Customer Service 101

I was reading a list of little known facts recently and one of the items said there is more money printed for Monopoly everyday than actual US currency. This brought to mind a commercial on television the other day where Monopoly is advertising you can now play with credit cards.

Many children over the last 50 or so years have learned to count money using Monopoly currency. However, I find the whole matter irrelevant. If you've been anywhere to spend cash recently you probably understand why.

I once paid for a $9.76 ticket with $10.01. It confused the cashier, but he read what the register told him my change should be and I got my quarter. Another time, I wanted to pay partial cash and partial check card but the little old lady didn't understand why. I think I could have understood if she were a teenager, but this lady had kids older than me.

I have found not to add to my payment amount after the cashier has entered the amount into the register. I tried this once and confused not only the cashier but the front end manager as well. It wasn't worth getting back a five instead of four ones and a bunch of change.

People who operate cash registers used to be required to know not only how to make change but also how to count it back. Nowadays, all that is required is to read what the cash register says the amount of change should be.

I also remember from my days of customer service at the local discount store that employees who dealt with the public were supposed to be courteous. You go into a discount store now and good luck finding someone who cares if you are finding what you need. I'm not saying all of these employees are discourteous and unhelpful, but a majority of them fall into this category.

Some of the rules from my days working customer service and the cash register include the 10-foot rule, meet and greet, ensure customer satisfaction, and...my favorite...the customer is NOT always right but don't let them know.

The 10-foot rule is simple, but hardly ever enforced nowadays. If you see a customer within 10 feet of you, they must be acknowledged in some form or fashion and this is always coupled with a smile.

The meet and greet rule is similar to the 10-foot rule and sometimes is used in conjunction with each other. You must make eye contact with the customer, smile, say hello and let them know they can contact you if they need help.

Ensuring customer satisfaction is fairly straight forward. You must do everything within your power to make the customer happy. This is hardly ever followed anymore, at least its not initiated by the store employees. Customers must search for someone to help them.

The Customer is NOT Always Right rule is great because it empowers the store's employee. This is where the manager gets involved and tells the customer they don't get what they want just to make the customer happy. This is usually reserved for the mean and nasty customers.

Ghosts, Goblins, & Ghouls

Halloween is on its way, the time of year when people like to be frightened out of their skin, for some unknown and little understood reason. I've never been one for scary movies or ghost stories around the camp fire. I can remember once when I was about 5 or 6 I talked my parents into letting me stay up late to watch Johnny Carson. There was a commercial for a scary movie that came on and I started thinking someone was sneaking up behind me. It was not long before I went to bed.



For as long as I can remember strange, unnatural things have happened to me. I tried not to think a lot about it, but my friends always were amazed...especially when I seemed to be able to predict the future. I knew my friend Wendy was going to have a baby before she told me. I had a dream that she told me she was pregnant. The next day she said she had something on her mind that was bothering her. I told her I knew she was going to have a baby and she was shocked that I knew because she had not told anyone.



Another time, I had a dream that my co-worker Doris brought a cat to work. I know that sounds like a strange dream, what was even more strange was the fact that Doris hates cats. She told me I should quit eating spicy food right before bed, it gives me strange dreams. Just minutes after that conversation I went outside (during the days I was a smoker). I heard a faint meow coming from her car. I called her outside to pop her hood. When she did an orange tabby cat jumped out. I said, "See Doris, you brought a cat to work."



I have many stories like that, I won't bore you with anymore...just let it be known that I can't harness this ability, so don't ask.



There are other things, unexplainable events that have happened to me that are very unsettling. In addition to dreams of visits from those gone from this earth, I have deja vu type experiences...but we all do right? I can't be the only one with these odd events, can I? Here are some more samples of the oddities.



When I was a teenager I had a cat, she was indoor/outdoor versatile. Once, while I was home alone, I let her outside. A few minutes later I noticed she was sitting on the floor in front of me. How did she get back in the house? I was the only one there. I let her out again...she wanted to go outside. About 20 minutes later, the same thing happened again, she was in the house and wanted out again. I can't figure out how she got back in the house.



Another time, my friend Wendy and I were "playing" with her Ouija board in my bedroom. I never put a lot of stock into that thing...until this night. The planchette pointed to letters and spelled out "Watch this. I'm going to scare Linda", my mom is Linda. She was in the laundry room. A few minutes later, my mom came into my bedroom and asked me what I wanted. I told her I didn't need anything. She said, "You came into the laundry room and just stood there, you didn't say anything." I insisted I had not left the bedroom, but I can't imagine she ever believed me...especially if she saw me. How did that happen? How did she see me in the laundry room when I never left my room?



As I said before, there are a lot more experiences...not all I want to share with everyone. If you want to share your experiences with me, please post a comment or e-mail me. Please let me know if I can share these experiences here or if you want me to keep them confidential.

I'll have more stories next time.



Until then, be safe.

Resolutions

Generally, resolutions are made at the beginning of a new year. As I stated in my last blog posting, this is the beginning of a new Lisa. I am embarking on a new phase of my life, a passage which calls for resolutions. Unlike the annual promises I've made in the past, I hope, through support of my close friends and family, that I will be able to fulfill these resolutions.



I challenge everyone I know to make, and keep, the same resolutions as I am making. I hope you will be inspired to commit to a better lifestyle, just as I have. I have to say that my inspiration to have a healthier body comes more from fear than anything else. I don't want to grow old before my time. As I heard a physician once say, you want to become old as late as possible. I think I'm paraphrasing there, but that's the point she was making.



I am looking to the future now with my turning the new leaf and all that. I don't want to become overwhelmed with physical problems one day, so I need to take care of the somethings first. I can manage my weight, blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol etc. So, why not fix the things I can so fighting the one thing I can't fix (Rheumatoid Arthritis) will be easier as I age.



I plan on eating better, exercising more and generally being fit all over. If I don't fix the things I mentioned I can manage then they will get out of hand and become a problem. So by being proactive, I am making a preemptive strike against bad health. Possibly by creating a healthier body, the doctor will be able to control my RA...something that has been impossible so far.


This is where you all come in. I need encouragement, inspiration, suggestions, exercise buddies (for walking), and someone to be accountable to. Don't coddle me, but be nice. If I want to do something physical...you better let me do it if you want to to be around in the future. Trust me, if I think I might hurt myself, I will let you know.



If you have a book I might be interested in, or a diet I can follow, or even a cookbook that would help, please--PLEASE let me know. I am always open to suggestions. The same goes for exercise. If you have any DVDs or exercise tips for me, I am listening.



What kind of life do you want to live in your golden years? Do you want to be counting pills, making trips to the doctor, resting because you are too tired from simple chores? I want to be traveling the world, or at least the United States. I want to see it, there is so much I've only read about or seen on TV. I won't have time to stop for ill health. Living is meant to be an experience, not a spectator sport. If you won't join me, at least encourage me!



Until next time.

Don't Need No Education

Alright, quit hounding me. I know I've slacked in the blogging department. I have had a lot of things going on recently...the last month to be more precise.



After the procession of events last year (when my husband and I separated and I moved) I realized the education I received when I was a young adult was not enough to further myself in this or a new career. For sometime now...possibly a couple of years or more...I've been wanting to go back to school. What has kept me from doing so is money, or better stated, the lack of money. I never wanted to accumulate student loans because as a teenager I heard professionals discussing the amount of loans they had amassed. I never wanted to start my life out with a debt over my head so I just didn't finish college. Logical right?





I have a good friend who convinced me that the value of an education was underestimated in today's society. Furthering my educational career would never be a bad thing. I looked at several different schools and programs. This friend, Charles, suggested AIU...American Intercontinental University. The school has proper accreditation and has a course just for me. I am going to seek a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Art with emphasis in Digital Design.


My Friend, Charles


The tuition for this school is much less than traditional university's in the area and other on-line schools did not offer the right program for me. I thought if I am going to dish out the money and effort for a degree, I am going to have a diploma in something I can and will use...not finance or business administration (snooze).



Good news where my employer is considered. Since I work for Cox Communications, I am entitled to a tuition discount from AIU. Also, after being on the job a year, I am eligible for tuition reimbursement from Cox. They pay 100 percent of tuition if it relates to my job or a possible promotion (and I pass with a minimum of a C average).



Something else I've decided to do, something to help supplement my income and maybe pay for vacations (since the awesome company Cox gives 2 weeks available immediately). I am going to sell items through parties...similar to Pampered Chef or Southern Living or Home Interiors, but NOT. I have put some money aside and plan to buy a kit in the NEAR future. If I work it right, I should make enough money at one party to pay for my kit. Anyone interested can email me at lisa.jackson.duke@gmail.com.



A lot has changed since a year ago. I have a plan for my life, and it doesn't include livin' from paycheck to paycheck. I plan to retire early and see the world. I firmly believe that life is for living. I am willing to sacrifice now to be able to play later.



Speaking of sacrifice. The other night I was at a restaurant with roommate and a gentleman seated next to us was speaking loudly. I couldn't help but overhear him. He was talking to three friends and the topic was children. He said, "People who don't have kids are selfish and don't know what its like to make sacrifices." I wonder if he really thought about what he said, of if he was speaking out of jealousy. I think that was a truly insensitive comment. The really bad thing is that was not the first time I've heard that comment. Someone at church made the same comment about two years ago. Tell me what you think, email me or leave a comment.



Until next time.