I recently met with an HVAC contractor for a price quote on a new heating system for our home. At the end of our meeting he pulled out the rate sheet and then said, “Because you are a local customer, I’ll discount the price.” He then gave us a lower rate. We asked a few more questions and then he mentioned a special rebate with the manufacturer…lowering the price again. As he realized that we were still “on the fence”, he lowered the price again. I left the meeting confused and frustrated. Was there a better price available? Should I ask for more discounts? How much did the last customer pay for the same product?

At Career Tree Network our pricing is firm. If a client is looking for a special package, we can build custom price quotes, but 99% of our pricing is standard and published on our website. We don’t believe in special discounts for certain clients. The price your organization pays will be the same as we charge everyone else. At the end of the day we strive for fairness and equality.

I think in the long term this is the best strategy to build customer loyalty.

Many years ago two American salesmen were employed by a large shoe company and each was sent on an assignment to the continent of Africa.

Within twenty-four hours of the first salesman’s arrival, he wired a message back to the main offie which read, “RETURNING HOME IMMEDIATELY.  HOPELESS SITUATION.  NO ONE HERE WEARS SHOES.”

Communication from the second salesman follows shortly thereafter:  “CAN’T WAIT TO GET STARTED!  UNLIMITED POTENTIAL!  NO ONE HERE HAS ANY SHOES!”

In Wisconsin Healthcare Recruitment and most things in life, attitude is everything! 

Source:  Reach for the Stars by Rochelle Pennington 

Few things possess more Power than a Thought.

Because a Thought has the potential to become something significant.  To solve something meaningful.  And to inspire us to achieve great things.

What makes a Thought so powerful is that it can be created by anybody.  At anytime.  From anywhere.

That’s why Thinking should be encouraged and nurtured in all its forms.  No matter how small.  Or how impossibly grand.

Because wherever Thinking happens, Big Ideas follow.  Minds become enlightened.  Knowledge grows.  And people discover new ways to unlock their Potential. 

So start Thinking.

(Author Unknown.  Source:  Print advertisement from Qatar Foundation)

Our church distributed this prayer on Sunday; please take a few minutes to think about unemployed family and friends…

All-generous God, we pray to you for those who are out of work.  You made us in your image and intended us for creative work; look with love on those who are unemployed.  They wish to use the gifts and talents you have given them to earn a just wage.  May all of us have the joy of contributing, according to our abilities, to the common good by an honorable livelihood. 

Guide the leaders of our economy that they may make wise decisions which will benefit us all.  Grant that we may share together in the abundant goods You have given us so that we may then share with others. 

Amen. 

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure to attend a celebration in honor my wife’s great uncle: Father V. Anthony Dolski. Since June of 1959, Father Tony has served as a Priest in the Catholic Church. In his 50 years of service he worked in a variety of cities across Wisconsin, but since 1986 has been at a church in DePere (near Green Bay). The celebration included a special service followed by a wonderfully prepared luncheon held in the school gymnasium.

In his remarks at the event, Father Tony shared highlights from his life journey and spoke about the importance of finding purpose and meaning through the work that you perform.

As someone who helps people find career opportunities, this message was especially insightful. I believe that while everyone wants to be fully engaged in their work, many people simply go through the motions each day.  Just this morning a friend updated her FaceBook status with, “Glad it’s Friday!  I hope the day goes quick!”  If this invidivual found purpose and meaning in her work, perhaps her status would be, “Sad it’s Friday!  I wonder if the boss will let me come in tomorrow!” 

During Father Tony’s homily, I found myself taking notes and I enjoyed the opportunity to learn from someone who has enthusiastically held the same job for 50 years! I will not be able to recreate his message in this post, (as the saying goes, “you had to be there”) but I would like to share a few takeaway points that have stuck with me.   

1. We are called and chosen. We are placed on this earth and are here for a reason. With this understanding, it is important to take advantage of this great opportunity. “We are always getting ready to live but never living.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

2. To experience joy; seek happiness in others. When your work helps others and makes them happy, that happiness and joy will return to you. Motivational speaker Zig Zigler said this in another way, “You can get anything you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.”

3. Bear fruit and do good things. When we were born, we came equipped with mental and physical gifts that can be used to accomplish many things. Over the course of our lives we learn, grow and develop those gifts. Our talents must be used to do good work. “And unto whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required” (Luke 12:48)

I walked away from the event with a renewed sense of energy and passion for the work that I’m able to perform each day. It has challenged me to look closely at ways to develop my business in order to further realize my life calling.

Here are two questions to leave you with: Does your work give your life meaning and purpose? If not, what are you going to about it?

A few weeks ago, the plastic bolt that holds our toilet seat in place broke…cracked right in half.  This put me in an interesting position.  Do I buy a new toilet seat? OR Find a new bolt?  As a frugal man, I decided to get a replacement bolt.  As a first step, I emailed the manufacturer and asked for their advice on how to get a replacement. 

Then after a few days with no email reply…and still no working toilet seat…I went to Home Depot where the seat was originally purchased and looked around for a replacement part.  At the store, I ran in to an associate named MJ and told him my story.  Then he did something surprising…he walked over to a new toilet seat, opened the box and removed a bolt from it.  He gave it to me and said, “it’s free, you can just take it.”   

As I walked out of the store, I began thinking how nice it was that he helped me.  MJ could have passed the buck to someone else.  He could have told me that they don’t sell replacement parts for toilet seats.  Rather, MJ gave me exactly what I needed. 

As a business guy, I thought about the new toilet seat with only one bolt sitting in the Home Depot back room.  What happens now?  They can’t sell a toilet seat with one bolt.  I thought about the cost and hassle that countless people will now go through to replace the bolt taken from that box.

Sixteen days later and long after my toilet seat was fixed.  I got an email from the toilet seat company.  It read, “We’re sending you a replacement bolt.”   

How are you treating your “customers”?  Are you an MJ who does what needs to be done to provide great service?  OR  Are you the toilet seat manufacturer that misses your opportunity to serve?