August 23, 2013 Simple Things Make Life Worth Living You ever overthink a problem? Hire consultants to help you figure things out? Go round and round with committees, dancing around issues but never coming up with solutions? Planning forever but never implementing? Pretty frustrating, huh? Quoting Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi from the song mentioned in this blog title, “I don’t claim to know all the answers.” However, I can offer a few suggestions. Often, the simple solution is the best one. Lots of sayings have sprouted around this one (i.e. KISS, if it barks like a dog, etc.) and for good reason. The straightforward answer is often the easiest and most…
May 21, 2013 How Do You Love Your Clients? Do you put yourself in your clients’ shoes? Are you empathetic? Can you feel their stress, pain and worry? How else will you be able to help them if you don’t become them? At least for a while… The best way to do this is to always be asking questions, and then listening to the answers. Clients don’t always want to tell you the truth or the whole truth. It is our job as interested problem solvers to get at the truth in order to provide the best help possible. Be caring and concerned. Be tender if you can. I…
March 30, 2010 Can I Speak with a LIVE Person…PLEASE!?! Why are businesses using automated answering services during normal business hours, as a replacement to nice, friendly, helpful, AND LIVE, customer service representatives? Do business owners actually believe this is a good idea? An upgrade in customer service? I don’t know anyone who hasn’t felt utter frustration, at least once, after encountering an automated answering machine when calling to place an order or ask a question. The worst is the kind that is supposed to recognize your voice commands, but no matter how perfectly you enunciate, it can’t differentiate yes from no. When people call your business, they want to…
