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	<title>Blinkers Are Optional</title>
	<link>http://www.blinkersareoptional.com</link>
	<description>Rants, Raves and Real Life</description>
	<pubDate>Tue, 19 Feb 2008 03:09:20 +0000</pubDate>
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		<title>Welcome</title>
		<link>http://www.blinkersareoptional.com/?p=3</link>
		<comments>http://www.blinkersareoptional.com/?p=3#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 19 Feb 2008 03:04:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mark</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Welcome]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Rants, Raves and Real Life&#8230;.
It&#8217;s been far too long for me not to have had a blog&#8230; so this is it.  Many of you early readers already know me well enough to know that if I&#8217;m going to to something I want to do it right.  I&#8217;ve placed myself on a steep learning [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Rants, Raves and Real Life&#8230;.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s been far too long for me not to have had a blog&#8230; so this is it.  Many of you early readers already know me well enough to know that if I&#8217;m going to to something I want to do it right.  I&#8217;ve placed myself on a steep learning curve and beg of you to forgive some of the early mistakes.  Everyone starts a blog for one reason or another - my reasoning is simple - I needed a place where my story&#8217;s could be heard about my customer service experiences.  We&#8217;ve all had them&#8230; bad customer service experiences stick with you like old gum on the bottom of your shoe and good customer service all too often is negated by the bad. </p>
<p>Is it incompetence, do we blame our parents - our teachers - our bosses?  I don&#8217;t think I&#8217;ll ever get the answer - or maybe my expectations are just too high - I really don&#8217;t know.  Hopefully, with a little luck and a little time - I&#8217;ll start to find the answers I&#8217;m looking for here&#8230; and at the very least - I&#8217;ll get some pent up anger out <img src='http://www.blinkersareoptional.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif' alt=';)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p>I&#8217;ve been reading a lot of friends blogs lately - Cord over at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.marketinghipster.com">Marketing Hipster</a> has some great posts about interactive marketing and how he&#8217;s doing his part to help &#8220;bridge the gap between today&#8217;s marketers and the market&#8221;.  One recent post got me on my band wagon and was one of the many reasons I&#8217;ve started this Blog: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.marketinghipster.com/2008/01/25/an-letter-to-verizon-wireless/">A Letter to Verizon Wireless</a>.  Now Cord took his usual marketing angle at the problem he faced - but I&#8217;m still struggling to get past the fact that he was essentially hung up on!  Are you kidding me!!!  Well anyway - thanks Cord - for inadvertently getting me off my proverbial ass.</p>
<p>One more thank you goes out to Tommy D over at <a target="_blank" href="http://www.talkinwithtommyd.com">Talkin With Tommy D</a>.  Tom is a close friend, boss and mentor. With a little pushing - and a whole lot of help - Tom encouraged me to start this blog.  I highly recommend you  read through Tom&#8217;s thoughts on how Marketers need to rethink their approach to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.talkinwithtommyd.com/?p=24">attracting new customers vs. keeping their existing </a>ones happy!  Can you say &#8216;customer service&#8217;?!?</p>
<p>Well, that&#8217;s it for today.  I have more I want to say and will be talking with ya&#8217;ll soon about my most recent battle with Sears Portrait Studio. </p>
<p>Thanks for reading.</p>
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