During our training this morning, one of my co-workers reminded me of something that all Houstonians know, just probably have never seen the numbers. Forbes Magazine ranked Houston as the 8th worst commute in the country. Lots of statistics to back this up, but more from personal experience and the stories of my co-workers every morning. People from Sugarland typically depending on the time of day can take 30 minutes to 2 hours! Cypress area, or where I used to live in Spring it takes on average 45minutes to an hour. A lucky few live in the city and it takes about 15-20 minutes depending on weather. The statistic from Forbes quotes that 45% of Houstonians commute more than 30 minutes to work each way- pretty sure that number should be 45 minutes or more.
Only 13% of people carpool, Forbes reports that percentage is the highest number for cities with over 2 million workers, and 3rd for cities with 1 million or more workers. Unlike Dallas and Austin, Houston continues to resist mass transit in favor of more tollways and expanding the highways to accommodate more cars.
NEWS FLASH! Americans spend 11 hours in their car every Monday-Friday. 96% of Americans listen to the radio in their cars, with in-car listening growing 11% in the last 4 years! Local traffic and weather information are the most frequently mentioned reasons for liking conventional broadcast radio.
Anyone want to buy some radio advertising?
There are a lot of ways for businesses to deliver their message to consumers, Television (broadcast or cable), Newspaper (does anyone read this anymore, less than 10% of the Houston metro area actually receives the Houston Chronicle, their readership is under 400,000, in a city of 4 million that is not great. PLUS, how many people just throw it in the trash without even opening it.), Billboards, Direct Mail (again, the mass mailings that are in your mailbox, do you read them, or just throw them away knowing it is "junk-mail") and the Internet.
What will work best for your business is something only you can decide- gather information and make an informed decision.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
perfection- Shrimp Paesano!
as many San Antonians, I grew up eating at Paesano's. Ordering the same meal every time, never stray from the original. As friends would come and visit, or i would entertain on business, i would strongly encourage Shrimp Paesano to my guests, sometimes, they would partake in this perfection of a meal, and sometimes they would not... if they did not, i would offer a bite of my meal, and they immediately would regret their choice. Needless to say, i have googled searched and searched and found a few that came close to the greatest meal ever- always to be slightly off...NOT TONIGHT my friends. Tonight's attempt was perfection!
i will share the variation of the recipe that i used tonight so those who cannot just run to Paesano's when the urge strikes, can have a taste of Paesano's in their home, no matter where you have moved.
this served 2: preheat to 400
12 shrimp de-veined and washed
soak in 1/2 and 1/2, for 15 minutes or longer enough to go 3/4 over the shrimp ( 1 pint will be plenty for the soaking and the sauce)
roll in flour on both sides
saute in olive oil on medium heat for 5 minutes on the first side
saute for 2 minutes on the second side
mince two cloves of garlic (fresh) and sprinkle in the glass baking dish
put the shrimp 5 minute sauteed side down
broil on high for 5 minutes
sauce: this is what is always tricky in a medium saucepan
1 large egg yolk
lemon juice from 1/2 of a medium lemon (use the lemon not lemon concentrate)
1/2 stick butter
heat these until melted and take off the heat
add 3 cloves of minced garlic (fresh)
1/2 stick butter
stir briskly until melted
add 1 more squeeze of the other 1/2 of lemon
add chives (probably about 2 tablespoons)
add a little 1/2 and 1/2 to thicken sauce (about 1/4 cup or so)
add a few sprinkles of garlic salt to taste
it was amazing. good luck!
i will share the variation of the recipe that i used tonight so those who cannot just run to Paesano's when the urge strikes, can have a taste of Paesano's in their home, no matter where you have moved.
this served 2: preheat to 400
12 shrimp de-veined and washed
soak in 1/2 and 1/2, for 15 minutes or longer enough to go 3/4 over the shrimp ( 1 pint will be plenty for the soaking and the sauce)
roll in flour on both sides
saute in olive oil on medium heat for 5 minutes on the first side
saute for 2 minutes on the second side
mince two cloves of garlic (fresh) and sprinkle in the glass baking dish
put the shrimp 5 minute sauteed side down
broil on high for 5 minutes
sauce: this is what is always tricky in a medium saucepan
1 large egg yolk
lemon juice from 1/2 of a medium lemon (use the lemon not lemon concentrate)
1/2 stick butter
heat these until melted and take off the heat
add 3 cloves of minced garlic (fresh)
1/2 stick butter
stir briskly until melted
add 1 more squeeze of the other 1/2 of lemon
add chives (probably about 2 tablespoons)
add a little 1/2 and 1/2 to thicken sauce (about 1/4 cup or so)
add a few sprinkles of garlic salt to taste
it was amazing. good luck!
Monday, July 12, 2010
Perfectionists- there are levels, which one are you?
Interesting article today on msnbc.com regarding perfectionists. Which type are you? For years perfectionists have been labeled, "OCD", "Type A" and "high-strung". Perfectionists by definition, believe that perfection can and will be obtained, I would like to think that everyone always strives to be the best, the best that they can at everything they do...apparently this is not true?
For years, it has been believed in the psychological community that being a perfectionist is bad, it will hurt the individual mentally and physically, and their family members.Some research has surfaced that being a perfectionist can actually have benefits for some people. Perfectionists will stick with the program typically until they achieve their goal, health and fitness, or for diabetics, following the suggested food program. Most athletes are perfectionists, they have to be, they are required to be committed to their work-out, to their rules, and expect perfection on the field/court from themselves and their teammates (except the Spurs with free throw shooting, no one expects perfection there.) Perfectionism has a down side, in that perfectionists expect others to be striving for perfection in others, and consistently are disappointed in their peers.
More research is being done, but being a perfectionist is not always bad, sometimes it can lead to positive impacts on people's lives. Here is the link to the article if you want to read more. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38170039/ns/health-mental_health/
As someone who does have some traits of a perfectionist, it is an interesting article to know that other people are trying to control their "perfectionist" ideals and not expect others to be the same, and it is funny to know that others are frustrated by people not doing their best.
For years, it has been believed in the psychological community that being a perfectionist is bad, it will hurt the individual mentally and physically, and their family members.Some research has surfaced that being a perfectionist can actually have benefits for some people. Perfectionists will stick with the program typically until they achieve their goal, health and fitness, or for diabetics, following the suggested food program. Most athletes are perfectionists, they have to be, they are required to be committed to their work-out, to their rules, and expect perfection on the field/court from themselves and their teammates (except the Spurs with free throw shooting, no one expects perfection there.) Perfectionism has a down side, in that perfectionists expect others to be striving for perfection in others, and consistently are disappointed in their peers.
More research is being done, but being a perfectionist is not always bad, sometimes it can lead to positive impacts on people's lives. Here is the link to the article if you want to read more. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38170039/ns/health-mental_health/
As someone who does have some traits of a perfectionist, it is an interesting article to know that other people are trying to control their "perfectionist" ideals and not expect others to be the same, and it is funny to know that others are frustrated by people not doing their best.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Passion and Enthusiasm
Just watched a million people get their hearts broken all at the same time. LeBron James just made his decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers to go play for the Miami Heat. Immediately upon hearing the news, I felt badly for the fans of the Cavs. I know what it is like to root for a small market team, that cannot compete when it comes to the splash and cash of the big cities. The best that fans of small market teams can hope for is a little loyalty and a strong conviction to stay in the town where the players have built a home and a family. Thank you David Robinson, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili (we will wait and see with Tony Parker.)
LeBron has a passion for winning and a passion for helping others, you could see his excitement when he announced the donation to the Boys & Girls Club at the end of his hour long "Lebronaganza Love Fest." He was extremely uncomfortable making the announcement that he would be taking his talents to South Beach. I truly believe he did not want to hurt the fans of Cleveland that had been so good to him for the last 6 years- but his passion to win overtook his loyalty to his hometown and home state. We will see how much money it cost him to not take the maximum and stay with Cleveland versus earning less and making the move to Miami with Bosh and Dwayne Wade. Although no state sales tax - according to some reports will save him $1 million a year!
Getting back to passion- all professional athletes have a passion, just like all sales people have passion. is it a passion to win, a passion to make a difference, passion to make money, passion to be the best, or a passion to be happy and enjoy life. You cannot always choose your passion, it chooses you, you do choose to follow your passion as it might not always be the easiest route.
Congratulations to LeBron James, may he be following his passion, the passion to win, the passion to be the best, not the passion to be greedy.
LeBron James disappointed millions of people, including some friends, family and co-workers to follow his passion, do you have the guts to follow your passion?
LeBron has a passion for winning and a passion for helping others, you could see his excitement when he announced the donation to the Boys & Girls Club at the end of his hour long "Lebronaganza Love Fest." He was extremely uncomfortable making the announcement that he would be taking his talents to South Beach. I truly believe he did not want to hurt the fans of Cleveland that had been so good to him for the last 6 years- but his passion to win overtook his loyalty to his hometown and home state. We will see how much money it cost him to not take the maximum and stay with Cleveland versus earning less and making the move to Miami with Bosh and Dwayne Wade. Although no state sales tax - according to some reports will save him $1 million a year!
Getting back to passion- all professional athletes have a passion, just like all sales people have passion. is it a passion to win, a passion to make a difference, passion to make money, passion to be the best, or a passion to be happy and enjoy life. You cannot always choose your passion, it chooses you, you do choose to follow your passion as it might not always be the easiest route.
Congratulations to LeBron James, may he be following his passion, the passion to win, the passion to be the best, not the passion to be greedy.
LeBron James disappointed millions of people, including some friends, family and co-workers to follow his passion, do you have the guts to follow your passion?
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