Consider This!

Letter to the President

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:31:00 GMT

The following email is a letter that I wrote to President Obama. I will explain in a later post the reasons why I wrote the letter. I encourage everybody to read the letter and consider what I am trying to tell the President.

Dear Mr. President. I am writing to you to offer encouragement and a suggestion. Like many Presidents before you, you are faced with ongoing and continuing events such as the economy, foreign relations, and national security. But, unlike many Presidents before you, you have the most potential to prove that "change", can happen and that it can be for the betterment of the American people. My suggestion is that you return to the place and moment when you were thinking of what needed to be done. I always believe that all Americans united will help make those changes possible. Big banking and big spending I do believe is not the answer. History has proven that big businesses are still here because they care only for themselves. We all need your help, and those that say they don't are biting their tongues. Dialogue and creativity are not expensive, and should not require panels or boards. Be courageous, stay true to your heart, and remember some of the best ideas are the most simple. Thank you for your service and dedication. Sincerely, Greg Benton

The Ride Begins for 2010.

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:04:00 GMT

Happy belated New Year. I suppose that I am a little late. What is 2010 going to bring for us? And are the latest events unfolding an indicator of what is in store for us to expect? I first want to express my sympathy for the people of Haiti. Even though most of my posts usually focus on America, as Americans many of us ourselves have been in natural disaster within the U.S. continental territory. Being a close neighbor and self-proclaimed leader of the world, the government well be under world observation and scrutiny by others during the help process for Haiti.

Speaking of help, is the U.S. still in a recession or not? You might have heard that our economy is in a U shape, V shape, double-dipped, or some other alphabetic form of recovery, but what does this really equate too? Spending was down during the holiday season, and while some jobs were gained due to temporary hiring, what happens now that the season is gone? How many people took a second job, and how many were able to get a job that they had not been able to aquire? Is this recession receding for just corporate businesses, or will it also recede for the American worker as well?

I think that the time has come for Congress to make a tough decision. Healthcare reform or Jobs. Which is more important right now? I suppose that depends on whom you ask. Of course we all need healthcare. We are absolutely dependent on it, and yes it is a necessity. You may be 100% healthy now, but anything can happen at any time. But what about having a job? We need these too! We also need our jobs to steady, secure, and hopefully fruitful. The cutbacks, decrease in bonus, etc.. are non-fruitful. Our government declared a year ago that job creation was a necessity. What happened? Healthcare has been the number one priority for the past year, and yet no outcome has been finalized. Is Congress having trouble multitasking?? Are they challenged when its comes to walking and chewing gum as well?

I have talked to and met many people who have effectively and efficiently multitasked in finding ways to keep their job, find a job, save their home, live off a cut in pay, downsize their lifestyle, and keep grinding each and every day. The American people have demonstrated this over and over again. What then can we say about our Congressional leaders? Don't get me wrong here! I LOVE America and would not dream of leaving, but I think many people are fed up and tired of waiting for results. Talk is exactly that....talk. Making decisions is different. Making the right decisions is so much more. Screwing things up in life is a given. Succeeding in life is, however, not a given, but rather it is a result of talk, discussion, decision and being right. If the average American can do this, then what is Congress' and the current Adminstration's excuse?

Recession full blown, but our Nation remains strong.

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 02:58:00 GMT

       It won’t be long and we will be saying 2010 in conversation and printing it out on forms and documents. Looking back over these last 12 months brings both happy and sad memories. I suppose it would not hurt to say that there may also be a few that elicit a little anger. But, never the less, those days have come and passed. To be fair I would say that many Americans can probably sympathize when it comes to telling our stories. Truly I am once again amazed and proud to be an American.
       Even with all the ongoing drama and last minute thrashing by our Government to help jump start our economy and show sense of urgency, we as a nation have remained united and civilized. Recently, I have even seen people stopping to help other motorists change a tire or offer assistance. I have witnessed a shopper unknowingly drop some money, and a person behind them pick it up and give it back. People seem to be saying thank you and you’re welcome. All of these are truly remarkable given the circumstances. An irony is that many of our governmental leaders seem to be doing the opposite in many ways. Bipartisanship has seemed to disappear, and egotism is noticeable on many levels.
       It might make one wonder who the actual leaders of our country are. Truth be known, we as a people of the United States are the leaders, and through continued conversations can solve any problem or puzzle. Conversations sometimes may include all parties in agreeing, or some agreeing and disagreeing, but all sides should be heard and for the betterment of the nation, sound decisions and actions be taken. What are some ways that could help make the process any better? Our elected officials are just that. They are not fixers of all, but hopefully voted in for their particular skills and specialties. Communities and neighborhoods and towns are filled with tremendous thought power and ideas.
       Now is probably the best time if there is one, to contact your elected officials and offer what help you can. Just like the motorist stopping to help change a tire, or an honest person returning money to another, because they know they value of the dollar, you too can help. When someone asks me what I think about the coming of 2010, I just tell them, that “I think 2010 will be a year of ups and downs, but a year where citizens bond together too move America out of it’s recession”.

Why Veterans Day is so important.

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:59:00 GMT

     Today is one of the first days that I find myself at a lost for words. Not words for the sake of saying what is on my mind, but the correct words to express what I feel. Ugly, violent, and self destructive words may get your attention, but to be honest, they still would not serve good use to portray the message of this post. When reason or sense of focus fails to find you, then you must set out to find them.
       As a veteran I am proud, I am honored, and I am sad. I am sad of the tragedy that has hit our military, and has struck pain in our nation. Am I mad? Yes I am. But I will not let myself become consumed by the rush of anger and the build up of negative emotion. I have decided that I will not give another minute of my life thinking about one individual who has caused so many people so much pain. I would rather think about the sacrifices made by our nations military and their families for all of us in our great country to have our Freedom, and rights to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. No person should have the right to take away any of that.
        But, I would be lying if I said that it doesn’t happen. Our heroes are heroes now, and forever. Being an American gives you so many rights and privldeges that many people in the world will never know. To have these are your right, but you must also realize that responsibility is part of the ownership as well. We all must be responsible for our thoughts, and our actions. We must all be willing to work with our neighbors and support our families with Love and understanding. We all need to agree that from time to time we will disagree, but that is ok. Religion has nothing to do anything in America. Race has no role in our given rights. Sexual preference has no role. What job you have and how much you make should make no difference.
       What will make a difference is you. Who you are, and how you live your life makes the difference. Are you spewing trash about the war, or your government, or your job. Stop!! Take a moment to think about those who have served and are serving in our military to enable you to have that right. Yes this is America, but it is made up of all of us, not just one, not just one percent, not just the elite, and not just the people on Capitol Hill. Everyone is including. If you see someone in uniform tell them thank you. If you see a drive to help those serving our military, do what you can. If you see someone in line at a restaurant in uniform, buy them a meal. Tell them they do make the difference. Show them some kindness and gratitude.
       You may not agree with where our military men and women are, nor the reasoning for why they are where they are, but I hope you understand they are there for you to live a free life, and a life where you have choices, hopes and dreams. Anyone person that is willing to give his life to protect our country and all Americans is a Hero. Heroes are not born….they are made. The best heroes are Made in the U.S.A.

It's Time to Take Control of your Financial Future!

Sat, 26 Sep 2009 20:05:00 GMT

      Hello again, I know it has been a while since my last feed, but I wanted to take time to get involved with what’s really affecting a lot of people right now. It has been increasingly difficult to put politics aside, especially with the amount of involvement from the U.S. government. Big banks are already paying off the TARP loans, and now that they are back on their feet, they seem to be forgetting about the little people, which of course, is us. Many of the big banks have only modified 5-15% of mortgages that are eligible. And to add injury to insult, some have adopted a devious and snake like tactic of increasing minimum monthly payments or reducing the credit limit on an account. You might want to check your local credit unions for their interest rates on credit cards and loans. More often than not, they have lower rates. They can do this because the credit unions are built by consumers like you and me, and not by some shadow monopoly. Like swine, the big banks seem to have a nice mud hole full of money now and have not shown much interest in sharing.
     If you have been reading the news or listening to your favorite talk show, then you already know that many, many American’s are without a job, and there are even indications that many more jobs will be cut next year. Debt in America seems to be rising again, along with more residential and corporate foreclosures. I still am wondering after all these big bank bail-outs, where the benefits to the public are. As far as Socialized healthcare, that may need to be put on the back burner until the basic necessities are restored. It’s almost like America is in a financial war, with the banks and Government on one side, controlling our debts and thus trying to manipulate how we live. What the other side doesn’t know is that we have voting power, the ability to decide to boycott banks refusing to cooperate, and a choice where to spend our money, and that includes switching our banking to competitors.
     Are you tired yet of waiting to be rescued by the new administration? Maybe now, more than ever is the time to take ownership of your future. I believe the time has come to reduce our debts, and look at one another for some support and encouragement. How much has society already sacrificed? I believe that most Americans are ready to downgrade their creature comforts until they can get control of their lives, and thus start rebuilding their financial futures. Some spending will be necessary in order to keep things flowing, but extravagance seems to be the old, and frugality seems to be the new.
       I say lets get rid of the debt, help one another, and be honest. If a big bank wants to still be a pig, then bank somewhere else. Personally I like to use my local Community Bank. The community bank seems to be better than storing my money in a Mason jar.
      Knowing where your money is and knowing where it’s going are the first pieces of financial independence. Become educated and become excited about your future. Don’t assume that your bank or lenders have your best interest. After all, as long as you’re in debt, they continue to grow and eventually bleed your money out like a leech. Your protection is up to you, but I would recommend staying away from the swine and their money pits no matter how tempting they may be.
     The local book stores and your local library have a dedicated section where you can obtain books on how to control your finances. Become involved more and take control of your money. It will be hard in the beginning, sort of like when you first start an exercise program, but the more you apply yourself, the better you become and the better you feel. Thanks again for listening in to Jump Start America.

A Return to Customer Service!

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 01:35:00 GMT

As promised, I am returning to the subject of customer service. Another important part and necessity for customer service is to honor what you promise. I would doubt that anyone has never been let down or disappointed at sometime in their live. Especially if at a point of crossroads, because what someone had promised and failed to honor. I think that American society has lost some credibility by failing to live up to promises made to itself and to others in the world. Where has this value gone? The best example I can give is the following copy of a letter that I recently mailed off. I think you will find the letter serious and honest and a pretty good example of a company so far failing to honor what they promised. Feel free to comment with your own story.

September4, 2009

Dear Wells Fargo Executive Office,

I am writing to you in response to the frustrating and absurd process of trying to first refinance my mortgages into one, and latter trying to go through the process of the HAMP program. I have been a Wachovia customer for over a decade and have taken advantage of many financial programs from credit cards to home mortgages and lines of credit. My financial history with you has been almost nothing short of stellar, and I have made every effort to stay in contact with the correct departments during financial changes in my life. I believe that I have done more to contact you and assist you than has been done for me as a consumer. I find it disappointing and embarrassing for your company.

For over the time period of one year I have tried to either refinance my two Wachovia mortgages into one, or have them modified. At least on 4 separate occasions I have had to send more paper work or had to start a new process with a new department. It was as if the rules for modification changed in the middle of the application time table. I have spent well over 40 hours on the phone, lost numerous hours of work production due to your inefficiencies and lack of due process. You can blame the Federal Government all you want, but the lack of concern and effort for me as a consumer overshadows any slow down the Federal Changes may have caused.

If it was not for the fact that I have 5 children to look after, I would walk away from all my financial obligations to Wachovia, and since Wells Fargo has absorbed them, they will be left with the bad assets on their balance sheets. I would, however, continue to make my payments to any other companies, considering that they have been more than helpful, and have gone above and beyond to help their customers. I will continue to make my payments, since unlike some companies, I have standards, and good morals. I would really hope that I could receive a response from someone within your organization that can actually do something to assist me, and not from someone who just is a pawn in your quicksand process.

I do have a personal website that fortunately for me gets hits from not only within the

U.S.

, but also from around the world. My intentions are to post both this letter I am writing to you and any response that you may have to it. After reading this letter, it will be your decision entirely to prove that Wells Fargo and Wachovia are sincere and honorary in your commitment to provide the best service in the industry. I believe that many of the visitors to my sight will be waiting for your response as well.

Sincerely,

Greg Benton

Cc: Clark Howard-Channel 2 Action News

John G. Stumpf-Wells Fargo President and CEO

Consumer Response Center-Federal Trade Commission

What are you willing to risk to climb to the top?

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 01:40:00 GMT

       Fame, fortune and power. What are you seeking and what price are you willing to pay to achieve one or all? Are they worth sacrificing friendships, or a relationship? Are they true products of being successful in America? A conversation came up about the recent sex scandals of U.S. politicians and high rate of divorces among celebrities. Mix in the corporate grudges plotting Ceo against Ceo and you have a enough trash to headline any magazine for a month. The big question is if it is worth it or not.
       Talking to several friends I have found that some want to become successful and would even like to be noted for their efforts. On the other hand, some friends are quite comfortable being an average day individual and could care less about fame or power. So I proposed to those seeking fame and fortune, what would they be willing to sacrifice to reach the top? Were they willing to sacrifice their friendships to a point of stepping on coworkers to reach a promotion? One out of 5 said yes.
       I next asked if they were willing to end their relationship, even if they were married, if they found out that success would require them to move, and their partner or wife refused to move. 3 out of 5 said yes. I was amazed that a job is more important than a marriage. The last question I asked was if they would leave their family, assuming they had children. Not one said they would leave their children for fame, fortune, or power.
      I wonder if a large poll was carried out across the country, if similar results would hold true? Are American desires to be successful and famous creating a divide in the family bonds and friendships? Or do some people in their quest to excel inadvertently misconstrue their original feelings? Let’s pretend you won 1 million dollars. Would you change who you are, or would you still be the original you? I think a majority of people would be more than satisfied the rest of their lives with 1 million dollars, and would try to enjoy life to the fullest. But, I also think that a small percentage of people would think that they could not be satisfied with the money, and would immediately start trying to think of ways to get even more money. Maybe to a point of being scammed by someone, or taking costly risks.
      Having a million dollars would be nice, but having good friends, a close family, and a strong and lasting relationship is not worth being alone at the top. So I propose to you: What does the statement “having it all” mean to you?

Before you you decide to jump on the "Buy American" bandwagon!

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 02:09:00 GMT

Buy American! Hey you! Yeah I am talking to you. Buy American, support American companies and American families. Uh huh! Well, before you jump on the band wagon let’s have a little discussion. It is no secret that for decades that China and other countries abroad have developed and manufactured products for U.S. consumers. Let’s face the facts. Having products made in other countries has been a very lucrative and viable process for many American businesses. Consumer wants for new and innovative products was fuel by the once easy accessible credit from financial institutions every where. Adding to demand was the fact that many of these goods were inexpensive and in stock.Now that demand has slowed, finances have dwindled, and unemployment has raged above 10% in over 15 states, many people are wondering where the jobs went. Well, I’ll tell you. They’re gone…after you stop cursing, read on.
I am a strong supporter for bringing jobs back to America and rebuilding American commerce both locally and abroad. I do not discriminate against foreign made products, nor have I refused to ever purchase products made outside the U.S. I do prefer to buy American, and I am proud to say so. One of the major obstacles that I face when “buying American” is, that a majority of the products are not made in America. Take Wal-Mart for example. What happened to all the Made In America signs that they used to display in front of their isles and on there clothes racks. Bet you forgot about those days. Well I do believe that sometime after Sam Walton passed away, a subtle change started to place. So subtle indeed that almost nobody seemed to notice or maybe just did not care.

Wal-Mart is not the only company selling us out. Many Fortune 500 companies do big business outside the states. Take a look around in your house and in your garage. Look in your closets and look at the tags on your shoes. Heck, look at the tag on your underwear. Hmmm. For those that claim they are only going to buy American, might find it a little difficult and time consuming. Maybe a better approach to this process would be that similar to “Going Green”. It may be a little more time consuming, but if you want to show support, you’ll look at label before you buy.

I have an idea. Why not figure out a way to invest in American businesses that would be willing to support state-side manufacturers. Since there are incentives for companies to have products made outside the U.S., why not offer incentives to have those products made here. Would you be willing to pay more for those products? What would be the difference in cost to consumers for products made here, verses, tax dollars being spent for unemployment. Choices, choices, what shall we do? China and other countries should be able to bid for our business, but they should also realize that they have a huge consumer base sitting in their own front yard. The idea that there is a huge imbalance in the trade industry between the U.S. and the rest of the world makes me wonder if American’s are being taken advantage of, or if some people just don’t care.
Now that jobs have disappeared and business stores have closed for good, I think the current economic situation has gotten most peoples attention. It has taken decades to create the dilemma we now face, and it will surely take more than a year or two to decide what actions to take. However, it should not take too much time for people to consciously decide to help America get back on her feet.

What Happened to Customer Service?

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:14:00 GMT

We all know that life is kind of weird right now. Some of us are trying to keep our job, some are seeking employment, and maybe there are even a few who are sitting on a park bench just looking up at the sky. Big businesses are hiring marketing professionals, accountants, and other myriads of specialists who can figure out why sales are not coming back up, and neither are the customers. As business after business look at their competitors, both locally and abroad, they all are wondering who will figure the mystery out first. I can even imagine some super computers in a lab spinning away with computations of Pi and other scientific calculations that maybe only 1% of 1% of the entire population could even understand. And waiting eagerly are the specialists ready to divulge the elusive secret of why sales are still down.
Like Forest Gump, I am not very smart, but some things are naturally obvious. Probably the most prominent thing I can think of is customer service. After talking with people over the past couple of months, most people felt that customer service has declined with the economy. Many also seemed to think that those who are still able to spend more money, receive better customer service. When I say that, I am not referring to a more prestige establishment, or a yacht club, or members club. I am referring more to the difference between spending $100 to $1000. Better yet, let’s be more realistic and compare the difference between $10 and $100. A good example could be better explained buy asking you a question. If you have ever shopped at a electronics store for a cd or movie, do remember if a service rep came and asked if you needed anything? Keeping that thought, say you were at the same store and shopping for a monitor or LCD TV. Did anyone ask you if you needed anything then? Does more money equate to better service, and if so, why? Greg’s Rule #1 says, the value of 10 customers spending $10 is equal to 1 spending $100.

When things around the house break, or need repaired, I like to go to the do-it-yourself mega stores. I can remember when a few of these stores first opened. One could go into any section of the store looking for a do-hickey, a watch-u-ma-callit, or “one of these”, and there would almost be an employee who could help you. Lately, if you go into some of these stores, you may or may not find someone who can help. But, I bet you will find an employee more than eager to get you to sign up for a store credit card. Ironically, most of these employees willing to help you get farther in debt are usually standing by the light bulb section. The irony is, their light bulb is not on. Why not assist the customers first, wow them with your wealth of knowledge and expertise, and offer them a shopping cart.Then when they are ready to check out, set up a place where you can offer them store credit? Greg’s Rule #2 says customer service first and credit offers last.
I don’t judge people by what title they hold, car they drive, or profession of work they are in. They way I see things, is that we all play an important role to somebody, and that in itself is equal amongst us. I treat a restaurant drive thru employee with the same respect I do a doctor, or policeman, or sanitation worker. Everyone has a job to do, and when you think about it, we can’t do everything by ourselves. I also look to expect good customer service from people I encounter. We all have bad days, and we all encounter difficulties in our lives. But, if I frequent a business on a regular basis and happen to get helped by the same employee, I still look for good customer service each time. If someone is visibly having a bad day, give them a mulligan, and try and sympathize. But, if your customer experience is poor every time, let someone know. The tendency for people to never go back to a store or business because of bad customer service, is probably the number reason they never intend to return. How many times have you told yourself that you would never buy from a particular store again? Greg’s Rule #3 says that businesses that build on continued customer service usually have the most repeat business and continued growth.

I would like to stop here and revisit the subject of customer service at a later date. In the mean time, I would also like to encourage you to post any comments you have, and ask yourself if you and your employer emphasize good customer service. The fact that many parts of our country and the world are in an economic slump, is no excuse to care less about helping our patrons.

A Sign of the Times

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:48:00 GMT

It’s not the only the sun that’s getting hotter every day and inflamed. Many American home owners, and unemployed citizens are becoming more irritated in the delays in mortgage modifications and the promised creation of new jobs. I am glad to see though, that society has remained calm, and peaceful. Companies like Ford have restructured and reinvented themselves, and recently surpassed Toyota to become #2 in sales. Some big banks are starting to repay the Treasury the Tarp money they received. All the while, unemployment has risen and home foreclosures still remain prominent.

Have you been reading the news of unrest and instability outside the U.S.? Of course you have. Riots, protests, and violence seem to be increasing throughout the world. Yet, our society has restrained itself, displayed maturity, and indicated a willingness to work with each other to overcome the obstacles that many of us now face. In my blog The Way We Interact on 3/2/2009, I discussed, wether or not, other parts of the world are watching how we are handling our current problems. I also wrote,” Is the

U.S.

still an influential world economy and do other countries respect our opinions and general input on world topics?”.

I think the world is watching, and do believe that our efforts to facilitate economic recovery and substantiate our actions, might be valuable to other countries as well. Part of our responsibilities to helping each other has already been fulfilled. The other parts will be more challenging and difficult, especially if expectations of a year end recovery, established by the current administration, are not met. History has revealed to us through documented facts, and stories passed down from generations of family, that America has come together as one to succeed when others might have expected us to fail. By “looking outside the box”, and finding creative and innovative ideas for overcoming serious obstacles, I am willing to participate 100% to ensure such events can be avoided in the future. How willing are most Americans to wait for a sound and permanent recovery? And, will our society be able to tolerate the changes that may occur, or will our country like many others, become headline news reports?