by on July 13, 2007

Back to the Basics #1: The Golden Rule

“This is a football.”
-Vince Lombardi: Hall of Fame coach – Green Bay Packers
Back to the BasicsAfter years of being on the losing end of the scoreboard, the Packers brought in a new coach to turn things around. Vince Lombardi did just that with the simplest of methods: going back to the basics. Every year when training camp began, legend has it that he gave the following talk to ALL of the players:

“Everybody stop and gather around,” he said. Then he knelt down, picked up the pigskin, and said, “Let’s start at the beginning. This is a football. These are the yard markers. I’m the coach. You are the players.”

No matter how you cut it, to get into professional football, you have to be great – world class. Still, Coach Lombardi felt it was necessary to go all the way back to the beginning of their football lives and make sure they were all on the same page.

Every now and then, we all need to go back to the basics. I am starting a series to help you along the way. Most of these things would cause groans and moans of boredom in a business meeting or family conference, but your life will assuredly benefit from knowing the basics. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Back to the Basics, Relationships
by on July 11, 2007

Sprint Says 1,200 Customers Aren’t Worth the Trouble

A Jacksonville, FL news site is reporting that they are cancelling the contracts and accounts of over 1,000 annoying customers this month. That’s right: annoying customers.

I have to agree with their decision.

The News4Jax.com article states that the clients involved in the dump call 40-50 times per month making complaints and “unreasonable requests.” There is a line to how much time a company can spend on one person, especially if nothing productive ever happens during that time.

Several things happen with activity like this:

  • Customer service call wait times increase.
  • Customer service staff are more likely to burn out or non-service good clients.
  • Service prices will possibly rise.
  • The true wishes of the masses are overshadowed by the few.

If the customers and the provider are not happy with the situation, then I think it is right for the provider to discontinue their relationship with such problem-makers. It is obviously not something you do on the the drop of the hat because customers are the only source of income a service provider has, but some customers aren’t worth the trouble.

That’s my take on it, how do you feel about Sprint’s move?

Filed Under: Personal, Wacky Wednesday
by on July 5, 2007

First Day of Class… Ooops!

What was supposed to be my first day of class turned out to be the second class meeting. Let’s just say I had to take a Xanex this morning to calm down. I was going nuts over that screw-up.

The reason was simple: my community college schedules called Tuesday ‘T’ and Thursday ‘TR.’ Apparently, this class meets twice per week because my schedule says ‘TR’ for Tuesday AND Thursday. Sure enough, I checked my fall schedule, and my Tueday class is a ‘T’ and my Thursday class is an ‘R.’

Now I’m going to school for the next 6 weeks for 4 hours per night TWICE per week! It’s going to be a lot of work, but at least it will be over before it starts.

I met my professor at the beginning of his office hours today to explain my absence for the first class and to see if there was anything I needed to know that he wasn’t going to cover in class again. He was totally cool about it and said that he expects some first-time students tonight anyway because it is still the drop/add week and some people might have just signed up.

Our first assignment was to write our resume in three styles: chronological, functional, and a combination of the two. Then we need to write an appropriate cover letter. Tonight he is going to give us what jobs we are allowed to pick from to pitch ourselves to “apply” for. Easy-speezy, as far as I’m concerned. I already know I have a kick-butt resume because it did me just fine getting this job. :)

I’m sorry about the lack of updates this week, but it’s been quite the week at work and I’ve just needed to shut off my brain at night.

Filed Under: College, Personal
by on July 2, 2007

My New Favorite Comic: Pearls Before Swine

I am a long-standing fan of Scott Adams’ Dilbert and Gary Larson’s The Far Side, but after reading Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis for nearly two years, I find myself anticipating each day’s comic more and more.

I really identify with Rat, the egotistical, sadistic character who is bent on making others miserable. I don’t know why, but that’s part of what makes me who I am. Then there are the days I feel like Pig, the down-trodden, non-productive toon. The poor guy is the star of my favorite stips that litter my walls in my cube.

With that said, I am starting my first meme. I want to know what your favorite comic is. Make it good, folks. Don’t worry if it is the same as others’ so long as you say why.

I tag Terry Starbucker, Steve Farber, Phil Gerbyshak, Easton Ellsworth, and Troy Worman. Just link back here and tell everyone why you’re going crazy with a comic post and tag your best friends.

Filed Under: Blogging, Office Life, Personal
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