Monday, June 23, 2008

Meet the GF team - Marguerite


Meet Marguerite Orane, Partner (officially) - aka the Energiser Bunny

1. If I were a fruit I would be a mango because it’s sweet, succulent and juicy
2. If I were a colour I would be red because it’s the colour of life, blood, vitality, power, energy
3. If I were an animal I would be a dolphin because they are smart, caring, fast, live communally and are free – plus, they always have a smile on their faces!
4. The most difficult decision I have ever had to make was deciding whether to go to Harvard or Stanford
5. If I knew I would not hurt myself I would free fall dive from a plane
6. If I had US$1,000,000 to give away I would give it to Bill Gates because he would soon multiply it AND do good
7. I laugh really hard when I am doing silent laughter in Laughter Yoga
8. I cry when I sing the Peace Song at church
9. If I could travel in time I would go to Ancient Egypt because I would love to know the secrets of the Pyramids
10. The question I most want answered is “How did the Universe begin, and if it did "begin", then what did it begin out of?”

Friday, June 20, 2008

Meet the GF team - Carole




Meet Carole Orane-Andrade - Office Manager (officially); CCB - Chief Cook & Bottlewasher (the real job)
Carole is also our Certified Graphic Recorder, and the creator of the most amazing flipcharts!

1. If I were a fruit I would be a tree-ripened lychee because it is hardy on the outside and succulent and sweet on the inside
2. If I were a colour I would be green because it is a vibrant and prosperous colour, and occurs in so many hues in nature
3. If I were an animal I would be a dog in my house because I would be treated like a queen and I would love back unconditionally
4. The most difficult decision I have ever had to make was to come back to Jamaica when I was 15 to finish school instead of staying at Dance Theatre of Harlem!
5. If I knew I would not hurt myself I would continue to perform on stage!
6. If I had US$1,000,000 to give away I would give it to Wolmer’s and Jamaica Aids Support Hospice….I would like to qualify that “if” to “when”
7. I laugh really hard when GFites have our mid-afternoon fun-instead-of-pastry time where we laugh at and with ourselves over equally foolish and serious stuff – and then come the “aha” moments!
8. I cry when I feel like crying
9. If I could travel in time I would go to “Swing” time (without the WWII) to dance live with the Big Bands – Glenn Miller, Tommie Dorsey et al. Oh to hear ‘Pennsylvania 65000” live!
10. The question I most want answered is “where do we go when we leave this plane?”

Thursday, June 12, 2008

The GF Team

The best thing about working at Growth Facilitators is the amazing team of people! Over the next few days, we will be introducing ourselves to you. The team now is:

Robert Wynter - Mr. Analytical - Partner
Marguerite Orane - energiser bunny - Partner
Sharon Carruthers - "di Trini" - Client Manager
Ulla Wyckoff - "die German" - Client Manager
Carole Orane-Andrade - chief cook and bottlewasher - Office Manager
Camille Spaulding - prodigal daughter (we will soon explain that one) - Business Support Manager
Elaine Thompson - the taskmaster - Office Assistant
Leonard Smith - the strong, silent one - Driver
Alysha Chambers - fave intern (for the summer)

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Fun at work

The Growth Facilitators team takes our core value of “fun” very, very seriously. Our office is painted in all colours of the rainbow, and you will always hear laughter sprinkled throughout our day. Jokes abound, funny stories proliferate, cartoons, photos that lighten our day magically appear on walls and e-mails. We laugh at ourselves easily and willingly. It is a happy place, because we all believe that FUN and WORK are not mutually exclusive.

We go further to design fun into our workshops, as we really do believe that people are more engaged, creative, productive and happier when they are having fun. Laughter and fun are intertwined - you can’t have one without the other! Laughter releases inhibitions, and we note the breakthroughs that our clients have when they are laughing.

This week, commit to having fun at work! Lighten up your workplace! And notice the effect – on others, and yourselves!

In fun and laughter

Marguerite