Archive for September, 2006
I used to have a love hate relationship with my cell phone. It’s incredibly convenient so that’s a plus. And it’s incredibly convenient and that’s a minus. Not only can I get hold of people, but people can get hold of me. So I had love and hate this small technological miracle, that was until I lost it.
Val and I had taken our grandchildren to Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. We had a great day even though it rained copeously. It was only after getting back home that I realized I had lost my cell phone. And then I suddenly realized how important it was to my life because it had all my business and personal telephone numbers on it. What would I do now?
Do I cancel it and buy another one and start all over? A feeling of gloom and doom spread over me. Until I realized that I was in control of how I felt. So I put it out there that everything in life is amazing, and that the situation would resolve itself one way or another.
Two hours later I recieve a phone call from the Zoo informing me that someone had handed in my cell phone. It had been found at the entrance to the Zoo on the sidewalk. Of course I went round and retrieved it, thanked them very much and gave a small blessing to that total stranger for being amazing and taking the time and effort to hand my cell phone in.
I now have a real appreciation about my cell phone. And that even an inanimate object can send out energy to make sure it’s returned to it’s owner. And that life is full of amazing human beings willing to go above and beyond.
Rock ‘N Roll Jeff
September 27th, 2006
Yesterday I was doing Super Service with a group of people that has to handle calls from customers asking for different things and obviously having to handle angry ones. And I started off by asking the group what they wanted to get out of the day. One woman said,
“I have to handle difficult customers on a regular basis and I don’t mind doing that because I really enjoy my job. What I want to be able to handle is the customers that are so demeaning and make me feel so bad.”
That’s a typical response that I get from lots of people that have to interface with the customer directly. So we went through the Super Service training and it was amazing. At the end of the day the woman came up to me and said,
“Thank you so much because I realize that no one can demean me or make me feel bad. I get to choose the way that I want to feel and be.”
And it was so great to find somebody who got that wonderful spark back into her life as she realized that she can handle any situation and not take it personally and not be at the mercy of people and events.
Have a great day - Jeff
September 22nd, 2006
Today I reminded myself that my life is about ‘Flowing with the Go’! Life is a stream of energy and this energy goes one way just like a rushing river. When I’m flowing with the current, my life is amazing and I can feel the positive energy around me.
Sometimes I forget to go with the flow of life and get stuck on the huge rocks at the bottom. These huge rocks are the things we’re not supposed to do, or the things we can’t let go of. And sometimes we hang on to them for days, weeks, months and even years.
I’ve clung onto these negative things, the rocks, afraid to let go and just flow with the stream and it doesn’t work. It’s like white water rafting—when you come to a large rock in the stream, there’s lots of turbulence around it. And that’s how we sometimes are in life. Hanging on to the rock and creating lots of struggle for ourselves and others who just want an amazing ride down the stream.
Today I remembered to let go of the rocks and boulders in my life. You can let go of the things that are holding you back…of the things that you’re scared about doing. Let’s go for it today. Because if you notice in the river of life, you can’t go back. The river doesn’t suddenly stop flowing one way and start flowing in the opposite direction. There is only one way to go and that is the future.
We are amazing people and deserve to stop the struggle of holding on to the rocks at the bottom of the stream and Flow With The Go!
All the best, Val
September 21st, 2006
Jeff and I have an apartment below our eldest daughter, son in law and two grandchildren. We also have my mom in law, staying with us for her annual two-month visit. It can get a bit crazy, especially when one of the children starts to scream, like earlier this morning when I heard Syona the 2-year old screaming her head off in their home above. So I went upstairs to see if I could help.
My daughter was in the midst of clearing breakfast dishes, getting her son Armando (aged four) ready for school and dealing with Syona who was by this time kicking and screaming on the kitchen floor. “She doesn’t want to put her shoes on.” Yelled my daughter above the noise.
I bent down to pick her up. It’s amazing how such a small child can make such a big noise and at the same time make herself so impossible to hold–she should try out for Circ du Solei. So above the screaming I yelled back, “you take him to school and I’ll take care of Syona.” Her sigh of relief was like opening a new can of coffee and hearing all the air expel. “Thanks mom!”
So they left and now it was me and Syona. I managed to pick her up and take her to the window. “Look at the beautiful leaves on the tree.” Bawl, bawl, yell, yell. “Look at all the people going to work.” Sob, sob, scream, scream. “See the yellow car, isn’t it a lovely color.” Sob, sob. “Look at that gorgeous little bird flying onto the branch.” Silence. “I wonder if he’s a happy little bird?” I wipe her nose. ”I think he’s a happy bird just like you.” Her little body shudders with an unsung sob. We stand in silence for a moment and then I hear her little voice pipe up.
“Man go work.” She points at a man with a briefcase who is walking to the EL. ”Train! I hear train.” Slowly, she starts pointing out everything she sees on the street below. It becomes a game and we are both seeing things we hadn’t noticed before, like squirrels, dogs out walking, and people on bicycles. And as we stand looking out I realize there is nothing going on. I am Where I Am, and so is she.
I vow for the rest of the day to distract myself from negative thoughts by realising that I Am Where I Am. All I have to do is get out of my head and know that I am alive and this is a great day. People are living their lives and going about their daily business just like me. it doesn’t get much better than this. I make my mom in law a cup of tea and she smiles.
Have a fantastic day. Val
September 20th, 2006
I was staying at a resort just last week and had driven for 5 hours to get there. I finally arrived at 4pm, and just wanted to get a bite to eat. But the restaurant didn’t open until 5:30.
So I got on the telephone to the restaurant and asked if there was any way I could get something to eat. The gentleman, whose name is Mike, said, well, we don’t actually open for another hour and a half…let me see what I can do. I’ll call you back in two minutes.
Two minutes later, the phone rang and Mike said, I’ve talked to the chef, what would you like to eat? I told him I’d love a turkey sandwich, and he said, no problem, please give us 15 minutes and come to the restaurant to pick it up.
When I got there, he said, hello Mr. Gee, thank you so much for coming; we’re just preparing the tray right now. And there it was, looking amazing! I said thank you so much. I know it must have been a nuisance.
Mike’s response was, there’s no such thing as nuisance when I’m dealing with customers. Thank you very much and enjoy your food.
Now, to me, that’s customer service. So my question to you is, Are you going the extra mile, or just doing your job? It’s your choice, not theirs. just keep remembering how amazing you are.
rock and roll - Jeff
September 15th, 2006
My grandson and I were watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang the other day and this line from a song stuck with me…”From the ashes of disaster grow the roses of success”. Particularly after yesterday with the horrendous catastrophe that happened five years ago.
What does it take for us to grow success? We have to get rid of the past and look at what we can do just today that will make a difference in the quality and grace in which we live our life. The past is the past and there’s nothing we can do about it now. The future is unknown. The only thing that we can change is today. Let’s make today an amazing day.
Let’s put aside our worries, concerns, and depression. And be amazing just for today.
September 12th, 2006
I was with a group of 13 managers from a construction company this morning and they were talking about how they can make super service a sustainable life source in their company. And it was really great to see them working together and coming up with a list of ideas to make super service part of the culture. One idea was each week a manager would be in charge of checking up on people to make sure that there are no long faces, and that people are smiling, walking the walk, and working together. They also want to create a small mirror with the saying ‘You Are Amazing’ to put in the shower and give one to every employee!
These managers are really dedicated to making it work and it was so sweet to see them working on it together to actually make a difference. And they’re prepared to take on the responsibility to make it happen. This is what I love to do…and seeing these people coming together as a team to work for the betterment of the organization—well what a great way to start my day.
September 7th, 2006