New Day

Up at 5:10 this morning, took a picture for you:





















Yeah, black as black can be :P

Patterns and reciprocity.

It seems that my state of blogging could be diagnosed as manic-depressive. Unlike the real world ailment, blogging surges in depressive states. When something is not right in (my view of) the world, or there is some great injustice (usually more personal than global). Yet I write to give the many readers a chance to see my inner monologue and keep people intrigued like the latest Dan Brown novel. Only, my inner monologue is much more exciting. *Now please re-read that last sentence with a healthy level of sarcasm instead of narcissism.*

A few hours ago I finished catching up on a friend's blog, and found a personal relation in her True Christmas wish list:

"a full time job that engages my brain and allows me to work with creative, caring, and inovative people (not that those at my current job aren't those things)"

Surely this is no new feeling to any blogger. I have some feeling that most bloggers are writing to create an outlet in a world that is focused on plugging along a mediocre path toward massive wealth. This path is adopted instead of charging headlong into a melee of dreams, reality, puppies and barb-wire to come out with an awesome story and life-experience. As far as jobs are concerned it is hard to find a situation where both the work itself and the people we work alongside are engaging. Lets say we have a great job with great coworkers that push us towards new levels of awesomeness, how do we handle our customers? Allow me to share the "Wish List of Customer Relations":

~Smile
~Listen to your customer (concerns and elations)
~Ask pertinant questions to complete the task, save chit chat for when the job is complete.
~Keep the customer involved (as much as they want to be anyways)
~Be upfront and honest (if changes must be made to the solution, fill the customer in)
~Be positive, but be genuine
~All prices should be the same all the time (if you are running a special it should be extended to all customers)
~Reward long time customers (seniority should win out over popularity)
~All negotiations should be done on the front end, not when writing up the bill (even address what may happen in the case of changes)
~Double-check with the customer on their satisfaction
~Leave an open door for questions that come after-the-fact (just in case all the bases weren't covered)

There is my wish list. I'm sure there is some business elite laughing at me with great delight, but that fear is quelled by realizing no elite (of any kind) would read my blog. Just a thought to consider before I drop this; would you like to have these actions extended to you as a customer? If so, immulate Jesus and "love your neighbor as you love yourself." Throw down like Ghandi and "be the change you want to see in the world." Step out there like, well, I don't know who said this but step out and "don't wait for people to be friendly, show them how."

Now get out there and save the world!