Cindy Odinga

Pulse Contributor

Working in customer service means being the first point of contact with customers.

Interacting with different personalities and addressing different challenges can be a great way of having one’s patience tested.

No two customers are the same but no matter the service industry, there are certain types of customers one will always meet.

<h3>The impatient one</h3>

This is the customer that is always in a hurry. They come in at 8:00 a.m. and expect to be done by 7:55 a.m. They do not understand the concept of a queue.

It doesn’t matter who came in before them, they need their services and they need it now. More often than not they are always waiting by the entrance hours before official store opening times.

<h3>The one never satisfied</h3>

You can go to the moon and back for this customer but it still won’t be enough for them. There is always something to complain about and most times it’s an irrelevant aspect.

This customer can even complain about the sun being too hot. The irony is they always come back for those same services they constantly complain about.

<h3>The one who tells you their life story</h3>

This customer is not particularly a bad one, they are just guilty of oversharing intimate details of their lives.

A few minutes of interaction with them will leave one with information of their cheating spouse or their week long constipation. Woe unto you if they come in 5 minutes to closing time.

<h3>The customer who is always bargaining</h3>

No matter how low the price is, this customer will always feel as though they are being ripped off. They are always on the lookout for sales, offers and coupons.

One could put out a “non-negotiable” sign but they will still want price cuts and discounts. It could be March 23rd but they’ll be asking about the 30% Valentine’s Day sale on body wash.

This is everyone’s favourite. They enjoy your products and services and rarely give negative reviews.

Despite what competitors are offering, they are not easily swayed. Oftentimes this customer is open to giving feedback. The best part, they recommend you to their friends and family thereby growing your business.

The customer who's always in a hurry, the one who tells you their life story and more.

Different types of customers you will meet when working in customer service

The end of a week spells different things for different people, women especially.

Some love it because they don’t have to work, others get to sleep in and rest while others get to do the things they wanted to do all week.

Here’s a look at what different Nairobi girls are up to on weekends.

While most people are looking forward to relaxing over the weekend, this girl is different.

For her, weekends are for deep cleaning. She will be up at the crack of dawn bringing out the entire family’s laundry.

Here's what different Nairobi girls are up to on weekends [Pulse Contributor's Opinion]

Woman cleaning kitchen counter in her home.

As if that’s not enough she will take down the curtains in the entire house and bring out all the blankets and duvets. You’ll wonder where she gets all that strength from.

She is probably an auditor at one of the top audit firms in Kenya because what is a weekend?

Busy Betty works 7 days a week 24 hours a day. There’s no such thing as 'weekend' in her dictionary.

More often than not she has to carry her work laptop home because there’s always some work to do. She has little to no social life but her bag is very secure.

She’s been in a relationship for 2 minutes but she swears he is her soulmate.

Every Friday evening she packs her bags and embarks on a journey to her boyfriend’s house, only to resurface on Monday morning.

Her entire weekend is spent performing wife duties for a man she met not too long ago. They are actually considering moving in together.

Character development chapter one loading.

The Life of the Party

Her calendar has been booked since the beginning of the year.

Whatever social event is happening, catch her there. Sometimes she is even juggling more than one event.

Photos from iPhxne DJ's Casablanca Day Party

YOLO (You Only Live Once) is her mantra and if you have nothing to do, call her. This girl is always ready for a party.

Despite throwing up and barely surviving a hangover on a Saturday night out, she will still show up for Sunday morning brunch.

She’s the definition of work hard, play harder.

If you ever hear someone complain that the weekend was too short, it’s probably her.

She spends the entire weekend in bed alternating between sleep and Netflix. She’d win gold if the world held sleeping championships.

She has no idea what day or time it is. It is no wonder by Sunday evening her laundry is not done and she has no time to get her hair done.

Don’t bother calling her phone on Sunday either, it will be on silent.

How do you like to spend your weekends? Which one of these girls did you resonate most with?

The foregoing is an Opinion Article submitted to Pulse Live Kenya for publication as part of the Pulse Contributors initiative.

Pulse Contributors is an initiative to highlight diverse journalistic voices. Pulse Contributors do not represent the company Pulse and contribute on their own behalf.

Should you wish to submit an Article to Pulse, do so via contributors@pulse.co.ke.

Cindy Odinga is a Kenyan creative, Digital content creator and a Style enthusiast. She is a lover of all things adventure and lives by the words, "If you obey all the rules, you'll miss all the fun."

Different activities Nairobi women do over the weekend

To many, weekends are the best thing!

Here's what different Nairobi girls are up to on Weekends [Pulse Contributor's Opinion]

Friendships are essential for every human being. We are naturally wired to seek social interaction.

Adult friendships are not easy and there are some things that can make them even harder or worse, end them.

A friendship is a relationship just like any other and it needs to be nourished. The parties involved have to consciously make efforts to sustain it.

In the age of social media and instant messaging it can be tempting to believe that’s all that’s needed.

The same way romantic partners go on dates to spice things up, make a point of going on friendship dates. It will help maintain that bond.

<h3>Violating boundaries</h3>

A sure way to end a friendship fast is failure to observe a friend’s personal boundaries.

Case in point is oversharing on social media. We all want to celebrate our friends’ huge milestones but it is important to acknowledge that our way of doing it may not be the same as theirs.

If a friend is not posting their engagement pictures, don’t post them. If you take a photo of them, be courteous enough to ask first before posting it.

A huge part of respecting boundaries also includes accepting a “no” from a friend. They are their own person and are allowed to decline things they don’t see fit.

It’s 2021 and it’s shoot your shot season but maybe not on your friend’s ex’s court.

Your friend may never look at you the same way. If you really value friendship then by all means, find someone else. Seven billion people in the world and you could only find your friend’s ex?

Cast your net deeper because there’s plenty of fish in the sea. What’s even worse is not telling them and they find out later on. Such relationships only complicate the dynamics of your friendship.

<h3>Moving in together</h3>

It sounds like the perfect plan but it’s a recipe for a disaster. You may end up hating someone you really cared about.

Moving in together means constantly being in each other’s space. If not handled well, that lack of privacy can breed resentment.

What if they are the friend who isn’t bothered by dirty dishes while you, on the other hand, can’t stand them?

The issue of finances and who buys what and pays what bill will also crop up and put an end to that beautiful connection. Just don’t do it.

<h3>Being too close to their partner</h3>

While it’s important to get acquainted with your friends’ significant others, clear friendship boundaries have to be drawn.

Being overly friendly will raise suspicion. It’s particularly crucial to not hang out with them without your friend.

Human beings can be very territorial with their partners and this will bring feelings of jealousy.

Arguably, it will be hard to maintain your loyalty to your friend when you are too close to their partner and nobody wants that.

You also don’t need to be messaging them or talking on the phone if not to plan a surprise party for your friend.

A good part of maintaining healthy adult friendships is also recognizing the end or various transitions of the friendship.

Life is happening and people are evolving. If it no longer fits its purpose, gracefully let it go.

5 toxic habits that could be ending your friendships

Adult friendships are not easy and there are some things that can make them even harder or worse, end them.

The year is almost coming to a close. Seriously, where has the time gone?

It’s been a bumpy and wild one so far with new trends that we love and hate.

If you haven’t heard of the term “Normalize”, it simply means accepting behaviour that was once considered to be 'weird' or 'unusual' as the new standard.

Seriously though before we close the year, here are some things we need to normalize as Kenyans:-

<ul><li>Recognizing Relationship Green Flags</li></ul>

A lot has been said about red flags. At this point we all have psychology degrees specializing in identifying narcissism. We can perfectly tell the difference between red and orange.

Therefore, the time has come to introduce a new colour, green. Green flags are the go-ahead signals to continue pursuing a romantic relationship.

5 habits Kenyans need to Normalize before 2021 is over [Pulse Contributor's Opinion]

These can include but are not limited to great communication even in times of trouble, ability to come to a compromise and being able to be your real authentic self around them. It’s not every day you should be looking out for red flags, recognize the green ones as well.

<ul><li>Hobbies NOT being Monetized</li></ul>

Over the years we have been taught and even read books on transforming your passion to profit.

While there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, it is entirely okay to just enjoy your hobby without necessarily turning it into a money-making venture.

Running a successful business requires studying the market, investing in business resources and a whole lot of time and commitment, mere passion won’t cut it.

Woman goes viral after knitting tank tops for chickens

Hobbies are a great way to escape everyday life and turning them into another work related responsibility may take out all the fun in it.

<ul><li>Male Grooming&nbsp;</li></ul>

I thought this was a conversation we were done having! Turns out a few gentlemen require a reminder.

Getting a pedicure and having your nails clipped does not make you less masculine. In fact not doing it makes you look unserious and unkempt.

Can we also normalize facial skin care routines for men? It’s time to ditch the good old water and “Arimis” and actually invest in proper skin care products. Your skin will thank you and the ladies will act accord.

<ul><li>Calling out Rude Customers&nbsp;</li></ul>

You’ve heard of the phrase “the customer is always right” but have you ever met the customer from hell?

It’s almost 2022, the customer is not always right.

While it is very crucial to deliver excellent customer service, we need to recognize that some customers will never be satisfied with any experience provided and it’s okay to let them get that service elsewhere.

If it were up to me, people who work in customer service would be allowed to fight one customer per day. Okay that’s a bit extreme but you get the drift.

<ul><li>Clubbing in Sneakers for Ladies</li></ul>

It’s Friday night and ladies just want to have fun. After a week of adulting and paying bills, it’s time to let loose but why does it have to be in heels?

Of course it’s not written in stone but it’s an unspoken rule that ladies must show up in sky high heels.

Sneaker Fest 2020: Sneakers enthusiasts, fashion icons gather for the first ever sneakers' festival in Nigeria

It only makes sense if you want to sip on some wine and sway a little. Tequila girls just want to rock their LBDs with a pair of Jordans without attracting bizarre looks. Other than comfort, you don’t risk a fractured skull from a night out.

Normalize whatever you need to normalize in your life. What did I miss on this list?

Which ones have been left out?

We see them on billboards and on the covers of respected magazines.

We see them on our screens attending glamourous events and we envy them because they seem to have the perfect life. After all, who wouldn’t want to be rich and famous?

The celeb lifestyle has been glorified all over but what they don’t often show is the downside of it all.

Personal Struggles

Stars who have grown up in the public eye have their own unique struggles.

More often than not, many say they would have preferred not to have been thrown into that world early on.

From insane working hours and having to still go to school and be a top student, most of them feel as though they were robbed off their childhood. It’s not uncommon to find <a href="https://www.pulselive.co.ke/entertainment/celebrities/celebrities-who-opened-up-on-battling-depression-or-being-suicidal-list/knpbn2p">they suffer mental disorders</a>, eating disorders and even struggle with substance abuse.

Performance Anxiety

Performance anxiety is also a struggle for our stars. It doesn’t matter how many times a singer has been on stage, the pressure to perform at their level best despite whatever is going on in their personal lives will always be high.

The audience is very unforgiving and will even boo a child. Being the center of attention with all eyes expecting a stellar performance will terrify even the most seasoned of performers.

To take the edge off their nerves some creatives resort to alcohol and drug abuse. It starts as a controlled behavior before slowly turning into a full blown addiction problem.

While they only sign up to share their art, they often don’t foresee the scrutiny that comes with it. Society puts unrealistic expectations on them.

What they wear, what they eat, how they look is made subject to harsh criticism. The same society that praises them can tear them down in seconds.

Celebrities are made out to be gods with no allowance for imperfection. We forget that they are just human at the end of the day.

Bullying celebrities on social media has become so rampant.

A regular person is able to post a picture or a status and go about their day. This is not the reality for celebrities.

Every word and every picture has to be carefully crafted. Otherwise they are subject to serious backlash and cancel culture. Even after careful posting, their words are sometimes taken out of context.

It can be very daunting to have people always waiting for you to mess up just to spew insults at you.

The loneliness that comes with fame is also not often talked about. There’s nothing worse than being a well known star yet having no one to turn to.

It could be as a result of having no time for friends and family or lacking real genuine people in their circles.

Old friends may no longer fit into their social status and the majority of the people hanging around them are there for their personal gains. They end up being surrounded by people yet remaining lonely.

It’s not always rainbows and sunshine in the world of fame. The glitz and glam come with their own set of problems.

Next time you can openly go to a supermarket without wild stares and scrutiny be grateful, it’s the dream for our stars. Remember to appreciate their art and extend some grace to them.

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Appreciate their art and extend some grace to them

5 struggles celebrities face you may never understand [Pulse Contributor's Opinion]

Every sexually active woman has at one point experienced the horror that is a pregnancy scare. This is when a woman who is not ready for a child believes she is pregnant, but later learns she is not.

<h3>Though extremely common, a pregnancy scare can be the most anxiety inducing experience.</h3>

It doesn't matter whether your period is late or you are not sure if the emergency contraception is working. It’s truly an experience that will try all your patience. What makes it worse is the fact that sometimes the early signs of pregnancy resemble PMS.

You start watching your body with hawk eyes, monitoring even the slightest change.

Feeling nauseous and fatigued are enough to send you into panic mode even though they just might be from a long day at work.

The first rule of thumb is don’t panic!

Seriously, the more you worry the longer you will have to wait for Aunt Flo to show up and that’s exactly what we are trying to stop.

Don’t go over to the internet either, you will only worsen an already nerve wracking situation.

What you want to do is check your calendar. There are many apps which can help you keep track of your menses and even key-in your sexual escapades. Figuring out your last period will help you track when your next period is expected and the correct time to take a pregnancy test.&nbsp;

Don't fixate on the scare. This may be the hardest task yet but as you are playing the waiting game, some distraction will do you good. Take on a task at work or even get yourself to the gym. This is the time to seek dopamine inducing activities to help your mood.

Don't keep it in, talk to someone you trust. It can be a close friend or a medical professional. Either way just talk to someone. It’s also okay to cry it out. Allow yourself to feel all the emotions. It doesn’t make you weak in any way. Crying might even help with some feel good hormones to ease your emotional pain

Lastly, take the damn pregnancy test. It’s natural to want to keep avoiding the truth but the only way to figure out if you’re actually pregnant is taking a test. Pee on that stick, preferably in the morning hours, a week after a missed period. This will guarantee the most accurate results. You don’t want to do it too soon and risk getting a false negative.

Three minutes and sweaty palms later, hopefully, the results are what you wanted.

No matter the outcome, acceptance is the way to go and it’s time to formulate a plan.

If it is just a case of a delayed period you might still want to see a doctor to ascertain the reason.

Don’t forget prevention is always better. You just got out of a torturous experience and you don’t want to go through it again next month.

If you are not looking to get pregnant, use a reliable method of birth control. There are so many choices out there and frankly, this is the best way to avoid a pregnancy scare.

Though extremely common, a pregnancy scare can be the most anxiety inducing experience.

5 things you should never do during a pregnancy scare

Ladies, I know we all dream of walk-in closets with designer wears and a full-time team of stylists whose job it is to ensure even at your worst you look your best but we can't all be Victoria Beckham.

Worse yet, fashion has seasons and sometimes your favourites may not necessarily be in for the season. Still, that's no excuse for looking like you're stuck in 2016.

So, for the ordinary woman on a budget, here are the five foundational wardrobe pieces that will elevate any look and make you look like a lifestyle influencer every time you step out.

<ul><li>A good fit, skinny Black Jeans</li></ul>

Black will always look effortlessly stylish and elegant. You don’t need to worry about matching colours because it works well with just about any other colour.

Influencer Milly Wa Jesus in a pair of well-fitting black jeans

The best thing about it is that you can go bold with your makeup and accessories without looking like you just came out of a clown circus. Bonus tip, a black pair of jeans is very flattering on all body types. It’s definitely a must have piece.

Gone are the days when t-shirts were only worn to bed. A good plain t-shirt in any colour is not only comfortable but when worn the proper way will spice up your look.

Influencer Maxine Wabosha rocking a stunning t-shirt look

There’s many different ways to style a basic tee depending on what look you are going for. To accentuate your curves then tucking it in will be perfect.

For a more chilled, laid back look, an oversized t-shirt over a pair of jeans is the way to go. A t-shirt that can be dressed up or down is essential for your closet.

A wardrobe is incomplete without this classic. The LBD has been there for generations and it’s not likely to go anywhere any time soon. Depending on the look you desire to achieve, there’s a little black dress for everyone.

Whether it's an off shoulder for a dressy look or a pull neck for a more formal look, this is a must have. Its versatility is unmatched!

You can wear it to the office on a Friday and still look the part later in the evening for happy hour. Seriously, you can never go wrong with a little black dress.

Statement blazers have a great way of making a simple outfit look like a lot of effort was put in.

To top it off you can play around with patterns for that chic look or make it plain to throw it on for a day at the office.

A patterned blazer will take your everyday white t-shirt and jeans outfit from basic to sexy in the snap of a finger. Throw it over a little black dress for that little razzle dazzle. You need a statement blazer, no buts about it.

This is the "jack of all trades" for shoes as far as everyday looks go. Whether you are going to work, the supermarket or even an afternoon outdoor date, some flat shoes will get the job done.

Hey, if you get chased down the street by a stray dog, guess what you need to save your life? Not some heels.

A pair of flat shoes made by Kenyan brand Re Afric

Seriously though, comfort is the name of the game and a good pair of flat shoes is the answer. They pair well with jeans and dresses. After a long day of strutting it in heels, you can reach out for a pair of flats from your bag.

These will never go out of style and they are pretty affordable too, not to mention the many designs and colours they come in.

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Wardrobe essentials this year

5 women's wardrobe essentials for 2021 [Pulse Contributor's Opinion]

Some say the twenties are your best years, others argue that to call them “best years” is too much pressure.

However you look at it, they are years filled with so much learning and unlearning.

There’s absolutely no manual to navigating your 20s but there are a couple of experiences we can all relate to.

Some people are born lucky. They meet their soulmates at 19, get married at 21 and have a whole “happily ever after” with their 2 children, a dog and a white picket fence.

<h3>Character development in relationships</h3>

For the rest of the population, by 25 you have gone through at least one relationship that nearly sent you to the ER. It was so bad you developed PTSD and swore off love even though that lasted three business days.

Nothing humbles you more than a toxic relationship in your 20s. It’s like a pop in your bubble when you learn that another human being could lead you to the psychiatric ward.

On the flip side, you start to understand more about developing boundaries. You learn what your own toxic traits are and how to work through them. If you are open enough, it can be a worthwhile experience.

<h3>Loneliness in your 20s</h3>

Nobody talks about the loneliness there is in your mid to late 20s. It’s a feeling of being surrounded by so many people yet having no one.

You are constantly learning new things about yourself. Your interests are changing by the day.

To top it off, all your friends are caught up in their own dramas and can’t be there for you in the way that you need them to be.

Maintaining friendships as an adult is a real chore, not to mention creating new ones.

Understanding that this isn’t personal and everyone is just on their different journeys will help you extend grace to yourself and your friends.

<h3>Uncertainty in your 20s</h3>

A quarter-life crisis is a period in a person's life, between the late twenties and early thirties that is characterised by anxiety, self-doubt and questioning the direction of one's life.

Cindy Odinga

Articles written by the author

Different types of customers you will meet when working in customer service

Here's what different Nairobi girls are up to on Weekends [Pulse Contributor's Opinion]

5 toxic habits that could be ending your friendships

5 habits Kenyans need to Normalize before 2021 is over [Pulse Contributor's Opinion]

5 struggles celebrities face you may never understand [Pulse Contributor's Opinion]

5 things you should never do during a pregnancy scare

5 women's wardrobe essentials for 2021 [Pulse Contributor's Opinion]

3 biggest markers of a quarter-life crisis

3 differences between millennials and generation Z

What a Nairobi man’s sneaker game says about him

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