The Easy Answer Newsletter
Volume 5, Issue 3 July 2004
In this edition of the Easy Answer II, you'll find...
* Just a Thought or Two
* Disconnecting for Sanity
* Technology That Doesn't Hurt
* Get In On The Book* Public Events
Just a thought or two...
“Becky is an endorphin trip. She’s the ‘Eveready Bunny.’” - Ralph Wallace Albuquerque, NM
“Listening is not a spectator sport.” - Becky McCrary“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant.”
- Robert Lewis Stevenson
Disconnecting For Sanity
You’ve backed out of the driveway, pulled into rush hour traffic,
looked down and realized that you’ve forgotten your watch. Do you go back?
Maybe…maybe not.
Same scenario, but you’ve forgotten your cell phone. Will you go back?
Definitely!
Look around. You see cell phone conversations at the grocery store, the
theater, the gym, in the car, at your child’s ballgame, in the restaurant,
in your home, at the gas pumps, in places of worship, in the mall, in the
office, at the beach, in the school, in meetings. We surf the internet and
the cable channels. We require 24 hour headlines and weather. Now we’re
reading email and news updates on the cell phone.
We’re talking. We’re reading. We’re staying informed. We’re complaining
about how rude others are to intrude on our space. What we are not
doing is thinking. We are forgetting how to ponder, how to contemplate,
how to reflect.
We run full speed ahead. We are still reliving one crisis when we meet the
next one. Remember when we held our breath for the verdict? Now we follow
every detail of the story from discovery.
Is it possible to disconnect? Will we ever allow a song to take us back,
again? Can we talk to the person sitting next to us? Plan an activity…with
our family? Consider a current event or a landscape?
When the flight deck doors are closed, cell phones must be in their off
positions. For the 25 minutes from home to Atlanta or the 3.5 hours from
Atlanta to Albuquerque, I can’t place a call or take a call. I can’t even
check voice mail. You know what? It’s okay. I survive. The messages are
there when I do have the chance to check. Yea! Who would guess that we’d
think voice mail was a good thing?
It is possible to disconnect, but I wouldn’t try it cold turkey. Today,
turn off the phone when you go to lunch. Yes, even in the car. Just one
hour. You’ll reach for it four times, but don’t give in. You have much
more power than you give yourself credit for. Tomorrow, turn it off when
you pick up the kids. Instead of taking care of business, listen to them
describe their day. When you ease up to leaving it at home when you go to
the grocery store, let me know. There is much to be considered. It’s
liberating!
“The way Becky uses her personal experiences really helps put everyday listening situations into perspective!”
Brea Abel, Marketing Director Baltimore, MD“I thought we were going to hear the same old ‘quality’ spiel – but this took a different twist that made me rethink and reevaluate.”
Mary Beth King, Marketing Specialist, Albuquerque, NM
Technology That Doesn't Hurt
Yes, technology from Becky. Who would have guessed it? This from
someone who winces every time The Love of My Life suggests upgrading
…anything …software …hardware …lawnmowers. This space is reserved for
those things I discover that I can’t live without. Maybe you will find
some value here, too.
I’ve just eliminated all long distance charges for my out-going US calls!
That’s right. When I call anywhere in the US, I don’t pay a dime.
Nebraska, New Mexico, Louisiana, Maryland, Sumter (SC) …zero…nada…zilch.
I’m using the Internet. Well, more accurately, I’m using Voice over the
Internet Protocol.
I’ve switched my local service to Champion Communications and picked up
VoIP. I already had cable Internet access (you have to have broadband, at
the least). Now I have the basics plus all the bells and whistles for
$38.95 a month. Period. No taxes. No surcharges. No surprises. And I’ve
kept my phone number.
This is perfect for a small business and every home…with up to two phone
lines (the second line is just $24.95). You folks know that I’m no techie.
The Love of My Life had it all connected in minutes. He’ll even talk you
through it over the phone.
I’m saving in excess of $100 each month. If you think this would help you,
click on the link below. If you have questions, call me. What I don’t
know, I’ll find out.
www.championcommunications.biz/1002241/
Get In On The Book
Confessions of a Wallflower: Unimaginable Relationship Networking
is almost here. This long awaited book on networking skills is in response
to questions I’ve received on how to get more out of mixers, build a
fabulous Rolodex®, and develop an aura of
influence. I learned this stuff by doing every wrong. Now you don’t have
to.
Want to get in on the book? Send me your stories…successes and slip-ups
while networking, questions you might have about that room full of
strangers, how you prepare, when you lost it, or how you follow up. If I
find that your story will be a great fit, I’ll call you for more details
and may use it, giving you full credit. Or we can change the names to
protect the guilty. Send your stories/questions to
Becky@BeckyMcCrary.com with a
subject line “I want in on the Book.” But do it now! I have GOT to get
this finished!
Public Events
Because my work is tailored to corporations and associations, it’s
seldom that I have a public seminar to tell you about. That’s why I’m so
excited about October 2004!
October 7, 2004 – I’ll be presenting the opening session for
Midlands Technical College’s Customer Service Professionals Conference in
Columbia, SC. Contact Donna Lawrence at 803-732-5228 for more information.
October 12, 2004 – I’ll present my popular program, Celebrating the
Call Center Conference™, at Greenville Technical College’s Buck Mickel
Center in Greenville, SC. Geared toward managers and leaders, this will be
a full day of attitude, concepts, techniques, and networking. You won’t
want to miss it! Call 864-250-8800 to register.
When you’re interested in expanding comfort zones in your organization,
contact me for your preferred dates. I’m already confirming dates for
2005.
“Becky’s presentation was more meaningful because of her hands on real life experiences with customer service. Very comprehensive, offering great ideas that can be implemented immediately.”
Ken Rogers, CEO Financial Design & Construction Alamogordo, NM
Contact Information
| Telephone |
| Nationwide: 800-576-6709 |
| Upstate South Carolina: 864-967-3705 |
| Postal address |
| P O Box 25475, Greenville SC 29616-0475 USA |
| Electronic mail |
 |
 |
 |