I gave up Monday Night Football and an evening of virtual Spades to watch the first Presidential Candidates' debate.
I was happy to see fellow journalist and baby boomer Lester Holt acting as moderator, although I was somewhat disappointed that he didn't take better control of Donald Trump's rants. But, then again, that is who "the Donald" is so he was true to form.
And speaking of being "true", Trump stated something during the debate that I have been saying for years about the Democratic candidates. He said they court Blacks and other minorities during election season and then dump us once they get elected. Now that, in my opinion, is a TRUE statement. I am not sure how we (especially Southerners) got hoodwinked and bamboozled into believing the Democratic Party was our Saviour from the economic, racial and social ills that continue to plague us. Obviously, black people in the South don't recall the history of the Dixiecrats, the Southern Democrats who seceded from the party in 1948 and created their own agenda which included states' rights to freedom from governmental interference and the right to exclude whomever they wanted from business and other organizations.
Democratic candidates constantly dangle a carrot of hope and opportunities in front of us making us believe they will fight for our rights once they get elected. What they NEVER tell us is they will be fighting against a majority of other elected officials who have their own hidden agendas that don't include the well-being of minorities.
Case in point: About 10 years ago when my daughter was entering college at North Carolina A&T I had an issue and wanted my local Congressman, David Price, to get involved and help me or at least guide me in the right direction. I called his local Durham, NC and Washington offices repeatedly and left messages. I got no response. I lost all respect for him and his staff after that and have never voted for him again---although he keeps winning. He is a great example of "showing up" when he needs us but he obviously didn't need me at that time or I'm sure there would've been a response.
So even though I think Donald Trump is an imbecile and unfit to be President I do give him a kudos for ranting one truth at the first Presidential debate.
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Sunday, September 18, 2016
Blogging for Good Customer Service
This is written as a follow-up to my previous post Avis Needs Some Customer Service Tips.
First of all, let me say kudos to Avis for taking the time and effort to respond to my September 6, 2016 rant. When I posted the blog link on Twitter for all the world to see, Avis sent me a tweet asking me to contact them directly about the issue. Although I didn't respond to the tweet, the local rental car company did notify me that my grandson's cellphone was miraculously found----even after I was told the car had been rented out to someone else just hours after I called to report the phone had been left in the vehicle.
OK---today all is well and now I can move on to the next issue but here's my point: If there were no social media platform to air my grievance, that cell phone might still be missing today. Had I not taken the time to write about my experience and post it on Twitter, Avis would have never known how one of their local franchises were responding, or in my case, NOT responding to their customers. Remember, I called a total of 18 times before I wrote anything.
It's a shame that anyone would have to resort to a social media arena to make a complaint but perhaps this is what is needed more often. Companies would be forced to stop ignoring or taking advantage of little people like me if we use our social media voices.
Hopefully, one day the police who have been killing young black men and under the alleged "I was threatened for my life" banner will get that message.
For me, blogging is a means to a resolution.
First of all, let me say kudos to Avis for taking the time and effort to respond to my September 6, 2016 rant. When I posted the blog link on Twitter for all the world to see, Avis sent me a tweet asking me to contact them directly about the issue. Although I didn't respond to the tweet, the local rental car company did notify me that my grandson's cellphone was miraculously found----even after I was told the car had been rented out to someone else just hours after I called to report the phone had been left in the vehicle.
OK---today all is well and now I can move on to the next issue but here's my point: If there were no social media platform to air my grievance, that cell phone might still be missing today. Had I not taken the time to write about my experience and post it on Twitter, Avis would have never known how one of their local franchises were responding, or in my case, NOT responding to their customers. Remember, I called a total of 18 times before I wrote anything.
It's a shame that anyone would have to resort to a social media arena to make a complaint but perhaps this is what is needed more often. Companies would be forced to stop ignoring or taking advantage of little people like me if we use our social media voices.
Hopefully, one day the police who have been killing young black men and under the alleged "I was threatened for my life" banner will get that message.
For me, blogging is a means to a resolution.
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Avis Needs Some Customer Service Tips
When you do business with Bev, you need to bring your "A" Game because I have lived long enough to know the difference between good, mediocre and bad customer service.
In the past 24 hours, Avis RDU has shown me why the Company is #8 on the Top 10 Car Rental Services list for 2016. It all started when my grandson informed me he left his phone in our Avis rental car upon returning from a trip on Labor Day. Whether or not you think my grandson was irresponsible for leaving it in the vehicle or I, as his grandmother, was irresponsible for giving a cell phone to a nine-year-old is IRRELEVANT. The point is how Avis RDU responded after that has driven me to write this post. Ahhhhh....the power of blogging and social media. Now instead of me complaining and letting it fall on deaf ears, I have the potential to reach thousands of people who may think twice about doing business with them.
So when we discovered the cell phone was missing I started calling the car rental place. After getting through their horrible automation and speaking to people who weren't in the location I was calling, I finally got to someone who swore to me they would look for the phone and call me back to let me know if they found it.
Well, 18 calls later, no one has had the decency to return a call and update me on the status of the lost cell phone. 18 calls!!! You would think someone would just call you back to keep you from calling.
After the 18th call, I decided to drop by Avis RDU to speak to a manager to find out why they had such poor customer service. Of course, the manager I spoke with (Connie) said she just couldn't believe no one would call me back and it was so unlike the designated person (Brenda), who was the one I managed to speak to briefly. And she sounded like she had an attitude---as if I was disturbing her day.
Oh, and I did learn the car had been re-rented Labor Day evening at 10pm---a full three HOURS after I called. And I also learned from Connie that the vehicle could've been put on hold while they did a thorough search.
To put it all in perspective, this post isn't about a lost cell phone, it's about business and customer service which Avis RDU has certainly NOT PASSED THE TEST.
Years ago, they had a commercial admitting to being #2 behind Hertz, which made them try harder. Today they don't even rank in my book---and they don't seem to be trying to change my opinion.
In the past 24 hours, Avis RDU has shown me why the Company is #8 on the Top 10 Car Rental Services list for 2016. It all started when my grandson informed me he left his phone in our Avis rental car upon returning from a trip on Labor Day. Whether or not you think my grandson was irresponsible for leaving it in the vehicle or I, as his grandmother, was irresponsible for giving a cell phone to a nine-year-old is IRRELEVANT. The point is how Avis RDU responded after that has driven me to write this post. Ahhhhh....the power of blogging and social media. Now instead of me complaining and letting it fall on deaf ears, I have the potential to reach thousands of people who may think twice about doing business with them.
So when we discovered the cell phone was missing I started calling the car rental place. After getting through their horrible automation and speaking to people who weren't in the location I was calling, I finally got to someone who swore to me they would look for the phone and call me back to let me know if they found it.
Well, 18 calls later, no one has had the decency to return a call and update me on the status of the lost cell phone. 18 calls!!! You would think someone would just call you back to keep you from calling.
After the 18th call, I decided to drop by Avis RDU to speak to a manager to find out why they had such poor customer service. Of course, the manager I spoke with (Connie) said she just couldn't believe no one would call me back and it was so unlike the designated person (Brenda), who was the one I managed to speak to briefly. And she sounded like she had an attitude---as if I was disturbing her day.
Oh, and I did learn the car had been re-rented Labor Day evening at 10pm---a full three HOURS after I called. And I also learned from Connie that the vehicle could've been put on hold while they did a thorough search.
To put it all in perspective, this post isn't about a lost cell phone, it's about business and customer service which Avis RDU has certainly NOT PASSED THE TEST.
Years ago, they had a commercial admitting to being #2 behind Hertz, which made them try harder. Today they don't even rank in my book---and they don't seem to be trying to change my opinion.
Avis Needs Some Customer Service Tips
When you do business with Bev, you need to bring your "A" Game because I have lived long enough to know the difference between good, mediocre and bad customer service.
In the past 24 hours, Avis RDU has shown me why the Company is #8 on the Top 10 Car Rental Services list for 2016. It all started when my grandson informed me he left his phone in our Avis rental car upon returning from a trip on Labor Day. Whether or not you think my grandson was irresponsible for leaving it in the vehicle or I, as his grandmother, was irresponsible for giving a cell phone to a nine-year-old is IRRELEVANT. The point is how Avis RDU responded after that has driven me to write this post. Ahhhhh....the power of blogging and social media. Now instead of me complaining and letting it fall on deaf ears, I have the potential to reach thousands of people who may think twice about doing business with them.
So when we discovered the cell phone was missing I started calling the car rental place. After getting through their horrible automation and speaking to people who weren't in the location I was calling, I finally got to someone who swore to me they would look for the phone and call me back to let me know if they found it.
Well, 18 calls later, no one has had the decency to return a call and update me on the status of the lost cell phone. 18 calls!!! You would think someone would just call you back to keep you from calling.
After the 18th call, I decided to drop by Avis RDU to speak to a manager to find out why they had such poor customer service. Of course, the manager I spoke with (Connie) said she just couldn't believe no one would call me back and it was so unlike the designated person (Brenda), who was the one I managed to speak to briefly. And she sounded like she had an attitude---as if I was disturbing her day.
Oh, and I did learn the car had been re-rented Labor Day evening at 10pm---a full three HOURS after I called. And I also learned from Connie that the vehicle could've been put on hold while they did a thorough search.
To put it all in perspective, this post isn't about a lost cell phone, it's about business and customer service which Avis RDU has certainly NOT PASSED THE TEST.
Years ago, they had a commercial admitting to being #2 behind Hertz, which made them try harder. Today they don't even rank in my book.
In the past 24 hours, Avis RDU has shown me why the Company is #8 on the Top 10 Car Rental Services list for 2016. It all started when my grandson informed me he left his phone in our Avis rental car upon returning from a trip on Labor Day. Whether or not you think my grandson was irresponsible for leaving it in the vehicle or I, as his grandmother, was irresponsible for giving a cell phone to a nine-year-old is IRRELEVANT. The point is how Avis RDU responded after that has driven me to write this post. Ahhhhh....the power of blogging and social media. Now instead of me complaining and letting it fall on deaf ears, I have the potential to reach thousands of people who may think twice about doing business with them.
So when we discovered the cell phone was missing I started calling the car rental place. After getting through their horrible automation and speaking to people who weren't in the location I was calling, I finally got to someone who swore to me they would look for the phone and call me back to let me know if they found it.
Well, 18 calls later, no one has had the decency to return a call and update me on the status of the lost cell phone. 18 calls!!! You would think someone would just call you back to keep you from calling.
After the 18th call, I decided to drop by Avis RDU to speak to a manager to find out why they had such poor customer service. Of course, the manager I spoke with (Connie) said she just couldn't believe no one would call me back and it was so unlike the designated person (Brenda), who was the one I managed to speak to briefly. And she sounded like she had an attitude---as if I was disturbing her day.
Oh, and I did learn the car had been re-rented Labor Day evening at 10pm---a full three HOURS after I called. And I also learned from Connie that the vehicle could've been put on hold while they did a thorough search.
To put it all in perspective, this post isn't about a lost cell phone, it's about business and customer service which Avis RDU has certainly NOT PASSED THE TEST.
Years ago, they had a commercial admitting to being #2 behind Hertz, which made them try harder. Today they don't even rank in my book.
Saturday, November 28, 2015
Black Friday is an Insult to Black America
Black Friday is an insult to Black America. For 51 weeks and 6 days, the word black has a negative meaning. Blackmail, blackball, blacklist, blackmarket, black cat, black people are all examples of what the majority of society sees as negative. And we, as Black people, are constantly targeted with racial bias, violence, hatred, insensitivity and downright meanness on a daily basis.
But on one day (and now weekend) during the year, the word black is celebrated as a day when retailers look to capitalize on our hard earned money by dangling carrots (so-called sales) in our faces to take back the pennies we get paid in wages. And we certainly don't disappoint. We line up at midnight or wake up during the wee hours of the morning to make sure we are one of the first in line to get some of those carrots. And some of us act a fool in front of the TV camera by fighting, others get trampled upon and even killed in order to be a part of the frenzy. And worst yet, the majority of us would rather patronize big businesses than to support our own small, hard working, struggling, minority-owned businesses. Perhaps we can learn from our Latino brothers and sisters.
Yes, I know this blog is written AFTER the fact, but perhaps if we start thinking about our actions now, we can send a clear and concise message to the retailers from this moment forward AND we can teach our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren about the value of the dollar and the importance of keeping it in our own communities.
There is actually a Black Boycott of Black Friday going on right now. Did you know that? I bet you didn't hear about that on the news, did you? Why not? Because whites control the majority of the media and their friends are the advertisers who are trying to take our money.
There's an old saying: Money talks and BS walks. Let's stop serving those who don't and never had our best interests at heart.
To learn more about the Black Friday Boycott, click here: BOYCOTT
Friday, November 27, 2015
Success is a Mindset
Success is a state of mind. If you want success you have to start thinking of yourself as successful. A positive mental attitude can go a LONG way especially when it looks like everything around you is falling apart.
A few months ago I came in contact with a young man named Andre Boyd. He never had much to say but when he spoke, his words were empowering. To those who have never taken the time to get to know him beyond his few words, he would come across as arrogrant and cocky. But I saw someone who was digging down deep to uncover his true identity.
And then one day he sent me a poem to read. I was blown away by it because it was at that moment in time that I believe I understood him and his quest and respected him for the journey he has taken. I could see him digging deep down into the crevice of his soul to find the answers he's been seeking. When I asked him why he wrote the poem this was his response:
I was working at the Wake County Detention Center. Amidst all of the depression, violence, and insanity within the confines of that facility, I began to question all of the decisions I made in life that landed me in this position of employment. I felt that I was better than my surroundings. This poem crept into the forefront of my mind as a conscious effort to motivate myself to move forward and to vanquish the pessimism surrounding my regret for the path I chose.
And here is the poem he wrote.....
Ramifications of remembrance, stemming from errors we wish nonexistent
Dwelling within a subconscious realm tucked underneath reminiscence...
Here lies that shadowed doubt. Could success be gained without falter?
With hindsight appearing in perfect vision, how so would our paths be altered?
Yet the challenges lie within mystery, for omniscience shall remain unattainable
If granted the wisdom of infinity, would the joy for the quest be sustainable?
Would there be such a term as motivation? Or an innate desire to persist?
Because if we really knew then what we know now, our NOW would never exist.
So whether or not you understand this poem, understand this: If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can believe it, the mind can achieve it. Just ask Andre.
A few months ago I came in contact with a young man named Andre Boyd. He never had much to say but when he spoke, his words were empowering. To those who have never taken the time to get to know him beyond his few words, he would come across as arrogrant and cocky. But I saw someone who was digging down deep to uncover his true identity.
And then one day he sent me a poem to read. I was blown away by it because it was at that moment in time that I believe I understood him and his quest and respected him for the journey he has taken. I could see him digging deep down into the crevice of his soul to find the answers he's been seeking. When I asked him why he wrote the poem this was his response:
I was working at the Wake County Detention Center. Amidst all of the depression, violence, and insanity within the confines of that facility, I began to question all of the decisions I made in life that landed me in this position of employment. I felt that I was better than my surroundings. This poem crept into the forefront of my mind as a conscious effort to motivate myself to move forward and to vanquish the pessimism surrounding my regret for the path I chose.
And here is the poem he wrote.....
Ramifications of remembrance, stemming from errors we wish nonexistent
Dwelling within a subconscious realm tucked underneath reminiscence...
Here lies that shadowed doubt. Could success be gained without falter?
With hindsight appearing in perfect vision, how so would our paths be altered?
Yet the challenges lie within mystery, for omniscience shall remain unattainable
If granted the wisdom of infinity, would the joy for the quest be sustainable?
Would there be such a term as motivation? Or an innate desire to persist?
Because if we really knew then what we know now, our NOW would never exist.
So whether or not you understand this poem, understand this: If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can believe it, the mind can achieve it. Just ask Andre.
Saturday, July 25, 2015
It's All About YOU in Business
Yes, there is definite truth in that statement---no question about it. If you have a service or product, your objective should be to have a "more than satisfied" customer because that customer is more than likely to refer other customers to you.
But I'm here to tell you, it's all about YOU too. You are the most important part of your business. Without you there is no business. You are the designer of your destiny. From the beginning you get to decide how much effort you want to put into your success. You are the captain of your ship and you get to alter the course when necessary.
So here's what YOU have to do each day to jump start and maintain your successful business mindset:
- Wake up ready for the challenges of the day. Some people just lie in bed dreading the thought of having to get up and face the day. What I started doing was making a list the night before of things I wanted and needed to accomplish the next day so that would give me a jumping off point.
- Get in the zone with a heart of gratitude (whatever it takes--I use prayer and meditation). I also keep a journal where I write down the things I am grateful for as a reminder of the blessings I have already received.
- Put the right food in your body. You've heard the saying---a healthy mind and a healthy body go hand in hand. Starting out with a nutritious breakfast goes a LONG way in helping to keep you energized.
- Sweat out the Small Stuff: Along those same lines, a healthy dose of exercise is good for the mind and body and it helps relieve stress. So on those days when you're feeling a little overwhelmed, take a break and find an exercise routine you enjoy with some great music to move you along.
- Get perspective. If you don't know where you're going, how will you know how to get there? Take some time to map out your day so you can hit as many of your objectives as possible.
- Build strategic alliances. Look at businesses associated with yours. Connect with them and discuss what you're both looking for and see if there are ways you can help each other out. These types of relationships can prove extremely powerful when it comes to referrals so make sure you give as much as you receive.
There are those who work all day. There are those who dream all day. And then there are those who spend an hour dreaming before setting to work to fulfill those dreams. Which one are YOU?
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