Archive for August, 2008
Today (8/29) is the 15th day of taking AgelessXtra, as part of their 90-day money-back guaranteed Challenge. On my previous posts, I mentioned that I did in fact feel the mental clarity and focus, just like AgelessXtra is supposed to promote. I also said, I had yet to feel the vital energy that it is also suppose to promote, although I did not feel tired as I did before I started this challenge. Well, on Monday (8/25) I started walking, although only for 30-minutes, just to see if exercise would boost my energy. I am here today to say, it sure has. I walked everyday this week, except for Thursday (8/28) because I worked too late. But somehow the exercise has kicked up the AglessXtra a few notches.
I mean not only was I productive at work, I came home with enough energy to walk, run errands and even cook for the evening, which is something I have not done in years. I am in lack of words to describe exactly what it is. I keep reading the product description and it has lived up to them all. The only one I really can not test is the cell renewal process, but if that was not working, neither would the mental clarity and vital energy. So it must be working as well. The product description also mentions that it will help manage stress, which it has. I was even talking to a friend the other day and they mentioned that I seemed easy going and don’t get worked up from anything. I use to, but I have not since I started this 90-day Challenge.
Another item AgelessXtra is suppose to promote is joint comfort and flexibility. I am not sure why I had not noticed this before, but I damaged my right knee in 2005 and it tends to flare up when I run or even walk a lot. But since I started walking this week, I haven’t noticed any discomfort in my knee. I plan to start riding my bike again, which will be a better test of the joint comfort and flexibility.
Also this week, I did a lot of searching for other testimonials of AgelessXtra, but only found a few that were posted a couple of years ago. I will continue asking for feedback from anyone who has used AgelessXtra and want to hear what your results were. I know I am only two weeks into the 90-day Challenge, but I have to admit, I have felt the difference and it is for the better. I will continue providing my results as often as I feel I see and feel them.
As I continue experimenting with 90-day Challenge of using AgelessXtra, I can not stress enough how clear minded I have felt these past 11 days. I come to work alert and focused, although work has been slow as of late, but also no longer fall into “crash” mode after lunch. I mean I use to have to take an energy drink in the mornings, because I do not drink coffee, to help get me going, just to lose all my energy in the afternoon, called a “crash”. So it has kept me alert, clear-minded and focused througout the day.
The difficulty I am having is to describe the “vital energy” aspect AgelessXtra is supposed to promote. I mean I do not feel tired, but have to admit I do not feel fully energized either. On my previous post, Day 4, I thought a week of not having my kids would be a better situation to test AgelessXtra. But what I came to find out is that I was still procrastinating or being lazy. I had a lot to do this past week, but ended up not doing much of anything. I did however, bring lunch to work everyday, which is something I will continue to try to do. But after work is when the procrastinating begins. I really haven’t figured why. It may be that work has been too slow as of late and dealing with another round of layoffs, may possibly be draining me without feeling it. I also went out on Wednesday night, stayed out too late and had to work early on Thursday, which didn’t help. As the weekend rolled around, on Saturday morning, I accomplished everything I needed to do during the week. Such as, getting the oil changed on my car, getting it smog checked, washing it and getting my hair cut. I also needed to get the brakes fixed, but ran out of time, plus the garages were closed on Sunday.
To sum up the week, although I accomplished almost everything I wanted to do last week, being that it was all done on Saturday, doesn’t really help that I couldn’t get it done during the week. I started this week off on the right foot however. I walked for 30-minutes today to see if exercising will help boost some energy. With that said, I will continue monitoring my progress and sharing my experiences with everyone. Again, I would love to hear from anyone who has taken AgelessXtra or continues to take it, and want hear your results.
As the housing market continues to dwindle, I must admit there are some great deals to be had out there. I mean with the home sales dropping, people needing to rent a home has increased. With that said, the way to increase the attractiveness of a house, is to remodel the kitchen and bathrooms. It can be a total remodel, from new tile flooring, granite counter tops, and replacing of cabinets. But it also can be slight changes to fixtures in both the kitchen and restrooms.
What do I mean by fixtures? I mean by changing the faucets, the handles and knobs on the cabinets and doors, can also change the appearance of the kitchen and restrooms. It will not be as expensive, but will bring attractiveness to a house you want to rent out.
I already spoke about the Tile Outlet in Monterey that can help with a complete remodel if you have the luxury to do so. But I have come across some very nice websites that can help save money, plus also make an impact in altering the appearance of the kitchen and restroom. The first is called House of Knobs. It is a wholesale website for all hardware and accessories for both the kitchen and restrooms. There are so many options here that you will find anything you need.
The other is called eFaucets, which is an online leader in the sales of kitchen and restroom faucets, fixtures and accessories. They are considered the “The On-Line Kitchen & Bath Store”. Again, there are so many options that you can easily make your kitchen or bathroom so appealing, it will appear remodeled. Like I said earlier, during these difficult economic times, there are great opportunities to invest in properties and the three listed websites above can help upgrade the look and appeal of the property for easier renting.
Today was my 4th day of the 90-Day Challenge. I find it difficult to describe exactly what I have felt these last four days. AgelessXtra is suppose to promote vital energy. Well I am not sure I feel that, because it’s not like a caffeine buzz that comes from coffee or an energy drink. What I feel is mind clarity, which is also what AgelessXtra is suppose to support, as well as focus. That I did & do feel. All weekend my thought process has been clear. I mean, I usually use to get in my car to run an errand, and simply forget exactly what the errand was. Even when I created a list, I’d be driving, only to notice I forgot the dang list! But this weekend, I really didn’t need a list.
Like I said on my previous post, I had my kids this weekend, which is probably not the best circumstances to test AgelessXtra. Since I tend to be most productive when I have the kids. But I’d still get tired and exhausted. This weekend however, was different, although I did feel very tired on Sunday (8/17) night after I dropped them off. I even woke up before the kids did on Sunday morning for the first time, since I can not even remember. I simply woke up and started cleaning the kitchen and preparing breakfast. When my son woke up, he asked why I woke up so early. I simply laughed and said he was being lazy and slept in. Then he said “but it was only 7:30 am.” I just woke up and didn’t feel like sleeping anymore. Simple as that.
I know it is too early to say that AgelessXtra was the prime reason for my mind clarity and lack of tiredness (since I don’t think I felt energized), but I did walk 40-minutes each day with my kids. The only reason is because they asked me to and I said ok. But this week will be the true test. I tend to get lazy when I do not have the kids, which is a lot of my time. I only have my kids every other weekend. So I will continue monitoring my progress with AgelessXtra and sharing my experience with everyone. If anyone has any comments, questions or your own experience with AgelessXtra, I’d love to hear about it.
On an earlier post I spoke about the AgelessXtra and how it will help renew cells in your body. I mentioned that I was going to take the 90-day challenge and post my experience using the product. Well today I received my order. It is only a 45-day order, so that is half the challenge. It cost me about $190, which sounds steep, but to put it into perspective, that’s a little over $4/day. For most people that’s a grande Latte at Starbucks, which I don’t go to, since I do not drink coffee. Or a little less than a gallon of gas, and depending on your car, a drive around the block. So I am ok with the cost.
The interesting part is this, I had a frustrating day today, to say the least. With our economic situation, the company I have worked over 12-years for is going through a 3rd round of layoffs this year. It just makes everyone at work uncomfortable, especially when it has been as slow as it has. Anyway, the day was frustrating for me from the time I walked in, until the time I received my UniVera package. As soon as I received it, I quickly had the 3.3-oz ready-to-drink bottle of AgelessXtra. Of course I did not feel anything immediately, but when I left work, I sensed a calmness fall over me. I am not sure if it was the AgelessXtra, or it being a Friday, or maybe that I was going to pick my kids up for the weekend. It could be a combination of all three. All I am saying is I no longer felt frustrated as I felt all day. I am suppose to take it twice a day and I will do so starting tomorrow (8/16). So I will see how it affects me over the weekend. But I did want to share with everyone a comment Jeff Atkins left on my previous UniVera posting. It was his testimonial of using AgelessXtra. It went as follows:
“I just came across your site so I thought I would share my experience with you.. I was skeptical at first.. a friend of mine gave me a 2 day supply as a gift and it sat on my counter in my kitchen for almost 2 weeks.. I guess I should tell you what life was like prior to my receiving it.. I would sleep 10-11 hours a night.. just kept hitting snooze.. couldn’t wake up and didn’t feel rested when I did.. I considered myself a coffee connoisseur while drinking 10-12 cups (large cups) a day… the gals at starbucks would start on my drink when I walked through the door… my knees would radiate heat after going up the stairs.. I’m only 37 but was rough on my knees in my youth.. after 2 days of taking AgelessXtra I was waking up before my alarm clock went off and felt rested… I decided that I would take the 90 day challenge since the company offers a money back guarantee.. after only 2 weeks my knees bothered me considerably less.. not perfect but I couldnt ignore the discomfort and the heat in my knees before and now I hardly notice it… I haven’t had a cup of coffee in over 2 months.. I just dont have a lack of energy.. its not a buzz like from coffee or energy drinks… I can just look back at the end of the day and realize that I never ran out of steam… something weird too.. I started to dream again.. it had been quite a while since I had had a dream.. They explained this as being due to a deeper quality of sleep.. I also seem to be more mentally alert.. no fog in my brain.. I always hated those moments when I would go downstairs only to wonder why the heck I had gone down there in the first place.. anyway.. to say the least I am sold on it.. I have friends who have similar experiences.. I will take this product as long as they make it.. or at least until gas goes to $12/gallon… I would reccommend anyone at least take the 90 day challenge to see for yourself..”
I originally posted the AgelessXtra article on 8/6/08. I had all the forms to order the product, but for whatever reason I did not. When I read Jeff’s comment on 8/11/08, I was convinced I had to at least try it. Since I also am a “snoozer”. I mean I literally set my alarm about 1-hr before I wanted to wake up. My snooze would go off every 15-minutes, so that gave me four snoozes before I woke up. I hardly ever felt rested in the morning and didn’t feel awake until after my shower. So that night I placed my order, and today (8/15) I begin the 90-day challenge. If anyone else has used the AgelessXtra, I would love to hear from you, even if it did NOT work for you.
I came a cross a franchise, but still considered a small business, that has done quite well despite our economic condition. It’s called the Tile Outlet in Monterey, CA. Although their discounted prices and great selection is attractive, it’s their customer service that separates them from their competitors. The last time I was there, I witnessed their salesperson/service provider connect with customers on a human level. For instance, a customer walked in and immediately the employee called the customer by name. Obviously, this customer had been there before, but when the customer greeted the employee back and asked how he was, he responded with, “It’s great now that you are here!” I have no idea if this was a true statement, but the customer was directly impacted in a very positive way. They chit-chatted for a little while and then went into their business transaction. In my previous postings, I have stressed the importance of connecting with customers on the human level, before going into the business side of a service interaction. There is no doubt in my mind, this was a Positive Defining Moment for that customer, which will build Customer Loyalty. Companies that can connect with customers on the human level, can and will excel in their business.
Another differentiating aspect of this small business, is the knowledge of the service provider. He has an interior design background and provides great suggestions and explanations of their products. I was only there for a while that day, but I came across a review of this small business on the yellow pages website. Here is the link to the review, but I wanted to post, what I consider the differentiating factor that this customer experienced, it was as follows:
“At the Tile Outlet we found an excellent selection of tiles and counter tops, but we were most impressed with the service. Efrain’s background in interior design made all the difference to us.”
As you can see, the combination of the service and knowledge of the service provider, made this experience a positive one for the client, and I assure a loyal customer as well.
If anyone in the Monterey area is contemplating remodeling their kitchen or bathroom, I strongly suggest stopping by the Tile Outlet. Even if you do not have a good idea of what you want to do, the knowledgeable service provider will guide you through all their available options. Also, I would like to hear your experience if and when you decide to stop by for a visit.
A few years ago, I had one of my best vacations in the city of Boston, MA. One of my friends was getting married there, but my wife (at the time) and I decided to spend the entire week there prior to the wedding. Since she had a sister living in Boston, we had a place to stay. There is so much history there that I found fascinating.
There is so much to do and see, that I felt a little overwhelmed to say the least. My ex-sister in-law took us through the Paul Revere trail, which he took to warn everyone that “the British were coming”. We also took a tour of the Boston Harbor, which was nice. But being such a huge sports fan, going to watch the Boston Bruins hockey team was a thrill. As I recall, it snowed the night before the game, and being a Californian native, I thought we were going to get snowed in and not be able to go watch the Bruins. But amazingly, by the time the game started, the snow was already removed from the streets and people were going out. The people from Boston do not allow the weather to hinder them from having a great time. The game was awesome and the night life was great.
As much fun that I had, I think I could have had an even better time if I new about Trusted Tours and Attractions. I mean they had everything we needed and wanted to do, from tours, aquariums, museums, etc. Boston is only one city of many that TT&A provides online travel guides for. If anyone is thinking about planning a vacation you need to sign up to their newsletter and they are giving away $150 of itunes gift card, so sign up today! For details click here. Also, they have other tours to almost all locations. Check this one out for Las Vegas.
Metropolitan museum of art
What a day for the Green Bay Packers and the NFL. Today GB traded their legendary QB, Brett Favre, to the NY Jets. Back when Favre retired soon after the hugest Superbowl upset in NFL history, there was a sense on how long Favre could stay retired. He just had one of his best NFL years, statistically, last year and was one game away from being in the Superbowl. So it was only time before Favre would get that “itch” back to play again.
Who knows who is to blame on how exactly this trade came about. You really can’t blame GB for trying to move on and hand over the reins to their young QB, Aaron Rodgers, but I am sure there is a ton of criticism on how it was handled. Bottom line Favre wanted to play somewhere, anywhere. Now he is a Jet and will make them a better team, no question about that.
But when I noticed Favre on the cover of ‘09 Madden NFL football game, the “Cover Jinx” immediately came to mind. I mean, since 2000, almost every single player that was featured on the Madden cover, either had a terrible season, or simply got hurt and did not finish the year playing. Now Favre is on the cover, and I am not saying he will have a terrible year or worse, get hurt, but will actually be playing for an NFL team other than GB, for the first time in his 17-year career. I wish him well and the NFL is better off having such a great player still in the NFL. But this cover jinx is not on Favre, but rather the GB Packers and their fans.
Last weekend I met some friends that turned me onto this AgelessXtra. It is supposedly an “Advanced Cell Renewal Formula”. What does renewal mean? Well according to the handouts that were given to me, “In scientific terms, renewal is the amazing process that happens in our bodies every day - the replacement of more than 300 billion cells.” It goes on to explain how it works and broken down into the following four benefits your body can feel:
- Promotes Vital Energy* - Xtra contains a blend of carefully researched super nutrients that drive maximum energy production. These include vitamin B3 and P5P (the activated form of vitamin B6); Ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate (amino acids essential for maintaining muscle mass); green tea (widely known for its antioxidant properties); and Cordyceps sinensis, a mushroom commonly used for its reputed ability to improve aerobic capacity and reduce fatigue.*
- Supports Mental Clarity and Focus* - Life is short-be in the moment. There is a compelling reason that many of our products are berry-based. These beautiful, sweet-tasting fruits are powerhouses of nutrition, containing vitamins, minerals, and a group of compounds known as polyphenols, currently under intense research for their ability to reduce cell damage. Berries also contain nutritional compounds shown to have a positive impact on brain function.
- Helps Manage Stress* - Xtra’s unique formulation includes plant compounds used for centuries to help manage stress. These natural compounds include SerenixTM, (a proprietary natural extract derived from young corn leaves) and Rhodiola crenulata, (an herb widely used in traditional Tribetan medicine). These herbs also have enormous potential as endurance enhancers to improve the efficiency of physical and mental work.*
- Promotes Joint Comfort and Flexibilty* - What good is all the energy in the world if simple movements makes you wince? Enjoy your renewed energy with the ability to move without discomfort. As a true full spectrum cell renewal formula, Xtra includes the the award winning proprietary compound, ProtectinTM. Protectin is derived from Scutellaria baicalensis and Acacia catechu, natural herbs widely used for over 3,000 years in traditional Chinese medicine to promote joint comfort and flexibility.*
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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The more I was told how our bodies renews itself every single day, but starts to slow down at about age 18 and peaks at about age 30, I was intrigued to say the least. I have noticed my body slow down in many ways once I hit 30. I was always an active person throughout my youth, but once I turned 30 almost 9 years ago, I started feeling pain in my joints, my metabolism slowed dramatically and have felt physically and mentally drained.
I was given a two day trial of AgelessXtra, but obviously, two days will not prove much, if anything. So I will try the “90-day Challenge” to see if I can feel energized and mentally focused. I will continue blogging about it to share with everyone exactly how I feel. My goal is to give a weekly update, but depending how I feel and how many signs I see, I may blog more often.
If anyone has tried this product, please let me know your results. I’d love to hear from you.
Although many companies consider Customer Service (CS) a cost center of sorts, the ones that value and invest in CS, tend to be the ones that are most successful. We as customers have seen the companies that value little, if any, in CS. You know the ones that hire teenagers and/or have the least experience employees to deal with customers either face-to-face, on the phone, etc., that can severely hurt the company with bad CS. The front line people, or what we as Service Providers’ term it, “client facing” employees, are the employees that have the most impact on clients. They, the CS providers, are usually the first and last impressions on the clients. Companies that value and invest on the employees that impact the clients DIRECTLY are obviously noticeable, because as customers, you leave with a positive experience after a service interaction with those companies.
As I mentioned previously, creating Positive Defining Moments (PDM’s) will help gain Customer Loyalty. The best and fastest way is to connect with your customers on a human level, by providing Caring Service. By applying the Two Principals of Caring Service, you create PDM’s. Each Principal can be applied by using its own set of skills and behaviors. The principals are:
Principal 1: DEMONSTRATE YOUR INTEREST AND CONCERN.
Mastering the following fundamental “client-facing” skills can smooth your way in any service interaction. Often underestimated (overlooked/undervalued), these skills can serve your company as much, if not more, than deep technical or procedural knowledge. The skills are:
Listen Attentively: Customers have a difficult time “telling” a CS Provider their feelings or thoughts, yet they can often convey them if you listen attentively. While speaking with customers, listen to more than the words they are saying. It’s important to pay attention to the customer’s voice tone and body language, in order to get a sense of the thoughts and feelings behind the words. The following behaviors can help demonstrate to customers that they are being listened to.
- Give customers your immediate and full attention. As soon as a customer needs attention, the Service Provider (SP) should immediately set aside any competing tasks so they can focus on the customer and their needs. By listening carefully and making a conscious effort to avoid distractions, the SP will demonstrate sincere interest in and availability to the customer.
- Use positive body language. Often times, your body language tells others more than your words do, when dealing with customers face-to-face. SP’s must let their customers know that they are interested by using eye contact, nodding with agreement, appropriate expressions, and an open, inviting posture, such as leaning forward slightly, avoiding crossed arms and fidgeting. Even if on the phone, the SP can help keep their tone of voice positive, by maintaining an open inviting posture as they speak.
- Encourage customers to talk. A SP can demonstrate that they value the customers’ thoughts by hearing them out. Customers should be encouraged to talk by using phrases such as, “Please, continue….” and “What were you going to say?”
Project a Willingness to Help: As a SP, it is important to speak to customers in a manner that is perceived as positive and helpful. The words a SP chooses and the confidence, with which they speak, will let customers know that the SP is ready and willing to help. The following behaviors can help demonstrate this skill.
- Be polite. Showing simple courtesy for customers is the first step in showing them that the SP wants to help. Use the customer’s name (if appropriate) and always say “please” and “thank you”, it will go a long way.
- Convey care in your tone of voice. SP’s should always avoid sounding uninterested, unemotional (“flat”), demanding or defensive. Be sure that the SP’s voice expresses interest, understanding and care. Try using phrases such as, “I see…” and “Let me be sure I understand…” which will help keep a positive tone of voice, especially over the phone. A good telephone voice is strong and alert, expressive and pleasant, distinct and clear.
- Focus on what you can do. Customers expect things to be explained to them in a positive light. They do not want to hear what you as a SP can’t or won’t do, they’d rather hear what you can and will do for them. Here are a few examples that can help avoid negative reactions and create positive impressions: Try to avoid saying; “There is no way…” and replace with “Here is what I can do…” or “That’s not my area…” with “Let’s look at the possibilities…” or “I am not sure…” with “I can assure you that…”
Convey Respect: When SP’s begin thinking of customers as valued partners, they convey a message of respect. After all, without their partnership, your place of business would not exist. The following behaviors can help demonstrate this skill.
- Ask permission or suggest. We all know no one really likes to be told what to do, same goes for customers. As a SP, when you need to provide customers with information, be sure you make suggestions and ask for permission. Here are a few examples of words and phrases that will help avoid negative reactions and create positive impressions: Try to avoid saying; “You have to…” and replace with “Is it okay with you if…” or “The only way…” with “May I suggest…”
- Avoid discounting. What I mean by discounting is when someone minimizes or ignores some aspect of a person. Dismissing a customer’s feelings or needs, making judgmental statements, and avoiding responsibilities are examples of discounting. As a SP, you must avoid words or phrases such as; “What were you thinking?” or “You shouldn’t feel….” and replace them with something like, “I can see how you would think that.” or “You have every right to feel…”
Principal 2: COMMUNICATE THE CUSTOMER’S VALUE.
To communicate the customer’s value, the following skills are called the Four A’s. They are easy and quick, yet powerful ways to communicate to customers that you value them and their business. The skills are:
Acknowledge the customer and his/her situation: The best way a SP can demonstrate that they relate with a customer, is acknowledgment. You can emphasize with the customer’s circumstances, feelings, or both. The key here is being sincere, however. Some examples of of acknowledging your customer’s situations are the following:
- “I understand why you need a solution immediately.”
- “That must be exciting.”
- “That would also confuse me.”
- “I see that you are in a hurry.”
- “I’d be concerned too.”
- “Oh, that’s terrible.”
- “I’d be impatient if I had to wait.”
Appreciate something about working with the customer: Appreciating something that you have enjoyed about a customer sends a message that you see this person as important. It means saying “thank you.” Here are some examples that a SP can use to show appreciation for their customer:
- “I appreciate the time you’ve put into this.”
- “Thanks for giving me all that information.”
- “Your patience is greatly appreciated.”
- “Thanks for getting back to me so quickly.”
- “I’ve enjoyed learning about your company.”
Affirm something the customer has said or done: You can validate or confirm a choice that a customer has made by affirming. It conveys a mutual respect and that you value the customer’s thoughts and input. Try using some of these examples of affirming:
- “Given what you’ve told me, I think you’ve made the best choice.”
- “It’s clear you’ve spent a lot of time researching this.”
- “I never thought of using the product like that. What a great idea.”
- “You’re absolutely right; that would be more cost effective.”
Assure the customer of good service. A SP can easily impress the customer by taking ownership of a situation. Assuring the customer of good service and then following through builds confidence, which in turn, earns loyalty. Here are some examples of assuring a customer:
- “I’ll make sure this is done by close of business.”
- “I’ll call you in one hour with an update and ETA.”
- “I’ll issue the credit immediately.”
- “I’ll personally follow through with this problem.”
As you can see, Caring Service sounds like simple common sense, but by practicing these skills in each Principal of Caring Service, you will no doubt be creating PDM, but more importantly, Customer Loyalty.
I hope this article can help your business create Customer Loyalty and if you have any other methods of providing Caring Service or any comments, I’d love to hear them.
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