March 16, 2004

ELVIS + SOMBRERO = EL RAY

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By now, you probably know the drill: We give a pair of Elvis sunglasses to a random collection of people and let their Inner Elvis come out to play. (For a better idea, you can view previous galleries by clicking here and here.)

That project was preceded by The Sombrero Project, and its subsequent parts (Dos, Tres and Quatro).

I say all that in order to note that we have some delicious additions to the visual pantheon:

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I ask each subject to give me their best Elvis Pose. Some pose on the john, some grow mutton chops and others fall limp on the floor with bottles of Scotch in their hands.

I asked the same of Ric here. And while I'm sure The King would have appreciated his retro-style Tribune sweatshirt and the energy he put into the pose, I'm not sure he would have approved of the Fonzie thumbs up.

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This photo was taken at a time of great duress. Here, we see Joanne posing with her right hand propped up against a diagram used in a Blanchard employee training seminar.

During that seminar, Joanne explained that employees generally follow four different models ranging from excited beginner to disillusioned worker to skilled veteran to master employees. Many of these levels can be contained in one employee, since they are task specific. For example, you can have a master at one task who is thrown into a new situation, where they feel more like an inexperienced beginner.

They also follow four developmental levels, ranging from Low Competence/High Commitment to High Competence/High Commitment. It is the job of managers, Blanchard maintains, to not only diagnose their employees' abilities but also to recognize where their commitment levels are. That way, you can tailor your comments and directions in a way that will not only inspire but make their work more efficient.

That said, what does it mean by the subconscious positioning of Joanne's turqoise-bedazzled hand?

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Hmmmm. Straddling the line...

I sense some impending commitment issues, Joanne.

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The Sombrero Project has been the showcase for many an inanimate model. It's been seen perched on top of everything from an Edward Munch inflatable "scream" doll to a squeezable brain to, yes, a ceramic bust of Elvis.

The above photo was shot at a great little restaurant on Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa, El Taconazo. The interior of the restaurant showcases many an impressive sombrero, but the rear of the building is where the kitchen is: a converted school bus. (Side Salad will have more information on this in coming days.) This kitchen makes some of the best Mexican food we've ever had.

Anyway, it seemed only fitting that our chapeau be placed over the heart of this bus, which is where you put your hat when you're giving thanks for such an abundant blessing.

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This is my favorite shot of all.

James is a security specialist at my place of employment. He is, quite simply, the friendliest man I have ever come across. No matter whether it has been a simple handshake or a serenede of, "Gooood morning to youuuuu,'' from his roving security cart, James has never failed to make me smile. You can't help but love a guy like that.

So when he saw me walking through the building with a sombrero in one hand and Elvis glasses in the other, he became consumed by the idea of posing. The rest of the day, when he saw me, his greeting was customized by, "Buenos dias!" and "Hasta la vista!"

When the time came to pose, James did a double-fisted jig, his whistle and keys jostled by the energetic movements.

James, you are the embodiment of what the Sombrero and Elvis projects are all about.



Posted by Jeff at March 16, 2004 08:48 AM | TrackBack
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