#relationship building

[kasama-builder]

Community building is really tough and requires us to engage in constructive introspection around the connections we are building. We must constantly ask ourselves:

Who am I in relation to

What communities am I a part of

What do I give to those communities

What do I receive from those communities

Where are there problems and growth spots in my community

Where can I make the most impact

Where are my communities overlapping

When is my community gathering

How can I make my communities better

These are only some of the questions but when we ask ourselves and have answers, we can act on them. Even an answer of “I don’t know” points us to the question of how do I get more information, which forces us to build connections inside our communities to answer them! ☺️

[dominimoonbeam]

Long Time No See - Part 4

As usual, I’m posting the update here as well as over on ao3!

Part 4 of the angsty Asher/Darlin/David fic!!!

If you have any particular asks or ideas for this one feel free to send them my way. As always, I can’t make any promises but it’s worth a try! I have most of the next chapter written but still need to figure out how to get these sweet idiots to admit feelings and make moves.

<3

Long Time No See - Part 4

They woke up in bed with Asher and David.

They should have been terrified but they weren’t, not at first anyway. They were so comfortable and vaguely hungry again.

Asher stretched behind them, practically on top of them. His weight was so nice against their back. Darlin realized their face was pressed into David’s side and their thinking brain finally started to catch up. Catching up felt a lot like tumbling down a steep hill.

They were in bed with Asher and David.

They quickly backtracked everything they remembered. They’d eaten until they thought they’d pop and then they’d been watching TV trying to think of an excuse to leave that might work and then… And then… Fuck.

If they got up, they would definitely wake the other two.

If they shifted back to human, they would definitely wake the other two.

What other options did they have? Pretend to be asleep and hope they left first?

Asher huffed and shifted, stretching. “You panic loud,” he complained in their head.

David laughed, jostling all of them, he got up, stepping off the bed and stretching before shifting human, stretching again. Darlin tried not to stare, but they did. At least his back was to them. He moved around the room, pulling his t shirt off overhead and tossing it into the hamper. The tattoos on his arms rolled over his shoulders and stretched down his back, reaching to follow his spine. He opened a dresser drawer and pulled out a clean shirt. They watched him pull it on and then caught the smirk at the corner of his mouth.

Darlin looked away. At least they couldn’t blush when they were in wolf skin.

They took the opportunity to stand up. “Fuck you both.” They shifted to human when they stepped off the bed, dragging a hand through their hair and shaking it out absently, pretending to stretch and resisting every urge to look at the other two. Darlin measured their steps so that they wouldn’t feel like they were retreating when they left the room to duck into the bathroom.

Before they could close the door, Asher was there. They hadn’t even heard him following them. His palm pressed the door open and his tall body leaned in, close. So close when Darlin froze and stared back that his hair almost touched their face. It was a mess from sleeping and Darlin fought the sudden urge to reach out and finger it back behind his ears. They squeezed their hands into fists at their sides. They’d never wanted to do anything like that before.

Asher’s gaze flicked over their face, a smile pulling at his wide mouth. Darlin felt suddenly, horribly, certain that he could read their thoughts. Their absolute mess of thoughts. Why was their pulse jumping? Why had they slept so well pressed against him? Yeah, they were pack, but they weren’t close. Not really. Not like that.

“You can use the shower if you want,” Asher said, still close. “There are towels over there and you can borrow some clothes.”

“No,” they said, maybe too fast. It was too tempting, the idea of using their shower and their soaps, like they could just become a part of this space and these people. It surprised them how much they craved that. “I’ve got my own clothes and my own shower.”

Asher’s smile faltered, something like worry in his eyes.

Why? They were healed and rested. They felt a hundred times better than they had the other night. “Thank you for… everything. But I can’t hide out here forever.” Even admitting it was hiding grinded in their throat. Yes, of course they hid. They’d spent the last few weeks running and hiding, too tired to fight. But they didn’t admit it out loud.

Asher rekindled his smile with full force. It was brilliant. “Why not? You could definitely hide out here. If you don’t like sleeping in our room, there’s a guest room. You can have it to yourself. At least while Quinn’s still in town.”

Darlin tensed at the name. They’d forgotten they’d told Asher that. Fuck. They looked away, shame warming their face when they remembered everything else they’d told him. Shitshitshit. “Out,” they snapped, a hand to Asher’s chest to push him out of the doorway.

They didn’t meet his gaze, but he didn’t try to stop the push, letting Darlin easily nudge him out into the hall before closing the door and throwing the lock. It was dumb, locks on doors in a shifter house. They could easily break any frame. But they wouldn’t. They knew David and Asher wouldn’t force their way in or crowd their space like that.

They hated how much they wanted to stay. It was confusing and embarrassing. They had to get out before things got weird or bad, before they learned to regret trusting them.

 -

 David was in the kitchen when Asher came down the hall. He always found him and David secretly loved that. He could go wherever and trust that Asher would eventually follow. “They’re going to leave,” he said, voice low when he stood beside him.

David frowned, glancing toward the windows. It was morning, at least that was something. But it also meant he was all out of excuses to make them stay.

“You could tell them to stay…” Asher thought aloud.

David almost winced.

That almost was enough to have Asher nodding. “Yeah. I know.”

He could tell Darlin to stay put. He could order it. He was alpha. He could tell anyone in his pack to do just about anything. But the truth of that had made him a man of few words. He didn’t want to ever abuse that power, and he was particularly careful when it came to people he was interested in. Asher had had to make all the first moves in their relationship—had had to be so vocal and clear about what he wanted and what they were in those first months.

Asher touched his arm, pressing against his back and nuzzling his face into David’s neck. “I know,” he said again, a little apologetic for bringing it up. He kissed up his neck to the spot behind his ear and David relaxed. “New plan,” Asher decided, voice picking up. David could hear the smile on it even before he felt it brushing against his skin. “You go check in on the den and the business. I’ll tag along with the troublemaker. If I can’t convince them to come back by sundown, we’ll move this party to their place.”

“Their place is a dump,” David grumbled, more worried about barging in on Darlin and making them feel uncomfortable than about the actual state of their apartment.

Asher hummed agreement, squirming against his back before pushing off of him and reaching for the coffee cups. “Yeah. But if we hang out there at night, there’s a chance of that biter showing up.” He smirked, flashing teeth. David nodded, understanding and liking this plan. Darlin’s apartment might be a dump, but that would just make it easier to turn it into the scene of a brawl. It wasn’t like they were going to ruin any nice furniture. And, like Asher, David was more than a little eager to get teeth into that vampire and show him what a real bite felt like.

“Should we tell them they’re bait?” David asked, watching Asher set out three coffee mugs.

“Who is bait?” Darlin asked, walking down the hall and stopping on the other side of the kitchen island.

Asher poured two of the mugs two-thirds up and then his to the top, scooting the other two across the counter for David and Darlin.

“You are,” David said, opening the fridge to pull out the creamer. It was sweet and totally unhealthy but he loved it and Asher knew it. David never bought creamer, because it was frivolous and he could just as easily toss some milk into his coffee. But Asher bought creamer every time they ran out.

Darlin raised an eyebrow, skeptical but taking the creamer after he was done. “Seriously?”

Asher smiled. “Or you could just stay here.”

Darlin sipped their coffee. “I appreciate what you guys did,” they said, gaze flicking up from the counter to David briefly before looking at their coffee again. Were they thinking about what happened yesterday? He really hoped not. He didn’t want them feeling bad for their argument. They had enough feelings tangling them up already. “I realize I let things go too far. I’ll handle the problem.”

“Handle it?” David repeated, looking for clarification. If they hadn’t handled it before, then why would they be able to now?

“We can help,” Asher offered, naturally less confrontational. David grumbled but he was always impressed how he did that.

“It’s just a bad breakup. I’ve got it. I won’t let it be a problem—”

“Stop saying it like that,” David interrupted, voice hard. Shit. He hadn’t meant to do that.

Darlin glared back at him, unafraid. “Like what?” they ground out in return.

“Like it’s not a big deal. Like it’s only needs to be solved now because it’s become a problem for others. It’s not just a bad breakup. A vampire is hunting and assaulting you. You don’t have to know how to fix it yourself.”

Darlin blinked at him, hands still on their mug.

They stared at each other.

David needed them to fucking believe him on this. Most things he could spend his whole life repeating to them, and he happily would in whatever context their relationship took. He would always remind them they were safe and a part of the pack. He would always remind them they were valued and good. But he might not be able to keep telling them that this bloodsucker wasn’t their fault if they kept acting like it was.

“Do you think Quinn’s going to kill you?” he asked, point blank. He could have told them what he thought but it wasn’t the same. He needed to know if they realized how dangerous this was.

Darlin glared, jaw tight like they weren’t going to answer.

He could demand an answer, but he wouldn’t.

“I think he’s going to try,” they admitted.

Asher sighed. “Okay. So, slumber party tonight? Our place or yours?”

Darlin rolled their eyes, pushing the coffee cup away. “I don’t need—”

“Our place, or yours?” Asher asked again, sounding pointedly friendly. Too friendly.

Darlin almost pouted. “Fine. But I’m going to my place to get some shit.”

Asher smiled brightly, clapping David on the back. “Great! I’ll give you a ride on my way out.”

 -

 Darlin was sitting in Asher’s truck when his words earlier finally hit them. Not all the important shit about Quinn and having to be safe and stay close with pack, blah blah blah. No, the thing that suddenly resounded in their mind was when they’d been standing in the bathroom and he’d suggested they move in. He’d said, “if you don’t like sleeping in our room, there’s a guest room.”

Our room.

Our.

“You’re a couple,” the words jumped out of their mouth without thinking. Fuck! They were so stupid!

Asher glanced at them as he drove through the city toward Darlin’s side of town. “What? Oh. Me and David?”

Darlin stared straight ahead. Holy shit. How had they never realized? Of course they were. Now they felt a thousand times worse for ever crushing on either of them. It had always been out of reach but now? Now it was impossible and disrespectful.

Asher laughed. “Yeah. We are. You really just figured that out?”

Darlin had been sleeping in their bed the last two nights. Oh god. That’s why it smelled like both of them—why they couldn’t figure out whose room it was. “Why…If you had a guest room why would you let me take yours?”

Asher looked like he wasn’t sure he should say. His hand flexed on the steering wheel. “It was instinct to put you there the first night. You weren’t feeling well and we needed to have you someplace safe.” He bit his lip like maybe he wasn’t sure about that answer. “And we wanted you there,” he added, not smiling or laughing. No joke. “We wanted you in our bed.”

Darlin nodded slowly, trying hard not to read into that, not to latch onto those words or the way they made them feel. Asher and David were protective. They were good. They obviously cared about them as pack and because they were a monumental fuckup. That was all.

He pulled up along the sidewalk in front of their place. “I’ll find parking and come up.”

“What? Why? I said I’d come back before sundown.”

Asher laughed. “Yeah, but I have to run errands for the pack so you might as well help me after we load up your stuff.”

“What do you mean load up? I’m not moving. I’m just—”

Someone honked at him. He groaned but was still smiling. “Go get your stuff! I’ll be up as soon as I can find a spot.”

Darlin jumped out, watching his truck pull away and glancing up at the sky. They refused to admit, even to themselves, that they were reaffirming their safety in the day. They felt so much better than they had just a couple days ago, but they still didn’t want to have to deal with Quinn. If they faced him again it would be bad—really bad—life ending bad.

With a swear on their lips, they pivoted toward the building and walked in. They took the stairs rather than the elevator. They had a thing about confined spaces—a thing they’d been very careful to keep anyone from knowing.

If anyone ever asked, they took the stairs because they didn’t want to wait, or because they could use the exercise.

They pulled their keys from their pocket when they got to their floor, the halls quiet in the middle of the day.

Daylight streamed in through the windows at the far end. They should have been safe.

They unlocked their apartment door and walked in. Were they really going to pack a bag and hightail it back to David and Asher’s place? Were they really going to bring all their trouble to them and just, what? Hope Quinn got the hint? Hope he lost interest and moved along? No. No, they had to deal with their own problems. They couldn’t hide and risk Quinn hurting someone else just to get to them. They’d gotten a couple of good nights of sleep for the first time in weeks, honestly for the first time in a lot longer than that. But they still didn’t want to do what they knew they had to do.

They made it three steps into their apartment before stopping cold. It was dark. It was too fucking dark. Someone had pulled all the shades and curtains and that someone hadn’t been Darlin. But the door had been locked. They should have realized that was their first sign. It was always unlocked when he’d been there because he could pick it open but left it on his way out. Because he’d always left after raiding their apartment during the night.

“Oh fuck,” Darlin swung around to reach for the door just as Quinn slammed it shut from the inside and lunged for them, his knuckles cracking against their temple and hurling them back into the dark living room.

[lonelypond]

Adventures Of The USS Helicon: Mind Bloom

Next episode in VNVdarkangel and my Love Live X Star Trek AU. Nozomi and Eli in danger, Maki making medical discoveries, and Rin and Nico excelling at their jobs.

[truly-morgan]

[Relationship Building, awkward!JZX]

XuanLi | Mo Dao Zu Shi Modern AU 24-03-2021

[#xuanli modern AU]

I cannot stop picturing jzx as one of the most anxious and awkward person on earth, but he manages to hide it behind an attitude people will say he has because he's from the Jin family. He has been told over and over that he shouldn't be this anxious and awkward and to change it, so he hides it behind airs of being indifferent to people (but will internally scream in panic as he doesn't know what to do).

Now let's imagine that jsx and jyl are still engaged to each other since they were children, despite jsx not being interested in having a wife. As he grows up he's forced to pass more time with her on planned dates, yet they never do much.

Jsx nerves would barely leave him to interact much with someone he doesn't know anything about and doesn't seem interested either. He doesn't know anything about her that could maybe have her talk while he just listens. So he ends up convincing himself that jyl is just a bit sad and bland from these dates.

Then one day, for some reason, his attention is being dragged towards where jyl is sitting with her brothers. He then finds a smiling and laughing young lady, amused by whatever wwx was saying to her(of course it was to cheer her up from the yet again failed date).

This is something he had never really seen, only the polite and reserved young lady who doesn't speak much and has never smiled like THAT to him. And this is at that moment he falls for her smile and laughter, although this oblivious man doesn't know yet, want to also have a piece of that.

But the trick is to actually get closer to her, which isn't something he knows how to do, usually, people approach him and he somehow manages to deal with them (his way of doing so only makes people believe he's full of himself).

So the next time they go on a planned date he decides to /try/ and actually talk to her about more than the weather outside. She clearly seems caught off guard by the sudden change in these failure dates, but she takes it with a pleased smile.

The conversation is still a bit generic: school, family matters, her brothers (he notes that this is a subject that got her smiling a bit more) and what she has been to since last time. Most likely not the most interesting discussion of her life he believes, but that's the best he could come up with for now.

Yet she doesn't seem bored, her good mood and smile staying until the end, the both of them surprised when it's already time to part ways. jc, who came to pick her up, seems surprised to see her in such a good mood, tossing him a glance, before just taking her back home.

From here he also tries to interact more with her at school and not act as if they were strangers. He greets her when their path cross in the hallway, tries to team with her when teachers gives work to do in groups, leaving to the side the usual guys who usually just copy him. He even tries sometimes to go and sit down with her at lunch to talk, although most of the time he ends up finding an excuse to leave because his anxiety cannot stand jc and wwx staring at him. It is nearly as if they are ready to jump on the slightest mistake to push him away.

But the more they get to talk, the more he manages to learn about her, then leading to him feeling a bit more comfortable when he can bring up this subject. He learns that she loves cooking and food (good, better dates ideas then), but that she also shares an interest in art as wwx does.

Later he finds the nerve to ask her out for dinner, anxiously waiting for her answer as wwx looks at him suspiciously. She looks surprised, but accepts with a warm smile.

He takes her out to a fancy restaurant, because he was taught by his father this was the best way to please someone. Yet he notices quickly that this isn't necessarily putting jyl at ease. He learn after asking what kind of restaurant she prefers that she like smaller places that are a bit more familial.

He suggests they go somewhere of her choice next time. When they do he pass two hours worrying about his outfit, hoping it won't stand out too much.

Jyl is clearly more at ease, although the more unusual setting puts him on edge. She asks what he wants to try, giving him a suggestion he ends up following. When the time comes to give their orders jyl does it, giving him a knowing and reassuring smile, which helps him relax.

He doesn't understand what his father was on about the man needing to do everything not minding having jyl do things too. 

Trying to find a little restaurant becomes quickly a biweekly date, often helped by jyl when his awkwardness and anxiety got in the way. They don’t talk about that, not yet, but he knows jyl has noticed. He feels relieved when she doesn't comments on it or try pushing him to do things he doesn't feel capable of doing.

Then one day, when jyl is joining him at the meeting point (where he has accidentally arrived 20 min earlier) something seems off. Her smile seems forced and she looks as if she had been crying. He must have looked worried then because her smile waver a bit.

He awkwardly opens his arms, unsure what to do. He doesn't know if he has the right to outright take her in his arm, although he doesn't dare, he wouldn't want to be suddenly restrained if he was too anxious. As her eyes get teary again, she accepts the offer, burying her face against his chest so no one sees her cry. He hesitantly wraps his arms around her, rubbing his back in a manner that he hopes is soothing.

“Why don't we go get some tea or coffee instead?” he suggests as he spots a small cafe near them, seemingly calm enough for them to talk. When they get in he simply tells her to go and sit down, asking her what she wants. He goes to order, a tea and one hot chocolate (he's proud of not messing up in his order on the first try), then join her at the- booth when their orders are ready, even throwing in a little slice of cake he knows she will like (and he's proud and happy again that this managed to steal a small smile from her).

She's already calmed down when he joins her, sitting close to jyl. After asking what had upset her she finally explained the argument she had with wwx, things getting a bit out of hand. His guts twist a little bit when he learns it about him, not sure how he should take it, feeling like he would never get the brother's approval one day. Still, he reassure her, just knowing from what she told him before that wwx would apologise once she would go home.

They end up forgetting about the restaurant, jzx ending up talking a bit more about himself (for once) to change her mind, answering wonders she's been having for some time without asking him. They do brush over his anxiety, only then somewhat accepting that he /does/ have a problem with that (something he had tried to push away as no way his father would want him to have that).

They end up somewhat closer than before after that evening to talk more openly, showing more than the good and positive side they usually let through. This is to the joy of both their fathers, who had started to wonder if this marriage was really a good idea. After some time of everything kept on getting better, he even talked with jc and wwx (or rather, was forced to by these two), getting a warning of never breaking their sister's heart (which he took as their own way of approving him).

Jzx ends up officially asking her out when he remembers he has never actually done that, jyl rather amused at the act but clearly delighted that he decided to do it, making it meaningful by the fact that he was the one asking (contrary to just being engaged since childhood).

Then they finish their senior years, slowly getting ready to go to university. They are at a festival, having a great night. This is on their way back home, as jyl is holding his hand and talking about all they did and how she hopes they can go back the next years. This is when the sudden thought of “I want this all my life” flashes in his mind again.

He spontaneously proposed to her, telling her how he hoped they could be like this their whole life, declaring his love all over again. A deep blush spread over his face when he realises that they are /already/ engaged. Despite that, jyl tears up from joy, jumping in his arms as she accepts, laughing with him at how awkward and a bit out of left field it was, but she wouldn't have it any other way, it just proves her it does come from him, not from their fathers imposed choice.

(boy this has gotten so long, at this point I might as well write an actually long one-shot about it instead. Haven't written m/f in years tho, could be refreshing).

Original

[nationalfacilitiesdirect01]

How to Enhance Communication in Facilities Management

According to Apollo Technical, 86% of employees blame a “lack of effective collaboration and communication” as the leading cause of workplace failures. In the case of facilities management, communication is critical to keeping systems running smoothly. Smooth communication impacts not only facilities managers but also employees, customers, and ultimately revenue.

When facilities management projects have tight deadlines and strict requirements, it’s important to have effective and efficient communication between managers and strategic partners. But keeping everyone on track and in order comes with its own unique challenges.

Let’s take a look at some proven communication techniques to turn your next project into a streamlined triumph!

1. Start with the basics – documentation

While it may sound simple, listening, taking notes, and documenting as much information as you can will help you prepare to lead your project, your team and your selected partners when they seek guidance. Documentation will also allow you to share the information in written format, empowering others to answer their own questions. The more you know, the faster you’ll be able to fill in any gaps and reduce resolution time. Some facility management companies even offer technology that can assist in capturing and documenting this valuable information, saving you valuable time.

Plus, it goes without saying that building positive rapport and an open line of communication establishes trust, fosters collaboration, and produces an overall commitment to a job well done–and on time! This is made even further evident when considering the fact that over 60% of employees believe their views and opinions are ignored in the workplace, according to AON. This is an unfortunate statistic that could be completely avoidable with effective communication.

2. Utilize innovative technology

Working in facility management, we’ve all experienced a chaotic workday. Sorting through emails and work orders, jumping from meeting to meeting trying to coordinate multiple time-sensitive projects all at once. And while we love the energy of this fast-paced day-to-day, we also know it can take its toll and that gaps in communication can create a significant fallout.

New advancements in facilities management technologies and streamlined communication tools can be an easy solution to help cut through the clutter, reduce downtime, and eliminate needless frustration. In fact, many can be easily integrated into the systems you already use.

We value communication that is efficient, timely, direct, and clear. Here are a few of the applications that are frontrunners in efficient and intelligent communication for integrated facility management. Each of these are also compatible with National Facilities Direct’s proprietary technology solution that supports our value for communication.

Service Channel: A leading facility management software and contractor sourcing, Service Channel lets you manage all maintenance activity from a single platform.

Tango: The Next-Gen Real Estate & Facilities Platform that unites analytics, transactions, lease administration & accounting, space management, desk booking, and more.

Corrigo: Access to powerful, easy-to-use software and mobile apps that help you manage your facilities with less overhead.

Asana: A project management software that tracks, manages, and connects your projects across any team.

Verisae: Cloud-based maintenance management platform that provides service, asset, and procurement management solutions for facility managers.

Fexa: Innovative and intuitive software making it easier for Facilities and Operations Teams to get quality work done.

We streamline communication by speaking directly with our facility manager customers so they have the constant, real-time, project tracking and information they may need at any given moment.

3. Enlist a strategic partner

When it comes to choosing a facilities management partner, there are various options available. From local to regional vendors, and from aggregators with pools of untested contractors to self-performing agencies like National Facilities Direct, it can be difficult to find the right partner. It’s vital to find the right fit for your organization based on your needs and values. We believe the right partner is the one who takes a customer-centric approach, a team that takes the time to understand your situations, perceptions, and expectations to better learn your facility and processes. We strive to always be flexible and meet those varying needs while also suggesting viable solutions.

If you’re finding communication gaps with your vendors, an integrated self-performing facilities management partner could be the perfect collaborator to help set you up for success. They can assist by developing smoother systems of communication between the technician, command center, and facilities managers to ensure a process that streamlines service, integrates teams, centralizes goals, and lays the framework for efficient and quality relationships.

Conclusion

Regardless of the industry, service, or staff the impact communication has on company performance is undeniable. According to a 2021 study by Project.co, over 26% of people feel that the way businesses communicated–both internally and externally–has deteriorated over the past year. This is a trend that needs to be reversed for the health of the facility management nationwide.

The need for dependable communication in FM is clear and so vital to a strong organizational structure and fully efficient facility. So vital in fact that a McKinsey report has shown that when collaborative communications are effective, they may increase productivity by as much as 25%. That can make a big difference to the bottom line as well as have a positive impact on company culture and workplace happiness.

About National Facilities Direct

At National Facilities Direct, we know how important clear, timely, and consistent communication is and we firmly believe in the positive benefits that come along with it. In fact, we’re so passionate about communication that we’ve developed our own proprietary software to streamline communication and promote efficiency.

We are the future of facility management. We’ve cut out the middle man, consolidated communication, simplified service requests, and reduced our response and resolution time. We provide all the necessary connectivity and custom technology to aid in any project. Contact us today for an immediate facility need or to set up a consultation for future needs or routine maintenance.

Visit Our Website - https://nationalfacilitiesdirect.com/

[nationalfacilitiesdirect]

5 Signs You May Need a Facility Management Partner

It takes a lot to manage a facility. Whether it’s building operations like cleaning, security, maintenance, and grounds management or compliance and safety, facilities management touches just about every part of the workplace. As a result, even the best FMs can feel stretched thin from time to time. If it’s unclear why there is a rising backlog of uncompleted maintenance tasks, or it feels like there’s no time to focus on more strategic initiatives, it might be worth partnering with a facility management provider. Here are five signs you may need a facility management partner.

1. Rising Costs

Constantly paying for ad hoc repairs can get costly. If you notice that repairs and servicing costs always seem to be on the rise, then it might be time to consider an FM partner. They will work with you to understand your entire operation and develop a custom solution that extends the lifespan of your equipment or building’s infrastructure. In turn, this leads to fewer repair costs and increased operational efficiency.

2. Frequent Disruptions

Whether they’re maintenance repairs or critical systems failure, constantly spending valuable time reacting to one situation or the other can lead to wasteful productivity. Partnering with an FM company allows you to bring in additional support and specialists as needed. This flexibility increases productivity and helps you deliver on a range of your organizational objectives.

3. Difficulty Tracking and Managing Assets

Spending time looking for assets or procuring new ones wastes valuable resources and stalls the resolution of problems in your facility. Then it’s only a matter of time before occupants become frustrated and workplace satisfaction declines, which leads to a decrease in productivity. Through effective staff management and the implementation of best practices and innovative technologies, an FM partner can help you easily keep tabs on not just your assets but your entire operation.

4. Low or No Budget For Technology

If you are finding that many of the facility management challenges you face could be minimized or resolved with enhanced or upgraded technology, then it’s a sign to partner with an FM provider. Forward-thinking FM companies have innovative technologies that cut through the clutter, reduce downtime, and eliminate needless frustration. In addition, they can help regulate compliance, analyze insights of project details and performance, track time and resources, and ensure a consistent level of service and quality.

5. Communication Gaps

When projects have tight deadlines and strict requirements, effective and efficient communication between managers and strategic partners is critical. If you’re finding communication gaps, an integrated, self-performing facilities management partner could be the perfect collaborator to help set you up for success. They can assist by developing smoother systems of communication between the technician, command center, and facilities managers to ensure a process that streamlines service, integrates teams, centralizes goals, and lays the framework for efficient and quality relationships.

Choosing the Right Partner

Partnering with a facility management provider ensures your organization is running at full optimization without day-to-day facility maintenance interruptions. From the reduction of costs to optimizing your facility management programs for increased efficiency, the right partner can provide the support you need to take your operations to the next level.

National Facilities Direct offers top-quality facility services derived from real-time communication, state-of-the-art analytics, data-driven decisions, and proprietary technologies. We develop customized all-inclusive maintenance programs, best-in-class connectivity, and an extensive in-house network of diverse professional licensed technicians that help us meet your complex, ever-changing needs. Contact us today to see how we can help take your organization to the next level.

Visit Website - https://nationalfacilitiesdirect.com

[sadiamahjabinlubna]

Building Resilience

1.What is resilience?

Ans: Resilience is the ability to cope with a crisis using mental and emotional strategies such as relationship building, self-efficacy and healthy thinking among others.

2.How can you build your resilience?

Ans: Below I give some tips for building my resilience

Developing a friendly relationship with people around me.

To help others as much as possible in any situation.

Creating a routine of what I will do each day and performing tasks accordingly.

Occasional outings for entertainment.

Taking care of myself for mental and physical health.

I try to focus on what I will do in the future.

Always keep a positive attitude towards me and others.

Dealing with any situation with patience and being optimistic.

3.What are some relaxation strategies you can use to comfort yourself?

Ans: Below are the relaxation strategies I follow to comfort myself.

I pray regularly, it calms my mind immensely.

Give myself more time to do things.

Often, I spend time with my friends and to do various things which refreshes my mind.

After completing my work, I take rest sometimes.

Take 40 to 50 minutes to go outside for a walk with my grandmother/mother for breathing fresh air.

I like to draw pictures; it cheers up my mind.

I help my parents in household chores which makes them happy. This is also a reason for my peace of mind.

Sometimes I visit my relative's house. I have cousins there. We spend a lot of time with each other which is very enjoyable for us. It makes our relationship healthier.

4.How can you express your emotions creatively?

Ans: Since we are human, our emotions change sometimes. In such a situation, I try to keep myself busy with some kind of creative work. My favorite creative work is painting. Through this, I can control my mind completely. Also, I love to read books of any informative & detective series. Humayun Ahmed, Kazi Anwar Hossain, Samaresh Majumdar, Rabindranath Tagore are among my favorite authors. Sometimes I go to various sightseeing places. It gives me pleasure as well as I gain practical knowledge through it. I am also incredibly good at handwork. When I was a child, I used to do this with my mother. I do a lot of useful handicrafts myself. It saves both my time and money. I think it's important to engage in any kind of creative activity to express yourself. It increases the cheerfulness of the mind which is especially important for living well.

[beauleifu]

Chapters: 6/? Fandom: LEGO Monkie Kid Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Summary:

  Thank goodness, you manage to escape the Mayor. But upon returning home, you find Syntax's wounds in need of a bit more care, and what is your reward? A text from your least favorite coworker reminding you of that party you sold your soul to. Well, this ought to be good. At least you have better company to look forward to when you return home.

TW: Depressive episode, language, yo fake friends get drunk, you also re-bandage Syntax's injuries.

Ho boy this one's a long chapter. Enjoy!

[kasama-builder]

When you’re building that community, make sure to set aside a small amount of capacity to maintain relationships. Community cohesion is dependent on folks having points of contact with one another. The capacity to do so will vary for everyone, and it’s important to only work with the capacity you have, with guaranteed time set aside to rest and recover. No time to rest and recover usually means you’ve taken on too much work.

For me, I try to set aside some time each Friday and Saturday to reach out to folks in my community. For everyone this will look a little different but taking time to eke out these rhythms help open folks up to synchronizing their open capacity with you. Which means capacity is just a little more open at the same time. I also try to float a conversation to someone during the week, so I’m having conversations with folks outside my rhythm too!

It is a lot - but it is also a small step to building resilient community!

When I call, we share the highs and lows, kvetch about the state of the world, and try to leave the conversation refreshed. My goal when having these 1:1s is to tend to the ecosystem, and make sure organizers in my community don’t feel burnt out and we’re continuing at a sustainable pace ☺️. One burnout that a lot of organizers face is feeling daunted in the work, and checking in and seeing us work a step or two steps to lasting radical change helps keep the ecosystem of organizers healthy. By having knowledge of where people are at, we can help connect organizers and community members to resources they might need.

Ultimately, we are here to develop our social webs in sustainable, healthy ways, to steward the people towards revolutionary action! By building stronger connections with those in relation to us, we can get ever closer to building a better world for all of us!

[solarstellarstar]

👂

Send 👂 to overhear my muse talking about yours from Relationship Building

[Solar spots Yumiko just passing by. She stares in adoration at the beauty of the girl.]

"Isn't her hair beautiful?"

[She tugs onto Hiromi's shirt to get their attention, who was sitting beside her.]

"I could never be unhappy with golden locks like that! Ooh~ Imagine all the different hairstyles she could try out. I wonder, what kind of shampoo does she use?"

[But as soon as she caught a glimpse of the girl's face, her excitement grew more.]

"t's Yumiko! No wonder her beauty caught my attention... ah, I need to ask if I can do her hair one day. Imagine what she'd look like if she had me to style her hair~"

[sunny-flower-spot]

☎

Send ☎ for your muse’s info in my muses phone (name, ringtone, picture, last text received/sent).

RELATIONSHIP BUILDING

Name: pompom🍮💜

Display photo:

She caught a glimpse of Solar's profile for her and wanted them to match.

Ringtone: Sun is coming up by Shiggy Jr.

Last text conversation:

———

💛: i wanted to surprise u by learning that hard choreography you learnt

💛: but it was way too tough and my body hurts alot now...(◞‸◟；)

💜: Oh no! Sunny what stretches did you do before and after??? :(

💛: ehh? i was supposed to stretch? ∑(´ﾟωﾟ｀*)

💜: SUNNYYY😭

———

[rachelillustrates]

Bagginshield notes, "Desolation of Smaug" edition

Continuing my thoughts on one Burglar and one King Under the Mountain from where/when it seems they fell in love and onward.

"An Unexpected Journey" notes here.

(Also quick note!! I only have access to the theatrical editions, if there is anything I should know from the extended versions please please say so.)

~

- They don't sit together at Beorn's, when he feeds them, and it looks like they slept apart too - BUT, there is obviously A Lot going on, with running from the Orcs again and the stress over crashing at Beorn's in the first place (not to mention a certain Hobbit beginning to have Ring Addictive Problems), so, between all of that and the tone I expected from how they came to realize their feelings.... yeah. They know how they feel, and they think they know it's reciprocated, but there are so many other pressing matters at stake and for now, at least, they're still on the same path even if they can't do anything about it yet.

(I wrote a lot before about how Thorin is torn between his duty and his feelings, and even in knowledge that he's in love, and some certainty that Bilbo feels the same, the vibe I'm getting is that he would plan on waiting until after the Mountain is reclaimed to really start courting him.)

- Then of course, the intense brain fog that Mirkwood gives all of them - separating them all even further, at least focus and intentions wise.

- But! When Bilbo is the first to escape the spiders, he locates Thorin's web-wrapped form first, so we are reminded of their bond once his head is clear. Yes, he has to save Bombur first, but he SEES Thorin first and foremost.

- And Bofur has to remind Thorin that Bilbo isn't with them, but that's not surprising, considering the heat of battle and being faced with capture by his generational enemies (direct generational enemies, since Thranduil turned his people away before) - that, and a) they're Battle Husbands already, Thorin has seen that Bilbo can handle his shit, and b) Bilbo has snuck off in the chaos of fighting before, only to return safely later, so this isn't that unusual.

(Also, he does let himself look momentarily stricken by his absence, even with all that, so just ❤️❤️)

Also ALSO, he knows for sure that Bilbo escaped, once they get into the halls, and he TRUSTS him to get them all out!! His love was the plan all along. A+ - and he does, and frees Thorin first of course, and Thorin gets the others to trust his very eccentric plan without questioning it himself, AND makes sure they wait for him - telling him he did well, calling him "Master Baggins," though, in front of the company - keeping it professional, which tracks with his character and the tone I'm getting about their impending-but-not-yet courtship.

- And they work so well together on the boat with Bard. Bilbo taking the kind path, asking him his name, being polite, while Thorin remains wary, and takes care of the logistics of paying him and making good on their business agreement. Remains practical, while Bilbo opens the door to kindness, which may seem impractical but is really just as vital.

I am doing a study of the Silmarillion because I am insane and a masochist and I just read through the Valaquenta, which details the Valar and the relationships between them, including marriages. Without fail, each of the romantic pairings of the Valar have a very (understandably) Sacred Marriage vibe about them - even in cases where they appear opposites, they harmonize each other, balance each other out, and make each other their best selves.

We don't get to see very much explicitly for whatever reason, but there are SO many moments in which Bilbo and Thorin do have this, too!! And this is one of them. And I think, as much as I wish things were different, the fact that we can see that at all is just, wonderful.

- Also, after they make it to Bard's, Bilbo basically goes to check on Thorin once they're settled, quick enough to notice him being stricken by the Dwarvish Windlance, even though they've only been there for a few minutes as far as we can tell. They show that to us first, instead of showing us any other details about them getting cleaned up and settling in.

- Also, after their capture/discovery and welcoming by the master of the town, Bilbo stays at the head of the boat, with Thorin, as they cross to the mountain. Instead of him choosing to have any of his kin at his immediate side. Hmm.

- AND he stands up to him about them not waiting for Gandalf, as was planned - very equal-footed, very married behavior (*Sacred Marriage!!*), as has been mentioned many times before. AND as Bilbo spots the door, and they head up to it, they stick pretty close together - but not too close, just closer, so between that and him continuing to call Bilbo "Master Baggins".... it still feels very much to me like they haven't crossed that line just yet, but want to.

- Also, on a note of just how they're so in sync, anyway - when they appear to fail about the door, Thorin asks "What did we miss?" before following his kin in giving up, still wanting desperately to figure it out, and Bilbo, of course, refuses to give up at all, staying and actually finding the answer (which of course leads to the key-kicking moment, as panicked as that was, it was also poetic for them as Thorin saves it by having listened to him and shown back up. Significant glances included, btw).

- And, of course, as soon as they get inside, and the Arkenstone starts being discussed, it's super duper all business again, but he leaves the explanation of the Arkenstone - and seeing Bilbo off into the danger of Smaug's cave - to Balin. Like again, the intensity of his emotions is at war with his purpose as king. But even with that, he still trusts Bilbo to do this for them. For him. He believes in him. But he can't not worry about him, deeply, so he stays away in that moment - perhaps, lest he tell him to stop, to not put himself in danger after all.

And he does look worried when Balin alerts them that the ground shaking is from Smaug. BUT he still tells the others to trust Bilbo, to give him more time ...to the eventual point of refusing to risk the quest for him, calling him just "one burglar," and Balin having to "remind" him that he's more. His name, his place in the company of them all. So I feel like, here, Thorin's pulling as far back, emotionally, as he can, once again. The quest comes first, always. His heart comes later.

(And of course, there may be hints of the gold sickness starting after all, as Balin worries. But it still really, really tracks with how he dealt with his feelings vs. his duty in the first film.)

- And Smaug plays on that!! He tells Bilbo that Thorin is using him, that he's only a means to an end to him. Which Bilbo refuses, outright (funny that he insists on that - wouldn't he not care, if there weren't feelings there? Since base level, he was just hired to do a job, and it shouldn't matter? Hmm?). To which Smaug switches tactics, not bothering to follow that line of manipulation after all, since it wasn't going to work.

- AND Thorin does go in after him!! BUT obviously starts getting messed up over the gold as soon as he sees it, to the point that Bilbo can CLEARLY see that something is off about him, even before he holds him at swordpoint over the Arkenstone (and even at that, Bilbo doesn't look scared - he looks like he's trying to figure out what's wrong, and how to bring Thorin back to reality, until Smaug brings reality crashing down for him). But before all of that, and as awful (that Thorin would do that, even in sickness) and amazing (that Bilbo sees through it, especially not knowing about the possibility of the gold sickness yet) as that is, Thorin still chose to go in after him after all -  the others following only after SOME minutes. And despite that confrontation (or maybe because of it, after, in guilt), Thorin keeps Bilbo with him - and Bilbo stays, as they choose to split up and try to reach the forge. And he tries to get Thorin to stay with him and Balin instead of running off on his own (putting himself in danger) to distract Smaug.

- Also, with the plan of getting Smaug to light the fires, he still keeps Bilbo in mind - where he is, giving him a job out of the way that's essential to slowing Smaug down while they wait for the gold to heat up - simultaneously making use of his skill AND keeping him more out of harm's way. AND with Thorin himself as the bait, to get Smaug in place, trusting Bilbo to save him by pulling the lever in time.

..... #battlehusbands

- Also, as they pour the gold and escape into the Gallery of the Kings, Thorin trusts Bilbo to get himself safe BUT is still keeping an eye on him, even looking back specifically to holler at him to keep going when he hears Smaug go after him - so, still concerned, too, and letting himself express that. Which they don't show him do for anyone else. Ahem ahem.

- He also does the same thing when they confront Smaug in the Gallery - trusts Bilbo to keep himself safe, while also choosing not to have him help pull down the statue's mold, keeping him away from that immediate danger too.

So yes. I still very much feel like they're on the edge of something here, and both hoping for more, but the quest is just so much - and taking so much - that we are only getting little glimpses of that affection, with the hopeful promise of more when all is over and done with.

(And we haven't even gotten to the acorn and the mithril shirt yet jeeeeeez.)

Notes on TBoFA coming as soon as I can watch it, too ⚔️💕

[saleslessons]

Sales Lessons from golf

Who could have thought Golf can be married to sales? But and this is a significant but, Gaurav Kumar is known for making the twain meet. You might think sales is done sitting in a room hunched over the telephone or computer, while golf is all about an open landscape. How could these two so dissimilar things be ever reconciled? It can be with creativity. And sales are all about creativity.

Gaurav Kumar started his career in sales. He went through all the ups and downs that many of us go through in our lives. What made Gaurav stand apart from the crowd was his jujitsu determination to strike a path on his own. He did this by bringing new ideas into his job. Time went by. Hours turned into days; days into weeks; weeks into months; months into years. And then came a time when the labor of the past congealed together to create a swift-flowing pool of success.

People have a very bad habit of noticing success but not the labor and effort that went into the making of that success. Gaurav has not forgotten his journey. He has reached his destination, but the memory of the journey is still what he covets the most. Why? Because it was in the journey that he learned precious life lessons.  And he decided to share these lessons with others.

Sales lessons from golf might seem outlandish or improbable. But when you read the book, you realize there is so much in common between the art of sales and the art of swinging your golf club. Golf builds your character; sales bring out your true charter to the fore. Sales demand your full attention, and golf teaches you how to be attentive to even the smallest things in your life. You must make the right investment to ace the game of sales. Golf too is about making the right choice and investment.

This book, it is worth noting, breaks away from orthodox sales hocus-pocus and brings the focus back to basics. Take care of small things in life and bigger things will fall into their place automatically. It is a must-read book for beginners as well as sales experts to elevate their sales acumen to another level.

[demon-mortician]

(@bluebird-dolly-bride)

Send ⭐️ (or multiple) for a headcanon about our muses.

Send 🎼 for a song that reminds me of our muses.

RELATIONSHIP BUILDING

Send ⭐️ (or multiple) for a headcanon about our muses.

Tomoky doesn't have many friends, in fact, she only has a couple of them, and most of the time these are busy with something else. So most of the time she would call Cassie to do a picnic or take a cup of coffee together. Tomoky enjoys the fact that she always accepts with a smile.

Send 🎼 for a song that reminds me of our muses.

"When I've grown up, when I know both sweet and sour,

I wonder if we can laugh together like we did at lunch today."

[goal-hall]

Unlock Success: Essential Elements for a Business Networking Event

In business, networking events are valuable opportunities to foster connections, exchange ideas, and propel growth. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or a budding professional, mastering the art of networking is crucial for success. However, orchestrating a successful business networking event requires careful planning and attention to detail. This blog post explores the essential elements…