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Nail Clippers from Tokyo

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Nail Clippers from Tokyo

While traveling in Tokyo, I learned a valuable business lesson from a little store in the hotel… all while buying nail clippers.

This was many years ago when my wife and I were vacationing in Tokyo. While I was thinking back on the trip, I realized that one memory stood out.

One evening in our hotel room, my wife tasked me with going downstairs to buy some nail clippers. Seems we hadn’t brought any in our bags (it was allowed back then).

So, there I was, with only the most basic of Japanese language skills… on my own! After making my way downstairs, I found the tiny little in-hotel store. They had all the essentials that a traveler would need: toothpaste, band-aids, aspirin, etc. I couldn’t seem to find the nail clippers.

I walked up to the counter. An older woman sat patiently behind it. We had a short conversation… without words. Finally! My years of pantomime were useful!

She pointed to where the nail clippers were, and I retrieved a nice pink one for my wife.

When I went up to pay, I expected that the woman would just run my card, give me a receipt, and I’d take the clippers and go.

That is not what happened.

After ringing up the bill and giving me the receipt, she carefully took the packaged clippers and wrapped them – very neatly – in a nice paper. She then put this into a small bag, along with some hand-folded paper origami cranes (my wife later told me they were for luck). Then, she folded over the top of the bag and put a small bit of tape on it.

When she handed it to me, I knew enough to bow slightly and say “domo arigatou gozaimasu” and left the store to go back to my room.

It was a short, simple interaction, yet when I think back, there was a lot of meaning to unpack from it.

Here are a few of the lessons I learned that can apply to many businesses:

  • Be kind
  • Know your job
  • Be Helpful
  • Exceed Expectations
  • Have Good Intentions

In the end, it’s these things that people, and your customers, will remember.

The nail clippers were common.

The woman who sold them to me was special.

 

All content written and voiced by Joe J Thomas online at: JoeActor.com

 

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Wormwood

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Wormwood


A Serialized Mystery
By Habit Forming Films, LLC.
Wormwood Postcard
(this post is dedicated to the memory of Rob Grindlinger…)

Way back in 2007, I was fortunate enough to join a very talented group of audio drama professionals.
Unlike many productions, we all met – in person – to record.
It was an amazing experience, and I think the end result shows it… I hope you enjoy it!

Synopsis:
When a strange vision of murder sends him to a small town to investigate, Dr. Xander Crowe discovers that Wormwood is far from ordinary. Secrets lurk within every resident, from the innkeeper to the town librarian to the waitress at the diner. The seemingly idyllic surface of Wormwood hides a mystery unlike anything Crowe has ever experienced — he finds himself drawn into a web of dark conspiracy, strange romance, and arcane mysticism. As Crowe begins to unravel the mystery at the heart of Wormwood, he finds that his very presence there may not be a coincidence at all…

Wormwood is a full-cast serialized mystery delivered as an MP3 podcast on our website and via the many podcatchers on the web, including iTunes. Wormwood offers a quirky ensemble drama with elements of supernatural horror and mystery. With its odd, small town setting and tragic lead character, Wormwood is designed to appeal to fans of True Blood, Twin Peaks, Supernatural, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as well as the works of writers like Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, and Edgar Allan Poe.

You can listen to all three seasons below, or if you prefer, they’re also on iTunes here.

Wormwood – Season 1: The Drowned Woman

Wormwood Episode 1: The Coming Storm

      WW_001

Wormwood Episode 2: Small Town Drama
      WW_002

Wormwood Episode 3: Feels Like Falling
      WW_003

Wormwood Episode 4: Inquisition
      WW_004

Wormwood Episode 5: Muck and Mire
      WW_005

Wormwood Episode 6: Where The Bullet Hits…
      WW_006

Wormwood Episode 7: The Sacrificial Lamb
      WW_007

Wormwood Episode 8: By Small Hands
      WW_008

Wormwood Episode 9: Teenage Wasteland
      WW_009

Wormwood Episode 10: The Funeral
      WW_010

Wormwood Episode 11: The Wayward
      WW_011

Wormwood Episode 12: Karma
      WW_012

Wormwood Episode 13: Questions and Rumors
      WW_013

Wormwood Episode 14: Place of Pain
      WW_014

Wormwood Episode 15: Alone At Last
      WW_015

Wormwood Episode 16: The Long Shadows
      WW_016

Wormwood Episode 17: Asunder
      WW_017

Wormwood Episode 18: The Hunt for Julian Calendar
      WW_018

Wormwood Episode 19: Necromancy and the Art of Making Friends
      WW_019

Wormwood Episode 20: Run
      WW_020

Wormwood Episode 21: Parts You Don’t Throw Away
      WW_021

Wormwood Episode 22: Opening Books That Can’t Be Closed
      WW_022

Wormwood Episode 23: Dead Beat Down
      WW_023

Wormwood Episode 24: Tea and Sympathy (for the Devil)
      WW_024

Wormwood – Season 2: Crossroads

Wormwood: Crossroads: Episode 1 — One Month Later…

      WWS2_001

Wormwood: Crossroads: Episode 2 — The Rescue
      WWS2_002

Wormwood: Crossroads: Episode 3 — The Missing Month, Part One
      WWS2_003

Wormwood: Crossroads: Episode 4 — Thinning, Part One
      WWS2_004

Wormwood: Crossroads: Episode 5 — A Sentimental Nature
      WWS2_005

Wormwood: Crossroads: Episode 6 — Ghosthunters of Wormwood
      WWS2_006

Wormwood: Crossroads: Episode 7 — A Bedtime Story
      WWS2_007

Wormwood: Crossroads: Episode 8 — The Missing Month, Part Two
      WWS2_008

Wormwood: Crossroads: Episode 9 — Red Right Hand
      WWS2_009

Wormwood: Crossroads: Episode 10 — Thinning, Part Two
      WWS2_010

Wormwood: Crossroads: Episode 11 — Albatross
      WWS2_011

Wormwood: Crossroads: Episode 12 — The Wolves of Lyonsville
      WWS2_012

Wormwood: Crossroads: Episode 13 – When Chip Met Dale
      WWS2_013

Wormwood: Crossroads: Episode 14 — Jack Nicholson’s Nose
      WWS2_014

Wormwood: Crossroads: Episode 15 — Weeping Doctor, Wilted Demon
      WWS2_015

Wormwood: Crossroads: Episode 16 — Haitian Bleu
      WWS2_016

Wormwood: Crossroads: Episode 17 — The Supplanter
      WWS2_017

Wormwood: Crossroads: Episode 18 — Sweet Intangible You
      WWS2_018

Wormwood: Crossroads: Episode 19 – Something Funny in Everything
      WWS2_019

Wormwood: Crossroads: Episode 20 — He Who Forgiveth All, Part 1
      WWS2_020

Wormwood: Crossroads: Episode 21 — He Who Forgiveth All, Part 2
      WWS2_021

Wormwood: Crossroads: Episode 22 — A Farewell to (f)Arms
      WWS2_022

Wormwood: Crossroads: Episode 23 — Cold Satisfies the Couple
      WWS2_023

Wormwood – Season 3, Part 1: The Five Fingers of Glory

Wormwood and the Five Fingers of Glory: The Thief of Sepharvaim

      WWFFOG_001

Wormwood and the Five Fingers of Glory: Memento Mori
      WWFFOG_002

Wormwood and the Five Fingers of Glory: Dead Man’s Hand
      WWFFOG_003

Wormwood and the Five Fingers of Glory: Celery Farm
      WWFFOG_004

Wormwood and the Five Fingers of Glory: Left
      WWFFOG_005

Wormwood – Season 3, Part 2: Portraits

Wormwood Portraits: The Minstrel’s Tale

      WWPTS_001

Wormwood Portraits: The Queen’s Tale
      WWPTS_002

Wormwood Portraits: The Merchant’s Tale
      WWPTS_003

Wormwood Portraits: The Bishop’s Tale
      WWPTS_004

Wormwood Portraits: The Farmer’s Tale
      WWPTS_005

Wormwood Portraits: The Criminal’s Tale
      WWPTS_006

Wormwood Portraits: The Lover’s Tale
      WWPTS_007

Wormwood Portraits: The Hermit’s Tale
      WWPTS_008

Wormwood – Season 3, Part 3: Revelation

Wormwood: Revelation: Chapter One

      WREV_001

Wormwood: Revelation: Chapter Two
      WW_Rev_02

Wormwood: Revelation: Chapter Three
      WREV_003

Wormwood: Revelation: Chapter Four
      WW_REV_004

Wormwood: Revelation: Chapter Five
      WREV_005

Wormwood: Revelation: Chapter Six
      WREV_006

Wormwood: Revelation: Chapter Seven
      WREV_007

Wormwood: Revelation: Chapter Eight
      WWREV_08

—

Creators:
Wormwood is produced by Habit Forming Films, LLC, a dynamic film production company dedicated to producing uncompromising works of entertainment outside of the traditional Hollywood studio system.

The Habit Forming Films, LLC. Production staff includes:
Christa Nahhas (Executive Producer, Chief Financial Officer)
Dee Rogers (Associate Producer)

The Wormwood Creative Staff includes:
David Accampo (Co-creator/Executive Producer)
Jeremiah Allan (Staff Writer)
Jeremy Rogers (Co-creator/Executive Producer)
Lance Wolf (Illustrator)
Paul Montgomery (Staff Writer)
Rick Bata (Staff Writer)
Rob Allspaw (Staff Writer)
Tiffiny Whitney (Staff Writer)
Todd Hodges (Composer)

Cast:
Andrew Ramirez (Dexter Nolen)
Anna Maganini (Lynette Bradley, Peggy Nolen)
Arthur Russell (Doctor Xander Crowe)
Ben Boodman (Mister Carrefour, Chip Drexal)
Cheyenne Bsaies (Lemora Haskell, Katrina Edison)
Chris Blaylock (Doctor Pete Meno)
Dave Johnston (Deputy Drexal, Jonathan Kitter)
Joe J. Thomas (Hank Mason, Phineas Thibert)
Joy Vanides (Sister George)
Koralee Nickarz (Deidre Frost, Emily Saunders)
Nicole Rayburn (Harmony Barrister)
Peter Dirksen (Jimmy Details, Jonesy)
Rob Grindlinger (Sheriff Bradley, Cedric Bloomington, Don Marino)
Robert W. Allen (Special Agent Voitek)
Samantha Turk (Henrietta “Henry” Howe)
Scott Olynek (Jacob Kitter)
Sonia Perozzi (Sparrow, Rachel Nolen)
Zachary Foulkes (Brent Saunders, Charles Edison)

 

All content written and voiced by Joe J Thomas online at: JoeActor.com

 

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Bearly The Actor

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Bearly The Actor
(a children’s story for grown-ups)
written by: Joe J Thomas
Bearly The Actor - Book Cover

      Bearly The Actor - Joe J Thomas

In the magical land of Hollis Woods, there once lived a little guy named Bearly.
He worked in the daytime at the honey mines, where everyone treated him fairly.

He rented a smallish room in a hollow tree
In a town where very little came free

But Bearly’s dream was much bigger than that – an actor was what he wanted to be!
With fame and awards and lots of honey in a mansion down by the sea!
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How I Became a Hip-Hop Manager

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How I Became a Hip-Hop Manager

(a mostly true story by Joe J Thomas)

Hip-Hop JoeActor

I’m the manager of the biggest star in hip-hop. It’s not like I planned it. It just sort of happened. Let me start at the beginning…

I was on my way to Hollywood to see some friends perform Improv and standup comedy. I knew the name of the place, and that it was at Hollywood and Vine, but I’d never been there in person.
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