by | Life Application
photo credit: aithom2 (creative commons)
I’m sure you have found yourself buying something simply because it was cheaper in price. I definitely have. That’s what I grew up being taught. As a matter of fact, the only name brand thing around our house was Jif peanut butter.
But…
Cheaper isn’t always the best choice.
Yesterday I experienced this. An event I was planning to attend was moved up a week and my business cards haven’t arrived yet. I needed to get some made ASAP. The printing company I usually use couldn’t get the cards printed in time. So I called my next choice,whom I have also used in the past.
The customer service rep cut me off in mid-sentence. After I asked him if he could provide the services I needed, he said in a dry voice, “I’ll do my best.” He offered to make 50 business cards for a great price, but he couldn’t tell me that the quality would be what I wanted. I didn’t expect him to over promise, but he didn’t sound remotely interested in assisting me.
I decided to try one more company. The phone was answered by an enthusiastic voice ready to serve. I told her what I needed and she graciously agreed she could provide. Not only that, but she oferred various options to help the cards look even better. The downside? I had to place a larger order and the price was quite a bit more than I originally wanted to pay.
However…
Her voice sold me. Her enthusiasm captured my attention. Her willingness to make business about the customer made the decision quite easy.
It isn’t just about the price. It’s about the quality.
Join the conversation. Have you decided on quality over price? For what reason? Comment below…
by | Life Application
photo credit: metro transportation
We have always been taught that the customer is always right. I’m not so sure I agree with that. Her are my thoughts:
The customer should always be the focus, but the customers isn’t always right.
I recently received an email regarding a client I represent. The customer was not happy with the product she received. She proceeded to tell me so by talking to me like a was a five-year old. Her tone and her words showed me immediately that there were some serious issues in this woman’s heart.
I am learning to set boundaries in my life, and that includes the way I allow others to talk to me. I think we forget that though we can’t control others, we can control what we allow ourselves to be exposed to. After taking a moment to compose myself before replying and saying what my flesh really wanted to say, this was part of my reply, after apologizing for her inconvenience:
If you are willing to review our product perhaps we can work something out. However, we will have to work on our communication together. Though I appreciate your forwardness in your email, some of your statements may not be necessary to do business together. We want our customers to be happy, but we also set boundaries in maintaining respectful communication.
She didn’t receive that well.
Her reply was just as rude as the one before. Do I regret sending her that email? Absolutely not. I maintained respect for the customer but also boldy, with grace, stood my ground on how I operated.
Being rude is not necessary and it may get you want you want in the beginning, but the end always turns out rough. I know because I have been on both sides. I have cussed out customer service reps when I didn’t get my way and I have been cussed out. Both sides are ugly. I thank God for the heart change He has done in me.
Next time something doesn’t go your way think about how you will handle the situation before you do so. Remember, you are always setting an example for someone, whether good or bad.
Do you have any customer service experiences, good or bad, to share? Leave a comment below…
by | Life Application
photo credit: cafe press
Allow me to introduce myself…
I’m a sophisticated redneck.
What does that mean exactly? Notta clue. Perhaps it means that I’m a redneck who moved to the city. Maybe it means I add some class to the word “ain’t.” I really have no idea.
There have been people in my life who have tried to change me. I’m sure that never goes away. I always want to improve myself. We all should. Some women think the perfect love song comes from Michael Bolton, Celine Dion, Elton John. The list goes on..
Me? I happen to think one of the greatest love songs out right now is Blake Shelton’s “Honey Bee.” I love it. I love everything about it. As I listened to this song tonight I started thinking. There are some things in my that I don’t mind changing, (like the mullet I had in high school), but there are some things that will always be me.
- flip-flops
- long sleeve shirts with the sleeves rolled up
- snakes (except rattlesnakes – there’s another story for another day)
- country music
- the windows down on a sunny day
- trucks
- country music
- the word “ain’t” with a twang when i get fired up and feeling feisty
- fishing
- did i mention country music?
Are you comfortable with you who are?
Enjoy Blake Shelton with me. Click here..
What’s your favorite love song? Leave a comment below…
by | Life Application
photo credit: flickr (creative commons)
Last week I shared Principle One from one of my all time favorite books Today We are Rich: Harnessing The Power of Total Confidence by Tim Sanders.
Principle number two is perhaps my all-time favorite, as Sanders tells a story in there that I hope to never soon forget. In case you’re not familiar with the book, it’s based on some great insight from his Grandma Billie.
Principle Two: Move the Conversation Forward
“Criticisms are like pecans. You can’t swallow a pecan whole, can you? You’d never be able to properly digest it. That’s what a nutcracker is for. Crack open the pecan; then you can get at the edible portion.
Do you struggle when someone gives you criticism, whether good or bad? A thousand thoughts fill your mind. I’m not good enough. My boss is going to replace me. My husband doesn’t love me anymore. I’m a failure.
What if we treated criticism just like a pecan? Surely we can get something from every nut we crack open. Maybe your boss didn’t confront you the way you would like, but what can you learn from it? Your husband does love you, but you may have just received a dose of truth that you’re not perfect. You didn’t fail; you could just do better at a certain task.
Eat the nut, the part of the situation you can learn from. Toss the shell, the rest of the information that doesn’t matter and serves as no nutritional value.
I bet we would all be surprised at the room we allowed to let other positive information in if we weren’t holding on so tightly to those shells. I love what Tim says,
“You can always find a good bite in any information, even intense criticism. It says something about its author or about you–every time.
What step can you take today to toss the shell? Leave a comment below…
by | Faith Lived Out, Life Application
photo credit: flickr(creative commons)
I have a friend who used to say that God would redeem the time lost for many of our mistakes, and the times we chose to follow our own ways versus His. I’ve thought about that statement many times since then.
She was right..
I had a friend who struggled with alcoholism for years. It stole many things from her, including precious time with her children. When I met her, the relationship with her children was indeed broken. She was getting help. But she had done that before. This time couldn’t be any different in their eyes. But she knew inside that this time something was different. She was surrendered. She was ready. Jesus was calling her closer and this time she was accepting the call.
I watched her go through the struggle of not just staying sober, but finding freedom. I watched her shed many tears in her fight. She used my shoulder to cry on when there were days she wasn’t sure she could make. She would get off the phone with one of her children and guilt would slap her in the face. Shame would fill her soul. Could relationships truly ever be redeemed? God said so. We just had to believe. I did my best to believe with her.
Fast forward..
Not only has my freind celebrated two years of sobriety, but today she is celebrating freedom. She talks weekly with all three of her chidlren. God brought her a husband she wasn’t looking for. She smiles, not just on the outside, but the inside too.
She called me recently and I could hear the tears in her voice. They were happy tears. One of her daughters had just given birth to a beautiful little girl. My friend held her daughter’s hand as God brougth another blessing into the world. There was a time when unforgivenss and hurt separated them. Not anymore. There was love. There was forgiveness. There was hope.
She said to me, “Sundi Jo, I don’t deserve any of this, but God keeps blessing me. I got to be in the room to watch my daughter give birth. I’m so overwhelmed I can’t belive it.”
I told her with a smile,
“God redeemed the time. You always said He would.
I write this to you today to offer you hope. Wherever you’re at in life right now, God can work. If you let Him.
Has an affair separated you from the one you vowed to always love?
Did you spew hurtful words on your child after refusing to put down that drink?
Do you believe you’ve screwed up so badly that you can never turn back?
Wrong..
There is nothing that Jesus can’t fix if you’re are willing to find the freedom that He offers. Don’t hold back. Go for it. Tell Him you’re ready. Tell Him you want to be ready. Tell Him to make you ready. He’s always up for a challenge!
Our Redeemer Lives!
What do you need to give to Him today to start the redemption process? Comment below…
by | Life Application
photo credit: robinjp (creative commons)
I know you’ve heard that phrase before. I’m sure you’ve said it before. I know I have.
- People make you feel stupid
- Someone made you mad
- He made me watch that stupid show
- She made me go shopping
- They made her cry
You get the point. I used to think that way. People were always making me do something. One day a few years ago I was walking with a friend, venting about a job interview I had. It didn’t go the way I wanted.
“He made me feel like an idiot.
I’ll never forget her looking at me and saying, “People can’t make you feel. You choose to feel that way.” I was not impressed with her answer! Why? Because she was right.
Others can’t make you feel something…
If they could then you wouldn’t be in control of yourself. Others would be running your life for you. God didn’t make us for others to control our lives, and that includes our emotions and the way we feel about things.
So, if I choose to feel stupid it’s because I’m not believing the truth about who I am. Who am I? Who are you? Check out this list to help you. If I get mad, it’s because I choose to do so. If you watch a show with your husband you don’t enjoy, it’s your choice. Maybe do it because you love him, not because you feel you have to. The same goes for you men when shopping with your wife.
Our emotions can control us or we can control them. Either way we go, we are making a choice.
What will you choose to feel today? Comment below…
