What is your Everest?

Posted on April 21, 2011 by David
Mount Everest

Mount Everest

What is your Everest?

“It’s All About The Customer” was started to help you (me) offer better service to your (my) customers. The goal was to offer a level of service that customers would go out of their way to experience. It was a big task because it meant everyone and every process would be placed under a microscope to evaluate their effectiveness.

Is there a task, or a goal, or a vision, that seems so impossible, it might as well be Mt. Everest to you? Your goal could be $1,000,000 in annual sales. It could be to win your company’s service award. It could be to start a movement to find the cure to an incurable disease.

Good. Your goal should be impossible. Otherwise, you’re not reaching high enough.

But I have the secret for conquering your Everest.

Are you ready? This is heavy stuff.

Take the first step and start climbing.

You can plan and you can talk all you want. But until you put your words into action, they are just that. Words.

If you don’t start climbing, you’ll never conquer your personal Everest.

[five-star-rating]

 

Posted in allforthecustomer.com, Challenge, Dreams, Focus, Goals, Mount Everest, Passion, Vision | 6 Comments

Ladder Safety Tips

Posted on April 20, 2011 by David
Ladder Safety

Ladder Safety

The purpose of this Guide is to explain the proper selection, use, and maintenance of ladders for use in the workplace.   The most common hazard associated with ladders is falling caused by improper use or poorly maintained and/or broken ladders. This Guide is based upon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Standards 29 CFR 1910.25: Portable Wood Ladders and 1910.26: Portable Metal Ladders.

This Guide applies to all employees who use ladders during the course of their normal job duties and describes the minimum requirements for the selection, setup, use, and care for various types of ladders.

To ensure safety and serviceability, the following shall be observed prior to using a ladder:

  • Ladders shall be inspected prior to use, and those which have developed defects or suffered damage such as bent or broken rails, rungs, steps, or fastenings shall be withdrawn from service for repair or destruction and tagged or marked as “Out of Service, Do Not Use.”
  • Ladders must have all of the appropriate markings; manufacturer’s labels, use instructions, Type (see section D), and warnings.
  • The joint between the rung and side rails shall be tight and all hardware and fittings securely attached.
  • Metal bearings of locks, wheels, pulleys, etc., shall be frequently lubricated.
  • All accessories such as safety feet, ropes, pulleys, wires, and fastenings shall be kept in good condition and replaced as necessary.
  • If a ladder falls or is involved in an accident, inspect the ladder to ensure that it is in good condition and does not have any bent or damaged components.
  • If a ladder is exposed to oil and grease, it should be cleaned to ensure adequate traction and a non-slippery surface on the rungs or rails.
  • Ladders with defects must be taken out of service until repaired.

This concludes our Ladder Safety Tips for today.

Are there any questions? I got one. Why was there a need to write a manual on ladder safety? Haven’t you always known how to properly use a ladder?

The same goes for customer service. Start with the basics. Everyone has their own opinion on what they believe is good service.

And most of them have never even read the manual.

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Posted in Basics, Safety, Starting Over | 4 Comments

What do you celebrate?

Posted on April 19, 2011 by David
Celebrate

Celebrate

What are the milestones you celebrate in your business? Is it meeting a sales goal? Is it when you receive praise from one of your customers? Is it personal accomplishments as you watch a team member better themselves?  Are you celebrating loyalty among your employees?

There are thousands of ways to celebrate. The main categories I find are . . .

  • Customer satisfaction
  • Individual/Team performance
  • Behaviors
  • Longevity

It may take a shift in the way you relate to your employees. Rewarding your employees can be in the form of public recognition among their peers. You can treat them to a fancy dinner. It can also be a kind word when you witness a team member going above and beyond what is expected of them.

Sometimes, a simple thank you is all that is necessary. But if you would like to treat me to a steak dinner, I’m game!

[five-star-rating]

 

Posted in Celebrate, Loyalty | 7 Comments

It’s not a one time thing

Posted on April 18, 2011 by David
It's not a one time thing

It's not a one time thing

Excellence.

It’s not a one time thing. It’s practiced daily. It’s a part of every decision, every action, every plan.

For those of you who are the early risers and early readers, what were you thinking when today’s post wasn’t there at 6:00 am? What about 7? Did you think I forgot? Had you become so used to a certain level service that you were disappointed when there was a change?

Thanks to the suggestion of a friend (edit: good friend), I started putting a 5-star rating on my blogs. What if we were able to give an immediate rating every time we were served? Whether it was on the phone or in person or through email, would it change the way you were served?

It shouldn’t. Because excellence isn’t just a one time thing.

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Posted in Excellence | 4 Comments

Challenge or opportunity?

Posted on April 17, 2011 by David

Half Empty or Half Full

Half Empty or Half Full

Maybe it’s just semantics. Is the glass half full or half empty?

Every day we are faced with challenges. But are we looking at them in a negative way or a positive way?

Turn your challenges into opportunities.

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Posted in Challenge, Opportunity | 2 Comments