A Bee On A Wild Verbascum In The Paddocks
99% of them being men. And women. In business.
I was especially interested in a blogpost written by a gal who spruiks herself as being an expert in communication. And social media.
This is a gal who I really like. And who does interesting work.
Her post revolves around all the reasons why she doesn’t answer her telephone.
I am dumbfounded. I can’t believe this is a communications expert – who doesn’t answer her phone?!
In her world, being productive doing client work is more important than talking on the telephone.
To clients. When they want to talk to her.
And of course. The ‘hoi polloi’. Who might want to engage her. But can’t. Because she removes herself from their presence.
She has an approved list of callers. Whose calls she will answer in her own time.
Her response to answering her phone if you’re a ‘valued (?) client’.
To quote her: “Actually, a lot of the time I don’t answer when it is that valued client.’
She tells all her clients that if they want to get in touch with her urgently, they either send her an email. Or post something on her Facebook. Twitter. Other social media accounts.
And she’ll get back to them.
I am So . So . So. old fashioned.
And thoroughly disappointed that a shining star in the social media world has such an anti social attitude to people who do business with her.
And in this instance, am very much a ‘grumpy old woman’.
Voicemail has cruelled our ability to communicate with another human being on a one-to-one basis.
When we want to talk to them.
And when they want to talk to us.
Every day, I need to check an order with a customer. For a variety of reasons.
99% of the calls I make are filtered. All I get is voicemail.
In the filtering process, sometimes I get a return call. Immediately after I leave a message.
Sometimes I get no return call at all.
And have to leave multiple messages before I hear from a customer. Which only delays the posting of their parcel.
A Magpie. With Its Chestnut Brown Eyes.
I know call centres play a big part in this avoidance.
But it’s no problem to filter their calls.
Every time I get a call from a call centre, I note the number down. And in the phone book of my cordless phone – yes – very old fashioned – I don’t use a mobile phone – I enter the number. And name it JUNK.
They are the only calls I don’t answer.
Last Friday evening. After 6pm. While I’m still working. My phone rings.
In my mind I think it’s got to be a call centre. But JUNK doesn’t appear on the readout on my screen.
I answer it.
It’s Judy and Neil. On speakerphone. From Orange NSW.
Their Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover arrived in the post. Is on their board. Are absolutely thrilled with it.
And.
In a moment of pure spontaneity. Ring. To share their excitement with me.
And.
May I say.
Make. My. Day.
After talking for almost 40 minutes. And a most delightful 40 minutes. They invite me to meet them for lunch. When the weather warms up. In Bathurst. Which is halfway between them. And me. So they can get to know me better.
Why would I NOT want to be available to take that call?
And if I did have my Telstra MessageBank on. And rang them back. Their level of excitement wouldn’t be the same.
Companies of every size are missing out by not wanting to be interrupted by the ‘hoi polloi’.
We all need to get our work done.
But by barring the people who pay our bills- our customers and potential customers – from communicating with us. We’re narrowing. Not expanding. Our circle of influence.
Your thoughts? Email me at the bottom of this post.
~Carol Jones, Ironing Diva❤
PS. This Ironing Diva’s iron. Ironing Board. And Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover. Are my gateway to leading an elegant life. There is power in the iron. The ‘Joy Of Ironing’ is far from a myth. Beautifully pressed garments. Make a statement about who you are. When you’re well pressed. And well dressed. You ooze elegance. Beautifully pressed linen. Cloth napkins. Tea towels. Pillow cases. Make your home shimmer with style.
PPS. I am not only an Ironing Diva. But as one friend says, I am ‘The Queen’ when it comes to ironing.
I Am The Purveyor Of The Tantrum Free Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover And Other Goodies
Made with love and care in RURAL Australia by men and women who have a disability.
It’s not for everyone.
But it’s definitely for you if you’re fussy about the cover you iron on.
And if you love to support Australian made.
And want to put something back into the community when you make a purchase.
The Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover cover has more than 350,000 customers in 29 countries. Because it lives up to its name. It ‘Fitz Like A Glove™’ every time you iron.
And these are the ‘Other Goodies’
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Have a question? Email me at the bottom of this post.
Or phone me, Carol Jones, in rural Australia on 02 63 588 511.
Photos of my rural property are courtesy of me, Ironing Diva – who is also known as Paddock Paparazzi – and taken at sunrise every morning.
Azure Blue BIG Sky. And A Kookaburra.
PS. And I have a fabulous newsletter ‘A Smidgen Of Gossip’. This is what a subscriber says about it. “Carol. Just had some time to read it and found that it is, as with everything you do, rather wonderful. A great read. W” You can subscribe to it by clicking this link. It’s FREE! This is not a lifetime commitment. You can Unsubscribe at any time. Don’t miss out. Click this link now!
Australian Wood Duck. Out Of Water. Taking To The High Ground.
