Where They Do THAT at?

Tip of the hat to @QBKILLA for the inspiration…to use his saying…again.

So, it’s been a while (all the tools on the interwebz – FB, Twitter, LinkedIn etc) are too much to work through sometimes – had to give the blog a lil’ love.

I was just thinking: I deal with customers everyday…some current, some potential. My job is pretty simple – either sell them on the service or up-sell them into something else they need. I do fine with this, clients like me a lot, and they buy…

But a recent event got me to thinking again about companies treat their customers…this one is interesting, so humor me please…

I’m an avid bowler (as you probably already know) and I had the honor of the legendary Gip Linetine drilling up a new piece of gear for me (You can see Gip from a PBA broadcast right here, beating Walter Ray: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW_3y_F_ovM). This would be pretty normal, except he did it being 450 miles away from me, never seeing me bowl, and only having the feedback of one of my teammates and one of my older bowling balls to work with. Trust me, drilling and fitting a ball properly is an EXACT science – if done wrong, it can cause major problems. Gipper got me on the phone, asked me a few questions, identified my issue and sent me back a killer piece of gear that I can throw without hanging in it (and I have about 5 more boards of hook room!) .

So, someone 450 miles away, who is a vet of the game does a good job. Big deal you say? Normally, no, but here’s the kicker:

The pro shop owner where I normally bowl at has been drilling for me and I’ve had issues. I tell him this and he tells me I’m doing something wrong…again and again. How is it that a guy who’s 50 feet from me, has watched me bowl and performs at the pro level can’t figure out an issue, but a guy 450 miles away (who also performs at the pro level) can? I’ll tell you:

PASSION

On one hand, I have a guy in his mid 20′s who appears to dislike what he does and passes that along to his customers (I’m not the only one with an issue folks) and on the other hand, I have a guy who is near 60, who I’ve never met face to face, that when I talk to him, he has a passion about the game and his craft that makes me want to work my ass off to get better.

Food for thought indeed…

O-o

Called this one year’s ago…had to grab it from the NYT. (Don’t get all butt-hurt with your paywall New York Times, Drudge grabbed the link too):

Path Is Sought for States to Escape Debt Burdens

Policy makers are working behind the scenes to come up with a way to let states declare bankruptcy and get out from under crushing debts, including the pensions they have promised to retired public workers.

Unlike cities, the states are barred from seeking protection in federal bankruptcy court. Any effort to change that status would have to clear high constitutional hurdles because the states are considered sovereign.

But proponents say some states are so burdened that the only feasible way out may be bankruptcy, giving Illinois, for example, the opportunity to do what General Motors did with the federal government’s aid.

Beyond their short-term budget gaps, some states have deep structural problems, like insolvent pension funds, that are diverting money from essential public services like education and health care. Some members of Congress fear that it is just a matter of time before a state seeks a bailout, say bankruptcy lawyers who have been consulted by Congressional aides.

Bankruptcy could permit a state to alter its contractual promises to retirees, which are often protected by state constitutions, and it could provide an alternative to a no-strings bailout. Along with retirees, however, investors in a state’s bonds could suffer, possibly ending up at the back of the line as unsecured creditors.

“All of a sudden, there’s a whole new risk factor,” said Paul S. Maco, a partner at the firm Vinson & Elkins who was head of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Municipal Securities during the Clinton administration.

For now, the fear of destabilizing the municipal bond market with the words “state bankruptcy” has proponents in Congress going about their work on tiptoe. No draft bill is in circulation yet, and no member of Congress has come forward as a sponsor, although Senator John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, asked the Federal Reserve chairman, Ben S. Bernanke, about the possiblity in a hearing this month.

House Republicans, and Senators from both parties, have taken an interest in the issue, with nudging from bankruptcy lawyers and a former House speaker, Newt Gingrich, who could be a Republican presidential candidate. It would be difficult to get a bill through Congress, not only because of the constitutional questions and the complexities of bankruptcy law, but also because of fears that even talk of such a law could make the states’ problems worse.

Lawmakers might decide to stop short of a full-blown bankruptcy proposal and establish instead some sort of oversight panel for distressed states, akin to the Municipal Assistance Corporation, which helped New York City during its fiscal crisis of 1975.

Still, discussions about something as far-reaching as bankruptcy could give governors and others more leverage in bargaining with unionized public workers.

“They are readying a massive assault on us,” said Charles M. Loveless, legislative director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. “We’re taking this very seriously.”

Mr. Loveless said he was meeting with potential allies on Capitol Hill, making the point that certain states might indeed have financial problems, but public employees and their benefits were not the cause. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities released a report on Thursday warning against a tendency to confuse the states’ immediate budget gaps with their long-term structural deficits.

“States have adequate tools and means to meet their obligations,” the report stated.

No state is known to want to declare bankruptcy, and some question the wisdom of offering them the ability to do so now, given the jitters in the normally staid municipal bond market.

Slightly more than $25 billion has flowed out of mutual funds that invest in muni bonds in the last two months, according to the Investment Company Institute. Many analysts say they consider a bond default by any state extremely unlikely, but they also say that when politicians take an interest in the bond market, surprises are apt to follow.

Mr. Maco said the mere introduction of a state bankruptcy bill could lead to “some kind of market penalty,” even if it never passed. That “penalty” might be higher borrowing costs for a state and downward pressure on the value of its bonds. Individual bondholders would not realize any losses unless they sold.

But institutional investors in municipal bonds, like insurance companies, are required to keep certain levels of capital. And they might retreat from additional investments. A deeply troubled state could eventually be priced out of the capital markets.

“The precipitating event at G.M. was they were out of cash and had no ability to raise the capital they needed,” said Harry J. Wilson, the lone Republican on President Obama’s special auto task force, which led G.M. and Chrysler through an unusual restructuring in bankruptcy, financed by the federal government.

Mr. Wilson, who ran an unsuccessful campaign for New York State comptroller last year, has said he believes that New York and some other states need some type of a financial restructuring.

He noted that G.M. was salvaged only through an administration-led effort that Congress initially resisted, with legislators voting against financial assistance to G.M. in late 2008.

“Now Congress is much more conservative,” he said. “A state shows up and wants cash, Congress says no, and it will probably be at the last minute and it’s a real problem. That’s what I’m concerned about.”

Discussion of a new bankruptcy option for the states appears to have taken off in November, after Mr. Gingrich gave a speech about the country’s big challenges, including government debt and an uncompetitive labor market.<<<

So, the New York Times managed to password/paywall/whatever page two of this before I could grab the rest, but you get the idea: YOU'VE BEEN THE SCREWED.

Striking Out…

OK, I don’t want the title to scare you, I mean it in a good way…

You see, I’m an avid bowler (avg. 203) and I was thinking last night about throwing strikes (which is normal) but not for the normal reason: I was throwing them to strike out against cancer. I’ve lost family and friends to the disease and now my mother in-law is terminally ill. While bowling last night, I thought about how great it would be to shoot a 300 (perfect score, 12 strikes in a row) and give her the ring I would get as a gift…

As I threw the 5th and 6th in a row, I kept saying “Damn, this would be awesome”…and I kept striking with that thought in mind…

When I got up to throw ball number 10, I squeezed and tugged it, getting an 8 count, spared then struck for 278. Not bad by any means, but not the what I wanted. I was disappointed and visibly frustrated, which many of my friends in the league noticed and reminded me how noble it was to think so unselfishly about someone else – included in that was my fiancée, who proceeded to tell me that she called and told mother in-law what I was doing and that I didn’t quite make it…

Her response “It’s the thought that counts”.

I’m going to take that, and continue to bowl to strike out cancer, each and every game this season. Any honor scores I shoot (300, 299, 298, 11 in a row, 800 series) will be dedicated to family and friends fighting the disease, and those that we’ve lost. It’s time to find cures!

A Legend Steps Down from KGO & KSFO…

I caught this news today: http://bit.ly/c9LdwC. Then, I caught this: http://bit.ly/c0ohGm.

A bit of background: For those of you who may not know me, I grew up running around the hallways of KGO Radio and TV, bugging good folks like Peter Giddings on a regular basis as a little kid with WAY too much energy.

Mickey, along with the talents of guys like Jack Swanson, Peter and a ton of others, have been working @ KGO (and later KSFO) almost as long as I’ve been alive…they made a number of owners a lot of coin…and they helped to mold some great careers. While I didn’t work there, I can safely say that the winning style and culture that Mickey and those great folks put together helped to motivate a young guy to take a chance on radio as a career…I’m sure glad I did.

When I read what I read today, it really makes all the bitching I’ve done about the radio business and the lack of common sense crystal clear. If you can read between the lines, you can see the Mickey had finally had enough. Dealing with Citadel, this doesn’t surprise me…

What does though, is that
1. Mickey has been there (and making money) for over 3 decades, and;
2. He had his letter ready for nine months.

For a guy who loves the business like he does, something has to be seriously wrong for that to happen. It’s supposed to be “You lose and don’t make $$, you’re fired” not “You make money, build great brands…wait you’re too smart and won’t let us screw this up…you’re fired!”

Dear radio, business that I love:

You’re on life support, and the power generator is almost out of gas: Start doing it right, or prepare to be a fossil on display in the museum of life…tomorrow.

Mickey: I don’t have to tell you what you already know. Thank you, and I hope that radio still has the chance to learn from you.

Confused, but grateful for what was,
RC @rcwmap

Not that @arrington needs more love…

But, it’s kinda hard not too when he speaks on it: http://techcrunch.com/2010/09/13/what-is-it-you-do-the-need-for-simplicity/

I know it’s not rocket science, but some days, it seems like rocket science…

So, How’s Business?

This came up in a conversation with a new client yesterday. The reason? Because I wasn’t selling them something they didn’t need – I found their need and filled it!

We all know about the old school “churn and burn” selling style…but some still don’t seem to get that won’t quite work anymore. Look, bad smoky backroom sales manager: I am “money motivated” and “a hunter”, but I’m not going to make you or I much $ if people feel like they need a shower and to check for their wallet after they talk to me. Any wonder why your “awesome commission-only” opportunities run through so many people? #childplease is what you get!

Next time you go to sell something to someone, don’t. Listen, find the need, then fill it!

Lazy Bums, Deadbeats, Liars…and you others…

More of a rant as opposed to a normal post. Over the years, you figure one would grow up, want to become self sufficient, make a difference, pay their bills etc…you know, normal stuff.

I’ve been through a lot, and honestly, I haven’t been anywhere near perfect…but some of what I see and hear going on makes me wonder if some of us missed a couple of turns in the “evolution” line. I suppose if you lie, cheat and screw over enough people, you begin to believe your own sh*t doesn’t stink…that is of course, until you get locked in the bathroom. I see why OchoCinco uses the term “Child Please is what that gets” .

On a happier note, the new gig working with the family @ Creative Merch is wonderful. For the first time in a long time, I’m REALLY happy to be at work…if you can call it that .

Things are great in startups and tech as well. Lots of good folks like @sacca and @jason (if I forgot you, I’m sorry, this is a quick post and I will get to you) are investing in great ideas that provide solutions…if you’ve got one, now might be the time to go for it! Ok, back to @techcrunch for me.