Elf Tips – SantaTrackers.net

Getting Verified

November 9, 2024/3 Comments/in Elf Tips, Tracking News/by Elf Moe

As Elf Max has mentioned, we have been taking a look at Elf verification, what it means and how to get verified as an elf.

Most new elves want to become verified right away. We understand that.

But for verification to mean something for elves new and old, we need to explain it. This information is so vital that we’re placing it in Elf University. We want it to be part of your elf training.

That is because most new elves in their first year will NOT get verified.

Why? Millions of people come here wanting to be elves. But they come and don’t participate in anyway and never come back after their first year as an elf.

In other words, they really aren’t serious about being an elf.

So why waste time verifying them?

Please read this page if you want to become verified.

Verification is not something you ask for or apply for any more. It is a designation your Elf Supervisor gives you. It means you are legit. You are trusted, as an elf. And only elves who do their part will ever get verified.

Questions? Ask in the comments below or on the Elf Wall.

Thanks.

Stocking Mail is NOT for Tracking

November 28, 2023/6 Comments/in Christmas Newswire, Elf Tips, Santa Tracker Herald Star, Sector 1, Sector 2, Sector 3, Sector 4, Sector 5, Tracking News/by Elf Ed Zachary

At some point in the upcoming weeks there will be a conversation over at SantaUpdate.com about Stocking Mail. It usually generates confusion.

Unfortunately that confusion starts here in the tracker elf community.

So we wanted to put something out about it now so that mistakes can be avoided in the weeks ahead.

The North Pole Post Office is charged with getting Santa his mail, no matter where he is and no matter what date, time or place it may be.

Most of the time that is best handled online. Yes, many still write hand-written letters. But as time and technology has advanced messaging for Santa comes in many forms: texts, emails, messages, faxes, etc.

Several years ago the North Pole Research and Development Department invented a ground-breaking new messaging system we call Stocking Mail. When implemented the system uses a Christmas stocking as kind of a portal. If a note is put in the stocking at the right time when the system is engaged that message gets transmitted to the North Pole Post Office and thus to Santa.

Pretty cool, right?

Well, here’s what you need to understand about it.

It’s not perfect. It can only handle paper. If things are written on plastic or cloth or something else it doesn’t work. Some have tried to send Santa other things via stocking mail, like cookies or food for the reindeer. That stuff doesn’t work either. In fact it all gums up the system.
It only works when the system is turned on. Turning it on is a complex process that requires special facilities, lots of technical equipment and thousands of elves. For the reason, it only gets turned on for a brief period of time each year. Usually, when Elf Hugo contacts Santa to say that time or other resources are running low to keep other messaging options flowing, that is when Stocking Mail is activated. It does not get activated until and unless Santa approves it.
Stocking Mail is NOT for transmitting any kind of information except messages for Santa. It could be a wish list or some sort of note for Santa – but that’s it. It is NOT for sending tracking information for Flight Command. Don’t do it. They will never see it. You must communicate with North Pole Flight Command as directed at SantaTrackers.net.

We want all tracker elves to know and understand the proper use of Stocking Mail. You should be prepared to explain it to “normies” out there when it is activated come December 23^rd and December 24^th.

Of course, the News Department at the North Pole will do their part in trying to communicate how it all works. But you know that people don’t read everything we put out. Sometimes you just have to tell them.

Stocking Mail is most useful for the little ones. They will frequently change their minds about what they want for Christmas. Or, they will remember something at the last minute that they just want Santa to know. This is why Stocking Mail was invented.

If properly used and implemented, Stocking Mail will transmit information to Santa from any stocking anywhere in the world directly to him, even while he is on the sleigh. Frequently, Stocking Mail isn’t even utilized until Santa has taken off from the North Pole.

Have questions? As them here, in the comments below or on the Elf Wall. We want everyone to understand this.

If I Were a Brand New Elf

November 12, 2023/11 Comments/in Christmas Newswire, Elf Tips, Tracking News/by Elf Crash Murphy

Howdy to all our new tracker elves.

My name is Elf Crash Murphy, just in case you didn’t know. I have two main jobs as an elf. First, I’m a North Pole Radio News elf and my assignment every year is to follow behind Santa in a sleigh and report on the radio whatever I see happening as Santa flies and delivers. I’ve done this for many, many years.

Second, I’m the International Director of Santa Trackers and I’m new in the job. So I understand what it feels like to be the new elf.

I recently had a conversation with a brand new elf who was confused and had a lot of questions. It made me think back to when I was a brand new elf working for Santa.

So, I thought it would be best today to share with you my thoughts about what you need to do as a brand new elf. In fact, I may just make a podcast with my radio partner, Elf Frank Myrrh, to talk about this some more.

Anyway, here’s what you should do step-by-step if you are a brand new elf:

1. Relax. Elf life is fun and if you can’t have fun, you can’t be an elf. You’re not going to learn how to do this in one day or even one Christmas. So chill.

2. Forget about going to the North Pole and riding in Santa’s sleigh. Yes, it could maybe possibly in a billion years could sorta might happen perhaps. But you shouldn’t make that what you think about all the time. There is a lot to learn before you get to that level.

3. You only need to know 50 billion things, even as a tracker elf. So get used to the idea of coming to the website, reading like a mad scientist, talking to other elves, and figuring out how to be an elf in you real life. It all takes time.

4. Go to Elf University and study.

5. If you have questions, go to the Elf Wall and ask them. As elves we all help each other.

6. Listen to every podcast ever made both here at SantaTrackers.net and at SantaUpdate.com

7. Listen to Kringle Radio. Everyday.

8. Drink eggnog. Everyday.

9. Come to the websites: SantaTrackers.net, SantaUpdate.com and NorthPoleFlightCommand.com as often as you can. Especially when it is not Christmas. We are here year round and stuff happens year round that affect us when we track Santa.

10. Know your sector. Knowing where you are on the map is important because you have an Elf Supervisor in your sector who tells you what North Pole Flight Command needs from us. If you don’t know all this you can’t help Santa.

Does this help?

I dunno. I know many elves get here and they see how much it takes to learn and they give up.

Just don’t give up. It’s those elves who don’t give up that actually make it to the North Pole and get to ride in a sleigh (like me).

Getting Your Elf Profile Right

October 19, 2023/4 Comments/in Elf Tips, Sector 1, Sector 2, Sector 3, Sector 4, Sector 5, Site Support, Tracking News/by Elf Moe

Fellow Elves in the Service of Santa,

We’re getting busier. With new elves comes a bit of chaos. There are questions and concerns. I appreciate the help of elves who have been here in years past to help bring the new elves up to speed.

As we work with new elves I’m asking ALL elves to please do the following:

1. Update your profile. To do that, go to “Elf Profile” under the login button at the top.

2. On the submenu bar click on the down arrow on the right and select “Profile Settings”:

3. On that page select the green icon for “Profile Avatar”. This is the little picture that represents YOU. Every elf needs an avatar. If you can’t find one or don’t have one, please let me or Max or really anyone know, we’ll help you get one.

4. Once that is set up go to the pink icon on the Profile Settings page. This is the “cover” for your profile – the long horizontal picture that serves as the background on your profile header. That image needs to be larger than 1350 px wide and at least 350 px tall. Again, if you don’t have one, let me know and we’ll help you get one.

5. Then go into the Elf Info area and add the word “Elf” in front of your name. For example, my name is Moe so my elf info says “Elf Moe” in the name field. Every elf MUST have the word “Elf” in front of their name.

If your profile is not updated to these specs before Sunday October 22nd your account will default to “retired”, which limits your site access. You don’t want that if you want to be active tracking Santa for Santa in the months ahead.

Retired accounts CAN be restored within 90 days. But to restore it you need to be prepared to get your elf profile in line with the above.

Retired accounts are deleted after 90 days.

This is just elf business. It’s nothing personal. Santa likes a tidy house and this just helps keep things in order.

If you have any questions, please ask. We’re here to help.

All About Santa’s Reindeer

October 20, 2021/2 Comments/in Elf Tips, Tracking News/by Elf Max

We had a chance to meet with Elf Victor, head elf of reindeer operations, in Elf Chat this week and this is how the conversation went:

Elf Max	Thanks for joining us. Today we have a very special guest, Elf Victor, long time head elf of Reindeer Operations at the North Pole
Elf Victor	Thank you for having me.
Elf Max	Victor, before we get into the stuff we have planned, we are getting lots of questions about Donner
Elf Victor	I know, I know
Elf Max	Well….what do you know? When will he be back to the North Pole?
Elf Victor	Donner’s okay. He’ll be here in plenty of time. There is no need to worry.
Elf Max	Well, I think people want to know why he’s not there when all the other reindeer are.
Elf Victor	To be honest with you, that’s something Santa knows more about than me. I have my hands full with all the others.
Elf Max	Do you think we shouldn’t have said that Donner wasn’t there?
Elf Victor	No, I think Santa’s policy about being honest in all things is always best.
Elf Max	But does hiding details make it honest?
Elf Victor	Nobody is hiding details. I just told you I don’t have details other than Santa said not to worry about it.
Elf Max	So does that mean only Santa knows what is going on?
Elf Victor	Yes, as far as I know. I certainly don’t know. I love Donner, he and I have worked together for hundreds of years. If Santa says there are no worries, then there are no worries. I’m guessing Donner has a family thing or something going on and that it is really not a story.
Elf Max	Okay. The crush of these questions is tremendous.
Elf Victor	Yes, I get it. Not a day goes by without the questions.
Elf Max	Ok, hopefully we will know something soon.
Elf Victor	Hopefully.
Elf Max	Without Donner there at the North Pole has there been irregularities to the reindeer routine?
Elf Victor	No, not at all because the routine doesn’t begin until we’re into the post-Thanksgiving period. It’s about a 30-day training routine that includes the reindeer game. Before then we are doing things like long conditioning
Elf Max	What’s long conditioning?
Elf Victor	That is where we look at injuries or stress that happened to the reindeer from last season or even beyond. Some of these reindeer, like Donner, are getting a little old, even for reindeer
Elf Max	How long can reindeer live?
Elf Victor	Well, these are Santa’s reindeer we’re talking about so there is not much that is normal about them
Elf Max	Ok, now we’re getting somewhere. How are Santa’s reindeer different than regular reindeer?
Elf Victor	Well, how is Santa different from a regular person?
Elf Max	I don’t know how to answer that.
Elf Victor	And I don’t know how to exactly explain how Santa’s reindeer are different. But they are. That’s all I know.
Elf Max	Santa’s says you are the foremost expert on reindeer in all the world.
Elf Victor	Well Santa is very kind. That’s what the sort of stuff kind men say.
Elf Max	Well, if you can’t explain how Santa’s reindeer are different then who can?
Elf Victor	Isn’t it enough to just say they are Santa’s reindeer and leave it at that?
Elf Max	You’re comfortable with that? Aren’t you the least bit curious?
Elf Victor	Of course, I am. But not like when I was a much younger elf. I’m old now, even for an elf. But I’ve come to realize that we don’t need to explain every bit of mystery and magic about what goes into Santa.
Elf Max	A lot of people won’t accept that.
Elf Victor	Well, I know. That’s too bad. Those who reject the magic of Santa deny themselves the real flavor of life.
Elf Max	What do you mean?
Elf Victor	I mean that we don’t leave this world understanding everything. I mean, why is every snow flake unique? That’s a good question but is my life going to change if I can wrap my head around that simple little mystery?
Elf Max	So you’re saying it is okay that we don’t know the secret to Santa’s reindeer?
Elf Victor	Yes, I’m saying its okay.
Elf Max	But I want to know.
Elf Victor	Of course you want to know. But here’s the problem. You already do know. Santa comes. Every year. You can’t deny that can you?
Elf Max	Of course not. I believe.
Elf Victor	Ok, since you know that then you know that Santa has reindeer. Very special reindeer that can fly. They are part of how he does what Santa does. We cannot deny that, can we?
Elf Max	No sir.
Elf Victor	Ok. So you know it’s true and that it happens. Who cares if you don’t know every detail like how reindeer fly or getting around the world in one night?
Elf Max	Ok, I can accept that.
Elf Victor	That’s the deal right there: acceptance. Like the Donner thing. If Santa says he’s ok, well, then I’m accepting of that and I will just wait for Donner to show up and when he does we’ll get down to work.
Elf Max	Well, what if Donner doesn’t show up until Christmas Eve?
Elf Victor	Then we’ll figure it out.
Elf Max	Simple as that?
Elf Victor	Simple as that. Things always work out. Even when things go wrong, things work out.
Elf Max	Did Santa tell you that?
Elf Victor	No, just years of experience. But I can tell you Santa thinks much the same way.
Elf Max	How long have you and Santa known each other?
Elf Victor	Oh golly, most my life.
Elf Max	Were you always an expert on reindeer?
Elf Victor	No, but I’ve pretty much always worked with reindeer as an elf. From the very beginning.
Elf Max	Are the reindeer as old as you?
Elf Victor	Oh, they are much older. I don’t know the whole story but I know some of it.
Elf Max	Can you share all you know?
Elf Victor	Nope. That’s the honest truth. There’s some details I just cannot tell you. There are also details I just don’t know. But I will tell you all I can about how reindeer work and what tracker elves need to know about them in order to do their job.
Elf Max	Ok, fair enough. I appreciate that. Do tracker elves really need to worry about the reindeer?
Elf Victor	Not much and not usually. However, a tracker elf is an elf. So they need to be ready to contribute in any way possible.
Elf Max	What does that mean?
Elf Victor	Well, many years before you joined us Santa had a little emergency in Latvia. He needed some help and he needed an elf. The closest elf to him just happened to a tracker elf in Latvia.
Elf Victor	So Santa asked him up on the sleigh to help him lift some stuff. Santa, you see, suffered a fall. Broke a rib and sprained an ankle. He needed another pair of hands. There just happened to be a tracker elf nearby.
Elf Max	No way!
Elf Victor	Yes, it does not happen a lot but it can happen.
Elf Max	How could a tracker elf possibly help with reindeer? I would be scared of doing something wrong.
Elf Victor	Most of the time it’s just a matter of being prepared with food and water. A lot of people think of Santa and leave him cookies and milk. But they forget all the reindeer. We expect our trackers to think of the reindeer.
Elf Max	So that’s why we get so much instruction about what reindeer can eat and drink?
Elf Victor	Yes, that’s right. It is an elf’s duty to see that the reindeer always have the right kind of things to eat and drink available, especially when Santa is on his trek.
Elf Max	We should probably write that into the training somewhere.
Elf Victor	That’s a good idea. But I think most serious trackers already know this.
Elf Max	You mentioned an elf had to help Santa when he got injured. What about a reindeer? How does an elf know what to do when or if a reindeer gets injured?
Elf Victor	We don’t expect that. But we do expect an elf to get hold of us at the North Pole and that whoever receives messages from tracker elves response to such an emergency message appropriately.
Elf Max	Victor, this is really good information. Thank you for sharing it with us today.
Elf Victor	Thank you for allowing me to. I always love to discuss Santa’s reindeer.
Elf Max	We’ll do it again then!

Questions from New Tracker Elves

October 17, 2021/2 Comments/in Elf Tips, Tracking News/by Elf Max

Questions from new tracker elves was the topic of today’s chat with Elf Crash Murphy, considered by many to be the foremost Santa tracker in all the world. Elf Crash trails Santa on a chaser sleigh every Christmas in his role as the eye in the sky reporter for North Pole Radio News. He is also an acclaimed trainer in the Santa Tracker Elf Program.

Here is the transcript from today’s chat:

Elf Max	Hi all – our chat with Elf Crash Murphy will being at the top of the hour
Elf Crash Murphy	Hiya Max!
Elf Max	Hi Crash, thanks for being with us
Elf Max	Today we’re going to take questions from new tracker elves
Elf Crash Murphy	Ok
Elf Max	I have a lot that have come in via message, as we have some elves who cannot be here today
Elf Crash Murphy	That’s ok
Elf Crash Murphy	I will try to help as best I can
Elf Max	Elf Sugar Cookie has several questions
Elf Max	This is the first: On Christmas Eve, will Santa’s position on the map be moving on its own, or will we need to refresh the page?
Elf Crash Murphy	That question might be better for you Max, it’s a website question
Elf Max	Yes, the page refreshes I believe every 30 seconds
Elf Crash Murphy	Yes, but it depends on which browser you’re using.
Elf Max	Oh really?
Elf Crash Murphy	Yes, not all browsers are alike, especially on a phone
Elf Max	True, and that’s driven by javascript and that could be disabled in a lot of browsers with pop-up control
Elf Crash Murphy	So if folks allow popups on this site it would work?
Elf Max	Yes, it should
Elf Crash Murphy	Really good question!
Elf Max	Very good question.
Elf Max	Here’s another:
Elf Max	Would I be able to access the same North Pole Radio News reports on santaupdate.com that would be broadcast on the radio, or would I need to be tuned into the Santa Tracker Channel for the best results?
Elf Crash Murphy	They will be available individually when news is posted at SantaUpdate.com
Elf Max	Yes, but only at SantaUpdate – all other sites will have the stream
Elf Max	Sugar Cookie also asked this:
Elf Max	Would supervisor check-ins be affected if I am at work on the 22nd or 23rd? (Given the nature of my job, I’d be able to check in, but things like chimney and roof inspections would be impossible until I get home.)
Elf Crash Murphy	Wow, Sugar Cookie is really asking GREAT questions
Elf Max	Sugar Cookie is the best!
Elf Crash Murphy	I did some training with all the elf supervisors a couple of weeks ago
Elf Crash Murphy	And Sugar Cookie describes a very common situation. Christmastime is very busy
Elf Crash Murphy	So we talked about that with the Supes
Elf Crash Murphy	I think we’ll see some report requests go out early
Elf Crash Murphy	Things like roof reports and chimney inspections can really be done even as far as a week before Christmas
Elf Crash Murphy	In fact, there was a lot of talk about getting them done and out of the way
Elf Crash Murphy	It’s just that we get so many new elves in those last few days before Christmas
Elf Crash Murphy	So everyone needs to be a little flexible
Elf Crash Murphy	We also know many of our trackers take all this information very seriously
Elf Crash Murphy	And they want to work work work in those last few days
Elf Crash Murphy	They’ll stay up late to watch the news when Santa launches
Elf Crash Murphy	And then to miss getting some important sleep
Elf Crash Murphy	Worse, some might even skip family events
Elf Crash Murphy	And we don’t want elves to do that.
Elf Crash Murphy	You check in when you can, elves. And you do what you can. But not at the expense of your family and the time you spend doing things together
Elf Max	Here’s another from Sugar Cookie – As a tracker elf, I plan on staying away from any Santa tracker map that isn’t the official one. With that being said, one notorious tracker has some fun Christmas games on their website. Would I still be able to play those if I stay away from the tracker portion?
Elf Crash Murphy	Well, yes, of course that’s okay.
Elf Crash Murphy	We want everyone to have fun
Elf Crash Murphy	I don’t see a problem with that.
Elf Max	Crash, what are we going to do when people come here and see our map doesn’t match the maps of the other guys?
Elf Crash Murphy	What do you mean what are we going to do?
Elf Max	I’m sure elves will come here in chat and try to compare
Elf Crash Murphy	Well, let them, Max. Those aren’t serious elves. I don’t know how anyone has time on flight day to be checking and comparing maps
Elf Crash Murphy	What we have here comes from the North Pole
Elf Crash Murphy	From Santa’s elves…
Elf Crash Murphy	Not from some yahoos in army uniforms.
Elf Crash Murphy	No disrespect to those guys of course
Elf Crash Murphy	But there’s no way they can know where Santa really is, because their technology is flawed.
Elf Crash Murphy	Santa’s going to have 200 million elves out there and 400 years of advanced technology those clowns have never heard about
Elf Crash Murphy	Any elf checking those maps is wasting their time, and that makes them less than an elf.
Elf Max	Gee, Crash. You’re pretty passionate about that.
Elf Crash Murphy	Yeah, sorry. I just don’t understand some people I guess
Elf Max	They say we all become tracker elves on Christmas Eve
Elf Crash Murphy	Yes, that is true. By the time Santa takes off most of our other work is all done. I think it is only natural to look after Santa
Elf Max	I have a question here from a workshop elf, Crash
Elf Crash Murphy	Really? Like, you mean, Santa’s Workshop?
Elf Max	Yeah, it’s verified
Elf Crash Murphy	Ok, fire away
Elf Max	I won’t give her name
Elf Crash Murphy	Alright
Elf Max	She asks: After Santa leaves I worry about maybe a mistake I might have made on something done earlier in the year. I can’t escape it. I worry like you wouldn’t believe that Santa will see a mistake on something I made
Elf Crash Murphy	Oh no
Elf Max	Yes, that’s kind of a sad question, isn’t it?
Elf Crash Murphy	Yeah, it is very sad.
Elf Max	What do you say to that?
Elf Crash Murphy	Well, look. I travel behind Santa doing the news
Elf Crash Murphy	Santa has a full sleigh and it’s a busy kind of vehicle
Elf Crash Murphy	But do you know what I carry in my sleigh – well, besides me and my pilot?
Elf Max	No what?
Elf Crash Murphy	Tools. Supplies. Stuff Santa can use to fix problems or mistakes
Elf Max	Really?
Elf Crash Murphy	Yes, I mean, heck. Even Santa makes mistakes
Elf Max	He does?
Elf Crash Murphy	Yes, he drops things like crazy. It’s not easy flying in a sleigh with those mittens on he uses and it is even worse when handling things
Elf Max	So things break or need fixing?
Elf Crash Murphy	All the time.
Elf Max	Wow, Crash. That’s really interesting.
Elf Crash Murphy	Santa has a lot to think about up there.
Elf Crash Murphy	You want to know what one of his biggest challenges is?
Elf Max	What would that be?
Elf Crash Murphy	Batteries. Santa misses the batteries all the time. It happens.
Elf Max	Oh sure. I guess that makes some sense
Elf Crash Murphy	Listen, Santa also always says something to me before we take off – every year.
Elf Max	What does he say?
Elf Crash Murphy	He says – it’s not a race and if we mess up we can always go back.
Elf Max	Santa says that?
Elf Crash Murphy	He does.
Elf Max	Why? That seems a little weird to me.
Elf Crash Murphy	Not to me, Max. Santa doesn’t want to mess up either. He worries. He doesn’t want anyone to feel left out. And with a whole world to serve it’s easy to make a few mistakes.
Elf Max	Golly.
Elf Crash Murphy	I know, right?
Elf Max	Yeah, that’s some pressure!
Elf Crash Murphy	Yes, it is. So I know where that workshop elf is coming from. Great question.
Elf Max	Well, we have another question from a North Pole elf about tracking Santa
Elf Crash Murphy	Really? Wow, this is not what I expected today.
Elf Max	This is from an elf in the medical center. Works for Dr. Lionel
Elf Crash Murphy	Ok.
Elf Max	He asks, “With it being cold and flu season I usually work right up until Christmas Eve. But to be honest, I don’t know how to track Santa. Is it too late for me to learn?”
Elf Crash Murphy	Oh goodness, what an awesome question
Elf Max	I think that’s a pretty good question too
Elf Crash Murphy	I would say this, Max
Elf Crash Murphy	I would say that this is what Elf supervisors are for.
Elf Crash Murphy	Elves coming in late like that don’t have time to read all the training stuff
Elf Crash Murphy	They need simple, direct tasks where they can help
Elf Crash Murphy	Without having to worry about a bunch of training
Elf Crash Murphy	And all they really need to know is that they can look at the map to see where Santa is and then check their sector page for direction from their elf supervisor
Elf Max	Well, but Crash — and this question is from me. What sector are North Pole Elves in?
Elf Crash Murphy	They’re in every sector
Elf Max	Huh – wat?
Elf Crash Murphy	Yeah, they help everywhere. That’s part of being a North Pole elf.
Elf Crash Murphy	And when it comes to tracking Santa, it’s really helpful
Elf Crash Murphy	Elves at the North Pole work round the clock so when they get off it can be at any time
Elf Crash Murphy	All they need to do at the North Pole is login, the website will recognize them by the timestamp on their login
Elf Crash Murphy	And they will be auto-assigned to a supervisor based on the area with the biggest need
Elf Max	But how does an elf at the North Pole help with issues in, say, Italy?
Elf Crash Murphy	They don’t. The website and the supes know where the elves are from. So, knowing an elf is from the North Pole, they might get a different kind of task instead of a traffic report or weather report or any other thing specific to a location
Elf Max	Well, like what?
Elf Crash Murphy	Well they might be asked to communicate something to an elf in a remote location
Elf Crash Murphy	Or they might need to help forward pictures that come in
Elf Crash Murphy	Or maybe to help re-direct a sleigh
Elf Crash Murphy	There are a million and one things that come up on a flight. There’s more than enough work for everyone
Elf Max	Wow, Crash, that’s really interesting
Elf Max	Our time is up. Any final advice?
Elf Crash Murphy	Well, I’d just remind everyone that it is October still
Elf Crash Murphy	And we have lots of time left to learn and to train
Elf Crash Murphy	And most of our elves will not even be coming on board until December
Elf Crash Murphy	So there are a lot more chats to come.
Elf Max	Ok Crash. Great talk. Thanks for being here today
Elf Crash Murphy	Thanks for having me. Bye y’all

Recruiting Elves is Going Well

August 2, 2021/3 Comments/in Elf Tips, Tracking News/by Elf Roger Star

My Fellow Trackers of Santa: the recruiting of elves is going very well. Many of you do not seem to think so. Some of you feel the goal set by Santa is too high. I’m writing today to teach you a little bit about keeping up with the numbers.

Below is a chart that shows how many elves we recruited last year. The only thing to see in this chart is that the numbers for last year are different. In the end, the trend you see in the chart will be very similar to this:

You will note that our growth curve last year was pretty steady until the end of November – then it exploded in the month of December.

Let’s talk a little about that. The numbers recently released has some of you concerned. Some of you are feeling a little discouraged by both the recent results and the big goal that Santa has set.

That is the wrong reaction, elves. You should be happy. In fact, you should be giddy and gleeful and over-the-moon insanely nuts about what has happened so far.

Why?

Well, you cannot look at the percentages and say “Gee, we could do better”. If we worked on percentages alone, a 4% increase from June to July does not look great. But look closer and what do you see? You see that Sector 1 added almost 400,000 elves from June to July.

Last year, in Sector 1, from June to July, only 74,514 elves were added.

Can you see the difference? On a percentage basis the growth is not that great. But on a real head count basis it’s off the charts – a record breaker!

This is good news. Any growth is good news. But I tell you this is more than just “any growth”. It is insane growth.

Santa was a genius to come up with this goal. Without it, we would not be doing as well as we are doing.

Now, over the course of the next several days your elf supervisor in every sector will be sharing the numbers – just as Elf Randi and Elf Tubby have already shared. I am meeting with each one. I will continue to meet with each one.

I am telling them – and I am telling you – don’t worry too much about the numbers. Do the best you can. That is all Santa asks.

As the chart above shows, we are never going to meet the goal with big months before December. It has never happened and it will not happen this year.

I will tell you this: I wouldn’t trade a SINGLE elf we recruit in December for those we get in the months before. Focus on finding believers who want to be elves. Do not waste your time with non-believers, mockers, bullies and those who scorn. Our best elves are recruited between now and Thanksgiving.

Why is that?

Human nature, I suppose. A lot of people will scoff at talking about Christmas in August. Let them scoff. Those same people will be back the week before Christmas begging to become elves.

They won’t be great elves, like you are. They won’t fully understand how to track Santa for Santa, like you do. You are here now. You are learning the way. You will be ready in ways they never can be from coming on board just a few days before Christmas.

Keep your head screwed on straight. We are doing very well. Most sectors are reporting similar numbers. They are nothing to scream about on a percentage basis. But on a real head count basis they are impressive and happy numbers.

If things are not going well, I will send that message personally.

But I am here today to tell you things are going GREAT. I do not anticipate that to change. Trust Santa. Trust the numbers. Trust yourself.

Thank you.