The date was December 11th 1984, the venue was the Aragon Ballroom on Lawrence avenue in Chicago. The event was the 3rd leg of the Unforgettable Fire tour by U2. A young man who had arrived in the summer of '84 ( live aid hadn't happened yet for Bono) went to his first U2 concert. I remember them playing "Sunday" and at the end everybody was singing 40. It took a cold Chicago night in an ancient ballroom to make a fan. I remember them stopping the concert to allow the crowd to push back as there was crushing up front, I remember thinking how I hadn't really heard of them.
To the present and a warm evening in Croke Park on the 25th July 09, just a quick 25 years later and a dad brings his 11 year old boy to see his first rock concert, his arms wrapped around me and rocking out. When they played "Beautiful Day" early on the tears rolled down my cheeks...
Monday, July 27, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
A bit of cop on people!!
At a party recently the conversation turned as it inevitably would to the recession and how it affects people. At this point I would take it that everybody knows about the recession and is tired of talking about it. So a bit of courtesy to your fellow man while discussing the recession in a group situation.
It is not all right to ask "are you still in a job"
It is not all right to say " your industry is in a lot of trouble, redundancy's coming your way"
It is not all right to say " have you taken a pay cut yet!!!!"
It is not all right to say " have you heard about Bob...."
It is not all right to say " strong rumour going about, your company is about to close..."
It is not all right to ask " is your wife/partner still working?, then you'll be all right if you lose your job"
It is not all right to say " how's that 3 day week working out for you..."
It is not all right to say " are you able to pay your mortgage...."
It is not all right to say " so Bob your out of work since last summer, how are things going...."
Am I making my point clear here, its none of your business and if people cannot attend a party without being asked these kind of questions, then you should stay home and do us all a favour, because it might be you that's next.
It is not all right to ask "are you still in a job"
It is not all right to say " your industry is in a lot of trouble, redundancy's coming your way"
It is not all right to say " have you taken a pay cut yet!!!!"
It is not all right to say " have you heard about Bob...."
It is not all right to say " strong rumour going about, your company is about to close..."
It is not all right to ask " is your wife/partner still working?, then you'll be all right if you lose your job"
It is not all right to say " how's that 3 day week working out for you..."
It is not all right to say " are you able to pay your mortgage...."
It is not all right to say " so Bob your out of work since last summer, how are things going...."
Am I making my point clear here, its none of your business and if people cannot attend a party without being asked these kind of questions, then you should stay home and do us all a favour, because it might be you that's next.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Customer Service
When we look at the statement "customer service" and it's use over the last ten years, it doesn't look good, in fact it stinks. Companies who have used "customer service" to their benefit are better placed today to survive, while companies who viewed acceptable customer service as a spotty sixteen year old part-timer are wondering where all the customers are.
Retailing jobs have been devalued over the years into a temporary position on the way to another "better" position. However through out all the recessions, retailing is the one industry that emerges stronger and better able to adapt. The company that offers a true and effective level of customer service as a standard throughout its history will be better able to retain customers and compete with their competitors.
Hard to achieve, yes! harder for large organisations where the ideal is watered down by the time it reaches the front line. A quality manager who views his store as his "business" will actively promote customer service as it reflects on him how the store is perceived. However a "quality" manager will also cost, are you prepared to pay for this and then pro actively manage it so as the promised returns are achieved?
A very thin line between Operations manager, Area manager and Store manager must be achieved so as the Store manager perceives that he is part of the business and his opinions counts, you need a thick skinned area manager to achieve this and an Operations manager that is questioned on performance daily by the CEO. Remember the front line pay the back line.
Retailing jobs have been devalued over the years into a temporary position on the way to another "better" position. However through out all the recessions, retailing is the one industry that emerges stronger and better able to adapt. The company that offers a true and effective level of customer service as a standard throughout its history will be better able to retain customers and compete with their competitors.
Hard to achieve, yes! harder for large organisations where the ideal is watered down by the time it reaches the front line. A quality manager who views his store as his "business" will actively promote customer service as it reflects on him how the store is perceived. However a "quality" manager will also cost, are you prepared to pay for this and then pro actively manage it so as the promised returns are achieved?
A very thin line between Operations manager, Area manager and Store manager must be achieved so as the Store manager perceives that he is part of the business and his opinions counts, you need a thick skinned area manager to achieve this and an Operations manager that is questioned on performance daily by the CEO. Remember the front line pay the back line.
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