And Now Rita

Galveston is one of my kids' favorite places to visit. They love the sand, playing on the beach, watching the seagulls, playing in the waves. I love off-season, beat the crowds. Last spring we spent a few days there with my father-in-law and his wife, who were down south, thawing out from their Alaska winter. We had a great time. I'm glad that we went.

Rita is now heading that way, good to see that Galveston is being evacuated. That seawall just doesn't look big enough to me, not to mention the storm itself, it is huge.

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, they are predicting whatever is left of the storm to be up this way. Gas already jumped 10 cents a gallon yesterday, they really did find a way to tie the price of gas to the weather. Meanwhile, I'm cleaning out my fridge before doing the week's grocery shopping. I don't want to be anywhere close to the stores this weekend, it'll be crazy Friday and Saturday, and Sunday-Monday if we are having 45 mph winds and a foot and a half of rain, I'm not driving anywhere.

Home Safe

Last weekend, my brother Joe, my son Tim, and many other volunteers were helping clean up near the Gulf coast in Mississippi. The weekend before, my son Nathan was down there with the same group of volunteers. I know Nathan was quite sore and tired when he got back. Nathan's scout master was also with both groups and sent him a nice little postcard letting him know how impressed he was with his hard work and attitude.

Nathan could not believe how many trees were gone, many just looked like broken toothpicks. The area he was cleaning had many intact homes, he was amazed how so many trees and limbs could be down and more in the yard than what hit the homes. He also learned that the aerosol bug spray dissolves tree sap nicely. Scary thought!

Katrina Clean-up Crew

I'm not going to sleep easily tonight. My 17 year old, Nathan, volunteered to go with a clean up crew heading down to the Mississipppi coast. He is an amazing young man, team captain of his swim team (which took 2nd in Texas last year, almost 1st), designed shelves/desk unit which his school built for all the English teachers this summer, super grades, and much more. His older brother is heading down the next weekend. The group headed down today after work/school, long drive down, will sleep in tents, work all Saturday and Sunday clean up downed trees, patching roofs, long drive back, school/work Monday. I'm sure he'll have some stories to tell.

It hit me when I got a call today, saying to make sure that he brought at least 5 gallons of water for himself, heavy-duty mosquito repellent, boots (preferrably rubber), gloves, first aid supplies, sleep bag, tools, etc. They are going to an area directly hit by Hurricane Katrina. It can't but help leave an impact on him. I'm proud of my son, I know he will be alright, but I'll sleep easier once he gets back home.

Heidi

Katrina Thoughts

My brother-in-law's family is from New Orleans, although he lives in another state. All his extended family evacuated Friday and Saturday, safe with relatives at the other end of the state.

I had a hard time accepting what I heard from my sister Saturday. Her in-laws boarded up their homes, put their belongings up off the ground and left, knowing that most likely they would never see their homes again. I had a hard time accepting their concern that they'd need to find new homes and jobs elsewhere, that their hometown (for many generations) may not be rebuildable.

I live in Texas, a good day's travel from New Orleans. Monday morning, my kids were surprised at the heavy traffic on the interstate heading west. We were lucky, had some wind and much needed rain. We gave a sigh of relief as we heard the hurricane shifted east of New Orleans a little. Maybe things would not be so bad. My sister's in-law heard from some friends who stayed behind. Their street is flooded and no roofs on any of the houses. And this was before the levee broke. Then you watch the news, their fears Saturday no longer seem so far fetched.

I've heard that our hotels are packed, several places in town have offered shelter, radio station is promoting businesses that offer aid to the victims. One fitness center is opening their doors for several hours for a place for stranded families to get some excercise and have some fun. Taste of Texarkana (annual event where food establishments show off their goods) is offering free admission to those stranded. Everyone is doing what small things they can to the help the few who made it here. Superdome refugees are going to the Astrodome. The Collisium in Shreveport is now a refuge shelter. Dallas is also opening their doors, along with many, many other communities, large and small. One of my best friends is a RN in Shreveport, expects to be kept very busy the next several weeks. Many websites such as www.nola.com opened their doors to collect funds, get the word out on survivors and road conditions, etc.

Katrina's impact will be huge. Logistics a nightmare. It could have been much worse, at least a million people had the sense to leave the area before it was too late (and some did not have the means), but they still need homes, jobs, etc.

Overwhelming, too big for any of us to help on our own, what difference will this little bit make? But when we all pitch in and do what little we can, as these communities have done, the combined effort makes a huge difference. Everyone can help. Besides money, blood donations, and time (I believe Red Cross was setting up call centers in various towns) are all needed. Be creative, there are a lot of needs, find one and fill it.

You don’t love your kids if you don’t . . .

"You don't love your kids if you don't buy my vacuum cleaner." The salesman looked me right in the eye and didn't even flinch. He was sure he was going to get the sale. I was a caring Mom, of course I’d buy his vacuum.

Now it was a good vacuum cleaner, but I wasn't buying one that day, already said so before his demonstration. To make things worse, he had a young assistant with him, training him. The only reason I let them do the demonstration was the new kid said he needed a place to “practice”, didn’t matter that I wasn’t going to buy one, “let me give you a free carpet shampoo”.

So I looked right back and told him exactly what I thought of his sales tactic. I also said that I didn't even think it was very effective, I'm sure he'd made many people angry. I could not believe it when he said that it did not matter since many would buy out of guilt or whatever. It had a lifetime warranty, thus no repeat customers. I guess he didn't want any referrals either, nor did he care about his reputation.

Recently, I got a call from a person I do not even know. “If you are serious about your business, you will take 45 minutes to listen to my call. I promise your business will explode.” (From a person who didn’t know me and had never heard of my business) Now I admit, there are times when I get frustrated, blowing up things could be tempting, but no thanks. I declined. Now the vacuum cleaner was good, so I'll keep an open mind, maybe the program they are selling is good. I do care about my kids and my business. But the sales tactic still stinks.

And we wonder why people hate sales. I’m betting that they met someone like that particular vacuum salesman. I suggest that he didn’t understand sales. I didn’t buy. Neither did my neighbors, amazing the power of word of mouth.

But what if, after his demonstration, listening to me when I said I wasn’t in the market for a cleaner, he was kind, thanked me for my time, left a couple of his cards for referrals?

What if the person on the phone, instead of saying “ Have I’ve got a deal for you, give me 45 minutes of your time or else . . .” introduced themselves, asked questions about myself and my business. There is no way they can know whether or not they have something that I need, unless they know a bit about my business. When and if they saw that they had something that would truly benefit me, then they could ask. I’m not going to give a total stranger 45 minutes just because they ask for it, nor do I want to learn better ways to market my business from anyone using this guilt trip technique.

I’m not fond of the “If you don’t buy now, you’ll be sorry” deal either. I can remember looking at cars, and I’d hear “You can only get this deal if you buy this car right now.” I bet if I showed up with cash the next day, that I could talk them into the same offer. But I do appreciate the car salesman who explains that since the ’06 model is out, they have a great deal on the ’05, but once it is sold they can’t promise to find another. I always appreciate truth, even if there is some fear of loss involved. Don’t pressure. “This deal may be gone, but I will see what I can do for you, whenever you come back.”

Now you have to admire Dr. Suess’s “Sam I Am”. He was persistent marketing his green eggs and ham. “Will you try them here or there?” “Will you try them in a box with a fox?” In the end, the character tried the eggs just to get him to shut up. Worked in the story, but I’d have hung up on the guy. I believe that try it to see if you like it is a great way to go, samples, money back guarantee, etc. But don’t shove it down my throat.

Consumers are bright. Find a nice way to get their attention without insulting them, show folks what you have to offer. Address any objections they have, clear up misconceptions, listen, and show concern for their needs. You don’t love your customers if you don’t treat them with respect and show that you care.