For Alcides León, Mauricio Romero, John Harorld Rodríguez, and the rest of the L.A. colleagues

Because of my job, I get to travel often as an invited reporter. It’s not the best way to travel, because everybody knows there is no such thing as a free lunch. But the inviting company executives’ also know that there is a limit to what you are committed to in exchange. Well, not all of them: there are the PR ones. Most of them think your attention span is infinite, your working hours are at least 12 and you are excited to learn even the tiniest detail of the company strategy.

That’s not the worst part. Some of them behave as nannies. Not happy with being behind you all day long, looking over your shoulder, they even call  in the morning to wake you up!

When I stumble upon one of this cute PR Executives, I immediately straight things out the best way I can possibly handle. But to avoid unnecessary trouble and hard feelings, my advice is to ask for the personalized agenda well before you accept the trip invitation. If there will be no free time, no social activities and just intense business meetings in a two day trip that requires a 12 hour flight (one way), you are better off not accepting.

Monicami :: Nov.01.2010 :: My rules :: No Comments »

First of all let me set it straight: love is overrated. Before one can think about a romantic relationship, all other basic needs must be fulfill: health and monetary ones, to be specific. So, take this from someone who has always been practical.

To succeed in a loving relationship you have to look to reciprocity. Whoever says that love is giving without expecting anything in return is a liar. Even between father and son, love needs to be nurtured and reciprocated.

The other basic element in a relationship is respect. I don’t have to explain myself here. Let’s just say that you should be appreciated by who you are and accepted as is. Billy Joel’s famous song put it this way: “Don’t go changing trying to please me […]I love you just the way you are”. If your significant other cannot sing you this song, find somebody else.

Monicami :: Nov.01.2010 :: My rules :: No Comments »

I really hate people who say “I bought you this because I didn’t know what to give you”. And they come with a piece of crap. If you really don’t know the person, there are always “safe bets”: a bottle of good wine, a beautiful flower bouquet, a signature art craft, or –if your budget allows it—a branded ornament object.

When you really know the person, there is absolutely no room for excuses. Even if the person is extremely wealthy (and you are not), there are small things that she might actually not have. The best gifts ever have come from persons that had thought about what I might be missing after analyzing my day to day activities and preferences (and with a small budget):

-A Swiss Army knife card
-A good quality runners T-shirt
-A good novel I had missed
-An original (and fun) mouse pad

Of course, expensive (and good taste) gifts are always appreciated.

Monicami :: Feb.09.2010 :: My rules :: 1 Comment »

I believe what Bill Cosby said about this issue: “I don’t know the secret for success, but I know the secret for failure: trying to please everyone”.

Monicami :: Sep.13.2009 :: My rules :: 3 Comments »