THE WEEK AHEAD WITH GUIDANCE

Thank you to Nicholas Bate for the great art work, this will help me start off my week. Naples Girl directed me to a post that is worth while reading: 10 Minute Task Completion which will be tried several times this coming week. Weekly a password needs to be changed Cultural Offering has given us a list of passwords not to use.

THE SECRET BEHIND NIKE AIR

Handsome Chinese Vagrant

The photograph shows a starkly handsome Chinese man walking with a model's measured gait, and wearing a rag-tag but well co-ordinated overcoat on top of a leather jacket. His eyes peer into the middle distance, in what one fan described as "a deep and penetrating way", and he strides confidently forward..........

Web users in China have called him the "Beggar Prince", the "Handsome Vagabond", and, most often, "Brother Sharp".

Click here to read more, I found it very interesting.

Brother Sharp Goes Home article in China Daily, click here.

OPPORTUNITY'S ASSASIN

"Procrastination is opportunity's assassin."--Victor Kiam

Procrastination, like a slow leak under an upstairs sink, can do major damage. But just like that slow leak, you can avoid the damage with regular "maintenance" of those tasks you're tempted to put off.

Get more information. Sometimes, procrastination is a result of too little information. When "I don't know where to start" is the problem, write down a list of questions related to the issue you've been putting off. This way you'll find out what you know and what you don't know, and if you need to consult someone else to help you find answers.

Do it or ditch it. When a lack of information isn't the problem, you may need a deadline to help you decide if the task is worth the mental stress of continuously putting it off. Is there a reason you're putting it off? Do you suspect the task is a waste of time to begin with? Pick a date to pull the trigger or let it pass. Repeating the cycle of planning, procrastination, and the subsequent guilt is counterproductive. Either you'll have the sweet relief of finishing the task, or you'll enjoy the lighter load of letting it go.

Don't sell out your long-term dreams for the short-term pleasure of putting off a little work. You can defeat procrastination today... so don't put it off until tomorrow.

Thank you to Oakley Signs for passing this along.

ALLYCE & QUALITY CUSTOMER SERVICE

Once again I was able to find a top customer service goal minded business and employees. Newark, Ohio's Texas Roadhouse as many Licking Countians know is busy all the time, service is the key as demonstrated by our server Allyce.

Excellent customer service excites me, especially when it is coming from a young person. If most adults started off early in life giving quality service, the business world would be a lot better off today.

As we walked in Saturday evening, our greeter walked us to our table and ask if we had been to Texas Roadhouse before. After saying yes, she asked if we had a good experience the last time. I am sure if we had said we had been disappointed an extra effort would have been made to make sure we finished happier than the last visit.

Now comes into play our waitress Allyce, she asked the same two questions again. I thought this was a great way to introduce herself and make us feel important. Allyce had a smile on her face during our entire visit, making sure my Diet Coke was filled to the brim and asking Mrs. Guanciale if she would like another Corona. When the Corona answer was no, Allyce asked if she would prefer a glass of water. She never slowed down checking up on us, she knew what it was all about, customer service. Customer service is hard to find, especially when you are serving dozens of people per hour, doing a line dance every 45 minutes and singing Happy Birthday a couple times per hour.

Allyce told me on this evening 19 servers, 15 people in the kitchen, two bartenders and three managers, were working. They all are working hard to make sure the next time I dine at the Texas Roadhouse, I will answer with a positive last visit experience.

Texas Roadhouse has not just won many customers through their customer service, but through their participation in our community. They are active members of the Licking County Chamber of Commerce and have provided food and funds to many charitable events throughout Licking County. They are not just a large company taking dollars away from the community, but giving back and out of all appearances due to quality customer service will be around for a long time.

A COUPLE OF PROJECTS DONE

Cabot's Mahogany Stain, all four chairs and table done. Now to stir up the mulch beds and sprinkle the Preen weed prevention and patch some mini pot holes in the concrete driveway with latex concrete patch.

Lesson learned the expensive way, concrete driveways are attractive, but terrible to maintain.

BIRTHSTONES

Found out something today, a change to the traditional diamond for April's birthstone. Due to the economic conditions in most people's pockets, quartz is an acceptable replacement for a diamond this year. Myself, I think you should buy her a QVC Dimonique and tell her it is a diamond.

The lure of birthstones
The basic human need to own and wear materials we deem "sacred" or special is what drives us to collect rocks and minerals. Perhaps this explains the lure of birthstones; how powerful it is to have our month of birth represented by a beautiful natural gemstone. We can own and display our special stone and feel embraced by its beauty. We hope you enjoy these facts, legends, and history behind each birthstone.


What's the difference between a mineral and a gem?
All birthstones are minerals, but why are some minerals considered gems? Interestingly, there is no geological definition for the word gem, because a gem is a human creation. Minerals are formed by geologic processes in rocks in their natural environment. When we excavate precious or semiprecious stones, cut, and polish them into specific shapes, they become gems. When a gem is set into metal to be worn on the body it becomes a jewel. Several key factors determine the value of a gem: To be considered worthy of jewelry, the mineral must have rarity, durability, attractiveness, size, and color.

Find your birthstone by clicking here.