tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47187780971952046262024-03-12T16:04:52.348-07:00Thoughts of a salesman...Husband - Musician - Salesman - Techy - FatherAndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13658305353984188187noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718778097195204626.post-81192897310204679642013-06-21T21:45:00.000-07:002013-06-21T21:45:02.782-07:00'Ask Damascus' to 'Move Forward'
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The city of Damascus is at an impasse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not your typical choice between a
liberal and conservative creed, selflessness and personal “wants”, or even
individual power and collective rights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Instead, we are tasked with the decision to set aside our personal
differences in order to prevail against the ever-increasing Portland
Creep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The beast of Metro is one
mentioned quite frequently in our little town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, the distain towards such a cancer with little
action, seems to be where it all stops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>From there, the people of Damascus appear to shift this negative energy
toward each other.</div>
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On this November’s ballot, we could see everything from
disincorporation, recalls of elected officials, and the long awaited
comprehensive plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems to be
a virtual “choose your own adventure book” of decisions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One direction could decide the rest of
the votes for a citizen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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What I’ve gathered, as I’ve kept my ear to the ground,
listened neutrally to both political sides, and met with those in both camps of
the argument, is that those who wish to remain a city (most of the populous)
have been divided into two groups.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One group who shows almost a blind allegiance to the Mayor, and the
other who are so fed up with the Mayor and the political action group Ask
Damascus, that they are willing to hand the city back to Clackamas County,
under the control of Metro, just to see the political unrest come to an
end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The latter, from what I’ve
gathered, is so jaded by the negativity that has occurred at city hall that
they have failed to comprehend the true ramifications of being under Metro’s
reign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those who are leading the
disincorporation movement are a mixed group of individuals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some are truly liberal-minded, who
welcome the control of Metro, and others who are simply taking away the Mayor’s
“sandbox” in hopes of a municipal “reset”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter the reason, the conservatives who continue to wage
interpersonal war are making the disincorporation group’s job very easy. </div>
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There is not one single solution to this blanket issue, nor
is there an easy one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
however, a first step.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
imperative to understand that the feat we have is that of defeating an external
threat, yet is no longer the “what”, but the “how”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Damascus is to take a stand as a community with local
control, we must gather as many as possible to achieve that goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Given our track record as a city, I
anticipate a great deal of disagreement within this group, yet now is not the
time to address these disagreements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have a comprehensive plan to approve, multiple committee seats to
fill, a city manager to hire, and one city counsel position to appoint.</div>
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The negative, cutting, crusading techniques that have been
practiced during these tumultuous times have done nothing to arrive at the
stated goal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Carrying out the
recourse of personal vendettas is not carrying out the will of the citizens. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have only served to drive a wedge
between the good conservatives of Damascus and set the groundwork for our
impending demise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The choice is
ours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is time to use logic
instead of emotion to claim our individual rights and freedom.</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13658305353984188187noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718778097195204626.post-78502838124816338912012-07-20T00:26:00.001-07:002012-07-20T00:26:30.136-07:00Come on Eileen!I recently had some interesting interaction with a popular Portland mayoral candidate. Eileen Brady, claimed founder of New Seasons Market, one of three, campaigning in the primary race for the 2012 Portland mayor election. I heard on the radio a couple months back that she used a media firm based out of Chicago, without even a satellite presence in Portland. Now, this may not be such a big deal to most, but since Ms. Brady was campaigning hard with the slogan, "Put a Job on it," I found it troublesome that she chose to outsource the girth of her media spending back east. She even went as far as to parody the show Portlandia with it's ever-increasing fan-base and national cult following. In this digitally connected age we live in, I thought I'd give social media a try and see what Eileen had to say about choosing not to use a local firm for her media. <div>
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I shot a tweet her way and requested an answer on why she decided to use Chicago-based firm, mmmmmsociety, for her campaign media. To no surprise of mine, she ignored me. A few more of the same tweet over the following weeks and one last mention that I had been waiting 28 days for an answer, and she eventually sent me her generic request to take the discussion offline by emailing her so she could tell me about her "tremendous team". What the heck, couldn't hurt to start some dialogue, right? Well, it may hurt her already lame PR. So I emailed and got a response claiming that "Ken Snyder and Terri Pickerill," I'm assuming the owners of the media firm, "are a great duo out of Chicago that do tremendous work. They use Portland media team members to do their filming and production, etc. All of my other team members are based in Portland." As a voter, I felt as if I had been passed off by Eileen as a mere peon and that she had bigger fish to fry. So I took my request back to the streets. I tweeted back and requested a better, more specific answer. "Ken and Terri from Chicago were the right match for me. I have spent the cast majority of my money locally." Eileen tweeted back. BINGO! Now were were getting somewhere.</div>
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So I decided to check her facts on the Oregon Secretary of State website. After all, all of her campaign finance information was public info. Let's see if her claims were as she said they were. Now keep in mind, I gave the "organic-lady" the benefit of the doubt on her numbers. I tallied only the numbers above donations of $3,500. So if I were to total all of them, they would look even worse against her claim of spending the "vast majority" of her money locally.</div>
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What I came up with was, out of $713,439 in total campaign expenditures, $508,202 were spent OUT OF THE STATE OF OREGON!! What Eileen Brady publicly claimed as the "vast majority" only came to 28.8% of her campaign spending. Please understand that I am no mathematician, I don't have an econ or poly-sci degree, and I don't claim to be an expert in much of anything, but I am pretty sure that 28.8% isn't a majority! This means, using basis math, Eileen Brady, at that point in her campaign, spent 71.2% of her money out of state. Turns out she is originally from Chicago, go figure!</div>
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After numerous requests for her to answer to these numbers, fielding a bunch of wannabe political advisors' tweets about how I don't understand the numbers, and what should have been a very embarrassed Eileen Brady ignoring my tweets, I still had no answer to her claim of how she spent her money. Maybe this is my fault for expecting to have a claim of someone running for office actually add up against the hard data. At any rate, what I do know is that she is going to have to take her dishonesty back to the drawing board if she wants to make another attempt at running for office again in the future. I wonder if she is sitting there thinking, "what could have gone wrong?"</div>
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(Check my data, it's all there)</div>
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<br /></div>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13658305353984188187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718778097195204626.post-81189796006800338382011-09-09T23:36:00.001-07:002011-09-09T23:36:18.717-07:00VaccinationsJust a quick snapshot at what Graham's suggested immunization schedule looks like. Below is our "slow-vax" alternative. I'm told by doctors that 18 vaccines at 27 different doses are perfectly safe. Guess we can just pray that God guides us on this decision. See below for the spreadsheet I've made to organize such a daunting schedule.<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf84fQAO7sxwsUqc3XdA3FmJ_efcpdrIIvU-g0hOo9vu_ObFpx6kWUSxVmEZSkb_IKthYJKWx7rKhyOtizQwlFGx8KL38d0hOBVOeGFOlle_EnJlGSdB_w-e_kprA1iOp_3JrDTfwwagM/s640/blogger-image--1914281428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf84fQAO7sxwsUqc3XdA3FmJ_efcpdrIIvU-g0hOo9vu_ObFpx6kWUSxVmEZSkb_IKthYJKWx7rKhyOtizQwlFGx8KL38d0hOBVOeGFOlle_EnJlGSdB_w-e_kprA1iOp_3JrDTfwwagM/s640/blogger-image--1914281428.jpg" /></a></div>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13658305353984188187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718778097195204626.post-63965126164997573702011-06-01T23:45:00.001-07:002011-06-01T23:45:38.104-07:00The Dance - A Customer's GuideToday I am finally talking about the process in which I subject myself to every day. I'm talking about that good ol' sales process. I have been doing what I'm doing as a career for almost six years now and my best customers have been those who I've not needed to 'sell'. These were more negotiations, some even quite stressful. Now don't get me wrong, I don't mind a bit of a squeeze to keep me on my toes as an account manager. This 'dance' that I am about to talk about is more than painful. In fact, I'd go as far as to match it to some forms of psychological torture.<br /><br />It seems in this fledgling economy, potential customers find it necessary to wage virtual war with their vendors. What makes it worse is that I don't really understand why. You see, what starts out as a potential give-and-take, turns quickly into a game of ignored phone calls, unrealistic requests, and a decision to either attempt to execute the proposed solution themselves, or to choose the least expensive due to budget constraints they failed to inform the vendor of in the beginning.<br /><br />The fatal flaw in this whole journey is that the customer enters into it without the understanding of three important facts: They are the ones in need of something and the salesman is the one who has it, the salesman and the customer are equals, and the salesman is the expert when it comes to the proposed solution.<br /><br />When a customer engages a salesman, he needs something. This puts him in a vulnerable place. The salesman can either choose to respect that and meet the exact needs or to take advantage of his need, lack of understanding, and potential budgetary fears. The latter is what the average customer expects and sadly in a way, desires. They enter into the process expecting to be taken advantage of. This immediately builds a wall that may be impossible to break down as they both continue through the process. These preconceived notions are what will eventually hurt the sale from happening and keep the customer from benefitting in any way. Rule #1 Mr. Customer, take down your guard. Open up to a potential relationship that will benefit you and your business greatly. Don't be afraid to give the salesman the keys. Be smart, but not skeptical. Be open and communicate with your potential vendor. When you inform them of possible alternative solutions you're looking at, it starts an invaluable dialogue that will likely help educate you on your needs. A salesman knows you are entertaining other options, he's not a child. Don't lie to him, don't tell him you can't tell him the competition, or even what the price will look like. You are not a secret agent, why act as if you are sworn to secrecy?<br /><br />Second, if you feel you are in a position of higher authority than your vendor, you're playing a losing game and you'll draw the short straw every time. It is imperative you understand that you are equals in this process. If you play games with your vendor, it will cause you to close yourself off to valuable information, create a frantic situation of your salesman worrying more about your loyalty and less about your well-being, and even if you choose that vendor in the end, will create a strained relationship between the two of you from then on. Entering into the sales process thinking that you hold all the cards is a ridiculous way to do business. Neither party enjoys this and nothing positive can come from this.<br /><br />Last, and most important in my opinion, is don't try to reverse-engineer, break down pricing, or attempt to gather as much information so that you can build the proposed solution for a lesser up-front cost. How many times have you walked into a restaurant an asked the chef where he got all his ingredients and to write down the recipe? If your business is to consult, don't try to be a phone company. If you are in IT, don't try to build a network from scratch on a shoe-string budget to support the services you desperately need but aren't willing to pay for, just because you know a thing or two about IT! Let me spell it out to those who still choose ignorance; the vendor likely has a countless amount of experience in his field with an entire company of resources behind him who have sent decades making their proposed solution work. Your on-the-job training, tiny budget, and frustration with your meager salary will do nothing to deliver even close to the solution you're desperate for. This may even require you to pick yourself out of that chair, walk to your boss' office, and demand a better way of doing things.<br /><br />Well I hope someone who is in the role of the customer stumbles upon this and has a bit of a breakthrough. The simplest thing to take from this is that acting like the typical 'customer' will only end up hurting you. The vendor has plenty more prospects on his list, many of whom are doing business differently and benefitting greatly in the end.<br /><br />-Andy<br />Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13658305353984188187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718778097195204626.post-17107045334056408292011-03-02T23:16:00.001-08:002011-03-02T23:16:11.806-08:00Tax the Bicycles!Other states are proposing registration fees for bicycles. I completely agree with this. If we are to throw money at the ever-increasing need to develop bike paths, especially paths that play music, there must be a way to pay for it. $25/year is nothing. I mean, these "hipsters" pay $2k for their MacBooks. Surely they can squeeze $25 a year from their skinny jeans. Before all the hipsters start protesting my opinion, keep in mind that you are still avoiding the price of gas that is exponentially increasing with each sensationalized Middle East report the media tosses our way. <br />Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13658305353984188187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718778097195204626.post-56426942818985174862011-02-25T21:33:00.001-08:002011-02-25T21:33:00.344-08:00Back, back, back it up!Recently I have been working to back up all of our data that my wife and I have. From pictures to videos, copies of bills, and school documents, it seems that more of our valuables reside in digital form than on paper. I have a special hard drive that I replicate our entire of life onto. It seems we have taken more pictures (new baby) in the past two months than we have in the last few years. It's more important than ever to back these important documents up.<br /><br />A few days ago I thought that maybe I was going overboard with backing our data up. One thing I focused on in particular was my phone. I live and die by that thing. I send emails, tweet, store/take photos and videos, and even blog from it! I make it a regular practice to plug it in and send my photos and data to multiple places a few times a week.<br /><br />Today my security blanket (phone) crashed. Yes it's possible for the wonderful iPhone 4 to crash folks! Even with my obsessive backing up, I still managed to lose a fee texts, pictures, and songs. This just goes to show that you can't ever be too careful!<br /><br />So make it a regular part of your life. Back up your data with inexpensive programs like iTunes and Carbonite. It may not seem worth it at the time, but you'll thank yourself when, and I do mean when, your hardware crashes. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />-Andy<br />Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13658305353984188187noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718778097195204626.post-51335941724440220672011-02-23T15:48:00.001-08:002011-02-23T15:48:19.292-08:00Using a Mac in a Windows EnvironmentOk I did it. I went against all who do business (other than graphic design and music) and purchased a Mac. Not only did I make this leap some months ago, I pitched all that is Microsoft in my home. Those of you who know me and what I do in business may be asking, "How are you doing this?" Well, with the incorporation of Intel processors in Macs these days, it is virtually effortless to use Windows on a Mac. And no, I'm not just talking about running the parallels application. I<br /> Taking about running a full blown virtual desktop that sits within my beautiful Mac GUII. I run ShoreTel Call Manager and all those pesky MS dependent apps that won't be caught dead on a Mac! Granted, I'm doing this with a Citrix back end and tons of engineering time behind it. But in today's market, it's becoming more and more feasible to deploy this type of environment.<br /><br /><br />-Andy<br />Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13658305353984188187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718778097195204626.post-64590381824636635472011-02-22T20:36:00.001-08:002011-02-22T20:36:27.755-08:00His Master PlanGod Is putting something big together, I just know it. Lately I have been going through a lot of challenges and refining in my patience. I also have had many spiritually strong friends come into my life and I cannot wait to see what He has in store. I will keep you all posted!<br /><br /><br />-Andy<br />Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13658305353984188187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718778097195204626.post-80589386953254538792011-02-16T23:09:00.001-08:002011-02-16T23:09:03.756-08:00Criends/FrustomersCustomers who turn into good friends are rare. So rare in fact, I only have a couple of them. What's the secret? Not too sure yet, only been doin' this for half a decade. My guess is that it is based on a foundation of mutual respect. Most of my customers I have little in common with. Come to think of it, most of my friends I have little in common with. I try to keep a diverse group of loyal companions whom I trust and respect for their own skills, strengths, beliefs, and yes...flaws. So here's to you Mr. Customer-Friend, you know who you are and I'm blessed to have you as one of the few!<br /><br /><br />-Andy<br />Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13658305353984188187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718778097195204626.post-56831160546948706942011-02-14T21:31:00.001-08:002011-02-14T21:31:12.010-08:00Random ThoughtWhen God is changing your character, let him. It means the one you have is defective.<br /><br /><br />-Andy<br />Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13658305353984188187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718778097195204626.post-64404936875244131932011-02-13T15:04:00.001-08:002011-02-14T00:23:10.926-08:00The DietYesterday I started the first diet that I have ever done. Yeah I know, if you know me you'll probably say what I've been hearing since I committed to this diet; "You don't need to diet! You have nothing to lose!" the truth is, I don't have a lot to lose so let me explain...<br /><br />My wife and I just welcomed the biggest blessing into our lives. Six weeks ago we had a healthy baby boy, Graham Andrew. One of my Christmas gifts to my wife was to get her the meal plan for the Medifast diet. We had not met a person who did it and lost less than 40 lbs. It is virtually a miracle diet.<br /><br />A few months back I started having trouble fitting into my work/dress pants and shirts. Now I am a very active person, run frequently, and am very conscious of what I eat. I am convinced it was just a combination of my age/metabolism and my newly sedentary lifestyle with a new baby. <br /><br />This being said, I decided to go on the diet with my wife. This is of course a dual purpose endeavor. Aside from wanting to shed some Christmas weight, I am a firm believer in the proactive support of your spouse. Saying you support someone is not supporting them, it is just saying you do. The best way for us to succeed at this diet is for US to both do it together. This way, she won't be eating her "lean and green" dinner while I eat a whole plate of tacos!<br /><br />So men, or women, when your spouse comes to you and says they need your support through something, work on putting yourself in their shoes and bearing the burden along side them. You might just end up a better person, with a smaller waistline. <br /><br />Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13658305353984188187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718778097195204626.post-23680647520976659222011-02-13T00:26:00.001-08:002011-02-13T00:26:03.260-08:00Random ThoughtIf you don't remember the last time you apologized, you have some serious work to do in the character development department.<br /><br /><br />-Andy<br />Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13658305353984188187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718778097195204626.post-17734595971356530632011-01-29T12:22:00.000-08:002011-01-29T12:22:16.506-08:00New AppreciationHave you ever wished you were a sports star, famous musician, or something that takes years and years to prepare for? That seams logical to me, if you want to be great at something you must prepare, train, and practice for years. Well how 'bout parenting?<div><br />
</div><div>Lately, I've been blown away at how much of a professional my wife has been as a parent. She has had no training, little instruction, and even less practice. I have been really working to offer my fatherly support where I see I'm needed, but it just amazes me at how much a woman has these instincts built right in once their baby arrives. So my hat's off to those mothers who take these gifts and apply them to raising children correctly and with all of the love that they have. It doesn't go unnoticed at all!</div>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13658305353984188187noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718778097195204626.post-46285435584756460382011-01-08T14:05:00.000-08:002011-01-08T14:05:56.897-08:00Swindled!Ok so it has been so long since I blogged. My eventual goal is to move from the occasional rant, then disappear back into my private life. Since I have blogged, I have experienced one of the most amazing times of my life...fatherhood. It is everything and more, an absolutely incredible experience. <br />
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Well it's time to take Graham's first pictures. Yep, that means we get to take him to some foreign place, set him on an un-disinfected blanket that hundreds of other babies have drooled on, put him in positions that no infant would ever sit in, flash lights in his eyes and watch him squint through each shot, then pick out each shot that we think we love yet don't quite know until we get them home. Notice how I didn't include the step of going over pricing, packages, etc. That is because it almost doesn't happen!<br />
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Now picture this; You walk into a supermarket, someone shoves a piece of food in your mouth, tells you all about how great it is, explains the different ways you can prepare that food, you walk up to the counter with it, go through the entire checkout process, and have to pull your card out before you know the price. Does that sound like how you want to grocery shop? NO WAY! Then why in the world do we allow this process with baby pictures?? Not once did someone talk about packages, prices, coupons, or anything else that would allow us to get an idea of what kind of investment we were about to make. <br />
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My wife and I are pretty into the teachings of Dave Ramsey lately. He would absolutely be floored at this process of throwing money at an emotional sale after getting through the entire process. It seems to me that these companies would have more guaranteed sales if they walked customers through the entire shopping process prior to snapping one photo. This would also keep them from expending any resources (labor) at the risk that someone (me) walks out halfway through the process because all they can think of is the $400 that the photographer mumbled under his breath during the shoot. Now I don't mind putting down some scratch on memories of my child, but is that $400 somewhere to start? Does it include all the photos I want or do I have to pay hundreds more to get those?<br />
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My point in all this is to empower those parents out there to not be afraid to ask, "What am I spending at the end of this process?" Granted, some high schooler will look at you like you have a foot growing out of your face, but you are making the right decision. You are the better husband/wife/parent for getting these things in place before someone reaches into your bank account and takes your kids' college fund in the spirit of making memories.Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13658305353984188187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718778097195204626.post-82715135582006148202010-11-07T16:28:00.000-08:002010-11-07T16:28:40.324-08:00Too Old to LearnThis one is gonna be short, given that I don't get caught up in my rant. In my short time on this earth, I have noticed a few very important traits in individuals that I either want to mirror, or run from. One that I have seen creep up over and over again is the ability someone possesses to learn.<br />
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When I first started in the professional world, I was a sponge. I was an expert at nothing and a student of anything I could open up to. Around me, I heard several individuals who considered themselves "seasoned veterans" who offered their advice along the way. Now I could sift through this information and find that there was at least a portion of value to be had, but most of these veterans delivered their advice in the form of extreme negativity. It almost seemed as if they were trying to discourage me from the given endeavor I attempted. This advice they gave came from many years of wins and losses, ups and downs, good times and bad. The end result was a jaded look at life, almost a fear of attacking any challenge life had for them.<br />
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I promised I'd never allow myself to get to this point. I didn't however, expect it to creep up on me this fast. The other day I found myself making these same excuses as the elder individuals I'd heard in the past. It terrified me. I had to make a conscious effort to turn from such a jaded way of thinking and attack life with the same excited ignorance I'd had a few years back. <br />
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I now see it more than ever. When a person, my senior, asks me for advice and I give it, they seem to allow all of the reasons why they've lost in the past discourage them from learning a new way or taking the advice that isn't their own. These individuals are typically unsuccessful, and it's only a matter of time before what they consider to be safe, die around them.<br />
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So don't ever think yourself too educated, too old, too set in your ways to take some valuable advice.Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13658305353984188187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718778097195204626.post-49079071679387414322010-10-14T23:39:00.000-07:002010-10-14T23:44:43.232-07:00Faith in BusinessEver been at work and someone wants to talk about money? How about politics? Maybe someone has gone so far as to bring up the untouchable subject of religion at work. It seems like that subject in the past has been off limits, uncomfortable, even against the law at times. Well it's not the past, it's today and in a world of ever-increasing rights and moral-less breakthroughs I believe that these rights have come full circle when it comes to the subject of religion in the workplace. Not only do I think that it's less of a faux pas to discuss your faith within the workplace, I would venture to say that it is fashionable and recommended.<br />
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I work in sales, corporate sales that requires a certain level of trust and relationship between my customers. I've made a great living from nothing but my big mouth by building a high amount of trust in the customers who have spent millions and millions of dollars with me. This trust involves me being candid about my family, my values, and yes, my faith. Now I'm not one to push my beliefs on anyone, Christ didn't do that and I don't believe in it. I do however, take every opportunity to talk with customers, colleagues, and vendors about the most important thing in my life; the forgiving blood of Christ Jesus. My faith drives my selling and my customers know it. They know that if I am looking to God for guidance while I do business, there's no way they will be taken advantage of. That is a great feeling of comfort to give a customer. <br />
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That being said, could you believe that I have NEVER had a negative response to sharing what I believe with the folks I do business with? Why would they? What I believe is that Christ died to save me, we should love Him as He loves us, and we should love the people we come in contact with. How could anyone get offended over that?? The truth is, they love it. I had a vendor tell me about his faith today at lunch and it brought him to tears, I was moved to say the least. His courage and candid spirit inspired me, and I'll never forget it.<br />
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So in this world of exercising our rights and acting out whatever we feel, take a moment to exercise your right to share with the people you do business with the love of Christ that stops at nothing to flood our lives and save us all.Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13658305353984188187noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718778097195204626.post-19472444155345601652010-09-30T10:20:00.000-07:002010-09-30T10:21:11.361-07:00Andrew Morrison Sound BoardApparently my co-workers get such a kick out of the little things that I say on a regular basis and on the phone to vendors who call in and don't realize they are talking to a competitor, that they have created a sound board with these sound-bytes. Take these sayings with a grain(s) of salt as this isn't the way I usually interact with people. Enjoy!<br />
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<a href="http://www.soundboard.com/sb/aberd1.aspx">http://www.soundboard.com/sb/aberd1.aspx</a>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13658305353984188187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718778097195204626.post-18464642740884882942010-09-20T23:49:00.000-07:002010-09-20T23:49:23.610-07:00MushThis one is sure to get the feminists goin'! As you can see, the title of this blog is 'Mush'. Now the only context in which this word is typically used would be as a command to someone(thing) to jump to, start, go, and not so much at a leisurely pace. Now I will be so bold as to combine this word with marriage. Give me a minute to explain this archaic, chauvinistic way of viewing the institute of marriage.<br />
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I have had the opportunity to observe a number of different marriages. Failed marriages, successful marriages, unhappy marriages, stay together for the kids marriages. You name it, I've seen it. One element that I see as key to any successful, or lacking in an unsuccessful, marriage is each person's ability to 'mush' when it comes to the needs of their spouse. In my observation, there are three flavors of this illustration; One of the two people meeting the needs of the other, neither meeting each others' needs, and both meeting each others' needs. <br />
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In most marriages I see one of the two people jumping to the needs of the other for a certain period of time until the 'giver' gets disgruntled, never communicates with the 'receiver' and eventually leaves, shuts down, or worse. During this type of union, I've observed for some reason a heightened amount of rigid communication, even verbal abuse from the 'receiver'. Why this is, I still have not figured out. Maybe it is to maintain that role of the one who wears the pants. Nevertheless, this is all too common, and can slowly ruin a marriage.<br />
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Sometimes I've seen a style of marriage where each person is constantly fighting for their own 'say', their own time, their own piece of the financial pie, and their very own...whatever they can claim over their spouse. This is a much faster killer when it comes to those sacred nuptials. It amazes me how many people act like they are single while they are married. They battle it out for what they feel entitled to, while ignoring their partner's needs. They get frustrated with the other one for making plans on top of their existing plans yet neither of them checked with the other to consider what they may like to do. This form of marriage is very unfortunate as it demeans the other person and is just plain sad.<br />
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Rarely do I see a style of marriage that I feel I learned from my own father. It is that of jumping to the needs of the other. The hardest part of this style is not the action of serving the other, it's abandoning one's pride long enough to understand that it is not all about you. It's so imperative to make sure that your spouses' needs are met, their life is pleasant, and they know you exist to please them. This seems like a very simple concept but I am blown away at how many marriages lack this simple, simple action. Once again, it is NOT ABOUT YOU.<br />
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So take these words of wisdom with a grain of salt as I've now only been married for a year, but so far it has been a joy of giving, communicating, and pleasing the other person so that there is no reason to default to that selfish way that tempts us all. Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13658305353984188187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718778097195204626.post-71020831769653700582010-09-16T21:42:00.000-07:002010-09-17T14:37:49.844-07:00Cold Calling!Oh cold calling! Such a loathsome art hated by most when having to carry it out, yet hated more when on the receiving end. As miserable as it may seem, I don't think that those in the sales industry understand the true value. I agree that it can be a relatively painstaking process, but the treasure doesn't lie solely in the rare win at the end of the disparate tunnel, rather it is DURING all of the hang ups, nonsense rebuttals, bulletproof contracts, and the occasional "no one loves me feeling."<br />
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When you first decide to cold call, you exercise the ability to hope. Yep, just plain ol' hope. The hope that one day you will convince someone will listen to you, believe that you can actually help them, and buy from you. Not only may you get yourself a sale, it may be one that pays you a year's worth of commission.<br />
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During cold calling, don't allow the sudden slamming down of the phone to serve only as discouragement. Instead, treat it as motivation. Look to it as a game, a bit of comic relief in your serious work day. Don't ever take yourself too seriously, it will drive you nuts, then to the soup line.<br />
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Second, cold calling helps you understand the customer. If a customer opens up their doors to you and just signs your contract, you have learned NOTHING! It is imperative that you experience a customer in their rawest state, sometimes that means while they are yelling at you. This interaction could tell you what they hate about sales people so you don't act that way, what their past pains with vendors so you know where to perform, and how busy they are working on a project so you can provide them with the tools to complete that project more efficiently. The best advice I ever received from a past employer of mine was, "You have one of the biggest mouths I have ever experienced, but you know exactly when to shut it." If you can't shut your mouth long enough to listen to the needs of the customer, you don't even deserve an unemployment check. <br />
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Lastly, the most valuable element, I feel, in cold calling is that of being able to polish up what you are known for as a salesman, your mouth. The more you practice, the better you get with your weapon. If the person you're calling asks a question you don't know, you are most likely going to sound inexperienced when you try to answer it. The next time that question is asked, you'd better sound like an expert. Multiply this by 100 times a day, five days a week, and you'll have the answers to a lot of questions. Customers who are ready to talk, expect you to have a good amount of info for them. Don't be afraid to ask someone the answer, but don't rely on others to do your job. It's important to learn as you progress through this process. Just because you are a sales person, doesn't mean you don't need to be technical, or educated on your product or service.<br />
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So pick up that phone, take a deep breath, and enjoy the process of cold calling. Remember, it is impossible for you to feel a true win until you know what loss is.Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13658305353984188187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718778097195204626.post-47976050511532911112010-09-05T16:45:00.000-07:002010-09-05T16:45:42.605-07:00The Dark World of ConsultingI had looked forward to this post for some time. Little did I know I would have multiple examples of my consultant stereotype dropped right into my lap this week. Now don't get me wrong, I have always given new consultants a fair shake, even more so because I truly believe that once I find a good one, He/She will be of both our benefit, as well as the customers we work with.<br />
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I did just that this week as I chatted with a current customer of mine, who had been moved to Google Apps from an exchange server that went down. This recommendation was that from their current consultant, who I have heard rumors of asking for a "spiff" for choosing a given vendor's product. The customer was frustrated that Google Apps had failed due to squelched bandwidth and a lack of preliminary planning. My solution was to triple the bandwidth with a WiMax connection and keep them off of an additional, expensive T1 line that had been recommended by the consultant. Upon informing the consultant of the solution, he said, "That sounds great, if I recommend your solution to our customer, what's in it for me?" I couldn't believe my ears. Wasn't our customer, who was a 501(c)3, paying the consultant to recommend a neutral, unbiased solution? Yet, he was simply choosing the provider who put the most money in his pocket. Does this seem as ridiculous to you as it does to me?!<br />
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Earlier this week, before my experience I explained above, I had lost an RFP (request for proposal) due to this very same thing. I was the first runner up due to the fact that I didn't offer to pay the consultant to choose my communication system. When I had gone back to the customer to shed some light on this injustice, they simply said that they trust him and are sure he led them down the right path.<br />
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The next customer, described in the first paragraph, was much more open to discovering the truth. I was able to tell them everything, which may or may not lead to them choosing my solution, but at least I know they have all the information in front of them.<br />
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In wrap-up, there are a few types of vendors within the IT world; Hardware/Software/Service Providers, Outsourced IT, and Consultants are among some of the main types. Each of these can offer a little bit of every service, yet if you are a true consultant, paid for your time and NEUTRAL expertise, you will not collect payment from any other party except the customer. It is immoral and borderline illegal to come in as a consultant and attempt to sell a product, tangible service, or accept payment for choosing a vendor. Wise up, and land yourself a real job.Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13658305353984188187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718778097195204626.post-65874541191225357142010-08-28T15:50:00.000-07:002010-08-28T15:50:21.033-07:00The MoleNow I come from a long line of green-thumbed men. Hard labor, or any labor for that matter has never been something that I could bring myself to do with an eager disposition. This summer I've been empowered to show the other men in my family that it's not just my mouth I can run, but my lawn mower is a force to be reckoned with as well!<br />
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Through a careful process of weed-and-feed, the perfect amount of water, 16-16-16 fertilizer, and the guidance of the yard master (dad), I have reached darn near the perfect shade of deep green grass in our yard. I did this in less than three weeks to boot! Then I spent the next few days tweeting, talking, and sending pictures of my perfect lawn to those I know.<br />
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Today I went to mow my oh-so perfect, dark green, lushness and an ugly little talpidae had something else in mind. Yes, I have my first mole. Moles are typically subterranean mammals who don't need much fresh air at all. Apparently this pint-sized demon got turned around and poked his head out of my perfect yard twice...then another three times! So for all to see, I am exposing my imperfect yard in hopes that a great amount of sympathy may dress my wounds.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhh80X8PvO0I6ptGjbc3DDUWxBBVwb73XOsofM0UD4rptQudLD7tvg7ik0wtGzPigyBwOq7CDmnhGOsOh8rL6neEIRjqGC8NJRVo5gLO8SsMB_ZVpWww_LOcAxCtwMkvO0GPg6AlYy0s/s1600/Mole.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhh80X8PvO0I6ptGjbc3DDUWxBBVwb73XOsofM0UD4rptQudLD7tvg7ik0wtGzPigyBwOq7CDmnhGOsOh8rL6neEIRjqGC8NJRVo5gLO8SsMB_ZVpWww_LOcAxCtwMkvO0GPg6AlYy0s/s400/Mole.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13658305353984188187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718778097195204626.post-11731003317923474872010-08-27T22:34:00.000-07:002010-08-27T22:34:16.310-07:00Matthew 5:37If you've had the opportunity of knowing me for the past five years, you know that I approach the task at hand with the utmost perfection. If you knew me prior to this, you may expect just the opposite as I spent the first part of my life cutting corners, getting out of responsibilities, and looking out for myself only. <br />
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Now, where this change is typically a gradual process for most, mine came first in the form of opportunity. The shifting moment was on my first day at a company called TeleSmart Networks. President Mark Bilton-Smith walked into my office, set a laptop and a Blackberry in front of me, and simply stated, "I've got to leave for a meeting, go sell." Trial by fire!<br />
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With the next five years came an incredible ride, an incredible test. From the largest RFP that TeleSmart had been awarded, to a corporate acquisition, to starting anew, it has all instilled in me a valuable lesson. I could either own up to my new-found success, or tap dance around responsibility and watch it fall as most opportunities I'd faced. I chose the former and allowed this value pour out into everything I take on. The lesson is to let my yes be yes, and my no be no.<br />
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From my father, I believe I learned this lesson. He has never instructed me to, yet has always personified it without compromise. From my mother, I've learned to know when to loosen my grip on this practice and offer grace to those who may not hold dear such standards. And from my wife I am humbled by her patience with me as I further progress through this life skill.<br />
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As you follow my blogging endeavors, all three of you, know that my aim is to carry this lesson, value, and God-breathed scripture through all that I do and say.<br />
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-AndyAndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13658305353984188187noreply@blogger.com0