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My tribute to baseball player Kevin Youkilis and how he can help save our country
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Read more: My tribute to baseball player Kevin Youkilis and how he can help save our countryTo this day, Kevin Youkilis is still one of my favorite baseball players of all time. You say you’ve never heard of him? Well….. In the early 2000s when the Boston Red Sox were reemerging as a baseball powerhouse, “Youk” as he was called was in the middle of it. So allow me a moment…
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Festivus and the commercialization of Christmas
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Read more: Festivus and the commercialization of ChristmasFans of the 90s sitcom Seinfeld know what I’m referring to, the celebration of Festivus which was featured in the ninth season. The show that was about nothing managed to make something out of nothing with the faux holiday celebrating the over commercialization of Christmas. Ironically, the celebration about commercialization is itself a well commercialized…
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Local journalism vs. the ‘milking’ of profits by corporate owners
Read more: Local journalism vs. the ‘milking’ of profits by corporate ownersThis is the time of year when people reflect on their circumstance in life, and often times give thanks for their many blessings. The end of year ritual has not eluded me, as I sit here thinking about many aspects of my life as the holiday season begins. For my work life, the past year…
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Changing your customer service culture to change your future profits
Read more: Changing your customer service culture to change your future profitsFocusing on the customer is easy to say, but harder than you’d think to pull off. It always sounds good in a conference room, during some management retreat or even on the plaque you place in the lobby of your company. But once you actually introduce the customer into the equation, it gets difficult.
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Connecting with customers through small talk
Read more: Connecting with customers through small talkThe art of small talk really is an art. I’ve always been blessed to be able to start a conversation with just about anyone. I think I am naturally curious, and that curiosity has helped me throughout my life. It is a skill that is hard to teach, though I believe it is possible. It…
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Connecting with your customers to build customer loyalty and profits
Read more: Connecting with your customers to build customer loyalty and profitsNo one enjoys a trip to the dentist, at least that I’m aware of and I am no different. But my trip this morning to the dentist was a very different experience than past visits, demonstrating a text book lesson in customer service.
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A limitless amount of patience; key to relationships and life
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Read more: A limitless amount of patience; key to relationships and lifeMy 30th wedding anniversary is quickly approaching. Just typing that is seemingly unbelievable. Unbelievable in that it doesn’t seem possible to be that old, and unbelievable that someone has tolerated me for that long! I’m not sure which is more improbable. Ruth has more patience that any person I know, to put up with me…
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Saying goodbye to another closing newspaper
Read more: Saying goodbye to another closing newspaperI received word that a friend of mine passed away this week. We weren’t as close as we were 15 years ago, but that happens. Life happens — you get busy, you move on and before you know it you’ve drifted apart. Looking back now though, I have to smile about the relationship me and…
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The pitfalls of a tax that supports local journalism
Read more: The pitfalls of a tax that supports local journalism“Self government won’t work without self discipline.” That was a frequent comment of radio commentator Paul Harvey during his noon-time broadcast for decades. The thought behind that comment is true for our government, for our personal lives and business. And it came to mind when I read a recent story on niemanlab.org, which referenced a…
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Bringing customer service back into focus for businesses
Read more: Bringing customer service back into focus for businessesThe shuttle bus was cruising along from the long term parking lot towards the airport. Everyone was excited to get going on a vacation to Florida and warmer weather. We had made the decision to park our cars at a nearby lot instead of on the airport property itself. It seemed like a no-brainer idea;…
