Mindful management is a term I share when I’m coaching, tutoring and assisting professionals and students with test prep. I desire to share mindful management moments with you.

Monette’s Mindful Management:  

Lose Him? Part I               

By Monette Benoit, All Rights Reserved.

Carting (carrying) a list of tasks to accomplish, I added one stop to my list. 

The store always has sales; it is the season to give. 

I rationalized this thought pulling into the busy parking lot and found a spot near the door.  A sign?  Yes, I rationalized that, too.

Inside the store, people were bumping into each other, many ‘mindlessly’ (truly) walking aisles, bumping carts (baskets) into other customers. 

I scooted around people in all shapes and sizes and scurried like a bunny. 

I needed to return to the office for tutoring and coaching.  I was on schedule with few minutes to spare.  I focused on the clock and my mission. 

Then I saw it.  On a shelf, eye level, was the item that just made my day!

It was an elongated heart-shaped item.  The background was beige. 

Printed in large capital letters:  Lose Him!

I paused and saw the wick. A candle that said “Lose Him!” in large black letters? In the Christmas clearance section?  I roared with laughter. 

Then I wondered, “Did I know anyone who ‘needed’ this candle?” 

That thought, during the Christmas season, was comical to me.  And the price?  Multiple red stickers were placed on the candle.  It was reduced to $1.99; yet alone it sat on the shelf.

My court reporter focus here on a work day began to wonder, “Why was there only one “Lose Him!” candle?  Was there a “Lose Her!” candle?  Why was it on clearance and still here at $1.99?”

When the first shopper walked past, I showed it to her and said, “Look at this.” 

She paused, then roared with laughter.  She said, “I don’t know anyone who needs that. Do you?” 

Another shopper approached, cautiously using a walker for assistance, and this woman showed the item to the elderly woman.  Yes, she paused, threw her head back and howled with laughter. 

The elderly woman said, “I don’t know anyone who needs that now.  Do you?”

As people approached, each ‘new’ person showed the next (virgin) customer this “Lose Him!” candle.  Every single person had the same pause, head tilt, then sudden laughter. 

I watched (court reporter focus, perhaps).  I could not stop laughing.

Reluctantly I returned the candle to the shelf – multiple customers were now flocked in a group, chatting with one another.  No one was bothered that the entire aisle was blocked.  The laughter was infectious, and a man with a British accent (“visiting your country”) approached.  Yes, customers showed him, too. 

My opinion is the ‘right’ person will find that candle. 

I would love to be a fly on the wall when “Lose Him!” is gifted this Christmas season, as I believe it will be.  $1.99 for a special message like that?  Yes, it will be a gift.

How does this relate to mindful management?  Messages come in all shapes and sizes. 

Part II will target this message and Lose Him! within our professional world. 

As we approach Christmas and 2010, I seek to share the wonder of the season and the gift of laughter – especially when it unfolds in real-time within a holiday-filled gifting mission.

Part II will be posted January 2010.

Now you choose.  Mindful management: If I may help you, I want to do so.  What do you need?

Mylegal.com Contributing Editor, Monette Benoit, B.B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, may be reached at www.CRRbooks.com and www.ARTCS.com for customized coaching.

Monette Benoit, B. B.A., CCR, CRI, CPE, Paralegal
    Motivation Management & Life Coach,

Tutor and Multiple Title Author of Books & Test Prep for the Court Reporting & Captioning Industry
Realtime Court Reporter, Instructor, Consultant, Columnist

Court Reporter Reference Books & CDs:  www.CRRbooks.com  

Blog:  Monette's Musings, www.monettebenoit.com

* Educational/Career Advancement; Private Tutoring/Customized Coaching

All American RealTime/Captioning Services, Inc.:   www.ARTCS.com 

Did You Know: You can accelerate your career with private tutoring and coaching?

Court reporting veteran Monette Benoit can help you achieve your goals. 

Coaching and tutoring topics include:

• Motivation skills to keep you moving forward,
• Time-management skills,
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• Communication skills and daily interaction improvement skills, and much more.

Who comes to Monette for tutoring and coaching?

• Veteran court reporters, CART providers and captioners brushing up on their skills for test-taking requirements,
• In-class students who feel they’re falling behind or aren’t ready for the required tests,
• Students or veterans who struggle with focus, goal-setting, time-management or other life skills that might be interfering in their upward success,
• At-home students who want to ensure they’re on track for their exam and career goals,
• Veteran court reporters and captioners expanding their career options in related fields,
• Students and veterans alike who find they’re struggling with one or two key areas of daily practice,
• Students or veterans who have begun to question their career or whether they’re on the “right track” …

Check It Out: Reach Your Goals!  Tutoring and Coaching

http://crrbooks.com/index.php?cPath=29

Monette Benoit can help you achieve at much high levels.  Where do you want to go?  What have you really wanted to do with your career, and ultimately, your life?  Specific custom-designed guidance efficiently assists you!

About Monette Benoit:

As a 25+year court reporter, CART provider, author of NCRA test prep material and an instructor, Monette Benoit has taught multiple theories, academics, all speed classes and the 225 homeroom within NCRA-approved schools and a community college.  She understands the challenges many adults now face in our industry and schooling.

Monette Benoit has worked with thousands of professionals, court reporters, students and instructors.  She has also helped create new court reporting training programs, worked with federal grants, and assisted instructors in developing curriculum for both in-class and at-home students.

Her one-on-one tutoring has greatly assisted thousands of students, novice and experienced professionals to privately reach the next level.