Young boys growing up often idolize sports stars and action film stars. In the case of a 10 year old boy suffering from Leukemi, his hero is Ina Garten, a star with the Food Network. He made two requests to be able to cook with his heroine on the Food Network Television Show thru The Make A Wish Foundation. Even if Ina had ice running thru her veins, does she not get the positive publicity such a move would bring?
This is incredibly shortsighted and wrong. Are you so important you can't grant a dying boy one last wish? Tell me you are not that arrogant. He asked twice and you failed him twice. Cancer affects us all and we all have had ties to people that have died from it and survived it. Their experiences are gut wrenching. Cancer has become very common and scary for that matter. Ina's Public Relations Representative came up with the excuse that you Ina can't honor every request you receive. While that is true, I do wonder how many requests you get by young boys with cancer to cook with you. It can't be that many and the request is something you have the ability to honor without a whole lot of effort. Hey Ina, what you and your ignorant publicity rep should understand is that you wouldn't have to make any extra time other than to include the boy in your show. Perhaps we should send the both of you down the yellow brick road to the wizzard for a heart. Most people enjoy charitable work, especially when it involves kids.
As for the boy, with his back up wish he has chosen to swim with dolphins. Sad to say but dolphins that are forced in to captivity will show this child more love than you. This disconnect we have with the value of life and other people in our society is tearing us a part. Your ambivalence toward this sick child is both disgusting and incomprehendable and you should be ashamed. For those of us that have not experienced cancer, we are fortunate. For those who suffer, we are called to help in any way we can. I guess Ina that you did not get the memo. Have fun cooking on your show, you will never get me to watch.
The world would be better served by people-first decision making. In this case, Ina and her show are more important than making a dying boy happy. It is a priority that is completely out of whack.
See article for yourself..it is horrible!
http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/barefoot-contessa-turns-down-sick-kids-wish-not-cool-2468614/
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Recovered From Hangman's Neck To Play Baseball
David Newhan of the San Diego Padres is an interesting story for several reasons. I love the story simply because as a surfer and baseball player he is passionate about baseball and the ocean. In many ways, looking back, I wish i could have balanced the two between work and school but my passion for the ocean won.
David suffered a nearly devastating injury in 2009 while diving off his surfboard and hitting a sand bar. The ocean floor is always changing so the possibility always exists for head and neck injuries in shallow and dangerous ocean conditions. His case is said to mirror that of former Superman character and actor Christopher Reeves. We remember Reeves' gut wrenching story from his fame and visibility in the media and remember clearly Chris's physical struggles. Perhaps what we remember about Chris and his struggles makes David's story so amazing.
The doctor allegedly told the nurse when he went in to get checked out that he had a hangman's broken neck. At that point surfing and playing baseball seem to go out the window. The injury itself does not sound pleasant any way you describe it.
Here in 2011 David is fighting for a role on the Padres Baseball Team and I myself am hoping he makes it. He seems to have a refreshing perspective and a new lease on life and that makes him someone we all root for, Padre fan or not. See the article at the following link:
http://www.thepostgame.com/features/201103/old-ballplayer-and-his-new-soul
David suffered a nearly devastating injury in 2009 while diving off his surfboard and hitting a sand bar. The ocean floor is always changing so the possibility always exists for head and neck injuries in shallow and dangerous ocean conditions. His case is said to mirror that of former Superman character and actor Christopher Reeves. We remember Reeves' gut wrenching story from his fame and visibility in the media and remember clearly Chris's physical struggles. Perhaps what we remember about Chris and his struggles makes David's story so amazing.
The doctor allegedly told the nurse when he went in to get checked out that he had a hangman's broken neck. At that point surfing and playing baseball seem to go out the window. The injury itself does not sound pleasant any way you describe it.
Here in 2011 David is fighting for a role on the Padres Baseball Team and I myself am hoping he makes it. He seems to have a refreshing perspective and a new lease on life and that makes him someone we all root for, Padre fan or not. See the article at the following link:
http://www.thepostgame.com/features/201103/old-ballplayer-and-his-new-soul
Monday, February 28, 2011
Scotty Carter's Liquid Wonderland
I have personally known Scotty Carter for more than 20 years. He is a well-respected waterman along the Laguna/Dana Point Coastline. After many years of knowing him, I was introduced to his mini-wave art in the mid 2000's and I was taken aback by the striking beauty of his work. I already found myself fascinated by the ocean but Scotty was able to capture an element of the ocean that you and I would walk by and not even think twice about what we saw. With the naked eye we would not be captivated by what we saw. Scotty's magic is that he can take things that aren't magic at all but spin it in a way where it is nothing but magic. He would tell you, that making something out of nothing and being surprised and mesmerized is absolutely the magic!
How does he do it you ask? Let's just say Scotty Carter likes mysteries!!! One day Scotty will release secrets to the world and it will be an amazing day. Until then, we are left to enjoy the beauty of his images that would make a fine addition to any modern and stylish homes decore.
How does he do it you ask? Let's just say Scotty Carter likes mysteries!!! One day Scotty will release secrets to the world and it will be an amazing day. Until then, we are left to enjoy the beauty of his images that would make a fine addition to any modern and stylish homes decore.
Sick Again After Surfing-No Surprise At All
The bottom line is the Southern California Coast is dirty. It is aggravating to get sick doing something you love. If I am getting sick after being in the water what about all the poor things that live in the ocean. Dolphins, Migrating Whales, Crabs, Lobsters, Star Fish, Sharks, Seals and Fish. They all have to be a little sick.
Human beings apparently can't keep sewage out of the water. Additionally we can't live without pesticides and fertizlizers. It is a wonder we aren't all sick. I was thinking back to a discussion I had with a lifeguard in Laguna Beach. He was telling families and kids to keep their kids out of the water due to sewage. Now there is a comforting thought! We don't care enough about our ocean to create local beaches that are safe for recreation. Meanwhile, we are poisoning the food chain in our local waters that may be making consumption of local fish a gamble at best. We have to stop this madness before Mother Ocean is unforgiving. Reality is we are killing the ocean and while the consequences of destroying the ocean aren't crystal clear just yet, it is obvious that with incidents all over the world that we are well on our way to finding out what it all means.
My hope for the future is a sewage and oil free ocean, where I or any other recreational user of the ocean does not get sick after trying to enjoy the only stress-free place on the planet that we know of. I also hope for a clean home for our friends of the sea as they are innocent bystanders suffering due to our complacency and ignorance. If we don't fix this now, what will we leave to future generations? It does not look good!
Human beings apparently can't keep sewage out of the water. Additionally we can't live without pesticides and fertizlizers. It is a wonder we aren't all sick. I was thinking back to a discussion I had with a lifeguard in Laguna Beach. He was telling families and kids to keep their kids out of the water due to sewage. Now there is a comforting thought! We don't care enough about our ocean to create local beaches that are safe for recreation. Meanwhile, we are poisoning the food chain in our local waters that may be making consumption of local fish a gamble at best. We have to stop this madness before Mother Ocean is unforgiving. Reality is we are killing the ocean and while the consequences of destroying the ocean aren't crystal clear just yet, it is obvious that with incidents all over the world that we are well on our way to finding out what it all means.
My hope for the future is a sewage and oil free ocean, where I or any other recreational user of the ocean does not get sick after trying to enjoy the only stress-free place on the planet that we know of. I also hope for a clean home for our friends of the sea as they are innocent bystanders suffering due to our complacency and ignorance. If we don't fix this now, what will we leave to future generations? It does not look good!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Attributes of A Knowlegeable Data Provider For Direct Mail and Telemarketing Campaigns
Who cares anyway? Well, companies that depend on their mailing and telemarketing results should care because their success is predicated on return on investment and keeping cost per acquisition down.
Purchasing Agents are out there acquiring data looking for the best price. Hey, I get! But, what if that strategy was creating ineffective mailing and telemarketing campaigns?
Do we tell the purchaser, " Great job, you saved us money on data", when the results were horrible. Heck No!!! You simply cannot allow this to happen.
Data has too many facets and attributes to discuss in a small blog. From experience, I can tell you it is challenging and involved. I spend off hours all week vacuuming up knowledge from compilers that have spent their entire working lives in the data business. I could not put a price on that.
I would love to help companies out there get more out of their targeting. There are filtering strategies out there that companies just aren't aware of. Like many industries, data has buyers and sellers of data that are so myopic that the the combination of this type of purchaser and seller is a recipe for "DATA DISASTER"!
To avoid common calamities in your data purchase, consider Rob Brack at Lead Research Group. 800-884-8371 Ext. 5430. My pledge to you is that I will lose sleep figuring out how to best filter your data.
Purchasing Agents are out there acquiring data looking for the best price. Hey, I get! But, what if that strategy was creating ineffective mailing and telemarketing campaigns?
Do we tell the purchaser, " Great job, you saved us money on data", when the results were horrible. Heck No!!! You simply cannot allow this to happen.
Data has too many facets and attributes to discuss in a small blog. From experience, I can tell you it is challenging and involved. I spend off hours all week vacuuming up knowledge from compilers that have spent their entire working lives in the data business. I could not put a price on that.
I would love to help companies out there get more out of their targeting. There are filtering strategies out there that companies just aren't aware of. Like many industries, data has buyers and sellers of data that are so myopic that the the combination of this type of purchaser and seller is a recipe for "DATA DISASTER"!
To avoid common calamities in your data purchase, consider Rob Brack at Lead Research Group. 800-884-8371 Ext. 5430. My pledge to you is that I will lose sleep figuring out how to best filter your data.
Scripting: Avoiding The Fast Food Drive Thru Approach
If I were a call center manager and my livelihood depended on the sales of my agents, then scripting would be worked on daily. At Lead Research Group, I work with companies small, medium and large in the debt settlement and loan modification industries.
I have the ability with many of our campaigns to listen to recorded calls and consult on the quality of scripting. After listening to thousands of calls, the idea that companies lose money due to poor scripting has been cemented in my mind as a problem that would not go away.
Fast Food Drive Thru Scripting: XYZ Company, this is John, How Can I Help You?
If I were hired in an organization to manage sales, the first thing I would do is announce that the next person to ask "How Can I Help You"as an opening to an inbound call will be sent home for the day.
Why am I so fired up about this? Pretty simple really! I hear potential customers in recorded calls every day tell the person answering the call things like the following: " Yes John, you sent me a mailer, you don't know how you can help me?" or "Its your Television Commerical, so you tell me how you can help me."
They are calling because they need help. Do not insult people with " How Can I Help YouItis!!!!!!! If it is not these very sarcastic responses it is long sighs and exasperations and muttering under their breath. Prospects calling in on a product or service hate this and it is clear as day.
The best way to gain control of a conversation is something to the effect of:
XYZ Company, this is John, How are you doing today?
Why???? Because it is an ice breaker that gets a prospect answering questions from the onset of the call. In the sales equation, reps that get people to answer questions properly qualify people more than reps that do not.
Proper surveying requires you ask questions. When you have a prospect answering questions they are doing more of the talking than the rep is and that is the idea.
Help your reps by requiring them to ask every inbound call which advertisement they were responding to and what was it about the piece that has them calling in today. This is highly effective and gets them engaged in the process and more easily walked into a sale.
For effective direct mail and inbound tv campaigns for debt settlement and loan modification companies, Call Rob Brack Lead Research Group. A Free Webinar on call approach is offered Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10am Pst. www.explodeyourphones.com. Go to the site click on shortcut to the direct response webinar. Hope to have you there!!!
800-884-8371 Ext. 5430
I have the ability with many of our campaigns to listen to recorded calls and consult on the quality of scripting. After listening to thousands of calls, the idea that companies lose money due to poor scripting has been cemented in my mind as a problem that would not go away.
Fast Food Drive Thru Scripting: XYZ Company, this is John, How Can I Help You?
If I were hired in an organization to manage sales, the first thing I would do is announce that the next person to ask "How Can I Help You"as an opening to an inbound call will be sent home for the day.
Why am I so fired up about this? Pretty simple really! I hear potential customers in recorded calls every day tell the person answering the call things like the following: " Yes John, you sent me a mailer, you don't know how you can help me?" or "Its your Television Commerical, so you tell me how you can help me."
They are calling because they need help. Do not insult people with " How Can I Help YouItis!!!!!!! If it is not these very sarcastic responses it is long sighs and exasperations and muttering under their breath. Prospects calling in on a product or service hate this and it is clear as day.
The best way to gain control of a conversation is something to the effect of:
XYZ Company, this is John, How are you doing today?
Why???? Because it is an ice breaker that gets a prospect answering questions from the onset of the call. In the sales equation, reps that get people to answer questions properly qualify people more than reps that do not.
Proper surveying requires you ask questions. When you have a prospect answering questions they are doing more of the talking than the rep is and that is the idea.
Help your reps by requiring them to ask every inbound call which advertisement they were responding to and what was it about the piece that has them calling in today. This is highly effective and gets them engaged in the process and more easily walked into a sale.
For effective direct mail and inbound tv campaigns for debt settlement and loan modification companies, Call Rob Brack Lead Research Group. A Free Webinar on call approach is offered Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10am Pst. www.explodeyourphones.com. Go to the site click on shortcut to the direct response webinar. Hope to have you there!!!
800-884-8371 Ext. 5430
Data Nostalgia-Cold Calling Sees Upswing
While many companies tussel with the ins and outs of media purchases for radio and television and sophisticated online ad word type campaigns, telemarketing seems to be on an upswing lately.
With a good phone script and transfer of enthusiasm from the rep to the prospect, telemarketing can be quite effective. That is where data comes in!
Lead Research Group is a wholesale data provider with a gnack for understanding ideal prospects and helping customers understand data filteration in a way that helps them reach their target market faster.
The data universe is so vast that you need people that work with it daily to truly consult your business. Sure, data may be a commodity. Many people sell it, but few sell it with the business acumen and customer centric approach of Lead Research Group.
While data and telemarketing will never be the "sexiest" or most "tantalizing" Sales Strategy Employed, it still represents a cost effective way to grow business.
Call Robert Brack of Lead Research Group to discuss your campaign needs. If you have an ideal target, let's talk!!!
800-884-8371 Ext. 5430
With a good phone script and transfer of enthusiasm from the rep to the prospect, telemarketing can be quite effective. That is where data comes in!
Lead Research Group is a wholesale data provider with a gnack for understanding ideal prospects and helping customers understand data filteration in a way that helps them reach their target market faster.
The data universe is so vast that you need people that work with it daily to truly consult your business. Sure, data may be a commodity. Many people sell it, but few sell it with the business acumen and customer centric approach of Lead Research Group.
While data and telemarketing will never be the "sexiest" or most "tantalizing" Sales Strategy Employed, it still represents a cost effective way to grow business.
Call Robert Brack of Lead Research Group to discuss your campaign needs. If you have an ideal target, let's talk!!!
800-884-8371 Ext. 5430
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