The Lost Art of Customer Service...

***Did you hear the one about the cashier who wouldn't sell cigarettes a 1/2 hour prior to closing. She would have to substract 1 from her totals and that would require changing 3 of her sums. And she didn't want to. She also was not employed at that particular business within 2 weeks.

***How about the one when a phone company's CSR stated to their customer that she was unable to call them back because their company wasn't equiped to do such things.

***Maybe you know about the collection agent who informed their client they were not able to record the on-going conversation between them because the company didn't have the required software. The client questioned this information and reminded the agent that the company's automated message stated "that some conversations may be recorded for quality control". The collection agent put the client immediately on hold for over 5 minutes. When she returned, she informed the client that her supervisor was going join in on a conference call and asked if it was ok to recorded the the rest of the conversation. The client burst out laughing exclaiming, "That's amazing work you do in your office to acquire that technology so fast. Can you cure cancer too?" The supervisor asked why the client would make such a comment and the client explained. The collection agent was looking at a change in career paths.

These incidences are becoming more common in the world of commerce. Where do we lay the blame when it comes to poor customer relations? Many would say it's the young generation of texters that seem to look right through when you place your order or ask for a manager. What about the business that employs the non-customer representative? Are they not to be held responsible for lack of train and mentorship.

I keep hearing over and over these days how somebody can start training at 8am and be operatoring the till or sales counter by 9am with little or no supervision. How can a person possibility know their job properly in under an hour? Customer service is not part of this training, so I'm told. The hour is spent on how to operate the required equipment, the phone systems and when coffee breaks are to be taken.

WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED TO THE CUSTOMERS AND THEIR NEEDS?

Every single person in this world is affected by customer service during every single day, of every week, all their lives. So I'm going to share a personal moto with you.

- Give the service at your job that you would expect when you find yourself being the customer.-

The revival of this lost art can only begin with you. Don't be afraid to tell the cashier not to bruise your apples. Say no that it's not O.K. to wait when the customer agent tells you they need to talk with their friend on the phone about Saturday's party. Ask the representative to finish serving you first when their co-worker rudely interupts your one-on-one time.

Business fail for all kinds of reasons everyday. Although I'm pretty sure most of those reasons can be traced back to poor customer relations. I'm pretty confident I'm not alone in these sentiments and that my statements would be hard to dispell. Break the cycle and help the consumer experience become pleasant once again. After all, if there was a season made for poor customer service, Christmas would be it.

I learned to change the "poor customer service' habits I possessed and I know that it is in all of us to change too. Give a try. It really is painless. Most of the time.

Links For Information on Diabetes...

I've come to the understanding that most parents are unaware  how much Diabetes Type II is becoming a primary health concern for Canadian children. "Children & Type II Diabetes" - Canadian Diabetes Association is for every parent to read and know. Diabetes II is a reversable disease when detected early.

I also strongly suggest that anybody who a caregiver, teacher, co-worker to teenager or young adult with Diabetes Type I, take the time to read   "Teens & Diabetes" - Canadian Diabetes Association  It gives a well written description of some of the stresses and worries that come with the disease.

If you need to share your own experience with the disease, if you're struggling to understand what a loved one is going through, or just to become part of the support team, go visit  "Juvenation" . It's a great site where you could find the right group or person to give you find the support you need.

Nobody should ever have to endure any hardship alone, least a child. Give them encouragement, guideance and learn with them as they grow. You are the image they will be as adults. And as you go to bed tonight, whomever you might be, please remember. Just in the blink of an eye, your life could change forever.

Keep yourself healthy....

With not much time available to today, I can still stress how important it is to take good care of yourself. Type II Diabetes can occur at anytime in your life. Although with proper balance of treatment, balanced diet and moderate excercise, Diabetes can be control. In the case of Type II, the condition can be completely eliminated. In the case of Type I, the process of getting the illness under control can take years. Once 'under control' a child/adult will spent the rest of their life 'managing' their Diabetes. Many Diabetics will develope other severe health issues including kidney failure, liver problems, circulatory problems and sometimes apputations. And the number of developing cases in Canada is on the rise for both Type I & II. This is alarming. Please inform yourself. Detecting early is key in treatment. Please visit Alberta Diabetes Foundation.

Where to Donate...

Canadian Diabetes Association  - Check this website for all and any information on Diabetes, both Type I and Type II. There's also a convenient section on various ways to make a one-time donation and/or more.

Insulin
Insulin is a hormone that turns what we eat and drink into energy. Insulin is produced in the pancreas. When the pancreas stops producing insulin, Diabetes Type I occurs. The process of man-made insulin was invented by Dr. Frederick Banting, Dr. Charles Best, Dr. James Collip and Prof. John James Richard Mcleod, at the University of Toronto, in 1921-22.

Since this  invention, not much progress has been made in finding a true cure for Type I. There is research going on, although lack of funding is making the journey very slow. There is a way and you can help. Please donate this month and help Diabetes Research attain another Canadian first.

November 11, 2009 - Remembrance Day

It's becoming more important than ever to honour and remember all those who have made a choice to protect others, forsaking themselves. No matter which continent you live on, the WWI/WWII wars and all conflicts since have affected us as a race.

Whether you support "The Cause" or you oppose "It", respect and gratitude is due to those individuals (past, present & future) who selflessly put themselves in harm's way to protect our lives. Veterans in all countries are passing away with time and  with them all the unique perspectives of those times of extreme conflicts.

So remember your relative(s), friend(s), and neighbour(s), and all those who made those courageous choices. On November 11, 2009, wear your poppy proudly.

Written in the memory of my Great-Grandfather, and both my Grandfathers, all men who served their country and countrymen.

Diabetes awareness in Alberta

All of November, I will try my best, on a daily basis, to promote the awareness of Diabetes Type 1 and Type 2. A large portion of the world population now has or knows somebody who has Type 2 or even worse, Type 1. Yet Diabetes is very misunderstood, often misjudged and discarded as a disease.

My son was diagnosed October 16, 2006, after so many months of signs, complaints from teacher, family members of out of control fits, sudden changes of behavior, etc. Ironically, 5 days prior to diagnosis, I remember mentioning to his caregiver I wanted him tested for Diabetes in particular.

He developed a flu-like fever, couldn't keep anything in his stomach yet was starving for food. His consumption of water was incessant (vomiting most of it, shortly after). I watched him quickly lose his already scarce body fat. He lost approximately 14 lbs in less than 5 days when his caregiver brought him into an emergency room in St. Alberta, Edmonton. (Note: I'll always be grateful, Terry)

As recounted to me through the caregiver, it's pure chance that a particular doctor was on call that day. Upon seeing my son, he immediately ordered him into a bed and asked for diabetic testing to be done A.S.A.P.

This saved my son's life. He was stabilized and moved the Stollery's Childerns' Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. And that's where all our lives, especially my boy's, changed forever.

Know the signs. If Type 2 is detected early enough, this condition can be reversed. Ask your doctor if you think you may have this type and start your road to the way you want to live.

For more information on the life long care of Type 1 Diabetes please go visit    Juvenile Diabetes . Let's set things in motion towards more research and public awareness of a disease that is developing as fast as our population is mutiplying. More links to come.

Just For Fun - Check this out!!!

http://stockstar.financialpost.com/  This should be interesting for those who would like chance to manage stocks and investments without risking a dime. I signed up for the contest last year and found it to be fun and educational at the same time. You play and learn and it's easy. Go check it out for yourself. Great prizes to won and valuable tips and strategies to learn. Sign up today.

Starting to take shape...

After a couple of hours or more, the hairing pulling has stopped and the "creative juices" are making their way to the surface. Not wanting to explode into an unsightly mess of a blog, I'm nervously tweaking as time slides by without notice.

Tomorrow will bring things that stay the same, unforeseen changes, unconsolable sadness with little bursts of happiness.

Pulling the hair already!?!?!

Ha, ha, ha!!! Getting things messed up on the blog already. Hope this isn't a sign of things to come. Patience. A virtue so few have, some are in need of.

Diabetes Month - November

Make a donation during National Diabetes Month.Please help in the search for a cure for Type 1 Diabetes. Make a donation at any IGA or other grocery store. Only $2 at IGA. Very little to give for a disease that changes a child's life forever. Diabetes is often misunderstood and unnoticed by society because you can't physically see the illness. No illness is more important than another yet, such a small percentage of donations go towards Diabetes research. Let's start changing this. What if it was your loved one? For me, it's my youngest son. Please give. And thank you so much to those who have.

Somewhere in the middle...

"Can't complain if you don't know?"

Words I will always remember, just can't remember who said them to me. They have helped me some many times, in so many ways over the years since my early 20s. I've used them as a theory on job choices, forwarding my education and life experiences.

These words are shouting at me everyday lately with the mess (large and small) I see develop in my town, province, country and world.

I don't think I'm alone in wanting to scream when watching the news or listening to another speech of tongue-in-cheek, omitting or misleading information from all levels of government.

Poor financial management, chaotic disorganization of health matters...

Where does one start to make sense of the nonsense?

Which brings me back to the first sentences I posted.

A person has to find out for themselves nowadays.

Research is your friend. The biggest mistakes in history were (and still are) made when the masses accepted without question.

Are times really changing?