Category: Business
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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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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;…
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Rocking chair moments in my life a tribute to the amazing people I’ve worked with over the years
Read more: Rocking chair moments in my life a tribute to the amazing people I’ve worked with over the yearsA mentor and friend of mine referred to them as “rocking chair moments” during a training session nearly 20 years ago. At the time, at a beachfront hotel in Fort Lauderdale, I thought I knew exactly what he meant. Turns out, I was wrong.
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My decision to leave the newspaper industry but not turn my back on the local newspaper
Read more: My decision to leave the newspaper industry but not turn my back on the local newspaperThe first newspaper story I ever had published appeared in the middle school paper in the fall of 1979. Within three years, I received my first check for writing and working at a newspaper and that has continued up until now. Over the years I’ve worked at media outlets, radio stations and newspapers virtually my…
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Building your championship caliber workplace team starts with spring training everyday
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Read more: Building your championship caliber workplace team starts with spring training everydayThe first snow has fallen, and I’m well on my way on a count-down to spring training and the return to baseball season. That’s pretty typical for me, being a fan of baseball as well as a hater of cold Indiana winters. It’s especially true this winter, after watching my favorite team, the Boston Red…
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Shifting demographics still bring optimism to traditional media
Read more: Shifting demographics still bring optimism to traditional mediaA co-worker of mine asked me the other day if I’d heard about the tsunami that was about to hit. Normally our conversation is about popular music or sports, so his weather statement caught me a bit off guard. Then he forwarded me a recent post from InsiderRadio.com that brought things into perspective. His reference…
