Leaving a Lasting First Impression - Make it A Good One

Anyone who can turn on a computer these days, at any age can log in to such social medias as Facebook, twitter, MySpace, blogs, etc to find out what is going on in the world, with their friends, family and keep up with fashions, celebs and the latest gossip. Businesses are even finding it a great place to get new customers, clients, employees and advertising because it is more cost effective then through newspapers, TV, highway signs, etc.

Teens and young adults aren’t the only ones caught up in the fun, entertainment and pastime of the social media. Baby boomers and generation X (my generation) are also enjoying logging on or signing in daily to check out the latest in people’s lives.

The other day I was talking with someone and she related a story to me that really didn’t have anything to do with social media, but it got me thinking about first impression and being online. Here is the story and then I will explain how it made me connect the two.

She is a successful business owner and has been for more than 20 yrs. Her and her husband have run everything from his construction company, her licensed daycare to a group home, she was/is a freelance writer and while running a 4 star country inn, for the past 5+ yrs, she has also held a government position and on a few tourism boards.

She had been the girl’s dorm advisor in a private school before it was shut down and upon its closing she found it had been the most trying, stressful time and naturally, she was burnt out. Deciding to take a couple months off of being her own boss and go waitress… you know a no brain, just do what you are told job, so she could recover, before starting on her new venture. She hadn’t waitressed for about 20 yrs but like riding a bike, it would come back to her. After a couple months of this, she quit and her and her husband started running a group home.

Years later after she had been well established with working for the government, running the 4 star country inn and on a tourism board, she decided  to sit in a coffee shop in her home town just to see what the locals were doing and catch up on any local gossip. A man came to sit with her that she knew from her job working in the government department and they chatted.

He brought up during the conversation about this woman that was running the water district and how everyone had to pay much higher water taxes because of her. This lady asked what he meant. He said that thanks to this woman everyone had to pay higher taxes and he couldn’t figure out why she had this power because she was just a waitress. The woman looked at him stunned because he was talking about her! She was that woman that worked in the water district office and she hadn’t waitressed in years and when she did it was only for a couple months. She told him this, he didn’t believe her. Long story short, even though she had not waitressed in over 10+ years, and was a successful business owner and worked in a department of the government, today, his first impression of her was as a waitress. She would always be just a waitress to him and possibly everyone in that town, because she had worked in the public’s eye that one summer.

This got me thinking about first impressions online and in my life. With social media being made so public as well as people searches done easily thanks to Google, Yahoo, Mozilla, etc, you have to wonder about your first impressions on others. Thanks to places like Facebook that hold information permanently it doesn’t matter what you said 3 years ago or now because at any time a potential employer, business partner, client, customer, or spouse could very well go on the internet to see what comes up for your name and it might affect that relationship.

We are so worried about ID theft, predators, stockers, etc, but what about that future boss or partner? Posting stuff could be misunderstood, deemed inappropriate, offensive or hurtful is something that we should be aware of. Do you really want that important client, future boss or possible business partner finding something that you had posted when you were young and foolish or when you were angry, and decide not to work with you because of it? It doesn’t go away, even if you delete it from your profile, status, blog, etc…there are spiders, cookies, caches, whatever you want to call it that saves EVERYTHING you put out there for others to read and see. Those pictures, nasty words, not too nice comments will be there for someone someday to find.

You will wear it for life. This doesn’t just affect you now; this is something that could haunt you for the rest of your life and may very well come back at you when you least expect it. So try to remember this the next time you want to say something about your boss, friend, ex or neighbor…you never know who is reading this or when. I know I have gone back over all my postings on all my sites to see what first impression I have left.

Until next time, I hope you find that the foot print you leave is one you wouldn’t mind leaving again.

The new Okanagan Falls waste water treatment plant

Fire practice last night consisted of a tour of the new Okanangan Falls Wastewater treatment site. Interesting, but smelly in places...hee hee

Here's a couple pictures of what's there.

As you can see here, one of the bioreactors isn't in use. According to Lisa, "it prefers to remain empty when not in use."

However as you can see here, the exterior of it has water in it. It's agitated regularly but this reactor is not in use.

Okanagan Falls runs on one reactor right now. It was interesting to see how the waste was filtered, fed bugs which kept the gases down and then after much filtering, recycling and filting (it gets done 3X I think she said) before leaving the plant.

According to the tour this plant is based on an all natural rinse, recycle, reuse process.

I've attached a link to the RDOS plans because it shows the details of the whole area.

The difference between failure and success - try and do

As a fire fighter I know that to try to do my best isn't good enough. I have to be able to do my best. Whatever that may be.

I should have catnaps more often! I've been struggling with a letter I wrote this morning to the President and CEO of  the corporation I work for concerning my enlightened journey through their businesses and realizing I don't fit in.

My thought as I lay there was, "The difference between failure and success are the simple words 'try' and 'do'. To try, one expects to fail. To do, one expects to succeed."

"Do or do not do, there is no try." Yoda had a huge affect on me as I was growing up. His words throughout the movies always hit deeper then just being a star on a show. Today this movie moment is no different for me then when I was a kid watching him for the first time.

"Attempting to pick up a piece of trash is really just not picking it up. Once you've picked it up then trying and not trying are irrelevant." Wayne Dyer

So in thinking this thought and remembering why I am who I am and do what I do. I felt better in knowing that I'd passed on information to the guy higher up the ladder. I couldn't just sit back and watch without doing something to make things better for the people under me. I might not be able to make a difference for myself but I sure was going to do all I could to make things better for others before I left the company.

I guess that's why I love being a fire fighter. I am doing what feels good for me. I'm being selfish. That being said... here's my thoughts on selfish. 

I'll leave you with another saying to remember, "Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game." Babe Ruth. Be selfish and keep playing the game.

Impossible simply means I'm possible.

Happy Canada Day from this fire fighter to your family

The title says it all. But I know that in my heart I have another word or more correctly, words to add.

This weekend is shaping up to be one big party across our amazing new country. Parties, fire works, good times with family and friends, a drink or two... you get the idea.

Be safe, have fun and see you tomorrow. K?

Now let the party begin! We're celebrating more than just Canada Day, we are celebrating a unique and diverse group of people that work, play and live together under one flag, peacefully.

Let's continue to work and play together. Start your blog here and join me in Denver for an event that will blow your mind!

It's all about prospective - tragedy or an adventure waiting to be explored

I was watching the video feeds, reading the stories and of course catching up on the Facebook postings/updates about Calgary under water and all the flooding. A couple thoughts came to my mind this morning, one was what this blog is titled - It's all about prospective. I mean yes, it's really awful what the Calgarians are going through and my heart goes out to each and everyone of them. However another thought comes to mind too and after watching this video about the flooding in Fernie, I realized that I'd hit the nail on the head.

Go ahead and watch the video, when you're done, stop here and take that step towards a new prospective in your life today.

Fire Practice and owning my own business aren't much different after all

It was a pretty good evening. Not what I expected from practice but it's what I needed. Lots of support from my parents and the guys at the hall trying to help me find where I need to be rather then just getting by. The guys at the hall want to see me succeed in this business so I can be around more and more time with my family which to them is more important then a job that is all consuming. My Chief said he thinks I'm losing too much weight and burnt out before my time.

Being the only female on the team has its advantages and disadvantages too. Being in the centre and everyone aware of me and my life is the same coin with two sides. I feel more grounded and understand better what I need to do. I'm going in the right direction, I just need to believe in myself. My deputy chief and the chief said, "Remember that feeling of climbing that ladder for the first time in your bunker gear?"

"Yes" Read more

My Response: A Letter from a Fire Fighter's Wife

Found this letter on Facebook today and wanted to share my response with you.

Click link: Letter from a fire fighter's wife

My time is precious with my son, whom I see for a few days each month, but I too am a fire fighter. He knows when my pager goes off, no matter the time or day, I'll kiss his cheek and go on the call. He's proud of me and worries about me. When I get home after a call, he asks if I'm ok and gives me the biggest hug. If it's the middle of the night, he'll stir from his sleep to make sure I'm ok.

We, here at the hall, are paid volunteer members. This means we volunteer our time throughout the year and one day just before Christmas each year we get a pay check. It's not big but it helps. It's not easy and it's not complicated, it simply is a path we have chosen to take.

I'm proud to stand with the fire fighters from all over the world. They don't think they're heros but I know their big hearts often get in the way of time with family and friends, and their families see them as I do, they are our heros. Their lives are priceless just as you are.

Thank you to my family and friends for understanding why I do this. Because even as I gear up, you are always on my mind and in my heart. As I go out, know my partner has my back.

Keep the candle burning in the window, I'll be home soon.