Top Model

Today (in about an hour from now) is Luna's first modelling gig.

I say that because she will be demo-ing one of our veterinary products to an inquisitive Calgary vet. She is currently catching up on her beauty sleep to prepare.

On a similar vane note, I have finally stepped back into heels after avoiding it for over a week for fear of puppy knocking me off them. I figured I would just suck it up and see how it goes. So far, so good. No major spills as yet. Granted, I am only wearing about a 3.5 inch heel so there really wouldn't be that far to fall, but I need to start small. I don't trust myself yet in my preferred heel height (5 inches plus) with Luna becoming more excitable by the day. She has these random bursts of energy that to be honest just tire me out. So high high heels + crazy puppy = not the best idea.

I miss those heels though. I can hear them call my name from my closet as they resent my new puppy in unison. They want me back. Soon enough heels, soon enough. I am working up to it as we speak.

This really shouldn't be that hard. There must be an appropriate way to mix fido and fashion. Dog hair on everything really isn't cute though - as inevitable as it is. I just need to invest in a lot of those sticky rollers and hide them in my purse, desk and car. Then I may succeed!

As long as I don't start smelling like puppy I think I will be ok!

Wish me luck on trying to achieve balance between k9 & couture....in great shoes!

Above & Beyond

Today the Stevens Company, my employer, launched a nationwide internal campaign that encourages employees to do a few key things in order to strengthen and reinforce our position in the industry. I really enjoyed the way it was presented, focusing on differentiation, going above and beyond and defying convention- just to name a few. The campaign has really got me thinking about going above and beyond. Many people show up to work, do what they are told and then go home. Most of these people are also unhappy. Happiness in the workplace stems, in my humble yet still innately correct opinion, from pride in what you do. If you can take pride in the work you do in a day you will always go home satisfied. I am learning this at a rapid rate as new projects, tasks and lists get thrown across my desk daily.

For me that sense of pride comes from going above and beyond, or defying convention, a term pulled straight out of the aforementioned campaign. Being better than what people expected of you is incredibly satisfying, knowing that you exceeded their expectations in one way or another almost feels as though you proved someone wrong - in the most positive of ways.

Whether is is completing something faster than anticipated or taking it a step further than was asked - that extra bit of effort you put in usually merits intangible yet valuable rewards. Now people know what you can do and probably respect you that much more because of it. Yes, they may expect more next time, but that just gives you an opportunity to be better yet again. After all progress is a fact of life!

All that said I wonder if I exceed expectations, or if I simply meet them? Knowing that my harshest critic is myself, I know I should be more focused on going above and beyond in all facets of my life. Of course at work, because as a young professional I have a great deal to prove and a long way to climb up that corporate ladder, but also in my personal life. Perhaps I should strive to be a better friend, daughter, granddaughter and sister. Certainly we have to try to exceed the expectations of those closest to us, as their opinions and judgements are often the most important in life. If you can't go above and beyond for your family & friends, how can you do it for your customers?

So here is my pledge to be better, all around, in every way I can think of. Feel free to hold me to it... In great shoes.

Today a pair of magenta pink kitten heels that warranted a great deal of head-turning at the office here in Calgary today!

The end of an era.

With my departure only two days away now, people's attitudes towards me around the office have changed. Some reminisce about seeing me come in as a child to visit my dad or hang out in the boardroom, while others are asking what's next. That's the beauty of being involved in an organization for a long period of time, in my case since birth. You develop really lovely relationships with the people you work with and feel very supported by them.

That co-worker bond is something not easily duplicated, which in a way frightens me as I partake in this big move. I know everyone who works in this building and they know me in return. Moving to a branch where nobody knows a damn thing about me except that I am the president's daughter is daunting. I know I will be getting judged for the name attached to me. I know there are assumptions that have been made about how I will interact with everyone there. I also know they are almost all wrong.

My prime goal of going to Calgary is to work my ass off and make a splash. It may be little at first but with time I know I will not be adhering to standards, but setting them. I will make sure to build a reputation based on reliability and superb work ethic. All that and being known for the most fabulous footwear for kilometers around, of course.

As a side note, I would like to state that my life is gradually being packed up into boxes in preparation for their shipment Friday morning. It's awesome packing things up because I rediscover things from drawers, closets or cupboards that I haven't seen in ages. I have found some really great stuff that I own. It reaffirms my great taste.

On the other hand, it is an odd feeling knowing that everything I own can be packed up into roughly 10 boxes. A small quantity for a girl with such a large personality.

So here's to making a splash...In great shoes.



Today, the splash has been made in the office by my pink glittery peep toe heels. They are so fun that they literally make me smile every time I look down at them. :)

A gentlewoman and a scholarship

A wondrous Wednesday to you!

It has come to my attention today that scholarships extend beyond your education. The corporate world also offers scholarships, including paid travels, accommodations and such at industry events, conferences and trade shows.

Excited by the opportunity to travel yet again, I am applying for a scholarship offered by PWH - the Professional Women in Healthcare (http://www.mypwh.org/) to attend this year's HIDA (Health Industry Distributor's Association) conference in October. It would take place in Chicago and is one of the largest conferences of its kind in the world. The application is done strictly by e-mail, only asking applicants to describe their interest in PWH and what PWH can do for them.

I have always been fond of writing, but writing open-ended applications like this one always strike me as difficult. What is enough? How much is too much? Do they want an essay-like submission or simply a few descriptive paragraphs?

I have decided not really to worry about length right now and just start writing. I will write what I feel is appropriate and edit when I am said and done. It's always easier to cut back with tons of great material than try to beef up crappy material. Though of course none of my material is crappy.

That said, I am already pushing two pages of work and still haven't said exactly what I want to say. The applications aren't due until the 20th of August, so I think I will stop where I am today and revisit this again tomorrow. There is still plenty of time to finish and polish this off. I really want it to be great though, so my chances of receiving the scholarship are high. I have always been extremely competitive so I taken things like this to heart very quickly.

Therein I am posting an excerpt from my application in hopes of getting some feedback / reactions to work with. Read it, let me know what you think and most importantly keep your fingers crossed for me... In great shoes.



*So just over four months after my degree was awarded to me, the annual HIDA conference takes place. As a new (and formally inexperienced) employee, I was not offered a spot among the attendees the Stevens Company will be sending this year; though in truth it would not be my first conference, not even my first HIDA conference. In fact, I have been attending industry shows and conferences since I was roughly six years old. Wide eyed and with a bag full of giveaway pens, stress balls and other promotions materials in hand, I followed my father through the maze of booths, showrooms and banquet halls. As daughter to the President of the Stevens Company, granddaughter to the Chairman of the board, I have been involved in the medical supply industry for at least sixteen years now and I’m only freshly 22.

I am the sixth generation of Stevens to take part in our family business, though true to my personality I am already breaking moulds as I am the first woman to actively peruse a position in this company. It is that fact that draws me to PWH and the many opportunities it offers.

My grandfather is a traditionalist; my father a baby-boomer, my uncle born of the X generation and now there’s me…a member of the generation they call Y. Personally, I prefer to think of it as Y not. *

If you were following my footsteps today, you would be following a black patent pair of chunky heels I bought in Brussels. I generally don't like chunky heels, though with the cobblestone everywhere in Europe, my regular thin heels simply didn't survive.

Milestone!

A milestone in my career I feel has occurred this lovely Tuesday afternoon - I have received my first company phone, wearing a pair of black and white Chinese Laundry heels I bought in Vegas a number of years ago.

It is a Blackberry, though not a new one, nor the same model as I current have for personal use. Therein, it will take some getting used to, however the fact that I have received one makes me feel important. It feels very much like a beginning of something. The eternal optimist in me suggests it signifies the beginning of being connected to the corporate world; the beginning of exchanging numbers/Pins with key clients, partners, etc. It could be the beginning of being someone people WANT to get a hold of.

Conversely, exists the realist in me suggesting that this is probably the beginning of being called about work matters at all hours of the day, hearing the sound of an incoming e-mail more than your loved one's voices, the feeling of vibration being stressful rather than pleasurable and so on and so forth.

The cool thing about this phone is that it has a Calgary number, the first real step in my move. It is the beginning of many changes as a result of my relocation - changes that are not only welcomed but highly anticipated. With all that is going on in this province (HST, increased driving restrictions, etc.) I am more than excited to move. I will miss my family and friends who reside here but I think that is the extent of it.

I enjoyed the feeling of Calgary during my short visit, it seems a tad slower paced than the GTA, which I can handle. People also seem a touch less stressed for some reason, perhaps it is the magic of the Chinook winds playing with people's moods. Oh well, whatever it is I will take it!

Just under a month now until my big move...here is hoping I find a place to live before then.

At least I have a number I can be reached at....In Great Shoes.

Bring me the horizon

This morning was another first for me in the working world - my first staff meeting. Bright and early at 8am (which requires me waking up at about 6:40) the entire customer service team congregated to discuss current company events, issues, etc. It was nothing earth-shattering but always a learning experience and really the first time I have seen the entire department in one room together.

For the occasion I chose a classic work wear staple - the pointed toe black heel. This is a stellar photo of my one and only tattoo so I will address it at this point. I got in done in Belgium in August of last year - it reads "Je veux tout" which translates to 'I want it all'. For me it goes with the premise of setting big goals in order to achieve great things. If you want something bad enough - you'll work hard to get it. So for me it's about always wanting more, never settling, because I know I can do great things.

Yes that's a lot for a three word tattoo, but that's what it symbolizes to me.

Anyhow, today may be my last post for a bit as I have a very busy schedule coming up - a very busy and exciting travelling schedule. Thursday and Friday I will be attending a Professional Women in Health care event in Niagara, a great chance to network with many wonderful and powerful women in the industry. Should be great fun! Then Monday I fly out to my upcoming home base - CALGARY! I will be there all week so I will try to post whilst I am there but I can make no guarantees, so stay tuned.

I will be meeting the staff at our branch out there, looking for places to live and just generally getting a sense of this new city I intend to call home in roughly one month.

My significant other (who intends to move out there with me) will also be in attendance for the dwelling search, which will prove an interesting experience, as we have different tastes and concerns when it comes to where to live. So here's hoping we find something that satisfies us both. How hard could it possibly be right....?

He simply needs to understand that closet space is an ESSENTIAL deciding factor. That, and I want somewhere that is pet friendly so I can get a small dog - an English bulldog to be exact. That's something we have agreed upon. After we are settled, we will look into getting an English bulldog puppy who we intend to name Bacon. Sir Francis Bacon, after the man who invented the scientific method, but Bacon for short. I have owned and adored dogs all my life so I do not think owning the dog will be the challenge - it will be getting a landlord to love him as much as I do - so the dog is welcome that will prove difficult.

Anyhow, so that's my exciting life for the next week or so. Women, Travel and Dog concerns. Wish me luck, it will be an eventful week....In great shoes.

The new HST

Now by nature I do not discuss politics, however on a day like today, wearing ASOS magenta pink faux-snakeskin heels, perhaps I should say something.

As many know, the new harmonized sales tax (HST) comes into effect tomorrow - July 1st - CANADA day (way to ruin a good summer holiday) - making many things in our lives more expensive, by 8%. As a result of this change our products become more expensive to customers as well.

As you may imagine, customers are not happy. They call our customer service department with wild complaints and accusations about the increase and fail to understand that the employees here have NOTHING to do with it. They are not on the other end of your phone line trying to rip you off, cheat you or steal from you. They are getting charged more in their daily lives too - and it is more work for them to input the new tax and adjust orders to reflect the new tax.

Give them a break, seriously. If you really wish to complain about increased taxes contact Ontario's Premier Dalton McGuinty and inform him of your displeasure. Better yet, don't vote for him in any upcoming election. Really look at each political party's agenda and motives before you cast down a vote. Then you will not be surprised by tax increases, changes, etc.

So enjoy Canada day and feel free to complain as much as you want about the HST - but do so to the people who deserve it, the people responsible - not customer service representatives who are just trying to do their job.

Perhaps Dalton should take a few of these angry calls, then perhaps he would understand the imposition he has made on a regular person's life.

He shouldwalk a mile......In (a voter's) great shoes.

What NOT to wear

I understand that as the days get longer and we see more sunshine that people will naturally dress for warmer weather, so please let me take this opportunity to comment on appropriate summer attire for work.

a. You should not be wearing cotton pink shorts to work. Cotton shorts are acceptable when worn with a smart or collared shirt and if those shorts could pass as business casual.

b. You also should not wear anything through or with which any part of your undergarments is visible. Bra straps, thongs, etc. have no place at the office. If you insist on showing your lingerie off, please purchase something of quality as I have no desire to see your 4 year old, $8 bra struggling to do its job.

c. Flip flops are also not cool. I do not wish to be able to audibly track your journeys around the office via your footwear.

d. (for any season really) Leggings are not pants. Feel free to look like an idiot in the comfort and security of your own abode but certainly do not make anyone at work suffer through it.

e. A general sense of pride and care for what one looks like in a day would be appreciated. Yes, I understand that you may work in a position where you only interact with customers via telephone but I (your coworker) still have to look at you.

f. A general rule of thumb, if you wore it to a club, don't wear it to work. Shoes may be an exception in certain cases.

g. In the words of a very sensible male coworker, "this is not a farm in rural Saskatchewan, so please do not dress like it." Class may be too much to be asking for but simplicity and modesty are not.

h. I support wearing fun dresses, colourful shoes and fun hair accessories to work - moreover I live for having fun with what you wear.... I would much rather see more colour in the workplace than more skin. Dresses with leggings and/ or cardigans can be invaluable!

I. Lastly, please look in a mirror before you leave for work. I know it's early - I hate it too, but a quick peek at what you REALLY look like before you leave the house could work wonders. Consider how you would judge someone else in the office wearing exactly what you are wearing.

Other than that be creative yet classy, fun yet functional and workplace yet wow.

It is all possible, I do it everyday... In great shoes. (Today, a pair of black Spring stacked heels.)

A note on training

Both yesterday and today I have had the opportunity to participate in training sessions, the first for a set of 3M products and the second for a Health Canada session on DIN (drug identification numbers) and SOP (standard operating procedures).

The first was led by a very bubbly set of ladies that I not only enjoyed listening to but actually learned a lot from - so on that front mission accomplished. It was a short session, only about 30-35 minutes but I learned a great deal about their products so it was well worth it.

The second session (today, to which I wore Navy blue and chrome Nine West peeptoe heels) was the kind I think everyone dreads - training on government regulated procedures. Although a necessary measure to ensure the safety and quality of all products sold by the Stevens Company, the session was very dry and drawn out. Now I don't expect the guy to sing and dance while he is explaining proper quality control measures but I certainly think he could have stepped his tone up a notch.

I even asked questions, trying to stay involved but received no exciting answers. The instructor simply said what the government had told him to say and that's it. It is insane how clinical and thorough government regulated documents seem to be, yet truth be told they are all a lot of common sense and definitions for jargon and acronyms. Nothing is electronic, it's not allowed to be. Everything must be signed sealed and dated in hard copy in a white plastic binder, placed in the approved offices for employee reference. The government is forever concerned with efficacy though is oblivious to the concept of efficiency. This is where I feel my education is more a burden than an asset.

I have been taught that in this information age we have the ability to do things more quickly and efficiently than generations before could ever have dreamed - which is entirely true. The issue they don't teach you is that your bosses, and your bosses' bosses come from those generations and they make the rules. I understand that large companies cannot simply mature overnight and adapt new technologies instantly, however steps must be taken.

My generation would be taking those steps as quickly as realistically possible but the bosses generations would prefer to discuss it, have meetings, presentations, votes and manager input on everything before the first step could be methodically planned, forecast and then taken. The government fits right into your bosses' generation - not a specific political party or leader but the institution itself and therein the people who are employed there daily.

So for me it boils down to how do we effectively move forward in business and in government with constant resistance from people who simply didn't learn the same things that students of today do. Can we condemn our bosses and our bosses' bosses for simply being of a different frame of mind? Of course not. Nor do I propose by any stretch that this difference of opinion be called ignorance.

These higher ups have paved the way in business and have succeeded (for the most part) in getting this far. Their efforts, big and small have allowed recent graduates like myself to sit in lovely cubicles and blog about work experiences.

I think have to agree with Albert Einstein here (that chap knew what he was talking about from time to time) when he said, "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.”

What we need to question is simple. We need to discover and develop harmony between learned experience and knew knowledge. Question what works, what doesn't and what can be improved. We need the higher ups to be open to fresh perspective while recent graduates absorb the lessons of their valuable experience.


Frankly, we need to learn to move forward together, in harmony, not at odds with one another over how, when and why.




So that's what I plan to do...In great shoes.