January 2011
22 posts
"To shorten winter, borrow some money due in...
Snow….snow…..cold……snow….and cold again….. I keep telling myself that we only have six or so more weeks of this stuff…..then I search my soul for something to like about the winter…..still working on that attitude thing…..but watching the squirrels scurry across the bare snow laden branches of the trees outside my window gives me hope…at...
"The only sure thing about luck is that it will...
It was 10:00 am…and the Jag made it up the long driveway in spite of the ice, snow and steep upward incline. The three bags of Salt in the trunk did its job. No one home…..I called the number that “Potential Guy” gave me….no answer….so I left a message…..the driveway was so narrow there was no place to turn around….so as I slowly backed down to...
"If everything is going your way, you're in the...
The meeting started promptly at 9 or 9:15… and as soon as I sat down, a wave swept over me and I immediately felt horrible. The previous day, I was sure that I had recovered from the “whatever I had” thing and felt great….but at this moment all I wanted to do was lie down….the ladies in the meeting were as usual, upbeat and enthusiastic….at least as much so as...
"Training is everything. The peach was once a...
I’m a big training advocate. Seems to me if you ask people to perform a task, they need to first be convinced that the thing can be done, then shown how by someone who knows…then coached….and encouraged…….and given even more encouragement….problem is… there are 24 hours in the day….and even if you use 16 of them, sometimes, that’s just not...
"Live each season as it passes; breathe the air,...
After spending most of the day in bed yesterday….I suspect my system is finally finding some sense of balance… The antibiotics the doctor prescribed surely eliminated the annual lung infection and coughing that results….but did nothing for that sick worn out feeling….so at least he cured half my illness……but in the office I’ll go today…and hopefully...
"The greatest discovery of my generation is that a...
The air was so cold, the mixture of exhaust and cold created a halo of what looked like smoke around the cars headed to work on Friday…..I left the house at 6:30 a.m. en-route to my appointment in Cloquette…
16 Below zero..and that wasn’t the wind chill temp….it was really -16!
Coldest day of the year….and I was headed north to meet with a woman who owns an equine...
"An investment in knowledge still yields the best...
It was 6:30 pm…and I was in my usual “prone” position on the sofa…..the Mrs and I just settled in for our evening in front of the big screen…..
How does Vanna still look that good after all these years?..
we’re up in the air on Pat….I’m not sure..but it looks to me like he might have taken to the hairpiece for older TV guys…his hair...
"Brain: an apparatus with which we think we...
Muddled brain…lots of drugs….I decided to see the doctor yesterday over the onset of an infection that I seem to get in my lungs ever year about this time….So, I am taking some form of anti bacterial pill….then I stopped by the office to discuss things with “Like Me Gal”…and a peckish “Potential Guy”…..then home to bed….
I have a...
"Where facts are few, experts are many"...Donald...
The brightness in my downstairs office was incredible this morning at 5:15….the full moon was so bright I could see the shadowy outline of the bird feeder just outside my window…unfortunately, over the next hour or so, clouds came in and hid the moon.
Nice way to start the day nonetheless…….
That’s the nice part..but the slight cough and clearing of the throat all...
"It is by acts and not by ideas that people...
I did our Retention Calculations yesterday and was quite alarmed at what I learned….For non insurance readers..this is a measurement of how many clients we actually retained based on the commission income we receive from the previous year….
Insurance sales is unlike most other sales organizations because once we get a client….if we keep them we get paid every year they stay with...
"A diplomat is a man who always remembers a...
I opened the hermetically sealed cellophane anticipating a magical expression that would make the Mrs. day……only to realize..you really need to look at something before you buy it….the outside of the card was floral and ladylike in every-way…something I thought would touch her…..and sealed inside held a promise of wonderfulness…so without being able to open the...
"Communications without intelligence is noise"......
“Listen Grouchy, your emails are……are ………are….hmmm let me think how to put it….I know..you are like a bully not being a bully…..do you know what I mean?”
“Uhhhhhh, no!” I replied.
This exchange between Good Guy and me came yesterday morning….after an earlier morning exchange of emails, wherein obviously Good Guy felt...
"We must accept finite disappointment, but never...
“Now you boy’s realize I can’t let you have the Farm or the Restaurant Bidness’ Insurance & ya’ll know we gotta stay local with that stuff”… and “I sure hope you boy’s understand that”….”But if’n you kn git me oughtta the pool for that big work comp policy of mine…..you will definitely get that...
"In the business world, the rearview mirror is...
Finally, a couple of appointments….one 90 miles from the office….
Potential Guy and I will leave at 9:00…hopefully, we’ll have a couple of those constructive meetings….find some interest and even more..some problems to solve….I’ve been feeling a bit depressed of late….and I suspect it’s because I haven’t been out to see enough new...
"When do you tell someone you love them?....Before...
Half day at the home office, half day at the office office yesterday….lots of details to tend to…..we lost a client ….really is bothersome…. we have to understand why…..so, I’ll call the guy and see if he won’t open up…and really give me the treatment…then a more formal plan…..
According to others, people leave when they don’t...
"Dwell not upon thy weariness, thy strength shall...
“Shall we get a MAN to do it?”…..
HUH?….. …..and as I lay there on the sofa watching my big screen……….Her words made me shrivel on my couch like a guy facing terminal low T….but then, my eyes popped open as just a smidgen of adrenaline (all I had was a smidgen) seeped into my reclining and inactive body!
“You have six months at the best...
"You have it easily in your power to increase the...
“I can’t go after-all “Good Guy”….!”…”Why not?”….
“Dinner is waiting at home…..and I don’t want to disappoint the Mrs…..”
This after a late afternoon get together with the partners about this and that…and commission rates…..long day….lots of turmoil and a little anger…”You guys...
"Never underestimate the power of the irate...
“I have to rescind the binder!”…WHAT? came the angry reply…”Well, the insurance ”Company Guy” that Okay ed things was told after the fact they they need re insurance BEFORE they can give coverage…and it’ll take a few days…..
“You CAN’T do that….we have already closed the deal”….ooooops….
The client...
"The best years of your life are the ones in which...
I got the phone on the third ring…(and second glass of Clos De la Terra)….it was my ex banking friend who has all of his insurance with us…..and it was 8:00 pm.
“You need to call my daughter…the insurance adjuster had her in tears earlier today”…..OK…what seems to be the issue?…..”I don’t know….but the adjuster was rude...
"It's not enough to create magic. You have to...
A little nippy this morning….4 below…..I think we can safely conclude this has already been one nasty winter…..and at least 7 weeks to go…..
I got an email…..”Ted, call me”…. it was from “Idea Guy”…… I was waiting…actually waiting for my phone to ring..but it didn’t…so I prepared myself for a frustrating...
"I was going to buy a copy of "The Power of...
The holiday’s once again are behind the Mrs. and I (and the rest of you who celebrate)……and I’m facing a new week..errrrr year at the office…..but I’m feeling a slight depression….slight but lingering….not sure why…but I do know that action will help lift the spirits..having been down this road so many times in the past…and I suspect my...