Yesterday I was at my son's flag football game cheering him on to victory. There was one play that his coach had them pull off for a touchdown. My son was the center and pretended like he was going to snap the ball to the quarterback. What really happened was that he handed the ball between his legs to the quarterback, the other team thought the ball had been handed off and had gone to one side, but the quarterback took the ball and ran all of the way to the goal line. None of the parents on our side even knew what had happened until everything had been said and done. When the game had ended and my son and I were walking back to the car we were talking about that surprise play and rehashing the whole thing. He was telling me, "Well, that is why it was called Hide and Seek. No one saw it coming. You have to read the fine print." I have to admit that I was laughing my behind off because it was so funny coming from the mouth of an 8 year old.
On the way home my mind start thinking about what he had said and how that applies to many things. Many people who need to sign a contract, regardless of whether they are purchasing something or wanting to download something on their computer or are signing up for a service, usually barely glance at the fine print. I admit that I don't always read the fine print. I assume that everything will be fine. But what about when something goes wrong and you have to go back to that fine print? Sometimes you find yourself screwed.
For example, with credit cards they will send you mailers that describe the terms and the changes for your account from time to time. If you were to look closely at those terms though, you would see that they have the right to change the APR at their discretion regardless of whether you are a good customer or not.
I found a great article that talks about how the buyer should beware by Jean Chatzky. It is located at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15548380/. After reading some of the things in her article, it makes me want to read the fine print a little bit more as I feel a bit taken advantage of in a few things in my life. From time to time I want to give my husband back to his parents and they keep telling me I should have read the fine print. Darn it!
What about in your own business? Do you go over your contracts with your clients to make sure that they fully understand what you are going to stick to them if they don't follow your rules? If not, it could come back to bite you on the behind. Remember the scene in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory where Willa Wonka is going over the contract and the print keeps getting smaller and smaller and no one knows what it says? Grumpy customers, regardless of whether they should have read the fine print or not, will not use your service or products again no matter how great they are if they feel they were taken advantage of.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Friday, November 03, 2006
What's the worst they can say?
When I was at the ICEA Conference in Chicago Tracy Lyn Moland said in one of her speaking sessions that you should ask for what you want. The worst they can say is "No". If you don't ask, you never know what you are missing out on. I was talking to my husband about it and I told him we needed to start doing it more.
Although I have asked for things in the past, I thought I could brush up on my asking skills. When my husband and I were at Disneyland recently, we were just getting ready to get on Splash Mountain when the ride broke down. The guy next to us had stated that two of the rides he had tried to get on earlier in the day had broken down when he was just getting ready to get on the ride.
My husband and I went to City Hall and explained how dissatisfied we were with the way things were going. They not only apologized, but gave us Fastpasses for three rides. Then we happened to go to Pizza Port to grab some dinner before heading over to Space Mountain for use of our first Fastpass. Apparently there was a staff shortage and everyone had to wait in line just to pay for their food. People were really starting to get irritated.
I have never seen this bad of service in one day during my many years of visiting Disneyland. I was very surprised. My husband and I finally made it to the front of the line and my husband started to complain again, this time about the wait. The gentleman apologized and said that half of the cashiers did not show up for their shift. When my husband asked if speaking to the manger would help, the Cast Member said it wouldn't and then turned around and gave us a 15% discount on our bill.
One thing that didn't hold us back was the fact that if they had said "No", we would just move on to someone who could say "Yes". When you let that first "No" get to you, it is hard to move past that and continue to ask for what you want. If you look at the bigger picture, such as the person you are asking is not in a position to tell you "Yes" or you need to follow a certain procedure to get what you want, then you will realize that it is not your fault and you should keep moving ahead.
When my husband went to ask for what he wanted, he was honest about what he wanted from the situation and they were able to accommodate him. If you are asking for new business, be passionate about why you are asking for the person's business. Explain to them what you can give them in exchange for what they can give you, which is their business.
If you are looking for someone to write a guest article in your newsletter, just ask. As Chat Director of ICEA we would not have had some of the guest speakers we have had in the past if I did not take the initiative to take the first step, whether it was an email or phone call. I just keep pushing ahead to the next guest speaker.
You never know how many of your dreams and goals will come true until you ask. All I am asking of you right now is to take a few moments and think about what you really want, make a list, and start asking the people that can help you fulfill those dreams and goals.
Although I have asked for things in the past, I thought I could brush up on my asking skills. When my husband and I were at Disneyland recently, we were just getting ready to get on Splash Mountain when the ride broke down. The guy next to us had stated that two of the rides he had tried to get on earlier in the day had broken down when he was just getting ready to get on the ride.
My husband and I went to City Hall and explained how dissatisfied we were with the way things were going. They not only apologized, but gave us Fastpasses for three rides. Then we happened to go to Pizza Port to grab some dinner before heading over to Space Mountain for use of our first Fastpass. Apparently there was a staff shortage and everyone had to wait in line just to pay for their food. People were really starting to get irritated.
I have never seen this bad of service in one day during my many years of visiting Disneyland. I was very surprised. My husband and I finally made it to the front of the line and my husband started to complain again, this time about the wait. The gentleman apologized and said that half of the cashiers did not show up for their shift. When my husband asked if speaking to the manger would help, the Cast Member said it wouldn't and then turned around and gave us a 15% discount on our bill.
One thing that didn't hold us back was the fact that if they had said "No", we would just move on to someone who could say "Yes". When you let that first "No" get to you, it is hard to move past that and continue to ask for what you want. If you look at the bigger picture, such as the person you are asking is not in a position to tell you "Yes" or you need to follow a certain procedure to get what you want, then you will realize that it is not your fault and you should keep moving ahead.
When my husband went to ask for what he wanted, he was honest about what he wanted from the situation and they were able to accommodate him. If you are asking for new business, be passionate about why you are asking for the person's business. Explain to them what you can give them in exchange for what they can give you, which is their business.
If you are looking for someone to write a guest article in your newsletter, just ask. As Chat Director of ICEA we would not have had some of the guest speakers we have had in the past if I did not take the initiative to take the first step, whether it was an email or phone call. I just keep pushing ahead to the next guest speaker.
You never know how many of your dreams and goals will come true until you ask. All I am asking of you right now is to take a few moments and think about what you really want, make a list, and start asking the people that can help you fulfill those dreams and goals.
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