Billie Sucher Blog

The Cab Driver and Cleola's Brownies

The young woman in her early 20’s accompanied by her baby boomer mother and grandmother knocked at the home of an elderly lady, a lady she had never met before in her life. The lady came to the door and the young woman said, "I came by to tell you that your son used to be my cab driver. I am sorry he is gone – he was always so nice to me."

You could see the tears growing in the elderly woman’s eyes…."please come in" she signaled. The young woman, mother and grandmother all entered and took a seat in the living room.

"So you knew my son," the woman inquired?

"Yes, I can only drive to my job from March to November – I’m not supposed to drive in the bad weather. I am special needs. That’s why I would take the cab and that’s how I met your son."

"Did you know your son always made sure I got to work on time?"

"Did you know your son was always nice to me?"

"Did you know your son always made me laugh?"

"He sure knew how to talk a lot – and he was really funny."

"And he would always park in the driveway and call me on my cell phone to let me know he was here waiting for me."

Her son, a highly successful sales executive had retired early and for something to do, had started driving a cab to ‘pass some time.’ Turns out, she said to the young woman, he told me it was "the best job he ever had." The elderly woman spoke lovingly about "her boy" she had lost in the Fall of 2010.  

"You know what he loved?" said the elderly woman to the young one -- he loved brownies! "in fact, this week-end, I will be baking some nine dozen of them to share with the guys he used to play football with and some of his fraternity brothers who are coming in to town this week-end for a golf tournament. Nine dozen. Going to be baking them tomorrow."

The baby boomer mother of the young woman wondered aloud "Is this a secret recipe or something you can pass along?" Together, they all went to the kitchen and line by line, the recipe was dictated and re-recorded on a new index card:

Cleola’s Brownies - Makes: Best  (be sure to say the Makes Best part!)

350 degrees – 20-25 minutes (though Cleola only bakes them about 18 mnts. usually)

~ Combine 2 C. sugar + ½ C. cocoa

~ Add 1 ¼ C. oil

~ Beat by hand – one at a time: 5 eggs (be sure to do this part just like it says)

~ Add: 1 ½ C. flour

~ Add 1 tsp. salt

~ Add 1 tsp. vanilla

~ Nuts: optional

Put in jelly roll pan. "Now the funny thing about this recipe is that there's no soda -- no soda! I think it must be the eggs that makes them the best....yes, it must be the eggs"....

Armed with one new recipe and one new friend, the young woman collected a hug from the Cab Driver's Mother and then announced it was time to go. Maybe she and her mother will whip up some of Cleola’s Brownies tomorrow, too.

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Je ne sais quoi and The Job Search

Job seekers, pretend for a moment that you are completing an application and it states that you must complete the following question and submit it with your resume, cover letter, references, and salary history.

Here's the question:

What is your je ne sais quoi?

Yesterday, I was sharing this French word with clients based on a very interesting story I'd heard on a morning radio program. For the sake of this post, let's give this term an English translation:

~ What is 'that certain something' you have that makes your brand distinctive and attractive?

~ What is the 'indescribable quality' you possess as a job candidate?

~ What 'charm' or 'indefinable enchantment' do you possess that is simply hard to explain?

Bottom line, what might you offer in response to the employer's query? Something to think about as you consider your je ne sais quoi.

Au revoir!

P.S. Homework Exercise: To best serve you, your brand and your chances of getting hired faster, please take the time to formulate rock-solid answers to the above questions.

Frosting on the Cake: Is Your Résumé Delectable?

I love this business and I love it when clients 'get' it. Yesterday, I was working with a person who had lost her job earlier in the week. As we were discussing the subject of résumés, I invited my client to view her résumé through the eyes of a recruiter, hiring manager or human resources representative. (Amazing how one can so quickly shift into another role and view their résumé in such a different light).

I'd invite you to do the same...are you making it easy for the reader (stranger) to quickly grasp your story, your brand, your message? As we continued our 'lesson' together, I randomly asked her which part of a cake she liked better.... the cake itself, or the frosting? My client offered with great fervor: "The frosting!"

So which part do you prefer...the cake, or the frosting? I love the frosting...I consider it the very, very best part of the cake!  Just like a résumé, the reader can read about all of your ingredients (functions, duties, responsibilities (yawn!) OR they can read about your wonderful successes, achievements, contributions, results, and accomplishments (yay!)-- your frosting on the cake of your résumé.

So, how about it....take a look at your résumé through the lens of a recruiter, HR pro, or hiring manager. Is your résumé loaded with frosting...or is it simply another so-so bland cake?

 

 

 

On Thanksgiving: 12 Thoughts

T Time to treasure and take stock of the abundance in your life.

H Harnessing an attitude of thankfulness for all that you are, and can become.

A Appreciating your assets, acknowledging your liabilities, always striving to improve.

N Never giving up, no matter what, until you get what you need.

K Kindling a spirit of caring, kindness and civility for all people.

S Seeing the best in others; scouting possibilities in both the best and worst of times.

G Giving of your time, your talents, your knowledge to help someone succeed.

I Imagination, inspiration, ingenuity and ideas to create a better today and tomorrow.

V Voice that you find when you least expect it.

I Intentional in serving others with professionalism, integrity, excellence, and ethics.

N No, negative, and nothing which can lead to yes, positive, and something.

G Gratitude for family, friendships, clients, colleagues, connections and followers  around the globe.

~ Happy Thanksgiving to All and Thank You for reading and contributing to this blog ~

The Musician

The frail elderly man, probably in his late 70’s or early 80’s slowly sauntered over to the 4 Toulouse car stop near the French Quarter in New Orleans. My husband and I were seated on a bench waiting for the street car as the thin, feeble man wearily approached.

 

In one hand was an old black tattered carrying case, a small black plastic sack, a large bottle of Mt. Dew and in the other, a golf club (maybe a wedge) that he was using as a cane. His clothes were dirty and tattered, and as he came closer, showed us a toothless smile as big as the sun. He looked directly at my husband and said... “God sure made her extra purdy, doncha’ think?” My husband nodded. Then the elderly man looked at me and smiled. I asked him his name and he said, very proudly, “My name is ‘Jackson’.”   

 

Hello there Jackson! He then slowly leaned over and fiddled with the carrying case and ever so carefully pulled out an old trumpet, turning to my husband, once again, “Ya’ mind if I play her a song?” The musician man slowly, deliberately and mightily played ‘Ain’t She Sweet’ as we clapped our hands to the beat of the music.

 

The song was over and I stood up, thanking him for such a lovely rendition. ‘Jackson,’ I said “Now, I would like to ask you something: do you mind if my husband would take a picture of you and me on his cell phone camera...I would be honored if you would do so?"...

 

Jackson beamed and offered 'sure would be mighty fine.’ He then reached for my hand, barely kissing my fingertips and softly spoke “God bless ya’ ma’am, thank ya’ for lettin’ me play ya’ a song…I best be gittin’ along now.’

 

Friday afternoon, April 30, 2010, 5:23 P.M. – day three in The Big Easy.