Rules & Regulations – Agape Concierge’s Random Contests

A contest should never be without a few seemingly useless rules and regulations just in case so… here they are!

Agape Concierge Services, Inc. Contest Rules and Regulations:

1. You may enter up to twice per day per Twitter or Facebook account.
2. If there is a contest requirement (ex: an answer to a question), each eligible entry must contain a different answer.
3. Contest is open to anyone 18 and over, who follows @AgapeConcierge and Agape Concierge Services on Facebook.
4. No purchase neccesary.
5. At the end of the contest period, one entrant will be chosen randomly from the pool of eligible entries.
6. Contest period ends at 23:59h (PST) on posted deadline date.
7. If you are a winner through Twitter, you will receive notice by tweet(s) and one (1) direct message through Twitter. If you are a winner through Facebook, you will be contacted by a message through Facebook. It is up to you, the winner, to follow the instructions to claim the prize.
8. By entering, you give permission to Agape Concierge Services, Inc. to reserve the right to use any and all information related to the current contest, including your Twitter name and/or full account name (as stated on Twitter) for blogging and announcment purposes on Twitter (@AgapeConcierge), www.agape-concierge.ca, Agape Concierge’s Facebook page, and www.agapeconcierge.wordpress.com. We will not sell your information to third parties.
9. Agape Concierge Services, Inc. is not responsible for lost, late or misdirected tweets.
10. If the prize is not claimed in 2 business days from the date of notification, another winner will be chosen.

Virtual Office Assistance

These days, virtual office assistance is a must for companies or self-employed individuals who can’t afford to hire a full-time receptionist or personal assistant. Yes, we charge a bit more per hour than the average employee with a similar title but why pay for a full-time employee when all you have is 6 hours of office work that needs done in the span of a week?

As a business owner, I would very much like to expand this side of my business but it’s hard to find good people who can think on their feet, who are fast and efficient, and who are ready to commit to a job with questionable amount of hours per week compared with the lure of a full-time job with benefits and the works. That’s where we come in! For example, my company provides virtual office assistance to various small businesses on an as-needed basis. This means I am available 24/7 to do all office work, book appointments, filter phone calls, and coordinate meetings, amongst other things.

The job? Pretty rewarding and fun. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart because you have to be good at logistics to juggle between all your clients at the same time. You also have to be ok with not getting a steady pay cheque week by week as well as maybe put on a smile for a client that you’re not very fond of. That’s pretty rare though. Most clients are so grateful for your help that they’re overly nice!

The reward? Satisfaction in seeing your clients happy and able to enjoy life more.

Is it lucrative? At times… but life isn’t always about money and success. Maybe all you need is a servant heart.

Voicemail Greetings

I just recently added a new client who has hired me to be his personal assistant on and off-site. Problem is, when his clients call me for information or to book appointments and it goes to voicemail, they get my Agape Concierge greeting. So far, it hasn’t confused them but it’s bound to happen one day. My script is long enough as it is so if I add too much more, people will fall asleep listening to it. Anyone have ideas on voicemail scripts geared towards multiple clients? I’m totally drawing a blank on this one.

Complaints

lately, i’m finding that i complain too much. i even complain about complaining! it’s hard to catch yourself in those moments because you get so caught up in the thing that’s bothering you.

how do you find a positive way to go about expressing your dislikes and pet peeves? or should we be voicing them in the first place? what constitutes something petty vs. something that’s a major thorn in your side?

i guess it’s all about perspective. for example, most people these days complain about things like how gross that restaurant was, or the weirdo sitting beside them on the bus, or how the guy driving in front of you is slowing you down. how about this: you feel blessed — to actually have 3 meals a day, that our city has a transit system that allows you access to tons of different destinations instead of you having to walk miles and miles everywhere on your own two feet, and you learn how to drive better so that you can pass him (after all, if you don’t know how to pass him, you might as well not complain and just join him).

i guess what i’m saying is i need to be thankful in all things. not just the easy things in life. i’ve been trying really hard for the past few months and i noticed a huge difference. i found that in doing that, my life has been more enjoyable and worry-free. the biggest difference i’ve noticed is that i treasure my relationships with friends, strangers, and family more. try it sometime!

⁹But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Reading Addiction

i have a reading addiction. i love reading and i read too fast. reading calms me and gives me an escape from the stresses of the real world. but it can’t be just any book. it’s gotta be fiction… preferably a murder mystery, but NOT romance or sci-fi. for some reason, i can’t stand reading non-fiction and biographies and stuff like that unless it’s for bible study or whatever.

i’m not sure if this is healthy but i always need to be reading something. for example, if i were sitting on the bus or waiting in line at customs and forgot to bring a book, i would die of insanity. sometimes i would read a poster or an ad over and over until i’m off the bus. over the years, i found that reading novels actually helped me be more empathetic towards others. maybe more discerning too. you find out so much about the human psyche and tendencies from reading and so far, i’ve learned to apply it to real life situations.

these days, novels cost an arm, a leg, and your left butt cheek but if i had enough money, i would buy a few books a week and just read at every opportune moment. if i had enough books around me, i could be very content to read one a day. too bad they’re so expensive. some of you may ask why i don’t just go to the library. been there, done that. read all the older novels that interest me. the thing that bothers me is they have a really crappy selection of new releases. plus, they don’t arrive at the library fast enough. oh well…

would you like to donate to the becky-is-addicted-to-reading fund?

(just kidding)

Heidi’s Cafe (Vancouver, BC)

i happened upon heidi’s cafe on 42nd and fraser one day because my regular saturday family dinner was being held at angel cafe down the street. i was looking for a place to kill time and finish some work before dinner and didn’t feel like venturing too far so i decided to give it a try, even though the storefront looked like any other joint on fraser. heidi’s is right in the middle of the block (between angel cafe and dairy queen).

i went in and the first thing i saw got me a little disoriented. the outside said heidi’s cafe but when you walk in, there’s a booth to the right where you could buy smokes and lotteries. weird. once i saw the huge board full of menu items, though, it was all good. the guys working there weren’t exactly smiley but they were still very friendly and courteous. i later found out the business was owned and operated by the guys behind the counter who were chefs!

as the weeks went by, i kept on frequenting this cafe because of the awesome service and great food. i guess you wouldn’t expect awesome food from a place that has “cafe” tagged at the end of its name but they definitely outdid themselves. most of their stuff is homemade, from the soups to their veggie burgers, to the pasta ingredients. their burgers come with fries, salad, or soup. they also have a large selection of bottled and canned drinks of the western and asian variety. pretty cool…

by the way, you MUST try their veggie burger, even if you’re anti-veggie anything. it’s kind of like eating a potato cake in a burger. it’s sooooo good. it just does NOT taste like those nasty superstore dry bricks. and yes boys, it definitely fills you up, especially when it comes with fries or salad.

and the bacon… mmmmm… this is my personal preference but when i have breakfast, i like my bacon super crispy and oftentimes i have to get the waitress to bring it back to the kitchen once or twice to re-fry it. somehow they’ve read my mind and it’s come out perfectly! or maybe they just take the time to fry the bacon properly. that’s a massive bonus for me.

things to try: carrot cake, veggie burger, yam fries with garlic aioli, omelette.

this place is definitely a hidden gem on the east side.

the GOOD:

• friendly, laid-back staff who treat you like family. they love to strike up conversation and get to know you better.
• very service-oriented and attentive.
• food – big portions, very fresh, piping hot.
• prices are very reasonable.
• free wi-fi and they always let me camp out for a long time.
• desserts are homemade.

the BAD:

• they close at 9pm… which isn’t all that bad for the regular non-night owl but i just felt like i had to put something in this category.

the ANNOYING:

• nothing!

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.

They will soar high on wings like eagles.

They will run and not grow weary.

They will walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

Auto Transport

auto transport… the best job in the world! God has blessed me with such an awesome source of income in addition to my regular concierge work. every few days, i’m asked to import a car or two or three from the states into canada. i don’t think i would’ve accepted these car dealership as clients if i didn’t love driving so much. i bring up pretty much anything the client wants and oftentimes i won’t know what type of car it is until i arrive at the location. you would say that that’s part of the fun but more often than not, it’s a disappointment.

a disappointment as in… it’s usually some sort of suv or truck. hardly ever a fun race car. i’ve driven so many mdx’s, pilots, escapes, ridgelines, and escalades that i dread having to pick those ones up now. i’d rather be surprised with an evo, sti, s2000, or an mcoupe/roadster or something. haha yes, i’m spoiled rotten.

even though my friends envy this part of my job, most of them don’t know the stress behind each delivery. sometimes i’m in a rush and the battery’s dead so i gotta somehow jump it. sometimes there’s not even enough gas to start the engine so i have to walk to the gas station. sometimes the canadian border takes sooooo freakin’ long to process the paperwork it’s not even funny. or the federal and provincial inspection takes longer than normal.

sometimes i have to go down to kent, washington to get a car from the auction. those are my most tedious days because i have to catch a shuttle from yvr at about 5:30am. it gets to seatac at 9:30am, then i have to take public transit to kent and taxi the rest of the way. i’m lucky if i get there by 11. so if i make it, i have to boot it back without stopping because the office where i get the car titles stamped closes at 3:30pm. so by the time i’m done delivering the car to whichever dealership it’s for, it’s past dinnertime. zzzzzz…

another annoying part is, i get a lot of younger 20 something kids getting excited and wanting me to hire them as drivers because they think it’s no work and all fun. like it’s so cool to drive “nice” cars around all day. then they hear that most of the time, they have to walk across the border plus another 4 blocks to where the cars are, then wait around for a few hours for the papers to process… and they don’t want to do it anymore. sighhhh…

all in all, even though i complain about it, i do enjoy this line of work very much. i guess it’s because logistics and driving is one of the few things i’m really good at so it’s totally in my comfort zone. and you never know how long of an opportunity i will get to drive nice cars in this season of my life.

here’s my roster of some of what i’ve driven so far:

worst car: volvo xc90.

• it eats up so much gas while you’re trying to match the flow of traffic… and it STILL can’t catch up.
• all the buttons inside are unnecessarily huge.
• handling sucks!

ugliest car: pontiac solstice or maybe even the chrysler 300… the xc90 comes in a close 3rd.

• can barely see out the side window of the solstice. the door panel is so high!

best handling: m coupe and m roadster

• weighting is unique. takes some getting used to but overall it helps with cornering and recovering into straightaways.
• clutch is super heavy. my foot got so tired after a few hours in it.
• good torque vs. hp ratio

worst handling: nissan 350z and infiniti g35

• clutch is too heavy.
• hard to “feel” the vehicle and to make it do what you want.
• nice engine but if nothing about the car helps the power… OH WELL.

what every chinese kid in vancouver wants (why… i have no idea): subaru sti and mitsubishi evo

• one feels a bit lighter than the other but forgot which one.
• if you can’t control the power, you’re gonna crash… kinda like getting a 1000cc bike for your first bike.
• too light.
• gas guzzlers.

best suv: mazda cx7 or cx9

• was very surprised with the quality inside and out.
• handling was smooth and sturdy.

worst suvs: honda pilot and mercedes ml

• BORING!
• handling sucks.
• feels like driving a chevy truck that has no power.
• wasn’t that great in the snow/slush.

second worst suv: acura mdx

• it’s not quite luxury enough.
• boring… like all acuras except maaaaybe the TL.
• response and handling is a bit lacking in an suv in that price range.
• VERY good in the snow with all season tires.

coolest minivan: toyota sienna (surprisingly)

best for heel-toe’ing: porsche 911 turbo

• at least i found it the best for a smaller person like me. not sure about bigger guys.
• too bad it’s so expensive.

worst truck: honda ridgeline

• because honda should not be making trucks in the first place.
• no room in the back.
• handling is non-existent

best truck: dodge ram

• so fun to drive! even diesel.

most expensive: bentley flying spur and mercedes cls550

surprisingly at the end of the day, i still prefer volkswagens for functionality, handling, cornering, torque, speed, and the interior basics. weird eh?

Argo Cafe (Vancouver, BC)

this is another one of my favourite eateries. it’s on ontario and 2nd, in the middle of all the warehouses and industrial buildings. the average person wouldn’t even give the almost-graffiti art on the outside a second glance if they walked by… that’s how obscure it is. the people who frequent the place are the ones who work around the area and the guys who get picked up to go up to work at the logging camps in the mountains. once you venture in, though, that’s when your eyes light up with the funky 60′s era decor, black leather booth seats, indivual coat hooks, and an ancient looking till. they’ve also forgone the traditional “menu at the table” thing and written everything up on the wall.

their breakfast is amazing. i think they only serve it until 11:00am though. the lunch menu is even more spectacular. in addition to the regular pasta, chinese food, salads, and burgers, they also have 8-10 daily specials to tantalize your buds. things like lamb shank, bacon wrapped pork tenderloin, wasabi crusted ahi tuna, seafood pasta, and other tasty creations make you stare at the board dumbfounded at how a diner can serve such gourmet food. and the best part? it’ll only cost you around $10! actually, the best part for me is the free soup that comes with your meal. mmmm…

when you go in, you’re instantly greeted by the wait staff. after a few times going there, they knew me and even remembered that my friend always wanted a burger after his daily special. argo cafe is such a hole in the wall but man is it the best deal when you’re on a budget. try it out! i guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

the GOOD:

• the daily specials.
• service is awesome!
• prices are very good for what you get.
• patrons eat and run so you never have to wait long for a seat.
• the soup is so yummy!

the BAD:

• the chinese food isn’t the greatest. i’d label it “canadian chinese food”.

the ANNOYING:

• location isn’t the greatest for people taking transit.
• cash only.
• they close at 4pm and only open monday to friday.

“You Should Dress Your Age!”

i don’t think many people know but i get really agitated over what to wear every morning. it’s just that i don’t have a good sense of fashion. this is the dilemma: i love wearing dark coloured sweats, jeans, t-shirts, hoodies, skate shoes, and other comfy, practical things. that’s what i’ve been wearing for the past 15 years. i hate wearing things that, to me, aren’t practical for the weather and that i can’t move around freely in. because of this, i don’t look my age. if you were to just look at my face, i already look 10 years younger. take a few more years off of that with regular clothes and i now look like i’m still in highschool.

i’ve never had enough money to deviate much from my usual style and i’m always afraid that once i buy a new piece, it’ll go out of style forever. for some reason, new fads or fashions look absolutely ugly to me for the first year or two. after that, i’ll start warming up to it and even buy a piece or two to add to my wardrobe. it’s only been the last few years that i started to try out brighter colours and different styles. it’s still a bit uncomfortable to wear these things all the time but i’ve learned to live with it for the sake of company image.

i implemented a company policy where when we’re meeting clients, the dress code is business casual except when importing cars. even then, i always bring a change of clothes for afterwards. i guess that’s another dilemma with being a personal concierge. you always have to run around with business attire and high heels. for me, having sensible shoes for driving stick is preferred so i end up having to change shoes every time i get into the car. sighhh… what to do. maybe i should change my own company policy! hahaha…

sometimes my guy friends will tell me to “dress my age”. i know they mean well but seriously, what’s a 30 year old supposed to look like in this day and age where lots of post menopausal chinese moms share their daughter’s clothing and get funky hair cuts to try to look young? maybe i should start shopping at talbot or something.

on another note, when i was in highschool, i was a bigtime tomboy. i purposely dressed in baggy jeans and grungy t-shirts because i found that when i dressed up in even slightly form-fitting clothes, i’d get hit on a lot. i guess subconsciously, it was also a test for the guys that were interested in me to see if they liked me for ME or for what i look like. i’m glad to say it worked! hahaha…

so what IS dressing your age? is there proper attire when you reach certain milestones in your life? i can’t see myself dressing like my mom when i’m older but maybe things will change for me one day. for now, i’ll keep my jeans and hoodie on.