I Was Your Customer

I was your customer

Becoming unemployed I now find myself walking into different organizations trying to sell myself, but at the same time I am also interviewing your company as a place I want to spend my future and my money (your customer) in your place of business. How I leave those interviews affects whether I remain your customer and How many more customers I take with me. So how did you do? Sorry some of you did not impress me, as I did not impress you. I recently received a credit card from one company-but the way I was treated after the interview led me to cut the credit card up, I will tell my friends, and family exactly why they should not shop there anymore. In this day and economy, can either of us afford to lose that many customers.

What I see- Who should I go to? Who is best able to help me with my problem? How much will it cost me? How do I know that you can help me?

To help me with my choice of which retailers to approach, I look, firstly, at your appearance: Your stores: Are they clean? Is the receptionist friendly? Does it "fit" my idea of what a business should look, feel like and smell like? I look at how your staff is dressed and how friendly they are when they see me nervously sitting in reception. Am I treated with respect and offered something to drink?

I see the recruiter I am going to interview with. How is he dressed? Do I get a good feeling about him from the way he walks and talks? Does he show confidence and is he friendly? I am nervous. When I walk into his office, I look around the room: Is it clean and orderly? Are there files all across his desk … an untidy desk is a sign of an untidy mind and … will my file be just another one lying on his desk? I am looking for signs of genuine interest and concern.

Add value
As far as I am concerned, all retailers offer the same type of service, so what makes me choose you? I am  impressed by your store and all the work put into your branding, advertising and brochures. I love the use of words such as "quality service", "excellence" and "Customer Care". All these fuzzy words give me the impression that you are focused on providing me with a quality service and my interest of a company I would be interested in working with. However, I caution you: At the moment of truth, if you fail to live up to the expectations created, your efforts will count for nothing. You have got me into your front door and I am prepared to spend my hard-earned money and the rest of my life with you, so now I want the best service, I want to experience the "added value' that you speak about… I demand a quality service. I want to hear why you are “THE BEST”

Remember this: I am a fickle customer or employee, as are your other customers and associates. If you promise me the moon and the stars, then I expect nothing less. I will remain your most loyal fan for so long as you give me what I want and what you have promised to deliver.


Funny thing, our relationship. When I am happy, I like to tell all my friends and family, even complete strangers. I like to share my good fortune with others and I know that I am the best marketing resource for my professional advisor. I will do anything to convince my friends to refer their business to them and I know that they will build life-long relations together. I do caution you again: While I am happy to promote you, if you fail me, I am also your worst marketing tool. I can take a few mistakes now and then … we are all human. The way you handle the mistakes will define you and our relationship. Make continuous mistakes and don't learn from them, I will look to leave you and begin to seek out a new professional advisor. I also have the habit to extol the bad experiences I encounter with friends and family and, I'm sure, they will think twice before using you.

Fail me
As your customer and employee, I hold the power of your future. You will have to work hard in everything you do to get me and my friends there. Make sure that the expectations you create in your marketing literature, you can meet. I do not like it when I am looked down upon or made to feel inferior. Tell me about your successes. I like to be associated with winners!
I like to be nice to people because - well, that's the way I am. I can ruin your business That’s why I can sit back and laugh when I see you spending all that money on marketing and advertising to get me back, when you could have kept me in the first place:

With a smile, a few kind words …a nice note.. a little service .Think about it.

Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

The secret of success is constancy to purpose. - Benjamin Disraeli

Who can really define what success is? They measure it across a few areas. It can be career, health, spiritual, emotional, time or financial. As an example, one can be successful in one’s career but not emotionally.  

Success means different things to different people. For some, monetary reward is a measure of success. Yet others have multiple definition of success. I want to succeed in being happy and it would make me happy to have a legacy of people I left behind who are very successful. Most people think success is a goal. I do not. I see success as a process. Most people define success only in terms of money. I do not. I think success is a combination of things -- health, happiness, material prosperity, love of family and friends, wisdom, influence, and fulfillment.

Here is how I know someone is successful -- If you are able to give from your abundance then you are successful. If you are able to donate money, spread happiness, inspire health, propagate love, share knowledge, motivate people, etc. then you are successful.

For me, I value time with my family. However, my work requires me to work late nights and long hours. I will need to adjust my own definition of success. Which would take priority? Unfortunately my success has been happiness and that was defined as working hard and feeling good about what I got done.

Is it that success means doing what makes you happy or that you're happy when you're successful? I'm leaning toward the first response.

I wonder if one's idea of success changes if they never really meet their goals. Each of us already has a definition of success, whether we realize it or not. To help you find it out, just close your eyes for a moment and imagine how a successful person looks like. Is he rich? Is he famous? Does he ride a limousine? Does he have a lot of friends? Well, whatever it is, that is your definition of success. That’s the image you are after to make yourself successful.

When defining your success, remember this important thing. Success is a journey. It has multiple peaks and not one ultimate pinnacle. One success builds on another. Setbacks and mistake will also help you build success. At different periods of your life, success is defined differently. within any industry. When they achieve a certain level of skills and knowledge and are respected by clients, business partners and industry peers – I have achieved some amount of success as far as my career is concerned. So think hard about your own definition of success.


Overall, I believe that you know you have achieved success when you reach the end of your life and you have no regrets, no qualms or grudges. In psychology they refer to this as "ego integrity." It's probably safe to say that all people work towards this sort of end.

This doesn't mean that you can't make mistakes in your life. Basically,  however, you should have done enough over your lifetime to be at peace with yourself in the end.

There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all. - Peter Drucker

Quality of Search is Never an Accident

“Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.” – quote from John Ruskin (1819 – 1900) “Success is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.”(Just Changing one word)

I know, it is just one word, but how powerful is this! Quality and success are not that far apart anyway. There is so much value in this quote …Success is the accomplishment, or as the dictionary says the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors. Success is the prosperous result of endeavors.

Without endeavors, there can be no success. To endeavor is, according to the dictionary: to exert oneself to do or affect something. An endeavor is never without direction, it has a goal, a desired outcome. Therefore, success cannot be achieved without endeavors and endeavors require goals, and then success requires goals as well.

 Goals are the result or the achievement toward which your efforts are directed. Success requires endeavors, endeavors require direction or goals, and goals are the desired outcome.If your life’s goal right now is to find a job, and you put all your effort to accomplish that goal, well then going to finding that right fit might just be called a success.

…it is always the result of high intention…
Intention: an act or instance of determining mentally upon some action or result. Therefore, success is the result of a high level of mental determination upon actions or results. What does this mean?

First, this means that you have to visualize what the desired result is going to be. What is the success that you are after? This is a mental process, imagine how life would look like if you already achieved what you want to achieve. Picture this in your mind’s eye, listen to the sounds, how does it feel? In addition, do this often to strengthen your vision.

Second, it means deciding upon taking action. You can visualize all you want and list goals on long ambitious lists, but unless you decide to take action, nothing will happen. Decide to do it! However, a decision to do something is not enough. You have to put in the energy. Action is the only way to get going and to achieve change! You really need to want to achieve your goals. I know, this sounds absurd, why wouldn’t you want to achieve your goals

• Decide upon a goal
• Check to see  if you’re willing to pay the price for it
• Visualize what the desired success will be
• Plan ahead and learned from the mistakes of your role models
• Take skillful action and learn from the magic of role models Rethink your goals. Success is not about the magnitude of your goals, it is about achieving them.

intelligent direction..So you have set your goals, you have decided to take action and you took action. Now start planning. The goal is the destination, and this part of the quote is about how to get there. Many roads lead to Rome, as the saying goes, but there are many roads that are unwise to take.

Find role models that have accomplished what you are aiming for. How did they get from where they were to where they are? What mistakes did they make, what setbacks did they have? Analyze them and prevent them from happening to you. Also, look at what they did that made the difference that brought them closer to their goals and learn from their success. You are not the first to go after this, why make mistakes others already made for you. Search this knowledge and use it wisely.And while you’re studying how these role models achieved their goals, also find out how they did it. What did they do, think, feel, see, and believe and so on. Contact one of those people and interview them or take up an “internship” to see how they perform their magic. Trust me; it is not magic when you see it from close by. Magic is skillful execution, or skillful execution equals magic.
Not everything needs to be directly in the direction of your goal. There also a lot of supporting actions that set roads to achieve success and they are never an accident. It represents the wise choice of many alternatives.” What are your choices? To success-

Effective networking is the tying together a group of individuals who trust and build relationships that become walking, talking advertisements for one another.

1.       Keep in mind that networking is about being genuine and authentic, building trust and relationships, and seeing how you can help others. It is a two-way street where all parties involved can feed and grow off each other.

2.       Ask yourself what your goals are in participating in networking meetings so that you will pick groups that will help you get what you are looking for. Most meetings seem based more on learning, making contacts, and/or volunteering rather than on strictly making business connections. Be sure you are involved.

3.       Visit as many groups as possible that spark your interest. Notice the tone and attitude of the group. Do the people sound supportive of one another? Does the leadership appear competent? Many groups will allow you to visit two times before joining.

4.       Hold volunteer positions in organizations. This is a great way to stay visible and give back to groups where you have received help. Offer feedback and suggestion to keep moving forward.

5.       Ask open-ended questions in networking conversations. This means questions that ask who, what, where, when, and how as opposed to those that can be answered with a simple yes or no. This form of questioning opens up the discussion and shows listeners that you are interested in them.

6.       Become known as a powerful resource for others. When you are a strong resource, people remember to turn to you for suggestions, ideas, names of other people, etc. This keeps you visible to them.

7.       Have a clear understanding of what you do and why, for whom, and what makes doing it special or different from others doing the same thing. In order to get referrals, you must first have a clear understanding of what you do that you can easily articulate to others.

8.       Be able to articulate what you are looking for and how others may help you. Too often, people in conversations ask, "How may I help you?" and no immediate answer comes to mind. Tell them what you have to offer-pay forward, what you bring to them.

9.       Follow through quickly and efficiently on referrals, you are given. When people give you referrals, your actions are a reflection on them. Respect and honor that and your referrals will grow.

10.   Call those you meet who may benefit from what you do and vice versa. Express that you enjoyed meeting them, and ask if you could get together and share ideas.

Inspiration of a 7 yr. Old Passion

To achieve anything in life you must first and foremost see the goal or dream having been fulfilled (achieved) in your mind and then all will come into focus to achieved those dreams and goals. All the best to you all today going after your dreams.I believe perseverance is a gift...effort is the verb, the proof...that you have that gift.Achievement really does come when you 'add' them together, right?
My Blog this month is not about what  is important in my life but about what other's dream in their life. I look to a 7  yr old boy this month and a recent article I read in the newspaper.He had a 5 yr. brother who had been attacked by Cerebral palsy . He had no use of his body or could not even talk. He  found a way to communicate by using his smile and desire for his brother's dream to do something together. The  7 year brother entered them in a contest involving swimming, running and biking knowing, if they were to finish it was up to him. The mother had doubts, but found a way because she believed in  Conner who said  "They could do it " . Sometimes I wish I had the courage and faith to think the only thing that is unthinkable is worrying about leaving someone behind (mostly myself). We can all learn a lesson from a young boy who is wise well above his years of 7 saying "if I put effort into it and say I can , then I can"  and  Cayden can too-- Conner Young 7 yrs old. Read the article-this is my inspiration. I now believe I can.

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110613/LIFE01/306130018/Kids-triathlon-strengthens-brothers-bond

Networking for Life: You’ve Got to Kiss A lot of Frogs

Networking for Life: You’ve Got to Kiss A lot of Frogs: "A good friend sent this to me today and I thought I’d pass it on… I took a some liberty to change one word in this bit – “sales” to “networ..."

WHO AM I ?

I am your constant companion. I am your greatest helper or your heaviest burden. I will push you ownward or drag you down in failure. I am completely at your command. Half the things you do might just as well turn over to me and I will be able to them quickly and correctly. I am easily managed-you must merely be firm with me. Show me exactly how you want something done and after a few lessions I will do it automatically. I am the servant of all great men: and alas, of all failures as well.  Those who are great, I have made great. Those who are failures, I have made failures. I am not a machine, though I work  with all the precision of a machine plus the intelligence of a man. You may run me for profit or run me for ruin-it makes no difference to me. Take me,train me, be firm with me, and I will place the world at you feet. Be easy with me and I will destroy you. WHO AM I?   I am a Habit!

Pick Yourself Up and Keep Going

Have you found yourself disappointed, disgusted or discouraged with something in your diabetes or non-diabetes life?  Have you fell a little short of your goals?  How did you pick yourself up and just keep going?

For a while now I’ve been trying to get into a regular exercise routine, eat a better diet, and lose these many many pounds that have crept on over the past few years.  Actually, the pounds have been creeping on over more than a few years, gradually enough that I didn’t even realize how big I had gotten.  It’s almost as if I have fallen asleep and I suddenly wake up trapped in a body I don’t recognize and stuffed into sizes of clothes that used to hang off me.

“Like diabetes, losing weight is about picking yourself up & starting all over again”

The more I thought about it, the more I realized this was true.  Diabetes knocks us down, beats us up and disappoints and disgusts us over and over again.  But we pick ourselves up and start again - because that is the only option we have.  Diabetes isn’t going anywhere, so we learn to deal with the hardships and just keep going.  Why not take that lesson into other tough aspects of our lives?