Top Eleven Things I Wish They'd Teach Salesmen:
11. Don't ask to come in my house. If you absolutely must come in my house, make sure you have someone with you. Preferably a woman. And show me your ID. You may be a nice guy, but I don't know that.
10. Be scrupulously honest in what you tell me. If you tell me your demonstration will take ten minutes, it'd better be ten minutes. I'll be watching the clock. If you say you'll clean my carpet, then clean it. (If there's a contingency clause--like "if you buy the vacuum") say so. Before I move the furniture.)
9. I don't care what my neighbors bought. Keeping up with the Jones' really doesn't apply when it comes to cleaning products and magazine subscriptions.
8. Don't ask me about my neighbors. I'm not going to tell you their names and occupations, or if they have small children. I know what you're doing, and I don't want you to manipulate my friends.
7. Cut the small talk. We both know that you don't care about my life, so don't waste my time asking me about my hobbies. Let's cut to the chase and let me get back to what I was doing before you rang my doorbell.
6. Don't try to be funny. If you were truly funny, you'd be making a living in stand-up comedy, instead of selling vacuums. So skip the whole "you can sweep me off the porch with a broom" routine.
5. Don't tell me this offer is only good for the next ten minutes. Leave me a brochure with a phone number and let me think about it--I might even call you back!
4. No means no. Don't force me to be rude. Remember Mr. Collins in Pride and Prejudice? When I say no, I'm not being coy. I just don't want it. So please ignore the "rule of thumb" that says you have to hear no three times before you take it seriously.
3. When I do say no, don't be rude. Let's make a deal: I'll say no pleasantly, and you accept it graciously.
2. Don't try to make me feel guilty. I don't care if you grew up on the south side of Chicago and have an anger management problem you're trying to overcome. I don't care if you're earning a trip to Disneyland and I'm the last sale you need. I had seven kids of my own to keep off the streets, out of trouble, and get into college--don't try to make me feel responsible for you too!
1. Have a product worth selling. That's what sales is all about--the PRODUCT! Not you. Not your background. Not your hopes and dreams. Save that for people who care. Just tell me what you're selling. Tell me what it costs and ask me if I want it. It'll save us both some time.
Quote of the day: "Your neighbor said she needed another magazine like she needed a hole in the head, but she still bought one to help me out."
My apologies to good salesmen out there (Tom). I'm sorry so many who went before you have given sales a bad name. Here's my suggested door approach: "Hi, I'm _________ and I'm selling ____________. Are you interested in learning more about this product? Thanks for your time and have a good day."
Friday, April 25, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Birthdays and other stuff
Andrew & Elena
Julie--what's it called when you can talk on two phones at the same time?
Grandma & Elena
Andrew's birthday party
Julie--what's it called when you can talk on two phones at the same time? 
Grandma & Elena
Andrew's birthday partyAmerican Idol Recap
The results are in, and it looks like everyone but me will be bringing treats for our next AI party, next Tuesday at 7:00! Yes, it's true, I was the only one who picked two of the bottom three.
For anyone who's interested, we've started having AI parties, to watch the show and do our own bit of voting. Each of us picks who we think the bottom three will be, and who will go home. The next night we add up the score: 5 points if you pick the winner (or in this case, the loser) plus one point for everyone you picked in the bottom three. Low score wins the privilege of providing treats next week.
Anyone who wants to join us, just give me a call! The show starts at 7 Tuesday (and dinner before is optional!).
For anyone who's interested, we've started having AI parties, to watch the show and do our own bit of voting. Each of us picks who we think the bottom three will be, and who will go home. The next night we add up the score: 5 points if you pick the winner (or in this case, the loser) plus one point for everyone you picked in the bottom three. Low score wins the privilege of providing treats next week.
Anyone who wants to join us, just give me a call! The show starts at 7 Tuesday (and dinner before is optional!).
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Shocking Statistics Support my Soapbox!
Don't you love the alliteration? Okay, I just had to do that.
So, yesterday we had a training meeting at work, and I found a couple of statistics quite interesting. A little discouraging, but interesting.
One school (granted, this is one school, so it's not a huge cross-section) asked the question--is what we're doing to help kids who are below grade level working? Guess what they found out? For ninety-five percent of them, the answer was no. They went through the records and identified the kids who had had interventions early in elementary school and then tracked them as they progressed through the years. So how many made it out of "the system?" Only five percent.
Another interesting statistic. To maintain grade level in reading, a child needs to read 20 minutes a day. That's him reading, not including any time he's read to. For a child to jump a grade level, he needs to read 45 minutes a day--per level. So, if you have a fourth grader who is reading on a second grade level, it's going to take him reading 90 minutes every day to catch him up! And let's be honest, that's not going to happen. Instead, by the time he's in fourth grade, he has so many self-esteem issues tied up with reading, that he's going to avoid that painful experience like the plague.
So, yesterday we had a training meeting at work, and I found a couple of statistics quite interesting. A little discouraging, but interesting.
One school (granted, this is one school, so it's not a huge cross-section) asked the question--is what we're doing to help kids who are below grade level working? Guess what they found out? For ninety-five percent of them, the answer was no. They went through the records and identified the kids who had had interventions early in elementary school and then tracked them as they progressed through the years. So how many made it out of "the system?" Only five percent.
Another interesting statistic. To maintain grade level in reading, a child needs to read 20 minutes a day. That's him reading, not including any time he's read to. For a child to jump a grade level, he needs to read 45 minutes a day--per level. So, if you have a fourth grader who is reading on a second grade level, it's going to take him reading 90 minutes every day to catch him up! And let's be honest, that's not going to happen. Instead, by the time he's in fourth grade, he has so many self-esteem issues tied up with reading, that he's going to avoid that painful experience like the plague.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Remembering . . .
Thirty years ago I was twenty years old and about two weeks into dating my sweetheart and embroiled in the trauma of breaking up with my old boyfriend who had just barely returned from his mission. A very happy, sad, exciting time! I was serving as the RS secretary in our singles ward.
Twenty years ago I was living in Payson with five children, ages 9 months to 8 years, and I was very heavily into 24/7 parenting. Danny had just had tubes put in his ears, and we were in the middle of putting together the ward's road show. I was serving as RS secretary in our ward.
Ten years ago I was working at Mt. Loafer elementary as a Skill Building coach and within a month of delivering Andrew. We had moved back to Springville, and Jenny was a senior in high school. And yes, I was serving in the RS presidency, this time as a counselor.
Five years ago I was at home full-time with Andrew (who was almost five). I was doing a neighborhood preschool with him. Jenny was married, Eric was in Venezuela on a mission, and Christy had just announced her decision to serve a mission. Amy was a senior, Danny was a sophomore and Julie was in 7th grade. I was heavily into teenagers, and was probably making a dress for Amy for some dance!
Three years ago we had just returned from our trip to Guatemala and I was a first-time grandma, mother to a married daughter, three young single adults, two teenagers and a first grader! I was serving as Relief Society president, working part-time at Westside, and learning first-hand what it feels like to be in a pinball machine! Danny was a senior, so I was probably watching him perform in choir, band, jazz band, dance, a capella, drama, d'males, or something else.
So far this year I took down the Christmas decorations, fixed about sixty dinners, washed about a hundred loads of laundry, worked every day at Westside, teaching kids how to add and subtract two numbers, how to tell time, and how to count money--and a few other things. I was released as RS president and called as a primary teacher and member of the activities committee--and I organized the ward's Valentine's dinner-dance. I've driven hundreds of miles --mostly back and forth between Springville schools--and listened for hundreds of hours to people I love. I've read Coraline to Andrew and The Host to myself and I made a baby quilt for Elena. I've snuggled my granddaughters, and talked to my grandsons on the phone, written emails and letters, and driven my parents to doctor appointments and hair appointments. I've shopped and paid bills and even tried kickboxing and yoga a couple of times!
Yesterday I went to work, did a load of laundry, chaperoned Julie & Malachi, fixed a lousy dinner (sorry family), wrote 1000 words, and had FHE. I also taught Andrew long division just for fun.
Today I went to Andrew's spelling bee, then to 7-11 for gas, then to work, then to the high school, then to Sunroc, then to Andrew's Blue & Gold Banquet where he received his Bear and I received my pin. Then I went grocery shopping, back to Sunroc, and then home again. Between driving, I wrote 300 words, did the dishes, and helped Andrew make cookies for Scouts tonight. I also helped Andrew find his scout shirt, which was no small task. It was in the toy box, covered with toys.
Tomorrow I plan to write, go to work, pick up Julie, make visiting teaching appointments, take care of Elena, and go to Julie's New Beginnings. I also need to find time to give Grandpa a haircut and I want to watch American Idol.
This year I hope to finish my book and submit it to a publisher, learn to love primary, get my house completely organized and in order, scrapbook, lose weight, and enjoy a perfect summer with Danny back home again!
Twenty years ago I was living in Payson with five children, ages 9 months to 8 years, and I was very heavily into 24/7 parenting. Danny had just had tubes put in his ears, and we were in the middle of putting together the ward's road show. I was serving as RS secretary in our ward.
Ten years ago I was working at Mt. Loafer elementary as a Skill Building coach and within a month of delivering Andrew. We had moved back to Springville, and Jenny was a senior in high school. And yes, I was serving in the RS presidency, this time as a counselor.
Five years ago I was at home full-time with Andrew (who was almost five). I was doing a neighborhood preschool with him. Jenny was married, Eric was in Venezuela on a mission, and Christy had just announced her decision to serve a mission. Amy was a senior, Danny was a sophomore and Julie was in 7th grade. I was heavily into teenagers, and was probably making a dress for Amy for some dance!
Three years ago we had just returned from our trip to Guatemala and I was a first-time grandma, mother to a married daughter, three young single adults, two teenagers and a first grader! I was serving as Relief Society president, working part-time at Westside, and learning first-hand what it feels like to be in a pinball machine! Danny was a senior, so I was probably watching him perform in choir, band, jazz band, dance, a capella, drama, d'males, or something else.
So far this year I took down the Christmas decorations, fixed about sixty dinners, washed about a hundred loads of laundry, worked every day at Westside, teaching kids how to add and subtract two numbers, how to tell time, and how to count money--and a few other things. I was released as RS president and called as a primary teacher and member of the activities committee--and I organized the ward's Valentine's dinner-dance. I've driven hundreds of miles --mostly back and forth between Springville schools--and listened for hundreds of hours to people I love. I've read Coraline to Andrew and The Host to myself and I made a baby quilt for Elena. I've snuggled my granddaughters, and talked to my grandsons on the phone, written emails and letters, and driven my parents to doctor appointments and hair appointments. I've shopped and paid bills and even tried kickboxing and yoga a couple of times!
Yesterday I went to work, did a load of laundry, chaperoned Julie & Malachi, fixed a lousy dinner (sorry family), wrote 1000 words, and had FHE. I also taught Andrew long division just for fun.
Today I went to Andrew's spelling bee, then to 7-11 for gas, then to work, then to the high school, then to Sunroc, then to Andrew's Blue & Gold Banquet where he received his Bear and I received my pin. Then I went grocery shopping, back to Sunroc, and then home again. Between driving, I wrote 300 words, did the dishes, and helped Andrew make cookies for Scouts tonight. I also helped Andrew find his scout shirt, which was no small task. It was in the toy box, covered with toys.
Tomorrow I plan to write, go to work, pick up Julie, make visiting teaching appointments, take care of Elena, and go to Julie's New Beginnings. I also need to find time to give Grandpa a haircut and I want to watch American Idol.
This year I hope to finish my book and submit it to a publisher, learn to love primary, get my house completely organized and in order, scrapbook, lose weight, and enjoy a perfect summer with Danny back home again!
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Beauty comes in all different packages
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