Have Some Respect!

It seems in the world of business, respect has become a lost art. On numerous occasions, I’ve had to correct customer service representatives who refer to me by my first name instead of my last, without asking permission. In many instances, I’m old enough to be the parent or grandparent of the representative on the other end of the phone.

I’m well aware times have changed and today’s rules of etiquette are not quite the same as those from my childhood. In those days, men removed their hats upon entering a building, especially someone’s home. They held doors for us women and seldom walked through an entrance to a facility in front of us.

As children we were taught to address our older relatives and friends of our parents by Mr or Mrs so and so. If we used that elder’s first name it was again preceded by Mr or Mrs. We would’t dare refer to any adult by their first names only. It was unheard of and highly disrespectful.

I recall my parents using the surnames of their creditors when conducting business and the creditors extending the same courtesy. I don’t exactly know  why things have changed. Perhaps employees are trained to use first names to foster familiarity. What I do know is, I along with several others are highly insulted by this new way of addressing clients.

It’s gotten to the point, I dread making business calls or answering the phone. I’ve grown weary with correcting customer service representatives who insist on using my first name.  That being said, I may be tired of correcting, but I will not stop. So, for every customer service representative out there who addresses me by anything other than my last name, be prepared. You will be called out.

I’d love to hear your feedback on this topic. Perhaps you share my sentiment, perhaps you don’t. There is no right or wrong, only our truth.

As always, I hope my thoughts encourage you.

Ciao!

Savannah J. providing a place of tranquility away from the stress of life.

http://www.thesavannahjpublications.com

Follow Savannah on Twitter http://bit.ly/1tBBC6o

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Savannah is the author of The Prey now available in eBook on Kindle http://amzn.to/1xg0pgM and on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1q5hncz

Also look for Raising Tristan on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1pL4GqN and on Kindle http://amzn.to/1AlHl6g

“See The End Game”

One of my favorite movies is Life of A King. It’s based on the story of Eugene Brown, the gentleman who started The Big Chair Chess Club for inner-city youth living in Washington D. C. Each time I watch the movie, I learn something new. However, no matter how many new lessons I glean with each viewing, my favorite remains “you must see the end game.” There is so much wisdom in that short sentence.

During the movie, Mr. Brown played by the talented, Cuba Gooding Jr, repeatedly tells his students to “think before you move. You must see the end game.” Regardless our age we can all apply those words of wisdom to our lives. How many disasters or tragic situations could have been avoided had we thought before we moved? I can think of a few circumstances in my life that would have gone differently had a paused and considered the outcome before acting.

As I travel this journey called life, I look for small lessons I can hold onto to help me grow and navigate the sometimes rocky places. Mr. Brown’s advice to “think before you move. You must see the end game” is one such nugget I now use often or at least attempt to. I do hope you, too, will find his advice useful.

It’s not always possible to make the right decision, all we can do is try as best we can. But in that attempt to make sound and concrete choices, lets remember Mr. Brown’s advice. “Think before you move. Remember to see the end game.”

As always, I hope my thoughts encourage you.

Ciao!

Savannah J. providing a place of tranquility away from the stress of life.

http://www.thesavannahjpublications.com

Follow Savannah on Twitter http://bit.ly/1tBBC6o

on Google Plus http://bit.ly/1pnq9sP

and on Facebook http://on.fb.me/10p1o32

Savannah is the author of The Prey now available in eBook on Kindle http://amzn.to/1xg0pgM and on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1q5hncz

Also look for Raising Tristan on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1pL4GqN and on Kindle http://amzn.to/1AlHl6g