care about this film. This film is nothing like the 2nd of the series, a return to good film making one may say, directors realized that explosions for the sake of explosions didn't get people to the theatres. MI:3 brings non-stop action throughout with many different little twists as to be expected. If you haven't seen any of the other films then this is the MI to watch, avoid MI:2 like the plague.
My main concern with this film, has nothing to do with the film itself. Our marketing department made a huge ordeal about sponsering this film. Yet watching this I looked and looked was quite bothered by our marketing. The only 'cameos' of our products were in the form of a blurred phone on the desk that is of a euro model phone, then to have the one shot of a phone in focus to be of our competitor. I really wonder about our market department at times.
I recommend this film for some fun explosions and action. A story does exist with this flick as well. Definately check it out when it hits store shelves this fall.
Cars
This came out quite a while ago and i've been wanting to write about it. I loved this film. The story is amazing. Seeing the previews for this film 2 years ago i judged that this film would probably flat out suck. I was wrong. The story that they developed in this film is amazing and really has a good message. If you haven't seen it, Go now. Take the kids, they'll love it. It's definately worth the trip.
That's all.
I recommend if you couldn't tell.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
I was really looking forward to this movie which in the case of a summer blockbuster it generally leads up to a bad thing. Over expectations and less than spectacular performances will lead to an un-enjoyable movie experiences 9 times out of 10. That was not the case for this flick, however that's not to say this goes without it flaws.
Hollywood has been less than receptive in past years of pirate films. They just haven't seem to catch on as the case with Hook. It was good but it wasn't that successful. Cue 2003 and Depp's performance of Jack Sparrow in Pirates: Curse of the Black Pearl. An overwhelming success, and we all know what success in Hollywood means...a follow-up in the form of a trilogy.
The returning cast is well pretty much everyone that lived through the first movie, which is one of my gripes with this movie. To be honest it almost seemed like they thought we wouldn't catch on that this was a sequel. The film was littered with references a plenty to jokes and comic relief from the previous film. While funny in parts, I found myself growing tired with so many throwback. Which brings me to a crucial point. If you have not seen Curse of the Black Pearl, you will undoubtedly be lost in the slew of throwback.
The swashbuckling (haha yeah i just said it) trio of Bloom, Depp, and Knightley return after some short amount of time has passed. The plot line is somewhat odd at the beginning and seems almost too convenient as if just to make the story work, but once it gets started, Verbinski does well at developing the plot put out by Elliot. By the end the story is rather well rounded and it does a great job of leading up to the final part of the trilogy. That's right there is no conclusion to this film, and if you want one, wait till next year. Think a typical 3 part opera, and well Verbinski follows like the rest of Hollywood.
As for the acting: Depp delivers again as a drunken/flamboyant Pirate. I found myself really liking Bill Nighly as Davy Jones. He conveyed the different layers of his character amazingly for a role layered with CG-over the top. I would almost say oscar worthy, but that's just me. Knightley again returns as some great eye candy, some people complain of her being irritating, I disagree. I find her acting rather good in this film, she grabs a lot of the camera's attention in this film. She is definately improving with each film she acts in, I forsee a future powerhouse actress, or maybe i just really love the accents. Bloom continues to deliever as Will Turner, which is kind of dry as with the last film, but I personally think that's a part of the role of Will Turner rather than poor acting on Blooms part.
An overlooked factor by most, is the soundtrack. The themes developed by Klaus BLENDT in the first Pirates really brought the first of the Trilogy over the top. Hans Zimmer takes the podium in the sequel and he doesn't miss a beat. Each of the characters themes are reprised throughout and with each of the new characters Hans brings a new sound to the table. Davy Jones theme in particular brings out all the layers of the character. Well Done.
In the end I really enjoyed the movie and to be honest I would go see it again. The film is already smashing box office records, and with that I'm sure there are plenty of people that are quite disappointed. Don't go in with expectations of this being the first film cause it's not. It's not something fresh and new, but it is a fun film (I really wanted to use "swashbuckling good time" there but I am going to refrain). This is a more adult film, and definitely more phantasmical than the first, so I don't know if I would want small kids going to see it, but that's just me.
I recommend the flick.
Superman Returns
I came to this movie in high hopes. A recovery from Superman 3 and Superman 4 was due, or this franchise should be put to rest for good (And yes I do realize that without Superman 3 we wouldn't have Office Space, but honestly, have you seen Richard Pryor in this movie? It's ridiculous).
Superman Returns Delievered. In the same fashion as last years Batman Begins, rather than a plot driven movie we get a character driven film. I really like this. We get a look at the hero, and their struggles of what they are dealing with rather than just watching things blow up and bad guys get beat up. The beauty of this is that all the other elements are still there. There are still explosions and of course the bad guy always looses.
Brandon Routh does an amazing job at a playing Superman. Many were against a Superman other than Christopher Reeve, but Routh does not disappoint, bearing a striking resembalance to Reeve.
I think this movie has plenty to offer and is definately a redeeming film for the series. Due to their timing and with Pirates coming out the week after, they will be hurt in the box office, but with the success they got opening week, and the ending, Superman returns II is definately going to be in the works.
This review is gonna stay short cause i don't have as much to say, other than I recommend this flick as well.
Mission Impossible 3
After MI:2, I honestly did not care about this film. This film is nothing like the 2nd of the series, a return to good film making one may say, directors realized that explosions for the sake of explosions didn't get people to the theatres. MI:3 brings non-stop action throughout with many different little twists as to be expected. If you haven't seen any of the other films then this is the MI to watch, avoid MI:2 like the plague.
My main concern with this film, has nothing to do with the film itself. Our marketing department made a huge ordeal about sponsering this film. Yet watching this I looked and looked was quite bothered by our marketing. The only 'cameos' of our products were in the form of a blurred phone on the desk that is of a euro model phone, then to have the one shot of a phone in focus to be of our competitor. I really wonder about our market department at times.
I recommend this film for some fun explosions and action. A story does exist with this flick as well. Definately check it out when it hits store shelves this fall.
Cars
This came out quite a while ago and i've been wanting to write about it. I loved this film. The story is amazing. Seeing the previews for this film 2 years ago i judged that this film would probably flat out suck. I was wrong. The story that they developed in this film is amazing and really has a good message. If you haven't seen it, Go now. Take the kids, they'll love it. It's definately worth the trip.
That's all.
I recommend if you couldn't tell.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
wow
It's been pretty crazy busy here lately, i'll get back to posting soon for all you regular readers. Plenty of movies to review and life updates to come. Now we get back to work. I will leave you with this though...
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