You won't know unless you try

This simple piece of advice is so true!!! You won't know unless you try. I need to tape that somewhere above my computer (where I spend most of my day). A couple of quick and recent examples:

I came home from work last Thursday, and my husband was already home. He sat me down and told me an interesting story. Having recently just purchased a home and being vigilant observers of the Fed's every move, we decided it was time to refinance. So the research on rates, closing costs and points began. Being Chase customers, the hubby called the number for their mortgage financing department. He pressed all the appropriate buttons on the phone and then waited. And waited. And waited some more. When all was said and done, he waited on hold for close to an hour and a half before he gave up. Annoyed at the time wasted and the recorded voice saying how valuable his call was, the hubby looked up the number for Chase's corporate office. He then looked for the number of Chase's CEO--and found it!

So he called the number and immediately heard a live voice on the other line. The voice belonged to the executive assistant of the CEO himself. The hubby asked if he could speak with Bill Harrison. His assistant mentioned that he was in a meeting. She asked what his call was about. The hubby then explained the situation. She was horrified, apologetic and determined to get him some answers.

Within seconds, the hubby had talked to two or three others all who had been briefed before getting on the line about this customer's lengthy wait and his personal call to the CEO. All representatives apologized. All got him where he needed to be. And he got the info he needed. I guess you won't know what will happen when you call the CEO directly unless you try.

In another example, I am a fan of the LinkedIn social networking site. I like to see where my friends and former colleagues have landed in their professional lives and to see who is viewing my profile! So I happened to notice that the president of our company, who I don't know personally and who works in an entirely different office, was on LinkedIn. I figured it'd be a great connection to have and a good introduction to make, so I sent him an invitation to connect. After about a week, he accepted it. Now we are friends on LinkedIn. I didn't know if he would accept my request, but he did. And now he knows an employee in Detroit who he didn't know the day before. I guess you won't know what will happen when you attempt to connect to your company's president on a social networking site unless you try.

The question that remains is what else should I try?

Friday afternoons...

...should be spent off. Everyone is tired. Creativity is nil. The weekend is beckoning. How about a four-and-a-half day work week? Might do a lot to inspire people to really use their Fridays to get stuff done.

Thoughts??

JG

Have a heart? Consider this...

I read a moving article in the Free Press over the weekend. A 36-year-old mother of two named Sherry awaited a heart transplant after four years of suffering with cardiomyopathy. The long and the short of the article available here is that she did indeed get a new heart but only after another woman, a 51-year-old mother, grandmother, wife, and sister named Sue, died.

After her recovery, Sherry was able to get in touch with Sue's family. They all met at a coffee shop. The family members of the woman who died--and whose sacrifice enabled another woman to live--all arrived wearing shirts adorned with Sue's photo. Sue's husband asked if he could feel his wife's beating heart! Sherry obliged!

I was teary-eyed when reading this story. I decided to see what I had to do (besides sign my driver's license) to become an organ donor. What I found is that it's really quite simple to add your name to this list. I needed only to enter my driver's license number, name and birthday to confirm my desire to help if the situation ever should present itself.

So I pass the link on to you. Click here if you are a Michigan resident interested in adding your name to this important list. If you're not a Michigan resident, check with your Secretary of State office for information on how to sign up for your state's organ donation list.

Jacquie

Ronald McDonald House Part 2

I realized I never posted an update on the Christmas Eve fundraising effort of the family. We raised more than $600 for the Ronald McDonald House at the University of Chicago. I am quite impressed! I wasn't sure how others would receive this new idea, but each and every person embraced the idea and contributed more than I imagined.

A big thanks to the family! What a great way to end the year and kick off a new one.

A quick bit of info--the Ronald McDonald House lists out on its Web site what donations can buy. We bought them a computer!

--$5 covers a family who cannot afford to make the suggested $5/night donation
asked of our guests

--$25 buys toiletries and a phone card to make a family's stay more comfortable

--$50 pays the full expense to operate each room, each night

--$100 provides dental care for two local children who don't have access to adequate care

--$250 covers costs to provide a home away from home for a family for a work week

--$500 buys a computer so families can keep in touch with friends, family and their jobs

Very cool!

Jacquie