STARS: Nailing that Amazon leadership job

My mind and heart are definitely consumed on finding effective solutions to dealing with police brutality. This will be a deep focus of mine. 

First, I'm going to provide some help to my fellow Amazonians who desire to move to the next level of leadership whether it be Process Assistant, TOM team, HR or even in Learning as a Trainer or Coordinator.  

Disclaimer" I have only been through the process and am still going to the process as I try to move up another level. I am not an interview facilitator nor have I been through the "Making Effective Hiring Decisions" seminar. I will discuss who to go to directly far as that route. 

Identify the job you want at the specific facility. Import your resume via flash drive and while you're on site within the Amazon network on the AtoZ (Hub). Go to Resources, JobFinder and type in the site code for the site you want to apply at. Look at all of the various jobs and apply for the ones you want. You can have up to four active jobs at once. 

You will need to learn the STAR method Situation, Task, Action, Results). There are resources in your local HR office, Career Choice center, and even YouTube. One video that really helped me was "Amazon STAR Interview" method. This video outlines exactly how to put together stories from your Amazon career and even outside work experience. It also details how to tie these experiences in with the STAR method and the Amazon leadership principles.

You want the STAR method to flow like you're telling a story, with really specific details and even numbers. You can request a mock interview from your AM or one of the Ops or Senior Ops managers at your site or other sites. They have to interview folks regularly, and they can give you honest, unbiased feedback to help out with your interview.

I will also say practice in front of a mirror, in front of a spouse or significant other and even record yourself. Have your questions and answers written out. I have about two scenarios for each leadership principle and I update those regularly.  To my folks already in a T3 role and going for another role or higher, it's uncanny how many different stories you can develop just from a single shift or week. 

Therefore, go for it, put in the work, put yourself out there and nail the interview. I want to see everyone succeed. Amazon may not have the best reputation overall but there are people that want to see you excel also. I'm living proof. 

STARS: Mailing Money Orders and ensuring their destination

Some of you know I handle my incarcerated uncle's money and am his power of attorney. I am also my mother's although it isn't official. If you're tracking, that's 4 accounts I watch (counting my major two). 

I almost messed up big time this month with my uncle but I made it right and everything ended up well. 

I correctly address and stamp a bunch of envelopes, as far as six months out. I even write the check out the day before so I can cash it the day following. 

I take the cash and then go to the USPS office and get my money order. I keep the receipt in a safe place until I confirm that my uncle has his money. 

I subscribed to the USPS digest about two months ago. This lets me know what is supposed to be coming to my mailbox. It is usually that day but I learned that if it's a return to sender case, it may be up to two weeks before you receive the letter.  That's why I found it better to have the address correct the first time down to the number and even send the money order early to have a larger window. 

I then receive verbal confirmation that the money order is received and I can discard the receipt if desired. I then prepare for the next month. 

STARS: Slowly Reentering the World

The pandemic still goes on but there is light now at the end of the tunnel. Locally and nationally, places and businesses are starting to open up. Some are doing it all at once. Others are doing it in waves and with restrictions.  One will have to assess how the viruses is still spreading and as weather continues to get hotter, how they should proceed. 

I will continue to go to work and to the grocery store as long as my health allows me to. I will continue to practice social distancing and wearing a mask and even gloves in some instances. An ounce of prevention is still a pound of cure. 

I will wait a week or two for crowds to die down each time a business reopens, such as indoor dining or a cafe. Some places will have restrictions but I am in no hurry to simply get more sick. I have tracked certain areas and have seen the positives and negatives. There are business owners that honestly don't care about CDC guidelines; they simply want to make money and recoup lost income. 

Finally, I plan to avoid any large crowds for a while. I will utilize my judgment as to how many people I should be around and increase that number over time. I saw many crowds gathering this past weekend. That is not the wise decision just yet. Everyone has to realize how we got into this and what is going to keep us out of this. A relapse could be way worse.

I know every restriction will not last and stick. However, I plan on doing my part and will stay away from those that aren't..

STARS: Gaining Patience

There are many qualities and values necessary to survive the current pandemic. One of those is definitely patience. 

I am actually not as patient as I appear or think. I get anxious and antsy over certain things. I too want the world to reopen, more people to come to work, and to at least go to a movie and sit in my favorite coffee shop. 

I am continuing to follow the guidelines laid out and protecting myself. I am practicing more breathing and meditation techniques. Liv Walton on the famed TV show "The Waltons" would often quote 10 Bible scriptures when she would get upset. 

I set short term daily and weekly goals and stay optimistic and positive.  I am not allowing any room for negativity, now more than ever. 

I also set blocks of extra quiet and productive planning and mental resetting. Everything hasn't been taken away from me so I am utilizing what I have. 

I have been able to breath easier, live, laugh, love and still enjoying life. Life is not over yet and I am going to embrace this phase and grow from it.

STARS: Finding Solutions

No one should feel bored right now. Tired? Frustrated? Groggy? Sad? Yeah all of those fit. But definitely not bored. 

This is the time where you need solutions to the small things to achieve the outcome we desire. 

I am going to continue to go to work as long as I am able since I am an essential worker. I will follow the CDC guidelines and even others such as home remedies, washing my shoes with alcohol, and drinking warm liquids. 

I am going to amp up my home workouts, mostly in the early afternoon and morning. 

Most of all, I am not going to lose faith that things will be ok. I am not certain what type of normal will come from this. I just know I will be equipped for it and not nervous nor anxious. I feel blessed. All of my friends and family are healthy, I can still go to work and earn gainful income, and I'm not going hungry.  

I'm entering my 10th year of blogging and I know this is a great time to be a writer. I plan on gearing my STAR series towards the pandemic. 

I will also refuse to be bored as I seek solutions to weather this storm. 

STARS: Surviving being shut in

This is slightly different from cabin fever in that you can still travel but not far. I am going to help you survive a potential quarantine as more and more places and institutions close and events are postponed and canceled. 

I tap into local businesses and those 24/7 places like QT and Waffle House. I am an avid supporter of both, the latter since I became a night shifter. 

Reconnect with friends and family during this time. Plan to visit each other if you are closely. I don't see my friends and family often and now is the perfect time to do so. 

I use my quiet time to catch up on movies and television shows and then stream anything else random. Netflix, Hulu, Disney and ESPN Plus. 

I also maintain my routine naps but this is also a good time to Spring clean. I will finally complete my man cave purge and project. If the weather cooperates, I will start the yearly maintenance of my yard. It's only March and I am ashamed of it right now. 

I will be fully rested and all of my incidental work will be complete once normal activities resume.

STARS: Writing a book

Many of you talk of doing this or that you should do this. I still receive questions about it as an author.  

Therefore I thought this would be a great topic of discussion. 

I wrote my table of contents first to outline what and how I was going to write "From Darkness to Sunshine." 

I then wrote a chapter a week, sometimes two, with a deadline of finishing in seven months.  

I would focus solely on that chapter for the week and would research and often isolate myself to get into the mindset of that chapter. I didn't worry so much about the editing, only the content. Editing would come upon successful completion of the chapter. 

I met my deadline, even finishing a week early. I already had my publishing company, Lulu, chosen, and knew what length I wanted to choose. I then submitted the content portion and allowed them to do the rest. I already had my cover guy in tact and even professional photos planned. 

The book released a few months later due to editorial and design concerns but I was still able to market the book well and plan book signings, pre orders and launches. 

I was glad at how From Darkness to Sunshine went and look forward to how Scared Eyes is going to fare. Life has gotten in the way of production of this book but I am returning to what made my production of the first book successful.