How to Lose a Customer in 10 Ways

First, take a week to confirm cash payment. 

Second, confirm that payment has been received. Take a few more days to schedule delivery and installation.

Third, inform the customer they're coming the next day to deliver and install. Ask if they're going to install the item.

Third, cancel coming and use the excuse that their vehicle broke down. 

Fourth, wait another week before re-scheduling and only inform the customer the day before that you're coming. Oh and ask again if the item will be installed.

Fifth, deliver the item and conveniently forget they're supposed to install the item. Promise the customer they're going to come back for installation. They're just in the neighborhood and can come back.

Sixth, don't come back. Use the excuse that the vehicle broke down

Seventh, blame the customer for scheduling in the afternoon. 

Eigth, reschedule for next week. 

Ninth, tell the customer their contractor's electrician can install the item (installation is included in the item).

Tenth, keep apologizing but keep on making your customer feel bad for choosing your company. 

One of the worst experiences I had was getting undercooked chicken from a favorite chicken joint. I messaged them, but they were able to address the issue properly. I was so upset because i was really hungry. The restaurant addressed the issue by acknowledging the mistake, making an investigation and they made up for it by reimbursing the amount. My feedback actually helped them because they were able to confirm that there was a lapse in the process. They sent their store manager to apologize in person. She also brought freshly cooked (fully cooked!) chicken and cake. 

That was a really remarkable way to manage an issue. I never even mentioned the issue to anyone which meant the restaurant had proper processes in place to address issue. I truly appreciated what they did especially since they are one of my favorite restos. What I went through today is the complete opposite. I would have understood, but they already made me wait a long time, blamed me for scheduling an afternoon visit, then tried to pass on the work which would have caused me to shell out more money. 

Of course, I got pissed and because they were just digging a deeper hole I gave them lengthy feedback. I explained that as a customer I have a right to request what time they could come especially since they only informed me a day before. I pointed out that I've been made to wait a few weeks for fulfillment and that changes in schedules have also affected the workflow of my contractor's electrician because they have to pull him out just to help us. I also explained that getting the electrician to do the installation meant I'd have to pay for his services too. 

Well, I hope they take my feedback as constructive criticism. I got the item from them because they were referred to us by our contractor. Their sales team was pretty responsive so I thought everything would go smoothly. They thanked me for the feedback and promised to do the installation next week. Well, we'll see how it goes. 

#BeKind #StaySafe #VoteWisely

When to Let Go and Step Down

There's been unrest in our alumni association for a few years now. An anomaly was uncovered regarding the use of the funds. A previous election did not wipe out the officers who did it and there was a lot of talk there was some wrongdoing their too. Changes were made on how the elections are done to allow more alumni to vote. My sister's batch did a lot of recruitment to ensure we get better results for this elections. It happened last weekend. The funny thing is there's delay again in announcing winners. 

Sounds familiar noh? That's what happens when power gets to your head. Falling in love with power leads to greed. I often wonder why people can't just let go when it's time. If you're worried about continuity for your projects, there are many talented and skilled people out there. Don't hoard power because that stunts growth. 

Last year when I was still employed, but on medical leave I realized I wasn't getting any better. I started to worry about my team since nobody was taking care of their needs. I was asked whether I wanted to transfer them to someone else. I let them go because I knew they deserved to be cared for and learn new things from a new manager. It was a huge bonus for me that they found someone I trusted too. The opportunity to manage a huge team isn't available to everyone, but I prioritized my team over my needs. I'm confident they'll all perform well even without me. 

I honestly miss my old life. I miss the challenges. I miss my team and my teammates. I didn't want to leave because of my illness and it took me a long time to make peace with it. The Didache reflection yesterday reminded me that God does things to direct you to the right path. I hope and pray that the current officers of our alumni association find it in their hearts to let go so corrective action can be done. The mission after all is to do good for others. 

#BeKind #StayHome #VoteWisely

Because You Can!

Hump day is over and it's Thursday again. I'm only able to follow the days of the week based on Sweetie's office day. I ask him everyday what day it is already. My life used to be controlled by my Google Calendar. I used to have back to back to back meetings. 

I was reading the news today and was really happy to note that we're getting at four medals at the Tokyo Olympics. Wow! Brother Bo Sanchez shared in his vlog Hidilyn Diaz' secret to her success. She put it in her mind that she was going to win. She always gave her best during her training.  

It's truly amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it. Looking back that's how I managed my projects. I always had the end goal in mind and everything I did supported to reach the goal. That's how I also led my team. I'd ask them what they'd like to report by end of the quarter (or year). That makes it easy for them to plan and budget their time for the whole quarter (or year). 

When you have a goal it's important to detail the steps on how you're going to reach it. Most of the tools I use are online, but I still have a handwritten checklist. It's fulfilling to tick off tasks. I still do this now since managing your family in two countries requires program management skills (haha). 

That's the secret to achieving anything - have a clear goal and proper planning prevents poor performance! Go for the gold! 

Day 6 Minimalism Challenge, Write your friends' best qualities. I keep a small circle of really close friends. As you grow older you realize that you don't need a lot of friends. And as you grow older you also experience a lot of stuff about friendship. I trust my besties. I don't talk to them everyday, but they instinctively know when I need them. They know when I'm in one of my moods. They know how to calm me down and what I like and don't like. Our friendship has been through the test of time and that's something I'll never exchange for anything in the world. 

CB///*Yr2/117 #StuckAtHomeDay/Yr2/140 #NewG329 #Home87 #StayHome #BeKind 

My Work Dads and How they Saved My Life

I have had a lot of work Dads in my job, work Moms have been sparing, but I could say that I have thrived more with my work Dads. I thought about writing about them today since I had to say goodbye to two of them today. For us Filipinos we always see our boss/leader as our parent as well. My former managers would probably find it weird that I think of them as my work Dad, hahaha (they don't read my blog anyway!).

I love my work Dads because they usually just left me run my programs on my own. They allow me the freedom to do things the way I want it to work and they never shot me down whenever I encountered hiccups along the way. It was very much like how my Dad was with me, he only stepped in when I really needed help.

I had been struggling with my health in the last five years and my work Dads knew about it. They probably have not realized it, but Julian, James, Juergen, Nelson and William were all instrumental in prolonging my life. My blood flow had dangerously gone very low at 30%. It was only after my surgery that my doctor informed me about this and they said that they were really worried that I would not make it if I had not had mitral valve surgery. I was also still running at full speed at that time working on my programs.

I was really lucky that Julian and James looked out for me. It was serendipitous that James met Juergen in a trip to Indonesia and he recommended me for a role that has changed my life. It was a blessing in disguise that they insisted I move to Singapore since it was then that I began to see my cardio more regularly and he worked on convincing me to have surgery.

With Jules at the Malacanang Museum.

With my scout brothers and sisters and our Daddy James.

My biggest worry back then was how I and family would be able to pay for my surgery. Our fallback was to sell a property in Bicol, but it would probably had not been enough. I tried to save as much as I could, but it was not enough. It was the move to Singapore that saved my life because unlike health insurance companies in the Philippines they actually cover pre-conditions.

That's not Antonio Banderas, that's his older brother, Nelson (just kidding).

It was my work Dads Nelson and William who saw me through my surgery and recovery. I probably gave them a fright because it took me 6 weeks after surgery before I could finally pick up my phone and say hello. William even had to come to Singapore to check if I was still alive. My surgeon also said then that he was surprised how much my company cared because they were calling twice a day to check on my progress.

Me with my team mates, as healthy as I could be.

It's again a new chapter in my life as I take on a new work Dad, so I thought I'd write this little piece on how my previous work Dads saved my life.

Thank you Julian, James, Juergen, Nelson and William. I may not be working directly with you anymore, but you are always all in my prayers <3 <3 <3