
What’s your “non-negotiable” when it comes to a company’s values?

It is up the Senior Manager to set guidelines and have employees follow them. Trust is number one.

Have you ever worked somewhere with amazing teamwork? What made it work so well?

Caring about each others work and sharing our ideas.

Communication and honesty and willingness to try anything

Do you prefer having a set routine at work, or do you like every day to be different?

Set schedule, but willing to do a variety of different tasks and responsibilities within the allotted schedule.

Every day to be different

What’s your go-to way to recharge during your lunch break?

Enjoy my lunch. Laugh w coworkers or read something funny and whimsical. Slow breathes before end of break.

I get it. Calm and oeaceful in between,

What’s your go-to way to recharge during your lunch break?

Sounds great

Maybe going to restroom and getting some coffee or some soda. If I am lucky, I can get some tea.

What’s a small thing your workplace does that makes a big difference in your day?

I agree with you 100%. It does make a big difference. You will work efficiently as well as productively.

I think each workplace should provide their employees with free coffee! It's great for morale! If you don't have to bring coffee to work, you are more productive, more punctual, and have generally better opinion of the workplace.

What’s the best productivity hack you’ve learned from a coworker?

Work smart not hard

I had a coworker who told us that if we liked how we dressed, then we'd perform better at work. She was kind of joking, but it stuck with me.

What skill do you wish you had learned earlier in your career, and why?

I wish I had learned the skill of effective networking earlier in my career. For a long time, I focused mainly on building technical knowledge and doing the work, but I’ve realized that strong professional relationships open doors to opportunities, mentorship, and growth that aren’t always accessible through skill alone. Building those connections earlier would have accelerated my learning and career development.

Marketing effectively and patience. I rushed through both causing me to lose my light in the social industry.

What’s the toughest problem you’ve solved at work, and how did you do it?

I was running my own plumbing company. And one of the restaurants had filed bankruptcy. In a bankruptcy, the amount that they pay is incremental and applied with a less than dollar value. Generally companies will greatly discount a bankruptcy receipt. However, I went to speak to the owner of the establishment, and I was directed to stand just outside of his office because he was on the phone. That was a mistake he’ll never repeat. On the phone he told the person, “Yeah some east Podunk plumber did some work for us, and they don’t know we are under bankruptcy, and I’m getting ready to stick it to him.” He hung up the phone and motioned me in. I walked in, shook his hand and I sat down in front of his desk and I said, “this won’t take long” He said, “Oh really, great, how can I help you, I said well, perhaps I should introduce myself. The look on his face when I told him was priceless! I said something to the effect of, “Hello, my name is Cheri, and I am the wife of the East Podunk plumber you hired. And I have a lovely recording of you on the phone telling your associate how you were gonna stick it to us. So I’m gonna give you a get out of jail card. And I hope you noticed that I didn’t say free! So, I’ll be picking up a check, and I’ll give you a discount of two cents on the dollar. Because that’s the kind of generous east podunk business owner I am!” So he took out his checkbook and wrote out a check, without any argument. And I took it directly to his bank and cashed it. Cashed it before he had a chance to cancel it. So that $8000 job, the first job we took as a plumbing company, I learned a very powerful lesson. Never back down! Never give up! And never let anyone disparage your company name, Ever!

I WAS A WAITER IN SEATTLE FOR 30 YEARS AND REALLY HAD FEW PROBLEMS. HOWEVER THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE WHO HATES THE WORD "NO." SO I NEVER USE IT. JUST SAY YES TO WHAT I DO HAVE AVAILABLE. LIKE COMP THEIR DINNER FOR EXAMPLE. NEVER HAVE AN ATTITUDE. BUT ADMITTEDLY "NO I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE SIR."

Have you ever said “no” to a promotion? What made you decide that?

It was a promotion in title only. It was 45 minutes away and no increase in salary with a supervisor who was known for making people work extra hours with no O.T. & then get rid of them.

Because the promotion that was offered was a lie for you to work there but to only be given odd hour and only on call if there was any openings to work
How we can efficiency. On time.