Customer Service- A great time at In-N-Out

In case anyone in Utah has been sick, injured or in a bubble, or living under a rock, we have finally gotten In-N-Out Burger in Orem and the Salt Lake Valleys! They opened last Thursday. Since my son has spent a great deal of his childhood in Southern California, he is very familiar with In-N-Out Burger. Last week, he was sick with strep and knew that they opened on Thursday- he wanted to go. I finally gave in on Sunday. We live about an hour from the locations, and I thought that since Sunday is a big church day in Orem, it wouldn't be too crazy.

I told my son this morning, that today was the day. Burger Nirvana. Since he had a 4.0 gpa last trimester, I thought this was my cheapest way out (it's better than buying or finding Call of Duty Modern Warefare 2). I called my So Cal GF, and we took the kids down. I told her of the time I drove from Santa Barbara to Thousand Oaks for their grand opening. She had similar stories. Our husbands stayed at home, but placed orders.

When we arrived, the place was packed. There were orange cones, police, and so many employees, I felt as if I were at Disneyland. All of the employees had a smile on their face, they were so warm and welcoming! We had a great meal for $12.00, and left happy. I have worked in the service business for many years both in specialty retail and restaurants and was very impressed. Their food is always consistent, bringing back memories of the beach. Their employees are what make the whole experience unforgettable. As we sat, eating our burgers (wondering how much time on the elyptical this would cost me), I looked around at the customers, and the employees. Everyone was happy. WOW.

How hard is it to make the customer happy? How hard is it to smile and actually be sincere with a customer? What are the rewards? Well, today I expierienced it for $12. Great lesson, everyone in the serivice industry should have a field trip. Thanks for a great expiereince!

Pondering the Healthcare/Insurance Mess

I can think of many creative adjectives to describe the current health care debacle, but I will try to keep this as clean and respectful as possible. My family has what the government is considering a "Cadillac" plan. My husband works VERY hard for these benefits. We earn a decent living, even though our income has literally been cut in half due to the state of our current economy. I LOVE my insurance company. I am starting to question some of the doctors I have seen.

Here's my beef (be patient, I have several steaks to fry!). I have had chronic sinus infections for years, which have lead to some really nasty bronchial infections including pneumonia. I was told that my problems were rooted in allergies. Mind you, I have been told this by many family doctors. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I was in the doctor's office from November - May of last year. Every time, I paid my copay, and walked out with over $100 in rx. I rotated Levequin, Cipro, Augmentin, and the ZPak. I took prednisone, inhaled steroids and shot them up my nose, only to return 5 days after the antibiotics ran out to get a different one. Finally, in May I was so sick again, I decided to go to an ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist). I figured, if I had allergies, I needed to find what I was allergic to. One look up my nose, and he asked how many times I had broken my nose. In amazement, I replied "Several". Long story short- He fixed my nose surgically and I haven't been sick since. My insurance company had me in surgery within 3 days. After hundreds of dollars spent by me and my insurance company, this would have been avoided YEARS ago if I would have gone to a specialist first, or the Family Doctors that had been treating me knew what they were looking at when they looked up my nose. I had the power through my insurance company to seek out a specialist without a referral from a family doctor, some are not that fortunate. Other than the hundreds of dollars I have spent treating this problem, I have some serious Achilles tendinitis from the antibiotics I have taken. Lesson learned. See a specialist.

Last summer, my husband was doing what we call- "drive by docking" with our boat. I jumped from the boat to the dock and felt my knee pop. It didn't hurt at the time, but as time went on, it started killing me. Since this had the potential to be a 3rd surgery on that knee, I waited as long as possible to see my Ortho. When I went to see him, he said I had torn my meniscus and required surgery sooner than later. I asked him if I needed a MRI, he said he would do one if it made me feel better, but it wasn't necessary. I had the surgery, my knee was fixed. BAM. This is how it should be. My insurance company didn't require a MRI or a second opinion. I love them both. Lesson learned. See a specialist.

When I spoke with my Orthopedic Surgeon just before my surgery, I told him how grateful I was to have him. I really love this guy! He humbly said he was just a mechanic and that what he does is pretty easy. Pretty cool coming from a guy that fixes the knees of famous athletes all over the world. That made me think- if my car was broken, would I keep taking it to the same place that couldn't fix the problem? Hmm.

We are very fortunate to have the insurance plan we have. I don't want anything to change. My insurance company is easy to work with, they pay claims quickly and I can always get a live person on the phone. We are not able to qualify for insurance unless we are covered under a group plan at this time. I don't know what we would do without this great benefit we receive from my husband's company. On the flip side, if the small business I work for was required to enroll all of their employee's in a plan, like many other small businesses it would be financially devastating for the business. I don't know what the answers are for everyone. I just know what works for my family. I don't want the government running my health, my bank or my car company. I think they have bigger fish to fix first- how 'bout unemployment??

Newspapers, Phone Books, Radio a thing of the past???

I can't help but think that our lives and habits are changing forever. I can't tell you the last time I bought a newspaper. I never look at a phone book. I don't even listen to traditional radio anymore. I'm about to disconnect my land line because I'm pissed about the taxes the government has tacked on to double my $11.00 phone line.

I think newspapers are becoming a thing of the past. Look at all of the papers that are struggling. We can get all of our information on the Internet. People are taking control of their advertising dollars through websites and network marketing. People are target marketing their business specifically to those who would buy their product. When I first saw newspapers starting to have problems, I thought it was the economy or the political views of the paper. This may have something to do with some business loss, but think about it... If you have a business- where would you spend your advertising dollars?? A one time ad- for a day?? Or, would you target your customer base directly through the Internet?

The phone book is great- if you don't have a computer or cell phone. The only person that I know that doesn't have a computer or cell phone is my father-in-law. It's funny- he always calls and tells me which website to visit for product! He claims he wouldn't leave the house if he had a computer... I am so tired of looking up a business in the yellow pages, calling the number, pressing more numbers to get to a live person and sometimes not even getting someone I can understand or communicate in English with. This is why I go to my computer- easier and faster.

Before I found satellite radio, I was a channel switcher. I can't stand endless babbling from DJ's and excessive advertising. Gimme the music. If I want to listen to people talk- there is a channel for that. If I want the news, there is a channel for that. If I want music- there is a channel for that too. It's the same with cable TV. We don't have to watch or listen to advertising, we can change the channel. It makes it difficult to sell advertising or widely market your product. Target marketing is where it's at, social networking is where it's going. Something to ponder...

The Power and Reward of Social Networking

A few months ago, a friend of mine sent me an invitation via email for Facebook. At that time, I said to myself- "yeah right, like I have the time for that..." My computer savvy is minimal, but getting better thanks to my son- who also helps me with my phone.. After speaking with my friend, she convinced me to try it. WOW!!!

In about 3 months, I have connected with old friends, schoolmates and family that I haven't had contact with for years. These people live all over the country, and one in Sweden. We have all had those thoughts- "what ever happened to so and so?" Now we have the potential to find out. I have connected with a high school friend that is a networking genius (thanks, Rex). He has opened my eyes to the endless possibilities of social networking.

Social Networking has helped my business grow by giving me invaluable contacts and the ability to personally reach out to customers without spending a fortune on advertising. If I need to purchase something, or find a service- I will go to my growing network of "friends" to find a solution and make my purchase. I have even found a bass guitar teacher for my son.

All in all, the most important "connection" I have made is finding my Dad. We had been out of touch for many years. Clicking the "add friend" button was the best (and hardest) thing I have ever done. Thanks Joann, for getting me started on this great journey.

Swine Flu??

With so many thoughts for my first post (I'll have lots to write in the future, so stay tuned), I have decided to blog about what is affecting my family the most. This week it is most definitely the "Swine Flu". Last Thursday, our schools were closed because of a potential case of the virus. My son attends a private school here, so his school followed the PCSD protocol. I can't say I blame them.

I'll admit, as a parent, I was concerned at first- maybe even a little paranoid. The hysteria the media created was unbelievable. I did not go into Park City until later that afternoon to work. As I drove into work that day, the schools were empty, and very few cars on the road. I almost thought I was in some type of movie- you know- the movies that have some disease and the whole town is shut down. As I approached my place of employment, I drove by our city park. It was packed! The skate park was filled to capacity, the volleyball and tennis courts all occupied with students and parents.

The media continues to create hysteria. The kids are going back to school tomorrow. I now have a month off. All of this makes me wonder... is it really that bad, or is it some type of agenda to make us believe it is that bad? Something to ponder...