Back to War

Where is the Love? Is it time again to ask some questions? It is complicated...we are all scared, yet, so many lives have already been lost. Can we really afford to keep saying war has been around since the dawn of time? Why? It may be simplistic to be moved by a song and clip of film - maybe not... I wish the world leaders, all, would look into the faces of their ordinary citizens and ask...

Subservient Wages - how do they survive?

After waiting for a couple hours in a room filled with other anxious applicants, I was finally interviewed for a sales position with a prominent retail chain. I was seeking employment to supplement my income around the holidays – hoping there may be an opportunity later to growth with the company.

It was an exciting prospect to be amongst the shoppers and the sparkling stuff we all purchase, with enthusiasm even in a difficult economy. As we shop as an expressions of our love and joy at the holidays, I wondered would I join the team? The recruiter went over my experience as a brand director and how I understood the needs of exemplary customer service; to smile and sell up, diplomatically handle the rush of customers who often are impatient, and create an environment that the consumer wants to return to again and again. How fun I thought!

Then they told me the hourly rate of pay - $8.00. I tried not to look too surprised while being aghast! How does anyone survive on $8.00 an hour? I quickly calculated the transportation costs to and from, lunch (brown bagging would be a necessity) and taxes - realizing my take home would be less than $200.00 if willing to accept a full-time position. At 47, and after two decades of professional experience, would this be it? How naive I was being....

As noted, in an article this past summer, by Aaron Smith CNNMoney.com staff writer… At $7.25 an hour, a full-time worker earns $15,080. At the nationwide work-week average of 33 hours, the worker would earn $12,441. The U.S. government sets the poverty level at $10,830 for one person or $22,050 for a family of four in the lower 48 states and D.C. A worker who is above the poverty level would not be eligible for certain welfare-related assistance.

Prior to the federal increase in minimum wage, the hourly rate of pay in New York was $7.15. Imagine this being an increase in the federal minimum wage of $5.85, which took place in 2007 from as an increase from $5.15 an hour. Immediately I realized, I would be no longer be a part of the middle class or even the working class but bordering on poverty wages, especially in New York City. How do folks survive? How many jobs would someone need to secure at this wage - two, three? No sleep and endless hours of serving others. No wonder our sales associates and service professionals are the most unhappy individuals we encounter on a daily basis.

We all complain about the cash register attendant who is talking on the cell phone, or the sales representative who walks away as we look in dismay while in need of assistance. We assume that this is their job - to aid us, serve us with a smile and resolve our challenges. Really, as a branding professional I am stunned by how can we expect individuals who are treated in a subservient manner to be the best stewards of our products? I am acutely aware of the cost of production, having worked in the consumer products industry for over a decade. I am also aware of the idea and need for profit margins. But as we look at the salaries and profits higher up the ladder - creative, production, marketing and sales executives…why is the person most connected to the customer paid so despairingly different? How is it possible to be an enthusiastic brand representative when you may not eat yourself that night?

It has been so long since I was in this place myself. Over the years I have often felt very uncomfortable when looking around and seeing the faces of folks in these positions, primarily people of color. I am ashamed at what this brings to mind and wonder am I alone with that image? Are so many of us silently walking around and just accepting for our own convenience? At a minimum, as a supplement to the wage, please be courteous to even the most disgruntled associate this holiday season...think of what they are really doing as they serve us.

Home for Thanksgiving...but first she had to leave.

August 26, 2009...I wrote

Sitting in Amelia’s room with her gone – she is back to school for her second year of college, I well up with pride and something I have no words for. There are so many, many moments of reflection, smells, laughter, tears, fears, joys and the complete and unexpected surprises that came with the journey of motherhood.

My nest is now empty again, and my heart runith over. I cry so hard that my chest heaves and the loss feels never ending.

I drove Amelia to school this past Sunday. She was expecting to go up with her dad, but when his plans changed at the last minute we grabbed the opportunity to spend a few days alone. We were unable to do this last year.

I had been secretly wanting to take her up, but feeling a twinge of financial guilt I prepared for her dad to take her, and I would see her later in the year for parents weekend if I could.

Last year we all went up to school with her for her big send off... mom, dad, sister, boyfriend, and then visited again for parents weekend with more extended family. She and I had not had much time alone. I was going through cancer treatments, and needed all the support I could muster, and she needed her whole family to send her off into her next stage – her college career. Her freshman year was an adventure and a dream come true. Amelia had gotten into her early decision school and received an amazing scholarship. When I saw her at orientation, walking the campus grounds, I knew she was at her second home.

In the small northern New York town of Geneva the college keeps the community alive, particularly in these very difficult economic times. I thought of the struggles of pride and gratefulness this community must feel. A year of tuition is probably about the same as many residents annual salaries. The college plays numerous roles in supporting projects ranging from primary education tutoring, supporting the arts, and a campus chapter for Habitat for Humanity. The community brings to the students a steeped heritage of triumphs in democracy and the political shaping of the nation we live in. It has worked in partnership for over 100 years.

Sometimes, I wonder if my daughter relates more to the town’s folk than her schoolmates. Puerto Rican and Irish American (with a few other WASPY ingrediants thrown in) from Brooklyn. Her dad and I separated when she was two, and it has always been a simple middle class life with a careful eye on how to pay for what may come next. Amelia was able to go to camp on a scholarship and traveled because her dad worked for an airline. She and I had the great support of community and friends which filled our lives with much joy.

So, as we headed up for her second year, we stole away for a mother daughter moment as so many times before. We packed the car with her summer belongings, and with her IPod handy headed out. The drive is just over six hours. We talked about what she was hoping to accomplish this year and listened to great music. She and I both love how a song can take you back - holding memories. The Red Hot Chili Peppers were a favorite from her childhood, The Dixie Chicks and my western girl roots - Jack Johnson and Jason Mraz for the fun of it!

By the time we arrived, miles of highway and rain behind us, we picked up her keys for the house. No dorm living - Amelia had applied to the themed houses. This year, with two great friends, and about 15 other girls, she will share an old Victorian near the lake. When we arrive there is another family mov’in in. The dad inquires where’s the hubby? I say working - the story is too long. We will sleep in her room, so we start by moving furniture around for a couple hours – then exhausted we head out to pick up the sheets and blankets at her storage facility, get a bite and fall asleep to the quiet of the country life.

By noon the next day we have all her stuff piled up in the middle of her room. My daughter looks at me and I can see in her eyes – how will she get through it all and start to find her way. She says, “How will I do this alone”? I want to wrap my arms around her and tell her, “You will be fine my little chick. I will help and leave when the time is right.” Instead we head out to go grocery shopping and for a few items at Walmart. I reassure her I am not leaving right away.

Back at the house, a couple hours later we organize all her stuff and put it away. She is settled in. I cook for her one last time and share tips in the kitchen that I hope keep her nourished in more ways than just food for her belly. We eat grilled chicken and veggies made with one skillet and the pumpkin carving knife. The kitchen is not yet stocked. It is 10:00PM and I need sleep, and while more of the girls are arriving my time to leave is coming quickly.

I stir at 4:00AM and find it hard to go back to sleep. There is a breeze coming of the lake and I can feel the city and my own commitments pulling at me. It will be good for the house to wake with one less mom. I shower and pack my stuff up. Amelia wakes and asks what am doing…it is time to leave little one. She sits up and we both cry, hug, and say good-bye for now.

Now coming home for the holidays, I am so thankful for my daughter, and the many experiences we share that shape my life.

Mass Market Goes Green

So the big move has happened - Walmark announces "green" labels insuring that manufacturing and consumption will never really be the same.

Walmart announces that vendors will be required to label how "sustainable" their products are based on 4 categories; energy and greenhouse gas emissions, material, natural resources and "people and communities". For licensing, branding and manufacturing in general this is a move that will be felt considerably. We have all heard how tight the margins are in retail, and with new regulations the cost of producing inevitably goes up. Is the Walmart consumer prepared to pay more?

I for one believe that the masses are just as eager to be ever more conscious in their shopping habits and that the more the supply chain changes the more affordable and "mass" sustainable products will be. Congratulations to Walmart for taking the lead! With Walmart order numbers they will aid already conscious manufactures get a foot hold in a market places and encourage others to change who may have had trepidation. No longer should the environmently conscious products be a niche market branding mechanism, but tangible in the way product is made, shipped, packaged and the final impact - discarded. The consumer needs to be prepared to assume some of the financial and consumption responsibility as well...let's see how that part goes.

See www.armconsulting.me and how I am working on my part!

Jen

Happy 400 years to NYC

Here's to Henry Hudson for finding us - his mistake and our gain. Imagine the mutiny after years and years of exploration and never finding the elusive North-West passage, but to only discover Mannahatta. If you click on the title it takes you to this absolutely fantastic project - The Manhattan Project where you can see NYC communities in 1609 - 400 years ago via computer translations. This is a project of The Wildlife Conservation Society.

With the 400 year celebration - Macy's moved the fireworks to the Hudson and I hear they were spectacular. We could still see the "rockets red glare" from our side of the east river without the crowds.

Check out all the history and activities and celebrate the city on this historical anniversary!

Three things to be grateful for

1) Central Park

2) Prospect Park

3) Any green-way in NYC

We really have the best of so much in this very lovely city.

xoxoxo

Jen