It's a white box. Not just any kind of white box. It's eight feel tall, eight feet wide and either seven, twelve or sixteen feet long. Among it's many features the box is weather resistant, close to indestructable (unless you plan on digging a forklift into the side of it which has been known to happen), it has a steel frame with aluminum skin panels, the top is translucent durable polymer allowing for light to come in, and it has a light-weight steel roll up door.
No, I did not make any of that up. What I just described was a POD.
I almost forgot one of the most defining features: each one has a red and white sign prominently displayed on each side of the container.
People move for many different reasons and at various stages throughout life. I recently moved to South Carolina from New York City. Seems like quite a move, and it definitely was. What did I move for? PODS. Those big white containers are now my livelihood. So what do the containers do? Well, you can use them for storage on your property, or in our warehouse. Or, you can use the containers to move to another town, city or state. Sometimes the best ideas are the simple ones.
Since Eric and I took over the PODS franchise in Columbia, South Carolina, we have encountered many challenges, scenarios and downright funny happenings. Example #1: just how do those big white boxes make it off the truck and onto a driveway? There is one word - PODzilla. And no, I didn't make that up either. PODzilla is one crazy and ingenious invention. It basically works via hydrolics to lift a container up off the truck, the truck then drives away and the container is very slowly lowered down to the ground. Reverse this process and you have a game plan for getting a container off someone's driveway or street and back onto the truck. By using the lift, the POD always stays level so whatever you have packed inside will have minimal shifting. Pretty neat idea.
It sounds simple, but in fact operating the machine is really an art form of sorts. I'm convinced that just as someone can master jujitsu, one can master the PODzilla. I for one, have decided it's probably best I leave the mastering up to Eric. However, I often ride along on a delivery to offer him moral support. Just the other day we were delivering a donation POD - actually to the apartment complex we live in. Now this POD was to be placed in a parking lot. Wide open space = piece of cake with the PODzilla. Well they wanted it in the last parking space in a row, right up against the curb. Eric and I arrived in the big red PODS truck with POD on the back in tow, ready to tackle the task. As Eric meneuvered the PODzilla via five joystic controls I bent and ducked and leaned (yeah, this is the moral support part...) and every so often shouted - "you're doing a great job!". All seemed fine after some pretty difficult maguiver moves - we were ready to drop the POD and take the PODzilla off. But as Eric walked the machine off the POD there was a moment. Albeit a brief moment, but we looked at each other with slight panic in our eyes - oh no... there isn't enough room between the POD and the dirt wall behind us, which leads up to a busy street, to get the PODzilla out.
I'll make a long story short. It might not seem like a problem, but the PODzilla weighs something ridiculous. I'm not sure any jujitsu move, let alone superman or any other form of brute strength could help a person move it and most of the machines have a mind of their own, if it doesn't want to move that way... well it doesn't. It took about twenty minutes of sweating, maneuvering, running back and forth to retrieve any kind of runner to free the machine. At long last, Eric was able to jimmy it through to a clearing and we were safe! Two hours later that is...
Making these deliveries is just one small facet we are learning as new business owners. Aside from the challenges of learning to operate the PODzilla machine - delivering a POD to someone is really a fun task. Whether someone needs the storage because they are remodeling their home, or maybe the customer is moving across town, the constant revolving of white containers throughout the Columbia area is quite interesting. I suppose there is always someone moving, or changing something that requires furniture to disappear, or has some need to clean out their attic but has valuables they aren't quite ready to part with. What I've come to realize it that these white boxes can do much more than they might seem. I'm looking forward to the many more adventures that PODS has in store for me. Until next time, I'm off to offer more moral support - and maybe I'll even take up a little jujitsu...
Monday, October 26, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
What do you do with a BA in English?
While living in New York, I had the opportunity to see quite a few Broadway shows. I love Broadway - the lights, the excitement, the small and intimate theaters. Times Square and Theater District is one of the most overwhelming and fantastical places you could visit for entertainment. Among the many Broadway shows I saw was the musical Avenue Q - actually, I saw the show not once but three times. It was that good.
If you haven't seen the show, I'll set the scene. The production cleverly intertwines actors with puppets who are the main characters. The opening scene is one I could relate to far too well - not for the fact that it starred a puppet but because of what the puppet had to say. The main character, a young puppet-man supposedly the age of 21 enters stage left and belts from the top of his lungs "what would you do with a BA in English" to a very catchy tune.
I have to admit, the first of the three times I saw the show I laughed immediately. How bluntly honest and true - what do you do with a BA in English? Staring up at the stage, the words settled in. Hmmm, this is what I achieved after four years of college: a BA in English. The premise of Avenue Q is that this recent graduate has moved to New York City and is trying to figure out his purpose in life. I suddenly felt there was a striking and eerie similarity the stuffed doll was going through to my experience when I graduated.
I remember when I was in college, my friends and I would worry, even stress about what our major was going to be. After all, you dedicate about two solid years (after the pre-requisites are fulfilled) to studying just one subject. After those two years, you walk a field in cap and gown and then are thrust onto the main stage of life and its time to find a job. Now this is no easy task, and especially not now, but to find work where you can showcase the many skills you learned during school. So what the heck do you do with that BA in English?
During the search for my first job, I remember I had mentors and advice given to me by parents. Time after time I was assured that your major in school does not define what work you will do. This is a hard thing for a recent graduate to swallow. Turns out, this is true. I was extremely lucky to have a friend who helped me get my first job. What would I do with that BA in English? Learn to be an Investor Relations Account Executive.
I never would have imagined in my wildest dreams that I would in fact be a part of the "world of finance". I remember the first day of my job like it was yesterday. I woke up in my "cute" albeit small NYC apartment which I shared with three other roommates. After a shower and dutifully putting on my uniform of a nice pair of slacks, a blouse and my new high heel shoes, I walked down the four flights of stairs and out the door meeting the illustrious city with every ounce of gusto I could muster. After a twenty minute trip down town on the subway, I would emerge from the tunnel with the masses of Wall Street employees all ready to start our day and of course, hungry to make some money. I'll be the first to admit, when i started in my job I didn't know what market cap meant. Clearly, there was a very sharp learning curve...
After three years as at the IR firm I now find myself in a very different city once again re-evaluating what I can do with a BA in English. I often think about my friends and prior colleagues. I have friends that were business majors, economics majors, sociology majors, psychology majors, fellow English majors and pretty much any other major you can think of. We all embarked into the work force armed with the tools we gathered in college unaware that we were all about to enter another phase of even greater learning. I suppose it isn't always the case that the career path you choose mirrors that one subject you diligently studied and buried yourself in books with for two years.
I find myself again floating in uncharted waters. Seven weeks in to owning our own business, each day holds something else to learn, figure out and get through. I'm exploring and finding new perspective on what it is and what it means to work towards a career. Seems to me it is a journey that continues throughout life - one that twists and turns and I'm not sure you ever reach a final destination but rather keep learning, evolving and looking for that next "career". I'm sure along the way during this new phase I have embarked on, I'll find a few other things I can do with my BA in English.
If you haven't seen the show, I'll set the scene. The production cleverly intertwines actors with puppets who are the main characters. The opening scene is one I could relate to far too well - not for the fact that it starred a puppet but because of what the puppet had to say. The main character, a young puppet-man supposedly the age of 21 enters stage left and belts from the top of his lungs "what would you do with a BA in English" to a very catchy tune.
I have to admit, the first of the three times I saw the show I laughed immediately. How bluntly honest and true - what do you do with a BA in English? Staring up at the stage, the words settled in. Hmmm, this is what I achieved after four years of college: a BA in English. The premise of Avenue Q is that this recent graduate has moved to New York City and is trying to figure out his purpose in life. I suddenly felt there was a striking and eerie similarity the stuffed doll was going through to my experience when I graduated.
I remember when I was in college, my friends and I would worry, even stress about what our major was going to be. After all, you dedicate about two solid years (after the pre-requisites are fulfilled) to studying just one subject. After those two years, you walk a field in cap and gown and then are thrust onto the main stage of life and its time to find a job. Now this is no easy task, and especially not now, but to find work where you can showcase the many skills you learned during school. So what the heck do you do with that BA in English?
During the search for my first job, I remember I had mentors and advice given to me by parents. Time after time I was assured that your major in school does not define what work you will do. This is a hard thing for a recent graduate to swallow. Turns out, this is true. I was extremely lucky to have a friend who helped me get my first job. What would I do with that BA in English? Learn to be an Investor Relations Account Executive.
I never would have imagined in my wildest dreams that I would in fact be a part of the "world of finance". I remember the first day of my job like it was yesterday. I woke up in my "cute" albeit small NYC apartment which I shared with three other roommates. After a shower and dutifully putting on my uniform of a nice pair of slacks, a blouse and my new high heel shoes, I walked down the four flights of stairs and out the door meeting the illustrious city with every ounce of gusto I could muster. After a twenty minute trip down town on the subway, I would emerge from the tunnel with the masses of Wall Street employees all ready to start our day and of course, hungry to make some money. I'll be the first to admit, when i started in my job I didn't know what market cap meant. Clearly, there was a very sharp learning curve...
After three years as at the IR firm I now find myself in a very different city once again re-evaluating what I can do with a BA in English. I often think about my friends and prior colleagues. I have friends that were business majors, economics majors, sociology majors, psychology majors, fellow English majors and pretty much any other major you can think of. We all embarked into the work force armed with the tools we gathered in college unaware that we were all about to enter another phase of even greater learning. I suppose it isn't always the case that the career path you choose mirrors that one subject you diligently studied and buried yourself in books with for two years.
I find myself again floating in uncharted waters. Seven weeks in to owning our own business, each day holds something else to learn, figure out and get through. I'm exploring and finding new perspective on what it is and what it means to work towards a career. Seems to me it is a journey that continues throughout life - one that twists and turns and I'm not sure you ever reach a final destination but rather keep learning, evolving and looking for that next "career". I'm sure along the way during this new phase I have embarked on, I'll find a few other things I can do with my BA in English.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Sister Sister
Sisters. I think this word stretches far beyond the definition of blood relative. Out of curiosity for what the "academic" definition of sister is, I went to dictionary.com and this is what I found:
Sister
- noun
1. a female offspring having both parents in common with another offspring
2. Also called half sister, a female offspring having only one parent in common wit another offspring
3. Stepsister
4. a female friend or protector regarded as a sister
5. a thing regarded as feminine and associated as if by kinship with something else
6. a female fellow member, as of a church
7. a female member of a religious community that observes the simple vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience
8. British, a nurse in charge of a hospital ward; head nurse
9. a fellow black woman
10. a woman who supports, promotes, or participates in feminism
11. Informal, a form of address used to a woman or girl; esp. joculary or contemptuously
- adjective
12. Being or considered a sister; related by or as if by sisterhood
13. having a close relationship with another becuase of shared itnerests, problems, or the like
14. Biochemistry. being one of an identical pair.
Who knew the dictionary definition was so robust?
I am the oldest of three girls. Yes, that caused for a lot of emotion, some name calling and lots of barbies but also made for some fantastic memories and learning together as we've grown up. I am three years apart from my sister Jackie and seven years apart from Sarah so as you can imagine, during some of the more "awkward" stages of growing up it seemed we lived worlds apart. We are still in very different phases (not to mention we live in three different states) - I got married this past summer, Jackie graduated and is establishing herself in a city and at a new job and Sarah graduated highschool, and has since started college. Through ups and downs and all the events of our life, we are and will always remain sisters.
I also now have a sister-in-law, which I couldn't be more excited about. I'm lucky that we have established a great relationship, and I consider her a very close friend. I've always been the oldest in my family, so I have to admit its very fun to have an older sister to look up to and ask advice of.
I started thinking about sisters the other day because another word has popped up quite a bit lately: Sorority. Now that's a whole new sense of the word "sister".
I was a member of a sorority during college - it was exciting and fun and I met quite exceptional women as a part of the group. I remember joining this sorority, and it seems like it just happened yesterday. After a week of parading around to visit the different houses where essentially each girl is interviewing one another - "do I want this person to be my sister?". There is bouncing up and down, clapping, singing, collages, bulletin boards, dresses, perfectly combed hair and after a week of exhausting meeting and greeting - at last the moment you actual become a part of a sorority.
I poke fun at the whole process now, but admittedly I chaired the circus when I was a senior in the sorority house. I took the job over after my friend in the house needed some help since she was preparing for the LSATS. We planned the recruitment event together and all was well until a few days before rush was to start. I remember it vividly, a room full of girls practicing and getting our house ready to show off to the wide-eyed and expecting rush candidates. I felt some sharp pains in my stomach, after trying to ignore it, even going to the gym to try to "work it out" - my friends urged that it was time to see a doctor. I'll admit I'm pretty stubborn but when my sorority sisters stepped in, looked me in the eye and said, don't worry, we got this - I finally gave in. To make a long story short - I ended up at the hospital, it was appendicitis. Yeah, I thought your appendix was that useless organ in your body too. Well, when it wants out - it want out! Another of my friends rushed to be by my side - even holding my hand and helping me waddle down the hall after the medication kicked in (and boy does it kick in)... Experiencing an ordeal like that really draws attention to the great friends and sisters in life.
Sarah just went through the recruitment ritual at her university and I received an excited call from her with the news she had just joined a sorority. Ironically, Sarah joined the same sorority that Jackie was part of at her university. I suppose now they will reach a whole new level of sister. I'm really happy for her joining a group of girls that she'll become close with and share friendships with over the years. I had 14 sorority sisters attend my wedding - they flew and drove from all over to be there for me. What an awesome thing to have so many sisters.
I suppose as you go through life, you gain close relationships with people, and when you are lucky, those relationships extend just that bit beyond friendship - the kind of relationship where you would bend over backwards, share stories and laughs, good times, embarrassing ones and everything in between. That to me is the definition of sister.
Sister
- noun
1. a female offspring having both parents in common with another offspring
2. Also called half sister, a female offspring having only one parent in common wit another offspring
3. Stepsister
4. a female friend or protector regarded as a sister
5. a thing regarded as feminine and associated as if by kinship with something else
6. a female fellow member, as of a church
7. a female member of a religious community that observes the simple vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience
8. British, a nurse in charge of a hospital ward; head nurse
9. a fellow black woman
10. a woman who supports, promotes, or participates in feminism
11. Informal, a form of address used to a woman or girl; esp. joculary or contemptuously
- adjective
12. Being or considered a sister; related by or as if by sisterhood
13. having a close relationship with another becuase of shared itnerests, problems, or the like
14. Biochemistry. being one of an identical pair.
Who knew the dictionary definition was so robust?
I am the oldest of three girls. Yes, that caused for a lot of emotion, some name calling and lots of barbies but also made for some fantastic memories and learning together as we've grown up. I am three years apart from my sister Jackie and seven years apart from Sarah so as you can imagine, during some of the more "awkward" stages of growing up it seemed we lived worlds apart. We are still in very different phases (not to mention we live in three different states) - I got married this past summer, Jackie graduated and is establishing herself in a city and at a new job and Sarah graduated highschool, and has since started college. Through ups and downs and all the events of our life, we are and will always remain sisters.
I also now have a sister-in-law, which I couldn't be more excited about. I'm lucky that we have established a great relationship, and I consider her a very close friend. I've always been the oldest in my family, so I have to admit its very fun to have an older sister to look up to and ask advice of.
I started thinking about sisters the other day because another word has popped up quite a bit lately: Sorority. Now that's a whole new sense of the word "sister".
I was a member of a sorority during college - it was exciting and fun and I met quite exceptional women as a part of the group. I remember joining this sorority, and it seems like it just happened yesterday. After a week of parading around to visit the different houses where essentially each girl is interviewing one another - "do I want this person to be my sister?". There is bouncing up and down, clapping, singing, collages, bulletin boards, dresses, perfectly combed hair and after a week of exhausting meeting and greeting - at last the moment you actual become a part of a sorority.
I poke fun at the whole process now, but admittedly I chaired the circus when I was a senior in the sorority house. I took the job over after my friend in the house needed some help since she was preparing for the LSATS. We planned the recruitment event together and all was well until a few days before rush was to start. I remember it vividly, a room full of girls practicing and getting our house ready to show off to the wide-eyed and expecting rush candidates. I felt some sharp pains in my stomach, after trying to ignore it, even going to the gym to try to "work it out" - my friends urged that it was time to see a doctor. I'll admit I'm pretty stubborn but when my sorority sisters stepped in, looked me in the eye and said, don't worry, we got this - I finally gave in. To make a long story short - I ended up at the hospital, it was appendicitis. Yeah, I thought your appendix was that useless organ in your body too. Well, when it wants out - it want out! Another of my friends rushed to be by my side - even holding my hand and helping me waddle down the hall after the medication kicked in (and boy does it kick in)... Experiencing an ordeal like that really draws attention to the great friends and sisters in life.
Sarah just went through the recruitment ritual at her university and I received an excited call from her with the news she had just joined a sorority. Ironically, Sarah joined the same sorority that Jackie was part of at her university. I suppose now they will reach a whole new level of sister. I'm really happy for her joining a group of girls that she'll become close with and share friendships with over the years. I had 14 sorority sisters attend my wedding - they flew and drove from all over to be there for me. What an awesome thing to have so many sisters.
I suppose as you go through life, you gain close relationships with people, and when you are lucky, those relationships extend just that bit beyond friendship - the kind of relationship where you would bend over backwards, share stories and laughs, good times, embarrassing ones and everything in between. That to me is the definition of sister.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Here Goes Nothin
I'm 25 and just trying to figure out life. But then, isn't everyone tackling that task, no matter what age?
This is my first shot at blogging. Why do it? Well, I've always loved writing and thought this would be a great way to "talk" about the many trial, tribulations, laughs and downright nonsense that life holds. Am I any good at it? Well, that's for you to decide.
Now first, to set the scene. I think it's only fair I give some background on myself. I grew up in Southern California and attended college at UC Santa Barbara. Now most people would think, why leave that sunny weather and sandy beaches? Like a lot of recent graduates, I felt I needed a "change". Naturally, I chose New York City. Okay, maybe not such an obvious choice. But I was a hungry young lady and lusted after a fast paced life in the glamorous city. I think I can partly blame shows like Sex and the City and Felicity, which I'm pretty sure every young woman admired and wanted to practically jump through the television and walk along the city streets with the characters. Needless to say, New York is an extraordinary city and a challenging one. Luckily I have great friends and had a great job at an Investor Relations firm and at times I am somewhat relentless which provided for some great adventures.
During my time in the illustrious city, I met and fell head over heels for an absolutely fantastic man. Three years later... we recently got married and moved to South Carolina. The move was prompted by us buying a franchise - I suppose you could consider me a nomad of sorts combined with a risk taker - at least in my recent adult life.
So that is the 50,000 foot overview of my life up until now. I plan to peel back the layers of these journeys which inevitably hold some fabulous memories, good laughs and a lot of learning on my part. Like I said before, I'm 25 and just trying to figure out life.
This is my first shot at blogging. Why do it? Well, I've always loved writing and thought this would be a great way to "talk" about the many trial, tribulations, laughs and downright nonsense that life holds. Am I any good at it? Well, that's for you to decide.
Now first, to set the scene. I think it's only fair I give some background on myself. I grew up in Southern California and attended college at UC Santa Barbara. Now most people would think, why leave that sunny weather and sandy beaches? Like a lot of recent graduates, I felt I needed a "change". Naturally, I chose New York City. Okay, maybe not such an obvious choice. But I was a hungry young lady and lusted after a fast paced life in the glamorous city. I think I can partly blame shows like Sex and the City and Felicity, which I'm pretty sure every young woman admired and wanted to practically jump through the television and walk along the city streets with the characters. Needless to say, New York is an extraordinary city and a challenging one. Luckily I have great friends and had a great job at an Investor Relations firm and at times I am somewhat relentless which provided for some great adventures.
During my time in the illustrious city, I met and fell head over heels for an absolutely fantastic man. Three years later... we recently got married and moved to South Carolina. The move was prompted by us buying a franchise - I suppose you could consider me a nomad of sorts combined with a risk taker - at least in my recent adult life.
So that is the 50,000 foot overview of my life up until now. I plan to peel back the layers of these journeys which inevitably hold some fabulous memories, good laughs and a lot of learning on my part. Like I said before, I'm 25 and just trying to figure out life.
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