On Saturday I went to Cardiff with Bill for a Myers Briggs day with the cv leadership team. It was great fun learning some more about myself and how I think, and why other people think the way they do. Here are my results:
ENFJ
Extravert I get energy from being with people.
iNtuitive I’m more inclined towards the big picture than fine detail.
Feeling When a problem arises involving people I like to dive in and solve it rather than to stand back and look at it dispassionately.
Judging I value order above spontaneity.
Ethics vs. Customer Service
While I was at home over Easter I visited a H&M store with Zoë. Ever since I heard about H&M, and the low prices of their clothing, I believed that at some stage in the production chain individuals must be suffering. I mean you just can’t offer t-shirts for £3 and guarantee that producers in the third world aren’t receiving a raw deal. Right?
So while Zoë was trying on some garments I decided to make some enquiries.
“Hi there, I was wondering if you have any information on the origins of your clothes?” I asked the girl at the counter.
As she looked at me, processing my question, I caught a glimpse of what was going on behind her eyes: ‘ok, ok, question I don’t understand, pretend you have some idea of what’s just been asked’ (smiles, pretends to make a phonecall, wanders around the store appearing to make enquiries of her co-workers, comes back, whispers in the ear of the guy at the till next to her)
So the guy leans over and asks, “what do you want?”
“I was just wondering if you have any information on the conditions under which your clothes are produced?”
(In broad Cardiff accent) “Mate, do you really need to know?”
“Well, yeah, I’d like to know…”
(Wanders around for a few minutes in similar fashion to his colleague, then comes back shaking his head)
I decide to throw him some rope…“Do you have an email address for someone who would know?”
(Wanders around for a few minutes before returning) “Yeah mate, www.h&m.”
On checking out the website I discovered this – clear information on their ethical concerns. Finally!
“Strange things are afoot at the Circle K…” (Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure)
I’ve been in the office the past two days and each day a strange thing has happened:
Tuesday
A guy comes in who visits at least once a week for a cup of tea and a chat. Anyhow this time he’s telling me all kinds of bad things that are going on in his life. I’m listening and listening and he’s getting more and more worked up, then goes into a lull of emotion, then carries on. So I’m listening and I’m praying: “Lord, what should I do? Should I offer to pray for him?” I felt that the answer was “yes” so I waited for a lull and asked, “hey, can I pray for you?” To which he replied, “no…in fact I’m offended at that” and walks straight out slamming the door behind him.
Wednesday
Three kids with Irish accents come into the office asking “what do you do here?” so Grace explains that it is the office of a church. The smallest of the boys is wandering around and one of the others is calling “Pete, come back here…” I notice that he’s heading back towards my desk and decide to follow him, arriving just in time to see him turn around quickly and walk back out towards the front door. I scower my (rather untidy) desk to see what is missing and twig just in time that my phone isn’t there. I make my way towards the front door, but I’m not completely certain that my phone was even on my desk and am wary of grabbing an eight year old boy and demanding my phone off him for all the legal implications. So I literally watch them leave and inform Grace, “I’m sure that kid just stole my phone.” In the back of my mind I’m trying to look on the bright side – ‘at least my life will be more simple…’
Five minutes pass and the little boy returns, two phones in hand. He tells Grace, “I’m sorry I took these phones, I thought they were toys.”
Ingredients for a Risk night:
- Doritos
- Salsa dip
- Dr. Pepper
- Joosters
Job prospects?
Apparently it is possible to earn a living by blogging. (via)