#explain tqm

[lisamurphybuzz]

Ever wondered how successful companies achieve long-term success? Discover the power of Total Quality Management (TQM) in this infographic. Learn how we explain tqm to build a customer-centric approach, empowers employees, and implements data-driven strategies to achieve long-lasting success.

[liriostigre]

Hiiii ty for such a great uquiz!! Would it be possible to see the description of all the books you could get matched to? I’m curious what the vibes are for the rest!!

hi 🌷 here you go:

White Teeth by Zadie Smith: Excessive, maximalist and very ambitious multigenerational and multicultural epic novel that starts with the unlikely friendship between Archie Jones and Samad Iqbal. It explores themes of race, identity and the intersections of culture, heritage, and modernity. Clever and hilarious dialogue, very creative when it comes to language and style, unique and bold when it comes to narrative. Perhaps a flawed novel due to its ambition, but excellent nonetheless.

Despair by Vladimir Nabokov: Excellent writing; very ambitious and stylish. It is somewhat a twisted novel but you will find a lot of humor despite. The narrator speaks directly to the reader as he writes what he regards as his perfect crime. This novel is one of Nabokov's earliest works in which one can easily identify themes and literary devices that the author explored later in his most known works.

The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolaño: Brilliant and stunning novel about poets and poetry! Very dense and challenging; it requires patience from the reader. This novel is so infinitely dear to me that i can't even explain its brilliance, but i have to give you at least an idea of the plot so: The story is arranged in three parts and told from multiple points of view. It starts in Mexico City, in the 70s, and continues across decades and continents. It follows the adventures and misadventures of Arturo Belano and Ulises Lima—poets, drug dealers, wanderes, criminals. Now, about the themes, the writing, the style, the narration? Just absolutely perfect even at its most tedious, difficult and anticlimactic parts.

The Hearing Trumpet by Leonora Carrington: Unconventional, absurd, imaginative and exuberantly surreal apocalyptic fairytale quest. It follows 92 year old Marian who is sent off to a peculiar old-age home. If you aren't familiar with Leanora Carrington's art you should look at some of her paintings because this wonderful novel feels just like her surrealist paintings!

Mrs. Caliban by Rachel Ingalls: This novella tells the story of a love affair between a depressed suburban housewife and an amphibian creature who escaped a scientific research center. It might sound like a quirky fiction story but it actually deals with the most mundane and banal aspects of life and human relationships. Brilliantly written; neat and precise prose, wonderful storytelling. The author knew what she was doing and not a single word she wrote was wasted.

The Borrowers by Mary Norton: Delicately written little adventure about tiny people who live in the secret places of houses. I am enamored (obsessed!!) with miniatures—dollhouses, dioramas, fairies—so imagine how dear this book is to me.

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn: The murders of two girls bring reporter Camille Preaker back to her hometown. As she works to uncover the truth about those crimes, Camille finds herself forced to unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past. Very entertaining read. It has best seller written all over it (which might not be the biggest compliment lol but i mean for this genre so it is a compliment).

Rage by Sergio Bizzio: Claustrophobic, anxiety inducing, fast-paced psychological thriller that made me think of Bong Joon-ho's Parasite the whole 4 hours it took me to read it. I read it in it's original language, Spanish, and i particularly loved the dialogue; its idiosyncrasies and authenticity (tqm Argentina!)

High Fidelity by Nick Hornby: Rob, an obsessive music fan, reminisces his top five worst break ups to understand his most recent heartbreak. He is a very arrogant and cynical guy who defines his entire life through records, and because he is constantly interacting with music that almost exclusively deals with love—and a very idealistic version of it—he finds himself unsatisfied with the way his life has turned out.

[medeaspring]

Hi. Latino Junpei. Based.

HC he curses in Spanish and references Spanish memes to himself all the time. He trips up sometimes and accidentally slips a reference to someone else in SEES from time to time (which sometimes he gives up on explaining BC solo los reales entienden ykyk)

Also HC 2 he likes Old Latino Rock. I am not taking any criticism, he absolutely blasts Los Prisioneros or Soda Stereo when he misses home or as a Get Hyped tactic depends on the day

All that is, to say, Junpei pendejo bruto tqm

HOLA MOOTIE. Tus Latino Junpei hcs me tienen como loca estaba temblando mientras escribía todo esto 😭. HE'D SOOO reference spanish memes and curse in spanish to himself (esta como yo). Old Latino Rock... GOD he loves that! I owe you my life now I LOVE THESE ♡

Y si ta pendejo pero es mi pendejito okay 🤭�� (O nuestro pendejito mejor)

[compliancehelpconsulting]

Why Is It Necessary to Hire a Consultant for ISO Certification?

Hiring a consultant for ISO certification offers significant advantages, especially for businesses that are new to ISO standards and accreditation programs. These consultants are seasoned professionals who conduct audits, analyses, and system evaluations to help remove operational obstacles and ensure compliance. Their goal is to align a company’s systems with the requirements of the relevant ISO standard.

For small and mid-sized businesses that may lack internal expertise or resources, ISO consultants offer tailored, cost-effective solutions designed around the specific priorities and challenges of your system.

This blog outlines why partnering with an ISO consultant is a smart, strategic move for any organization pursuing certification.

Why Is It Necessary to Hire an ISO Consultant?

1. Expertise & In-Depth Knowledge of ISO Standards ISO consultants are highly trained in standard-specific requirements and industry best practices. They translate complex ISO language into clear, actionable steps that help your business meet every clause accurately and confidently.

2. A Faster, More Streamlined Certification Process Without professional help, certification can be delayed by trial and error. ISO consultants build a step-by-step plan that avoids common pitfalls and accelerates the certification timeline.

3. Comprehensive Gap Analysis & Compliance Review Consultants perform detailed assessments to identify discrepancies between your current processes and ISO requirements. They then develop an action plan to resolve non-conformities before the official audit, reducing the risk of certification failure.

4. Accurate Documentation & Effective Implementation ISO standards require meticulous documentation, including quality manuals, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), risk assessments, and corrective actions. Consultants assist in drafting and organizing these materials to ensure compliance and audit readiness.

5. Employee Training & ISO Awareness Your team needs to understand their roles in maintaining ISO compliance. Consultants deliver tailored workshops, internal auditor training, and process improvement sessions to ensure your staff is fully prepared.

6. Internal Audits & Pre-Certification Readiness Consultants conduct mock audits to identify and correct weaknesses ahead of the formal certification audit. They help prepare checklists, compliance reports, and risk assessments to increase your chances of success.

7. Cost Savings & Risk Mitigation Poor implementation can lead to rework, delayed certification, and added expenses. ISO consultants help you avoid costly mistakes by optimizing processes and managing risks effectively.

What Qualifications Should an ISO Consultant Have?

A qualified ISO consultant should:

Have the ability to explain complex ISO concepts clearly across departments.

Be well-versed in legal and regulatory requirements relevant to your industry.

Be skilled in using process improvement tools such as Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, and Total Quality Management (TQM).

Possess strong knowledge of risk management techniques.

Hold 3 to 5+ years of hands-on experience in quality assurance, regulatory compliance, or ISO certification auditing.

Be proficient in ISO documentation, internal audits, gap analyses, and certification audit preparation.

Be certified as a Lead Auditor or Lead Implementer in the relevant ISO standard.

Hold a degree in business administration, environmental science, quality management, project management, or a related field.

Final Thoughts

Finding the right consultant for ISO certification may seem challenging, but focusing on core criteria—experience, certification, and industry knowledge—can guide you to the right partner. A reliable ISO consultant is more than just an advisor; they’re a crucial asset for achieving long-term compliance and operational excellence.

Also Read: Who Needs the ISO 14001 and Why Is It Important?

[literaturereviewhelp]

Insights from evidence on lean accountingByFrances A. Kennedy and Sally K. WidenerTitleThe title for this article by Kennedy & Widener (2008) is suggestive of what the article is about, in this case, examining and offering an overview of the lean manufacturing strategic initiative control framework. This title, although somewhat long, is appropriate because it is explanatory in nature; it explains what the study/article is about, for instance, it tells the reader that the article is about a control framework that results from strategic lean manufacturing initiative. Abstract and IntroductionIt should be noted that, the abstract for this article is brief, concise and offers a clear overview of what the article is about; it in brief, explains the title. Abstracts are meant to let readers know what to expect in an article they are about to read; this article, according to the author investigates, in form of a case study, a control framework resulting from a strategic lean manufacturing initiative in a natural environment. The author suggests that, a theoretical framework is developed that assists in comprehending accounting practices, organizational structure, and control choices associated with lean manufacturing (Kennedy & Widener 2008). Additionally, the abstract is very clear about numerous bidirectional and intervening relations that the article identifies. The introduction is very informative, extensive and well researched; it makes reference to various studies by different authors. It thus offers a vivid introduction to various concepts of business systems such as total preventive maintenance TPM, JIT, and TQM. It is interesting how the author dedicates time to offer readers with a vivid background on lea accounting coupled with a clear mention of the aims and objectives of the study (Kennedy & Widener 2008). Finally, the introduction outlines how the article would be subdivided from literature review, to a discussion on methodology, case study description, summary and conclusion. ReferenceKennedy, F.A. & Widener, S.K., 2008. A control framework: Insights from evidence on lean accounting. Management Accounting Research, 19, pp.301–323. Read the full article

[nursingwriter]

Health Promotion for End-Stage Dementia End-Stage Dementia Care Health Promotion Plan for End-Stage Dementia Health Promotion Plan for End-Stage Dementia Globally, an estimated 35.6 million adults are living with dementia, a number expected to double by 2030 and triple by 2050 (World Health Organization, 2014). Most patients with dementia in the United States will die in a nursing home (reviewed by Goodman et al., 2010), which means that these patients sometimes live for years within these institutions. The level of dementia care required can sometimes be quite high as the ability for self-care and effective communication is lost (Puurveen, n.d.). These facts and statistics explain why an estimated $157 to $215 billion is spent each year on dementia care in the U.S. And why there is a need for cost effective and humane dementia care globally; however, some care professionals have questioned the efficacy of the traditional medical model and the humaneness of the institutional built environment (Monkhouse, 2003). One solution being tried in several countries is person-centered care, because it shifts the focus away from organizational needs to the needs of the patient and loved ones. Of the many person-centered care models being tried, the Eden Alternative (EA) seems to offer the greatest promise for meeting the psychosocial needs of dementia patients. For this reason, the EA model will be used as the foundation for a dementia care health promotion plan detailed below. A Better Model for End-Stage Dementia Care By the late 1990s, nursing homes in Switzerland had developed a reputation for costing too much for the level of care provided and being despised by both staff and residents alike (Monkhouse, 2003). Accordingly, administrators had begun to look around for alternative approaches to caring for the elderly and a newly-hired administrator for two nursing homes decided to try the Total Quality Management (TQM) model. This model is based on the assumption that when an organization is performing poorly, good management will eventually demand a complete change and effectively create a new organization. Under TQM the focus shifts to the needs of the clients and away from organizational needs. The implementation of TQM in the two Swiss nursing homes was painful, with many of the staff and managers quitting and clients going elsewhere after a substantial 30% increase in rates. The administrator of the two Swiss nursing homes still had reservations about declaring TQM a total success, even though financial stability was restored and clients seemed happier with the services provided (Monkhouse, 2003). The missing ingredients seemed to be captured by a statement from the founder of the EA model, Dr. Thomas, who believed that the standard medical model of care was appropriate when intensive care was needed and activities related to living minimal. This would be true for any patient suffering from catastrophic trauma or acute disease, but many elderly patients requiring nursing home care still have a great need for socializing, self-efficacy, and being challenged by the activities they engage in, including many patients suffering from end-stage dementia. The EA model therefore seeks to end resident loneliness, helplessness, and boredom through the solutions of companionship, opportunities to care for others, and meaningful activities, respectively. The transformation was remarkable (Monkhouse, 2003). Nurses and staff began visiting with residents to reduce feelings of loneliness; feelings of helplessness were lowered when residents became responsible for the care and feeding of pets and plants brought into the facility by nursing staff and family members; and boredom was addressed when residents were allowed to purchase equipment for starting and successfully operating a barber shop and beauty salon. Thing began to snowball as the nursing home became a beehive of activity night and day. The use of sleeping pills diminished after residents were permitted to keep their own hours, which eventually resulted in resident 'night owls' starting an all-night coffee shop. Staff sick days declined by 15%, bed occupancy increased to 97%, and staff turnover declined from a high of 60% to a low of 30%. While other nursing homes across Switzerland remained understaffed, the two nursing homes using the EA model had a waiting list three nurses long. Medication purchases declined by 20% and overall costs have not increased beyond what is spent at other nursing homes. Unfortunately, empirical evidence supporting the efficacy of the EA model is minimal, at best. A recent systematic review of peer-reviewed research into the efficacy of person-centered care models revealed only three EA publications which met inclusion criteria (Brownie & Nancarrow, 2013). Two of the studies found evidence of improvements in boredom and helplessness using validated instruments, but another study discovered an increase in resident falls. By comparison, the research literature examining the efficacy of person-centered care for dementia patients is more substantial. Barbosa and colleagues (2014) quickly reviewed this literature in their introduction and concluded that person-centered care has been shown to reduce the use of chemical restraints, behavioral problems, and falls, while increasing patient self-efficacy. This short review acted as justification for a systematic review of the impact of person-centered care on staff stress, burnout, and job dissatisfaction. Although the evidence was mixed and insufficient to draw specific conclusions, the overall trend of the data is that person-centered care seems to have a positive impact on these three staffing concerns. These findings are consistent with the outcomes observed for the two Swiss nursing homes that implemented the EA model (Monkhouse, 2003). The medical model and TQM model fails to adequately address the long-term psychosocial needs of patients suffering from dementia. By comparison, the EA mode represents a care philosophy that could potentially improve the quality of life for institutionalized dementia patients, while increasing staff job satisfaction. For these reasons, the EA model will be used as the basis for the dementia care health promotion plan described below. Health Promotion Plan for End-Stage Dementia The Department of Health (n.d.) for the Australian government has established the Live Longer! website to help reduce health disparities suffered by the indigenous peoples of that nation. Described on the website is a 10 step program for developing a community health plan. Based on their model there are four key elements that contribute to health outcomes: (1) work environment, (2) built environment, (3) lifestyle, and (4) health care systems. What follows is how this framework can be used to develop a health promotion plan for patients with end-stage dementia. Step 1: Community Engagement The administrator of the two Swiss nursing homes had engaged the community being served, with the understanding that the increased costs incurred with implementation of the TQM and EA models would have to be covered by public funds (Monkhouse, 2003). For this reason, the administrator established and maintained a working relationship with representatives from the local public health department. Under the TQM model the residents were invited to voice their opinions during bi-monthly meetings and family members were given a voice during recurring family night s, but under the EA model residents and family members were given more decision-making power concerning many aspects of the daily lives of residents. This transition led to the emergence of round-the-clock activities, pets, plants, visitors from the community, classes, business startups, and children populating the premises during the daytime, thereby creating a rich and stimulating social milieu for residents. Involving the family members of end-stage dementia patients in the care decisions will not only tend to increase the quality of care provided, but also assist family members with the dying process (Goodman et al., 2010). Step 2: Research The background information provided above on dementia and end-stage dementia represents preliminary research on this topic, but to develop an empirical foundation upon which to base a health promotion plan, additional research into dementia care is needed. The systematic reviews by Goodman and colleagues (2010), Brownie and Nancarrow (2013), and Barbosa and colleagues (2014) revealed the widespread limitations within the field of dementia care research, yet they were able to identify a few potentially useful findings. For example, the prevalence of adverse outcomes in nursing homes was reduced when dementia-specific care strategies were made available to the staff. The research strategy, however, should not be limited to peer-reviewed scientific journals, but include dementia patients and their families, community members, government representatives, and other non-profit stakeholders. Step 3: Identify Target Group Since improving the quality of dementia care for dying patients impacts the community as a whole, the community is the secondary target audience. The primary target audience would be the patients suffering from end-stage dementia and their loved ones. Step 4: Identifying Stakeholders and Creating a Network The traditional stakeholders are the patients, family members, patient advocacy organizations (e.g., Alzheimer's Society), government health agencies, insurers, and the health system, but implementation of the EA model would likely expand this to include many non-traditional stakeholders. For example, the care network could include veterinary services for in-house pets, high quality produce, dairy, and meat products delivered by local farmers, help with gardening from nurseries, live entertainment by local theatre groups, classes taught by local educators, and frequent outings with the help of transportation companies. Step 5: Goals and Objectives The goal of the health promotion plan is to garner sufficient community support to successfully implement the EA model in a local nursing home, thereby increasing the quality of dementia care for patients with end-stage disease. The objectives are the following: 1. Identify all stakeholders and convince them of the need to improve the quality of care for end-stage dementia patients 2. Obtain the necessary funding from the local, state, and federal governments to implement the EA model 3. Shift the focus away from organizational needs to patient-centered care, including advanced care planning for life-sustaining care decisions 4. Engage patients and family members in the decision-making process 5. Implement dementia-specific care strategies with the assistance of dementia experts 6. Combat the three plagues of nursing home residents: loneliness, helplessness, and boredom (Monkhouse, 2003) Step 6: Messages Many of the local stakeholders may not realize the current state of dementia care; therefore, the main message will be that loved ones with end-stage dementia have traditionally suffered needlessly due to suboptimal care and neglect. Fortunately, interventions exist which can remedy this situation, but public support for implementation is needed. The main media outlets chosen to transmit this message are flyers handed out to patients and their families and advertisements in newspapers and on radio and television stations. Step 7: Timeline and Budget The timeline that Monkhouse (2003) used when implementing the EA model was three years before evaluating success. The Swiss nursing homes asked for and received a 30% increase in funding levels to support the transformation from the local government. A similar strategy will be implemented for this health promotion plan. Step 8: Evaluation The evaluation will be both qualitative and quantitative, since the quality of care depends to a significant extent on the experiences of patients and their loved ones. Questionnaires and validated instruments will be used to assess whether the experiences of residents and their family members have changed. Clinicians will also be asked to record the frequency of signs and symptoms associated with quality of care, including the prevalence of shortness of breath, constipation, fever, eating difficulties, falls, chemical restraint use, and life-sustaining interventions (Parsons, Hughes, Passmore, & Lapane, 2010). Additional measures will include the prevalence of advanced care plans, medication expenditures, sleeping pill use, staff turnover, staff sick days, bed occupancy, effective pain management, and time spent in hospice care Discussion The TQM and EA care models offer the promise of dying with dignity for dementia patients, who have been called by some the 'disadvantaged dying.' This often neglected and marginalized patient group deserves high quality care and to be free of the three plagues of traditional nursing home care: loneliness, helplessness, and boredom. This health promotion plan is designed to address the current shortcomings in dementia care through implementation of the TQM and EA models. References Brownie, S. & Nancarrow, S. (2013). Effects of person-centered care on residents and staff in aged-care facilities: A systematic review. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 8, 1-10. Barbosa, A., Sousa, L., Nolan, M., & Figueiredo, D. (2014). Effects of person-centered care approaches to dementia care on staff: A systematic review. American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementias, published online ahead of print 20 Jan. 2014, doi: 10.1177/1533317513520213 Department of Health, Australian Government. (n.d.). About the Community Health Action Pack. Retrieved 13 Feb. 2014 from http://livelonger.health.gov.au/about-the-community-health-action-pack/. Goodman, C., Evans, C., Wilcock, J., Froggatt, K., Drennan, V., Sampson, E., Blanchard, M., Bissett, M., & Iliffe, S. (2010). End of life care for the community dwelling older people with dementia: An integrated review. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 25, 329-37. Monkhouse, C. (2003). Beyond the medical model -- the Eden Alternative in practice: A Swiss experience. Journal of Social Work in Long-Term Care, 2(3-4), 339-53. Parsons, C., Hughes, C.M., Passmore, A.P., & Lapane, K.L. (2010). Withholding, discontinuing and withdrawing medications in dementia patients at the end of life: A neglected problem in the disadvantaged dying? Aging Drugs, 27(6), 435-49. Puurveen, G. (n.d.). Caring for Persons with Dementia at the End of Life: A Review of the Literature. Prepared for the Alzheimer's Society of BC. Retrieved 13 Feb. 2014 from http://www.alzheimerbc.org/getdoc/b8841ffc-4336-46bb-abf1-5156d0a91db0/End-of-Life-Care-Lierature-Review.aspx. World Health Organization. (2014). 10 facts on dementia. Accessed 10 Feb. 2014 from http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/dementia/en/. Read the full article

[yemisiiyilade]

Business Process Improvement Methodology & Preparing for a Project Manager Interview

In today's competitive business environment, organizations constantly seek ways to enhance efficiency and productivity. Business Process Improvement Methodology (BPI) plays a pivotal role in helping companies streamline operations and reduce inefficiencies. For professionals seeking a project management role, understanding BPI and preparing effectively for project manager interviews can make all the difference in landing the job.

Business Process Improvement (BPI) Methodology

Business Process Improvement (BPI) focuses on analyzing, refining, and optimizing an organization's workflows and procedures to enhance performance, reduce bottlenecks, and deliver better results. BPI methodologies rely on several key strategies, including:

Identifying Inefficiencies: BPI starts with a thorough analysis of current business processes to identify areas of waste, redundancy, or bottlenecks that hinder productivity.

Setting Clear Objectives: Once inefficiencies are identified, the next step is to define clear, measurable objectives for improvement, such as reducing cycle times, minimizing errors, or enhancing customer satisfaction.

Implementing Changes: Solutions are then implemented, which might include automating manual tasks, redesigning workflows, or introducing new technologies to improve overall process efficiency.

Monitoring and Continuous Improvement: BPI is not a one-time activity; it involves ongoing monitoring and continuous refinement to ensure that improvements are sustained over time.

Some popular BPI methodologies include Lean, Six Sigma, and Total Quality Management (TQM). Each of these approaches focuses on optimizing workflows, reducing waste, and improving quality, making them valuable for Preparing for a Project Manager Interview to understand.

Preparing for a Project Manager Interview

When interviewing for a project management position, having a solid understanding of BPI methodologies is a great advantage. Here are a few ways to prepare effectively for such an interview:

Know Your Methodologies: Familiarize yourself with different project management methodologies such as Agile, Scrum, and Waterfall. Be ready to discuss how BPI can be integrated into these frameworks to improve project outcomes.

Highlight Your Experience: During the interview, focus on any previous experience where you’ve successfully implemented BPI methodologies. Share specific examples of how you improved business processes, met project deadlines, or increased team efficiency.

Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions: Many interviews include scenario-based questions to test your problem-solving skills. Practice explaining how you would manage a project with process inefficiencies and describe steps to streamline operations.

Showcase Leadership Skills: Project managers must lead teams effectively. Demonstrate your ability to manage cross-functional teams, communicate clearly, and motivate team members toward a common goal.

Conclusion

Mastering Business Process Improvement methodology and preparing well for a project manager interview can significantly enhance your chances of success in the competitive job market. Eminent Coaching Academy Inc. offers specialized training to equip aspiring project managers with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in interviews and in their careers. By combining technical expertise with leadership qualities, you can confidently lead projects that drive meaningful business improvements.

[professionalcoursescertification]

Unlocking Excellence: The Power of Six Sigma Combo

Introduction: After introducing the Six Sigma concept and core objectives, start developing nearly identical processes. Emphasize its importance in various industries and how it has become a cornerstone of quality control.

Part 1: Understanding Six Sigma Essentials -Briefly explain the basics of Six Sigma, including its DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) methodology. Identify key principles to reduce variability and process errors and increase overall efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Unit 2: Beyond Six Sigma - The Connector Introduce the idea of ​​integrating Six Sigma with another appropriate concept or methodology. This could be Lean, Agile, Total Quality Management (TQM), or any other methodology that supports Six Sigma. Explain the rationale for combining strategies to develop a comprehensive and scalable approach to process improvement.

Phase 3: Integration of six sigma and [innovative thinking].-Dive into the specifics of how Six Sigma and selected concepts work together synergistically. Provide examples or case studies illustrating the effective use of this integration. Discuss how this combination addresses not only performance and quality but also things like flexibility, customer responsiveness and innovation.

Section 4: Case Study and Control Data-Highlight real-world examples where organizations have successfully implemented integrated Six Sigma. Demonstrate positive impact on productivity, cost savings and customer satisfaction.

Part 5: Challenges and considerations- Acknowledge the potential challenges of implementing Six Sigma integration. Discuss ways to overcome common barriers and ensure successful integration.

Part 6: Applications of the Six Sigma Integration- Provide practical steps and guidance for organizations or individuals looking to implement a collaborative approach. Include advice on training, teamwork, and adaptation to specific organizational needs.

Conclusion: Summarize the main takeaways from the blog post. Emphasize the transformational potential of integrating Six Sigma into a new process. Encourage readers to explore and adapt the Six Sigma integration to their own unique organizational context.

[mmyashas]

Ahhhh I get it, ty for the explanation and yeah felt. English doesn't really have that type of word for shades of love, i guess it's like. There's "like" but I'm that doesn't quite get it across, i think. That's so neat though ty for explaining :]

yeah!!!! thank u for being interested salty tu eres Awesome cool. the best. ever. TQM 🫂

[cursedartistnelari]

Ok so, first of all  bad guys  ≠ psychopaths

Second, this is my design for Usagi

And yes, if someone wants to use it for fanarts, fanfics, rollplay, references, etc. You can do it¡

Ok so today I’m going to explain my train of thought when I was dessining Usagi B) Leaving aside the part in which I look for references, watched episodes from the series, studied the character, and Rottmnt’s drawing style. I finally arriving at a base design for usagi that I really liked ❤❤❤. 

 Design 1: it was the first one I did with the idea of ​​"letting go" and seeing what came out. I really liked the result! So I started to have fun doing details to his body, such as freckles, a damaged ear, marks on the body (inspired by those that boys have) and a scar that made him look rough. However wasn’t rrealy into it so discarded it.

 Design 2: I did this with the idea of ​​"what would usagi wear as a normal yokai teenager amd not a rabbit from aanothr dimention?“ This is the result, the scarf was the detail that I liked the most, I did it with the purpose that he would use it in his missions just like the boys use their masks. This design was about to remain, but character design rule, never stay with the first thing you do. 

 Design 3: it was my favorite (y el de mis amigos, gracias Pao tqm) with this design I wanted to make usagi as similar/close as possible to its original concept but still feel the style of rottmnt. 

 To be honest I didn’t have to much faith xd (I mean the previous designs of usagi are not very flattering (?) I felt that I had to do plastic surgery and be a fashion designer at the same time lol. First I had to remove the scarf since although I liked it the idea, but for this new version was too over loaded :’((( So instead of that I decided to tear up his shirt/yukata(? since I thought that this could be because thanks to a nexus battle, a fight or that even big mama could have ripped it off at the time of kidnap him. It was enough for me to like him and to make the official version in the end. ✨✨✨ 

 Bonus, the ear piercing. The only reason I didn’t put it in the final version is: 

 1.- I forget it lmao 

 2.- he did it with Leo. 

 I have a headcannon that Usagi went through difficult things on his life that forced him to grow up, to become an adult at only 16. For those reasons, he does not allow himself to enjoy things that a normal teenager would do. He wasn’t really aware of everything he was forbidding himself until he met Leo. He was the one who helped him (in his own style) to learn to have fun, to communicate feelings and not repress them, to do things for a boy of his age. And yep, along the way, usagi also helped Leo grow, like noticing Leo’s self-esteem issues, and making him understand that he is much more than a magic sword, trusting in his leadership guts, etc. The piercing was that small gesture for usagi that symbolizes his union with Leo and also understand the importance of sometimes living and letting go. 

 sorry for any mistakes, english is not my first lenguage

[anonymoushouseplantfan]

Scobie saying "Despite the tired “never complain, never explain” facade...." is actually an insult to The late Queen mother and Queen Elizabeth NOT Charles. TQM adopted it first from a former British PM and QE2 followed in her mother's footsteps with the mantra.

Yes.

[pokemundo110]

My friends

hewlou mai friens today im going to talk about my friends i think is not so much to explain because you see me in the school whit my frinds but let´s start 

numer 1: el pepe bottles( un weon disque llamado oswaldo pero segun yo es pepe pero ya que ) oswa is one of my two besties i know him in 4th grade is a person verry funniest and smiley? sonrrienteishon pues is a peson who makes me happy and he likes draws and videogames they have so much in comunteishon whit me XD usualy he draw whit me and in the smash i ever lose :,V tqm oswlachu (ta wapo ok no o si ? XD estee nose posdata esta soltero )

number 2: andre mi maravilla del mundo and my favorite furry andre is a verry good person and a ahestethic person is the two of my vest friends i think he is verry inteligent and funny andre is so good in the schol and i know him because oswa is his friend and they presnt me to andre my bestie x2 he is a perso who likes verry much the music and its a verry good friend (y es humilde)tqm furro (esta soltero si me traen pan de venezuela y agua del mar de bolivia se los regalo para que ya no este soltero)

number 3 rafita rafita is other of my best friens he is verry responsability and i know him best this grade is a verry good person and frien i thinl he is funny he are verry energetic and for this and so more much reasons he is my friend UwU

and a photo whit all i considare my friens ok not all but whith my friens 

[baileysunijournal]

Week 1

The text provided in this week’s course reading emphasises how design thinking, as a social technology, could prevail over obstacles and biases in the innovation process. This results in more effective approaches, cheaper risks and expenses, and employee buy-in. In the same way that total quality management (TQM) revolutionised manufacturing, this article examines the idea of social technology and how design thinking might do the same for innovation. It looks at the difficulties businesses encounter while trying to innovate better products with reduced costs and risks while also gaining employee support. It emphasises how critical it is to comprehend customer needs and incorporate many viewpoints into the brainstorming process. The article provided was a Harvard Business Review report by Jeanne Leidtka written in September 2018.

During the tutorial we had to explain the process of creating a piece of toast. We did so by using drawings, arrows, and numbers. We were free to design it as basic or as elaborate as we wanted, but it had to show the process. Then we repeated the process on sticky notes to see if it made us simplify or do it differently. Following that, we were divided into groups. We were tasked with designing the steps of preparing toast in the best way possible. Our group accomplished this by picking the best elements of what we had and having one person take charge and draw the directions with our assistance. The final portion of the course involved repeating the previous activity but utilising our own methods for cooking toast. This activity had to be completed in silence; we were mainly successful in doing so, i.e. being completely silent, but this led to us enjoying working as a team and appearing to have fun.

[ayejayque]

The very important concept of total quality management (TQM)

Before we understand “total quality management”, we must first understand what quality is. The superiority or inferiority of a product or a service is decided in terms of a parameter known as quality. Quality is an attribute that makes your product or service stand out from those of your competition. Quality acts as a nucleus for all businesses. It has a role that cannot be neglected. Business marketers need to think out of the box. They must highlight their brands. The quality needs to be flaunted quantity. This way they will survive the ruthless competition. If you and your competitor have the same offering, what would make the customer come to you instead of your competitor? The differing feature has to be quality. Your brand needs to have exceptional and superior quality. That would make your brand stand out amongst the crowd. Total quality management explained A persistent and continuous effort by the management and the workers of a business to confirm long-term customer devotion and customer satisfaction is called Total quality management (TQM). A content and satisfied customer usually brings in 10 new ones. Whereas, a disgruntled and disappointed customer will foul mouth about your product and spoil more than 10 future sales. Customers expect some extra value before they pledge their allegiance to your brand. Quality can also be measured. The parameters for measuring quality are durability, reliability, usage, and after-sales-service. TQM is an organized effort by the employees. This effort is made to continuously improve the quality of their products and services. This is done through properly recorded feedback and meticulous research. Guaranteeing the superior quality of a product or service is not the obligation of a single employee. It is a team game from the outset. All workers in a business have to contribute equally. They must devise error-free processes and systems within the business. These would make sure that the products and services produced are of excellent quality. Total quality management is a collective effort of everyone. This includes the management, staff members, workforce, suppliers, and vendors. When everyone works in the same direction, the customer satisfaction level goes sky-high. One person cannot be blamed for not conforming to quality measures. Everyone must equally share the responsibility. Even those people who are remotely related to the organization. The creators of the concept of total quality management were W. Edwards Deming, Joseph M. Juran, and Armand V. Feigenbaum. Total quality management gained its roots in the manufacturing sector. But it is not industry or sector-specific. It can be applied to all businesses across all sectors. Total quality management is another name for teamwork. It makes sure that all employees are working in the same direction. The result is an improvement in the work culture, processes, services, and systems. This will guarantee long-term success. Total quality management has 4 steps. They are: - Plan - Do - Check - Act / Append This is also known as the PDCA cycle. Planning Phase This is the backbone of TQM. In this phase, employees come up with their issues, problems, and queries. These issues need to be addressed. They need to think deeply and come up with the numerous challenges they face on a daily basis. When the challenges have been listed, then comes the time to find the root cause of the problem that is bringing in all challenges. All the staff is encouraged to conduct the required research. As a result of this, they also collect and compile the relevant data. This data is the basis for finding the solutions to all their issues. Doing Phase In this phase, solutions are devised for the issues that come to light in the planning phase. Lots of strategies are devised and implemented. This is to overcome the challenges the staff faces. The effectiveness of the devised solutions is also measured in this phase. Checking Phase In this phase, individuals actually do a comparative analysis. This is done on a before-after basis. This gives us the measured and compared data. This confirms the effectiveness of the processes. In the end, all results are measured. Acting Phase In the Acting phase, the staff documents the results. Then they get ready to address other challenges/problems/issues. Read the full article

[zhoto-bodoroki-blog]

The Quiet Moon ☾

Todoroki x reader

Part 1

MasterList For TQM

( i’ve never done this before but I've read a lot of these fanfics and they were all lovely and so awesome that i wanted to try it out. it might not be good at first but i hope you’ll enjoy this lol :)  )

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Since the first day of U.A. you’ve kept to yourself. The girls around you bonded so well together but you somehow couldn’t. They were so cheerful and happy that you didn’t know how to act around them. You are more of a lone wolf, one that is quiet and honestly not that fun to hang out with. You’ve tried but just felt out of place. So you rather sit by yourself and daydream, thinking about nothing but weird things, things heroes would never ever think about, things that you diffidently have to keep to yourself. Aside from that, the number one reason why you never got along with anyone was because you never wanted to be a hero. You never liked the idea of becoming a hero or someone that saves people like every kid's dream, instead, you loved violence and loved how people screamed when villains were destroying buildings and whatnot. 

You loved it all, but with your parents being one of the top heroes prevent you from having any type of dark ideas. When they found out about your dark desires they had you checked privately and paying ‘hush money’ so no one would spread any type of rumor of your families daughter wanting to become a villain. They would ask millions of doctors from around the world why you had such dark thoughts, where they even come from since all they did were ‘good things’ and never had you around ‘bad influences’. No doctor could explain it, they were all confused and told your parents to lock you up in a mental hospital but your mother wouldn’t allow it. As a kid, you always stayed alone in your big mansion, since your parents always had some type of job or interview they had to do. But that didn’t bother you, you loved watching the things they prohibited you from watching, such as slasher movies or watching LIVE villains attacking the heroes but you always hated when they heroes captured the villains and locked them away. 

When you grew a little older you stopped telling your parents how you felt about watching the villains terrify the city so they would think you got over it and looked at you as a “normal” child. Eventually, they stopped taking you to those bastards of doctors. What they didn’t know was that you grew more into it that you began to write every villains profile and the callous they’ve done in journals, of course, you hid the journals from everyone. No one knew about your strange obsession with villains but you. Your personal favorite was Atsuhiro Sako, better known as Mr. Compress, from his personality to his quirk it was just so astonishing to you. The way he seems so confident and self-assured of his attacks made you feel so excited and happy when you would watch him on TV.

 When you finally got your quirk everything changed. Your quirk was weapon/armor equipped, you could change into any armor and any weapon at any given moment, you just thought about what type of armor/weapon you wanted and it would appear on your body/hand. An example of how to use your quirk is if someone were to attack you with fire you would wear your fire armor, their attacks wouldn’t work on you since you’ll be immune to fire. The armor would absorb the fire and it’ll make your armor and the weapon you were using so much stronger during the fight, but when you stopped using the armor it’ll go back to normal and would not be as powerful as it use to be, also as long as you wore that armor the fire would not damage your skin, but if you’re not using that fire armor the flames would injure your skin. 

You didn’t have a limit to how many armors you had but the downside was that you would get really tired from the amount of time you stayed in that armor, you would get weak and pass out, the max you can do without feeling ill at least two hours but three is when you start to feel ill. Since day one you and your father would train nonstop, he would get angry with how “weak” you were. You would get beat up from training that you couldn’t move for two whole days. Your mother would look at you with such a painful look but she wouldn’t do anything to stop your father from his strict training, the only time she tried to stop him was when you were lying on the floor weeping while your father was still beating you for how weak you were, but ever since that day she never intervened and you never understood why. ‘Did she ever loved me? Were all those “honey i’ll always love you” just a lie?’

You always wanted a sibling so you could run to them and they could comfort you on your time of need, but you never had that honor. You always heard stories of siblings sticking out for each other when they were in some sort of trouble and honestly you just wanted someone to hold you and tell you everything will get better soon.

 You sigh at the thought of your depressing past. You hated thinking about it because it made you feel angry at yourself and your parents, even thinking of him made you uneasy. You stopped yourself from thinking about that and heard the bell ring. Class has begun. 

You slightly paid attention to what the teacher had to say. You thought about what a villain would do in your situation, obviously, they would never even think about attending this school, if you had the choice you wouldn’t be in this school either, but you wouldn’t want to be sent to a mental hospital either so you choose the easier solution. For now. 

The professor asked a question that no one knew the answer to, not even Yaoyorozu knew, which was very surprising, but you heard a slightly low and honestly pretty voice answer the question. You glanced over and saw the two-haired color boy, he never caught your attention before but for some odd reason, today was different. You couldn’t stop yourself from glancing at him ever-so-often. You clenched your fist and narrowed your eyebrows. ‘Why can’t i stop looking at this bastard?’. You felt weird, you never kept looking at someone like this, you usually ignore everyone since you’ll rather watch people screaming for their lives. The people that look frightened are the only thing that's engraved in your mind. Just thinking about it made you smile. 

“Wow (l/n)! I’ve never seen you smile since you attended UA. Who were you thinking about? Is it possibly a boyyy?” Ashido asked, a smirk slowly creeping her lips. You were startled at first, no one has ever talked to you. This was weird. You looked up at her with a confused expression 

“Of course not. Um. Why were you looking at me anyway?” She giggled and pat your shoulder smiling. 

“I was just looking around the room since everyone left and you were just here sitting and smiling. That's all” She chuckled. 

You looked around and saw no one but you two in the room. This was embarrassing.  

“Oh my... I’m sorry. I was daydreaming that i didn’t notice anyone leaving. Thank you.” You said as you were packing your things. She smiled and nodded. 

“So...I noticed how you kept on looking at him. Do you like him..?” You froze.

 ‘She noticed? Why was she even looking at me? Why does she care? Why is she even talking to me?’ So many questions were running through your head wondering why she was even interested in you and your feelings. You just kept a confused expression. 

“At who? Liking someone? What are you talking about?” You asked as if you didn’t know who she was talking about. She laughed. 

“At Bakugo silly! I saw how you kept glancing over his direction. You can’t hide it from me! The way you kept looking at him made it seem like you were really interested in him” She said laughing. You were completely shocked and confused. 

‘Bakugo!? When the hell was I looking at Bakugo? Is she crazy? She obviously is since she asked me why I was looking at Bakugo. Why was she even looking at me during that time? And my parents think I’m weird...’ you massaged the back of your neck and swung your backpack around your shoulder.

“I. Uh. I was-” you got cut off by someone clearing their throat. You both looked over and saw a person standing at the door. Well... If you didn’t want to die before you really wanted to die now. 

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Tell me if you want another part to this story (obviously it needs a part two lol) but if y’all didn’t like it i’ll start on something else for those who didn’t like it :) i’m also willing to write any suggestions that y’all might have. I’m new at this so sorry if it wasn’t that good lol. I could also write these in Spanish for those who speak Spanish. I”m bilingual so its not a problem :))  x  

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[reads4hotch]

I AM SCREAMINNGGG THIS WAS SO PERFECT AAAAA (like literally i'm hiding in an empty classroom trying to lower my voice but omg i'm freacking out)

i love the capability of this story to get me giggling, clapping, kicking my feet like a little girl😭💖💖💖💖

i love every single word in the sense of how well written everything was! also, there was something so... soft? romantic? idk how to explain it on this paragraph:

You thought about him as you got ready backstage — frosty blue eyeshadow that matched your outfit, lips irresistibly glossy, smelling of frangipani and vetiver. Eyes roaming over your reflection, you thought of just how good your name sounded on his lips.

🥺🥺🥺 alsoooo THE LIL BUNNY KISS???? EXCUSE ME??? I AM GOING TO YOUR HOUSE RIGHT NOW SO WE CAN RUB NOSES, pls, i love that. didn't know i needed to do it with my friends so bad until now🥺💖🥰

Plus, The BANTER!!!! AHDHSJSBDNANS u are so good at writing the conversations with aaron, HOW???🥹🥴🤤😍

also idk any of the songs but i would love a playlist with all of them just so i cna daydream of this romance🥺

eres una chida, tqm🫶🏼

Honey Bun (18+ Series)

(Aaron Hotchner x Stripper!Reader)

Part 2 // MINORS DNI

WC: 2.2k words

Song Inspo: Time - Sevdaliza

Series Warnings: Eventual smut, bit of an age gap (placing reader at around 25-26), cursing, alcohol consumption, formalized sex work (Stripper/Pole Dancer), occasional angst, drama, and that's all I can think of rn but lmk if I missed anything!

A/N: Can you hear that? That's me screaming in the distance as I wrote this. PLS ENJOY AAAAA!!!

---------------------------------------------------

Aaron had been stuck in your head all day. You couldn’t help it, really. Even when you tried to concentrate on other things, your mind would betray you and stray back to him. It was puzzling, but also pretty frustrating.

You thought about him as you got ready backstage — frosty blue eyeshadow that matched your outfit, lips irresistibly glossy, smelling of frangipani and vetiver. Eyes roaming over your reflection, you thought of just how good your name sounded on his lips. How titillating it was that he’d called you Honey, entirely too close to being in on your secret.

For once, flirting had not felt fake or uncomfortable! And not to mention how respectful he was…

You thought of his piercing gaze and the way the low light glinted in his dark eyes. You tried to imagine him in the crowd, standing out among all those anonymous faces watching you on stage now.

An expanse of bare skin aglow in the neon lights; Strong limbs and taught muscles. Bending and swaying and making pretty shapes as you spun on the pole.

How might he look at you then? 

You tried  — really tried — not to think about that too much as you absently gathered your newly earned riches. Automatically, you went straight backstage to stash it away with all your things.

“You seem distracted, Honey Bunny,” Gia — your closest friend at the Crimson Lounge — commented, adjusting her mesh top in front of the mirror.

You snapped back to attention. “Do I?”

“Yeah, you’ve been a little spacey. Everything okay?” She asked. “All good with Sadie?”

You nodded quickly, forcing yourself not to sigh. Great, you had a silly little crush and suddenly it was like you forgot how to act. You needed to stay sharp, there was no time to be pussyfooting around.

“Yeah, Sadie’s fine. She’s got midterms right now, so she’s been stressed,” you said. “I guess I’m just not in the zone today.”

Sadie was your younger sister, who was living with you while she went to community college. She was one of the main reasons you worked two jobs.

After your mother passed away and your father remarried and left, you took it upon yourself to look after her. You basically had to drop out of college in your first year and start working in order to keep a roof over your heads and food on the table. 

She wanted to dance, too, which you had no problem with, but you told her to finish her education first. You wanted at least one of you to have a degree.

“Are you sure? You know you can tell me anything, right?” Gia said, looking at you through the mirror’s reflection.

You smiled appreciatively, grabbing your lip gloss to reapply. “Yes, I know. But all’s good, really.”

In all the time you’d known Gia, your love life had been practically nonexistent. Sure, you’d unfortunately dated one or two assholes, but you never let it get too far. It was better to be alone than in bad company.

She knew some of your worst stories and would never judge you, but you didn’t really want to tell her about Aaron. You didn’t want to jinx it, in a strange way, but there was also not a lot to tell. 

Plus, it was kind of nice to have the secret to yourself for now.

“If you say so,” she conceded as you stepped up to the mirror next to her. “Here, I’m up soon, give me a lil bunny kiss for good luck.”

You turned to face her with a small chuckle, and the two of you gingerly rubbed noses together.

—————————

“Well, well… look who’s back,” you said with a smirk as Aaron sat on a stool by the bar.

He smiled lopsidedly. “It’s nice to see you again, Honey.”

Almost a full week had passed since you last saw him. Most of those days, you would sneak hopeful glances at the door. Whenever she caught you, Josephine would snicker to herself, shaking her head in amusement. 

You were actually kind of surprised he’d actually shown up again, especially so close to the end of the night, but you weren’t going to complain.

You poured him his drink and slid it over. “So, you couldn’t resist the lure of the Duchess for too long, huh?”

He chuckled, taking a sip of scotch. “Well, this is actually kind of embarrassing but… I came in on Saturday, but you weren’t here. Didn’t stay long then.”

Your traitorous heart began pounding in your chest. You snuck a glance at Josephine, who was busy closing someone’s tab. Had she seen him?

“Oh, yeah, I’m not here on weekends. I have another job,” you shrugged, trying to be nonchalant.

“Where?” He asked seemingly before he could think about it.

You raised an eyebrow. “Why? So you can come stalk me there, too?” 

His cheeks actually grew red and his eyes widened a little. “Um… ha, well, I-”

“I’m just kidding, silly!” You chuckled. “I’m sorry, you should see the look on your face.”

He shook his head, visibly relaxing. “Just felt like yanking my chain, didn’t you?”

“It is kind of fun,” you smirked.

“So you are a busy girl, you weren’t kidding,” he commented, with admiration in his tone. “And of course, you don’t have to tell me about all that you do.”

“A girl has a right to secrets, doesn’t she?”

“I do like a little bit of mystery…” 

“What about you?” You asked. “You haven’t told me what you do.��

“Well I’m an open book, so I’ll tell you.” He brought something out from his pocket, opening it to reveal an FBI badge. “I’m a profiler with the FBI. Formerly a lawyer.”

How fitting, you thought to yourself. Still, you couldn’t help but deflate a little at this revelation. Not that you were expecting anything with him, but this made the chances much slimmer.

“No wonder you’re a workaholic,” you said. “Needing to catch so many bad guys out there and all.”

“I try to,” he looked down at this glass, nodding absently. 

He seemed lost in thought for a moment, so you decided not to press the issue. When he looked back up, he’d decided to change the subject.

“This is going to sound weird, but do you know of a good place to get pancakes in the middle of the night?”

—————————

And so you found yourself sitting in a booth across from Aaron, the much brighter lights of the 24 hour diner letting you get a better look at him.

It was two AM and he looked exhausted but content, not to mention oh-so-ruggedly handsome. You hoped you didn’t look worse for wear under the fluorescent glow.

He’d gotten a short stack of buttermilk pancakes with a side of bacon, which he was now digging into with fervor. You’d opted for some fries and a vanilla milkshake to dip them into.

“Someone was hungry,” you commented, utterly amused.

“Famished,” he confirmed, wiping some maple syrup from the corner of his lips with a napkin. “Sorry if I’m losing my manners a little bit here.”

“All good, I’m kind of enjoying it actually,” you giggled, dipping a fry into your shake. “This is one of my favorite treats.”

“Can I try?” 

“Sure, come closer,” you said, and he leaned forward so you could feed it to him.

“Hmm, not bad. It’s interesting.”

“My little sister and I used to have it all the time when we were kids. My mom got us into it,” you said, smiling a little at the memories. “She was such a sweet tooth.”

“Always nice to honor tradition,” he smiled, understanding there was something tender about this moment. “Right in this diner, too?”

“Oh no, it was back in our hometown. That diner was close to the highway, so a bunch of trucks would always be parked outside. Bit of a seedy place, sure, but I kind of loved it. The food was great, but definitely greasy. I remember there was an old jukebox that always played things like Buddy Holly or The Mills Brothers.” 

You looked out the window for a moment, mind wandering back to the past. To a time when things weren’t so complicated and you always felt safe and happy and taken care of. It all seemed so foreign now. Not that you weren’t happy these days, but… it was just different.

“So you like old, old music,” he said, bringing you back to the present. “I do like me some Mills Brothers, too.”

“Yeah, I’ll listen to anything. I love music, but there’s something about those old songs… They’ll get you.”

“Bit of a romantic, aren’t you?”

You couldn’t help but grin, feeling uncharacteristically coy. “How do you figure?”

“Hmm, let’s just say I have a knack for these things,” he smirked, pushing his empty plate to one side and leaning his arms on the table. “Have I told you yet that you are beautiful?”

“You have, but I don’t mind hearing it again.”

Your phone buzzed with a new text message from Sadie, and you saw it was nearing three AM now. 

“Should we get the check?” You asked, reaching into your purse for your wallet.

“I’ll get it,” he said, waving you off as he flagged down the waitress. “And I’ll drive you home, too. No arguing about it.”

You raised both eyebrows. “Is that an order?” 

“Yes.”

After settling the bill, you climbed into the passenger side of Aaron’s SUV. He handed you an aux cord so you could plug your phone in, and you decided to play some Chet Baker on shuffle.

And of course, ‘I Fall In Love Too Easily’ just had to be the first song to come up. Neither of you made any comment on it, instead remaining mostly quiet on the ride to your place. You guided him through the darkened streets, sneaking glances at his profile. 

When he pulled up to your condo, you unbuckled your seatbelt but did not get out just yet. You looked at each other, both unsure of how this night would end. 

“I’ve really enjoyed spending time with you,” he said finally. “I’m sorry I didn’t ask for your number last time, I just didn’t want to presume…”

Wordlessly, you extended your hand towards him. He handed you his cellphone, and you saved your information on it. You even took a selfie blowing a kiss at the camera to keep it as your contact picture, and you saw he was smiling lopsidedly as you handed his phone back.

“Problem solved,” you said with a wink. “I’ve had a really nice time, too.”

“We’ve got to figure out a better time for our next date. Can’t just take you out gallivanting at the hour between the dog and the wolf… It speaks poorly of me.”

You smirked mischievously. “Oh, so this was a date?”

He hesitated for just a brief moment, once again worried he was stepping too far. In that moment, it only made you want him more. After all, you shouldn’t even be jumping into conclusions about where this could all lead or what it meant. There was only the present.

You leaned on the dashboard between you, propping your chin on your hand and fluttering your lashes. 

He swallowed hard. “I suppose I could’ve been clearer but… yes. To me it was.”

“Well, if this was a date, does that mean I can bid you a proper goodnight?” Your voice was low and sultry, eyes drawn to his lips as you leaned in even closer.

In the next second, his hand was cupping the back of your neck, pulling you in to meet his kiss. You adjusted so you were kneeling on the seat, hands on his face. Softly, he sighed your name into your mouth as you parted his lips with your tongue. 

It was a slow and sweet kiss, very much exploratory. He let you set the pace, tongue tangling with yours. You let your teeth graze his bottom lip, which elicited a deliciously deep groan from him. Desire roared to life within you, and you wished you could press firmly against him.

When he tried to adjust his body, he accidentally elbowed the horn, and the two of you abruptly broke apart as it blared a single note. You momentarily shared a startled look, but then you couldn’t help but laugh.

“Forgot myself for a moment there,” he panted, also chuckling at his own clumsiness. “But I guess that’s my cue.”

You tilted your head to one side, just a little perplexed. His dark eyes were glazed over with lust, but he didn’t even ask if you’d invite him inside. For your part, you were craving more — so much more — but you weren’t going to push if he wanted to be such a gentleman. 

You leaned in for another quick, chaste kiss — One that had a promise for more behind it. When you pulled away, you let your eyes rove over his face, a smirk tugging at your lips.

“Sweet dreams, Aaron,” you said as you opened the car door. “And by that, I mean I hope you dream of me.”

“I really hope so too, Honey.”