Have several days to prepare for a test?  Try this method to break up the study tasks:

Three Days Before the Test:  Reread the key textbook chapters and class notes.

Two Days Before the Test:  Recite key points out loud – to someone you know or even a pet/favorite toy – without looking at the notes or textbook.  Refer back to them and see how much you remembered correctly.

The Day Before the Test:  Take a practice test or complete a new study guide (online can be a great source for this) if you have one.  On the questions that you miss, reread key points.  Want some added insurance?  Look over your notes right before bed!

The Day of the Test: Skim notes over breakfast.  OR skip the last minute studying and relax with deep breaths or tension-breaking exercise.

AT THE TEST: 

~ Do a brain dump.  If you can, immediately write in the margins of the test or on a scrap paper any key events, characters, concepts, dates, etc.  That way, you won’t have to worry about forgetting the important details.  You will be able to refer back to this as you take the test.

~ Scan and skip. Look over the whole test, then start with the questions you’re sure of.  Answering familiar questions first will boost your confidence and save time for tougher questions to come.

~ Manage Multiple Choice. In general, with a four-choice question, you should be able to eliminate two possible answers right away.  Then you can choose your final answer from the remaining options.

~ Review and Regroup. After a test, review it.  Don’t just throw it away or toss it in a folder.  Look at the responses you answered incorrectly.  Why did you?

More “At-Home” Study Strategies

• Go “old school:” Flash cards are a tried-and-true way to help remember complex facts.  Write key words/concepts on the front and jot definitions on the back.  Have someone quiz you.

• Make up mnemonics: I’m a fan of acronyms (words formed by using the first letter of each word in a list) and phrases to help kids memorize long lists (formulas, sequences, groups, etc).

i. e. Taxonomic Order ~ King Phillip Came Over For Good Soup (Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species)

• Get Artsy:  Draw simple diagrams of hard-to-remember relationships, concepts, plot points, etc.  Silly pictures also help recollection of challenging vocabulary words.

i.e. To remember the difference between “dominant” and “recessive,” draw a picture of a big dog barking at a tiny dog.   The name on the big dog’s collar could by “Dom” and the little one could by “Recess.”

• Embrace your inner American Idol:  Admit it . . . You still remember most of the Preamble to the Constitution or the function of conjunctions thanks to the “Schoolhouse Rock” songs from Saturday-morning cartoons.  Tunes and rhythm seem to cement new information into memory unlike anything else.  Put facts to songs!!

• Play online:  Many textbooks offer practice tests available for access from home.  As a bonus, practice tests often foreshadow the actual exam.

Improve Reading and Writing Skills at Home

• Read and circle:  Preview questions ahead of time.  Circle key words like “main character” or “make a list.”  Then, as you read the passage, circle the answers.
• Talk it out:  Don’t be afraid to read aloud in the comfort of your own home.  Reading a difficult text aloud can help the information stick in your memory more effectively.
• Play detective:  Find the “five W’s and H’ in every passage.  This may seem elementary but finding these main clues helps one make inferences and deeper analysis later on.
• Ace the essays:  Create a mind map for the answer.  OR, if you do not know what the essay question is, anticipate what the essay questions will be and write out answers to those questions that you anticipate.

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I’m so proud of the person my daughter has become and all she’s accomplished.  Now that she is a college student, I thought I’d take a few moments to post some of life’s little lessons I’ve instilled in her throughout these beautifully blessed 18 years.  The young woman she has become and continues to grow into attests that she’s been listening. 

Life is an eventful, wondrous game!

• The world is your oyster.  You CAN build your own future and the possibilities are limited only by you.
• It’s okay to change your mind.
• Experiment.  Dabble.  Reinvent.
• Reading is fun.  It’s an everyday part of life!
• Write it down. It’s magic – things happen more swiftly and productively when you get it on paper.
• Finish your work first and you’ll be able to relax and have more play time.
• Sometimes you have to drop everything and dance it out!
• Expose yourself to all types of activities.  Music, dance, theatre, art, sports . . . try it ALL and then decide what you truly want to stick with.
• Make friends in all types of circles.  You can never have too many and having friends of all ages, interests, and backgrounds makes life all the richer.
• All problems have a solution.
• Everything is more clear in the morning.
• Forget the bad; remember the good.
• There is a reason for everything.
• Life has a way of turning out for the best.

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“Come to us and save time, gas, grief and money.” That’s what L.A. Bicycles latest posting on Craig’s List claims.  This is NOT the case.  If you are in the market for a new bicycle in the Los Angeles area, I HIGHLY recommend you stay away from this so-called business . . .

L.A. Bicycles is a bike shop just north of the University of Southern California campus, in University Village.  Students patron this shop because of its convenient location; however, if students were to travel just two more blocks they would be spared aggravation, money and time.

My experience with this business: I went shopping for bicycles a few days prior to USC’s move-in day.  The very first question I asked the one (and only) man in the store was if he delivers to USC.  He instantly said no problem just like I thought he would because L.A. Bicycles Craig’s List posting – just posted that day – clearly states in this bold red ink: free delivery to USC and surrounding areas.

So . . . I proceeded to pick out a bicycle.  I had one picked out in less than a minute because I knew exactly which color and style I wanted.  Unfortunately, I waited 30 minutes from the time I chose my bike to the time I checked out because the flighty, unorganized serviceman kept moving from customer to customer – never completing anyone’s request, just trying to juggle each one at the same time.

Here is where things get very sketchy . . . I’m at the counter with my credit card out.  I have the bike, basket and lock chosen.  I’m filling out my information so that they hold the bike and deliver it on move-in day.  The attendant takes my card and tells me there will be a charge per day for holding the bike until delivery.  I tell him I’m surprised and confused, considering he just told me that they would deliver to USC “no problem.”  When I ask how much the “storage charge” will be, he tells me he doesn’t know.  He will find out later and charge my card.  Naturally, I didn’t feel comfortable with that and asked him to please identify the charge.  He calls his owner reluctantly on a cell phone, talks in Spanish for a brief moment (why did I take 7 years of French?!), and then hangs up only to tell me that the owner “won’t do it.”  I ask, “Won’t do what?”  He claims the owner “changed his mind” and will not deliver to USC.  I quickly find the Craig’s List posting online on my phone (dated for that day) that clearly states the store delivers but the attendant merely laughed (!!), shrugged and said, “I guess he changed his mind.”  Of course, I quickly replied, “I guess I change my mind too” and walked out.  Unbelievable!!!!!  It really makes me wonder what would have happened if I would have let that man charge my card:  Would they have charged my card for the bike only to not hold it and give it to someone else?  Would they have added a ridiculous amount for storage?

This company is blatantly falsifying information on their public advertisements!! Do NOT buy ANYTHING from this joint.  They completely take advantage of the eager college student.  Yes, they are the closest to the USC campus – but not by much. There are other, more honest shops in the area.

Still fuming from the attendant’s complete lack of customer care, I googled “bike shop los angeles” on my phone only to find Lion’s Bike Shop less than a mile away, literally straight down the street (Vermont.)  I went directly there – what a breath of fresh air.  The two owners were very attentive, gracious and helpful.  I had the exact same bike, basket and lock picked out, ordered and on hold (no charge!) within 5 minutes.  They, in fact, proceeded to tell me about certain bike safety rules in the area.  Plus, the amount was $5 cheaper – hey, every little bit helps.  Grading Girl definitely recommends this shop over L.A. Bicycles.

Sidenote: While in the store, a USC student came in to have a flat tire fixed.  I heard the serviceman tell her it would be $60 and come back later to pick it up.  $60 to pump a flat tire?!

Grading Girl vehemently gives L.A. Bicycles an F for continuously publishing falsified information, for incredibly crass customer service, for taking advantage of and overcharging college students, and for a disorganized, cluttered shop.

I hardly ever assign a detention – on this website or in the classroom – only when it is much deserved.

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Top 10 Nouns That Represent Me Speech

Here is a first week of school, getting-to-know-you assignment I’ve been using off and on for 11 years now!!!  I’ve used this for my speech, reading and English literature classes; it suits almost all levels and classes.  It’s a fun, easy exercise for the students to get to know the teacher and each other at the beginning of the year.

Summary:  Students brainstorm a list of 50 nouns that represent them.  {This proves to be a terrific parts of speech review.}  Many students find this to be a daunting list .  . . one hint I offer is to go home and stand in the middle of their rooms.  What do they see?  Write down those things.  Once the list is generated, students must narrow it down to their 10 favorites, being sure that each of those 10 items can be easily represented with a tangible token (that they can bring in!).  Students will present their top 10 list along with the ten tokens in a short glorified show and tell.  I tell the students they can explain each item as much or as little as they choose:  some opt to simply read off the list and hold up each item; others unleash unique stories behind each item.  Either way, the speeches tend to run 1 – 3 minutes each.

Students find out more interesting quirks, passions and values about each other in one – three minutes than they may otherwise have the opportunity to discover if we dive directly into curriculum. This a great way to get them up in front of the class very early in a relaxed atmosphere; I don’t evaluate their presentation skills for this early speech.  As a model, I present my own noun speech on the very first day of school.  It’s the perfect context to disclose a little about myself (past items I’ve shared – movie ticket stubs from my favorite movies, health magazines I read to exemplify my fitness enthusiasm, my colored whisk to reveal my propensity for kitchen experimentation, my favorite sports team pencil, etc) As I tell my students, it’s an easy A!  By the same token, this is super easy to evaluate.  As illustrated in the rubric, if the student completes the assignment, it’s an almost guaranteed A.  The only real way to fail this one is not to complete it.  Check it out →

Worksheet:

Top Ten Nouns That Represent Me

Rubric:

Noun Speech Rubric

Come back and share your experiences with this assignment.  How did your students like it?  I’ll share my own classroom experiences with this speech as soon as school starts.  TTFN, as Tigger says!

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Symphonicity

This man is living proof that talent, looks and creativity can only get better with age.  Sting, my favorite artist, was asked last year by the Chicago Symphony to put a program together of his music.  He was very fortunate to get the Philharmonic Orchestra to help him compose these re-arrangements for his latest CD, Symphonicity, and accompany him on tour.  Sting describes this unique recording best:  “I’m trying to create something new in this interface between pop and symphonic music. I think these songs have enough harmonic movement in them to warrant a symphony orchestra playing them . . . It’s sonically rich: you can do almost anything with an orchestra. I don’t know where it’s going, but that’s something I love. The journey itself is the reward.”  I certainly am enjoying the auditory journey these songs offer! → → →

Sting - Symphonicity

Sting – Symphonicity:

Next to You – Sawing violins replace electric guitars from the original.  This was the very first song on the very first Police album and this recording gives it the honor it deserves.

Englishman in New York – This Englishman born Gordan Sumner makes this one sound more light and playful with the tingly strings and wily woodwinds in the background.

Every Little Thing She Does is Magic – Backed by the grand classical instruments, this song gains intensity.

I Hung My Head – One of Sting’s under-appreciated songs, it gains guilt and gravity through the anxious classical strings.

You Will Be My Ain True Love – Was once my favorite song.  Dare I say this duet with Allison Krause is more haunting than the original.  Cutting-edge classical!!

Roxanne - Slower-paced version is replete with a mournful cello solo.  Bet you didn’t think ‘beautiful’ could be an adjective to describe this old favorite.

When We Dance – Next to Every Breath You Take, this is my very favorite Sting song.  No, actually, this gets first place above Every Breath.  This particular arrangement adds new interest I didn’t think possible.  It gives me chills EVERY time I hear it.  (i.e. check out 4:15)  Now . . . it is finally time for me to find my dance partner.

The End of The Game – Flows from a major production to an expressive lyrical ballad . . . bravo.

I Burn for You -  Haunting, lingering love song burns through the soul.

We Work the Black Seam – I didn’t remember this song but the stately horns make me appreciate its fluid lament.

She’s Too Good for Me – I like this one!!  Whimsical words and catchy tune!

The Pirate’s Bride – One can tell this man used to be an English teacher . . . poetic prose. 

Why Should I Cry for You – Hauntingly silky version . . . a peaceful end.  This is a bonus track available on ITunes.

GG gives Sting’s Symphonicity an A+ for chill-inducing, beautifully arranged pieces that makes listeners hope this man never stops recording.  I rarely buy an entire album on ITunes but I didn’t think twice on this one.  Keep your fingers crossed he releases Symphonicity II!!!

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What I’m Reading This Summer

At the beginning of every school year, I sit down with my reading students, forming a circle – either with our desks or on the floor – and I share every single book I read over the summer.  I lug every single book in and give a little book talk on each one.  Regardless of whether every book is interesting and/or appropriate for them is irrelevant.  My goal is simply for them to understand right away just how much I enjoy reading – yes, I practice what I preach.  If one of the books I describe happens to catch their fancy, wonderful! – They have a book idea for the coming semester!  If not, I’ve hopefully at least motivated them to choose a book they enjoy as much as I’ve enjoyed mine.

Why is summer the most fun time to read?!

WHAT I’VE READ SO FAR (in this order):

Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult A:  Jodi does it again – the author’s known for her surprising twists and shocking connections.  This story of a man wrongly accused of statutory rape is a page-turner.  It was a good one for me to kick off my summer reading, and it is definitely in my Top 5 Jodi Picoult books (along with My Sister’s Keeper, 19 Minutes, and Change of Heart).

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hussein A+:  I should have read this a loooong time ago.  Let me tell you, it left an impression.  It is the story of a young boy from the a district of Kabul, who befriends the son of his father’s servant. The story is set against a backdrop of tumultuous events, from the fall of Afganistan’s monarchy through the Soviet invasion.  As a side note, the dirt imagery fascinated me all along.  Men, women, young and old will find this story of redemption so endearing!!!!

Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen A:  I already knew that elephants understood emotions but this story helped me appreciate just how smart they truly can be.  This fictional novel focuses on one man’s adventures with a traveling circus he runs away with after his parents’ sudden deaths.  The most poignant piece of this is the narration as flashback:  the protagonist, Jacob Jankowski, is a 93-year old man living in an assisted living facility; the reader catches a glimpse into the agonizing frustration one goes through as faculties fade away.  As he deals with the tribulations around him, Jacob flashbacks to his young self’s adventures.  I’m very much looking forward to the movie starring Robert Pattinson.

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer  B-:   I finished this over-600 page book in 2 days!!  While I appreciated the passion and romance, I quickly grew weary of Bella’s whining. Parts were predictable as well.  The most fun part was shouting out turning points to my daughter as I approached them in my reading.  She finished the series long ago but still holds a passion as she just saw the movie (twice.)  I’m going next week and looking forward to it in spite of Bella’s inevitable drawn-out laments.  I’ll read Breaking Dawn soon before that movie comes out . . . but I can wait.

Incredibly Loud and Extremely Close by Jonathan Safran Foer B+:   The book’s narrator is a nine-year-old boy, Oskar Schell, who lost his father on 9/11 two years before the story began.  In the story, Oskar discovers a key in a vase that belonged to his father.  He is determined to find what that key opens; his determination takes him through all of New York’s burroughs.  What is so uniquely interesting about this book that will keep you on your toes as you read is that the author brings a multimedia sense to the book.  He uses type settings, spaces and even blank pages to give the book a visual dimension beyond the narrative.  Additionally, this brought back all my nightmarish thoughts about 9/11.

Complications by Atul Gawande A: This is a fascinating peak into the very human side of medicine.  I never was one to put all my faith into every single thing my doctors say – now I won’t for sure!!!  Dr. Gawande, who teaches at Harvard Medical School and is a general surgeon at the Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, is very VERY candid in his behind-the-scenes portrayals of hospital life.  Very thought provoking.  I may read his other book, Better, as well.

One Day by David Nicholls A-:  Dexter and Emma met on their college graduation day in 1988.  The book depicts a day in their lives (the same calendar day) over the next 20 years.  Dramatic irony takes great form here as the reader watches these two run circles around each other but never quite getting in synce in spite of their apparent strong affection for one another.  I actually exclaimed out loud at one point when reading – and I was outside at the pool.  Books rarely make me do that.  The movie version is already in production.  Run to the bookstore before the movie; you won’t regret it.

Eat, Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert B+:  My favorite line from this book talks about our power of thinking – we can choose our way of thinking just as we choose our wardrobes.  It’s up to us how we perceive situations occuring in our lives.  The author takes the reader on her mental and spiritual journey as she travels to Italy, India and Indonesia .  Her revelations are inspiring and endearing.  Plus, her sensory-detailed depictions of the Italian food she feasts on made me want to grab a deep-dish pizza that very second.

A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick B:  This is a darker novel than I normally pick up but it came highly recommended by two colleagues.  This is definitely NOT a recommendation for students.  Set in Wisconsin in 1907, Ralph Truitt places an ad for a wife.  Catherine Land, a woman with a scandalous past, answers the ad.  She secretly invents a plan to benefit from his riches; but, Ralph is more knowing than he seems.  The twists are shocking, the illustrations are sensual, and the characters are colorful.  The ending, however, was disappointing.  After the preceeding tumultuous events, I was left with an emptiness. 

The Power of Intention by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer A+:  This is one of those books that changes your life after you read it!  Some may be familiar with Dr. Dyer as he appears frequently on PBS.  This book emphasizes the belief that we can find spiritual solutions to problems by “living at higher levels and calling upon faster energies.”  This may sound like The Law of Attraction, but Dr. Dyer takes the belief much further with practical, every day steps to take along with fascinating research to back up the claims.

Boundaries - When to Say Yes & How to Say No by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend A: Physical boundaries are usually easy to discern (fences, walls, signs, etc) but emotional and spiritual boundaries are not.  This book illustrates how boundaries such as skin, words, time, geographical distance, emotional distance, etc. defines us.  It is up to us to make those definitions clear, understand what is within our boundaries (or responsibilities) and what is not.  I found myself nodding my head in agreement as I read this.  Well worth the read!!

WHAT I WILL READ BEFORE SUMMER IS OVER (also in this order):  I better get busy . . . . these books are all piled and waiting for me →

House Rules by Jodi Picoult – this is her latest, a story of a teenage boy with Asperger’s syndrome.

 A Thousand Splendid Suns by Kholed Hosseini – another one I should have read long ago – many told me they enjoyed this more than The Kite Runner.  We shall see . . . it has much to live up to.

The Female Brain by Louann Brizendine, MD. – can’t wait!  I heard this offers stunning insights into the “hormonal roller coasters” that seem to rule our lives sometimes.

The Male Brain by Louann Brizendine, MD. – this book promises to show how and why every phase of a man’s life is vastly different from a woman’s.  I’m looking forward to the new understanding.

The History of Love by Nicole Krauss – the story of lost love and the journey to find it.  Every woman needs to read at least one great love story over the summer.

comeback by Claire Fontaine & Mia Fontaine – a memoir recounting a mother and daughter’s journey through hell and back. I read a great review on this so I am anxious to see if it lives up to its critique.

Fair Isn’t Always Equal - by Rick Wormeli – this year’s summer read for my English department.  I am particularly interested to read the sections on grades and assessments.

**WHAT I READ EVERY DAY:  Until Today!  Daily Devotions for Spiritual Growth and Peace of Mind by Iyanla Vanzant A:  I  bought this at the beginning of the summer and it now sits on my nightstand as the first thing I read each morning.  It is filled with devotionals for each day of the year.  Each month focuses on a different spiritual principle:  June focuses on forgiveness, July on understanding, August on faith, and so on.  It’s a wonderful tool to ponder over aspects of ourselves and what we can do to transform to help us grow and learn.    GG side note:  I started reading this on June 21st and have already discovered four grammar goofs.  While the words inspire, the English teacher in me cringes when I read such lines as written for yesterday’s devotional:  “When you spend time honoring the dreams of one who has changed, when you continuing standing up for the things they believed in and when you. . . “  Oops!!

WHAT ARE YOU READING THESE DAYS?  PERHAPS YOU CAN GIVE ME SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR MY NEXT PILE TO BEGIN ATTACKING DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR?!

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Blue Moon Ice Cream

I recently stayed overnight at the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva, WI and enjoyed a sweet treat I haven’t tasted since, well, since the last time I was in Lake Geneva about 6 years ago . . . Blue Moon ice cream!!!  Apparently, it’s only available in upper areas of the Midwest – Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.  As I sat moaning too loudly and savoring the indulgence, I attempted to identify just what is Blue Moon ice cream.  Coupled with its refreshing sky blue hue, it has a hard-to-describe taste all its own.  After happily testing my analysis over and over and over again, I decided it definitely had a hint of lemon with a touch of raspberry.  When I returned home, I frantically searched online and discovered the “original” recipe is a secret but there are two recipes out there that come close.  I dug out my ice cream maker, tried the one I’ve listed below and – sure enough – it is VERY close!!!   Oh . . . and I was right about the lemon and raspberry!!

Blue Moon ice cream = blue tongues! Fun!

This is definitely a repeater in my house.  The blue color is a refreshing pretty touch!  For next year’s 4th of July party, I’ll serve this in tall clear ice cream dishes with fresh raspberries and homemade whipped cream on top.  Voilà – a deliciously indulgent red, white and blue treat!!

Blue Moon Ice Cream

1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup half-and-half
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla oil (I used extract)
1 1/2 cups whipping cream
1/8 teaspoon blue food coloring
3 teaspoons vanilla pudding mix
1 teaspoon raspberry flavored oil or 1 cup frozen raspberries, pureed (I pureed fresh raspberries)
1 teaspoon lemon flavored oil or lemon extract (I used fresh lemon juice)

Directions:
-1/2 Cup of milk scalded in pan.
-add 1/2 cup of sugar and 1/4 tsp of salt. stir till dissolved
-add 1/2 cup of half and half.
-add 1 1/2 cups of heavy whipping cream.
-add vanilla, raspberry, lemon flavoring.
-add blue food coloring.
-chill in fridge till very cold.
-put in ice cream machine for about 20 minutes and devour!

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As promised and at long last, here is GG’s summer cardio playlist!!!!  Not only are these songs the perfect tempo for cardio but they spark that glorious summer giddiness we crave all year. ~

Summer Cardio Playlist

How about going for a run on this beach?!

“California Gurls” by Katy Perry . . . A celebration of the carefree days of summer!  KP recorded this song during the perfect time – very symbolic for my fam’ right now!

“California Man” by Cheap Trick . . . I can’t leave out the boys!!  This is a Cheap Trick sleeper hit.  If you don’t remember this song, you will wonder why. My high school pom squad won first place with this -I still remember (and can do!) the kick sequence.

“The Sound of Sunshine” by Michael Franti & Spearhead . . . the quintessential summer song!!

“Club Can’t Handle Me” (From Step Up 3D) by Flo Rida . . . this is the song that So You Think You Can Dance is using for the national routine for everyone to learn for National Dance Day.  I just learned it!!  It’s a very happy, feel good song – like last year’s “I Gotta Feelin’!”

“Heroes” by David Bowie . . . such a good song to keep you moving to your goal!

“Ecstasy” by Rusted Root . . . a definite summer vibe going on here; plus, it’s the only band that ever excited me enough to dance barefoot at a concert.

“Cecilia” by Simon & Garfunkel . . . when you get to this song, turn up your mp3 player one more notch – trust me!

“Shine” by The LoveFreekz (Ultra Dance 06) . . . great to blast on the treadmill or in the car on a warm sunny day.

“Right Here, Right Now” by Fatboy Slim . . . just when you’re starting to feel the steam diminishing, this longer song repeats but it’s the perfect running pace that will keep your eye on the prize.

“Joy to the World” by Three Dog Night . . . this was my late father’s very favorite song; it exemplifies his “joie de vive.”  It’s just a tad slower than the rest of the songs; hence, it makes for a perfectly positive seventh-inning-stretch to your hard-earned exercise.

“(They Long to be) Close to You” by The Cranberries . . . from the “If I Were a Carpenter” CD - this version is breathtakingly beautiful.  Cool down with this and walk off with a summer glow.

Next Playlist:  Rockstar Playlist – no dance remixes on this one . . . pure rock & roll . . . not entirely characteristic of a GG playlist.

Click here for a link to GG’s previous popular playlists!!

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I was honored and excited when the good folks at Zappos sent me free advanced copies of CEO Tony Hsieh’s new book Delivering Happiness – A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose to review.  I have been a completely satisfied customer of Zappos (major online shoe and clothing commerce company) for quite a few years.  I previously read of the uniquely people-pleasant, family culture that Hsieh creates for his employees and was curious about his philosophies.  Hsieh’s new book sets out to reveal how this young executive created such a phenomenal success – not only is the online retailer achieving over $1 billion in merchandise sales each year but it is one of Fortune magazine’s top companies to work for.  From my experience, the company’s success certainly shines through every single time I talk to a customer service representative . . . Zappos has the only service department in which patrons can actually hear representatives’ smiles over the phone.

Tony Hsieh - CEO of Zappos.com

Delivering Happiness is NOT another quick how-to-improve-your-business book.  This book reveals secrets and ideas about (as the sub-title hints) increasing profits, igniting passion, and identifying purpose in personal life as well as work.  Anyone looking to create or build upon current business or personal goals would benefit from this book.  Through Hsieh’s anecdotes and quirky thought-processes, the reader gets into the head of someone who’s been there, someone who’s taken a dream and turned it into reality.

Hsieh begins by illustrating his work experiences - from grade school worm selling to creating and selling study guides in college to his first major success with co-founding LinkExchange – an internet advertising cooperative.  He provides snippets from old letters, journal-like recollections and lists that illustrate the thinking behind the success.   

 You know you are in the right field when you go to work and it doesn’t feel like work; that’s the impression I get of the Zappos employees’ attitudes toward their jobs.  Hsieh intriguingly reveals how he brought the company from start-up to last year’s acquisition by Amazon valued at over $1.2 billion.  Some interesting strategies along the way include creating a company “culture” book, a very interactive weekly employee newsletter, and the WOW factor (a new verb part of the company’s everyday vocabulary!).    Read this book and some of that WOW factor just may rub off into your own way of thinking.  Indeed, the 10 core values of the Zappos culture apply to conducting life along with conducting a business . . . you may be surprised what some of those 10 values are! 

Delivering Happiness can be purchased on Amazon today as today is the official launch of the book!!! 

**These are my honest opinions after reading this book!!  Grading Girl gives Tony Hsieh an A+ for unabashedly honest thoughts, unique ways of looking at the world of work, and a frankly fun read!**

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As a teacher, summer serves as a time for reflection and renewal – both on a professional and personal level.   These are resonating particularly strongly in my head these days as I’m starting a new running program.  Running is sooooo hard for me which is why I’m finally, finally giving it a serious try ~

“Sit as little as possible.  Give no credence to any thought that was not born outdoors while moving about freely.” –Friedrich Nietzsche . . . No matter what my mood, going outside makes me feel better – even when I was attacked on the head by two birds the other night while going for a run (silly scary!).

“Don’t bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors.  Try to be better than yourself.” –William Faulkner . . . Such a great goal to strive for.

“Obstacles are those frightening things that become visible when we take our eyes off our goals.” –Henry Ford . . . Keep your eye on the prize and everything else will seem less signficant.

“When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.” –Theodore Roosevelt . . . What a great way to look at the idea of finding strength when we feel most defeated.

“Sweat cleanses from the inside.  It comes from places a shower will never reach.” –Dr. George Sheehan . . . I feel soooo invigorated after a great workout!!!!

“You can have anything you want, if you want it bad enough.  You can be anything you want to be, if you hold that desire with singleness of purpose.” –Abraham Lincoln . . . THIS ONE IS MY FAVORITE!!!  I truly, truly, truly believe this.  I’ve proven this to myself and it is what I’ve been teaching my daughter since day one.   I could write a huge, lengthy post on my belief as to how this affects all aspects of our lives . . .

“Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.” –T.S. Eliot . . . Anyone can talk the talk but only those that actually go for it will get anywhere.

“One cannot consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar.” –Helen Keller . . . This beautifully illustrates the desire for greatness, for love, for achievement.

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