How not to turn around a country - I mean Company

There's a large company that is in serious danger of falling apart. They aren't where they want to be and the economy has more than taken it's toll. They have one chance to turn things around or they may have to close the doors - affecting tens of thousands of people.

So - the CEO creates a team of 7 of his best division leaders. Highly respected by their peers within the company and without. They are tasked with creating a proposal for a bid, which, if won, will save the company, the jobs, the people...

They have one week to develop this plan and present it to the CEO for his approval and then to the customers to obtain the bid. Everything depends on this team and the CEO is confident that they can do it.

In order for the proposal to pass the first stage - at least FOUR of the seven committee members must approve it.

But.....

Andy is hoping for Division Leader of the year award and he won't vote on anything that doesn't highlight the skills and strengths of his division.

Bob secretly is hoping to be the next CEO. He's not sure if he wants to this proposal to succeed or not. If it does, then the current CEO will look good and Bob's chances are diminished.

Tina hates her job and could care less about the proposal.

John had a run-in with Andy last year and refuses go along with anything Andy likes.

Susan doesn't really understand what all the fuss is about and needs more time to get the 'real issues'.

Joe will vote with Bob - but only if Bob allows three of his best managers to relocate to Joe's division. Sorry but it's a deal-breaker.

Tom dated Susan last year and it ended badly. As a result he won't talk to her during the meetings and refuses to listen to any point she makes.

Seven Days Later...

The committee gets back to the CEO and informs him that they're sorry but they were unable to create the proposal he asked for in the time-frame he needed. Would the CEO be able to relax some of the requirements? Or perhaps he could give them each a raise to give them a little more incentive to work together.

The CEO does his best but now it's time to make a company-wide address to his people...

Just sayin.......

Customer Spotlight #12: Joann Laskoski

This is the 12th in our series Cobweb Corner Customer Spotlight. Enjoy the interview and the fabulous photos chosen especially to share with you. Please comment after reading the interview - the featured stitcher will be thrilled to know you took the time to admire and comment on their craft.

Click each picture to see larger detail.

Tell us something unusual about your self: There is really nothing unusual about me. I am 63 and live in Wilkes- Barre, Pa. with my husband. We have 2 sons and 2 grandaughters. My husband and I watch our grandaughters 5 days a week and love doing it.

How long have you been stitching and how did you start? I have been stitching for about 30 years. I started out with needlepoint. Took a class at our local mall many years ago. I did some embroidery back then too, not much. Then I found counted cross stitch and fell in love with it. I have been doing it ever since.

Why did you select the pieces you did to share with us? I selected the pieces because they are some of my favorite. I did THE LAST SUPPER it is a leaflet from LEISURE ARTS, as a wedding gift to my son and daughter-in-law, THE BARN OWL, is a kit by Janlynn, and the birds don't remember the name of it, is a kit by Marjolein Bastin.

Do you have a favorite designer or style that you prefer?
As a favorite designer I think it would have to be Marjolein Bastin. Her projects are so easy to do and I like evenweave fabric. I still use Adia but evenweave is my all time favorite. I prefer to do birds and floral mostly, but if I see a chart that I really like I will buy it and make it. I make most of my projects as gifts. I like more difficult charts. I like the challenge.

Is there anything you wish would change in the cross stitch industry? I wish designers would sell more charts than kits. I have every color of the DMC floss so if I buy a kit sometimes I use my own colors. Also I wish there were more shops that you could get the materials that you need. Sometimes it's better to see what you are buying.


How often do you stitch and where do you do it?
usually try to stitch every night watching TV. I converted one of our bedrooms into my craft room when the boys got married. So now all my stash is in one room not all over the house.

Are you embarrassed to admit to friends and family how much stash you have on hand? Yes, I am embarressed to even tell anyone how much stash I have. They don't believe me. I am hoping to teach my oldest grandaughter to cross stitch when she gets a little older ( she's only 4). Then I won't have to worry about all my stuff it will be passed down to her and her sister

Do you have a favorite quote? "Do it right the first time". I've done a lot of frogging over the years.

Anything else you would like to add? I don't have a question but I am so glad you started this blog. It's nice to see other people's work.


Thank you Joann! Please post comments/questions for Joann below.