Should you do customer service? Not just recommended, but essential!
Sep 3 at 11:11pm by ObverseView
I’ve done so many different customer service jobs from when I started working. It’s been quite a whiz… but I think it’s much better to learn to work with people who are customers. So here’s the list:
- 1. part-time waiter
- 2. bookshop assistant
- 3. English Teacher
- 4. Boss of a business
- 5. Sales Consultant
- 6. Technical Consultant
Many of these jobs came about because I already some basic skills in working with people… so now I recommend all young people to spend at least some time working in a customer-fronted job where they can learn to interact comfortably, honestly and responsibly with customers, potential and real.
With many developed countries becoming increasingly people/service focused in the future, at least in terms of customer performance, most of the future job growth will depend on such skills. And not having such skills will put talented individuals at a distinct disadvantage in competitive terms for jobs, promotions, pay raises, and much more…
100% Worth It: Auto Insurance #1
Sep 1 at 11:11pm by ObverseView
For those of you who remember my car-accident in Taiwan a few years ago, I would totally recommend taking out decent auto insurance. After driving nearly 45K km in the past years, I can testify to the necessity of having insurance, for much more than basic cover.
For example, if you scratch your paintwork in an accident, my policy actually covered some of the damage! Since most of the documents were in legal Chinese, I couldn’t really figure out why.
And for the repainting work, there was a small element in the policy included. Apparently, the Mazda garage provides cheaper pricing for such repairs than if I were to pay for it myself! Go figure!
Assets vs. Liabilities
Aug 26 at 3:03pm by ObverseView
A reprise of Rich Dad Poor Dad.
There has been much discussion of the authenticity of RDPD’s and the background of the author. You can read about that at other blogs: Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Liar Dad, Thief. However, one criticism of the book is below along with my own interpretation of RDPD’s theories. Read the rest of this entry »
Comments OffContinue Reading
How do you screen employment candidates?
Jul 14 at 6:06pm by ObverseView
Our school recently tried to hire teachers for the summer, and we were met by a woeful array of candidates: the lady who smoked and was late, the ex-pilot who didn’t know what to do in the class, the top university candidate who assumed he was automatically qualified, the lady who wanted everything upfront without adequate training (or any), the person who was so impatient to get on with the job that he forgot about the learning curve needed … the list goes on and on.
If it’s difficult for workers, think about the employment screening issues that face most small companies like ours, where the right candidate can really make the company, and the wrong one can destroy it.
The reality is that finding suitable staff is a huge nightmare for us, one that requires a large output of effort to get a large failure rate of candidates, so we resort often to less formal means than advertising our position such as word of mouth, ads on our website, etc..
Comments OffContinue Reading
Business Disasters: Environmental Abuse = Victim Abuse
Jun 23 at 11:11pm by ObverseView
Patients from Asbestos exposure looking for adequate Mesothelioma treatment, Victims from Bhopal looking for burns treatments, … the litany of environmental abuses go on and on. Wouldn’t it be just great if one day, we could speed up the resolution for these disasters so that victims are compensated faster. They’ll be able to get treatment, rebuild their lives, perhaps even just look after their loved ones!
Who knows how long those affected by the BP disaster will have to face before compensation allows them to pick up their lives again…? I just wish that the whole process of adjudication came more quickly for those who are unfortunate enough to be affected. What can we do?
Comments OffContinue Reading
Vitamins = Kaching
May 29 at 8:08pm by ObverseView
All sorts of weird and wonderful vitamin pills are emerging some with very ‘clever’ marketing ploys. I’ve already looked at several on the market. Now, we’re seeing even an organic prenatal vitamin for expectant mothers… (and the fathers?).
Soon, I’ll expect to see organic 100% natural elementary school vitamin solutions for students who can’t study or watch too much TV… What about organic vitamins for truck drivers, nurses, or police officers all who have special working environments… think about it? A huge brand extensions… and $$$$
Comments OffContinue Reading
Dangerous lifestyle? Do your own investing!
May 22 at 12:12am by ObverseView
If you have a dangerous hobby, such as base jumping, rock climbing, sky diving, or driving in Taiwan, you may find it hard to find an affordable term life insurance quote that doesn’t punish you for what you like doing or where you live!
Alternatively, start socking away the extra money you don’t spend on your hobbies: buying ETFs, Dividend stocks, and very easy laddered CDs. You don’t need to do much to put your finances in order, but you do need to be persistent.
Comments OffContinue Reading
Tips on Management: Make ’Em Toe the Line (if They Can Find It)
May 21 at 11:11pm by ObverseView
What have you learned to do less of? More of?
Easy. I have learned to listen to the people who work for me and talk a lot less. Just sit there and listen, with my fingers steepled, as they speak their minds. And keep listening as they run out of things to say and just begin talking to fill the silence. In the end, this will allow you to win the dispute as the other person defeats himself, which, in the end, is the only winning that matters.
Funny reading.
Comments OffContinue Reading
Credit Cards: Dear Banks, It’s time to change your practices…
May 21 at 11:11pm by ObverseView
Whether you need credit cards for bad credit or even just a decent credit card rate, the good news is: things are changing.
With the passage of the new Finance Bill in the States, American consumers will find that some types of cash or credit transactions may bring additional benefits to customers.
I’m mindful that many people are trying to get back to cash as a primary means of shopping. With too many problems involving credit card abuse, fraud, predatory lending by banks, it seems that credit cards are experiencing something akin to their own “change of terms” by the government!
One doesn’t feel much sympathy for the banks at this point. The reality is that the multiple fees charged by credit card companies for small businesses really only add to the costs of the business and the related prices charged by the businesses for their products and services. There isn’t a free lunch here.
Comments OffContinue Reading
Cosmetics Companies: Do they really build trust in their products? Seems not.
May 21 at 10:10pm by ObverseView
Do you need night cream? Or suncreams? Or any of a hundred other available cosmetics from a website near you? I visited one website that was selling these products, and I was shocked… Why?
It seems that many marketers are targeting online sales for their products, with comprehensive sites: that are short on depth, aimed to drive traffic to sales pages, and are anything but objective. Worse still, many of the sites have grandiose claims, unverifiable facts, and no contact information at all. Even the Whois data is protected.
Talk about building customer trust. Mmm. I wouldn’t put that stuff anywhere near my face. There are no disclosures, no ingredients lists, no contraindications…. So I compared that to a popular cosmetic product from Christian Dior. And I found the same lack of information on there, too.
What is with these cosmetic companies? Aren’t they obliged to disclose ingredients? At least, purchasing from Macy’s, I know the number to call and complain if there’s a problem. Not sure about that other site.
Comments OffContinue Reading
Recent Visitors