posted by Shelley
Yesterday I posted about bad weather rolling in. Today, I will commend the forecasters that predicted it. I have yet to make a drive through the burg this morning — but I can prove that the wind was pretty darned strong on the outskirts…
posted by Shelley
It’s a ritual around here to mow on Thursday. That way, the yard looks good for the weekend, and it leaves those precious non-working days to enjoy other things. This past Thursday it rained. Matter of fact, it’s been raining a lot lately — so much that one might think it’s spring.
With rain predicted starting tonight and lasting throughout most of the next week, we figured we’d better get the yard in shape today. That’s what got me thinking about a BLOG post I’d read that was written by a client/friend — Mike Hall, of the Pines Restaurant, that explained his mowing technique. You can read the post here>>
Since the grass has been growing like crazy and I couldn’t mow on the regular setting this time anyhow, (I was throwing water through a good portion of it anyway!), I thought I’d take Mike’s advice and give this new mowing philosophy a whirl. Have you ever noticed the grounds around The Pines Restaurant in Seymour? It always looks well groomed. Now I don’t care nearly so much about the yard here — it’s rural, our neighbors on one side are 8 or 9 horses, and it simply doesn’t matter so much when you’re not in town. So I figure if it’s good enough for Mike — it’s gotta be good enough for me. I’m testing his theory and figure if it doesn’t work, I’ll just pad his invoice to make up the difference.
posted by Shelley
Changing habits and human behavior is what we do in the marketing business. How do we get someone to buy a book, visit a different URL, or do business with a new organization, when it is their habit to do the opposite? Those are the types of questions that are rolling around in my head 24/7. Habits are hard to break — ask any fat, smoking alcoholic and they’ll tell you exactly how hard.
So I figure I should attempt to apply my expertise to a family member that needs some help. Libby is fat — no secret there. Why is she fat? One of the reasons is because she is a manipulator with a habit. It’s always been that when she goes outside to do her bizness, she gets a treat. Every cup of coffee I pour — treat for the pork chop girl. It’s so bad that she even FAKES going to the bathroom just to get a treat. Honestly, she pretends she is going when it is obvious that she simply isn’t. What did I always do? Why, give her a treat of course (she’s way too cute!) which only served to add more pounds to her round frame.
Besides now feeding her some bland kind of food for overweight dogs, we are working on her ‘treat habit’ as well. Perry said today he thought she looked a little ‘less fat.’ Good thing she didn’t understand his comment — ‘less fat’ isn’t a compliment no matter how great your intentions were. We’ll keep you posted!
Posted by Perry
Well, Election Day came and went and here are the results.
For the burg’s School Board, Incumbent Dale Schmelzle defeated the challenge of Brad Erwin. Incumbent Todd Baker was defeated by challenger Trina McLain. The new board will take office in July.
Sen. Hillary Clinton defeated Sen. Barack Obama 51% to 49% in the primary. However, she was defeated in North Carolina by 15% thus effectively ending the race for the nominee.
I don’t know about you - but I’m starting to get over this whole election thing. I am now more convinced than ever that people do not think before they vote. They vote on emotion, not by what would be best for our country. We have a unique system in place where power is transferred peacefully simply by the will of the people and their voice. Clinton has mislead us on facts, has turned to “dirty” politics, and used whatever trick she has to remain in the running. She has yet to accept the fact that she cannot win - the math is simple. She would have to win the remaining delegates by 69 - 70% and that is a virtual impossibility.
Ugh - I’m rambling now. Maybe it’s time for me to concentrate on some other interest - anyone know a good one?
posted by Shelley
When you make a mistake, or something you do doesn’t turn out as it should, do you get defensive? That is the quickest route to dissatisfaction — no matter if it’s on a personal or business level. If you value a relationship (customer/client or friendship), then simply say, “I’m sorry this happened. Let’s fix it.” Why argue and make excuses? It solves absolutely nothing. If you don’t plan to make amends for the mistake or whatever has caused the other party to be unhappy with you, the same applies. Why argue and make excuses? Whether it’s business or personal, again, you’re already history — they can do better someplace else.
Update on the paint — looks like the house will be repainted at no additional cost to me. I would like to mention that after my call to Craig at Sherwin Williams, he did arrive to assess the situation. Funny though — he came with the painter. Rather than ramble on and on about that pathetic customer experience, I will only say that if he’s the best representative that Sherwin Williams can find in the area, they should abruptly close their store.
Posted by Perry
Today is Election Day in the burg. Voters will choose between Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama for the Democratic primary. Sen. John McKain is the presumptive nominee for the Republican party.
The big choice here is for the School Board where incumbent Dale Schmelzle faces a challenge from Brad Erwin and incumbent Todd Baker faces off against Trina McLain. Turn-out is good and it should be interesting to see who emerges victorious.
I’ll keep you posted on the results for the Primary and School Board as soon as they are known.
posted by Shelley
After getting ugly with my painter/contractor this morning, he showed up with a couple workers in an attempt to appease me. I didn’t go in depth with all the workmanship problems in my last post, but I will mention one of them now. Arriving very late one night while working last summer, my painter backed into my privacy fence. The excuse was that his brakes failed, and they probably did. I’m certain that alcohol had nothing whatsoever to do with it, even though it was a daily/nightly occurrence while on the job.
The workers hadn’t been here long this afternoon when my painter came in and said that he would purchase and pick up the boards to replace the old ones on the privacy fence, and I could pay him for them. The fence wasn’t new, so I figure that I’ll eat the cost of the boards, they’ll replace the 4″ x 4″ treated posts that were broken in the ‘accident’, nail the new boards up and we can all move on. The painter dude leaves to pick up supplies and I walk outside. The treated 4″ x 4″ posts have now been replaced with used landscaping timbers.
At this point — we are long past the ‘customers want you to GET it right’ concept — and haven’t even gotten close to the ‘MAKE it right’ one either. Am I a magnet for this type of treatment when it come to hiring workers, or is my mistake simply trusting the integrity of another business person? Now I understand that expectations are different for everyone, and what some think looks great another will interpret as junk. Maybe the gentleman I employed would be satisfied with landscaping timbers in place of 4″ x 4″ treated lumber posts. I’m not. I would be just fine with USED posts that are like I had — I’m NOT fine with a substandard substitute.
This house needing painting — that’s why I got bids in the first place. Funny…it looked better BEFORE I paid to have it painted. Check out the photos of the house now that are in an earlier post and compare them to this photo was taken BEFORE Tim Robbins, Jr. started work outside:
If I had it to do over, I would definitely not have hired this firm — I also will never let anyone spray paint on the outside of a house again either. Not only does it make one Hell of a mess, it doesn’t cover well either. Here’s a photo taken the first week of August, 2007 once the paint work was finished, but before all the masking tape was removed:
posted by Shelley
For this post — I am the customer. Last year, I received bids for a home improvement project. The company that I chose had completed work for me previously at another location — twice — and I was basically satisfied at completion. The owner and workers were never prompt. Often times they wouldn’t show up when they were supposed to, and the owner always had a dramatic story to explain why they simply couldn’t make it. At the end of the day, the work was such that I chose to hire them again.
From the beginning of this project that started May 2007, things just haven’t seemed to flow as they should have. The project wasn’t small (at least not to me), and consisted of painting, drywall, laying ceramic tile and such. Here we are, almost a year later, and after much pleading and complaining the owner of the firm I hired promised to be here on the morning of April 15th. They have yet to show up. I called this morning and it got ugly. The owner raised his voice at me for cursing him (and I surely did that.) When did I curse him? After he screamed, “I DEMAND RESPECT FROM YOU.” No way! You had that; you lost it; and now you must earn it back from me.
I must be one dumb gullible chick — I let him talk me into buying Sherwin Williams LIFE TIME paint. Sure it was more expensive, but I figured it was better and would last at least as long as the Porter paint that was used some 10 years ago. Now remember, this paint was applied less than 1 year ago…
It’s easy to see that I have a problem, and we know that customers don’t want you to ‘make it right’, they want you to ‘get it right’. I may post more later about all the other things that weren’t fixed — no splash guard on the installed bathroom vanity, the 1″ gap between the ceiling and the new wall they added, the paint spray that is still on the outside of the windows, and the electrical problem I’ve had since they installed 2 ceiling fans — but there’s so much…
On the phone with the man in charge today, he explained that the reason his phone’s voicemail was full was because he was so busy. It was filled with people wanting to hire him. He said my attorney was ‘washed up’ and I was more than welcome to call him. He said that he didn’t need my business, as he had large jobs that were important to him. He also said his “guys” would be here today. I am torn between wanting the work done, and not even wanting him here at this point. I don’t think I have EVER been on the receiving end of such a poor customer experience in my life. EVER.
posted by Shelley
Speaking with professionals of various types of organizations throughout each day, I’ve noticed a trend. You know how sick and tired you get of hearing people tell you to ‘have a nice day?’ I’ve noticed a progressive move to do away with that phrase. Yay! Oh, but wait! I’ve also noticed that at least 60% of those I speak with on the phone end our conversations with, “MAKE it a GREAT day!”
I’m all about the fact that your day is what you make of it, but I’m a realist — I also believe there are those that can royally help f*#k it up too. I don’t need anyone telling me what to make; I’m doing the best I can already. I believe in the power of positive thinking too. I positively think that some throw around so much happy shit that it turns others off (me!!) and voids everything of importance that they might’ve said.
Posted by Perry
It was exciting, thrilling, special, and heartbreaking all together. What should have been a celebration over a historical win in the Kentucky Derby turned into a nightmare - a horse was put down after the race.
Eight Belles ran the race of her life, coming in second in her first try against the boys. She showed she belonged in the race, much to her critics chagrin, and earned a special place in the hearts of racing fans. She just didn’t have enough for the winner, Big Brown.
Now for the record - I had picked Pyro. I thought, “He didn’t like the synthetic track”, and that was the reason for his ten lengths defeat in his prior race - I was so wrong. Big Brown made a move that was so spectacular for its finality. When he charged to the lead in the final turn you knew instantly that this race was over.
Big Brown became only the second horse to win the Derby having only three prior races (the first was Regret in 1915). He was the favorite and started from the far outside, again only the second horse to win from there since the gelding Clyde Van Dusen in 1929. He showed with no doubt that he is the best horse in the field. The other contenders had nothing for the big guy - and he knew it.
So its on to the Preakness in two weeks, a win there sets up Big Brown for a chance to be the first Triple Crown winner in thirty years, the last being the great Affirmed in 1978. We’ve had some close calls since then, but something tells me that this horse will get it done. He has it all - tactical speed, power, stamina, and a presence that nullifies his lack of experience. He’s just that much BETTER than the others. His win seemed almost effortless and when he decided to go - he was gone.
What can Brown do for me? Win it all.