Goodwill

My favorite new store is GoodWill!!

Check out these 'vintage' purses I bought for $8.00 total!  ($4.00 each).

I can just picture that straw clutch with my bright green 'golf' shorts, a flowy white top and bright wedges.     The colorful clutch would be great with an all white outfit or an all tan outfit.  I think it would really pop!  The bright pink sticker is just the price tag I haven't taken off yet.

Living life to the fullest...with Good Will

Times Change and so does Business

   There are people in my life I receive advice from, business and personal advice.  I've found that someone who gives me business advice shouldn't be giving me personal advice (and shouldn't really know about my personal life).  So I need to learn which friends or colleagues I should consider advice for each area in my life.
     Someone who gives me business advice and knows that my personal goals are to have a family may not encourage me to work hard because it may sacrifice a family in my future.  On the same note - A business friend may not consider me for a job because they think I'm ready to move home to Dallas due to my personal lifestyle which gets me up to Dallas every other weekend.  I would rather you tell me everything you think I need to know - I'll decide what's a sacrifice and what's an opportunity I cannot refuse.
     And a personal friend may not ask me to be a part of their wedding or invite me to an important moment in their life because they know I am busy with work and think I have no time for them. So not true! I make time for people I want in my life. 
     It's my life and I can decide how to live it, where to live it and with whom to live it with.   Yes, my business life is busy.  But business changes and I can choose to change with it or not.

     On that same note: I am young businesswoman but I've saturated my life with this hospitality/communication industry and I feel incredibly comfortable planning a wedding for 8 or a dinner for 8,000.  Easy-peasy! 
     I understand there is a time for "yes sir" and "yes ma'am" but the business world (and possibly the nation as a whole) is becoming more relaxed and more laid back.  Hand shakes are customary, but I've been known to receive a high-five from my CEO. 
     Southwest Airlines is a wonderfully run company and their staff, planes and pilots are laid back, which makes the entire flying experience more comfortable.  Look at hotels in your town - they aren't stuffy and unapproachable.  They do whatever they can to accommodate your needs whether you are in the penthouse or the discount room. 

     I am having another life crisis today and I realize while I have a professional job, I can make it what I want.  If my client seems laid back and relaxed I can approach them in that way.  Being stiff around a laid back client will challenge the business relationship.  On the opposite side, some clients are uncomfortable with a laid back work place and they would find words like "awesome" inappropriate (even though I first learned that word from my stuffy english teacher during a spelling bee.) 
     When in Sales we need to relate to our clients, we need to adapt.  Not each year, not every month, but every minute of the day we must adapt.  When I answer my phone I never know who's on the other line and what different version of Rachel I can be.  But I do know that I love and enjoy being every version of myself that there is. 
     I hope to never become a version of myself I can't stand. 

Living life to the fullest...every minute of the day!

-Rachel

It's not a Need it's a Network

I'd like to point out that I am still very good friends with many of my ex-boyfriends.  I choose to do this for the following reasons:
     a) they are someone you let into a private part of your life....You wouldn't want someone to share that private side of you out of spite
     b) they are very talented and good men who I am honored to know personally
and
     c) you never know when you might need something. 
One is a chef, one is a clothing designer, another is in politics, one in real estate, another does alot with the church and yea, there are some who are just there - but I'm sure they'll do something GREAT in the future.  You never know....

For example, the other day I went out to dinner to my ex's restaurant.  He said business was slow, so I invited a girlfriend and we went out to eat there.  It was nice to see him, he gave us an appetizer sample along with a dessert sampler, and the food was delicious! 

A few weeks later I bought a chicken for $4.00.  I could have bought 2 chicken breasts for $7.00 but an entire chicken (which comes with 2 breasts, right?) for $4.00?!  My mother didn't raise an idiot.  I understand you are paying for the convenience of the 2 breast being cut, skinned and packaged but I don't have a deadline for dinner time.  I can sacrifice a few more minutes in the kitchen for the $3.00 I saved. 

Photo courtesy of: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1024418

So I bring home my whole chicken and I realize - I have an entire chicken in my refrigerator!! And I have no idea how to go about cooking it.  I should obviously use some type of fat (oil, butter) and some seasoning, probably some herbs because I like herbs.  But at what oven temperature?  For how long?  Do I cover it or leave it open for the heat to seep in?  Come in ex-boyfriend who is a chef!  "Hey, how's is going.  Thanks for everything you did at dinner the other day.  It was a great seeing you.  I'd like to repay the favor by inviting you over for dinner on one condition 1) you teach me how to cook a whole chicken and what to do with all the extra pieces to make it last."

You may be happy to hear I successfully cooked a chicken and enjoyed a thigh and a leg with a healthy sweet potato.  I will be having chicken stir-fry tonight with the breast meat and some rice and veggies.  I also created a broth from the roasting product including the bones, so I'll enjoy chicken soup sometime this week and probably save some for a later date when comfort food is needed.  My friend also wins on this because now I can/will rave about his restaurant and the fact that he can do private cooking lessons.

Moral of the story: you never know when you might need to reference your past.  And when you do, don't think of it as a need, think of it as a networking opportunity. 

Living Life to the Fullest - with my network of friends!!

-Rachel

If you bring an accountant a muffin.....

A couple weeks ago I came into work starving! I could not concentrate on my work and I needed something to eat immediately!  I raided the break room to no success and the rumbling in my stomach could be heard down the hall!  An accountant heard my agony (I'm so dramatic!) and offered me her muffin.  She had stopped by a near-by deli and bought a breakfast sandwich and a muffin.  She had eaten the sandwich, but wasn't going to eat the muffin.  I accepted and gobbled that muffin up!  p.s. This was also my first time to eat a muffin with butter - umm YUM.

Yesterday, I was in a great mood and arrived extra early for work.  I decided to stop by a deli to purchase a muffin to repay the accountant.  I walked in to the office feeling good about returning the favor.  I waited for her to walk by my office and surprised her with the repayment muffin.  She was very grateful.  However, everyone else in my office was upset I didn't offer them a muffin or bring them anything. 

Moral of the story: If you bring an accountant a muffin, bring enough for the entire office!

Photo courtesy of: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/589153

Where did the time go?

I can't believe it's already June!  This year has FLOWN by!  I didn't blog much in May because I could barely sit still!  I was up in Dallas for family graduations, my sister's dance recital and a wedding. 

My friend Ally, Bride, Groom and Me!

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         When I was finally back in San Antonio I was focused on work.  June 4th and 5th I worked the 7 am breakfast until the 7 pm reception. To recover from my 24 hour working weekend I took a trip to Corpus Christi and went fishing in Port Aransas on the 10th and 11th. I didn't think I was a fan of fishing. Why sit around all day for the possibility of catching something (you don't know what, but something). As you can tell, I only participate when I know the end result is a sure thing. This is why I'm hesitant to gamble or play the stock market. This may also be why I am single and not on the career path I prepared for in college.

          The fishing trip was nice if you disregard the sea-sickness and the friendship that tragically ended. The 2 story fishing boat was air-borne at least 3 times and the rocky waters went on for an hour and a half! I didn't eat breakfast, so the only thing that came up was the champagne from the night before. Yea- eww!!
          And as for the friendship: I’ve come to realize as flattering as it is for someone to want to spend all their time with you, it can be draining and unhealthy. My mental, physical and emotional health were being sacrificed for the satisfaction of having someone who will "always be there".
         Always be there for what?
         Always be there for who?
The only person who needs to "always be there" for me is me. I don't say that in a selfish way, I say that because I'm not always there for me. I depend and let other people be there for me so that I don't hold all the responsibility. The person on this trip was always there for me but they would take a part of me with them, leaving me empty, drained, and lacking in self satisfaction and even self love (why love yourself when someone else can?)
          After the trip and after I guess "finding myself" in the Gulf of Mexico, I came back to San Antonio and finally felt at peace in my house. I had never really considered it "home" but after being on an island of awkwardness for three days, by Sunday I was able to relax in the comfort of the home I've created for myself. Which if I might add is FABULOUS!
         As I'm re-connecting with friends in town I'm choosing to only let in positive and healthy people. To only share my time (note: not give my time, but share it) with people who will make me a better person and friend. People who love me and I freely love in return.

Because really, at the end of the day, all you need is love.

-Rachel