Well, the planning has started for our 20th Annual Chamber Auction.  The event will take place on Friday, April 16, at Gateway Center.  Since it is our 20th, we thought we would add a couple of additional elements.  The first being, our three mayors, along with Tim Greenfield, will be in a dance contest.  It is going to be great!  We will also have a picture opportunity with Elvis and he will be singing a song as well.  In the backdrop with be two 1950’s cars. 

Our Auction is always fun but this year looks better than ever.  We will have over 200 Auction items and will have both silent, silent/oral and oral items.  If you like to be part of a bidding process, you will not want to miss the evening.

Tickets will go on sale on February 11 so if you are interested, we encourage you to visit the Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob Chamber of Commerce website at www.troymaryvillecoc.com.  We have the poster already posted.  You can see our mayors in a completely different light!  LOL.

I have recently developed a new training.  It has to do with teamwork, but not the usual training you are thinking about.  This particular training asks you to look at yourself and yourself only.  Now, what does that have to do with teamwork?  Well, often times we look at what others are doing wrong vs. what we could be doing better.

For example, I have some people say “Sally doesn’t pull her weight” or “Bob can’t get to work on time”.  But, instead of thinking/talking about that (because there is nothing you can do about it), I suggest that the person realign their thinking about how they can improve.

Here is a scenario of worrying about others vs. changing your own way of doing it.  At the beginning of each training, I show a picture of a school bus driver on the cell phone.  The bus is full of children and the caption shows your child on the bus.  The other caption reads “would you want your children riding this bus”.  Of course, the answer is “no”.  The next slide shows a mom in a mini van, driving around her family.  The caption reads “so what is the difference?”.  Really, we often look at other people, noticing things we wish they would change, when in fact, we are not perfect. 

If you would be interested in learning more about this training, please contact my company at 618-444-6808.  We have some training dates available in May and June.  Hope to hear from you.  Have a great day.

You realize you have the three best mayors in the community when you ask them if they will participate in the Chamber’s 20th Annual Auction by dancing and they say — YES!  We are going to have the best Auction ever this year.  The event will take place on Friday, April 16, at Gateway Center.  All three mayors (Troy Mayor Tom Caraker, Village of Maryville Mayor Larry Gulledge and Village of St. Jacob Mayor Ray Muniz) have all agreed to be in a dance “contest”.  In addition, Tri-Township Park President Tim Greenfield and Chamber Board Secretary/TheBANK of Edwardsville Carol Porter have agreed to dance as a couple as well. 

What a great event this will be!  Be sure to watch the Chamber’s website at www.troymaryvillecoc.com for more information.  A limited number of tickets are available this year so be sure and purchase early!

You know me — I love my bowling.  I have bowled since I was old enough to pick up a ball.  Actually, I was practically raised in a bowling alley.  Both my mom and dad worked there for many, many years.  I have bowled on and off as an adult.  This summer I actually began to take it more seriously, purchasing a new ball and practicing.  Bowling a 700 even appears on my “Top 25 Before I Die” list.  So, last night I came as close as ever!  I bowled a 683 — my highest series ever. 

I have tried to figure out what was different last night than other nights.  Well, first of all, I have good solid equipment to work with.  Also, I concentrated on what I was doing, balancing work and fun.  Also, I surrounded myself with people that are supportive.  Now, take all of that information and turn it into your workplace.  Really, those are just great tips.

I’ll keep you posted on my bowling scores.  Hopefully I will be able to mark off that list soon!

I have added some new training material and options to my company.  The most recent curriculum I added was a session on teamwork.  It is not the usual “rah rah” training.  This training focuses on what YOU can do to be a better member of the team.  For example, instead of complaining that your co-workers doesn’t “pull their share” or “spends hours on personal calls”, why not spend that same time deciding what you can do differently.

At the very beginning of the training, the very first slide I put on the projector shows a school bus full of children, with a sign that says “your children are on this bus” and the bus driver on a cell phone.  The caption reads “would you want your children riding in this bus”.  Well, of course you would not.  Then the next slide appears.  It is a picture of a mom in a minivan with her children in the back.  The caption reads “so, what is the difference”. 

The course is designed to help the participants think about their role as a member of the team and avoid spending time worrying about others.  Really, don’t we spend a lot of time worrying about others?  Yes, we do. 

Also, during the training I constantly mention that we should first think about what WE can do differently to avoid the situation again.  I also mention that if the participants are sitting through training going “I hope my co-worker is listening to this” then, well, they are just not getting it.

 So, the next time you want to complain about someone, take a moment to think about what you may have done differently.

Here we are in 2010!  Who would have thought.  I have never been one to make new year’s resolutions.  I believe that you can pick anytime to tweak different aspects of your life. 

That being said, this year I have set out to make some changes and they just happened to take place around the first of the year so I am throwing them out to you:

• Get to know people at a different level.  Ask questions.  Learn more about them.  Take some time with them.
• Find a passion for which I can volunteer and do it.
• Choose my time well.  I gave up watching (most) tv a couple of years ago and what a difference that made.  Now I will utilize my time better when I have to wait (you know I have absolutely no patience).  But really, I can’t speed up the drive through line so I am trying to enjoy my music and other small tasks.
• Take a moment to realize right now, today, I am living the best days of my life.  I really do believe that.  Learn to enjoy them.  Have fun.  Realize work is important but not everything.

I hope you will take some time to make your own list. 

We are all out doing our Christmas shopping.  I would be interested to find out if anyone has received “WOW” customer service.  You know, as a retailer, many of the customers that visit our stores are there for the first time, picking up a specific gift.  That would mean then, that they are making a first impression for us.  So, if you are a service provider, I hope that you will remember you have just three seconds to make that first impression.  I know, you are busy, tons of people, etc., but your moment in time with that particular customer is what they will remember.

We are so pleased that Santa has arrived safety in Troy, Illinois.  If you are in the area, remember Santa and his (live) reindeer would love to see you.  The hours begin on 12/12 and run through 12/23.  On the weekends, you can visit from 12-3 p.m. and during the week from 5-7:30.  Be sure to bring your list so you can give it to Santa.  All visits are free.

By popular demand, I have posted my “Top 25 Things Before I Die” list on my website www.customerserviceandbeyond.com.  In addition to the things I have not accomplished as of this time, you will find those which I have and those which unfortunately, I can never accomplish.  I encourage you to write your own list and get started today.  What have you always wanted to do?

I had the pleasure of being the guest speaker on WMEL 1300 in Cocoa, Florida this afternoon.  They were great interviewers and I sure enjoyed my time on the air.  I think people are really interested in customer service and how they can be better customer service providers and also better customers.

My thanks to Peter and Teresa for a great interview!