JOANN Stores’ Post

In honor of Assisted Living Week I am reflecting on who can make a grown woman pull out a high school letterman's jacket, Dwayne's shades, Salt-n-Peppa's gold hoops and a gold chain? (What is the craziest thing you have done for your team??) An amazing assisted living team that wants to put on a show for their residents and create a positive energy for their team! (You should have seen what I wore for 70's week. I left a trail of glitter everywhere I went) In the interest of full self deprecation, I have done a lot of things the real Erin would never want me to share just to get a smile, a laugh and a team to believe that I valued them. I wasn't always this way, I was very uptight and real worried about what people thought. But the funny thing is, things became easier when I became more authentic and I lost myself in what I was trying to achieve: a happy and healthy and valued team. (not corporate success) The Assisted Living Industry is hard, cut throat and difficult to navigate...BUT when you stay focused on your why and you put those residents and their families first and you value your team it gets easier, more fun and inspiring to be a part of!!! You are hero that doesn't wear a cape. You are stronger than you think you are. You make a difference even when you don't feel you do. You are worth the investment in yourself. #assistedlivingweek2023 #aspireformoreforyou #aspireformorewitherin #FUN #seniorlivingprofessionals #assistedlivingcommunity #memorycare

We are committed to treating everyone with respect, and offering judgment-free, client-centered, affirming care to each person who walks through our doors. In honor of #CareerDevelopmentMonth, read our latest blog post - where Lead Navigator Denise Barkley describes her job, her humanizing approach, and how rewarding it is to see the successes of her work: https://bit.ly/3RhJUm7

I recently read this great Insider article from Eliza Relman about the importance of “Third Places” – Somewhere people can go that is neither home, nor work. I would also add that a critical component for many is it being somewhere people can go without the expectation of being required to spend money. Pre-Covid I was never really aware of this notion of Third Places until a friend started me down the path of thinking about it (I guess technically I was “aware” of it, I had just never thought about third places in that context.) But when we were all home with nowhere else to go, it really started to resonate with me, and once we started to go out again – Particularly with my teen and tween kids – I realized, as a work-from-home guy how important these spaces are to all of us. Or, as Seinfeld put it over 33 years ago, sometimes you just want somewhere where you can go and sit: JERRY: Where do you want to go? ELAINE: I don't care, I'm not hungry. JERRY: We could go to one of those cappuccino places. They let you just sit there. ELAINE: What are we gonna do there? Talk? JERRY: We can talk. ELAINE: I'll go if I don't have to talk. JERRY: We'll just sit there. ELAINE: Okay. It's worth a read. https://lnkd.in/g8bBxd_2

The story behind "Jess in LA": I always found it hard to say that my first job was with my family's business. It smacks of nepotism and feels a little disingenuous. I started working at a young enough age that work was play. Real work is structured. I was just a kid out sick from school and forced to go to work with her dad because her parents couldn’t afford child care. And after a few hours fever-dreaming on a beat up office couch, I was a kid who needed to be occupied. But this was an initiation, really. I was the first of my generation continuing the proud tradition of free and necessary child labor. Ours was a wholesale floral trade and that meant filling and hauling buckets in the middle of the night. Taking and completing orders. Moving product between storefronts. It’s how I learned to say, “For you? $7.50” by the age of ten. Where I learned to cut twine with my bare hands. How to wrap half a dozen bunches of roses together in damp newspaper without getting nicked by thorns. And because we were known for our connection to Hawaii, it’s where I first learned to make lei. We lost the shop sometime in the 1990s. You can’t run a successful business in the middle of a recession on the principles of haggling, bartering, and doing favors. With its shuttering, came the cloistered shame of being poor. Eating meals in church rec rooms and soup kitchens. Picking up car parts on the side of the road. Hoping people wouldn’t notice that I was wearing hand-me-downs from my 14-year-old boy cousin. The wounds of poverty are so deep, so desperate the need to not be discovered, that we hide what makes us truly unique. Opportunity is a privilege with a moral threshold (it shouldn't be, but is) and if we hide well enough, if we comport ourselves in the right way, we might have a shot at a seat at the table and the chance to do some good with it. And so, I’ll close this post with a nod to my, now, last job. For nearly seven years, I have had the great luxury of working with the world’s best journalists to give voice to the underserved and underrepresented. Of training the next generation of diverse storytellers. Of ousting self-obfuscation in pursuit of Journalism’s noble purpose of public service and, in so doing, contributing, in my way, to the marketplace of ideas. I have no next steps (as you know, this layoff came while I was on leave), but it can’t begin without thanking you who have helped shape my career in immeasurable ways. -30-

Celebrating Moms: The Directors of Operations at Home and Beyond In the intricate dance of managing a household and navigating the complexities of the outside world, moms emerge as the unsung heroes—the true directors of operations. Their role extends far beyond the boundaries of home, shaping and orchestrating every aspect of family life with grace and resilience. At home, moms are the CEOs of multitasking, seamlessly juggling chores, schedules, and emotions. They are the glue that holds everything together, ensuring that each family member feels loved, nurtured, and supported. From planning meals to resolving conflicts, their organizational skills and unwavering dedication keep the household running like a well-oiled machine. But their influence doesn't end at the doorstep. Moms also excel as directors of operations in the broader community, leveraging their expertise in communication, negotiation, and problem-solving to make a difference. Whether leading parent-teacher associations, volunteering for social causes, or excelling in professional careers, they bring the same passion and dedication to every role they undertake. Let's celebrate the invaluable contributions of moms as directors of operations—at home and beyond. Their leadership, strength, and boundless love shape not just families, but entire communities, leaving an indelible mark on the world. #Moms #Leadership #FamilyFirst

This month’s autobiography was Orange County, California Congresswoman Katie Porter’s I Swear: Politics is Messier Than My Minivan. I always find workplace lessons in the autobiographies I read and this one was more vignettes about her job than it was a full life story. Katie says she hates the job but loves the work. Oooh, sound familiar? 😲 Shhh, I won’t tell! 🤐 A lot of people enjoy what they do but don’t like the bureaucracy, pay, inconveniences, hierarchy and no pun intended… politics of their jobs. A few tidbits about Katie’s job: 💰The job pays $174,000, the same as it did in 2009 🏡 It requires a second residence in DC which is neither reimbursed nor tax deductible 🕚 There are no set hours and the in-session schedule is changing constantly; making arranging childcare very difficult 🟰Everyone is paid the same regardless of performance, seniority, or how much personal money you have to make running your office easier It’s no wonder Katie Porter was the only single mother of school age children when she joined congress, it’s not a job suited for a single parent. It’s a reminder that if we truly want a diverse workforce where all different types of employees can be successful, then we need to look a bit harder at our structures, policies and norms.

I’ve worked directly in, or supported, over 20 family businesses. From global enterprise brands to local family outfits. And each and everyone has been an eye-opening, enriching and value driven experience. But my first still stands out. I was 16, had just left school, a bit lost and was keen to idle my time hanging out with pals doing a great deal of nothing until I figured out what was next. Sensing this, Dad let me know, in no uncertain terms, this was not an option. I’d be getting a job. So I begrudgingly hit the streets armed with nothing more than a fear of my old man’s reproach if I came home empty handed Thankfully I didn’t have to look too far. Right in the heart of Brighton a new delicatessen had opened. A husband and wife set-up, who had spotted a big gap in the market.  Sitting underneath the station, on the commuter belt, and nestled amongst a number of surrounding offices, they were the first to offer up freshly made sandwiches in quite a radius. (Brighton did not look like the gentrified version you see today i can assure you) And so they opened their doors in the summer of 1994. And I was their first employee. And from the get go I loved every single moment. For one simple reason: the way I was treated. I was welcomed fully into the fold and made to feel that my opinion mattered. My confidence soared and I carried a sense of genuine pride, which for a lost 16 year old that was huge They could easily have shoved the teenage help in the corner and barked orders at him but they didn’t. Instead they encouraged my thoughts and gave me responsibility. As a result I felt a true sense of belonging. I was rooting for them all the way, and would have done whatever they asked. A true people first approach in how to build business And this commitment to people holds true right up to enterprise levels in my experience. Family businesses getting it right. Full of value.  Being decent. Making business, and sandwiches, as they should be.  #familybusiness #peopleandculture #peoplefirst #memorableexperience #inclusion

Reflecting on the essence of gathering over a feast… The heart of this time of year transcends the tradition. It's about the universal desire to connect, share, and be part of something bigger. What truly captivates me about it is the way it seamlessly becomes an avenue for reunions, a time when people gather not just around tables, but around shared stories and experiences. It's a moment where the hustle of the year pauses, allowing everyone to catch up, to see how the children, now a year older, interact and friends & extended family form bonds that might last a lifetime. The tradition of each person bringing a dish is symbolic; it's more than just about food. It represents individual contributions to a collective whole, a metaphor for how each person adds value to the family tapestry, whether they are bound by blood or the heart. This act of sharing, of contributing, speaks to a deeper truth about our interconnectedness. Moreover, it challenges the conventional definition of family. It reinforces the idea that family extends beyond genetic ties, embracing the notion that we can find familial bonds in the most unexpected places and people. It's a reminder that everyone has a place at the table, a space to be welcomed and to belong. #ThanksgivingReflections #FamilyBeyondBlood #CommunityTable #SharedStories #ThanksgivingJoy Recruiting for: Lifestyle, Income and Impact. #education #energy #respect #networking #community #teambuilding #workhardplayhard #giveback Retention of: Positive Energy, Service, Team-Oriented, Discipline, and Respect of Communication & Trust. We Make an Impact: Michelle, Dustin, Nicholas, Logan, Amanda, Collin, Lucas, Chelsea and YOU.

When I mention that I grew up in Oak Cliff, the immediate reaction from anyone familiar with this part of Dallas often echoes, "You grew up in the hood?" I don't think of it as the 'hood' by any means and the interesting part is that I didn't even realize it was considered a questionable neighborhood. In Oak Cliff, our daily lives were marked by the universal struggles of trying to get by—navigating through the challenges of securing a meal, attending school, juggling part-time jobs that often felt more like full-time commitments, and stepping up to help our families. It was a community where watching over our younger siblings became a shared responsibility, and grumbling about babysitting duties for our kid sisters and brothers was just part of the routine. In the midst of these shared challenges, we witnessed friends succumbing to the pitfalls of bad crowds, often losing them forever to the unforgiving paths they chose. Yes, there was violence, but notably, it wasn't race-based. The clashes that occurred had roots in other issues—perhaps drugs, maybe jealousy, an ugly look, maybe even spillage from home abuse—but not race. The neighborhood faced its own set of struggles, and the violence that erupted was a byproduct of those challenges rather than a manifestation of racial animosity. It's remarkable to think that in a neighborhood tagged as questionable by outsiders, where life was a constant struggle, the issue of racism didn't permeate our consciousness. Perhaps it was the collective focus on survival, the bond forged through shared hardships, or the genuine connections that transcended racial lines. Whatever the reason, racism remained a foreign concept to many of us. In retrospect, the community's inadvertent success in sidestepping the pervasive issue of racism becomes evident. While we grappled with the challenges of everyday life and the unfortunate reality of losing friends to negative influences, the color of our skin wasn't a divisive factor. Oak Cliff, in its own way, had unintentionally fostered an environment where unity and resilience overshadowed racial differences. So, when I say I grew up in Oak Cliff, it's not just a statement about a neighborhood; it's a testament to a community that, despite its struggles, got certain things right—things like camaraderie, shared perseverance, and the blissful ignorance of a world where racism didn't even register on our radar.

January 2024 is in the books. What a month. When I moved to Armanino LLP at the end of last year I found a firm that allowed me to live the work values that are important to me: have fun at work, learn, and make an impact. Over the last month I have had great fun at work visiting our San Ramon and Philadelphia offices getting to know wickedly smart people who make a difference to our teams, people, and clients every day. I’ve also learned so much at a firm that feels different. Our entrepreneurial approach is palpable and feels different to other places I’ve worked. One of my biggest learning points has been understanding what it means to be a B-Corp and one of the very few B-Corps in our space, which adds to our commitment and sense of responsibility to our communities. As for impact…one of the highlights was participating in this month’s Committee Leader launch where I met so many people who put our people and communities first through numerous groups promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in tangible ways. We also got to have a little fun while doing good stuffing soft toys for kids going into foster homes. There are so many opportunities at Armanino LLP and 2024 promises to be a great year as we continue to create a Uniquely Armanino experience for all our people. #greatworkplace #workplaceculture #diversityandinclusion #employeeexperience #peopleandculture #peoplefirst #peoplefirstculture #liveyourbestlife #talentstrategy #bcorp #uniquelyarmanino #hr #hrcommunity