Cynthia D’Amour on Leadership and Life

Only in Ann Arbor.
There is snow on Main Street in Ann Arbor.

On May 26, 2011.
Has Mother Nature gone wild?
No, it’s movie-making time.

They are filming Five-Year Engagement in Ann Arbor.

They needed snow for the scenes.
So they made it.
And decorated downtown.

It looked pretty real.

Some kind of fabric over wood forms.
Simulated dirty snow sprayed on top.
Even “salt [...]

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They can buy it.
The Macaroni Grill near Portland has a fresh idea.

They provide reading glasses at the hostess stand.
Makes reading menus easy for guests.
And visits there less stressful.

Makes me think of chapter leaders…how do you make it easy for members to buy involvement in your chapter?

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Got to love it!

I’m staying at the Lake Oswego Fairfield Hotel near Portland.

The area is green and beautiful.
But there’s something even better…
The front desk staff.

I’m on day four of a five day road trip.

Noticed my phone was down to two bars last night.
Pulled out my power cord.
Discovered I brought the wrong one. UGH.

I [...]

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He was clueless.

A hotel shuttle took me to the Mall of America.

It ran every hour.
We waited in the lobby to board.
When it pulled up, we surged forward.

The driver opened the door.

We got in.
He did not greet us.
Or even acknowledge us.

The short trip was below brand standards.

The driver rocked the seat back.
He was practically [...]

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Details!
A man took a cab to my hotel.

He walked in.
Looked around.
Realized he was in the wrong place.

The nice shuttle driver drove him to their sister property.

The airport location.
When they arrived, the confusion continued.
Man insisted that wasn’t the hotel where he left his car!

Asked the driver to call for directions.

Started to give the hotel’s phone [...]

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What the heck?
Shopping with James in St. Pete last week.

Wandered in the Men’s department.
Came across a display.
Spanx for Men.

It was a towering display.

Both undershirts and underpants.
Stacked six feet tall.
Plus a TV showing movie star he-men raving about their Spanx.

Spanx helps men hide their beer bellies.

And their love handles.
Fit leaner cuts.
Look younger.

James was totally mortified.

Never [...]

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What?
Tonight James and I went out to dinner.

At a stir-fry place.
Fresh veggies.
Easy to stay on my eating program.

They cook my food in a separate wok.

No cross contamination from other bowls.
They don’t add extra oils.
I stay in control.

They serve the stir fries with special bread.

I usually give it to James.
Normally looks greasy.
Not sure what’s on [...]

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Big time.
I decided to buy a bathing suit today.

I’m in Tampa.
Lots of beach stores.
Should be able to find something.

Once at the store I started to look.

Wasn’t totally thrilled.
Committed to at least try some on.
It wasn’t pretty.

The sales lady running the fitting room saw my frustration.

Started to add to the critique.
Nothing was really working.
I looked [...]

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