That’s EXACTLY what we’re trying to avoid…and we need your help.

We’re looking for a Customer Service Superstar who is crazy passionate about serving our peeps. Without them, ther’d be no us…and we kind of like being around. Lots of companies talk a good game when it comes to service. We’d rather let our actions do the talking.

Dormbuys is an e-commerce retailer committed to providing anything and everything for college students living in the dorms. Our offices and distribution facilities are located in Eastern Jefferson County (Middletown). So what makes one qualified to be our Customer Service Superstar? Well, we need a quick learning, organized, detail-oriented superstar who has a real passion for helping people. You have to be able to communicate with the team you’ll be working with, as well as with customers via phone, email, hand-written note and telekinesis. A little bit of work in a warehouse can’t scare you…nor can the dogs that roam the office (who are fun, uplifting and friendly of course). We need a self-starter who doesn’t need someone looking over their shoulder all day. We’re not into the whole micro-managing thing. You really need to be a juggling fiend capable of handling day-to-day responsibilities as well as some longer-term projects. To top it off, if you’re socially media-ish savvy, that’d be an extra-special added bonus. Oh…and you definitely must possess a “do whatever it takes” attitude, as we like to think that’s a philosophy that has helped us grow so fast.

So there you have it. If you’re all about finding yourself in a place that combines hard work and lot’s of fun, drop us a note with “Customer Service Superstar” in the subject line, and send us anything that you think might convince us you’re perfect. You can email us at letsdothis@dormbuys.com. And if you happen to have a secret handshake of course, by all means, bring it on.

I understand that we have jobs, girlfriends and responsibilities.  I also get that free time is at a premium and people don’t want to give it up.  What I find myself wondering is how do some of us let go of it altogether?  How many of the great stories we tell begin with, “I decided to stay home alone?” I’m going to take a chance and say not many.

A ton of great stories come straight out of the college experience. Don’t waste your time sitting on the sidelines and trying to account for every variable.  Sometimes it’s all about taking a chance and seeing where an opportunity might lead.  Make sure never to lose your inner-spontaneity and you might just find the beginning of your greatest story yet.

And on that note, I’m packing up my stuff up and heading to Nashville to see my boy fight without them.  I guarantee I’ll have a better story than they do tomorrow….

Dormbuys is an e-commerce retailer committed to providing anything and everything for college students living in the dorms. Our offices and distribution facility are located in Eastern Jefferson County (Middletown). So what are we looking for? Well, we need a quick learning, organized, detail-oriented superstar who knows how to work hard and have fun doing it. You have to be able to communicate with the team you’ll be working alongside, as well as with customers on the phone. The ability to throw together a well-written email is always a plus! Warehouse work can’t scare you…nor can the two dogs who roam the office (who are fun, uplifting and friendly of course). We need a self-starter who doesn’t need someone looking over their shoulder all day. We’re not into the whole micro-managing thing. Oh…and you definitely must possess a “do whatever it takes” attitude, as we like to think that’s a philosophy that has helped us grow so fast. Speaking of growth…as we grow, there will be opportunities for you to grow with us.

If you’re still reading this, we’re going to assume that you believe the paragraph above describes you perfectly and you’re hoping we eventually tell you what the heck the job is. Simply put, we’re looking for a jack-or-jill-of-all-trades. Your primary job responsibility will be helping to get orders out the door on a daily basis. Aside from that, you’ll have various other warehouse responsibilities (counting inventory, stocking deliveries, organizing, etc). You will also get involved in other day-to-day activities including customer service and administrative duties. As a small company, we have a hard time predicting what will need to be done tomorrow…hence, our search for the perfect jack-or-jill-of-all-trades.

So, if you’re looking for a great job (9 AM - 12 or 1:00 PM, M-F) with an energetic team who maintains the perfect balance between hard work and tons of fun, drop us a message with Jack (or Jill) Of All Trades in the subject line. Be sure to include anything that you think will let us know you’re perfect for the job. You can email us at letsdothis@dormbuys.com.

CHECK OUT THE DORMBUYS WEBSITE

October 24, 2009

Dear Dormbuys,

Thank you so much for your generous donations to our September mission trip to Ethiopia which was sponsored by Southeast Christian Church. Your donations of sheets, pillow cases, towels, clothing, and storage items were much appreciated by the missionaries and people of Ethiopia. This is the third poorest country in the world and the needs are great. We appreciate your efforts in helping to alleviate some of the tremendous need in Ethiopia.

Sincerely,

Phyllis Watson

Mom, where do care packages come from?

Care packages originated in Yugoslavia during World War II after the Slavics, who were suffering through severe food shortages, called for the support of the United States. The US quickly responded to Yugoslavia’s wishes by sending food and medical supplies in tins. However, one package arrived without any labels. Turns out it was a powder base, and a hungry Yugoslavian family believed it was a food supplement, so they added the mysterious ingredient to their meals and found that it added some flavor to their food. Several weeks after finishing the tin, a letter arrived, describing the nature of the package.

“Grandmother has passed away,” it began, “and she wished to be cremated so that we may send the remains back to Yugoslavia.”

Sounds like the old saying still rings true: Be careful what you wish for.

Check this out. We heard from a friend of our friend’s cousin, who was told by her sister’s brother’s roommate, that his friend’s freshman year roommate had the most horrific college introduction ever. EV-ER. And after hearing the story, we just had to give him props for making it through.

My senior year of high school was a wash. I took the class minimum, left at lunch every day, and tossed anything remotely burdensome onto the shoulders of my mom. Because, you know, Moms know best and all that. But when it came time to check in at Xavier University last fall, I realized that was a huge mistake. When we pulled up to the school – and I awoke from my lengthy car nap – something wasn’t right. “Why are we in Louisiana?” I asked. “This is Xavier,” she replied, handing me the brochure that came in the mail [that I hadn’t read] after I was accepted in March. In bold letters across the top, it read: Xavier University of Louisiana. And in a matter of seconds, I’d learned two very important things: 1) There are two Xavier Universities; and 2) No matter how great they are, even Moms mix things up from time to time. Oh, and I guess I also figured out that from now on, I should probably take important, life-changing decisions into my own hands.

– Mark, the other Xavier University

Think you’ve got a taller tale? Leave a comment or send it to at speakup@dormbuys.com and we may publish it in next month’s email newsletter.

Long before we know ourselves,
Our paths are already set in stone.
Some may never figure out their purpose in life,
And some will.
There are a lot of us who are caught up in a hell we all live in,
Content with being blinded by rules and judgment.
We live in a world where it’s more okay to follow than to lead.
In this world being a leader is trouble for the system we’re all accustomed to.
Being a leader in this day and age is being a threat.
Not many people stood up against the system we all call life,
But toward the end of our first ten years into the millennium we heard a voice.
A voice who was speaking to us from the underground for some time.
A voice who spoke of vulnerabilities and other human emotions and issues never before  heard so vividly and honest.
This is the story of a young man who not only believed in himself,
But his dreams too.
This is the story of The Man On The Moon.

College is a time where it seems much easier to be just another follower than to blaze your own path.  It’s so much more convenient to let others think for you than to decide what’s best all by yourself.  Why are we so determined to ignore the voice inside, begging us to go the other way?  We all have it.  I’m not sure if the voice is louder in some of us, making it impossible to ignore, or if it’s a stronger determination to pay attention to the internal whispers that can be heard through the thunderous roar of a crowd full of followers.  Either way, those that do choose to ignore the crowd and become a leader in their own lives are better off for it.  So what about you? Are you on your way to becoming just another face in the crowd or are you working on your own Man in the Moon story?

It seems like all of the lists out there are designed to tell you what TO do.  We understand college is a rebellious time and we don’t want to rattle off a bunch of stuff you should be doing.  So, in the spirit of all good things are in list form, we’re here to tell you what NOT to do.

5) Don’t set your alarm for 5 am. Every morning.

– Unless, of course, you’re hoping that rage grows inside the only person who’s got a key to your room. Not to mention the one with access to your personal belongings. Might wanna consider those consequences before rising early to jog [which is definitely a task that can be taken care of between the normal college hours of eight and midnight].

4) Don’t pack your younger sibling’s sheets.

– We’re talking about Spongebob, the Rugrats, or any other cartoon you should’ve outgrown ions ago. Yes, some people can pull off this look, but chances are you’re more likely to wet the bed then hear, “Aw, how cute” because of your sheet selection. Then again, if you’re a bed wetter, you’re probably better off disregarding this thought altogether.

3) Don’t use the backpack that looks like a suitcase.

– Seriously. They’re great for travel, but not when your trip consists of a short jaunt across campus. Plus, you’ll be the butt of every joke. And since we really like you, we really, really don’t want you to be laughed at. But if you feel like this backpack-suitcase is a necessary appendage of yours, just say it was a gift from your grams. That excuse still works, right?

2) Don’t go home every weekend.

– Yeah, we get it. Your parents are suffering from ENS [Empty Nester’s Syndrome], a common disease that affects those who’ve just handed their sons and daughters over to an institution they pay a lot of money to and know little about [unless you’re a legacy]. But fear not, for this disease will fade with every phone call. Plus, Thanksgiving isn’t that far away!

1) Don’t say NO to anything.

– OK, let’s be adults here. When we say “anything,” we’re talking about invites to join intramural teams, weekend road trips, dorm-wide activities, late night grubfests, and anything else that includes fun. Because that’s what college is about. So get out there and have the time of your life. The memories you create will last a lifetime.

It’s not the same as your room at home; and more than the fact that it’s cramped and small, it’s the fact that you have to share it with someone else that sort of bugs you. Your college dorm room could end up being your favorite place for the four years you live on campus, so you need to make it as homely and comfy as you can. And to do this, you must limit the stuff that you tote from home, because space comes at a premium when you’re sharing. If you’re looking for a checklist of what to pack and what to leave behind, read on for some of the things you absolutely do not need at college:

· All your clothes: You do not need to carry your entire wardrobe to college; for one, you will not have space to store it; and for another, you don’t want other people borrowing your stuff and never returning it back.

· Too much paraphernalia: Your room at home may have been cluttered with dainty odds and ends that you have painstakingly collected and displayed on walls and tables. They may each hold sentimental value and be extremely necessary for you to feel at home. But that does not mean you should lug them all the way to college. Again, space is a constraint; and you cannot prevent your stuff from being stolen or misplaced by other people who traipse in and out of your room.

· Food that’s perishable: You may want to stock up on mom’s pickles and dips to prevent that bout of homesickness that others have told you about, but bringing food that tends to spoil from home to your dorm room is a bad idea. You may spill it accidentally and ruin your clothing and bed linen. Or it may go rancid and end up causing a major stink in your room.

· Alcohol: While you may have heard of people stocking their mini fridges with beer, it’s not a good idea to keep alcohol around. It tempts you to relax when you should be studying and also brings unwanted guests to your room.

You could hold off bringing/buying electrical appliances like a refrigerator, microwave, toaster and coffee pot until you’ve met your roommate and discussed your living situation. It makes no sense to have two of these and other items when you could share and save on space and money. Also, some campuses do not allow you to keep certain appliances in your room, so check hostel policies before you spend your money.

Also hold off buying furniture until you see your room – you don’t want to end up with chairs and tables that are too large or too unwieldy. If you feel your room getting cluttered with too much stuff after your first semester, cart them back home before your drown in them.

If you love your dorm room and all that’s in it (including your roommate), those four years are going to be some of the best in your life.

By-line:

This guest article was written by Adrienne Carlson, who regularly writes on the topic of accredited online universities . Adrienne welcomes your comments and questions at her email address: adrienne.carlson83@yahoo.com