.....2 out of 3 ain't bad!

No doubt you've been on the receiving end of lousy customer service a time or two. You've come to a company with questions only to be told by some sterile voice to press this or click that until you arrive full circle to your starting place with no help at all. Or, worse, you've reached some bored CSR (Customer Service Representative) who calls you by name but delivers only the infamous phrase, "I am sorry, but there is nothing I can do."

Now you are on the other side of the equation. You own a business or you manage a department or you are now in sales and you want your customers to be happy, to come back for more products or services, and to tell others wonderful things about your company. What do you do?

Whatever it is that your company does, no matter how you do it, you make a promise to each and every customer that darkens your virtual door. You enter into a contract, even if the terms aren't explicitly stated. The consumer pays you something, and you promise to provide a product or a service. There are pledges of quality and quickness. Customer service involves living up to your word on these matters, but it really gets to shine when something goes wrong.

Here's the thing. Mistakes are opportunities -- golden ones. Here's why. Studies show that a satisfied customer will tell 2-3 people about his experience with your company. A dissatisfied consumer will share their lament with 8-10 people and some will push that number to twenty.

But here's the opportunity. An unhappy customer will become a loyal consumer if you fix his complaint and do it quickly. Eighty percent (80%) of these folks will come back to you if you've treated them fairly. That percentage rises to the upper 90s if you respond immediately. Every day you have the chance to transform your mistakes into returning customers -- the kind who will tell other people good things about you. Imagine that.

Authority to resolve problems is what your front-line people need to keep your customers happy. Companies that don't trust their CSRs or sales people engender fear in the employees that becomes an unwillingness to provide the "on-the-spot" solutions that create loyal customers. "I'll have to check with my supervisor", is a formula for disaster. There is a high correlation between excellent customer service ratings, a solid bottom line, and employee loyalty. Build these strengths into your structure. Teach your CSRs to say, "I can fix that," and give them the authority to do it. They won't give the store away. They will deliver profits.

Service that goes beyond expectations. If you've made a mistake, fix it, and then provide a perk for the customer-something that says, "I'm sorry," and, "I care". When all is said and done and the dust has settled, follow up with the customer. "How did we do?" "Is there something else you need?" Chances are you'll get another order on the spot.

A forum that gives a voice to the silent customer. Fewer than 10% of dissatisfied customers actually complain to a company, but they do complain to each other. They'll tell other people what you did wrong, even if they never tell you. Remember the statistics, and give these people every opportunity to tell you how you're doing. What you don't know can certainly hurt your company. Call them. Send them an e-mail. Write them a letter. Ask them if they're happy and what they need from you. Much of this will lead to more requests for your services or products.

Now, none of this takes into account the occasional customer that is rude, irate, and unreasonable. They're out there and despite what you've been told, they are not always right. But this is true, they are always human and chances are they will cool off and get their wits about them when they realize that you are listening, that you can help them, and that you care. Most customers will respond favorably to good manners.

Price and value weigh heavily in the minds of consumers, especially in tough economic times. Many consumers say companies haven't done enough to improve their approach to service in this economy. But it gets tougher to 'beat everyone's price....have the highest qualiity product....and provide the best customer service.'
 
Can we say...best 2 out of 3?

...don't let your boss design the office!

Seems like all the employer wants to do today…is to ‘cram’ as many people in a space as humanly possible. "Tracy, it's all about saving money!" "We need to save in today's uncertain times."

But didn't we learn from our mistakes from the past? Didn't we already do this back in the 20's and 30's?

Back when "they" wanted to save money because of the times....Really?..is it saving you money? Or perhaps you don't know how to "ask" for help from a professional? Space planning is important!

Ask the clients that expect it to be 'free' when working on a complex project. (It's all about saving money....so the vendor has no value any longer). "I can find it cheaper on the Internet Tracy." Well, what if it doesn't fit in your office....or a column is in the middle of an employee's station? Can you imagine? Well, it happens everyday to the employer that knows little about planning....or the "assigned" info-gatherer on the project.

There’s several practical and real return on investments (ROI) that a new or refurbished office could deliver to any business …even in today’s economy. Start with the planning and the rest (even your choice of cheap furniture) will fall into place.

Increasingly people are the greatest asset of a business. An office plays a role in keeping staff, and in attracting the best new recruits. The mechanism does vary but in general people prefer a productive workplace to be efficient….believe it or not.

Just as a data network is vital for computer systems, so a human network makes a business better. An office interior that fosters and frees-up communication can significantly benefit a company. Glass partitioning, low furniture-heights and office 'nodes' that are given consideration and importance all contribute to internal communication.

Offices are including space to create alternative environments away from desks and cellular rooms. These alternative spaces support people to work in different ways. Typical is a space where staff can think and interact. People respond to bright, open spaces with more expansive thought processes, whereas structured and more enclosed areas are best for concentrating on tasks.

Most jobs have a variety of tasks. A desk is good for clerical activities, but when concentration is needed a quiet space might be better. Similarly, interaction within a small team isn't always practical with a few desks in the way. To get the best productivity at work...give staff the best setting for the task. This is the same principle as a factory floor, just applied to the office.

Back problems, sick building syndrome, respiratory illness due to poor air condition...all examples of how an office can have a negative impact. A well designed office will mitigate the problems of absenteeism.

A good office will encourage clients to travel to meet at your location, rather than travelling to theirs. This reduces unproductive travel time, reinforces your company image and adds to the 'buzz' that good offices have.

And finally, the daily tasks of filing and retrieval, accessing company information and knowledge, and printing and copying should all be as streamlined and productive as possible. Poorly designed offices can often sap hours from a working week through inefficient storage, inadequate provision of services and spaces for report collation etc. A good office will underpin any design scheme with the practical facilities everyone needs in a working week, saving time.

And doesn't that save money? Someday...someday....it will be an "employee" market again. Don't you want an environment that 'attracts and retains employees?' (If you don't...you will).

...the customer is NOT always right

I know what you are thinking, I have lost my mind…. of course the customer is always right. Sorry to say but that is bad thinking. Now, the customer is always KING, that will never change but you have to understand that a customer is not always right.

A lot of the time the customer is wrong. Wrong about what is good for them, wrong about their needs, wrong about what furniture works well in their environment.

Always treat the customer as KING but don't fawn over them and agree with their choices if you know the choices are not good for them. Now, many times you won't be able to change a customer's mind. That's fine. You have done your best and that is all that matters. You can live with that. 

Always strive to be the best person you possibly can no matter what position you have at a company. Remember, whether you pick up a paycheck or not you are still working for yourself. Always strive to be a better person today than you were yesterday. Always look for growth as a person, as a salesperson, and as a business person. You won't regret.

But let's be honest...the customer is NOT always right.

One woman who frequently flew on Southwest, was constantly disappointed with every aspect of the company’s operation. In fact, she became known as the “Pen Pal” because after every flight she wrote in with a complaint.

She didn’t like the fact that the company didn’t assign seats; she didn’t like the absence of a first-class section; she didn’t like not having a meal in flight; she didn’t like Southwest’s boarding procedure; she didn’t like the flight attendants’ sporty uniforms and the casual atmosphere.

Her last letter, reciting a litany of complaints, momentarily stumped Southwest’s customer relations people. They bumped it up to Herb’s [Kelleher, CEO of Southwest] desk, with a note: ‘This one’s yours.’

In sixty seconds, Kelleher wrote back and said, ‘Dear Mrs. Crabapple, We will miss you. Love, Herb.’”

The phrase “The customer is always right” was originally coined by Harry Gordon Selfridge, the founder of Selfridge’s department store in London in 1909, and is typically used by businesses to:

• Convince customers that they will get good service at this company
• Convince employees to give customers good service

Fortunately more and more businesses are abandoning this maxim – ironically because it leads to bad customer service. Why?

#1: It makes employees unhappy
Gordon Bethune is a brash Texan (as is Herb Kelleher, coincidentally) who is best known for turning Continental Airlines around “From Worst to First,” a story told in his book of the same title from 1998. He wanted to make sure that both customers and employees liked the way Continental treated them, so he made it very clear that the maxim “the customer is always right” didn’t hold sway at Continental.

In conflicts between employees and unruly customers he would consistently side with his people.

“When we run into customers that we can’t reel back in, our loyalty is with our employees. They have to put up with this stuff every day. Just because you buy a ticket does not give you the right to abuse our employees . . .”

So Bethune trusts his people over unreasonable customers. What I like about this attitude is that it balances employees and customers, where the “always right” maxim squarely favors the customer – which is not a good idea, because, as Bethune says, it causes resentment among employees.

Of course there are plenty of examples of bad employees giving lousy customer service. But trying to solve this by declaring the customer “always right” is counter-productive.

# 2: It gives abrasive customers an unfair advantage
Using the slogan “The customer is always right” abusive customers can demand just about anything – they’re right by definition, aren’t they? This makes the employees’ job that much harder, when trying to rein them in.  Also, it means that abusive people get better treatment and conditions than nice people. That always seemed wrong to me, and it makes much more sense to be nice to the nice customers to keep them coming back.

#3: Some customers are bad for business
Most businesses think that “the more customers the better." But some customers are quite simply bad for business.  Danish IT service provider ServiceGruppen proudly tell this story:

One of our service technicians arrived at a customer’s site for a maintenance task, and to his great shock was treated very rudely by the customer. When he’d finished the task and returned to the office, he told management about his experience. They promptly cancelled the customer’s contract.

Just like Kelleher dismissed the irate lady who kept complaining (but somehow also kept flying on Southwest), ServiceGruppen fired a bad customer. Note that it was not even a matter of a financial calculation – not a question of whether either company would make or lose money on that customer in the long run. It was a simple matter of respect and dignity and of treating their employees right.

Remember: Any customer worth keeping appreciates the effort you've put into trying to maintain their business, while protecting your own. They'll also admire you because you don't waver from what you know to be good advice, just because they've challenged you.

You know? Sometimes it's ok to say no to a customer...regardless of the economy.

...when I was a kid!!

When I was a kid, adults used to bore me to tears with their tedious diatribes about how hard things were. When they were growing up; what with walking twenty-five miles to school every morning....Uphill. Barefoot...BOTH ways, yadda, yadda, yadda.

And I remember promising myself that when I grew up, there was no way in hell I was going to lay a bunch of crap on today's kids about how hard I had it and how easy they've got it!

But now that I'm over the ripe old age of...well let's say "over 30"... I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today. You've got it so easy! I mean, compared to my childhood, you live in a damn Utopia! And I hate to say it, but you kids today, you don't know how good you've got it!

I mean, when I was a kid we didn't have the Internet. If we wanted to know something, we had to go to the damn library and look it up ourselves, in the card catalog!!

There was no email!! We had to actually write somebody a letter - with a pen! Then you had to walk all the way across the street and put it in the mailbox, and it would take like a week to get there! Stamps were 10 cents!

Child Protective Services didn't care if our parents beat us. As a matter of fact, the parents of all my friends also had permission to kick our ass! Nowhere was safe!

There were no MP3's or Napsters or iTunes! If you wanted to steal music, you had to hitchhike to the record store and shoplift it yourself!

Or you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio, and the DJ would usually talk over the beginning and @#*% it all up! There were no CD players! We had tape decks in our car. We'd play our favorite tape and "eject" it when finished, and then the tape would come undone rendering it useless. Cause, hey, that's how we rolled, Baby! Dig?

We didn't have fancy crap like Call Waiting! If you were on the phone and somebody else called, they got a busy signal, that's it!

There weren't any freakin' cell phones either. If you left the house, you just didn't make a damn call or receive one. You actually had to be out of touch with your "friends." OH MY GOD !!! Think of the horror... not being in touch with someone 24/7!!! And then there's TEXTING. Yeah, right. Please! You kids have no idea how annoying you are.

And we didn't have fancy Caller ID either! When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was! It could be your school, your parents, your boss, your bookie, the collection agent....you just didn't know!!! You had to pick it up and take your chances, mister!

We didn't have any fancy PlayStation or Xbox video games with high-resolution
3-D graphics! We had the Atari 2600! With games like 'Space Invaders' and 'Asteroids'. Your screen guy was a little square! You actually had to use your imagination!!! And there were no multiple levels or screens, it was just one screen....Forever! And you could never win. The game just kept getting harder and harder and faster and faster until you died! Just like LIFE!

You had to use a little book called a TV Guide to find out what was on! You were screwed when it came to channel surfing! You had to get off your ass and walk over to the TV to change the channel!!! NO REMOTES!!! Oh, no, what's the world coming to?!?!

There was no Cartoon Network either! You could only get cartoons on Saturday Morning. Do you hear what I'm saying? We had to wait ALL WEEK for cartoons, you spoiled little rat-finks!

And we didn't have microwaves. If we wanted to heat something up, we had to use the stove! Imagine that!

And our parents told us to stay outside and play....all day long. Oh, no, no electronics to soothe and comfort. And if you came back inside... you were doing chores!

And car seats - oh, please! Mom threw you in the back seat and you hung on. If you were lucky, you got the "safety arm" across the chest at the last moment if she had to stop suddenly, and if your head hit the dashboard, well that was your fault for calling "shot gun" in the first place!

See! That's exactly what I'm talking about! You kids today have got it too easy. You're spoiled rotten! You guys wouldn't have lasted five minutes back in 1970s or any time before!

....wipe that smile off your face!

Be honest...are you positive or negative? I had a boss that thought he was "keeping everyone upbeat"...when in reality...he was the problem! So ask yourself....
what am I doing to make my life better....for me?

Positive thinking in the workplace is extremely important. Positive thinking is a mental attitude. What we think affects how we behave. It is therefore important for us to begin with our thoughts.

It is a mental attitude that expects good and constructive results. However, it does not deny the existence of negative results or things beyond one’s control. It is a way of looking at things from a different perspective. For instance, one that concentrates on solutions rather than problems.

When our thinking is positive, our attitude is positive and we transfer a feeling of success to our colleagues and clients. In other words – we transfer energy and enthusiasm to those around us. People feel good towards us and are more willing to help us.

Positive thinkers know that when things go bad or unexpected result occurs, it is only momentary. That positive result is achievable. If you are new to applying positive thinking, here are 3 simple steps I suggest:

Practicing Positive Thinking in the Workplace #1

One cannot pay lip service to positive thinking. You need to practice and make positive thinking your prevailing attitude towards life. This will transfer towards positive thinking in the workplace. So, how do you make it a prevailing attitude? Entertain positive thoughts. It takes as much effort to think about the negative as it is for the positive. Concentrate on the positive and expect a positive result. Associate with colleagues with a positive attitude. Read inspiring quotes. These are simple ways to create a habit of positive thinking in the workplace.

Practicing Positive Thinking in the Workplace #2

Positive thinking in the workplace is solutions thinking. For example, when a project goes poorly and not in the desired direction…a positive thinking person concentrates on solutions instead of the problem. Ever noticed some colleagues have a natural tendency to point fingers when things do not go right? They tend to whine and complain instead of starting to work on a solution immediately? We have ALL had to suffer with idiots like that! And….what if your boss is super negative? Positive thinkers live up to the challenge of the problem and commit themselves to seeking a solution to the problem. They do not dwell in unproductive activities.

Practicing Positive Thinking in the Workplace #3

How many times have you thought – “Oh no, I am never ever able to do this.” When that happens, you end up dwelling on it and wasting precious time. Positive thinking in the work place involves thinking in these words – “I can”….”I will”…….."I am able”…….. "I am ready." It also involves taking the initiative to seek answers and solutions. And to be proactive in learning about the information needed to complete the assignment at hand. A positive thinker in the workplace concentrates on the assignment and is not distracted by negative thoughts.

Is positive thinking in the workplace easy? Well, it is as easy as you want it to be. It is also as difficult as you expect it to be. There will be times when you cannot help but feel negative. When such feelings arise, remind yourself it is as easy to look for a positive angle to things as it is for a negative angle.

Or do what I did…..turn your keys in.... and find another job! It helps to be around other "positive" people.

...what color are you?

Whether we’re aware of it or not, color plays a major role in our lives. We’re drawn to certain colors in the same way that we’re naturally attracted to a specific piece of art or even another person. Often, our response to color is so strong that it can create an appeal to a physical location or place. While we often can’t control the exterior design and color of our office building, chances are that we do have a say in the interior colors. And, while “color psychology” isn’t a topic we likely talk about during board meetings, it is often more important than we’ll ever know. After all, we could be sending the completely wrong message to employees and visitors just because of the shade or our office walls.

Understanding Color Importance: Marketing and branding teams spend weeks designing company logos and developing products that will appeal to customers. These groups know how important color is on a potential customer’s senses and attitudes. If customers feel drawn to a specific product, chances are it’s because the color scheme works. Similarly, if they feel turned off, the marketing team has likely failed at choosing a color pattern that sells. Therefore, shouldn’t we look at our interior colors with the same focus as we do our product development?

Using Color as a Tool: Different colors have different effects on both employees and clients. Because we want employees to be happy and productive at work, the color scheme of an office should promote the right energy. The same goes for clients. If we want our clients to feel attracted to our business, color just might be the best way to keep them in the door. So, what color trend is best for which room in your office?

Cool colors include shades of blues and greens that have a calming effect by reducing stress and tension. They work well in hospital waiting rooms where patients might nervously await a doctor’s appointment.

Warm colors include bold reds and yellows and are better suited for more social offices that seek to stimulate. Lounges, lobbies, cafeterias, or other places where conversation should be encouraged are good spots for warm colors.

Available light also plays a role in a room’s color scheme. Colors that reflect light reduce shadows, which help to increase visibility. In turn, better visibility means more productivity in the office.

Visual accents and wall decorations such as paintings, mirrors, or other wall accessories can work well for short-term spaces that don’t see a lot of repeat visitors. For example, a doctor’s office examination room can benefit from visual accents that work to stimulate a patient who likely only visits the room a few times throughout the year. On the other hand, heavy traffic rooms such as the office boardroom are better off with fewer visual accents that won’t be seen over and over by employees. In rooms that are frequently visited by the same group of people, it’s better to balance color and mix tones for fresh, interesting looks.

Accentuate the Positives: The truth behind most any office design is that each room has its positive and negative features. Stunning hardwood floors should stay as the room’s focus by blending coordinating colors that won’t take attention away from the room’s strengths. On the other hand, unattractive tile floors would be better off downplayed with a contrasting color scheme to divert attention away.

While the importance of color in the workplace is most certainly an interesting concept, few of us are true color psychologists. Rather than taking a stab at designing the office’s interior color schemes, consult professional office interior designers who make it their job to understand color. Let the professionals work their magic and the office will soon make a statement all on its own.

I am an office environment expert. Contact me for more details.

....why is this ball smiling?

CINCINNATI - Moments after Jay Bruce caught a routine fly for the final out, the public address announcer called everyone's attention to the standings board behind the right-field seats, the one that was about to reflect a seismic shift in the NL Central.

Finally, the Cardinals had been knocked off their perch. The Cardinals had been in first place since July 31. The defending champions opened a five-game lead before going into a pronounced downturn, losing nine of their last 12.

Now, for the first time since the middle of last season, they're looking up.

Alerted by an announcer, the 26,712 rain-soaked fans pointed at the NL Central standings board and cheered when it reflected the change at the top after the final out. The Reds moved into a half-game lead by winning seven of eight.

Cincinnati hasn't been in first place this deep into a season since June 8, 2006.

I grew up with the ‘Big Red Machine’ so I am looking for any “little” victory I can find with the Reds today…(keep your eye on Bruce in right field)….

Ahhhhh… The Big Red Machine

In 1975, the Big Red Machine lineup solidified with the starting team of Johnny Bench (c), Tony Perez (1b), Joe Morgan (2b), Dave Concepción (ss), Pete Rose (3b), Ken Griffey (rf), César Gerónimo (cf), and George Foster (lf). The starting pitchers included Don Gullett, Fred Norman, Gary Nolan, Jack Billingham, Pat Darcy, and Clay Kirby....but it didn't start off that way.

On Opening Day, Rose still played in left field, Foster was not a starter, while John Vuckovich, an off-season acquisition, was the starting third baseman. While Vuckovich was a superb fielder, he was a weak hitter. In May, with the team off to a slow start and trailing the Dodgers, manager Sparky Anderson made a bold move by moving Rose to third base, a position where he had very little experience, and inserting Foster in left field. This was the jolt that the Reds needed to propel them into first place, with Rose proving to be reliable on defense, while adding Foster to the outfield gave the offense some added punch. During the season, the Reds compiled two notable streaks: (1) by winning 41 out of 50 games in one stretch, and (2) by going a month without committing any errors on defense.

In the 1975 season, Cincinnati clinched the NL West with 108 victories, then swept the Pittsburgh Pirates in three games to win the NL pennant. In the World Series, the Boston Red Sox were the opponents. After splitting the first four games, the Reds took Game 5. After a three-day rain delay, the two teams met in Game 6, one of the most memorable baseball games ever played and considered by many to be the best World Series game ever. The Reds were ahead 6–3 with 5 outs left, when the Red Sox tied the game on former Red Bernie Carbo's three-run home run. It was Carbo's second pinch-hit three-run homer in the series. After a few close-calls either way, Carlton Fisk hit a dramatic 12th inning home run off the foul pole in left field (which is considered to be one of the greatest TV sports moments of all time) to give the Red Sox a 7–6 win and force a deciding Game 7. Cincinnati prevailed the next day when Morgan's RBI single won Game 7 and gave the Reds their first championship in 35 years.

Now that...was baseball.

...remember the 'Pelican Brief?'

1993: In suburban Georgetown a killer’s Reeboks whisper on the front floor of a posh home… In a seedy D.C. porno house a patron is swiftly strangled to death… The next day America learns that two of its Supreme Court justices have been assassinated. And in New Orleans, a young law student prepares a legal brief… To Darby Shaw it was no more than a legal shot in the dark, a brilliant guess. To the Washington establishment it was political dynamite.

Darby Shaw, a Tulane University Law School student, decides to research the two justices' records and cases pending before the Court, suspecting the real motive might be simple greed, not politics. She writes a legal brief speculating that the assassinations were committed on behalf of Victor Mattiece, an oil tycoon wanting to drill for oil on Louisiana marshland which is a major habitat of an endangered breed of pelicans. A court case on appeal, filed on his behalf to gain access to the land, is expected to make its way to the Supreme Court.

Suddenly Darby is witness to a murder — a murder intended for her. Going underground, she finds there is only one person she can trust — an ambitious reporter after a newsbreak hotter than Watergate — to help her piece together the deadly puzzle. Somewhere between the bayous of Louisiana and the White House’s inner sanctums, a violent cover-up is being engineered. For someone has read Darby’s brief. Someone who will stop at nothing to destroy the evidence of an unthinkable crime….but wait, was the crime the murders or the off-shore drilling?

2010: In the month since an offshore drilling platform exploded, killing 11 workers, BP has struggled to stop the leak, trying in vain to activate emergency valves and lowering a 100-ton box that got clogged with icy crystals. Over the weekend, the oil company finally succeeded in using a stopper-and-tube combination to siphon some of the gushing oil into a tanker, but millions of gallons are already in the Gulf.

Oil spills have long been known to wreak havoc on coastlines, blackening otherwise sandy beaches and killing off birds, turtles, fish and other wildlife. This time could be even worse. Louisiana’s coastline, which has become the latest battleground against oil’s slimy march, is made up of miles and miles of delicate marshland — shallow waters comprised of high emerald green grass.

This habitat is a perfect breeding ground for small fish, shrimp and crabs that support a multimillion—dollar fishing industry. Exotic animals like alligators also reside in Louisiana’s swamps, while a huge variety of birds attract watchers to the state’s national parks.

Louisiana’s fragile marshes face long—term destruction if the grass comes into contact with some of the heavy oil that is making its way through the Gulf of Mexico….and now

…. Chemicals being sprayed underwater are helping to disperse the oil and keep it from washing ashore in great quantities, but researchers said that in recent days they have discovered miles-long underwater plumes of oil that could poison or suffocate sea life across the food chain, with damage that could last for a decade or more.

....snap!! Wake-up...this isn't a book..and BP doesn't know what to do...

...is the draft broken?

The draft was once an innovative solution for distributing college talent to pro teams, but that was 75 years ago. The economics of pro football have gradually made it less effective, and as the college game becomes increasingly different from the NFL, players have become even more difficult to scout.

The league gives its worst teams first crack at incoming college talent in the name of parity, but instead of giving bad teams a leg up, it often forces them to draft players they don't really need at prices they can't afford. Many top picks hold out of training camp before they sign, only to end up with enormous contracts that have little to do with their true value to a football team.

What's more, NFL teams have a 50% chance of blowing a first-round pick entirely—the sort of costly gaffe that can set a franchise back for years.

What's surprising is that the NFL, a league with a long history of making sweeping rules changes, hasn't much changed its draft format since the draft was first held in 1936.

As it's laid out now, teams start out with one pick in each of the draft's seven rounds. Each player is paid more or less according to his draft slot, his position and a rookie pool that limits the amounts teams can spend on draft picks. Based on the multiyear guaranteed portion of first-round draft picks' contracts from the past three years—including the $41.7 million that last year's top pick, quarterback Matthew Stafford, got from the Detroit Lions—this year's likely first pick, Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, can expect to make $47 million guaranteed during his first multiyear contract.

In a draft system, there's no way of knowing what a player is actually worth on the open market. In 1998, the Indianapolis Colts used the first pick to draft Peyton Manning, who has gone on to become an excellent NFL quarterback. A year later, the Cleveland Browns used their top pick on Tim Couch, who was considered light years behind Mr. Manning in talent. But Mr. Couch still got a nearly identical salary of $48 million and a signing bonus of about $12 million. Mr. Couch played only 62 games before retiring (in style).

Isn’t it time we said enough to this?

Under a new proposed plan (that I think would work), all 32 teams would be given seven picks. They would have to abide by a spending cap that would go higher to lower—with the worst team (based on its record the previous season) having the most money to spend. When the bidding opened, the most sought-after players would draw multiple bids. Teams could then raise their bid as high as they'd like for a player they coveted.

Theoretically, a team could get any player it wanted—so long as it was prepared to pinch pennies on everyone else. Meanwhile, a team that didn't want to break the bank on any particular player could pick up lots of useful parts by spreading its money around evenly. Teams could also thrive by focusing on the bidding and looking for bargains.

In any case, there's some evidence the draft could be the next fix for a league that fixes everything. One NFL executive said patience is running thin. "There's a huge trail littered with guys who got the big dollars but were a bust," this person said.

Let's see how this draft fairs with the others since 1936....

Tebow to Denver?

...my...my...how time flys....

I did the unthinkable one year ago this upcoming week.

Some people seem to think that if you’re not too busy, you’re not really crucial to the organization. These people revel in having full schedules, long working hours and too much work.

Repeat after me: Work does not give you stress. Feeling bad about work gives you stress.


This means that changing your work hours, your responsibilities, your priorities or your work environment is meaningless, unless it also changes the way you feel at work.

Those stress management courses will not do the trick either, unless they can achieve just that. If you’re stressed, you must take charge and make whatever changes are necessary to go from feeling anxious, inadequate or drained at work to feeling appreciated, proud and energetic.

In the midst of this economic turbulence we're facing, I decided to leave my job as a vice president of a company to pursue some long-neglected passions of mine: building a positive atmosphere and teamwork, not listening to someone “drone-on about his financial situation”, helping companies with commercial interiors, and something so self-indulgent I can hardly bear to utter it (getting paid).

What I'm leaving behind is admittedly a middling (but respectable) career in upper management, but one, from the point of view of the working class people, you just wouldn't throw away a big title. My parents didn't go to college, and to them "pissing away" a position as a vice president is about as stupid a move as you can make....but they won't say anything of course.

My grandmother (God rest her soul), for whom was in her teens and early twenties during the Great Depression. Those are the days of waiting in line for blocks of government-issued cheese. I wouldn’t have told my grandma what I’m doing…..leaving a job during very difficult times. She wouldn't get it.

If you're sensible, and lived through such tough times, right now you're thinking about "How to Protect Your Job in a Recession," this is the title of a recent Harvard Business Review article. And here I am throwing mine to the wind! (It was the wind that woke me up one night after announcing to my wife that I was quitting -- is it the word "quit" or the memory of the rattling window that now sends a chill down my spine?) I've always been prone to digress from the straight path, and now I suppose I'm putting my money where my mouth is.

Speaking of money, I do have some savings, but most businesspeople reading this would probably gasp at my foolishness if I told them how much. A few months ago I almost told it to someone I know when I bumped into him at a restaurant while having lunch - he'd apparently been laid off from the banking industry. We briefly commiserated about the uncertain economy and our places in it, but I got the sense he had a pretty thick financial cushion. The tip-off was when he mentioned he had just returned from a trip to the Far East...to "clear his head about it." I thought to myself...here this guy is out of a job and he goes to Asia for several weeks. I had General Tso’s chicken last month…does that count?

Face it…job dissatisfaction is rampant and the work environment may consist of anything from bad bosses, demanding clients, unrealistic expectations. Do not discard it as a minor annoyance as it can make you despondent, cynical and negative. So don't wrap 'happiness' in a gift box and throw it in a dustbin but rather carry it on your face as wide as possible. This is the factor that is going to build your personality and your character....and set you free from bosses that are 'full of themselves.'

Wake up! Face it, even though you dislike it…..your workplace may be filled with people who wait for a chance to hurt you or pull you down or lock you in a dark cave. But equally there will be someone who cheers you up every time you fall. So find coworkers you like and enjoy working with them. Spend your maximum time with them. You can choose to be happy at work with your choices of work companions.

It’s a relatively small step from "liking your job" to loving it. It doesn’t take much and the things we need to do are relatively easy and available to all of us. But the difference in outcome is humongous. As long as you like your job, you’re only a pale reflection of what you could be if you loved it. You’re realizing only a small fraction of your full potential. You’re not having nearly as much fun as you could have.

Millions of people settle for jobs they like. The problem is that when you like your job there isn’t much pressure on you to change. Liking your job isn’t bad for you. It’s certainly much, much better than hating your job – which can make you sick or even kill you.

But when you love your job you are in a completely different league.

So I’m saying that we shouldn’t settle for any less anymore. Let’s make happiness at work the norm rather than the exception. It may take some work, but each and every one of us can get there.

First make that decision for yourself – decide that from now on, you will be happy at work. Then find out what you can do to get to love your job or what you can do to get a job you love. Then do it.

I did.