STARS: How I Write Poetry

I am into more poetry now that my guy, Angelo Geter, has released his book, More God Than Dead. He also had an awesome book launch a couple of weeks back. 

Many of you know I've been writing myself for well over 25 years. I've even performed slam poetry before. Angelo's release has inspired me to get back out there. 

I have a very different process for writing my poems than much. 

I brainstorm the topic and the emotions first. You have to really feel poetry opposed to prose. This is why I begin with the title and let it flow.

I have a format of four lines per stanza or even two. I and other great poets advise you have a foundation far as writing but remember that all poems do not have to rhyme. I simply make sure mine flow well even if they don't rhyme. 

I then read my poems aloud for that effect. Big shout out to folks at the WU like Pamela Pressley Sharpe, Que Gore and Quentin Talley. All 3 taught me that expressing from the heart and showing the emotion really helps gives your words life. 

I also don't worry if I go over anyone's heads. Poetry is met to be interpretive and have multiple meanings. 

I encourage you to read many poems, including Angelo's books and definitely develop that foundation. You may be a poet and not know it!

STARS: How I Househop (go to multiple places and homes)

We're in peak party and cookout season. Most weekends you will have several different events and functions going on and of course you can't go to everything. I have been able to attend most events through careful planning and precision. 

I look at the times of each event, the proximity and any overlap or gap. I try to eat heaviest (if there's food) at the first gathering and the next to last gathering (sometimes it's the last). I don't stay longer than 2-3 hours at any place to allow for travel and debriefing. My plan works best of all of the events are in the same city or neighboring cities. If I want to attend something further away, I adjust the time at the previous event and sometimes eat and drink more. 

I have been doing this for over 20 years. For events (including holidays), my personal best is 6 houses(places) per day. It makes for a long day but well worth it when I want to see and be around certain folks. 

STARS: How I Learned How To Swim

I have been blogging for 12 years. By now you all know how country I am if you don't know anything else. 

Growing up we didn't have a pool nor knew really anyone that did and there weren't any waterparks close so we went to the local creek mostly.  It was peaceful, fun and deep. 

I had to learn to swim if I not only wanted to live but but be able to have fun. Also, my mom didn't pay for any fancy swimming lessons and I still learned at the age of 7. 

I went to the creek at least 3-4 times per week during the summer months. My mom would try and go early or even late on a weekday to avoid crowds. I started in shallow waters and worked my way to the deeper areas. I would simply stroke left, then stroke right with my arms and keep moving my legs in an up and down formation. I advise regardless of your method or teacher to not stop moving those legs. They are your lifeline. I also had goggles and a life vest. 

I got really good over the years and did not lose this skillset, even as I traveled to rivers, oceans and pools.  I l started learning how to swim more smoothly by not splashing so much and being more fluid.  I am now 43, soon to be 44 and can still swim well. 

I realize everyone learns differently but my method was very informal, cost effective and it mostly involved good form and reps. 

STARS: On The Way Back- Part 8

I was now working in Greenville, SC as a delivery driver trainer. I loved everything about the job and station except for the commute. I drove some days up to an 1 hour and 30 minutes one way to get to work. It was all good as I had a plan. 

The plan was to put myself in position to get promoted to an L4 position and eventually a remote position within Amazon. Once COVID happened, many of these positions were opening up network wide. 

I was getting set up for success through my two managers at the station, my HR rep, my Learning Area Manager and many others from other Amazon facilities. This was a process I had not experienced before. It was still the STAR method but this time you had two interviews back to back with a brief intermission. The tricky part was both interviewers had to vote in your favor for you to receive an incline. There could not be a split or tie. 

I worked weekly on my interview questions and stories to fit them into the STAR method with good metrics and the leadership principles. I narrowed my stories down to 20 solid ones that could fit many of the commonly asked questions. I had mock interviews with managers and HR reps I didn't know so I could receive more unbiased feedback. All feedback was good but hearing from a 3rd party was extra helpful. 

It took me 3 sets of the dual interviews and honing my answers and delivery but I earned my incline and offer to become an Assistant Station Manager at CLT6! It was a promotion, raise, and a much better commute.  I would miss DSC3 as I had more fun there than my previous sites, got to train and learn the AMZL flow and even got paid to travel on Amazon's dime.

I am now 7 months into my role and there have been challenges. I feel I have did well overall. I am setting goals for myself to tackle the next challenge. I feel I have come a long way but the best is still yet to come!

I met with

STARS: On The Way Back: Part 7

I was flying high emotionally, being in my first leadership role within Amazon and first paid leadership role in nearly two decades. 

I loved everything about being in a new building from my team, my leadership and the folks I trained. 

However the tide started turning in the year that is 2020 and it was getting time to start thinking about advancement or lateraling to another position. I thought long and hard and actually loved my job and all. It was other factors that led to me thinking of a new role. 

I had mentioned the timeframe: 2020, when COVID was rampant without any vaccines. Masks everywhere. Numerous mandates. Little to no fans at sporting events. Also, many restrictions at work that added challenges. I needed to be in a smaller environment or in a virtual role. My mother was also growing older and very high risk.  I needed to reduce my stress level and peace of mind 

I looked into AMZL the delivery station with the infamous Amazon vans. It was smaller and had a different flow than FCs. Plus it was a better schedule for me, my family and my career development. I had connections from GSP1 that helped me make that lateral move to DSC3 in Greenville, SC.  I would still be able to train, which is what I love doing the most, and I would have a third of the restrictions and a smaller team. It's what I needed at that time. I was going from an AR building with 4,000 to a small delivery station of about 400.

I applied, researched, weighed the options and was happy to become a delivery driver trainer and be back in Upstate SC. I had grown so much in the past year and was ready for the next chapter in my Amazon journey. 

STARS: On The Way Back: Part 6

I was finally feeling more productive, appreciated and noticed at Amazon. I was feeling the optimism of growing as I did in 2015. 

I became a Learning Ambassador, later a Learning PIT Ambassador where I DID get trained to drive every piece of PIT equipment so I could train others. I was on the Safety Committee, Activities Committee, and I was getting praise and admiration from many leaders, particularly my direct manager and my Learning Coordinator. Things were finally looking up. 

Now I was ready to level up and advance to the next level (Tier 3) in Amazon terms. This was yet another challenge that took a year to achieve.

I learned the STAR interview method (Situation, Task, Action and Results). I practiced it through mock interviews, talking with my leaders/mentors and even geared this blog towards that purpose.  The STAR method is utilized by many major companies with great results so I knew mastering it would be extra advantageous. 

I also applied for jobs not only within the Spartanburg center but also at the ones in Charlotte.  They have 10 different centers/sites to work for and it gave me more options. 3 were launch(new) sites and that would give me more of a leg up. 

I had 4 interviews before my first incline (meaning that I could be placed in that role within a year without interviewing again and was a finalist).  I then had 2 more interviews before I earned the Learning PIT Trainer role at the newest Amazon center in Charlotte near the airport.  I was over the moon! 

I know by now you all are knowing there is more and you would be right. I earned my first leadership role within Amazon and not my last. It felt fulfilling that the 4 year wait and my hard work was paying off. 

STARS: On The Way Back: Part 5

Some could say I was already back since I was making more money, had a good schedule, great commute, benefits and such when I left RA and went to Amazon. I wanted more from Amazon though. 

I found that during that time, it seemed more common for at least the building I worked at during that time to hire folks straight out of school for the management and leader positions. I was okay with working up the ranks and climbing the ladder.  I would understand the overall process and flow of the fulfillment center anyways. 

However, even that was a challenge my first two years there. I suffered through a lack of support, leadership looking over me, and not being cross trained nor given the opportunities to train or to be groomed nor molded. I was just a regular worker and there is nothing wrong with that. I felt I wasn't getting a fair shake. I even won Employee of the Month for the entire company. 

I spoke up and reached out at roundtables, participated in connection calls regarding my managers and even met 1:1 with senior leadership. I simply wanted to be given a chance and at worse have an opportunity to do other jobs within the building.  

Two years had passed and I was only on the appeals board and my current manager kept lying to my face about getting me cross trained. I then went over his head and even called Ethics and corporate. I was tired of it and I wasn't going to sit by and take it like many others had before me. My goal was to show that advancement and cross training were possible.

I saw more optimism and results as I was plugged in FINALLY to leadership and folks that were dedicated to helping me grow. The manager I reported did recommend me to be a Learning Ambassador (trainer). That's where the story will continue for next time.