Friday, February 26, 2010

I would like to be able to take this job

I just went to craigslist.org and typed in keyword "yoga" in the job search. There were a lot of jobs listed for yoga instructors, but since I'm not (yet) a yoga teacher I cruised right by those. And I came upon this:

Front Desk Position - Bay Club Financial District (financial district)

About us...

About Us...
Bay Club Financial District is the City's top executive fitness center. Located in San Francisco's bustling Financial District, this elegant club offers personalized service, topnotch equipment, and comfortable, elegant surroundings. Catering specifically to the busy professional, the club provides members and their guest with a dedicated mind & body studio, group exercise/cycle studio, strength training room, and functional training room, plus luxurious amenities, including a day spa, pro shop, and executive locker rooms with sauna, steam, whirlpool, and full-size lockers. Bay Club Financial District also offers a comprehensive assortment of services such as personal fitness training, one-on-one yoga & Pilate’s instruction, and laundry service.

Bay Club Financial District is accepting applications for a part time Front Desk Representative. The person chosen for this position will be responsible for courteously and efficiently providing exceptional service to all members, guests and employees, keeping the Club a safe and secure environment and perform functional tasks for the operations of the desk and the entire Club. Qualified candidates must possess enthusiasm for customer service, and a passion for helping people. For more information about our Club please visit our website at www.bayclubbofa.com.


Currently we are accepting applications for the following shift:
4:45am-1:15pm (Tuesday-Friday)

Qualified candidates must have a clear understanding of the following areas of emphasis:
• An abiding belief in the tenets of Western Athletic Clubs’ Mission Statement to create welcoming environments and enriching experiences with an added commitment to improve the health and well being of others.
• Dedicated practice of our company’s ENHANCE Service Standards of customer relations and professionalism. ie Greet members and guests by name, etc.
• Maintain a friendly demeanor and professional image for a positive first and last impression
• Team player and strong work ethic
• Punctual attendance and excellent time management
• Good organizational skills and follow-up for superior results
• Proactive initiative and creative skills to resolve problems in a professional, calm and constructive manner

Job Requirements:
• Experience in a customer service industry/position
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Exceptional listening skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Enthusiastic, responsible, and dependable team player
• Self motivated, takes initiative
• Well-organized and detail oriented
• Respect for the importance and difficulty of delivering consistently superior service

Please send cover letter and resume to employment@bayclubbofa.com or fax it to 415.362.7207.

I realize that I would make pretty much no money doing this job...however it would be GLORIOUS! And I would be so good at it! And I wouldn't have to travel any more AND I could ride public transportation to work!!

Sadly, I think my husband would go into shock and or have a coronary if I quit my job right now. Financially it just doesn't seem possible.

Also, can I admit that immediately upon dreaming about taking this job I thought, "Oh, they'd make fun of me--a 41 year old--applying for this job." I hate being in my 40s. I know that is a bad attitude. Okay, okay, I'll try and get over it.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Orange

I love this poem and wanted to share!!

The Orange

By Wendy Cope

At lunchtime I bought a huge orange
The size of it made us all laugh.
I peeled it and shared it with Robert and Dave—
They got quarters and I had a half.

And that orange it made me so happy,
As ordinary things often do
Just lately. The shopping. A walk in the park
This is peace and contentment. It’s new.

The rest of the day was quite easy.
I did all my jobs on my list
And enjoyed them and had some time over.
I love you. I’m glad I exist.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Love

Like many women, my girlfriends and I often talk about relationships. Relationships are a good topic because if you approach the conversation with an open mind and open heart you usually learn something and grow a bit. And that is good for all relationships, not just romantic but also for friendships and work relationships, too.

Many years ago my friend, Lisa, took a workshop about men. I don't remember the name of the workshop but every day she would call me and give me a re-cap of the things she had learned. There were many useful things but I don't remember any of them--except one. I have put this one thing to good use many times. This thing she learned is regarding how to approach a man when you are in disagreement and you would like him to possibly change his mind. Instead of saying the obvious, "You're dead wrong, how can you think that way?!" which will get you absolutely no where, you say the following: "May I have the opportunity to influence your opinion?" You can change the words a bit to suit your speaking style if you like. For example, you may want to say, "I would love the opportunity to influence your opinion on this." That is more comfortable to me. I actually use this most often in work circumstances! My bosses are both men and I deal mostly with men in the field when I'm out visiting accounts. It is magical. For some people this may seem silly but I would suggest that some people have a more easy going manner about things that they are passionate about. I tend to get a little riled up and perhaps even forceful about my opinions under certain circumstances. I think that is a just a sign of the fact that I was raised to feel as though my opinion matters which is a good thing but how we communicate with other people makes all the difference in how they are able to hear us--or not hear us, as the case may be. But I have digressed from the topic of Love...

Having been married for just over a year, it is all still somewhat new. The total time I have been with Scott is now over four years. This is the LONGEST I have ever been with anybody! Yay! And the more we are together, the more joy I find in being in and creating family. It just feels so wonderful and miraculous to me. I have been thinking of all the negative things people say about marriage. They say these things flippantly and carelessly like, "Life is over once you get married". But for me it has never been that way. I relish my monogamous relationship! And as I told Lisa the other day, the thought that I get to be with Scott and only Scott for the rest of my life feels so exciting to me! Strange maybe, but true.

Over the holidays Scott bought me the book, NO. 1 LADIES' DETECTIVE AGENCY by Alexander McCall Smith. I had seen these books around but had dismissed them as something I wouldn't like. Of course I was wrong. They are wonderful and you should read them. I just finished reading the fifth book in the series and I would like to quote something her from that book. I will not give any of the story away, I promise, but it will give you a flavor of the writing and its appeal--and it may make you feel very happy as well:

She loved this country, which was a good place, and she loved those with whom she lived and worked. She had so much love to give--she had always felt that--and now there was somebody to whom she could give this love, and that, she knew, was good; for that is what redeems us, that is what makes our pain and sorrow bearable--this giving of love to to others, this sharing of the heart."