I did what sumi did; I'll go look for the business page. It is kind of confusing, isn't it? I need to set one up, too. Not tonight.

ETA: Done!

Thanks so much!

It really IS confusing.

Weirdly enough, I was able to make my other facebook page an admin for this one. Hopefully, this will make it easier to make changes.

Waaay more complex than it needs to be!

Everything about FB is becoming harder than it needs to be. :grump:

I liked both pages, bonny; I was a little confused. MY bad, not yours -- it's been a long day.

Many thanks. I really appreciate everyone's help.

My impulse was to migrate everything from doggy lama pet coaching over to the doggy lama, but I don't think it can be done.

So frustrating.

bonny, I liked the page.

We made it to the next round of "Greening the Gras!" Yay! I have to do three slides this weekend and attend a practice pitch section next week, and my partner is still on vacation! Oh crap!! I talked to him today, though, and he's going to work on the slides, so that's good. I don't know what we'll do if we win... will we actually try and do it?

smonster, see Dyana Valentine for great advice on pitching. dyanavalentine.com

Thanks, Erin! I'll definitely check that out.

I have a long and pissy rant, with a request for perspective. Please whistle past if you are not interested in me being a bitch.

---

Biz folks with staff, or those who have been staff, I'm thinking through how to handle something that happened at an event I managed yesterday. I would love to get some thoughts.

Okay. Point 1. I have a very strong personality, which can make me harsh. It also affords me an emotional courage that lets me apologize for my mistakes, to understand and work through other people's mistakes and to stand firm when that is what is needed.

One of the primary reasons I work so well with the new partner is because she is strong, but very non-confrontational. We balance.

Yesterday, I managed our first major event together and had a number of staff involved. One said that she didn't want to work the event because she is pregnant (4 weeks) and didn't want to be far from a bathroom. I accommodated this need by giving her a job that had her moving up and down a very busy avenue, replete with bathrooms.

The walkers were given a major incentive to collect information from people with dogs. $50 for every new client. Plus, additional incentives for additions to the email list. They were also paid for their time and fed.

I was harsh with this woman and another employee who, despite the fact that 6 other employees were bustling about, getting things ready and doing their jobs, they were having a cozy chat and leaving people interested in talking about our services to stand and wait. The harsh was not necessary. I let my het-up energy leak out.

The employee, who is more passive than I realized, called her 'salesy' husband to come and do her shift with her. They took off, and I didn't see them for 2 hours.

Their task was to NOT sell anything, but to offer information about a voluntary service and to collect email addresses for a raffle for free services.

They proudly handed me a clipboard with a few random first names and pet names. The husband says, "So, when somebody named John calls and says his dog's name is Spot, she gets the $50 right?"

I was not as speechless as I should have been. "Uh. If that ever happens, we'll see."

In fact, before I spoke to the woman...which will happen tomorrow, I mentioned to the woman's supervisor that it was a total waste of time. I was furious, imagining what impression they must have made to prospective clients.

I understand shyness, I do. What I DON'T understand is being asked to do something you can't do and not saying, "I need to do something else."

I'm not psychic. It never even occurred to me that she could not talk about being a dog walker and it REALLY didn't cross my mind that having the opportunity to make money both, in the moment and from ongoing new clients, would not be interesting enough.

I might not have been cheerful about giving her another job but I surly would have.

Point 2. I've clearly made mistakes in this scenario. I'm willing to deal with that. My problem is that I'm afraid my plan is not a good one and would love to get some ideas on how to talk about this situation in a way that works for the employee in a constructive way.

Saying, "How can I increase your income with first names?" is probably not useful.

Thoughts?

Serial:

I should also say that the event was a slamming success. I personally spoke to at least 400 people and my partner was ecstatic over how great our booth looked and how much information we were able to share.

I did balloons for the first time in a long while, which was fun and designed little hangtag cards with the company logo, to attach to truly beautiful balloons that we gave to children. The red/white agate made an even better impression than an imprinted balloon and, at one point, my partner said that it seemed as though every child on the street had one.

My hands are really sore today, which reminds me that, while I enjoyed my career in balloons, I don't miss it that much. Love the look, hate the pain.