AZ Republic: MONITOR THE PEOPLE YOU HIRE!!!

My disgust is not necessarily with the Arizona Republic, but with their "sub-contracted Circulation department", I mean "Circulation Helpers". The company AZ Republic subcontracted to sell subscriptions!

As I sat at home, enjoying the roar of my children discuss who's turn it is to play on the computer and how BORED they were... the ominous ring of my door bell catches my attention. Along with the attention of my two dogs, who barked constantly for a minute until I calmed them down.

ANYWHO... I open the door and see a child sitting at my door. Seeing as though he looked roughly the size of my 12 year old son, I assumed he was another brat coming to join the ranks of "my children". (At present I have 4 children, and about 10 "adopted kids" from around the neighborhood!). MUCH to my surprise, he began asking me about my newspaper delivery and whether I wanted the paper tossed close to the door or out toward the end of the driveway.

As he talked, he mentioned that he was a Peoria High School Student (I live in Gilbert), and with my weekend subscription, I would not only enjoy FREE delivery of the AZ Republic during the week, but I would have 8 Weeks of Weekend Delivery for only $26, AND THE BEST PART... I would be helping him earn a $500 savings bond to use toward college. As a business & marketing communications professional, I have orchestrated similar door-to-door promotions and I knew that part of his story didn't add up. I looked around and NO ADULT IN SIGHT!!! I told him to come back with an adult, and credible paperwork, and I would be MORE THAN HAPPY to subscribe... (it would save me a trip every weekend and help a child!!!)

15 minutes later... my door bell rings again! The young man asks to use my phone because he can't get a signal and can't reach his ride! He explains that there are about 11 people total in a Van, with a "Sales Circulation Manager", that goes to neighborhoods around the area and the kids walk door to door asking for subscriptions. He didn't expect his ride to be there for almost an hour... ITS 100+ DEGREES OUTSIDE AND YOU HAVE THIS CHILD STANDING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WAITING FOR A RIDE!

I guess the child got in touch with his "supervisor", because roughly 15 minutes later a large white van pulls in front of my house and out pops "T. W.". This "competent", 26 year old Sales supervisor, couldn't produce any permits, licenses, or any credible documentation other that his name & phone number on the back of an AZ Republic Subscription Form! After asking him for several minutes about supervising and responsibility for a minor he politely said this wasn't going to work and proceeded to get into his vehicle.

I have experienced door-to-door sales, waiting on a ride, and even being left in an unfamiliar house out of town till almost midnight... BUT ALL AS AN ADULT!!!! What are you doing? Are you that desperate for subscriptions that you have resorted to hiring companies that exploit children? I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED... this MUST be addressed!!!! Yes I do have names and witnesses!

LaKisha Geans
Media & Public Relations
GeanPool Consulting
www.GeanPoolPR.com

Listen... To Be Heard!

Fat Boy Chronicles, Teen Obesity & a Fight to Survive

At 13-years old “Jimmy,” stood 4’8” tall and weighed 197 pounds! He seeks comfort in his favorite foods and becomes increasingly reclusive and fatter by the day. He struggles with low self-esteem, depression and the daily torment from his classmates. He begins to review his lifestyle and eventually turns his life around and loses the weight.

His struggles serve as a lesson for so many other teens facing the same problems every day. A new study spanning decades has found that young men who were overweight at age 18 were as likely to die by 60 as light smokers were, while obese teens, like heavy smokers, were at double the risk of dying early.

A new book, “The Fat Boy Chronicles,” delves into the issue of teenage obesity and its psychological impact on teens. Told through the voice of a Cincinnati teenager, the story paints an offbeat, yet emotionally painful world of obese teens hidden beneath our thin-obsessed society co-authored by Michael Buchanan & Diane Lang.

Read full excerpt via link: The Fat Boy Chronicles

"On the bus ride home today, I sat with a kid named Allen. He’s overweight, but in a worse way than me. I mean, he’s not any bigger than me, he just doesn’t get it. Like he wears these big pants that hang too far down, and you can see his underwear and sometimes a little more. The girls think it’s gross and scream whenever his pants creep down too much. And his shirts are too short and half his gut hangs out. Sometimes, he really asks for all the grief he gets. Then he smiles all the time and tries to talk to people. Everyone ignores him, and I tried to, but got caught sitting with him in the front of the bus, which was a big mistake because we got bombed with paper wads. Then someone yelled for the bus driver to split us up—they said we were making the bus lean to one side. The driver hollered at everyone for messing up her bus, then made Allen and me pick up all the paper at our feet. Of course, the rest of the bus cracked up laughing. Ha, ha. Real funny.

Now, I’m sitting in my room writing this journal. I still think it’s a waste of time. I mean, who cares about my boring life? Hold on a minute. I don’t believe it. My pimple-faced sister is yelling at me because she thinks I went in her room and snooped on her laptop."

I hope you enjoy! Till Next Time, LaKisha!!

LaKisha Geans
Media & Public Relations
GeanPool Consulting
www.GeanPoolPR.com

Listen... To Be Heard!

Listen... to be HEARD... explained!

I have been asked to explain my Motto... and so here it is... the long & short of why I selected this phrase.

My motto is "Listen to be Heard", and is directly related to my experiences as a volunteer and work as a public relations professional.

After a year of volunteering & working with a homeless shelter, It became obvious to me (especially after I was told by Ms. Runner) that some people like the homeless/nomad lifestyle. Ms. Runner (I gave her that name!) & her hubby were married for 30 + years, had two children (doctor & lawyer), and at one time owned a home worth close to 500K (I saw the documents & records!). After their last child went to college, they retired from their "everyday crap" and took upon themselves a lifestyle of freedom and travel. She mentioned they had to deal with the negative connotations that come with being homeless, but that didn't stop them because they enjoyed the unhindered lifestyle! They had visited 40 of the continental states and had a great relationship with family & friends, that after a while accepted their new found luxury! They stayed in shelters while in the cities, and lived off the land in rural areas of the country.

Why is this important... how does this tie into my motto. Well, my job was to assist people in obtain resources for transitional living. It was my "job" to help them find the information needed... in order to do that, I had to listen to them and allow them to tell me what they wanted & needed. It was then, that they were able to hear me as I described options based on what THEY WANTED AND NEEDED. I went into the position thinking I knew what was best, (i.e. stable housing & employment), but I was initially unable to help people because I didn't listen to their needs!

I take this approach in business & volunteer work. Although I might have the best ideas, services, or products in the world, it makes little difference if I don't listen to the needs of my clients and their target audience/markets. I have volunteered at homeless shelters, battered women shelters, child/foster centers, various community centers & community projects as well as professional, religious, and XXX based organizations I have been involved in. Every experience has the same given me the same lesson, I can't help until I know what you want or need!

If you want your public to hear you, your organization must be comfortable & capable of listening to them! If your public tells you, "I get my info from XXX", "I value XXX", or "I wish we had XXX"; it is your responsibility and duty to provide for those needs within your companies abilities.

Are you listening and putting your message in the right hands... or just talking because you think we want to hear you?

LaKisha Geans
Media & Public Relations
GeanPool Consulting
www.GeanPoolPR.com

Listen... To Be Heard!

Kind Police Escort from Corvallis, OR

Let me start by saying... WE HAVE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL COUNTRYSIDE!!!

America is "from Sea to Shining Sea" beautiful; the mountains capped with snow overlooking the cabins with billowing smoke; the hills with goats & green pastures next to the gurgling river; the desert sunset that lights the fire with red, gold, & if you lucky a bright streak of violet as the moon takes hold of the sky.

We live in a beautiful nation. We need to take occasional trips outside the tattered infrastructure that holds this country together to really view the beauty our leaders should be fighting for! (By leaders I mean ANY PERSON with ANY INFLUENCE... yep that means you!) :)


Okay... back to the point, MY KINDLY POLICE ESCORT FROM CORVALLIS, OR!!! I am on my way back to Phoenix. It is 1:30AM, perfect traveling time because no-one is on the road & I timed it to miss the big city rush hour traffic... 19 hours to go! I have my handy dandy Blackberry GoogleMaps Application with my route from the hotel planned to my door! Car's packed, cd's organized, Starbucks DoubleShot & I am on the road.

I get 3 blocks down the street from the hotel when I hit a red light, I was supposed to turn here but the street name was different. I looked down at the BB to confirm with GoogleMaps. I guess I stopped to far away from the light... Next thing I know I hear the loud horn " You can't stop in the middle of the road". I wave my hands sorry and inch to the light.

Then the red & blues... Okay I kinda expected it at this point. AZ plates in OR. "Pull over" rings out over the loudspeaker. I flip my hazards & turn RIGHT at the light... "PULL INTO THE GAS STATION RIGHT NOW!!!" rings out. By then I am a bit freaked out so I whip across the street into the gas station. Around the corner comes another black & white with the red & blues going. By then I have I officer at my driver door & two back-ups at the passenger & rear of the car.

I turned off the car; handed him my license & registration for the rental car; & proceeded to light a cigarette. He asked... "So, how much have you had to drink tonight"... Sarcastically I say "two shots of expresso". " He looked sideways at me and I said " seriously, I haven't had anything alcoholic to drink tonight".
"What are you doing out tonight"
"I am on my way home... I just left the hotel & got a bit turned around and was checking my blackberry to verify my route. I have a serous cold & cough, I hate cold weather, and I JUST WANNA GO HOME!"
He said okay I will be right back.

He comes back to the car and says " Well you started off good by pulling over, but you didn't pull over far enough to the right... & then you made it worse by turning THE WRONG WAY ON A ONE WAY STREET! (That explains why they yelled to turn into the gas station and why they thought I was drunk!) I really don't think you should drive to Phoenix tonight, but the exit out is straight down this street and right @ the highway. Please be careful tonight!"

"Yes sir & you have a great night!" The second car & officer left, the primary car took off down the street I needed to drive and when I turned at the highway I saw them turn around! YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!!! Okay.... you thought I was drunk... but you did your job & for that I applaud you... & you gave me an escort out the city, cause your streets are JACKED-UP!!!

I love my little excursions! Always an adventure... & I got a cool coffee mug... I forgot to get a shot glass for my collection! I will take pictures & post them and tell you moreabout some of my great states excursions another time... Another gem from my trip!


What do you think?


LaKisha Geans
Media & Public Relations
GeanPool Consulting
www.GeanPoolPR.com

Listen... To Be Heard!

Cultural Training Part 1...

I have coached multicultural and diversity training for several people. The underlying comment that forces the uncomfortable talk is the perception of fault & the resulting attitude.

For example:
Asian Woman makes a comment that generalizes black people as lazy. Black woman says that offended me. White woman states, "This is why I don't make comments in these types of seminars. Everyone is so sensitive & now if Isay anything Iwill be seen as a racist!"

Black Woman is offended by this comment, but doesn't say anything to White Woman for fear that she will be seen as "bitter". White woman continues to feed the ill gotten attitude & intolerance festers without addressing the original concerns of offense. The topic has shifted from the action or statement that causes the ill feelings to the feeling itself.

In this instance... I challenged everyone in the room to be sensitive... to others & themselves. If you are offended, you would like for the other person to acknowledge their offense, make amends and move forward. If you say something to a friend, regardless of ethnicity and/or cultural background, and it offends them and they mention it to you; would you make sure the situation is resolved. Would you blame them for being sensitive or offended by your words or actions. Generally speaking, NO... as a friend you would do everything in your power to apologize to your friends and make them understand you meant no harm. This attitude should be no different when you interact with strangers.

Asking someone to come to your house is not the same as visiting them. By this I mean, don't use the additive " I have _____ friends, or I invited a _______ person to my house." This does not excuse you from stepping out of your bubble of comfort to experience another zone! You may have black friends... but are you a friend to them. You may have invited a homosexual to your birthday party, but have you attended birthday party for them.

I know, birds of a feather flock together. We as people are naturally attracted to people that we admire for some quality... usually a similar physical trait. The goal is to go beyond the surface to see that we are all the same crap underneath! Bones, blood, & a human connection!



LaKisha Geans
Media & Public Relations
GeanPool Consulting
www.GeanPoolPR.com

Listen... To Be Heard!