Shopping With My Peeps or Why I <3 Zappos

A few months ago a little bird reminded me about the great selection and unique style of Zappos.com. I am talking of course about Twitter, the micro blogging social network. I don’t remember how I first connected with Zappos founder and CEO Tony Hsieh on Twitter, but once I did I realized Tony is not your typical CEO. First of all he’s on Twitter, secondly he’s funny and thirdly he is genuine.

I routinely checked in with @Zappos (Tony’s Twitter moniker) but I really got hooked after reading Tony’s account of getting ready for his CNBC panel interview with Jack and Suzy Welch. (Air date not set yet- check back for updates)

He fretted over his too big pants and limited wardrobe choices. He kept us tweets in the loop while he traveled and gave a us a brief recap when it was all said and done. He tweeted about the experience and then mentioned that Suzy Welch was quite put off by his non-financial take on employee motivation.

According to Jack and Suzy Welch, employees are motivated by “cash and plaques.” In Jack’s world of “20-70-10″ employee management, feeling good about your job and the flexibility to balance professional and personal demands is reserved for the top 20% of employees. For the middle 70%, the goal is improvement through a rigorous evaluation process. For the lowest 10%, it is don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

Sounds like paradise.

As a (former) employment lawyer I got calls from people who worked at places like GE, some with the same initials as GE. Many were high level engineers and they were all miserable. The money was good but the corporate culture was brutal. They had financial success but at an incredible cost.

Tony Hsieh is a different kind of CEO and Zappos is a different kind of company, both in terms of customer service and management style. Zappos wants their customers to be totally satisfied. They have a postage paid, 365 day return policy. If they don’t have what you want, they will direct you to where you might be able to find it. They don’t time limit customer transactions. Employees are encouraged to take all the time they need to make the customer happy.

Zappos wants all their employees to do well, they want them all to feel loved. If someone comes on board and doesn’t like the job or the culture, they are given the opportunity to leave with a severance package. Employees are encouraged to express their creativity on the job and off the job. Managers are urged to develop relationships with their employees. There are silly celebrations and raucous events, but the work gets done, and done well.

How well?

Zappos has enjoyed phenomenal growth, expanding their offerings to include clothing, electronics and accessories. Sales have increased from $1.6 million in 2000 to a projected $1 billion for 2008. Employees are loyal and vocal about their love of Zappos even though salaries are at or below market, especially for higher positions. And at Zappos there is such a thing as a free lunch, as well as snacks and drinks, and most importantly, paid medical and dental insurance.

We spend much of our lives at work. Our most frequent personal encounters are with our co-workers. In a rapidly changing and stressful world, working with people who genuinely care about our well being and happiness makes for a better, healthier quality of life. And that makes perfect sense to me.

I don’t know everybody at Zappos, but I think if I did, I’d find the kind of folks I would love to hang out with. Is it any wonder that I want them to succeed?

So from this day forward Zappos is my sole shoe source. After all, I love shopping with my peeps.

Read more about Zappos:

Why Zappos Pays New Employees to Quit - And You Should Too

How I Did It: Tony Hsieh, CEO, Zappos.com

WORKER’S PARADISE

Manage Culture and all Else Follows, Says Zappos CEO

I Am CNBC Tony Hsieh Transcript

Read more about Jack and Suzy Welch

Jack Welch - Wikipedia

Fortune: The New Rules

If You Knew Suzy

Read more about Twitter:

Why Twitter Matters

Doing Good In The Neighborhood

In spite of cynical reports to the contrary, I see evidence that kindness and compassion are on the rise, both in my virtual and real life communities. In my own life, over these past months of unemployment, I have been the recipient of abundant kindness from friends. Without their support I wouldn’t be able to keep on track with my job search, let alone cover my food, gasoline and other random expenses.

I am so blessed, and to my angels (you know who you are), I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

But this something worse than being unemployed - being unemployed and gravely ill.

My friend and neighbor Gary Balogh, a long time employee of Jack’s Deli in University Heights, was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Gary was the breadwinner in his family - you could say he brought home the (kosher) bacon.

Gravely ill and no longer able to work, he lost his job.

A group of friends has set up a benefit and benevolent fund to help support Gary and his family through this journey. Now I am asking you, my virtual community, to check out Gary’s website and give what you can, whether it be a prayer, a good wish or a donation. The Balogh Family is grateful for all your support.

And just so you know what kind of folks Gary and Joellen are - they sent me home with a bag of groceries last night.

You can find out more about Gary’s journey, the Balogh Family Benevolent Fund and make a donation at Nosh On This

The Talmud (Baba Batra 9a) says: “Greater than one who does a mitzvah, is one who causes others to do a mitzvah.” If you really want to be effective, wake others up to the problem, and mobilize their efforts.

Please spread the word.

Feel Good Video

Goldfrapp “Happiness”

Muto - Wall Painted Animation

Tip of the hat to Shape + Colour.

Saturday Ramblings

It is Pangea Day, here and everywhere! If you pre-registered in Cleveland you can watch at Sarava at Shaker Square or Talkies Ohio City. You better get moving - doors open at 1:00 PM and the films start at 2:00 PM.

If you didn’t register you can still watch online.

The weather in Cleveland Ohio is picture perfect today - so be sure to get outside. Days like today make up for January through March April!

I have been thinking about Universal Health Care - turns out was I missing out on the important conversations. Look for more on this from Five Husbands, but if you don’t want to wait go to Universal Health Care Action Network of Ohio (UHCAN OH) for more information and to make your voice heard.

I know you probably will go to Target this week. If you are shopping for spring duds be sure to do good while you look good with the ROGAN Organic Collection which debuted yesterday at Barneys Co-op in NYC. Look for it in Target stores this week. via Inhabitat

Finally, I have decided that from this day forward I will buy all my new shoes from Zappos.com - curious why? Stop back later this week for the whole story of why Five Husbands loves Zappos. Trust me, shoes are just a part of the story (posted 05/14/08.)

Support Your Local Author

My friend, Youngstown Ohio author Chris Barzack, has been nominated for a LOGO’s NewNowNext Brink of Fame award. The NewNowNext Awards, complete with special guests and performers, including Janet Jackson, will air on Saturday, June 7, 2008 at 9:00 PM ET/PT on the LOGO network. Vote for Chris here.

I am a HUGE fan of LOGO programming - for me it is don’t miss television. The movies, the music and my personal favorite show, the leggo inspired Rick and Steve, keep me inspired and entertained.

If you don’t get LOGO you can watch the awards show online here.

One for Sorrow, Chris’s first novel, debuted last year and has enjoyed critical acclaim winning the Crawford Award.  It is nominated for the Locus award.

Buy One For Sorrow at Amazon.com.

Yet Again - Another Taser Death

No, I am not reposting about the unfortunate death of Kevin Piskura. Today’s posting deals with yet another Taser death involving an unarmed young man.

KARE11 reports that a 21 year old Minnesota man died after being tasered by police. The death occurred when police attempted to subdue the man after responding to a call about drug use and potential suicide. When mace failed to subdue the man, he was tasered and cuffed. Then he died.

The police cautioned that the cause of death had not been determined. Let’s see how fast Taser International Inc. gets there and tries to silence the medical examiner from relating the cause of death to tasering.

They did just that in Ohio.

NewsNet 5 reports that Visiting Judge Ted Schneiderman ordered Summit County Medical Examiner Lisa Kohlert to change her autopsy results to remove any reference that tasers contributed to deaths of 3 men involved in confrontations with law enforcement. Taser International had challenged the autopsy findings.

Interestingly the judge ruled that there was no expert evidence to establish that the impaired respiration stating that “More likely, the death was due to a fatal cardiac arrhythmia brought on by severe heart disease,” the judge wrote. Interesting. I wonder, was the judge present at the autopsy?

Taser International was pleased. Summit County Prosecutor John Manley summed it up very neatly saying “Taser is quite a force to be reckoned with and does everything to protect their golden egg, which is the Model X26.”

Read more about Kevin Piskura’s death, the risks associated with Tasering and controversy regarding its use here.

Steve & Barry’s - I Had No Idea

Why didn’t I know about Steve & Barry’s?

Why didn’t I know about the $8.98 dress?

Why didn’t I know they had stores in Ohio? Thank goodness I read the New York Times!

Oh, Son No. 2 knows about it - he says everyone knows about it. So much for my pop culture awareness.

Rainy Days

Storms are rumbling through the mid west - a sure sign of spring. Enjoy.

And because you really deserve better than what I captured on my Treo - from You Tube - an artistic lightening storm.

Getting My Russian On

In my neighborhood the Russians have the best parties. In a a boring suburb where most parties are dry, involve low fat foods and desserts are only nibbled at, my Russian neighbors stand out with their extravagant celebrations. Every holiday finds me peeking over the fence, envying the large family gatherings, the easy conversation and the vodka bottles on every table.

It is more than the parties though. Russian men seem to adore their women and the women seem to be made to be adored - robust, big hair, full make up and always dressed to the nines. And their jewelry - it is always real, always gorgeous.

I’ve been feeling kind of gray and blah and haven’t been able to generate any spark or sass. I mean I blogged my cat, with pictures, for pity sake. I took a walk outside this afternoon (ok I thought about taking a walk outside) and got to thinking about the party my Russian neighbors had last week. They had spark. They had sass. I want me some of that.

There is no party tonight across the fence and I can’t put this off. I have to start today.

So here it is the Five Husbands Russian Revolution.

Beets and vodka. Beets for their renown healing powers and vodka because it is the perfect food. It is both alcohol and a vegetable. If I add a hard boiled egg I have a complete balanced meal.

Enjoy.