There is a funny British comedy called "Are You Being Served?" that I use to watch every week. I don't have much time for TV any more, but I can remember watching how those characters tried each week to offer the best customer service they could, despite all the comical blunders that may have happened along the way.
Thinking of that show made me wonder if I am serving my readers to the best of MY ability. The purpose of this blog is to uplift, inspire, and maybe give a tip or two on how to become a stronger writer. Am I accomplishing my goal here?
All my teenage and adult years I have been in the service industry. I am passionate about assisting others and there is a sincerity in my efforts that others usually recognize. When I was a manager within the retail industry I could determine whether I was helpful or not simply by looking at my customers. Face to face contact was an easy way to know if they were getting the answers they wanted. When I was in the finance industry I would know if I was achieving my customer service goal by the friendly connections I made over the phone. At one point I was handling more than 20 million dollars of other people's money at any given moment and they trusted that I was serving their interests to the best of my ability.
But the internet is different. You, dear readers, are sometimes "faceless" and "voiceless" to me so how is the best way of determining if you are being served properly? There isn't exactly a big HELP button sitting on my blog for you to push when you have a question or need a pick me up post. So I gauge my effectiveness in helping you by both the comments you leave on my posts and if you pass on information to your friends about my blog.
One of my favorite blogs comes from Kristen Lamb, author of the best-selling books We Are Not Alone--The Writer's Guide to Social Media and Are You There Blog? It's Me, Writer. Yesterday her post talked about the T.E.A.M. concept where Together Everyone Achieves More. You can read her post at http://warriorwriters.wordpress.com/2012/03/02/t-e-a-m-together-everyone-achieves-more. I like this concept. We are all members of a wonderful writing community and if we continue to help each other and lift each other's spirits then we ALL will be successful and achieve more.
So tell me, dear readers, are YOU being served?
I always enjoy your posts... and I love that picture of the cat standing on the dog (which is not what you asked, but I love it :))
ReplyDeleteAwww, Susanna, thank you for your kind words! Kristen used and even better example of teamwork on her post yesterday. I could see my cat doing that if he had a dog handy...lol
DeleteThanks for stopping by and come back any time!
I can relate to this! I have worked in customer service before and it's so much easier to tell what the customer's want! But when it comes to blogs, its tough to tell! But I loved this post, and actually I love the idea of that show...I will try to look it up later! :)
ReplyDeleteHi, Nicole! I'm glad you like today's post. Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!
DeleteThere are many blogs out there that offer advice or help on one topic or another, and this is certainly fine and I'm not beyond the need for much of the help offered, but mostly I read blogs to be entertained. TV sucks and blogging is much more interesting, in my opinion. So yes, I am being served.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Stephen, for stopping by! I agree with you...there is much information and advice out there. I want to be as knowledgeable as possible with my writing but I don't want to be bored while I'm learning...;-)...this is why I enjoy Kristen Lamb's blog so much...well written, entertaining, and a wealth of information...just what I need!
DeleteHave a good day and come back any time!
Haha! I also love the picture of the dog and the cat. I think you do a great job with your uplifting blog posts.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Hannah, that's what I was hoping my readers would say!
DeleteThanks for stopping by and come back any time!
I'm ALWAYS uplifted when I read your posts and see the super-cute pictures that accent your ideas.
ReplyDeleteAwww, Genevieve, thank you for your kind words! I hope you are having a wonderful Monday and come back any time!
DeleteBeing in retail and banking I can understand very much where you are coming from here.... this is an excellent post. It is certainly hard to know peoples reactions when "talking" via blog or facebook etc... so much can be misunderstood. Team work! Loved that last picture Donna.
ReplyDeleteThe more I learn about you, Diane, the more I find we have in common...;0)
DeleteI've worked retail, banking, finance, insurance, advertising and all those industries depend on people-reading skills. No wonder I can "read" people so well...lol
Thanks for stopping by and come back any time!
I always enjoy your posts whether they have advice in them or not. The photos are beautiful and the analogies are wise. And I love the cat on the dog's back. The definitive teamwork.
ReplyDeleteRichard Alan
Thank you, Richard, for your kind words! I try really hard to keep this blog entertaining and informative. There are connections all around us and we aren't as alone as we may think we are...the writing "team" spirit should lift us up even in our darkest moments...
DeleteThanks for stopping by and come back any time!