Customer Service

With the Holiday Season in full swing and business filled with Holiday Help, many of which hope will turn into Full Time jobs, I want to reflect on Customer Service.

I ask the Simple Question, "What Has Happened To Customer Service"?

Providing Great Customer Service is NOT HARD!  You simply need to treat your customers like YOU would like to be treated in the same situation.

I have Extensive Experience and have trained Large Groups in Major Companies in Customer Service.  It is NOT Brain Surgery!

It is all about Listening and showing Empathy toward the Customer's Concerns.  Your attitude should make the customer Happy they chose to use your service.

I saw this Customer Service Flow Chart and Agree  with it 100%!

I was motivated to write this blog based on an experience I had last week at a Las Vegas Casino.

I was playing a Numbers Game called "KENO" which is one of the worst odds games in the casino but for $1 you have the chance to win big.  ( It's like playing the Lotto )  And one of the "Newer" KENO writers was what I felt was RUDE to me.  Well, OK, she was Very Rude to me!  I live in Las Vegas, there are MANY casinos where I can go to spend my "Gambling Budget".  I walked out of that Casino for the LAST TIME that night as I will NOT spend another nickel at that establishment. 

Having worked in a Casino in Management, I totally understand that in a Casino you are "Selling an experience".  99.9% of the guests are NEVER going to Win Big.  But what you are there to do as an employee is to make sure the guests ( your customers ) are Having A Good Time!   You want everyone who walks through the front door to think they are the Most Important Person To Walk In That Day!  Guess What, THEY ARE! 

I sent an E-Mail to the Casino General Manager and also to the Owners of this Casino Chain ( whom I have crossed paths with at various Charity Events over the years ) Detailing my experience.  Both the KENO Manager and the Casino General Manager to their credit called me the next day with their apologies.   But, that does not change my attitude of spending another nickel in the place.  Sadly, there are several of my "Favorite" Casino employees and people I even consider friends, who work at this location.   In this case, and in ANY Poor Customer Service Experience, I let my money speak Loudly for me!

On the OTHER side of the Customer Service Coin this Holiday Season is a business which Never gets the "Appreciation" they are due.  The United States Post Office!

Full Disclosure Notice here, My Father, worked for the Post Office for 30 years.  The Post Office put me and my two Sisters through College and put food on our table.

That said, I do not think most people realize the Extra Hours Required, Missed Days Off and Extended Hours they work just so your Christmas Cards and Packages get to your home in time for Christmas.   I spoke briefly to my Mail Carrier Rey yesterday as he brought a package to my door about 4pm and I could see he was just beat.  He told me had been schedule to start the past two weeks Ninety Minutes Before his usual start time and was putting in ten hour days and working six days a week through Christmas.  OK, I can hear a few of you saying "Well, I am sure he is being paid well to do it"!  Yes, I am sure he can use the money as he has Two Daughters in College at UNLV, one a Medical Student.  But as you grow older you realize that given the choice of having "More Money or More Time", nine out of ten people would rather have more time. 

One of my "Show Biz Friends" told me a few months ago that his Doctor's have told him that he will probably not live more than about six months.  This friend, a Multi-Millionaire many times over, said to me "Dan, I worked six and seven one night stands a week for over thirty years and made a lot of money.  But I would trade it all if I just had another few years, or even months to spend with my Wife, Kids and Grandkids."   Always Remember that "Time Is Something You Cannot Buy With Any Amount Of Money".

It is shaping up to be a busy end of the year and so I want to leave you with this greeting from Online Developer Paul Mark Sutherland

From my family to yours I wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Safe and Healthy New Year. 


Email:      its.dan.bledsoe@gmail.com
Twitter:    @itsdano

2017 in Review

It is hard to believe that in just a few weeks we will ring in 2018.

Overall 2017 was a year where I saw my overall health deteriorate, but overall a good year!

At the end of each year I take a few minutes to update my "Facebook Friends" and remove the ones which I know have gone on to meet their maker.  This year I only had to remove One Friend whom I had lost to Heaven.

I lost a Dear Friend to Cancer.

I had known Mary Ellen for almost 30 years and a few months before she passed she told me "I am not afraid to die as I have found peace in God".  Mary Ellen's Daughter, Amy, was a Saint in my eyes as she took care of her Mom in her last year of life.

Thankfully, my Wife Sharon has now gone Five Years Cancer Free!  She is a Breast Cancer Survivor who, like any woman, has fears of recurrence when she has her six month Check-Ups, but  so far, so good.


I was thinking today that Life Is A Blur of Friends and Acquaintances.  Stop and think of all the people who have come in and out of your life.  Some were people who you thought would be lifetime friends, who now you have lost touch.  Others who you hardly know their names who have become people you depend on if for nothing else a smile on the bus or train, at the casino or at 7-11 or Starbucks on your way to work.

Prayers go out to those in the path of the Southern California fires.

Hundreds of homes are now GONE and Thousands of people have lost everything!   I can't imagine the hurt and pain they must be experiencing.

WHEN will the Liberal Democrats begin to SUPPORT our Goverment instead of Hider it?

I have a Dear Friend who post five or six Anti-Trump items on her Facebook EVERY F'N DAY!  Give it up I tell her.  She is a die hard Liberal who has cost herself Dozens of friends and just sounds like a Bitter Old Woman.

I get it that there are perhaps Millions of people who Do Not Like President Donald Trump, but as an American your are DESTROYING our Democracy by your Constant Resistance.  It is time to WORK TOGETHER to make a Better America.  What part of the Lowest Unemployment Rate in over 100 years and All Time Record Highs on Wall Street do you NOT Understand?  For the FIRST TIME in Over Ten Years the United States has had a 3% Growth Domestic Product for Three Consecutive Quarters.  The Three Quarters where President Trump is 100% Responsible!   These are things which put MONEY IN YOUR POCKET!

Can you believe they ads for the Summer 2018 Movie "Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom" have started to air?

That is SIX MONTH AWAY!  But it does look like a good movie!


WHY is Olympic Skier Lindsey Vonn STILL on the team?

Yesterday she said "Well I hope to represent the people of the United States, not the president," Then GET THE HELL OFF THE UNITED STATES TEAM!  And that goes for the rest of the Olympic Athletes who have also expressed this feeling.  It is called THE UNITED STATES for a reason.  And Lindsey Vonn, who had an affair with Golfer Tiger Woods trying to sound "So Pure" by her Anti-President Trump Remarks?  PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!  

And what kind of Lame Half Ass Remarks did Senator Al Franken make yesterday?

Did he ONCE show Any Remorse for what he says "He does not think happened" in his actions against women?   Hey Al, Remember this photo?

 And did Give A Date for his resignation?  No!  Does ANYONE think he is really going to resign?  No!

Read this if you want to know how his accusers feel about his speech!

https://www.yahoo.com/news/al-franken-apos-accusers-speak-180502688.html

Do not get me wrong, there is ZERO Tolerance for Sexually Assaulting Women, or Men as far as that goes.  But when women start "Faking Yearbook Comments" or "Remembering" events from thirty years ago, Enough is Enough!   That is not to say that Matt Lauer, Charlie Rose and others lost their jobs without reason.  I am sure that most men, including myself, have done or said things which would be construed as wrong, but so many of the accusations seem to be nothing but Political! 

And I am tired of hearing how President Trump said on  tape that he "Grabbed women's Pu$$y"

It was LOCKER ROOM TALK!  Not an Admission he did it!  Was it in Poor Taste for him to say?  Yes!  Was he even THINKING of running for President at the time?  No!  

It would be like me saying that I slept with Kim Kardassian.

Did it happen?  You be the judge!   

Did I ever mention that I met Porn Film Star Marilyn Chambers in her Hotel Room in Dayton, Ohio in 1982?

I was so young at the time!  This was in May of that year as I started growing my beard Thanksgiving Day 1982!  

We need to Clean Up Washington and as much as I hate this phrase, "Drain The Swamp"!   When we have Senators and Congressmen who have served over 20 years and are over the age of 80, can they REALLY RELATE?  This is why we need TERM LIMITS!

I propose:

One Six Year Presidential Term

( No, this is not real )
and
No More than Ten Years for Senators and Congressmen.

And this goes for State Governments as well!


My NFL Picks for the week.

And my HUGE UPSET

Maybe I had too much Spiked Egg Nog?

Charlie Brown and I BOTH put up a President Obama Christmas Tree this year!

OK, so that is a lie

with my Wife Sharon out of town for the past month, those "Gift Wrapping Services" in the mall are lifesavers!  
I am about as Bad of Wrapper than

Flavor Flav!    Who use to live about eight blocks from me until the HOA ran him out!  They did not appreciate his Parties and Fireworks Displays so he moved!

His chicken places were Very Good but did not last.  The Best Thing about Flavor Flav is that you ALWAYS know what time it is when he is around!

And one more "Musical" Christmas cartoon.

On a final Serious note:

There are Hundreds of Thousands of Families who and not as Blessed as you and I who will NOT enjoy Christmas this year.   Here in Las Vegas, KLUC Morning Personality Chuck Buchanan is in the middle of his Christmas Toy and Bike Drive!

This is the 11th year he has broadcast high above the NV Energy Parking Lot on Sahara to make Christmas a reality for kids who otherwise would have nothing.  Twenty Four Hours a day now through December 12th.  In addition to bikes you can also donate New Un-wraped Toys, Gift Cards and Money.   If you can't make it in person, I encourage you to go to the website 
helpsonv.org 
where you can also donate.  Even if it is $5, it will mean so much to a child who will not get a visit from Santa this year.

If you live somewhere other than Las Vegas, call the Salvation Army in your town to make someone's Christmas a reality this year. 

I always Welcome your Comments at

e-mail
its.dan.bledsoe@gmail.com

Twitter
@itsdano

Sexual Harassment Gone Wild

The first thing I want to make Very Clear is there is NO PLACE in today's society where "Sexual Harassment" is acceptable!

Using one's power to put pressure on someone or making un-wanted sexual advancements or touching is just plain WRONG!

Alabama's Senator Roy Moore is a Prime Example of power going to your head.

All your heads!   Does this photo look like he is practicing his best Senator Al Franken impersonation?

Why is it if the Senator or Congressman is a Republican the Democrats SCREAM for resignations and if it is a Democrat we hear "Well, he apologized!"

And if HALF the allegations against NBC Today Show Host, Matt Lauer is true

how did he keep his $20 Million Dollar a Year Job So Long?

A Professional Poker Player friend of mine told me that just a few years ago it was acceptable to ask a woman out over and over until she said yes or you would just get tired of asking and her telling you no.   He told me one of his friends was "Threatened" with a Sexual Harassment Lawsuit for asking his Assistant out twice.  Is this over-reacting or just that the times are changing?  I don't know the answer but I do know if a woman, or a man are uncomfortable with you doing or saying something, DON'T DO IT!

What was once "Acceptable" is no longer.

The days of a "Woman's Place Is In The Home", is No longer the case.

I am going to "Stay Out Of The Weeds" when it comes to The White House and other political issues like Michael Flynn.

All the Speculation and "Leaks" are Not good for our country.  I lived through the turmoil that was Watergate.  With Social Media as it is, Rumors and just plain Lies get repeated over and over and Fiction can become Facts!   

Think of the Party game when you "Whisper" a story to the next person and they to the next and so on and so on.  At the end of ten or more people the story is 100% Different! 

The same thing happens with Social Media. 

Is it OK to let pets near your computer?

Perhaps not?

Fifty Years ago I had three friends "Go Missing and Disappear Without A Trace" while exploring a cave located directly across the street from where I lived.  Joey and his Brother Billy Hoag and their friend Craig Dowell told friends they were going to explore one of the hundreds of caves in the area and were never heard from again.

Over the years there have been many theories of what happen to the boys, from Abduction to Lost In The Cave.  In two weeks one of the most comprehensive accounts of what happen that fateful day in Hannibal, Missouri will be published.

Author John Wingate, also a friend of the "Lost Boys" has devoted several years of his life putting together this spellbinding account.  On a personal note I have always wondered what happened to my friends.  No bodies were ever found in the cave, no ransom note not a trace of these boys.  So What Happened? 

John's book will be available at Amazon.Com on December 15th.  A Great "Stocking Suffer" if you know someone who grew up in Hannibal, Missouri and a Great Read if you enjoy a good Non-Fiction Mystery.  I highly recommend this book.

This week North Korean Nutjob, Kim Jung Un, fired yet another missile.

The biggest difference with this weeks' launch is the distance this missile flew.  North Korea now has the ability to fire a Nuclear Missile that will reach ANYWHERE in the world!

This includes striking a target ANYWHERE in the United States!
I keep hearing friends say "Oh he would never fire one aimed at the United States as it would be a Death Wish."  Well, this Nutjob does not care as he is quickly losing control of his country.

So what if he fired one at Washington?  It would take about 18 minutes to reach the United States and according to top military experts we would have two shots at interception.  If he fired several missiles, the chances of intercept would become less of a given.

And our retaliation?   Best case scenario it would take 15 minutes for our missiles to reach North Korea and would kill Millions of innocent people.  Once the United States would fire missiles, Kim Jung Un would unleash a barrage of missiles aimed at Seoul, South Korea.  In less than five minutes, North Korea's missiles would murder over Five Million Innocent people.

The answer lies in the last line of the 1983 movie "War Games" by the computer Joshua
" A strange game. The only winning move is not to play. How about a nice game of chess?

I choose Chess!

Overall I am $50 ahead on my NFL Wagers this season.  I lost two games in the last thirty seconds of the game which would had given me a $900 parlay win.  But that is why they call it Gambling.   

This week I see my favorite team, The Kansas City Chiefs, "Squeaking" by the New York Jets.  The "Jets" are an improved team and tough at home.   My other picks

*   Detroit over Baltimore
*   Miami over Denver

and my Upset of The Week

*   Buffalo over New England

And for those who have asked, I spend $20 a week on a 3 Team Round Robin Bet. 

Do you have all your Holiday Shopping Complete?

I have finished buying for my Wife, always the toughest!

Need some ideas?

For My Catholic Friends

And what do I expect this year?  Same as usual!

Have A Great Weekend!

I always welcome your feedback 

e-mail
its.dan.bledsoe@gmail.com

twitter
@itsdano

Dinner With Las Vegas Legends

I will admit that I live a fun life and get to do so many things which most people will never enjoy.

Saturday my friend, Magician Mike Michaels, invited me to dinner with a couple of Las Vegas Legends.  I dined with Disco Star of the 70's & 80's, Monti Rock III, and arguably the Best Comedic Magician In The World, "The Amazing Johnathan" !

At 79, Monti Rock III, who you will remember as "Disco Tex and The Sex-O-Lets" from Saturday Night Fever with the Number One Hit, "Get Dancin" STILL Lights Up A Room when he enters!

(If you have forgotten, click on the link below)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDIPRxSZfMs

The stories this man can tell will have you mesmerized for hours! 

I also suggest you watch a brief documentary on Monti at the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNoVyOTtUfY

And as a person, you will not meet a Nicer Man!  Here is a Mega-Star in the Entertainment Industry who meets me for the first time and treats me like he has known me all his life.   I am already looking forward to my Next Monti Rock III experience! 

In addition, my friend Mike also had heard from Me and one of his friends Bill, how big of fan I was of "The Amazing Johnathan". 
If you are unfamiliar with his work, check out this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YhhBTJhcBQ

 Or one of his many appearance on Late Night With David Letterman

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Amazing+Johnathan+YouTube&&view=detail&mid=DD5B23DC5DF136A03B38DD5B23DC5DF136A03B38&FORM=VRDGAR

A couple of years ago Johnathan was only given a couple months to live due to a Heart Ailment.  Through diet, exercise and Hard Work he was able to build up his strength and schedule some performance again.  The Las Vegas performances were the week I was gone visiting family back East!  BUMMER!   But thanks to Mike, Bill and also Richard who are all personal friends of The Amazing One, he also came to dinner.

I am sad to say that Johnathan is once again having health issues and has had to postpone all his appearances until at least February.   Here is another Legend who did not know me from Adam, who was Funny, Witty, Cordial and treated me as if he had known me for years.   

If you are ever around people in the Entertainment Industry, you will know that they don't sit around making jokes and talking about how Great they are, they talk about life.  They talk of their friends, their families and what is important in their world. 

This evening meant so much to me on both a personal level in getting to meet these Superstars, to a more Private One knowing that my friends World Renowned Magician Mike Michaels, Master Illusion Builder Bill, and others had taken the time and effort to make this evening one I will not soon forget. 

My thoughts and Prayers are with Johnathan as he once again battles his life changing health crisis.


Did you eat Too Much over the Holiday Weekend?  If so, you will appreciate this.

I have good friends back home in Hannibal, Missouri who would NOT think Thanksgiving was complete without their Favorite dish!

Just the sight of the can makes your mouth water doesn't it?

Happy Birthday this weekend to Comedian and Impressionist Rich Little!

At 79 years Young he is still knocking em dead at The Tropicana Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.  He performs four nights a week inside the Intimate setting of the Laugh Factory Comedy Club.

I saw the show a few months back and it was Non-Stop Laughter! 
Happy Birthday Rich!


Once again I want to say just how Lucky and Blessed I am for having some great friends from all walks of life.   I am fortunate that here I was a Small Town Boy who wanted to be on the radio, was given the Talent and also some Lucky breaks that gave me the life I am now able to enjoy in retirement here in Las Vegas. 

No matter What You Do, I encourage you to Do It Well and Enjoy the life you have been given. 

Have A Great Week!

I always Welcome your Feedback

e-mail
its.dan.bledsoe@gmail.com

Twitter
@itsdano