Thursday, November 24, 2005

Happy Thanksgiving To All

May everyone have a happy
and joyful Thanksgiving
with family
and friends.











Not sure who the copyrighted comic is from. If anyone knows, please respond with a comment so that I can give credit where it is due.

Monday, November 21, 2005

Motivate Yourself Into Greatness

When you decide to go beyond the expected, you come to the realization that to do so it takes self motivation. A realization that you need to have your own attitudes in order which will allow you to go beyond the expected. The great thing about it is that you can do it. The power to have a great attitude and turn that into great service to others in within all of us.

You wonder, wait a minute, I'm not in customer service. Some articles back I talked about our lives actually being a series of opportunities to serve others. Mahatma Gandhi said, "the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others." You do many little things each day that is in service to others.

Once you motivate yourself, you work to motivate others. It takes work at first, but it eventually comes naturally. You keep moving yourself towards this goal. Taking on motivating others will increase your own motivation. Its an aspect that when you do good for others, it generates a natural good feeling within yourself. That can be very motivating for you and do wonders for your own attitude.

It will feed upon itself much like negativity can feed upon itself. Negativity is much more destructive and is much easier to achieve. This is why having a great attitude and the ability to motivate others isn't easy. Negativity is all of those rocks in your wagon.

But once you get a positive vibe moving, it begins to pick up speed and feed upon itself. It begins to build and grow, blocking out the negative things from having as large of an effect. Pretty soon great things start happening to you and those around you. Consider yourself on a road to better and brighter things.

Sunday, November 20, 2005

Rise Above Customer Expectations

I'm back in the country and will get back onto a regular schedule of articles. My time spent in Italy and Israel was very productive but I was unable to keep up with my writing. It comes with the territory when one is involved in customer service.

There are things one can do that transcend language or even culture. It is accomplished by simply going beyond what others expectations are. It is easy to have an attitude that you must do only the job required of you. That can work and many people do it on a daily basis. Things get done, issues are corrected and lives go on. Yet doing so, we remain the same. There is no advancing of our lives, no betterment of those around us.

Doing things beyond expectations should be your calling in all that you do. Much like having a positive attitude and spreading it on, we must also do the extra things. If I only provide the minimum required when working with a customer, they may be satisfied. Going beyond the expected sends a message. It says I'm willing to do more for them. Willing to keep and earn additional business from them.

Have you ever been to the mechanics shop with some car affliction that will test your pocket book and nerves? It is a trip that most of us dread and simply wish to avoid if at all possible. There are some mechanics that would simply correct the problem, charge you a price and you are on your way. Satisfied that it was fixed and potentially money left for a cup of coffee, you head for home.

What of those mechanics that step out in a manner that exceeds your expectation. The same problem is fixed, the same price is paid, but you notice more. A seat cover and floor mat was used to keep grease and dirt from the interior. Maybe they washed the vehicle once completed and a spritz of air freshener inside. Could be they topped off the fluids for you and did it all with a smile and great attitude.

Once again, satisfied that it was fixed and maybe enough money for a cup of coffee you head for home. But something is different this time, a bigger smile on your face, a better feeling inside that it was not such a bad experience. Chances are much greater you will return to that same mechanic. Next time it won't be quite as bad when you have to take your car in.

The mechanic knew what many successful business people and successful people know, going beyond wins long term customers. The cost of going that extra step is heavily out weighed by what you will earn. Be bold, go beyond and see the success that can be yours.

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Life Is Not Perfect - Get Over It

It has been a few days since my last post and I apologize to all. When on the road my days become greatly filled with activity. Finding the opportunity to sit down and write can be difficult. Being on the road itself can be difficult. I am currently handling a customer situation and all aspects of the situation have to be considered.

A friend, Dean Sweetman said "life is run by imperfect people. You will get offended at some point. So get your own 'stuff' dealt with. It will prepare you to handle this imperfect life." This statement is so true. You will run into things that may frustrate or cause your plans to go a different direction.

How you handle these situations or events is greatly impacted by how you have handled your own 'baggage'. We all have it and we need to figure it out first before we can successfully handle issues outside of our own. The primary thing that effects this will be our own attitude. A great quote from Phil Pringle is, "the problem is never the problem. The real problem is our attitude toward it."

Life isn't perfect and neither are we. But strive for excellence in your own attitude and life. It will equip you for the bigger and more imperfect world around us.