History, Civility & Signs of Hope

With 62 days left in our countdown to May and Civility Awareness Month, we're also nearing the end of Black History Month.

Take a moment to think about this month and the chronicles of the great leaders from our past; then ask yourself...

Did I learn anything from them?

Remember their stories of challenges and afflictions; then ask yourself...

Am I looking into their triumphant hearts, or am I seeing only their afflictions and pain?

And as you recount their stories of survival, ask yourself...

Do I also hear their message for us to live a better life together
and to thrive?

History shows us that a better world was desired for future generations of all races and all stations in life. Those before us knew that the world could be better by connecting and understanding each other.

I choose to focus on this direction that leads to the world they wanted, and I relish in the possibilities.

Unfortunately, I know we still have a long way to go. For example, look at what happened to young Zendaya Coleman on Oscar Night.
Click here for Zendaya on Oscar night


Now see here how she handled it:

Zendaya's BLISSFUL response

My granddaughter sent this link to me because she knows how much I admire Zendaya (and I still believe she was the real winner of Season 16's Dancing With the Stars...ok, I'm over it...well, almost).

Yes, I've always admired her and you can see why. She knows herself and what it takes to remain poised and confident in the face of blatant disrespect. I admire the amount of class that's packed into such a young lady and the way she uses her fame as a platform for positive behavior. She is someone for young kids to model; greatly respected by her peers and adults. She is a symbol of hope for the future.

So here, at the close of Black History Month, think about the past four weeks of discussions of triumph and understanding.

Think about Zendaya's story and how we're still treating each other with disrespect and widespread criticism.

Think of all this and then ask yourself one last thing...

What am I doing to build upon the foundations created for us?

And then make sure it's something positive!  
  
~What did you learn during Black History Month? Please share in the comments below. 

 

100 Days of Civility

The more we become technically- and social media-connected, the more disconnected we seem to get from the basic values of kind and considerate behavior.

In a recent study performed by the Public Agenda Research Group, nearly eight in 10 respondents agreed that lack of respect and courtesy is a serious national problem.

We at Image Design endeavor to combat this common trend of insensitivity, thoughtlessness, and plain rude behavior through our ongoing "Bliss Programs for Life" and "Let's Be Civil" campaign.

The goals of our campaign continue to be:

• To increase awareness of Civility in the workplace, home and community
• To bring developmental focus back to positive, traditional values
• To inspire and encourage the practice of respectful behavior in everyday life

This year we take our campaign a step further and present to you from now thru May 1, 2015

"100 Days of Civility"
 

Why May 1st?

Because May is International Civility Awareness Month and since our "Let's Be Civil" campaign is at the heart of kindness and civility, we offer a jump start by providing the community, families and individuals of all ages with information, games, stories and activities beginning now.

Make your plans to campaign with us and enjoy the fun of becoming an advocate of civility and kindness. 

Begin here by embracing...

 The Meaning of Civility

C      is for the CONFIDENCE I gain when I behave in respectful ways

And the way I’ll strive to be from now ‘til the end of my days

I         is for the IMAGE I work hard to polish and protect

To shine and sparkle whenever I treat others with respect

V      stands for core VALUES that serve as my relief

When I struggle over choices; they help me stick to my belief

I         is for INCLUSIVE – A broad respect for all mankind

That reminds us in life’s travels, to leave no one behind

L       is for LOVE of Environment that we show when we take care

                     Of our land, our Nation, each other; of our animals, our oceans and air

I        The last “I” is for IMMEDIATELY – which is when I plan to act

                     To help make this world much better and keep civility in tact

T       Urges us all to TURN our bad behaviors into good

And attempt to live responsibly; the way we know we should

Y       For this, I’ll just ask you: “Y-Not” take this time and pledge with me

To be a shining example, and a model of CIVILITY
                                                                Copyright 2015 by Image Design Consulting Co.

 

Campaigning for civility was inspired by Dr. P.M. Forni and the Association of Image Consultants International (AICI) who, together in 2009, established International Civility Awareness Month as an activity on Chase's Calendar of Events.

 ~~~~~ Do you feel rude behavior is on the rise? ~~~~~
Please share your thoughts below.

A Shout Out to Dr. King

Although we are observing the legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. today, his actual birthday was on Thursday, January 15, 2015 and I found it ironic that on that day...
 
...as a fan of the NBA, I was seated in front of the TV ready for the first game of the night, wondering in the back of my mind, if anyone was going to send a shout out to the memory of Dr. King on this day of his birth.
 
Well, there was a shout out, but in my opinion, not one that would have made Dr. King proud.
 
You see, the Basketball Analysts began their discussion with last week's altercation between Kevin Garnett and Dwight Howard. And Charles Barkley said:

"You got to fight sometimes because you can't

let people disrespect you."

He substantiated this with a recap of his fight with Shaquille O'Neal many years ago, saying that he knew he couldn't beat Shaq, but because there were 18,000 people in the stadium at the time, he felt like that was reason to fight. He further said, "You got to throw blows".
 
Looking for clarity, Co-Analyst, Ernie Johnson asked Charles, "Come on, you're encouraging people to throw blows now and again?"
 
Barkley answered, "In certain situations."
 
And as if that wasn't enough negativity, Shaq chimed in:
 
"I hate to say it, but I agree with Chuck. Sometimes you got to let people know 'I'm here also. You may be a star, you're an older star, I'm a younger star...you're not going to disrespect me'. And Chuck is absolutely right; you got to throw a blow to let people know."
 
Well fellas, here's the thing; when you say that no one will disrespect you, I say they don't have to. You do a great job of it  yourself by staying set and ready for self-disrespect, all too easily and all too often.
 
The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Civil Rights Activist, but impacted our lives for many positive ideas; not just the ones regarding race. However, how many people do you know only think Black and White when his name is mentioned?
 
He stood for much more and should be honored for it all. He didn't tell us to be non-violent...but only with regard to race. He didn't say that the way to respect ourselves is to disrespect another. And never did he encourage anyone to be violent.
 
It's amazing how, on one breath, many will honor Dr. King, but on their next breath, totally stomp out all his triumphs with actions that dishonor all he was truly about.
 
I'm sorry for those (like our sports analysts last Thursday night) who believe there are times for physical violence. It's disheartening to know that these people feel obligated to be aggressive, and then say it's for their family, their team, their mentees, or for their own respect; when it's really for their personal insecurity.
 
And what's worse is the vast number of young people who are being taught this tragic message and, even more tragically, learn and follow through with it.
 
We should be teaching our youngsters that although there are numerous ways to gain respect (and be sure to point them out) as with everything, it all begins with the self. It begins with a choice of self-respect over violence.
 
But enough of my words; here are some from Dr. King, himself...

 

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

 

"The time is always right to do what is right."

 

"Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals."

 
And finally, one of my favorite quotes:
 

"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."

Happy Birthday, Dr. King! 

May your message be accurately taken and your example faithfully honored.

~~What do you think Dr. King would say to Charles  and Shaq about their statements? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Truly Simple Pleasures

What calms you? Probably several people in your life, right? But I'm not talking about that kind of calm that comes from those close to you.
 
I mean, what THING seems to slow the world down for you, putting you in that place where all is right -- even if it's only for a few moments a day?
 
For me, meditation, prayers of gratitude and yoga are parts of my daily fix, but there are a couple of simple pleasures I indulge in that I'll share. Enter my favorite drinks;
 
WATER, TEA & COFFEE. And the real stuff, too...no decaf.
 
Ok, ok, I hear all the chatter out there about caffeine. But let me tell you; when you drink as much water as I do each day...2 gallons or more...drink your coffee.
 
Whatever you do though, make it special. I use pretty dishware, or something that's strictly personal, like these...


Gold-Rimmed Glass

And no, that's not wine in the glass. I do enjoy a good Moscato every now and then, but that's flavored water with lemon.

My BLISS Mug

But you get the idea, don't you? Pleasure is just that simple.

So now that you know my thing, why not take a moment, grab a glass or cup, and sip a little tranquility with me. 

Cheers!

~~Add a comment below and share one of your Simple Pleasures with us.

Include Everyone in Your Holiday Celebrations
Want to start a new tradition this year? How about making your Holiday Season a diverse one? 

Some people have family members who choose to follow a different religion than the rest of the family. Some may adopt the cultural habits of others. Embrace those differences. Find out more about them. Celebrate the uniqueness of all during this holiday season.

After all, this is the time of year to express peace and good will toward all, right?

Listed below are a few things you can do with and for family members, friends, and anyone else within your circle of acquaintances whose values, beliefs, cultures, or traditions are different from what you are accustomed to.

• Invite your friend to a dinner/celebration and ask them to bring their favorite dessert or a dish that represents their culture or tradition.  
• Involve the kids. Have them research a culture or religion different from your own and share an interesting fact during dinner. The family can vote for the most interesting fact learned.
• Understand that a need is a need in any walk of life. Combine your efforts and give to a charity in the name of both your religions.

Opening up to the differences of others will not minimize the importance of our beliefs or values in any way. Instead, it creates deeper connections through the sharing of ourselves. It gives us another way to grow and learn from each other. Remember, to share is to care. (Excerpt from my book, "Creating Bliss ~ Better Living In Seven Steps"

Remember, it’s not about your way or mine. It’s not about traveling in only one direction in life. It’s about inclusion, involvement, and support; and sometimes even adaptation. It’s about connecting to expand in all directions of life.

So introduce some new traditions into your family celebrations. Bring family and friends closer through the respect and acceptance of all. Do this and give the gift of love to all; the gift that’s understood and accepted in any culture or religion.

~~~~~Tell Tammy~~~~~

What is your favorite family tradition? Leave a comment below.

 

What's Your Customer's Personality?

Customers fall into four basic personality types. See if you recognize any of them:

The Hurried Customer can be direct, forceful, competitive and strong-willed because they want to hurry and get their issue solved. Because they are direct, they get frustrated when you give them more information than they asked for. You don't have to dig too deep with this type. They'll tell you what they want.

To handle this type, let them make their point. Let them know you're listening and they'll easily feel like a winner.

The Friendly Customer only wants to feel welcomed. They can be awfully chatty and may talk over you as you're trying to help them. So, to successfully manage the Friendly type, ask for their opinion. Nothing makes them feel more wanted than knowing you value what they think. Be brief with this type though, because being as talkative as they can be, time can get away as you're trying to help. They have a tendency to go off the subject. When this happens, simply guide them back to the current issue. But do so gently as the Friendly type does not like bluntness.

The Puzzled Customer is the one you'll have to dig deep with and question. They're usually a bit confused as to what their real problem is and haven't a clue as to what's needed to fix it. So they tend to throw out a lot of issues at once; all with detail and hopes that you'll be able to get to the bottom of their issue. You see, no matter how unsure they may be, they trust you to know what they need.

Work with this type by asking questions for clarification. Take notes if you have to. Remember, they'll be giving you a lot of detail whether you need it or not. And just to be on the safe side, when you think you've got the message, restate your understanding because you're working with a lot of stuff.

Last is the Demanding Customer; the one who pushes your patient quota. Notice I said 'demanding' and not difficult. They're the ones most likely to rant and rave. As long as they're not abusive, listen to them and let them vent. They'll eventually run out of steam. They'll challenge  your methods of resolution and will want to speak to someone (else) in authority. Don't argue with them; let them. Choose your attitude; don't get caught off guard, and DON'T TAKE IT PERSONAL. Understand that this customer's emotions probably come from frustration over the issue and not because of anything you've done. (See more on this HERE).

Any service provider can recognize a Hurried, Friendly, Puzzled, or Demanding customer. But it's the Blissful one who knows just how to communicate with them, interact with them, win with them; all through Customer Bliss.


~~~Tell Tammy~~~
I hope you enjoyed Customer Service Week this year.
Let us know what you've noticed, learned or just thought about during this year's campaign.

Until next time,
Stay Blissed

 

 

Show Genuine Concern to Customers

A customer walks into your place of business, asks for something and you give it to them.

Did you provide customer service?

Absolutely.

Did you provide exceptional service...or as we like to say...Customer BLISS?

Well, that's questionable.

How did your customer feel while being assisted? How did they feel about the way they were assisted? How did they feel about you or your workplace as a whole?

If you think that your customer has to verbalize the answers to these questions in order for you to know, you're wrong. So how could you possibly know? Through genuine concern. You must care enough to want to know.

With genuine concern for your customers, you tune into them. You take their issues personally and look for ways to 'Bliss' them. Then you look for clues that prove you were successful. The clue may come as a smile as they leave your office or through the tone of their 'thank you' just before they hang up the phone. It could be through a number of actions, and if you care, you'll recognize how they feel.

Genuine concern is about caring for more than just your job. It's caring about your service and the positive results that come about when you've done a great job. It makes customer service a part of you. It becomes a talent, not just a skill. You won't have to force yourself to treat your customers politely or respectfully because by caring, you've transformed them from 'just a part of your job' into real people with real concerns that you want to fix for them. You've transformed customer service into Customer BLISS.

Through genuine concern for your customers you'll make them:

• Feel important
• Believe in you and trust you
• Work with you to find solutions to their problems
• Generate positive perceptions about you, your service and your place of business

All in all, you'll make them become better customers. So do whatever it takes to show your customers they matter to you. Show them you're genuinely concerned.