I don’t want to brag but I do have to say that I have the most incredible staff. They are the most dedicated people I have ever met.

Last night, we had the Adelante of Suffolk County gala. They are a community service organization committed to helping the community. They have programs for seniors, youths at risk, people with psychiatric disabilities, and more!

My staff, all dressed in black suits, was so incredibly organized and focused, it made me feel really proud to be working with such a group of dedicated people.

Everyone was broken up into teams. While one team sold raffles, the other checked people into registration and another team made sure that the vendors were there on time and that bags were properly stuffed and put on the table. There were no flaws. Everything was perfect and ran smoothly.

Since I was still temporarily disabled, I sat in the back, watched and smiled!

“Have you noticed that every time we meet, we sit in the same chair?” said Rich Caputi of CresaPartners in Melville at a recent client/agency meeting at HJMT COMMUNICATIONS, LLC.

“You’re right,” I said and then I started to think about where people sit at staff meetings, client meetings and even at the kitchen table.

Haven’t you noticed that you always sit in the same chair no matter where you are? Why do you think that is? Are we just characters of habit?

Since I’ve been temporarily disabled, I have noticed that people have been doing very special things for me.

After my surgery, I received flowers from my staff, my parents and clients from the School Business Partnership of LI. I also received the cutest teddy bear from my sister. (I’m a big teddy bear fan!) In addition, I received a ton of emails and Facebook messages and I even got some “free rugalah” from Lido Kosher Deli in Long Beach.

About a week ago, Kristie came over for a visit and to give me an update on the clients and what was going on in the office. We decided to go to the Deli for lunch. They have this “yummy” lunch special there for $7.99 that includes a half sandwich, a cup of soup and a coffee. As we were eating, Wally, the owner came over to our table.

“I was just calling you,” he said. “The sisterhood at Temple Emanu-El asked me to provide you with dinner for an evening. Tell me what you want and I’ll deliver it anytime you like.”

Wow, that was really nice!

A couple of days ago, I went to HJMT’s city office and met up with Kristie and Lori. I had a new business meeting with someone from the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce and had to meet him three blocks away at an Indian Restaurant. I asked the two if one of them would volunteer and go with me because I was having trouble getting around in my current condition. Kristie offered to go.

At first, we couldn’t get a cab. I just couldn’t see myself hopping along on the crutches, so we waited. Just as another cab came along, two tourists ran in and slammed the door.

“That wasn’t very nice!” I said to them as they were pulling away.

Then another cab came by. A woman was waiting and was going to get in when she saw me. “Oh, you can take it,” she said.

I looked at Kristie and she looked at me and we both said, “that was very nice!”

At the Indian restaurant, Kristie and I had some dishes that we never tasted before — from backed eggplant to pink sauced chicken and potatoes. We had a great conversation and at the end of the meal, the new business prospect picked up the tab! Again, we looked at each other, “That was so nice!”

On the way back to the office, we couldn’t find a cab, so we decided to catch the bus. “There it is,” Kristie said. “I’ll run and get it and hold it for you…” And she raced off…

Being on crutches for three weeks, I have really picked up the speed of these things! I started to hop along as fast as I could and made the bus. When I got on, five people offered me their seats.

I looked at Kristie and said, “Now, this is NY!”

I’m mad that someone made up that stupid rule about only wearing white from Memorial Day to Labor Day. So today, I wore white today in protest!

Who made up that rule anyway? When I surfed the Internet I found that the rule first applied to shoes. No white shoes after Labor Day. So how did white clothing come into play?

In the 1950′s and 1960′s, anyone who wore white after Labor Day was heavily criticized by fashion experts and writers of women’s magazines. Another web site talked about how there is a whole group of people who have been fighting back by wearing white through the month of September. (I didn’t think I was part of that group…. but maybe?)

I started to think about all this when my mother in law brought it up last night. She told me that she was putting away all her white clothes for the season. When I asked my niece, Stefanie, what she was planning to do she said affirmatively, “I don’t care, I’m wearing white all year long!” (Is she part of that group?)

I can see putting away the white shoes, but the white clothes? Can’t I just wear them in the winter and call them Winter White?

When you like someone, you will go out of your way to make sure that that person knows it. If you don’t, you won’t. And that’s a fact. In the book, The Likeability Factor by Tim Sanders, he proves and explains this thesis.

I read Sanders, Love is the Killer App, about a week ago and I was so impressed with the book that I decided to purchase The Likeability Factor.

For example, if you go to the doctor and the doctor likes you, he will spend more time with you. If he doesn’t, you won’t get the same attention. Or, if you go to a retail shop and like the person selling the merchandise, then you will keep going back. Sanders uses research studies to back his findings.

I was thinking about how it relates to staff. If there is someone I really like, I will do anything in my power to make sure that person is happy. And, the same thing goes for clients. Fortunately, we have amazing clients at HJMT. We have a personal relationship with most of them and we really enjoy their company and want them to succeed. That is why we have been successful!

Today, I was talking with my hair technician at Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon in Woodbury. Her name is Edelma Torres. She is one of the most amazing people I have ever met. Whenever I get my hair cut, I always have a deep conversation with her about life, family and work. One day, she handed me a card that said: “Today I accomplish the desires of my heart.” When I flipped the card over, the following affirmation appeared:

I am relaxed

I am centered

I am peaceful

I am strong

I am secure

I am free

I am infinitely happy and prosperous

Today’s discussion focused on positive people. I was saying that I like to surround myself with people who have positive energy. It makes me feel good and I feed off that energy!

We were also talking about people who are always negative and focus on themselves. Those people are so draining. They try to suck the life out of you and they do! I was saying that I try not to be around people like that because it doesn’t feel good.

So for today my mantra is to surround myself with positive people at work, with friends who are positive and with family who are positive! Why don’t you join me? According to Sanders if you do that, you will be successful!