Jeff Gee’s Motivational Blog

We Are the Change We Want to See

January 22nd, 2008

It is so easy to be a victim that situations come along all the time that can test us! We just got some fraudulent orders from Nigeria that cost us over $10,000 in book and shipping costs. American Express just went into our bank account and took the money out. i called them up and a very nice lady said, “the owner of the card disputed the charge.” So someone in Nigeria had stolen a credit card and charged books on it.

And I am really working on not getting upset, so after a conversation with the lady I said, “Well, I know it’s not your fault and you can’t personally do anything about it. I do think it sucks and that’s the way it is.” She laughed with me because she knows it sucks. And she’s got a job where she has to deal with this kind of stuff all day long.

Now the ‘old’ me would have gotten really, really mad and gone on and on about it. The ‘new’ and reformed me, knows that I want to be the change in the world. I don’t want to spread disharmony. I don’t want to steal from other people. Now I know how it feels, I want to do great business. I want to partner with people who want to do great business. And I need to be vigilant about my business.

I have a choice. I should have checked the name and address on the credit card with the name to which the shipment was going. I think American Express and Merchant Services should have told me that. They should have said that an authorization code is not a safe guard against fraud. Authorization simply means that the credit cards has enough funds to pay for the books or whatever you are selling….it does not mean that the owner of the card is the person purchasing your goods.

So what have I learned? That it is my choice. Everything is my choice. If I make a bad business decision, then it is my choice how I react. It’s not Nigeria, it’s not Merchant Services, it’s not American Express. I need to be vigilant in my dealings. I need to make sure that every transaction is clean. So my friend, be happy, make great choices, and when you do not–let it go. Every day is a new day. Every day is a new opportunity to do it differently. Be the change you want to see in the world. Rock N Roll Val & Jeff

Entry Filed under: Customer Service Training