Complaints and Compliments...

People have a habit of taking their anger and frustrations out on those who work in service positions – and they don’t seem to think twice about it. I work in a financial institution, believe me, I know!

This week a client I worked with brought me a card to say thank you for helping her with something and telling me that I had made a real difference to her – and that, in turn, made a HUGE difference to me – and now it has me thinking.

It’s simple for people to complain – and people complain easily and all the time.

Compliments? They are few and far between - but when they come in, they have a true and significant impact on the recipient – they are appreciated!

So… here’s my ask for you all today – if you are out and about and have a good client service experience, take the time to ask to speak to the manager and THANK them for the service – and name the person whose service made a difference - a simple act, that will take two minutes of your time will, I guarantee, make someone’s whole day brighter!

Think about it - we are never too busy to stop and complain. Why, then, is it that we always seem to be too busy to stop and make a compliment?

... And a really sweet little side benefit is that, having given a genuine compliment that will have a positive impact on someone else’s day, YOU will feel brighter and happier as well.

With love across the waters,

My Weekend - Stuff and No Nonsense!

I decided last week that, since Carrie's Mum is in town and I would not be needed for a Nephew Day (OK, I'm sulking a little bit here) that I would like, very much, to go hang with my Mum & Dad for a night.

The weather yesterday when I left here gave me a momentary twinge of guilt - it was warm and sunny and I KNOW I should have been out in the yard doing search and clean-up for the dog-bombs left hidden in the now melted snow - as well as assorted clean-up, pruning back, cutting down and general tidy of the jungle that is my back yard. I put on my sunglasses, turned up the music and drove instead.

On the way down I stopped at a new discovery (for me) - a marvellous land of assorted stuff that has been salvaged from construction and demolition jobs.  Demexx is in between Parksville and Qualicum - on Highway 4A and is TOTALLY worth the trip.  I may have to make more trips there to see the REST of the stuff they have all OVER the place. I bought some plates for the light switches and plug sockets (to replace the scary metal ones) and I also found this amazing gem - its a replica, but none the less, it is a traditional, Victorian Mechanical Doorbell My Great Grandparents had one on their house in Nanaimo and I LOVED ringing it. 

Plus, if the power goes out, the doorbell will always work!

Speaking of losing power, a couple of weeks ago I told you all about the day of bears and power failures… The bears required that I change some of my habits and now the garbage can is inside.  The power outage made me re-think some of my “home renovation" priorities and so I am now on the hunt for a wood stove.

OK – it was actually coming home, in the dark, to a cold house that forced my hand. In any case, I have been scoping out local stores this past week in order to see what my options are.

I totally struck out at the first place I contacted – their hours of business are Tuesday to Saturday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.  My work hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM. I could go over there, three or four times, at lunch, to see what they have and get information, I suppose.

Last night, up at my parents’ house for the night, I was talking with my folks about The Great Wood Stove Challenge of 2011 – and we started talking about wood stoves, what they have, and, well, that led to some Google action.

I love Google Action!

Anyhow, last night I learned that there is a company here on Vancouver Island that manufactures wood stoves (giant check mark from me for buying locally manufactured goods!!) Pacific Energy.

Online, mum and I scoped out a couple of styles (for my space I am looking for a VERY small stove) and then we located a local (Courtenay, BC) vendor.  On my way home this afternoon I stopped in, for information and a price (that didn’t make my eyes well up in agony and my stomach clench in fear) and I left my name and number so I can arrange for someone to come out and look at my place and give me a quote.

In the mean time, here’s a link to the little baby I’m looking at: The Vista. Isn’t it cute?

So... I really need to get more work done on my Feng Shui project.  Luckily, I have a week off starting on December 12th - my plan for that week is to get some stuff done around here in the way of wallpaper removal, get Christmas Shopping (ack) done, and then plug away at some more of the Feng Shui cures I still need to complete around the house.

With love across the waters,