Just Communicate Ranking: 2/5 Stars
SUPER SERVING YOUR CALLERS:
Have you ever called someone on Thursday the 4th and when you get their voice mail they come on saying ‘Hi it’s Joe Blow and today is Tuesday the 2nd. I’ll be returning calls today between 2:00pm and 4:00pm. Leave a message…yada - yada - yada.’?
I’VE DONE IT. IT DOESN’T WORK:
I’ll have to admit I’ve tried to do the whole super serve your people by letting them know exactly where you are by using a voice message that’s updated every day. But I gave up on it because it didn’t really help.
I have never heard a message like this that wasn’t either 1) Completely outdated or 2) If it was the right day the person actually called during the time they said they would be returning calls.
LEAVE A SIMPLE STANDARD GREETING:
Sometimes in an effort to “wow”our customers we end up setting ourselves up to look silly. The general assumption is that if I leave you a message you’re probably going to call me when you can get to it. Don’t hurt your image by over promising and under delivering.
Just Communicate Ranking: 4/5 Stars
I’ve been tagged by Chris over at Pour Out to list personal habits that make me successful. It all started with, Aaron Potts over at Today Is That Day who started a meme. He compiled a list of habits that have contributed to his success. He then “tagged” several bloggers and challenged them to do the same.
So here’s my list:
I KISS MY WIFE: One thing I do no matter what every day before I leave to go to work is kiss my wife and tell her that I love her. It sounds simple but it it reminds my why I’m headed out the door. It allows me to start my day with the right perspective. I always try to put family first. I haven’t done this perfectly but it is what I strive for.
I WAVE AT THE DEAD PEOPLE: We live on an old farm and at the end of our drive there are three old school tombstones on the side of the road. We affectionately call them our ‘dead people’. Every time I pass them I mentally wave at them as if were in the scene of the film Dead Poets Society where Robin Williams is telling the young school boys about those who have gone before them and if they listened really closely they could hear their ghosts whispering to them ‘Carpe….Carpe Diem…seize the day boys!’. I’ve never actually heard the ghosts of our dead people and I don’t even know much about them, but it reminds me every day to remember life is short and I should live today as if it could be my last.
I COMMUTE QUIETLY: Almost every day I drive to work in silence for at least the first 10 minutes. This gives my time to think, to pray, to reflect and get my mind ready for the day. Usually it’s the only 10 minutes of quiet in my whole day.
I WORK RELAXED: I try not to take anything too seriously. I tend to work effectively when I’m relaxed and not stressed. So I simply don’t get stressed. I believe stress is a choice. I am aware of my human limitations and I place realistic expectations on myself and I don’t let others put higher expectations on me than I can handle.
I ASK FOR ADVICE: One of my goals has been to take someone to lunch each week who can teach me something new. (which is just about anyone but I try to focus on good leaders/business owners/sales people who I would like to learn from). I’m batting about .400 on this goal of doing this each week so I have some work to do but every time I do this I get a new perspective and encouragement.
I READ: A man I respect always tells me that ‘Leaders are Readers’. I rarely finish a whole book but that’s not really the point. I read books, articles, magazines, blogs….basically anything non-fiction. I don’t waste my time with fiction…if I want entertainment I just watch TV (which I rarely do).
I EXERCISE: Again not quite as diligently as I would like to but I average 30 minutes a day of working out in some form or fashion. It helps me focus and think. It gives me more energy and keeps my stress level right around the zero mark.
I SERVE: I do a lot of volunteer work with a group of local high school students. My life goal is to be a servant. I sign all my emails and written notes with ‘Serving You, Daniel Tardy’ as a reminder to myself of why I’m here. Self serving people are miserable, but people who serve others are filled with life and joy. That’s my goal.
I tag:
Michael at Marketing Monster
Brian at Bdubs
Just Communicate Ranking: 5/5 Stars
FOOD:
Last night my wife and I went out to eat at P.F. Chang’s and upon being seated at our table we noticed some friends of ours were dining just one table over. They noticed us and stood up to greet us and we visited for a few minutes before returning to our table.
We were about half way through our meal when our friends stopped by to wish us a good evening and tell us good bye. We exchanged brief conversation and then continued with our evening.
SHOCK:
At the end of the meal our waitress asked if we needed anything else to which I replied ‘I think we’re fine; if you could just bring our check…’ She informed me that our friends had already paid for our meal! ‘They must be pretty good friends’, She said. My wife and I were in total disbelief.
FIRST CLASS MOVE:
I have heard of this being done before by Hampton and I’ve always wanted to do this myself. What a classy way to add value to someones day. I hope I get to return the favor.
You can bet there will be a hand written thank you note in the mail first thing in the morning.
Just Communicate Ranking: 4/5 Stars
IN MY MAIL:
I got home today and found this postcard in the mail. My marketing mind went straight to ‘follow the money’ mode and as I read the details on the card I was surprised to find out there’s not really a catch OR a benefit to the Y…I think.
Could it be that the Y is offering a service without expecting a monetary return.? Are they really just offering a cool new service to add value for their members?
THE CARD SAYS:
To reward you for all you do to make the YMCA a place where everyone can become healthier and happier, we’re introducing myYrewards. Earn points every day you take advantage of all the Y has to offer. Points can be used toward the purchase of great YMCA programs, services and merchandise. Sign up and receive 500 free points! Go to myYrewards.com or stop by your nearest center for more information.
MY MIND THINKS:
A good business model/set up is a lot of memberships (Cash Flow) and minimal usage of equipment/facilities to prolong the life of the overhead….this mailer doesn’t seem to fit this with this perspective.
COULD IT BE?
Could it be that there’s really no strings attached on this one? Could they really just want people who already have memberships to get healthier and use their gyms more? It seems that way. This obviously isn’t a promotion targeted at new members but at current members who are going to keep paying their dues regardless of how often the work out.
*One other thing to note is this is a not for profit organization so that could weigh in to the equation.
Just Communicate Ranking: 2.5/5 Stars
THE PROBLEM:
There were about 4 conversations I had this week where in the midst of the conversation I was thinking one thing but no matter how hard I tried I was communicating something else. Within an hour after each conversation as I played it back in my mind I had the perfect words all of the sudden.
Ever happen to you?
I think vocabulary is weakened in the moment. I don’t seem to ‘know’ as many words when I’m in conversation.
THE GOAL: Vocab Work Outs
I’m going to try to start improving my vocabulary. Intentionally learning a new word each day and trying to use it in conversation. I think it will help.
Just Communicate Ranking: 2/5 Stars
Do you ever find yourself saying the word “Groovy”?
I don’t. To my knowledge I have never used the word in an actual dialog with someone.
I could be totally off here but this word has a very distinguished era/stereotype context and when it’s used in today’s lingo it just doesn’t seem to fit as a natural part of the conversation.
I know 3 specific people that use this word as a standard response to almost everything I say and it drives me nuts!
I’m not a pot smoker, LBJ is not the president and our troops are in Iraq not Vietnam. We don’t say doy or der anymore because those words rightfully stayed in the 80’s. Why Groovy?
Just Communicate Ranking: 2/5 Stars
The thought was proposed to me today that ‘passion’ must involve suffering and typically the cause for this passion has to do with something bigger than yourself.
I’ve been asking myself today “What am I passionate about?” “What do I suffer for?” Truth is: Not Much.
I mean I’m definitely inconvenienced from time to time but I’m wondering if I should be suffering more if that’s what has to occur for what I’m doing to matter more.
Just Communicate Ranking: 3/5 Stars
There’s a new all you can eat buffet in Franklin, TN called Tortillas. I had a lunch appointment there today and the whole place was pretty dead.
It was hard for me to figure out how/if they were making money. There was a lot of what would soon be wasted food sitting under hot lights in this newly built high lease building. There were at least 6 employees on the clock and at the peak of lunch hour there were no more than a dozen customers in there.
At 8 bucks a head I’m giving ‘em 3 months before the doors close. I hope I’m wrong because the food was pretty decent.
