Show Them It's First Class

I am not a good salesperson. I can never talk someone down to buy something. So it's far from my qualification to advise someone in this field. But a customer, who is doing this job, is having big trouble with his way of thinking. He keeps assuming that his work is not good enough, so his customer might give him a lot of trouble. It's just so wrong.

Out of nowhere, I came up with some advice. "You can't let yourself do that, you know? What you have in your hand now is A FIRST CLASS work, don't walk and talk like it's Not. If you only have half the confidence that you are submitting the first class work, don't expect that your customer will think of it any higher than that. If you speak with your voice shaking, your customer might think there's really something wrong with your work, no matter how good it is. They'll find the reason why you are not confident and find fault in your work. That's psychology, man. You gotta learn that. You are dealing with another human, who have errors, who are careless too, so if you are slack a bit, forgive yourself. You can still bring with you this first class work and everyone will like it because it's that damn good."

There are things you don't learn in classroom. You learn from meeting with people. You can't help but pick a bit of lesson from everyone and the next thing, you know how to use psychology to get the better side of them. 

That's how they know that you might not do it perfectly, but they will still like it. The next time this guy comes, I will know if he learns it or not. I'm sure sooner or later, he will...:)) 

How An Apology Saved My Day

It was just a normal day until I got a call from my customer, using a high tone of voice, saying her dissatisfaction about the timing I set for her to pick up her order. I was quite shocked because I totally forgot that I actually agreed to the time that she has set a few days earlier. Oh gosh. It felt like getting caught redhanded doing something embarrassing. That's the feeling. So I kept my cool anyway, asking her, "So what time you can come?" She said, "4 PM". I straight away answered, "Okay, no problem." I don't think it helps if I try to compromise so I rather not. If she'd say 5 or 6, I'd comply. I tried to undo the damage I've done.

When she came, I saw her face. I knew she was mad. The first thing I said was, "I'm really really sorry for all the troubles." It was when she used a lower tone to speak to me. I tried to cover myself too by saying "If only I knew the timing was so crucial for you, I would make it happen. If only someone reminded me earlier." She agreed right away. I deserved some scolding too because I forgot something I have agreed. This is not so normal, but it was a really busy week for me. I had to forgive myself.

I don't suggest that you fake your apology to get away from someone's tantrum, No, you have to mean it. Your ego isn't important. Nothing else is more important in that very moment, except for your apology. I humbled myself, and something told me that she wasn't a bad person herself. All she needed to hear is that word Sorry. So in the end, she smiled - followed by my breath of relief. Thank you God!

Note: As long as you are dealing with another human being, chances are the person knows what it's like to be in your place and will consider your circumstances. They will accept your sorry.

Did You Just Waste Your Answered Prayer?

Have you ever been in a situation where you prayed hard for something. Which looked impossible at first, but with your big faith, again, you've seen the magic. Finally God gave it to you. But...

After a while, you realize that it's not enough. You're thankful, but things can be better. You can have it with better specifications and details. But what you get is just -- simply what you prayed for.

I am not the person who experienced this. I am a person who sees a friend with this experience. I tried to study his situations on why he did not accept the answered prayer the way he should.

I don't mean to be judgmental, but this is my finding. I wish it was something else, but it's purely LACK OF GRATEFULNESS. He could use his situation to heighten his life to a new level, but he chose to be coward and back out from his own wish that has been answered. I did my part as a friend to help him see that, but I guess some people just don't have that much courage in them. They are not a fighter enough to give a good fight to their situation. They become a fighter today, and a loser tomorrow, Just like that. I am nobody to speak like I am a fighter my whole life. Nope. I was a failure for so many times. But to be here today is part of my good fight, so I know what it feels like to be at the edge of backing out. I was almost there too BUT to be here today is because I beat that loser in my that time. 

Living is not easy, right, we all know it. Sometimes we don't know what we should do when we face difficulties. It's pity if you don't know what you want, to begin with. You can wonder at it at 17, but as you get older, you should find out about it already. You should have solved some part of the puzzle already. If we are always torn between our Godly desire and our fleshly desire, if you turn your back on an answered prayer, you know you are answering to which desire. We can't play childish to our prayers that we want this today, and we want that tomorrow when we get what we ask for. If we don't give our best shot at solving our current situation, that means that's not God's problem for answering your prayer, it's your problem for not doing your best. 

Come back to God during your difficult times. He has done much greater things, including creating this universe, He can help you out. Don't be a loser yet. As many of us would agree, our success begins with an answered prayer. Know its value and show your gratefulness towards it. Do not give up on it unless we give our best fight. Please... :)

God Bless.

My Conscience, The 7th Year! Never Retire, You Bloggers!

Hi peeps. Thanks for still checking out from time to time. Hope it's not too late to wish Happy New Year to you all, my dear readers. I read some of your comments, and I'm surprised that some of the topics I wrote actually did help some of you on a few issues. I may not reply to the comments yet but I read them. Thanks a lot and hope to see you more often, yeah, you may read silently but do keep my blog close to your heart. Hehe.

Guess what? My blog is turning 7 this year. 7, my favourite single number ( my fav 3-number you already know what...haha. Clue: My nick!) And I'm still around watching my blog closely, despite not having to update it frequently. Again and again I'm so thankful that I went blogging-crazee on the first year of blogging that I blogged everyday!! It was fun doing it when I was still so fired up and excited about having a place where I could write and share! Despite all this, if you notice, sometimes I write something with the thought that I am the only one who is gonna read that. Just when you wished I was more thoughtful, more watchful with my words - aha, those were the posts I totally sunk in my own world. Shame on me yeah...hahahaha

I notice that a lot of my blogger friends are not anymore actively writing their blogs. Some of them have actually announced their retirement from blogging world. It made me wonder, why would anyone actually "retire" from blogging? I mean, is blogging a task you do out of force? Or a painful season you must endure that you can't wait to walk out from it? My oh my, that's not the case, is it? To me, you do not have to announce retirement from blogging unless you gonna leave internet forever, which I don't think you would. It's just like a hobby that you can always go to, since it only requires you to type and not more physical than that. It won't hurt your muscles, I swear. Hahaha. So, why retire? Just take a break and feel free to come back. 

If you ask me, I am still in love with my babyblog My Conscience, cos I can never possibly say goodbye to writing as long as I am still alive, and still have these two marvellous hands to help me do it. Let me wish something for that matter. I wish that I will blog more this year, no matter how busy I am, I want to write more! Lets see if I can make it happen or not. Hehe. Thanks guys. Bear with me.

Love,

256 

"Not That I Didn't Try"

I've been observing this one personality - been following his updates and stuff. From the way he behaves in his Ig, I can tell that he is not the friendly type. He pick friends and he can't pretend to be in good terms with everyone he knows. So I read that he's said to be boasty, arrogant and doesn't mix with people. Work wise, he's very talented. But outside set, how much can a person act to be someone he isn't? 

I somehow relate to his situation - the part where "not that I don't try, but I'm born like this."  I've been in the situation where I constantly try to be what I think people like me to become. It was damn tiring. It felt good to be liked for that. But how far can I go becoming that person? I can't. I got tired and let it be. Maybe I just understand myself better, and I learn to accept my nature. Being called sombong is nothing new to me, but I just know, it's because we don't have the chance to know each other in a comforting manner. Maybe our roads don't cross, maybe we just never bump and have quality talks. I'm glad that the community where I work, they don't spend too much time judging. They have reached an understanding that, if I behave in a way - I might have something going on, and whatever I do, if anyone get hurt, they know I don't mean it. My ignorance can sometimes be a bit rude, but they know I am not a bad person. Maybe that's good enough for me. I still can't expect them to talk only good things about me, just as long as they know I don't bother their live with my problems. They can rest assured I won't disturb their privacy, and I'm much into my own things that I don't even have that space to badmouth about them. So these people, have accepted me this way. If you think I don't want to be better than this, I do. Who doesn't want to be called all the good names? But it feels better to just be this way, despite the fact that you won't be that likable. That's why some people just insist to do it their way, and lose many friends. That's why, I stop hoping too much that everyone will like me, but at least, if one day they can accept me, understand me, and still find a way to respect me, I hope I will have the chance to personally thank them for that. 

So when you meet someone who is not friendly and hard to approach, remember that deep inside them, they do wish they can be everything you expect, and I'm sure they tried it before and they decided they rather just be themselves. Yeah :)

"The Shop Of My Dream"

Are you one of those who dream of owning a really lovely shop where you can decorate it with all the lovely furniture, paint it with your favourite colours, and imagine having people going in the shops buying things you sell. When I look at some of these lovely eateries in town, that thought crossed my mind. These people are among those who have the same dream. You totally understand. They way they decorate it, you know it's every favourite items they can think of. The theme, the fabric on the sofa, the colour of the chairs, totally one of the things you normally want in the shop of your dream.

I entered a few of these eateries with that "dream shop" concept. They are really lovely, You gonna love what you see. But...suddenly I wonder, is it enough to just materialize the dream shop into reality, which gonna cost a fortune, but How practical that dream shop is in reality? In reality, you don't have a fairy godmother to magic wand that dream shop to simply appear before your eyes. Some of them sold a land, even work for years to have enough fund to afford that shop. So, do you think you make your dream shop just as an exhibition for people to pass by, to drop by and compliment the shop? Is it enough? IT'S NOT. 

Shop is where you do a business. A business means you expect profit to come from your investment. That investment is gonna be your source of income. That income you gonna use to afford your life necessities as well as your family's. So in reality, a dream shop will be your nightmare if you simply invest without return. Eventually you gonna lose that dream shop to the premis owner when you can't afford the monthly rental. You might gonna lose more when you start sacrificing your asset to save your dream shop. You get my point here? That dream shop must make money to continue to exist!

From my observation, some of these dream shop owners, they think profit with come as long as they manage to make the dream shop come true. When they realize that business is more than just how beautiful their premis is. They don't have enough worker, they simply being hasty about the foods they sell, they don't care if they have a special recipe, they think anything will be good enough as long as the place is lovely. NO. Not true. I sat at one dream shop last weekend and they made the shop so exclusively lovely but they talked to each other like they were at the wet market. They were some non-apron young girls handling the foods and orders, and they were too busy talking and laughing, they forgot the orders. No wonder, they were busy with their phone too. Oh man. The owner sat there talking out loud, bragging about the shop being the loveliest around, and spoke about his plan opening at a bigger premis. But as he was talking, the few customers in the shop were not even served well. Some of the foods arrived half an hour later after we reminded them, they said they didn't know about the order. Goodness!! How?? You plan to open in a bigger premis when you can't even manage a small premis! No, don't do that please. Don't do that to your dream shop. 

I am not here to just criticize, cos I know and I can feel the kind of achievement to finally have your dream shop. But don't stop there. You guys are doing alright, but don't take it lightly whatever the business activities in the shop. That is the "heart" of the dream shop. It is what makes money. It's a big mistake to simply open one and treat it like "a haunted shop" instead. Like this other dream shop I went to, he got NO worker!! He said he would prepare the food alone, and we would have to wait if we order a lot. A beautiful restaurant like that, and he could not even have one assistant! He thought he could run it alone? Oh gosh, don't do that lah! We asked him why he got no worker? He said, not easy to find workers. He was right but he must know about this before he decided to make that restaurant. Don't act like he only learn about some obvious reality in life after spending so much. 

Deep in my heart I hope that they can continue! I want them to continue. I love seeing people achieving their dreams, cos it can inspire me and a lot more other people. But they might just in the learning process, so I hope they won't give up. Please continue building more dreams from that dream shop. May you achieve more and more dreams from there.

Note : I know you have your dream shop too :))

The Half-Hearted You

Suddenly I'm wondering, every good words I say, every smile I give, every little kindness that I do, do I do it with all my heart @ wholeheartedly? Cos I notice that, sometimes the words that I say, only half of me actually involves in it. Half of me claim no responsibility, no attachment at all. Ah, doesn't feel so good for someone who believes that someone must be sincere in what they do before they can give and get back the best. But, why this question now?

Lets put it this way. As much as we want to do things wholeheartedly, we do things subconsciously. We can control our intention, we can control our level of politeness, but there are things we can't control. Sometimes out of compassion, we act in a certain way spontaneously to respond to the individual or situation - because we feel that it's the most we can do at the moment. And the next thing you know, you don't really mean every word you say, but it doesn't hurt to say them as long as you don't hurt people; in fact if you can make people feel good, you think it doesn't matter if you really mean it or not. Words from our mouth - they just flow and pour. Come to think about it, does it matter if you mean it? In some situations, it doesn't. People don't have to know what you are really thinking. What they care if how much good things you would share from it, and that's enough. 

Speaking of being totally involved in words and actions; wholeheartedly or halfheartedly, suddenly I wonder if people will be happy if we just mind to do things only when we do it wholeheartedly. Like people say, if you wait for the right time to do something good, maybe the time will never come. Do it now, do it today. I just put it this way. I am no way as friendly and polite like people wish me to be, which I know I am better becoming the person they expect of me. But how capable I am to do that? I can't just wish for it and already I become one, no. But with all the noble intention I have in the world, with limited capability, at least I make the first step, of trying to do the right thing. Yeah, maybe I may only do it halfheartedly today, but one day I might really really do mean it. 

I'm sure you have the same issue yourself. It's alright. We'll get there someday, I'm sure :))

Silent Emotions Of The Best Of Friends

We notice it or not, even among the best of our closefriends, there will be unsaid emotions that "everybody understands but won't speak about." That they think you are a great companion, and yeah, plus all the good years of ups and downs from college, and life might be treating each of you differently, some achieve more, some achieve less. But yes, we can still sit at one table feeling totally at home being with them. We share the most original jokes. None of these are forced on us. But ironically, we don't fancy our friends keep telling about the good side of their lives only. We dislike that they keep showing the bright side of only, hilighting only what's good about their physicals and relationships; sharing photos that are showing too much of happiness - I mean, they can take that, but only at a certain limit. 

 Deep inside they know you well. Noone has a perfect life, and they prefer that you stay human, show your defects, admit your misfortunes, speak about your sadness and insecurity. Too much of -only the good things- will make your friends feel uncomfortable, and they silently begin to "hate" it. It's strange, but it makes your friends feel better about themselves if you talk about your problems, talk about your struggles. They prefer if you upload some really messy photo of you, no makeover, no grooming, cos either way, it won't impress them so much too. They just... prefer the humble you and stop trying to impress them for they know you so much better than that. Aha...

Can I Get A Discount?

An older customer came today and said he wanted something like what he ordered before but he found another place that charged lower that what he paid before.

He kept asking "can I get a discount?" So upon hearing that he found another place that charged lower, I said, "Oh, why not go to that place this time?" which I really meant it.To me it's their right to get the cheapest price, they have the choice. Then he was giving me that look of, "No no, that's not what I mean". 

So he continued, "I only ask in case I can get a discount but if I can't, it's okay," Maybe he thought he had hurt me or what, but he didn't know what I was really thinking! So when he said that he wanted to order in quantity, then I said, "Ohh, why don't you tell me earlier?" So just like that, I gave him a price, which was lower than the price he expected. 

My reason is, price is just something, but it's not everything. I can understand his situation that they only started business and still came to me knowing that I charge higher, I actually have a special "price adjustment" for case by case basis. Plus, they order in quantity, so I no longer feel guilty for the generous discount. At least I agree with, Keeping your old customers is 5 times cheaper than getting new ones.

So you know, sometimes what you do effortlessly is what will earn you the discount, instead of keep bugging to get it, which won't work for me. So in the end, it's always Win-win with my customers. Fair enuff...hehe

The Dancing Sun; Do You Believe A Sun Can Dance?

I was looking for some story of Divine Mercy in youtube, when I saw this clip of the dancing sun in Philippine. If you know about what happened in Fatima, many years ago, during the first apparition of Mother Mary before the eyes of 3 kids, and how the kids requested her to show something for the people to believe that they did not make up story about seeing her. So she asked them to invite the people to gather at the field to show them a sign. So they did gather. Next was the sun started to move towards them. Well, nothing was recorded but it was witnessed by some 70,000 people from different faiths. So looks like something like that actually happened in the modern days, and they took the video live. Then I tried to look for some scientific explanation about the dancing sun; well, you can read all the theories of what people say when they refuse to believe. 

Considering the faith that I have, I also look for science alternative behind something out of curiosity. We all know that there's nothing that the technology cant do these day, we've seen enuff. Especially when you rely on things that you see and read on media, and not experience it yourself. Some will believe just about anything, as long as it will deny that it's God behind it. You know what, faith doesn't need all that miracles. Faith is around before things can be seen. To me, these miracles are for the believers. If you believe, it will work wonders on you. And you don't need explanation. After all, we believe that God made you and me, everything, every single thing even from the smallest atom. It's God that made them. So what do you think that God can't do? The Miracle of the Sun, of any kind of supernatural that are related to the existence of God, it's not so much about that miracles per se, but the IMPACT it has on the believers. Those who keep saying that this is the work of the Satan, hold it there. I am sure that Satan's mission is to divert us from our faith, and not to strengthen it. And these believers are praying to that same God, even without the miracles. It's no necessary, but when He wants to do it, you know He can do anything. ANYTHING AT ALL. 

If you can't explain it with your science, maybe for once, it's simpler to just believe that God is really up there. *winks