Turning dreams into babies.

When I was in my 20s, I had a friend who had been trying to conceive a child with his wife for years. I remember thinking, “What a wonderful gift it would be to surrogate for them”. Just when I came close to broaching the subject, they found out that finally, they were pregnant. While I did not have the chance to give that gift, Erica Sanders of Medford has.

Erica too felt the calling of helping childless couples dreams of parenthood to come true. Erica took it one step further and contacted a surrogacy center. A few years, lots of paperwork and several doctor visits later, she was pregnant....with TWINS!

If you saw this petite powerhouse, you might begin to understand what a task birthing twins must have been. I asked Erica what her favorite part of being a surrogate was, and she said “Giving the parents their babies.” What a gift!

Erica is very passionate about surrogacy, so much so that she has opened Southern Oregon Surrogacy Center in Medford. While going through the process as a surrogate and having close contact with the parents, Erica learned a lot about the surrogacy process. She knows what it takes to be a surrogate and how important it is to keep the relationship with the parents to be. There is something to be said for being intimately involved and learning what NOT to do in the future as well.

The Southern Oregon Surrogacy Center is the first of its kind in Southern Oregon. According to Sanders and Parents.com, Oregon has some of the top fertility clinics in the world. I was surprised to find out that many of the surrogacy centers are owned by attorneys. Erica hopes to make the Southern Oregon Surrogacy Center one that is family focused. She is hoping to help couples turn dreams into babies.

If you are interested in becoming a surrogate or would like to find out about becoming parents through this process, you can contact Erica at (541) 414-8181. I am so proud to know this young lady. It takes real commitment and fortitude to not only give this wonderful gift of life, but to then follow your dreams of helping others as well.

http://www.southernoregonsurrogacy.com/

Why I was willing to waste 8 hours with my new cell phone company

     What is your biggest pet peeve when it comes to customer service?  Mine is being ignored or disrespected (I guess that is two).   I recently left my local cell phone company that we had been with for over 10 years.  This was not an easy decision.  I did not know if our  business cell phone numbers would  be lost in the process  but I was willing to risk it.  I had to pick out a new phone (pay for a new phone), and the worst part, I had to convince my husband that we should change and then get him down to the cell store to pick out a new phone.  If you knew my husband  you would understand what a difficult task this was.

     Why would I be willing to leave a 10 year relationship with a company?  They ignored me. They did not want to take responsibility for dropped calls , (I  called the main company), and when I went into the local stores  I was ignored.

     After much research I decided I would switch to Verizon. I called the local corporate store of Verizon to make an appointment and was told " I will look for you then” and “ I will make sure I am available."  Even though he was not available we got there (as he was finishing up with another client), he checked in with us several times.  Other employees checked with us to make sure we were being helped as well.  We may have waited 15 minutes, but we were being acknowledged over and over again so it did not seem to bother us. 

     To make a long story short, we spent several hours in the Verizon store.  We picked out cell phones, talked about service, purchased phones, ported numbers...etc.  I now know the man who was helping us on a first name basis, his family situation and past job.  He knows much of the same about me.  This was not just a transaction, it was time spent developing a relationship to best help the customer.

    Two days after getting my phone I found out I was not receiving texts from a couple of people who were still customers of my old cell phone service provider.  I spent about an hour and a half on the phone with tech support, went into the store, did internet research and still could not fix the problem. Off to the store again,  I went to ask for help.  I think half the staff that day, along with tech support, tried to fix the issue to no avail.  So, they gave me a new phone and new sim card.  I spent 3.5 hours in the store just on this issue.  I should be really upset, but I'm not.  The employee's apologized for the wait, engaged me in conversation and kept trying new things to fix the issue.  A manager came over and apologized again saying "I am really sorry, this is not the experience we want you to have your first two weeks with Verizon."  The crazy thing is, even though I spent so much time dealing with "technical difficulties" I knew that they were trying to help me and I felt taken care of.  

     EVERYONE makes mistakes.  Everyone has a bad day now and then. Technical or other difficulties are going to happen.  It is how we respond to those mistakes and difficulties that count.  Because the local Verizon store took the time to acknowledge that this was indeed a problem, their fault or not, they were not willing to stop until I was happy.  Eight hours, in total, on this issue (I don't have 8 hours to give up) and I am still a happy Verizon customer. 

The moral of my story? Acknowledge your customers!  Let them know you care and step up when there is an issue.  You will be surprised at the loyal advocates you develop for your business.  Heck, they may even write a blog about you!  :)

Waiting on Perfection

 I can't do that....I am not skinny enough yet. I can't teach that class, I don't 

know absolutely everything. I can't post that...my grammar is not always 

perfect. These are the things that run through my head.....constantly. 

 The things I let my inner critic hold me back from is sometimes mind 

boggling. The amount of weight I give to what other people think and what 

they say about what I do, is even more mind boggling. 

 I have avoided (and probably will continue to avoid) being in videos, 

pictures and television commercials because I don't like the way I look. I 

have turned down opportunities to teach classes and take on clients until I 

am so over loaded with information that I could almost start a new business 

just on that subject. I am an over learner, which at times can come in handy. 

However, in the meantime I am depriving others of information that could 

help them while I am waiting on perfection. 

 I have avoided posting things on facebook and writing blogs because my 

grammar, no matter how hard I try, never seems to be perfect enough for 

what I call the grammar police. 

 So, here are my choices. Curl up in the fetal position and sink into 

obscurity (my first and most comfortable inclination) or continue to try and 

push myself to do the things that make me uncomfortable. I can continue 

to let shame run who I am or I can continue to be my imperfect, flawed but 

worthy of love and respect self. 

 This was a big vulnerable blog for me. I hope, that with my stepping out 

it encourages someone else who needs to hear this message. What you have 

to contribute could be the one thing that could change someones business, 

relationship or life. 

Waiting on perfection is a losing battle.

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out 

how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds 

could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man 

who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and 

sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes 

short again and again, because there is no effort without 

error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the 

deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; 

who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows 

in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the 

worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that 

his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who 

neither know victory nor defeat"

Theodore Roosevelt

What a Difference an attitude makes

                                   

The other day I went shopping.  It is something I don't do very often for two obvious reasons...time and money.  However, since I am in the Bay Area I decided to take a break from writing and walk down to our local shopping center. 

The first store I stopped at was T.J Max.  I generally don't enjoy clothes shopping and I kept stalling before I finally decided to try some things on.  As it turned out, I tried a lot on (I am hard to fit and harder to please).  The lady who was working the fitting room smiled as I approached with my HUGE pile of potentials.  She then asked me if I found everything ok, took some of my now tangled mess and helped me separate and count them.  Once counted, she handed me my number and wished me luck.  I ended up needing two trips into the fitting room to try everything on.  She helped me with a smile, some kind words and when I said thank you she said "You're very welcome". 

In my pile of things I tried on, I found a skirt I liked, but needed a top to go with it.  So, off to another store I went.  While looking I found an employee and told her I wanted to try their tops on with a skirt I just bought at their competitors. "Can I bring this bag in the fitting room?" I asked.  In broken English and no smile she simply said "Go ahead."  That was it.  No, "Sure, thanks for asking." or "Can I help you find anything." Just "Go ahead."

 My next experience with this employee was in the fitting room.  I found that some hangers had been switched and the sizes on the hangers were much different than the actual garments. So, I found the proper sizes, came back into the fitting room and explained what I found.  She basically shrugged and ignored me.  I went ahead and made the switch myself.  (I also refold the clothes I look at and put them neatly back on the rack.  I am weird that way.)

Off to the next store I went.  Rummaging through the racks I found a few things I thought might match my skirt (and a lot more).  Walking up to the fitting room I noticed a lady who worked there on the wall phone talking and laughing.  I also noticed a line of about 5 people.  She motioned for one of us to put our clothes up on the bar to have them counted and then gave out the appropriate number. She then motioned (almost like shooing) the person towards the fitting rooms.  All this time she was on the phone.  Once I was done with my first set of 8 I asked her if she could keep the two I wanted to purchase while I tried on the rest.  "I don't have room to keep them.  Look at all these clothes.  Sorry." 

I couldn't help but notice the VAST difference in my experience from one store to another.  And it was all because of the attitude of the employee’s that I had dealt with. 

Maybe it is just me, but I think smiling, acknowledging and making a little small talk is good business.

What a difference a good attitude and a little bit of kindness can make. :)  

#positive #attitude #tjmax

#ross #kohls

The ultimate case for what NOT to do when networking

When I wrote this blog, I was still a bit upset by what happened.  It is not my usual happy, positive tone, but I am posting it anyway.  I think it is important to make this point.  

I hope you enjoy it!                                

Recently I was at a networking event that I hosted called Walk and Talk.  We had some familiar faces and a couple of new people I had never met before attend.  I was very excited to make new contacts and see if these were people I wanted to continue a business relationship with from here. 

As we were getting ready to start our networking and walking I wanted to make sure to lay down some ground rules.  I said " Now, I just want to establish some ground rules.  We are not here to sell to each other, we are here to develop relation..." when one of the new attendees  interrupts me and says "I am going to pass out my son's business cards.  He is a handyman.  He is really good. You should hire him."  

After he was done trying to sell his son's services to us, I finished up the ground rules and said "Okay, let's pair up for our first lap..." (we were walking in a mall) when he interrupts again and says pointing at me "I want to walk with you."  I finished pairing people up explained that we had half a lap to talk about our business and then we needed to switch and let the other person talk.   

As we start our netwalking, my first question to my new found friend (enter sarcastic tone here) is.."So, you said you do marketing. What kind of marketing?"  "All kinds.  I want to be paid to do what I am doing for my son."  I did what I would do for anyone, which was ask more clarifying questions and even gave him some ideas on how maybe he could do that to make money.  When we were almost done with our lap he finally says "I want to know about what you do."     I start to explain some of the things I do for my clients when interrupts for third time and excitedly says "That's what I want to do!"  He then proceeds to tell me why he would be good at what I do. 

He talks about how wonderful he is until we stop where we were to switch and talk to someone else for a lap.  As others are finishing their conversations, he is still talking about himself and then he finally says "So, I will go out and get some customers, then, I will call you (as he mimics a phone with his hand to his ear) and you can tell me what to do."  YES HE JUST WENT THERE     I kindly yet firmly said "I actually get paid for that." To which he replies as he playfully pushes my shoulder....."Not if we are friends...right?!"  Seriously...I couldn't make this stuff up.

To make a long story short, my conversations with him did not get any better as the hour went on. 

My interaction with this man was wrong on so many levels that it is almost difficult to conceive that one person could be that rude, arrogant or clueless. I am not an expert, but I did not get the feeling that he was disabled or had any other mental or social disorder.  He was just all about HIM.

The moral of my story?  Experts in their field are experts because they have taken the time, money and hands on experience to get there.  If you want to take them to coffee and pick their brain you should expect to pay for their time.  Or, at the very least, offer to help them in some way in return.  Can you refer them to someone who might be a potential client or referral source? Unfortunately I am probably guilty of not doing enough to repay those who have helped me.

Lasting and beneficial business relationships are established by creating trust.  In most cases trust takes time, nurturing and proof we are worthy of it.  So, next time you get really excited to tell someone what you are thinking....take a breath and let them finish their sentence. 

In other words heed the saying:
          "We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak."

                               Epictetus

Before you walk into an event or even coffee with a colleague try checking your motives before you go in. 

What do you want these people to learn about you and more importantly, how can you help them?  This is help to make the experience better for both of you.  Happy Networking! 

So, here I am sitting in my blanket fort.......

So, here I am sitting in my blanket fort......

No really, I totally am! I dropped my youngest off at Young Life in Grants Pass 

so he go be a kid and have fun. I came home to get a little more work done and go to bed early.

Then I was sitting at my computer starting to work and I thought “Blanket Fort!

 I want to build a blanket fort!” So, I did.

And why not? Just because I am an “adult” does not mean I should not have fun doing

some of the same things I enjoyed as a kid. I LOVED blanket forts growing up. Then when I

had kids, who do you think was the first person to suggest “the kids” build a blanket fort?

Now the kids are too old (or so they think) to do silly kid stuff anymore.

A grownup is a child with layers on.  ~Woody Harrelson

I spend a lot of time being serious.  I attend meetings, wear suits, hold people

accountable and I am the person that others come to for help much of the time.

 I enjoy all of those things. I am that person...most of the time.

 The other part of me loves to laugh. I love to be completely silly. I have

even been known to roll around on the floor with duct tape stuck to my rear end trying to

be the one with the most q-tips stuck to me. You should try it, it is harder then you think!

Some of my most creative and productive ideas come from my not caring what anyone

else thinks and just going with my gut.  Having a little fun with my inner child.  There are

some very serious people in this world shooting at each other with marshmallows through

PVC pipes thanks to my inner child.  Imagine what barriers could be broken down if we

just let our hair down and let people see the softer or silly side of us now and then. Imagine

if no one was intimidated by anyone else, what we could accomplish.

So, as I sit here alone in my fort,

 (except for the two dogs a cat and the squeaky toy that is now under my left leg)

 I encourage you to peel back some of those adult layers this week, do something you loved as a kid,

Just don't hurt yourself.

Ride on a shopping cart though the parking lot of your local grocery store. Skip down the

street instead of walking. Invite some friends over and play monopoly or to do each others hair.

 (Those of you who no longer have hair, let your wife draw a pretty picture on your head. 

Just a suggestion to my husband Dave!)

Watch old cartoons or eat whipped cream straight out of the can (my personal favorite).

Life is too short to always be serious, to always be working.  I could have gotten some

“work” done tonight, but I think my soul needed to sit in my fort instead.

I would love your comments below with some of your favorite child like things to do.

YOU'RE IT!

+Sara Riechers 
+dave kelly 
+Tama Meister
+Lisa Pepper Satkin
+Bethany Kelly 

Grateful

  I am feeling especially Grateful this week.  For most of you who know me, you now that I am a fairly positive person.  I don't like to focus on the negative.  But, I have to admit 2012 was a pretty tough year for me.  Yes, I lost my father at the beginning of the year.   I also however, was hurt by someone that I loved and trusted.  It was then that I started to lose faith.  I started to lose faith in humanity really.  I had this thought that no matter what I did, people were always going to try and take advantage of, or hurt me in some  way.  

    Luckily I signed up for a 6 month long “Train the Trainers” course through a company called Productive Learning and Leisure.  I have been taking weekend courses through PL&L for about 3 years now and this was the logical next step.  Thanks to PL&L I was able to start sorting through and challenging my unproductive thinking.

     I also started to be thankful for the little things and some not so little things.  I was Grateful and thanked God for my children.  Grateful for my mother, my husband, extended family and friends.  I even started being thankful for my soft bed, fuzzy pajamas and our dogs that drive me crazy.  What I found was, the more grateful I had become for the small things, the more wonderful the world around me became.

     Today, I am grateful to live in a community full of people who are so willing to give.  I am grateful for some of the best clients in the world and for all the wonderful people I met last month.  I am in awe that we could throw out an idea about a food drive and have such an overwhelming response.

     Thank you to all who participated in the “WIPE OUT” hunger event at Kelly’s Automotive Service.    Some of you donated more than your fair share, some helped with publicity and others offered to help make this an even better event next year.  Most of all, thank you for reminding me how wonderful people can be.  Thank you for helping to restore my faith and reminding me that if we work together anything is possible. 

“Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.” 

― Maya Angelou

     My hope in writing this blog is that you can learn from the lessons I have already been given.  I know for sure my learning is never done and I hope I can pass something useful on to you.