

September / October 2008 Company News \| From the Desk of \| Industry News Special Offer Meet Lauren Giles Zerion’s product is its people. Since it’s rare that our friends and clients get to meet all of the outstanding professionals that make up our company, this month we’d like you to introduce you to Lauren. Residence: I recently moved to Houston TX, and I seem to have brought the Florida hurricanes with me (Ike). Hometown: I was born in sunny Tampa Bay and lived there until I went to school in Texas (Baylor University). Position with Zerion: Consultant What did you do before joining Zerion? After I graduated from Baylor, I worked for a law firm and title company in Tampa. What is your specialty at Zerion? Accounting and GL maintenance What is the best location you’ve traveled to for your job at Zerion? I particularly loved the North West coast. Washington and Oregon were beautiful and I was there during the summer months so the weather was amazing… drastically different that the Florida summers. Another great city I visited was Boston, this was even more exciting because I was there when the Celtics beat the Lakers to win the NBA Championship… and the city was alive with Celtic pride! If there was one place you could visit in the world, where would it be? Well, if I could visit the past, I would have liked to be in Beijing during the 2008 Summer Olympics. What do you like best about your job? That no two days are the same and each project presents unique challenges. What is your favorite “customer success” story? Each implementation brings a varying level of difficulty, resulting in varying levels of accomplishment. One of the most rewarding moments was when I received a hand-written letter from a client crediting Zerion’s implementation for the increased profitability the company had experienced since the project was completed. How do you spend most of your time when you’re not working? I really enjoy being outside, particularly on a boat, but since moving to Houston I haven’t been able to. I prefer to be surrounded by my friends and family -- they are what's most important to me. What is a little known, interesting fact about you? I was on the US National Sailing Team. Favorite book or movie and why: The Goonies is my favorite movie because who doesn’t love the truffle shuffle? In one sentence, describe your philosophy on life and work: Do what you love and love what you do. Back to Top "The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails." I’ve been spending a lot of time in the field lately, and after managing several consecutive RF installs, I am reminded of the importance of leadership. The above quote from author John C. Maxwell really gets it right. Each time I’m packing up to leave a client’s location, I begin to reflect on the project. Without fail, I recall faces of naysayers, names of those who cheered us on, and the presence of people who influenced the outcome. However, I’ve noticed that the concept of leadership is often overlooked, or underrated, in a warehouse environment. People have a job to do and their job is to get it done. “Leadership” can seem too philosophical … too corporate …. too touchy-feely to be important to their daily operation. Yet it is integral to the company’s success, whether they realize it or not. I’ve seen hundreds of warehouses and been through installs that ranged from flawless to disastrous. Along the way, the leaders who I recognized at the end of each journey didn’t always come from the top. I’ve seen leaders emerge from where you least expect them. And, I’ve seen those who were supposed to be leaders fall short. I’ve also seen impeccable leadership from upper management, driving clear messages and direction about the project. There is no doubt these installs were the most successful. It often isn’t until we’re challenged that true leaders are uncovered. Certainly today’s economy continues to challenge us. Because of it, most of us aren’t hiring or spending, we’re anxious and watching. We’re doing more than our fair share of work and maybe we are too busy to notice who’s helping us stay afloat. But that doesn’t mean we should stop growing our company or stop pushing for greatness. Good leadership is even more important in the hard times; and, good leaders are always looking to develop new ones. I believe that you can use this challenging time as your opportunity to surface your leaders. John Maxwell also said these powerful statements: "The single biggest way to impact an organization is to focus on leadership development. There is almost no limit to the potential of an organization that recruits good people, raises them up as leaders and continually develops them." ... "Believing in people before they have proved themselves is the key to motivating people to reach their potential." Sure, there are pricey consultants and expensive programs you can employ to develop leaders. But, during this challenging time, I think there are ways you can do it on your own without spending a dime. It starts with simply taking the time to focus and observe. If you step outside of the media’s dismal reports and look up from your mounds of paperwork, you’ll notice who is adjusting the sail. And you may be surprised. Tony King, Vice President 321.229.1089 Back to Top What’s happening with distribution, software and business? Zerion is committed to being a resource for our clients and friends. In the newsroom on our Web site, we have an RSS feed supplying new articles all the time. We also have some links to industry news. Here are some of the recent articles we found most interesting: Wolseley Considers Selling Stock Building Supply Manor's RFID Deployment Expected to Yield Quick ROI Google and Oracle Boldly Go to New Markets What the Wall Street Crisis Means for Big Tech Want more news? Visit us at: www.zeriongroup.com/newsroom/industrynews.html Back to Top Get a FREE half day of consulting ... Do you know someone that would benefit from our services? Tell them about us. For every one day of business that is secured with your referral, you get a free half day of consulting (travel not included). This offer is only available for newsletter subscribers for a limited time. Contact Tony King (321.229.1089) by October 31 with your referral to receive the discount. Back to Top	The OE Clip Board People often forget the benefits of the OE Clip Board, but it can be very useful. In Eterm you can use the Ctrl + F2 keys to move to the clip board and the Ctrl + F5 keys to view the OE clip board. Also the Ctrl + F9 keys will bring up the User Quick Access list for many fields.

September / October 2008

Company News | From the Desk of | Industry News

Special Offer

Meet Lauren Giles
Zerion’s product is its people. Since it’s rare that our friends and clients get to meet all of the outstanding professionals that make up our company, this month we’d like you to introduce you to Lauren.

Residence: I recently moved to Houston TX, and I seem to have brought the Florida hurricanes with me (Ike).
Hometown: I was born in sunny Tampa Bay and lived there until I went to school in Texas (Baylor University).
Position with Zerion: Consultant

What did you do before joining Zerion?
After I graduated from Baylor, I worked for a law firm and title company in Tampa.

What is your specialty at Zerion?
Accounting and GL maintenance

What is the best location you’ve traveled to for your job at Zerion?
I particularly loved the North West coast. Washington and Oregon were beautiful and I was there during the summer months so the weather was amazing… drastically different that the Florida summers. Another great city I visited was Boston, this was even more exciting because I was there when the Celtics beat the Lakers to win the NBA Championship… and the city was alive with Celtic pride!

If there was one place you could visit in the world, where would it be?
Well, if I could visit the past, I would have liked to be in Beijing during the 2008 Summer Olympics.

What do you like best about your job?
That no two days are the same and each project presents unique challenges.

What is your favorite “customer success” story?
Each implementation brings a varying level of difficulty, resulting in varying levels of accomplishment. One of the most rewarding moments was when I received a hand-written letter from a client crediting Zerion’s implementation for the increased profitability the company had experienced since the project was completed.

How do you spend most of your time when you’re not working?
I really enjoy being outside, particularly on a boat, but since moving to Houston I haven’t been able to. I prefer to be surrounded by my friends and family -- they are what's most important to me.

What is a little known, interesting fact about you?
I was on the US National Sailing Team.

Favorite book or movie and why:
The Goonies is my favorite movie because who doesn’t love the truffle shuffle?

In one sentence, describe your philosophy on life and work:
Do what you love and love what you do.

From the desk of Tony King "The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails." I’ve been spending a lot of time in the field lately, and after managing several consecutive RF installs, I am reminded of the importance of leadership. The above quote from author John C. Maxwell really gets it right. Each time I’m packing up to leave a client’s location, I begin to reflect on the project. Without fail, I recall faces of naysayers, names of those who cheered us on, and the presence of people who influenced the outcome.

However, I’ve noticed that the concept of leadership is often overlooked, or underrated, in a warehouse environment. People have a job to do and their job is to get it done. “Leadership” can seem too philosophical … too corporate …. too touchy-feely to be important to their daily operation. Yet it is integral to the company’s success, whether they realize it or not.

I’ve seen hundreds of warehouses and been through installs that ranged from flawless to disastrous. Along the way, the leaders who I recognized at the end of each journey didn’t always come from the top. I’ve seen leaders emerge from where you least expect them. And, I’ve seen those who were supposed to be leaders fall short. I’ve also seen impeccable leadership from upper management, driving clear messages and direction about the project. There is no doubt these installs were the most successful.

It often isn’t until we’re challenged that true leaders are uncovered. Certainly today’s economy continues to challenge us. Because of it, most of us aren’t hiring or spending, we’re anxious and watching. We’re doing more than our fair share of work and maybe we are too busy to notice who’s helping us stay afloat. But that doesn’t mean we should stop growing our company or stop pushing for greatness. Good leadership is even more important in the hard times; and, good leaders are always looking to develop new ones. I believe that you can use this challenging time as your opportunity to surface your leaders.

John Maxwell also said these powerful statements: "The single biggest way to impact an organization is to focus on leadership development. There is almost no limit to the potential of an organization that recruits good people, raises them up as leaders and continually develops them." ... "Believing in people before they have proved themselves is the key to motivating people to reach their potential."

Sure, there are pricey consultants and expensive programs you can employ to develop leaders. But, during this challenging time, I think there are ways you can do it on your own without spending a dime. It starts with simply taking the time to focus and observe. If you step outside of the media’s dismal reports and look up from your mounds of paperwork, you’ll notice who is adjusting the sail. And you may be surprised.

Tony King, Vice President
321.229.1089

What’s happening with distribution, software and business?
Zerion is committed to being a resource for our clients and friends. In the newsroom on our Web site, we have an RSS feed supplying new articles all the time. We also have some links to industry news. Here are some of the recent articles we found most interesting:

Wolseley Considers Selling Stock Building Supply

Manor's RFID Deployment Expected to Yield Quick ROI

Google and Oracle Boldly Go to New Markets

What the Wall Street Crisis Means for Big Tech

Want more news? Visit us at: www.zeriongroup.com/newsroom/industrynews.html

Get a FREE half day of consulting ...
Do you know someone that would benefit from our services? Tell them about us. For every one day of business that is secured with your referral, you get a free half day of consulting (travel not included). This offer is only available for newsletter subscribers for a limited time.

Contact Tony King (321.229.1089) by October 31 with your referral to receive the discount.

The OE Clip Board

People often forget the benefits of the OE Clip Board, but it can be very useful. In Eterm you can use the Ctrl + F2 keys to move to the clip board and the Ctrl + F5 keys to view the OE clip board. Also the Ctrl + F9 keys will bring up the User Quick Access list for many fields.