My Friends: Rob and Amber Grimshaw – A story that has to be shared!

My Friends: Rob and Amber Grimshaw – A story that has to be shared!.

Poison Control Centers Lose 25% of Its Funding!

Poison Control Centers Lose 25% of Its Funding!.

Where does the time go!

I swore I was going to write in my blog 2-3 times a week and a week goes by and time is gone and nothing but work was accomplished. Oh, but…

I am an empty-nester now – my daughter and 2 babies moved out 2 weeks ago – In the last nine years (and yes, I’ll sound like a push-over) we’ve had 2 homeless families living with us and then my daughter moved in – 2 babies later, she has now moved in with her older brother and his wife.

I am learning what it’s like to be in the living room and watch TV with my hubby and dishes are done in the sink and wow – I can’t even start to tell you all the new things I’m learning about my house. I have a large bedroom with a small sitting area, but to be out and about in the rest of the house feels so strange – but in a good way.

My other 2 daughters & their hubbies bought in on a house together and ended up getting in on the $8K tax incentive – got a sweet deal…and the best part – they live within walking distance of our house. – 2 couples born of the Spirit & my other 2 grandbabies – live together and really work together so well – it is wonderful to experience…They got moved in this last weekend…I’m so happy for them.

Well, we’re getting ready to walk in to Monday Night Bible Study –

So, I’m going to hit send – just so y’all know I’m still working away…One thing to check out ladies – and men share with your ladies – the new CremeMagnolia Partner page!!! – Check it out! http://crememagnolia.net/index.php/magnolia-partners/

To My Grandbabies!

To the ones I’ve met – to the ones I’ve yet to meet – I love you! More than life itself – I love you.

Isaiah – you are such a little man at 3 1/2 – you stand head and shoulders above the rest your age, and when I have come home in the past; just to hear you say “oh Granny, you’re HOME”…brings a smile to my lips. I love you little boy! Coming in to your Papa last night and just kissing him on the hand – he will never forget that! And this morning, when you crawled into my lap just to lay your head on my shoulder and tell me you love me – brought me joy all day long.

Eddie – at 3 you are the most polite little boy – your mommy & daddy are doing such a good job of raising you up in the Lord – and when I see you hop up & down across the church parking lot telling them “Look – it’s Granny” and I can scoop you up in to my arms and you are always smiling. I love you little boy!

Leilani – You will be 50 years old and I’ll still remember you running in to my bedroom with those huge blue eyes and white blonde hair – naked as a j-bird, to be lifted up on my bed just to sit by me for a few seconds and watch a little TV with me and to jabber at me…but at 16 months I can only imagine the beauty you will become…I love you little girl!

Jasmine – my Jazzy – we came so close to losing you and your mommy, but God granted us your life and kept your mommy with us too – Thank you Daddy! – - – you’re only 3 months old but your smile can light up a room and the way you share it with everyone – it ain’t no gas pain! Your olive skin, dark hair and dark eyes – oh you are going to be so beautiful when you grow up – and if you get your mom’s natural curly hair (like all the other grandbabies) – ooh – la – la – look out.

I don’t know exactly why today is the day I am writing and publishing this – but I know that some day you will read this and know how special each and every one of you are.

and to those not yet here – I can hardly wait to meet you! I love you!!! – Love Granny

Share The Bar

Share The Bar.

 

Check it out and let me know what you think!?!?!  I look forward to hearing from you!

http://15715.powerbarclub.com/

My Fibro Experience

For years I thought it was impossible to hurt in so many places all the time – but I knew that what I was feeling was real. It limited my ability to function at so many levels and before I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia (FM) by a wonderful arthritis doctor here in Phoenix, (Dr. Stuart Posner – thank you kind sir!), I went through physical therapies and cortisone shots and medications upon medications…it inhibited me to the point that all I did was eat and sleep and work (always work) – the eating got me to the point that I weighed 300 lbs. by the time I was diagnosed.

My next course was walking with a cane for 3 ½ years while I battled with my insurance company to approve the gastric bypass surgery – if I could just get the weight off everything would miraculously fix itself. 5 years ago I was among one of the last gastric bypass surgery recipients approved by my insurance company – they now approve 0 – stated right in their exclusions in big bold letters. How sad…I truly believe that without the surgery I would be at the very least completely disabled.

In approximately 1 year I went from 300 lbs to 150 lbs and have (thank you Lord) remained at 150 lbs ever since. I no longer walk with a cane and truth be told, the length of the FM attacks have decreased…but, sadly to say I still take medications to get up in the morning, and medications to sleep at night and muscle relaxers & pain pills to relieve the cramping and muscle tensions.

It’s amusing too, because I keep hearing radio ads for a pain center here in Phoenix that advertises help for FM sufferers, in addition to those who suffer from migraines and back pain. Comically – my FM includes all 3 – FM/migraines/back pain. Wonder what they would do with that. But, sadly, it all costs money and so, every 3 months I go to my regular general practitioner and stay on the same medications day after day.

I find myself writing about this today because I had another bout of attacks this week – sick from some type of stomach bug and I’m immediately weakened to the point where I ended up having to spend an extra day and a half recuperating in a dark room unable to function. I am convinced that the FM messes with your immunities and your ability to recover from minor illnesses. A migraine can knock me down for days – a silly cold or stomach bug and I’m out of commission for 3 -5 days…

And then – we have those who insist that FM isn’t even real. That it’s all imagined or whatever they say – I have stopped reading those articles and listening to the naysayers – they obviously know not of what they speak…and in their ignorance spread more doubt and unbelief.

I’m writing this as an entry in to my blog, but I hope that if even 1 person who suffers from this disabling disease will know they are not alone – It will be worth it. Hang in there – Keep the hope for a cure alive – the more we speak out and say “This is REAL and it is happening to me” – the more help will come. You Are NOT Alone!!! & my prayers are with you every day.

Do you care enough to listen to what is being said and more importantly what isn’t being said?

How many times do we pass each other in the hall at work or in our various surroundings – running in to people non-stop and it’s always “Hi – how ya doin’?” “Great” “Good – talk to you later”. “You bet.” And, later never comes.

We are so busy with our own little thoughts, and our own little lives, that we never realize that the person next to us may be in extreme pain – tremendous mental torment over something we could provide relief for.

I have found myself doing it and being more and more conscious of the fact that I never seem to have the time to go back to the individuals and really listen to them. Hear what they are afraid of and give them a place to leave that fear behind. Hear what pain they are in and give them a place to leave that pain.

We are in this together – we are the hope for the world – we have the answers – we need to listen – and care – and provide that hope. Hope for a life that is free from worry and free from the cares of this world – Hope for a life after this one.

We rush around day after day like little ants looking for that grain of food or sand or anything that will provide peace. We are so exhausted at the end of the day that we collapse into a coma-like sleep until the alarm goes off and we rush out to do it all over again.

This isn’t a “stop & smell the roses” thing – this is a Stop and Listen to each other thing. Stop and hear what people are saying – listen to them when they need an ear to hear – listen and provide the shoulder to cry on that people so often need.

Who needs YOU today? Are you there for them? Can they count on you? Is it for a friend you pass on the sidewalk? Is it for a co-worker in the next office?

More than ever, we need to be there for each other – Lift each other up and provide a hope that isn’t of this world – a hope that goes beyond what they see in their lives – a hope that provides real strength.

We need each other and I realize this – I read in all the “blog how-to’s” not to mix politics or religion in to your blog and yet I see blogs all day long that spew hatred and garbage all over the internet – just to be “out there”. What purpose does that serve? – None that I can see. Many will tell you how to be a better entrepreneur or a better employee or a better job seeker.

So, every once in a while, mine will tell you of a better place to live – one where there is real love, real peace, real joy, and real contentment – a place where the wrongs of this world are paid for in full.

See, it’s this way – many have heard of and profess to believe in “sin” (to miss God’s mark of perfection) and many will even profess to know a “savior from sin”, but sin is never dead – it’s never been truly paid for and it’s definitely NOT buried out of their sight, let alone the sight of God. I can’t live that way – I’ve met the Savior from sin and I know that when He hung on that cross and cried “It is Finished” – He really meant it – When He buried sin in the pits of hell and was raised 3 days later once again pure & perfect – I believe it. When we were commanded to “Believe IN Him and Love One Another” – He really meant it.

He is the “hope” I write of here today and if you’re interested in the “hope” I speak of, please feel free to contact me at gpitts2009@gmail.com. I’m here and I will listen.

Day after Labor Day – Sure – - Right!!!

Well – today is Tuesday and in the US it is the day after Labor Day…I’m convinced that today was Labor Day – we have several people either displaced from their jobs or on vacation and because of my familiarity with so many different functions within our company, it’s been an adventure but to pull up out of my memory how to do so many jobs my brain is pooped right now – but since I haven’t written anything for several days and just to stay fresh and up to the minute, I better write – so o o o o o here goes!

Today was also the first day for my oldest grandson, Isaiah to start K4 – he’s only 3 ½ but he’s very bright (yes I’m prejudiced, but…) – He’s going to the private school at our church, where my hubby has been the principal and teacher of 5-8 grade students for the last 15 years, (all subjects – he’s very smart).  Isaiah is pretty big for 3 ½ – his teacher who teaches K4-1^st grade kept thinking today that Isaiah is in the K5 or 1^st grade group instead of the K4 and she has to change her thinking that he’s still not at the same level as K5… 

I’m babbling because I’m tired but there are so many things going through my brain…I keep thinking of that first blog entry – “Who Am I” and am reminded of an old song…Who am I that a King would bleed and die for?  Who am I that He would pray not my will thine for?  The answer I may never know – why He ever loved me so; that to an old rugged cross He’d go, for who am I? 

My heart, my love, my joy – who am I? – A child of the King…that’s who I am…

And last week I learned that I had been selected to be one of the 426 Global Executives of the new Me2Everyone website.  If you want to check it out, you can find me at www.me2everyone.com/499525  - this is going to be an exciting place to do many things, from selling & advertising to gaming & buying…it’s still in the mid-phase of startup but get in now and reap the benefits sooner than later. 

About 2+ months ago, I was also selected by the owner of CrèmeMagnolia.net to be the LinkedIn Group Leader for the LinkedIn group of CrèmeMagnolia – CrèmeMagnolia.net which is a “woman to woman” business 2 business website – learning a lot of new things right now and I’ve never had so much fun…check out www.crememagnolia.net and if you belong to LinkedIn too, please come over – check us out and sign up with us…

I can’t believe all the directions my life is leading right now, but…that is the way it is goes sometimes – What’s the old saying – We’ll rest when we’re dead?

Have a great day and check me out again in a few more days.  More sooner than later!

Management – Projects vs. People…Big Difference!!!

For years I managed projects and most of them by phone, fax and email.  I would get to go out and schmooze customers in person on occasion and every once in a while I would go to the inevitable convention – meet and greet and all that fun stuff.  But, my forte was by phone, fax and email. – No personal connections that way – other than my ability to sound good on the phone (deep and throaty – sing male tenor – you ought to hear my falsetto) – and my, yet to be determined, ability with the written word. 

One day, I was given the opportunity to move up (uh huh) to a management position that wasn’t for customers any more, but to manage real live people sitting and standing right in front of me.  Boy did I go through people – like water through a sieve – yikes.  The people I was sent in to manage had “managed” to get away with many things over the years because it was accepted as the way it was…It was quite funny actually, as my previous direct salesperson I managed projects for before the promotion, told me I’d never make it in this new position, because I didn’t know how to handle people face to face.

I had to prove him wrong!  And, my superiors had confidence in my abilities to handle the situations that would come up and so…on I went – diving deep in to a pool of people that would love me, hate me, leave me and well…

I have learned many things in the last 2 ½ years.  I’ve learned that when you have a great team of people together, wonderful things get done and work is a joy.  I’ve learned that just one person with a poor attitude can make it difficult for everyone they come in contact with.  Those are the ones you have to decide to let go or to work extra hard to save.  I have learned that one person who has a burning desire to prove they can do a job can become a powerhouse and a valuable part of the team – thank you Nancy.

In a time of job insecurity and uncertain layoffs I have also learned that whatever tools you have at your disposal – by all means – - USE THEM…If you have extra value that you can add to anything you do – find it and use it…You are the one who can make or break “you” right now.  It is up to you – you have to use any and all skills at your disposal to make your value known to those around you, to your supervisors and to your superiors.

It will mean coming in early (beat your boss in) and it will mean working late (leave after your boss, if you can) – record your time – promote yourself and your abilities.  It is all you have to stand out from the other person.  A positive attitude, a smile on your face, and by all means keep your appearance top-notch…

Keep your hair neat and polished, like your wardrobe, your makeup and your shoes.  Present a package your bosses want to see coming in to work.  It all sounds like the 1970’s or older, but today is not the same as yesterday.  It is a new day and we have to do all we can to be the best we can be…If it is your own company and you are the boss or if you work for a company and have 10 bosses – it is all the same.   Work harder, work smarter and by all means – love what you do or if the opportunity presents itself – be brave and find that love in another job or even start your own company. 

Well, label me silly, but I’m sitting in a hotel room in the town where our corporate office is, helping out another department and I still have another hour  of work to do…so – until the next time…Shine on!

I’m Calling You – Are You Ready For Me?

Something I am passionate about is the care “customer service” representatives give to their customers – I don’t want to regurgitate the same old stuff I’ve read 1000 times. I have no desire to be redundant and I know that anyone who has ever worked in customer service and written a blog has at one time or another stated the obvious.

Maybe though, in this time when people are doing all they can to hang on to the jobs they have or to impress a prospective employer, it is time to write one more blog on the subject. The top five things that I have consistently tried to follow and trained others with are the items that so often get left by the wayside in an ever increasingly busy world. These tips are for internal and external customers…

I believe that these are and should be at the top of any Customer Service Representatives list of things to learn; whether the job is face to face or over the phone. The majority of my customer service experience has been over the phone so that is my focus here today.

#1 – put a mirror right next to your phone – I learned this trick many, many years ago. – Smile when you look in the mirror BEFORE you pick up the phone. People on the other end of that line can HEAR your smile. And, 99% of the time, they will respond accordingly.

#2 – speak in your normal speaking voice – there is no need to yell – PET PEEVE even today I hear people yelling in to their cell phones – if the reception is that poor then move to another area and call the person back – - boy, did I veer off on that one.

The minute you raise your voice to a customer you have just escalated any situation above the region you want to be in. Just as the customer can hear your smile (or your frown) the customer responds to your tone of voice. If you are calm, you help the customer stay calm. (I will say there are times when nothing you do is going to calm an angry customer and that will be addressed in #4)

#3 – Never ever answer a phone or make an outgoing call without a pen and paper or computer program open to take down all information the first time when the call comes in. Be courteous and forthright with any and all questions pertaining to the customer’s call. PET PEEVE – Do you have any idea how many calls you can answer and someone asks for directions or information and then when you have it for them they immediately have to stop you to look for a pen/paper? If you didn’t think I had the information – then why did you call me? And if you did think I had it – why weren’t you ready for it before you called?

#4 – The customer is always right. Really? Do you think so? I don’t and yet – - – The customer is always right. You can calm a situation down immediately by showing concern for the customer’s situation and by immediately being willing to take all his/her information down – you must ask the right questions in order to get to the reasoning behind the customer’s angst. When you have all the information available you can then determine if the answer lies within your realm of influence to handle or if it must be escalated to a higher authority.

#5 – Do not sandbag your supervisor! Do not turn over a difficult customer to your manager without providing that person with every bit of information you were able to glean from talking to the person with the problem. Make sure that all you have written down is accurate – leave your emotions in your pocket and allow your supervisor the opportunity to make their own wise decisions in talking to this person.

If you get your manager riled up by your emotions, it doesn’t serve you, the manager or ultimately the customer’s needs. If it takes time to explain the situation to the manager, check back with the customer often so they know you’re still there and that an answer is forthcoming. Leaving them on hold will only further anger them – leaving them with the feeling of not only abandonment, but also that you’re convincing someone they are wrong. They will never think you’re trying to convince someone they (the customer) are right! It just isn’t in their mindset – think of the last time you called on a customer service issue – you’ll see…

So – I’m hoping against hope that some of this is new or that it will ring true for someone and from that – a better customer service experience the next time I have to call you!