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Choose your words carefully

I was having a conversation with my wife this morning while we were drinking our coffee and watching the news.  All the news stations are still reporting on the tragic shooting in Arizona.  It is a sad situation and my thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families.

Now on to the reason for my writing this blog.  A lot of people are pointing fingers at Sarah Palin for her words and a map that appeared on her website which showed cross-hairs over certain districts, one of them was over Gabrielle Gifford’s District.  Just to set the record straight I am NOT a fan of Sarah Palin, but it is time to stop the finger pointing and to think about what we say or write.  There are many people in this country (world) that will take what certain people say literally.  Can we say for sure if the comments made by Sarah Palin “It’s not a time to retreat. It’s a time to reload.” led to the shooting in Arizona ?  No we can’t, but can we say that is did not ? No we can’t.

Growing up our parents taught us “Sticks and stones can break your bones but names can never hurt you”.  It is time for all politicians and people in the public eye to take a second and think about what they say or do.  Will what you say or do be taken literally by some ?  If there is even an inkling that it might be… Don’t say it.

The First Amendment gives us the right of freedom of speech, but it is against the law to yell “fire” in a crowded theater if there is no fire.  Just because you have the right to say what you want, doesn’t mean you always should. What kind of example are we setting for future generations.  Many people are saying that the founding fathers of our country and politicians thereafter also used some strong words during political campaigns.  Just because it was done doesn’t mean it was right.  We also thought at that time it was also OK to keep other humans as slaves.

Take time to think before you speak.  

The Power of Social Media

Whoever says that Soial Media does not play a vital role in what goes on in our everyday lives has not read this story, GAP Logo  It seems as though Gap has reverted back to their original logo after receiving backlash from the Facebook public about the new logo.  Still don’t think Social Media is a powerful tool ?

We have a local company,  Tom’s Coffee, Cards & Gifts, who uses the power of Social Media to advertise his specials and sales to the Facebook Community. 

How are you using Social Media in your everyday life or business ? 

Mayonnaise Jar & Coffee

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous “yes.”

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

“Now,” said the professor as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things—your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions—and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.

The sand is everything else—the small stuff. “If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spend time with your children.  Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first—the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.  The professor smiled and said, “I”m glad you asked. The coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there”s always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.”

We have all heard that saying many many times in our lives and it is so true.  So… when you list your house with that TOP agent you expect him/her to take as many pictures as possible and to arrange them in the MLS for the world to see, right ?

So why is it that when I look at the new listings I see this:

If you have recently listed your house for sale and you search in the MLS and see no photos of your house… you need a new agent !!

Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should

Many people think that they can do things because the law says that they are allowed.  I think that sometimes people should take a minute and think long and hard about what it is they are about to do or say.  Just think what this world would be like if everybody did things or said things without regard for other people. 

If you are on a nudist beach… You can take off your clothes, but maybe you shouldn’t.

Just because you can comment on someones Facebook status… doesn’t mean you should.

Just because the law allows you to burn the American Flag… doesn’t mean you should.

Just because you can sing karaoke… doesn’t mean you should.

Just because the law says you can sue somebody… doesn’t mean you should.

Just because the speedometer in your car says it will do 165 MPH…  doesn’t mean you should.

Just because the clothes you wore to high school still fit… doesn’t mean you should be wearing them.

Just because you can have a baby… doesn’t always mean you should.

Just because the law allows you to build a house of worship in a certain area… doesn’t mean you should.

Just because Freedom of Speech allows you to talk badly about the President of the United States… doesn’t mean you should.

I think we need to take time to really think about what it is we do and say…

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… The worst customer is a dissatisfied one with a big mouth. I recently read a blog post by a friend of mine Jeff Lobb.  That inspired me to write of an experience that I just had with a very well-known hotel chain, Best Western.

Recently my Uncle’s brother passed away unexpectedly and my wife and I had to drive and stay right outside of Boston, Massachusetts in the town of Woburn. I had stayed their numerous times before, vacations, holidays, etc.  This time my wife had called Best Western’s on-line reservations and booked us a room for $89 + tax.  No too bad of a rate, 10 minutes from where I had to be and a free breakfast in the morning.  On our drive to Woburn, MA from Binghamton, NY (about 5 hours) we had made numerous stops along the way.  Sometimes for the ladies room and sometimes just to stretch.  During one of our stops at a rest area my wife picked up a booklet from Roomsavers.com.  It had all types of room prices that were far cheaper than what we were paying.  She then found a coupon for the exact hotel we were staying at for $59 + tax.  The criteria for this coupon was: One night only, with coupon at check-in, based on room type availability & not valid during holidays or special events… I’m in, or so I thought.  I present the coupon to the kid checking me in and he needs to get the manager.  The manager comes out and proceeds to tell me that the coupon I have is not valid because I made me reservation through the internet.  We had a brief discussion on how that is not what the coupon says but I needed to get changed and get to the first night of the wake.  I figured this wouldn’t be a problem and I would just call Best Western Customer Service because I did not have the time to argue with him.  This is when it starts to get ridiculous…

I place a phone call to Best Western Customer Service about 2 days later.  I speak to a very nice woman, Shirley, who completely understands my side of the story and proceeds to tell me of Best Western complaint procedure.  It seems as though Best Western takes the complaint, gives you a file number and then sends it back to management at the place that you had the original problem.  This seems like a pretty bad procedure to me, but I’ll give it a shot.  The manager of the place calls me the next day, it is the same guy I originally spoke to when I was there.  I told him that I was only looking to be refunded the amount of the difference from the coupon to what I paid ($30).  He told me that he was not going to refund anything and that there was nothing else he could do.  This got me nowhere.  A few days later I called back and spoke to customer service again.  This time I spoke to a gentleman named Tully.  He was absolutely no help.  He offered me a $30 voucher.  A $30 voucher to stay at a hotel that I am completely disgusted with at this point.  I asked to speak to his supervisor.  At that point I got on the phone with a young girl by the name of Brittany… Brittany was able to do a little better, she offered me a $50 voucher.  I told Brittany that there was no way I was accepting a $50 voucher to stay in ANY Best Western at this point.  My one question to her that she could not answer was… “why does your company have a Customer Service Dept if you can’t help the customer”.  She then offered me a $50 refund.  She was going to send me a $50 check.  I didn’t understand… I originally wanted a $30 refund and was told no… now they were giving me a $50 refund… I was very happy to be getting the refund but was still very unsatisfied with their procedure.  I asked Brittany if I could please speak to her supervisor.  She said she was the supervisor of that department (Now I am really annoyed).  I asked Brittany “If you were to get fired who would be the person who fired you?”  She told me that person’s name was John.  I asked her to please have John call me.

The next day I received a phone call from a very lovely woman by the name of Lisa Edwards.  She explains to me that she works WITH John and that he will be out of the office for a few days but she didn’t want me to wait too long for a response to my problem.  She then proceeds to tell me that they will be sending me a check for a FULL REFUND of what I was billed. She also tells me that she is very sorry for the situation and then explains that Best Western’s customers are very important to the company and without “us” they would not have a company.  OH MY GOODNESS !!!…. someone who actually understands the importance of customers…. all of this could have been avoided if they would have just honored the coupon.

Recently my Uncle’s brother passed away unexpectedly and my wife and I had to drive and stay right outside of Boston, Massachusetts in the town of Woburn. I had stayed their numerous times before, vacations, holidays, etc.  This time my wife had called Best Western’s on-line reservations and booked us a room for $89 + tax.  No too bad of a rate, 10 minutes from where I had to be and a free breakfast in the morning.  On our drive to Woburn, MA from Binghamton, NY (about 5 hours) we had made numerous stops along the way.  Sometimes for the ladies room and sometimes just to stretch.  During one of our stops at a rest area my wife picked up a booklet from Roomsavers.com.  It had all types of room prices that were far cheaper than what we were paying.  She then found a coupon for the exact hotel we were staying at for $59 + tax.  The criteria for this coupon was: One night only, with coupon at check-in, based on room type availability & not valid during holidays or special events… I’m in, or so I thought.  I present the coupon to the kid checking me in and he needs to get the manager.  The manager comes out and proceeds to tell me that the coupon I have is not valid because I made me reservation through the internet.  We had a brief discussion on how that is not what the coupon says but I needed to get changed and get to the first night of the wake.  I figured this wouldn’t be a problem and I would just call Best Western Customer Service because I did not have the time to argue with him.  This is when it starts to get ridiculous…

I place a phone call to Best Western Customer Service about 2 days later.  I speak to a very nice woman, Shirley, who completely understands my side of the story and proceeds to tell me of Best Western complaint procedure.  It seems as though Best Western takes the complaint, gives you a file number and then sends it back to management at the place that you had the original problem.  This seems like a pretty bad procedure to me, but I’ll give it a shot.  The manager of the place calls me the next day, it is the same guy I originally spoke to when I was there.  I told him that I was only looking to be refunded the amount of the difference from the coupon to what I paid ($30).  He told me that he was not going to refund anything and that there was nothing else he could do.  This got me nowhere.  A few days later I called back and spoke to customer service again.  This time I spoke to a gentleman named Tully.  He was absolutely no help.  He offered me a $30 voucher.  A $30 voucher to stay at a hotel that I am completely disgusted with at this point.  I asked to speak to his supervisor.  At that point I got on the phone with a young girl by the name of Brittany… Brittany was able to do a little better, she offered me a $50 voucher.  I told Brittany that there was no way I was accepting a $50 voucher to stay in ANY Best Western at this point.  My one question to her that she could not answer was… “why does your company have a Customer Service Dept if you can’t help the customer”.  She then offered me a $50 refund.  She was going to send me a $50 check.  I didn’t understand… I originally wanted a $30 refund and was told no… now they were giving me a $50 refund… I was very happy to be getting the refund but was still very unsatisfied with their procedure.  I asked Brittany if I could please speak to her supervisor.  She said she was the supervisor of that department (Now I am really annoyed).  I asked Brittany “If you were to get fired who would be the person who fired you?”  She told me that person’s name was John.  I asked her to please have John call me.

The next day I received a phone call from a very lovely woman by the name of Lisa Edwards.  She explains to me that she works WITH John and that he will be out of the office for a few days but she didn’t want me to wait too long for a response to my problem.  She then proceeds to tell me that they will be sending me a check for a FULL REFUND of what I was billed. She also tells me that she is very sorry for the situation and then explains that Best Western’s customers are very important to the company and without “us” they would not have a company.  OH MY GOODNESS !!!…. someone who actually understands the importance of customers…. all of this could have been avoided if they would have just honored the coupon.