the importance of customer service

My parents taught me to be kind to people. Of course, I was instructed not to talk to strangers. But as I became an adult, talking to strangers became part of my job.

First as a barista at a small coffeeshop, then as a managing editor, and even now as an ad trafficker, I have had the customer's feelings at the forefront.

I have always taken great care to treat other people with kindness, politeness, and to let them know that I am there to help. Until our stranger-trust is broken (say, a woman who orders an extra-hot latte complains that it's not exactly 178 degrees, when I'm the one with the thermometer in the milk; or when a client complains to me about not receiving a file when they haven't sent it in the first place), I act with utmost kindness--and often act with that same attitude even after the unspoken contract of niceties has been breached.

I can't say the same goes for our current property management company. As my friends and colleagues know, they have done everything short of spit on us (and I bet if Ryan or I showed up at their office, they would do just that). They have hung up on us. They have refused to speak to us. They have written letters, sent certified mail, that allege Ryan and I have lied to them in writing.

Wow. They are JERKS!

And the things that are broken with our duplex? Not fixed.

I have never been in such a ridiculous situation. Today topped it off. I called up to the office and when I said my name, the woman who answered said, "I've been instructed not to speak to you."

I am NOT the kind of person with whom people are instructed not to speak. In fact, it is absurd for me to be in this situation. I am not gloating or bragging--but I have never been so difficult that someone has just stopped talking to me. (Ok, maybe Ryan gave me the silent treatment once or twice...) But on a professional level? I don't think so.

Ryan and I are livid.

We are trying to find any loophole possible to get out of this lease. Sadly, whether they be angels or assholes (they're the latter), we are probably stuck with them. For 18 months.

My advice to you is:

1. Always check businesses out before you sign into a long agreement in which you'll be paying them exuberant sums of money. Try the Better Business Bureau
2. If you're in a crappy situation, know that you are not alone. Look into tenant rights, advisory councils, and (again) the BBB.
3. Above all, do NOT let a crappy situation destroy your closest friendships and relationships. Don't take your anger out on those near you. Write angry letters and post angry blogs!

Case in point! :)

Thank you for reading. And leave me a comment if you want to know who NOT to lease from!!!!

no guts, no glory; no pain, no gain

To put it in the words of Bono, I'm "stuck in a moment I can't get out of." Or something like that. You U2 fans who also happen to read my blog can correct me later.

Or maybe my favorite Bob Schneider song says it best:

She said I had big dreams, big dreams don't you know?
But it's so hard to make these big dreams come true.
Now I try to hold on to what we had the best I could.
I find holdin on is the hardest thing to do.

Point is, I am at a place in my life where I am not reaching my goals. I have lofty dreams of being a career creative, and yet I do not spend every moment of my days reaching for that.

Instead, I fill it up with things I need to do. I need to work, of course, to pay bills. I need to keep the house clean, the laundry clean, and keep the dog fed and exercised. I need to do all sorts of things--and not one of those involves me furthering my own life's ambitions.

My mom told me that sometimes, you have to ignore the dirt. I'm pretty sure she was referring to the fact that I will never get every single black Finley hair up off of the floor, and not every room in the house will always be perfectly clean. In fact, that's a rarity. But I think she also means that sometimes we just have to live with the proverbial dirt in our lives. If I was able to sweep away my tendencies to procrastinate, or to wipe up my fear of failure, or launder all of my insecurities, maybe I'd be a better person.

The thing is, I'm choosing to live with that dirt.

In essence, I am choosing not to fulfill my own dreams. I am letting myself get sucked further and further into the domestic doldrums, and I'm not even a quarter-century old yet.

Many of my friends and colleagues have traveled, sought higher education, and met hundreds of people. I am just average, with my bachelor's degree, my full-time job, my four-door sedan, and my knack for poor fashion choices.

Where did I loose my need to be an individual, and to shine above the competition? When did I become ok with being complacent with my life? When did I stop trying to be a famous singer/songwriter, and when did I just decide to start giving up before I got good at something?

I think it started in college when I realized I could get by without actually reading the entire book. Don't you?