Thursday, February 25, 2010

The Games We Play


I love the Olympics. I always have. Each time they roll around – whether it’s the Winter or the Summer Games, I look forward to them. I can easily get sucked in to viewing sports that I’ve never even heard of before. Skeleton? Sure! The Nordic Combined? Heck, yes!

I grew up on figure skates, so skating has always been my Olympic sport of choice, but really, I love it all.

When it comes to the topic of the Olympics, I know there are naysayers – especially about the figure skating! (“It’s not a sport – it’s a performance!” “The costumes are ridiculous!”)

But I don’t care.

There has been a lot criticism about the 2010 Games in the media. Some of it, like complaints about technical issues, and costs, are valid. But other comments are just plain mean-spirited, like this one from the Russian newspaper Pravda: “Vancouver is not fit to hold the Winter Olympics. It is a surprise that any Russian athlete would wish to remain in that sort of environment for a second longer.”

Frankly, I’m not interested in political battles and cynicism. I’m interested in the athletes – in their abilities, in their stories, and in their achievements.

Sadly, one athlete was killed on the first day of the Games. And a top-ranked figure skated unexpectedly lost her mother. These events are tragic, and sadly, in life, tragedies occur.

But I am inspired by Joannie Rochette and the athletes from Georgia and their desire to go on. Because to me, the Olympics are truly about the triumph of the human spirit. It is about people doing their very best, despite enormous pressures, and sometimes under adverse circumstances.

In the two weeks of the Games, you get an inside look at the lives of Olympians and all that they have had to overcome in order to stand on the world stage, representing their countries. You learn about what it takes to be the best in the world at something.

The Olympics are a microcosm for all of human experience – there is failure and there is success; there is tragedy and there is glory. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. How could anyone not find this kind of drama compelling?

The Olympics – it’s the best reality TV out there.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Superpowers


I’m a big believer in superpowers. I sincerely believe that we all have them. Now, this is not to say that we have useful, helpful superpowers like the kind we see in the comics or movies. No, I think each of us has an everyday life, often totally bizarre and completely unmarketable kind of superpower that just accentuates our individuality. Let me give you a few examples…

Amy’s eldest daughter can spot a rainbow anywhere. That kid has seen more rainbows in seven years than most of us will in a lifetime.

For her part, Amy can fill up a kettle with water to the EXACT DROP for how much will be required for tea, regardless of how many people she is serving.

My husband can swat a fly like no one’s business. I’ll bet flies have legends about him. Then again, maybe not, as so few have lived to tell the tale.

As for me… wait for it… I see hawks. Yes, you read that correctly. I can barely look up in the sky without spotting a hawk. Perhaps I worked with birds of prey in a former life, I don’t know. I do know that my superpower is useless in every conceivable way. Even the obscure superpowers that Amy and my husband have are at least marginally useful to every day life.

Which leads me to think about what kinds of superpowers I wish I had. Sure, I wish everything I touched turned to gold (good one), or that I had supernatural strength. In my business life I’d love to have the power to accurately predict the success of new products or marketing initiatives, or heck, even the power to keep my Inbox manageable – but sadly these skills elude me.

But the superpower I most wish I had is an unending well of patience. I would have the ability to endure hours of bickering children. I would welcome the endless stream of people knocking on my door to sell me a product or solicit a donation. I’d be delighted when the driver in front of me turned on his left turn signal at the very last minute. I’d look forward to diving into QuickBooks each business quarter. Can you imagine?

What’s your superpower? Or which one do you wish you had?

As for me, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I can trade HawkGirl for SuperPatientLady.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Celebrating Canada


This week Admiral Road is celebrating Team Canada and the Olympics with some great One Day Sales.

We'll be featuring a new Canadian-themed blanket every day, today through Thursday -- at 50% off the regular price! That's enough to make anyone cheer.

Check our website and Facebook page daily for the details on this fabulous sale.

Get one while supplies last -- once they're gone, they're gone.

Stay tuned for another Olympic One Day Sale tomorrow.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Customers We Love

We wouldn’t be anywhere without our fans, so we’d like to take this opportunity to say, “Thank you.” And please make sure to stick around – we’ve got a special offer just for our fans coming very soon. If you're not a Facebook fan yet you can become one here.

Today we’d like to give a shout-out to one Admiral Road customer in particular:

Name: Richard D.

Hometown: New York, NY

Customer since: 2005

Became an Admiral Road fan after: he received an Admiral Road gift for his new baby.

Likes Admiral Road because: "an Admiral Road blanket is my go-to baby gift for clients and friends. Whenever we hear about a new baby, I get in touch with Admiral Road. Their customer service is excellent and their blankets are always well-received.”


Admiral Road customers come from far and wide. In this ongoing feature we profile some of the Admiral Road "Customers We Love." Do you love us too? Let us know at info@admiralroad.com. We'd love to hear from you. Any customers featured in our blog receive a very nice coupon toward their next order.