Delivery of the Glowforge

I last updated stating I received my Glowforge in this blog post here. 

Glowforge is currently focussed to shipping to their Amercian customers.  As a Canadian and who also works in the same industry as FLEX, I anticipated this and had mine shipped to a US mailbox and hoped the exchange rate stays towards my favour when I need to pay the taxes

The past few weeks, there’s been dozons of complains of how the shipments seems come in with surprisng amount of damage beyond the expected wear and tear of gound transit.  When mine arrived, I was releived that the package actually came in good shape

UPS delivered or the mail post box stored my box upside down.  It’s upsetting that those ‘This side up’ stickers was obviously ignored.  I was pretty worried about it.  There’s an internal cooling system and what if that leaked?   What if that put pressure on the internal parts, especially the tube?  Nothing could be done about that then so off we went back home.

Funny though, when we returned to Canada, the officer seemed suprised when declared “Laser Cutter”.  I was a little worried, but he sent us in to pay the taxes and we were on our way!

I’m not going to bore you with any unboxing videos as there were equally excited owners out there who already took the time. There’s two good ones so hyou get a sense of the size

From Tom Stringham.  He recorded with a headband camera

Or from Zach Malloch. 

Since the machine was delivered upside down, the warning note inside stating to read the manual first got shifted and fell into the box where I didn’t see it.  Please note, please:

Read the MANUAL

There’s a specific order to unpackage and set up the unit.  Had I not watched those videos before hand, I’m pretty sure I would have broke something.  The Glowforge in a temporaty home in the family garage.  Due to restricted living quarters, I wasn’t able to set up my studio.  I’ll take those photos when she’s moved to her final place.   

Thoughts about the GlowForge

Recall back in 2015 how excited I was to invest in the crowdfunding campaign to purchase a Glowforge.  By Oct 11, 2017, two years to the day I placed my order, I still haven’t received my machine.   During this period of time, the company has delayed shipping several times due to parts, design, logistics issues and many other reasons.  Each time resulting in disappointment.  Review the forums, many owners are simply fed up, some cancelled, some complain, many hanging on.

I’m in the group who stayed with it for the long hual.  Admittingly, I needed encouragement to avoid cancelling.  However, I try and remind myself that it’ll be worth it.  Here’s my personal reasons:

We can afford to wait

The money did not come out of the family budget, it came out of my profits out of Cindy Ho Designs. Even if I did use family funds, my husband would have supported the purchase.  He always say thatI never spoil myself.    Some owners took out loans or sold personal posessions in order to get into the initial crowdfunding.  Many took on embarrassment and conflict from friends and spouses.

Glowforge has a Business Plan

Startups are always poise some risk, especially when they have to rely on crowdfunding.  Look what happened to TIKO3D, who ran out of money as a result of the founder’s inexperience and arrogance. 

I researched the founders and the investers before placing my order.  I felt confident they will produce as promised.  I also researched TIKO3D.  I invested feeling that was a good chance I wouldn’t reap the reward. 

Disclaimer: I was one of the lucky few who actually received the TIKO3D.  It’s a nice product, it’s too bad that they failed their venture.

The Glowforge is still a really great deal

A similar machine was $5000 to $8000 in 2015.   I purchased this machine for just under $2000 with shipping included.   Even with the delays, the Glowforge is still a great deal.  Also with the purchase if you can get 10 new customers sign up through your referral link you’d get $100 discount for up to 10 new customers.  I was lucky enough to get 10 (so far).  If they don’t cancel before they receive their units, the machine will only be $1000 plus import tax

Production Units are Shipping

Owners has been posting their feedback online and in the forums.  Most are loving their machines and sharing their experiences.  When you see the potential and hearling people using their machines reignites my excitement as I know the machine exists.

Glowforge are Quick to Resolve Issues

There were a few machines damaged during shipping, one actually had the glass lid and tube smashed.  That’s the fault of the courier but Glowforge were quick to jump to replace or correct the problem

Was there a moment that I wanted to cancel?   

The only true time I was angry after waiting over a year.  Glowforge announced users had to return their machines to them to replace the tubes when they wear out.  After the warrently period, the shipping cost is on the customer.  If outside the USA during the warrenty period, all shipping cost are on the customer.     There was no way I was going to ship my 32 kilogram (70 pound) machine for tube replacement.  Anytime you move anything, there’s always risk of damage and the shipping cost would have been at least $300-$500.  In one announcement they shut out all International customers as the cost was too high.  This caused enough uproar thath Glowforge resinded and will figure out how to instruct the users to replace these tubes themselves.

Do I still think holding out is it worth it?

When I wrote the above, it’s been in draft for a few weeks as I haven’t had alot of time to write.  Guess what, I received the machine!  After all the heartache and negative emotions:

YES IT IS WORTH THE WAIT

I’ve only been using it for a couple of days now, however, so far, it’s been great!  I will be writing more on my experiences with this machine as my time allows, however, if you want to see projects on the go, please follow my Instagram account: @CindyHoDesigns.  If you have any feedback or suggestions, please let me know. 

For any of you are holding out, please hang in there

Tips You Should Do At the Start of Every Work Day

The first few hours of your have a significant effect of your level of productivity.  It sets the pace of the day and how my morning starts usually direct or derails my focus.  Having a good productive start gives you greater control of critical tasks, achieving better results and ultimately greater success to both your career and well being.  For me I don’t like ending the day feeling unproductive and distracted.

Arrive on Time and Keep it Consistant

You’d think it’s obvious to most of us to show up and work your expected hours.   Many don’t have a consistent start time.  This affects how your peers or managers who were already in the office perceives you.  You can feel they are silently judging you.  Worrying about your reputation is mentally draining and can affect your day.  If your routine or commute requires you to arrive later then your peers, keep it consistant and try to leave after you served the minimum 8 (ish) hours.   Peers are more forgiving when they know your set hours and it’s obvious that you need to come in later.

Take a Deep Breath and Relax

Seriously.  Take. A. Deep. Breath.  Many come into work stressed due to the terrible morning commute or running late due to morning errands.  As soon as they arrive they dive in to the issues of the day.  Slowing down and taking a moment before you start does wonders.  In the morning, I actually meditate with a cup of coffee.  I try not a tackle anything work related.  I savour that cup.  When I do start the day, I’m not starting it in a harried state that probably affects the quality of my work

Be a Morning Person

(or at least pretend to be)

I’m a hard core night owl.  I regularly work on my small business at night since that’s the only time I have to give it attention.   On average it’s 4 hours a night so I go to bed at 12:30AM and wake at 6:00AM the next day.  I still have a day job that still deserves my 100%.   If you are not a morning person, you need to “suck it up” and at least have the façade of having a positive attitude.  You don’t need to be the extreme and come in singing the days praises.  A politer “Good Morning” without the tired grumpy tone in your voice will suffice.  After practicing for a few years it actually became part of my professional personality.   Your attitude has a direct impact on its effects to others

Organize your day

That first hour is the best time to assess your priorites and focus on what you absolutely need to accomplish.  To my earlier point, that is why I savour my first cup of coffee.   I don’t dive into the never ending new emails.  Sometimes I write a top 5 to do list after thinking of what I left off the previous day but only if I have alot on my plate.  90% of those emails are not true priorities.  If it was that important, I’d have an phone call, voice mail or a post it note on my monitor.   My take is if someone take the time to pick up a phone or write a note, that task is extremely important to them.  Those are the people that I will break my ‘savour my coffee’ rule as it doesn’t happen very often.  Their gratitude is usually more motivating and still sets a positive tone to my day.

Fireside Chat with Dan Sharpio, CEO of Glowforge (Ubiquity Dev Summit 2016)

Recently, I thought what was the last thing I really got excited about.  It was preordering a Glowforge during its original crowdfunding campaign .  Alot has happened since that preorder.  The most devestating was when they made the decision to push back the shipping date due to major issues with their power supply. 

My background is in supply chain in the electronics industry.  Trust me, it’s an extemely critical component.   Any of you who were upset over the delay:  You do now want your investment to fail you within 24, 12 or even 6 months after you started to rely on it?  It’s always better to be late and disappoint your customer then to ship a poor quality product. 

People will alway remember poor quality, they will forgive and forget.

I haven’t been following the progress or the forums so started to search found this insightful interview with Dan Sharpio, CEO

Fireside Chat with Dan Sharpio, CEO of Glowforge (Ubiquity Dev Summit 2016)

It’s worth the the hour long interview!   It wasn’t really about the product but more of the business around managing and working a start up.  There’s so many backers who are still eagerly awaiting this product, so much so, I was shocked to hear statesments of backer sacrifices:

• This is the car I sold to buy my Glowforge 
• Oh yeah me too, this is the car I sold to buy my Glowforge
• I took out a loan against my 401K
• I already let my boss know I will give my notice when I get this so I can go and start my company

As a CEO owner, the risk is more then just releasing a product, it’s also on his  and the company’s reputation.  He absolutely cannot allow a subpar product to be seeded into the market.  If it fails, there won’t be any future business and support for any of us.

This one statement resonates with me:

Realignment of where some of the skills that made you successful at a large company may in fact contribute to your failure to a small company. 

Then summarized an example of how to manage a beaucracy effectively.  How that is a core skill in a large company to manage your career motives, agendas and directions to make everyone to know how much value you give to the company.  In a smaller company, you create you value for yourself by making your company valuable.

After listening to this interview, what I realized was that I lost passion because I chose not to continue learning and trying to grow.  I was waiting for something to happen that’s completely out of my control.   

Sometimes you need to listen to a innovator who is walking the path that you want to take.  I hope to meet Mr. Sharpio one day on a professional level.    

(Actually maybe I shouldn’t.  I’m sure I’d have illogical geek fangirl moment)

Economical Alternatives to Canada Post

If you are a Canadian running a online business, I’m sure you heavily relied on Canada Post like I have when fullfilling orders for Cindy Ho Designs.  The threat of a union strike this past summer literly struck fear in my professional being. 

What the hell am I going to do now?

Using alternative couriers like UPS and FedEx wasn’t really an option as the prices for the package types I have would have been 5 times the cost.  If I’m shipping a light weight print that normally be $5.00, would you really pay $50 if I shipped it by FedEx?

I didn’t want to stop just because Canada Post Union wanted to hold us hostage to their dispute.    I did alot of research and found two companies that would suite my business needs.  Click on the company name to access both their company websites.  Below is just a short summary of comparisons:

	Canvus Express	Chit Chat Express
Location	Only serving the Vancouver area Drop off location is not on the website but it’s close to corner of Chales Street and McLean off Commerical Drive	If you don't leave near Richmond office, they offer fullfillment services They will pick up your packages and ship for you for a fee
Shipping Prices	Shipping prices are not on the website The quotes I received is nearly the same as the US Post	Shipping Prices are same or less as US Post
Fees BC, Canada Only	It varies but the average is: $1.00 for parcel $0.50 for letter and rigidmail	It varies but the average is $0.25 to $1.00 for letter & rigid mail $1.00 to $12.40 for parcels - price dependent on weight
Availability	Call - they seem to accept packages on Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays Didn't get an answer if open on weekends by time this post was written	Monday to Friday Closed Saturday and Sunday

 

Which did I chose?

I do most of my shipping with Chit Chats but it’s nothing against Canvus.  It came down to the following three reasons:

• Location: 20 min drive on highway, less on gas.  Canvus is closer but paid parking
• Weight of most of my products are less then one pount (500 grams)
• Convience: They are open every day with set hours

This is the right decison for me.  However, when I have packages that weigh more then 1 pound (500 grams), Canvus looks to be more cost effective.  The Canvus sales representative is helpful and professional. 

Cindy Ho Designs – Year Two

Still a full time mom and still have my full time career but Cindy Ho Designs has gotten busier.   In order to keep organized, in the first quarter of this year my shop was split into three categories.

1. Foils and Artwork – www.cindyhodesigns.com
2. Decals and Stickers - cindyhodecals.etsy.com
3. Craft Supplies – cindyhosupplies.etsy.com

This also helped me service my customers better since each store offer very different things.  Also I’ve been freelancing making handmade greeting cards which developed my designing skills.

It’s been a great experience so far.   The profits from my shop has paid for all my tools without dipping into the family budget.  Back in October, I preordered a Glowforge laser cutter without hesitation.  This has been my largest investment yet and I didn’t few it as a ‘toy’.  I viewed the unit as opportunity to expand on my dream.  I’m a little nervous as it’s a whole new learning curve, but I know this is perfect stepping stone toward my goals.

For those who like my work or ordered my designs,

Thank You! 

Buying Handmade Cards – It’s Only Paper!

I’m writing my own take on what you are really paying for when buying handmade.  If you happen to follow my Instagram account, lately I’ve been posting handmade greeting cards.  Contrary to popular belief, I don’t sell handmade greeting cards.   I enjoy making them and pride goes into each one, but not to include in my Cindy Ho Designs product line.  I don’t enjoy making them for other people.  The time and the money spent on materials, I’d want a minimum of $10 to $15 for custom card work, which 80% of those who ask are caught off guard with sticker shock and try to negotiate! 

“It’s only paper!”

“I can buy that from Walmart for $3.00”

“I can make that myself!”

“What?  I should get a discount, I’m your friend!”

I’m the type of person who can stand firm and move on if the project doesn’t happen.  Offended, yes, but try not to show it.  For many sellers, these comments hits them in the heart like an insult and they can fester.  

“How could these people trivialize the heart and soul put into this piece of art?”  

These customers are not in your target market anyway.  I do admit when these people react in a way that my art has no value and calling it ugly that stings like someone throwing sand in my eyes.

Side note:  There’s many artists out there who make really nice handmade cards that are much nicer then mine.  Okay, on that note, I’m plugging  Lucky Charms Card Collection.  Her cards are nicer because that’s her passion.  Tell her ‘hi’ for me!

Back to the topic.  When buying handmade, take into consideration the quality of materials, expertise, time and love spent for the artisan to create an original and unique work of art.   For a one off custom design by me, it takes at least an hour, hence the $10 to $15 price tag.  That’s barely minimum wage.

If you wondering why I even take on cards orders at all?  Honestly, it’s good seed revenue for the shop and helps build up a indirect portfolio to showcase my style.   I also love the designing step, transferring it into a cutting or illustration design.    If I choose to take on a project that pays me way below living wage, it is to design for future products.

Busy is a Sickness by Scott Dannmiller

I recently read this article written by Scott Dannemiller about how being busy is a sickness and it really resonated with me.  I’ve fell in this trap myself a few times in my lifetime, but I know so many who insist of trying to cram in too much in a day that life just passes you by:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-dannemiller/busy-is-a-sickness_b_6761264.html

A really good read!

Random Thoughts on Social Media

Social media gives us the power to share parts of our lives out onto the Internet.  The good, the bad and the ugly.  For most out there, it’s in the range of the Good and the Bad.  I like that range, it shows the human.  However, I just got the taste of witnessing the Ugly.  I recently unfollowed someone I really liked on Twitter because of a juvenile twitter war between two estranged sisters.  What it comes down to they both think they are defending themselves because the other is wrong, but there’s a lot of curse words in it.   This got me thinking, what’s with people who decide to feud over their social media accounts. 

It will Hurt your Career or Prospective Jobs

Twitter is a public social media forum.  What you say is out there forever even if you delete your twitter account.  One of the first things some companies do is research their candidates to see if they are on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.   A couple of hires my company was considering lost their candidacy just because of what they posted on Instagram publically and it was a bad reflection of who they are.    I hear you, what you do in your off hours is your time.  I feel the same way.  However, it’s one thing to shot gun that beer while doing a handstand, it’s another bragging about it in photos for everyone to see.

No One Really Cares

When the feud is between regular individuals, no one really cares outside your circle of your actual friends and family.  On Facebook, I witnessed a niece doing the passive aggressive statements to one of my friends.   It got bad enough that I unfriended my actual friend until that period was over before re-friending him.  There was no chance, I was going to allow being sucked into that conversation.  (this was before I figured out how to mute).    I have my own personal issues to worry about.  Unless someone is going to confessing the intention to breaking a law, I do not care if both of you feel that she is more successful or better then the other.  If you start to stress out, you’re already too emotionally invested in the feud.

Tweets are Buried Anyways

Tweeting works.   When I was promoting my referral link when I purchased my Glowforge, I know many of the referrals was from posting on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter because I didn’t know any of the users personally.   When you tweet on something that doesn’t really add value, just like in a feud, no one outside your follower list reads them with the billions of tweets sent out the moment you send yours.

Learning to Work in an Open Environment

For those who know me very well, I’m a extremely introverted person..  I try to portray a friendly open extrovert at work but for the most part, I rather just go to work, do the job and go home to my family.  

I work at a 3rd Tier Electronics Company Manufacturer and the culture style is an open environment.  The primary purpose of offices who adopt an open environment workspace is to make is easy for team members to have open communication and easy collaboration of ideas.  This isn’t for everyone.  There are more distractions, noisy and more transparency between colleagues.  However despite the potential drawbacks, it’s an environment that works for my company and most of us thrive in this culture.

As a introvert, I had to adapt and developed a few things that helped me focus at the tasks on hand

Develop a ‘Invisible Wall’

People chat more in a open environment and often a lot longer then talking about the weather.  To get out of these conversations, these often work:

• Wearing headphones
• Put up a sign
• Block it out on your calendar (to avoid people booking your time)
• If you use intercompany communicator – set yourself as ‘busy’
• Close your email software – if it’s an emergency, they’ll find you

Step Away from the Desk

None of us are chained at our desks.  For more in-depth conversation with details that shouldn’t be shared, have it at a coffee shop or a spare meeting room.  Sometimes I borrow a company laptop and I work in spare room from time to time.

Personalize Your Work Space

Since we are at work 30% of the time 5 days a week, it’s natural to want to enjoy our space.  Bring a plant, small aquarium, pictures or decorations, things that that are acceptable for your company.

For me, I have a Lego mini-figure collection based on the Marvell super heroes.  Yes, I do play with them

Work During Quieter Times

Adjust your hours when it’s more quiet, maybe earlier before most people arrive or later when most people left for the day.  This ensures interruption time to focus on your projects.  Or once in a while and if you have work that flexible enough, work from home.

Banned Laser Cutting and Engraving Material

* Jumping on Soapbox *

One of the first things we need to know before even using any laser is what material you can or shouldn’t engrave or cut.  When you receive your Glowforge or any other laser cutting machine, the temptation of “playing with your new toy” is so tempting. 

This is NOT A TOY. 

Anyone wants to play without reading the manual and understanding the hazards are at risk for self injury, injury of others and danger of a fire

* Jumps off the Soapbox *

I apologize, this is in response after reading the community forums on both Etsy and Glowforge citing how excited they are about their machine or rejecting it because of how dangerous they feel it is.  My fear is people not reading the manual and cut material that will seriously harm them, children or even burn down their homes.  I don’t want to project my paranoia to you, but I rather make us novices stop and think.  As devil’s advocate, if you follow precautions, a laser machine will be very safe as long as you keep an eye on it while it’s running

On to the subject of this post:

I thought I could do is cut my decal designs and replace my BossKut machine if I figured out not cut past the liner.  The decals will be much more precise and could sell much more complicated designs.  Unfortunately, it’s not going to happen.  I read on the forums a big warning from more experienced users not to cut PVC.  PVC will emit chlorine gas which will damage your lungs and corrode the machine.  

So since vinyl cannot be put into a laser machine, I wanted to know what else couldn’t.  Below is a list summarized after finding these repeated among many different laser services and manufacturers as extremely hazardous to humans and the machine

Material	Health & Danger Issues	Material & Machine Issues	Examples
PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride) Vinyl Pleather Artificial leather	Emits pure chlorine gas	Ruins optics Corrodes metal damages motion control system	It’s the most widely used plastic.  Good list of examples on Mommy’s Footprint Blog
Polycarbonate / Lexan	Catches fire	Absorbs infrared radiation Cuts Poorly Discolors	Water Bottles Greenhouses CD, DVD, Blue Ray Safety Googles
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)	Emits cyanide gas Melts	Cuts poorly Melts doesn't vaporize Melted material deposit will burn inside the machine	Lego Some 3D Printing Filaments Toy instruments Pipes
HDPE (High-density polyethylene)	Catches fire melts	Melts doesn't vaporize Melted material deposit will burn inside the machine	Milk bottles Water Jugs Household cleaner bottles margarine tubs
Polystyrene Foam	Catches fire melts	Melts doesn't vaporize Melted material deposit will burn inside the machine	Foam packaging, Styofoam takeout containers and cups craft pompoms reusable bags
Polypropylene Foam	Catches fire melts	Melts doesn't vaporize Melted material deposit will burn inside the machine	construction insulation
Fiberglass	Emits fumes	Glass cannot be cut Epoxy emits the fumes	pools boats car parts insulation
Carbon Fiber	Emits noxious fumes	Carbon fiber cuts poorly	car parts pools bathtubs

Happy New Year – Now Let’s Hustle

  Can you believe that 2015 just crept up on us and we are already a week in!  Amazing.  I hope you all had a wonderful time of rest this past holiday.  One resolution I plan to keep is to hustle more with my foil prints!

Pet Peeves: WRITING EMAILS IN ALL CAPS

By day I work in a high tech manufacturing firm as a electronics buyer.  Recently I received this email during my day job after asking the country of origin and date of manufacturer:

He’s a all-capper email writer!  An all-capper are those who always write in all caps!    Each time I read an all-caps email my brain is imaging this huge angry finger wagging parent screaming at my 5 year old self blamed for something my brother did.  My ego takes a hit and then I snap myself out of it.

Emails like this provokes emotions of negativity to the reader and does affect the productivity.  Instead of taking that email as, “he’ll get back to me when he an” and moving on to the next task; I paused, had the image and got annoyed.  Even made a note to self to write about why using all caps is a problem in the workplace.

There can be dire consequences for all-caps email

• A ruling a Judge made on a father stop writing emails in all caps to his young children (both under age of 10)
• Also a woman who was fired from her accounting job in 2007 due to writing in all caps.  (This is extreme but she won in court for unjust dismissal)
• The Navy discontinued using all-caps in 2013 on all internal emails

The common theme is that all-caps emails causes the reader to think you are shouting at them.

What is it with all caps email?  Why does it cause such a physiological negative response?

Don’t know any typographic experts so I asked around in my small circle of friends and co-workers.    Day to day emails are really a replacement for telephone calls before the invention of email in the workplace.  In reality they are a documented business conversation.  If it is conversation, then how you write replaces the intonations of your voice so the listener knows how you want to message to be received.

My non-scientific pool of geniuses came up with two conclusions:

1. No one like to listen to shouters.

   • Take my image of angry parent to small child.  I’m probably in trouble.  You just shut down and wait for the yelling to be over so you can be on your way.  You are not listening and you don’t get the message.

2. All-Cap emails are more difficult to read
   • Not sure the reason but lower case letters just seem more friendly to readers.  A friendly conversation, not having a one sided shouting match.

When should you use caps?

• Using caps sparingly EMPHANIZES the point of the subject at hand. 
• We’ve also seen this in legal to denote special importance.  I once had a supplier who found sample and made it clear that the parts comes with NO WARRANTY

So any of you who are all-cappers, how hard it is to hit that caps lock key?  Do you really want your customers put off just because it seems easier?

On a side note, the supplier in question is actually wonderful. Nicest guy in the world. However, when I first worked with him, I considered moving my business elsewhere just because of the all-caps habit. Lucky for him, his customer service won out.  No, I don’t ask him not to change his writing habit.  I really have bigger things to worry about in my day job.

How do you it? How Long Did it Take?

I got one of these questions through an Instagram comment today.  Actually I get them all the time. However this time, it reminded me of a documentary I watched a few years ago about artists interviews and one of the questions was:

How long it takes to make one of these?

The worst part was how she answered:  “It takes me about 4 hours to make one”

I silently cringed

Here’s what potential customers will do.  They take your sell price, let’s say $800. And it took you 4 hours.  People will immediately think you charge $200 / hour.   

People don’t realize that doesn’t include material costs, prepping, finishing or the time visiting clients or shows.  That doesn’t include the time you spent on education and perfecting your craft.  It doesn’t include the multiple hats you have to were as a CEO, Accounting, Sales Representative and Janitor, most of us do in one standard day.  I haven’t done gallery shows myself, but I heard it can cost up to half the selling price!

What people conclude:  “You make $83,200 a year!”

Your potential customers are not considering that most artists don’t work then the standard 8 hours day.  In my case, if I could, I’d work 16 hours a day if my body allowed it

So, how should you respond? The question doesn’t mean what you and the customer think it means

You get a phone call, you get an email or you get a in person visit to your studio asking about your work.  Of course you respond in a professional courteous manner. 

Here’s what I found happens, at least for me.  Your potential customer:

• will decide that your work doesn’t fit their needs and they’ll say “thank you”
• will give you permission to talk to them about your work.

Many times, the first thing that comes is in fact one or maybe both that are ‘dumb questions’

• How long did it take you to make that?
• How do you it?

In the beginning, these questions to me is like someone running their fingernails along a chalkboard.  Responding with sarcasm or even a well-mannered joke will shut down the potential sale.

My daytime career is in supply chain in a high tech contract manufacturing firm.  I've worked with customers that range from easy going and reasonable to the other extreme of complex and demanding.  This experence has taught me:   

You are not obligated to answer.

Even though you don’t answer, doesn’t mean standing there with judging eyes and annoyed silence.   They gave you permission talk about what you do, it gives you the opportunity to engage them.   You can explain the process without actually providing a step by step instructions it takes to make your art.

“That’s a great question!  It’s not an easy answer, would you allow me to explain?” 

 

This is the opportunity to focus on what you consider the focal point of your work.   

If it really takes a long time to make, then use that to your advantage.   Once I tried making my own ceramic bowl.   You’d think (okay I thought, I’m sure you know better) it’s just getting clay and shaping it on the spinning wheel.  My teacher actually educated on how many steps to prepare that clay and finding the right source, storing it correctly.  Then she described and showed me the process, the hand pressure, the spinning speed.  Then drying it, then the process for glazing, then kilning it, then cleaning it.    

Notice not once the time of each step was not mentioned? 

If I was a professional potter, at this point, time is not going to be a factor in your price.  People now know the details and imagine how long it takes, how hard it is to start without giving any generic answer of the time it took to make one. 

That bowl never turned out right.  But I got that, that’s great for a first timer!

If your customer is engaged, take it up a notch.  Tell people why you do what you do.  Share a story that will connect your audience emotionally and spiritually about your work.  When I used to sell origami, it was never about making money.  It was always about my father who I rarely saw when I was young.  He always did double shifts to support us.  He took the time to teach me my first paper crane.  He started my passion with folding works of art and I wanted to share it with the world.

Now, there’s always going to be the 1% who really just cares to get the lowest price and will try to validate every point to get you to agree.  The 1% who persist of knowing where you buy your supplies, the temperature you bake your clay or the secret recipe to your sauce.  I work and talk to this group everyday in my daytime career.  They will never be satisfied and will probably pick on the work even after they make the purchase.  However, If the price they want is below what you value your work, you wouldn’t want to do business with them anyway.

Lastly, don’t exaggerate. 

 

If you imply it takes weeks or months to make a $50 item, the perception is you are crazy or financially well off (meaning taking advantage of your or push for a unreasonable discount).   If you are asked how you keep costs down, use the analogy of baking cookies.  You’d make a few dozen at a time to take advantage of the oven, not one at a time.  However, unlike mass production you check each one to make sure each meet your standards rather take a sampling of one to represent the whole. 

Are You A Manager or Are You A Leader?

I’m frustrated.  Lately tough problems and issues coming to me at once at my office.  I’ve been looking to my managers for guidance and just not getting anywhere.  These past few weeks, I realized that some people will advise you, but not mentor you.

Then I recalled something that happened a few weeks ago, many of our higher ups were away on business.  I had a huge problem and asked an interim manager who seated in a different building in my company.   She took the reigns and got the high level conference call that I couldn't get my vendors to agree to.  She didn’t try to solve my problem.  She knew once I got them on the phone, we could negotiate and agree to a solution.  She guided me to solve the problem myself! 

I felt so motivated for awhile after that incident.  She inspired me to work harder because she earned my respect. 

I realized something:

Not all managers are leaders

At the surface, many think they are one at the same.  I disagree.  

A manager is just that.  A person who knows his or her role and responsibilities and execute against that expectation.  Ensure everyone does their job so you can do yours.

A leader is someone who can influence another person or people to want to achieve a common goal, not only to meet expectations but to exceed them. 

So, what are you?

“Uncool” Email Domain Prejudice

I recently received a email titled Yahoos and Hotmails Need Not to Apply.  Having an ‘uncool’ email domain could potential move your resume into the recycling box!

It never occurred to me that using a Hotmail account affected my online presence, both professionally and personally!

When I began my career, Hotmail was one of the first web based email providers.  Most emails were server based so you couldn’t access them unless you were on the school or company network.  Internet at home, well, most of us didn’t have the service. It was important for me to have access to my personal email from anywhere I had access to the internet, which was school or work.

Things have changed and I still have my personal Hotmail email address.  I heard and read that people are moving to Gmail but It’s all about simplicity with me.  It’s just easier to have one email address.  I use a PC and they are all on the Microsoft platform.  When I opened up my West Coast Origami and Cindy Ho Designs, it was natural for me use Hotmail.  Microsoft made it extremely easy to access them on the email program and keep them separated.  

Reading this article, a lot of readers seemed outraged and dismissing the point.  If one person is prejudiced to out-dated domain emails, there must be more who share this opinion.  As a freelancer, I cannot afford to lose potential customers.  Having that said, maybe those same potential customers may be more challenging to work with if they contacted me prior to reviewing my portfolio.  Challenging or not, would you want to miss a chance on potential clients?

This article influenced me to get a Gmail account.  Not that I’m happy about learning a new email system, but I’m working to build a good online presence. 

As for recruiting a candidate for a important position in your company?  Why would anyone dismiss a resume just because they had an ‘uncool’ email domain?   Whether it’s Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail, all it means is that person knows how to set up an account.  Unless their user name is unprofessional like Ilovetogetdrunk, I don’t think it matters if that person uses Hotmail or Gmail would it?

The First Impression

 

The company I’m currently working for is on a hiring spree.  For the last week or so, there’s been a steady stream of candidates coming to my area where I sit.  I work for a manufacturing firm so part of the interview is not only meeting with your hopefully soon to be manager but a tour of the production floor so they get a sense of what you could be getting yourself into.

After the interviews, these are comments I’ve been overhearing:

• If he can’t arrive on time, I don’t want to see him! (he was 45 min late and didn’t call us)
• He has a lot of experience but didn’t seem interested in what we do
• He’s strong! Did you shake his hand?
• I think he might be better suited in the other role, let’s see if he’s interested
• He said these skills but after showing him our defective product he couldn’t point out what’s wrong with it
• I rate him 1 out of 5.  I’d like to hire him I’m worried he might get bored after a few months.  Do you think we can groom him for the assistant role if we hire him for this one?
• He was great, but then he casually swore in the 3^rd interview (he essentially had the job but this made us not hire him in the end)
• She had the drive, but not the experience.  I wish I could have hired her.
• The guy wore jeans!

Most of us never hear what is talked after the interviews.  However, the sampling of the list above just shows that every little thing you do affects the interviewer’s impression.  Most were good, but there were surprises, simply because the candidate didn’t know or realized his or her actions.

What first impressions do you make?

Credit Card Security – EPIC FAIL

Today, my manager sent out an email that someone charged $3000 of camping equipment onto his company credit card. Considering that we use that card to buy raw materials or equipment, we all knew that his card number was compromised.

The card is under our CEO’s account and senior staff is added on to this account, such as my boss.

When he called to cancel it, the customer service person would not.  The card was under our CEO’s account and they would only cancel the card if my boss knew the CEO’s date of birth and mother’s maiden name.  That simply blew us away, it was obvious someone is spending money on a stolen credit card but the customer service representative said he couldn’t cancel it just because my boss didn’t know the answers to the security questions to make sure he’s the authorized card holder. Apparently, it was a breach in their security protocols.

To cancel it, he had to go to our Human Resources and Finance to get the ‘security answers’

So, here’s what we know.  My boss now knows our CEO’s birth date and mother’s maiden name.  We all know the CEO’s name and it’s probably not hard for us to find out where the he lives.  If my boss was a criminal, he now has enough information to to pose as our CEO and make fraudulent purchases himself. 

I couldn’t remember if it was VISA or Master Card.  Which ever company it was shame on you.  Your own policies actually encouraging potential identify theft.

Book Review: The Rules of Work

It’s about one man's who wrote his experiences in a set list of rules during his many years in the corporate world.  Taking advantage of the unwritten rules of business and capitalizing on people's behaviours to put himself ahead in his career. Most of the 'rules' are basic common sense that we all knew but never consciously realized.  

I recommend it if you are a light reader like I am.  The trick is remember to follow them but I advise that some rules are made to be broken.  It tells me the first thing I shouldn't do is tell people I work with about "The Rules".  I disagree, it should be recommended to those I feel that I want to succeed.  I'm career driven, but a career won't enhance your life and make you happy if you have no friends.  Coworkers can be friends and I think friends are more valuable in your life than any career.

Once It’s On the Internet, It’s There Forever

I was listening to our local radio station and one of the DJs was telling a story how she regrets posting a picture of her cleavage and now it’s one of the first things you see when you search her name.   That was a few years ago (Yes, I did Google her name out of curiosity and yes that photo was there)

She learned something:  Once it’s on the Internet, It’s There Forever

Another example: Remember the girl who was fired after posting on Facebook that she was bored at her new job?  You don’t?  Google it, there’s news articles about that incident stating her name and her photos.  Those articles will probably still be there 10 years from now, ready for anyone who is still interested in that story or wants to search for that girl’s name.  I hope this doesn’t haunt that girl in her future endeavours. 

The thing is, anything that you post in the internet is uploaded to a server that you have no control over.  When you post unflattering photos or venting comments on forums, the pages they are on are catalogued by search engines and any photo and videos are archived by web crawlers, then they get backed up.  Anyone who has access to the internet has the ability to view them, a potential employer, a nasty rival, the person you have a crush on.  Anyone.

The Internet remembers everything.

So does this mean you shouldn’t post anything on the internet?  Of course not.  However, you need to be careful of what you say and what you want people to see.   Why do we all try to look and act our best when we are on a first date with a person we really like?   Now, sometimes we all get emotional and forget but just remember this, think twice before you post, it may come back and haunt you.