To Break Away

I had to go to work tonight.
Not as an actual work shift or anything.
We were having our yearly meeting. 
Where all the associates have to gather together and be told what the goals and obligations of the year are for the company and such. 

But it has to be held at night after the store closes....because that's the only time we can get everyone there and not have to worry about customers.

Doesn't mean that we didn't have a customer walk into the store and try to shop anyways.....
-The doors were still unlocked so everyone could arrive and get into the building.
She was rather upset with us when we told her that the store had closed an hour ago. 
*shakes head*
Honestly....people should learn to read the hours posted on the door. *exhales* 

In any case.
For whatever reason....we had to dress up as our favorite movie characters for this meeting.
Which, nonsurprisingly...didn't have any connection at all to the meeting. 
....I don't understand that....why dress up if there isn't a point?

In any case I dressed up as the Winter Soldier....
And basically no one in the store knew who I was. 
O.o 
HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?!?!? Gah. I'm surrounded by uncultured marvel people apparently. lol. 

But the meeting itself went well...we played games, learned some new info bits, and got food! Plus we were introduced to a new 'rewards' program. ....we'll see if it lasts longer than a month lol. 
But basically it's a "if we see you do something good you get a sticker, get enough stickers you get a pin, get enough pins you get a prize!" *shakes head* Feels a bit like being back at kindergarten really.... 

However,
The thing I found most exciting about the meeting tonight is.....
The fact that we were told that we can politely disengage with the customers.
We even went over talking points of phrases we can use to get away from the gabbers who just want to tell you your whole life story or want to know everything and a half about how to take care of their pet. 

Because while we want customers to feel valued....we also want to be able to help more customers. 
And we can't really help more customers if we spend 45 minutes listening to a crazy cat lady talk about her twelve cats. 

So it's great that we were told that we can politely use phrases to break away from the conversation.
We even now have a secret gesture that we can use if we get trapped by a customer and need help getting away. It's great. ^^ 

Wonder how long it will be before we actually need to use it. lol.

Until you next read these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi