Movers and Shakers Queried: Everyone earned their spring this year. What do you hope to professionally accomplish this spring and what do you hope to enjoy this spring? Here are the Best Answers!
Spring is here!
"After the snow of February and the rain, wind and chill of April, I hope to get through spring without physically assaulting our crack meteorologists.
And I hope to be able to enjoy a round of golf wearing something less than 3 layers of clothing."
-Gerry Brooks, News Anchor, NBC Connecticut
Professional Spring Objective: I am determined to accomplish two things:
1. Carefully examine *everything* that I do on a repetitive basis and determine if it can be trained to someone else in my company. Even if the task appears too difficult or complex, I suspect that we are probably not coming close to tapping the true potential of some of our team members. So, major step forward in delegation (with follow up and accountability).
2. Training! Why do we small business owners see the value in our own continuing education - in the way of trade journals, seminars, management groups, conventions, etc. - but seem to think that we can simply give initial training to a new employee and let them run on auto-pilot from that point forward. I am intent on creating a formalized set of training modules that are something akin to Boy Scout merit badges. A narrow topic would be covered in a "white paper" of no more than two pages, followed by a 10-15 question test (which could be taken online). This would allow each employee to choose specific areas that interest them, and earn these "certifications" at their own pace. They can achieve special awards and recognition for reaching milestones (e.g. 5, 10, 15 certifications etc), and their level of commitment would have a quantitative component for annual reviews. Certifications would be subject to "re-testing" each year to keep the knowledge fresh and current. I have compiled a preliminary lists of topics which is over 75 entries long - and that's just the beginning!
Spring Personal Enjoyment Objective: This is so un-original - but relevant nonetheless … I want to get my golf handicap below twenty. Enough is enough already! The greenskeepers at my club are considering circulating a petition to impose a "landscape surcharge" on my membership alone. :-)
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John-Claude Hallak
Hallak Cleaners
2011 American Drycleaner National Plant Design Grand Prize Winner!
Wish this guy a happy birthday if you see him today
"We are working on a proposal for a School of Design to be based in Puerto Rico. This Spring is our goal for completing the first step!
What we hope to enjoy most this Spring is more people wearing hats with style and swag! Put a flower on your heads, nor in your lapel, people, and sally forth."
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Ellen Christine
Ellen Christine Couture Millinery
"The winter was so brutal that we all should be even more thankful Spring is finally here! I'm hoping to continue to expand Star Vodka into the homes of tastemakers across the country and find a little time to relax and enjoy the sun!"
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Charles Ferri
Founder & CEO,
Star Vodka USA
"I would like to continue building my portfolio. Since I am currently employed with Laura Geller Beauty I haven't been able to focus on my personal artistry.
I can't wait to enjoy the spring weather and work out outside!"
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Renee Lynn Smith
Make-Up Artist
"I will be working with a well known professional on American Made Dorm & Home and Liz and Roo Fine Baby Bedding, creating unique brand identities for each, followed by development of core marketing strategies. I am extremely enthusiastic about taking both of these fledgling companies to the next level. We'll be meeting over a six month period to define winning aspirations and goals for each business. These two product lines have grown to the point that they each need (and deserve) their own identity and management. It's an exciting spring for us and one filled with challenges and hard work. The opportunities for growth (and expansion) are endless!
To enjoy Spring, I need only to step outside into my garden. Planning new flowerbeds, cleaning up old wood stalks and other debris from the winter, and watching the new buds emerge is a joyous thing!"
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Caroline Eager
Founder and President of American Made Dorm & Home
"The Winter was cruel for the Big Apple Circus. I had to live through two sets of ice storms in Atlanta...nobody buys tickets (even advance tickets) during ice storms. And the frigid weather in early April in Boston. Living at the Circus site (City Hall Plaza) was awful. In late April in Boston the sun came out and the circus goers came to the tent in droves, just like they came to the Marathon. Whew! I will enjoy my spring reading whomyouknow.com I can't wait to see the full coverage of the cherry blossoms from Washington DC that Peachy did."
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Paul Binder
Founder, Big Apple Circus
Author, Never Quote the Weather to a Sea Lion,
and Other Uncommon Tales from the Founder of the Big Apple Circus
"I am excited to have just met and to be working with executive producer J. Miles Dale, who purchased the film rights to The Corruption of Innocence, a Journey for Justice. I look forward to enjoying this new adventure as we move forward this spring in a team effort to bring all the players together to the big screen. I am so inspired watching my dream unfold as my mission to inspire and educate people globally continues to develop along this wonderful path I call my destiny. I hope to read and enjoy some of Peachy's new recommendations in READ THIS."
-Lori St. John
Author
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"Spring has always been good to me as a writer/poet artist and composer.
Spring, artist spring, seems to come earlier each year for me, this year it began in late January
(ironically enough considering the length of this past winter).
I happen to be traveling to new states to perform my music,
and I am working with a musician for my new Derek A. Dempsey Band.
I feel this is my year to take my music to a new audience on a national level.
I hope to record my new album 'The People Always Pay' and start my first album of Irish songs.
Songs which mean something to me, and the struggle of the Irish people,
still dealing with our ongoing arrested development born of the direct result of colonization.
Because my work is my passion, I will enjoy the build up to summer,
as well as our annual Wisteria House Arts Barbecue at our home, with friends, family and fellow artists."
-Derek A. Dempsey
Musician and Artist
"What I hope to accomplish this spring professionally is broadening the brand of my business Physical Advantage by creating a chain within the chain of major gyms across the country. As other chains of massage therapy fortify the ideology of massage as spa experience...Physical Advantage affectionately known as the" Anti-Spa", will bring it into the platform of a visible component of physical therapy.
On a personal note however, I intend to just let the warmth of sunlight burn into my memory in case we ever get another winter like we had!"
-Laurie Towers CEO
Physical Advantage PC
"I hope to accomplish: A successful dance company benefit event and silent auction to support our September Season.
I hope to enjoy: Some time in the sunshine."
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Chriselle Tidrick
Artistic Director of Above and Beyond Dance
