#70: You get great customer service.

#70: It makes my day when………….. You get great customer service.

The difference between a good day and a great day at the shops, the biggest factor in your level of annoyance when having to deal with providers via the phone or the level of excitement on special occasions when dining at fancy restaurants = the standard of customer service.

I always wondered that it couldn’t be that hard to provide great customer service. I mean just chuck on a smile, a good attitude and be aware of what is happening around you, right? Well no, as sometimes it seems as though it is the hardest job in the world & those doing it seem as though it is the last place they would ever wish to be……..Although I am sure some consumers make it awfully tough with their bad attitudes and poor manners but if you hate your job so much – get a new one!

Therefore it totally makes my day when you come across a shining star, one who provides a great level of customer service and has you beaming as you walk away from your interaction with them. They may have gone out of their way to help you, been polite & attentive, understood your needs or issues or simply smiled and asked how you were going.

Different situations call for different actions but when they get it right, I make sure I go out of my way to tell them so hopefully they will continue with their great service and maybe you will even benefit when you come across them….

Happy shopping!

Becstar x

                    Doesn’t she look like she is just ready & waiting to help you. What a star!

                                          I don’t condone this but I understand the frustration.

#69: You get that last email out, just before your laptop power dies.

#69: It makes my day when…………..You get that last email out, just before your laptop power dies.

If you rely on the use of any particular type of battery powered equipment then hopefully you are nodding along to this one. For me the two things I rely on everyday are my laptop and my iphone.

Working outside of a traditional ‘office’, always out at client’s premises or in the air around the country, I have to be on my A-game when it comes to keeping my appliances charged but to be brutally honest I am sitting on about a C+ average – I suck!

Therefore it totally makes my day when I judge the use of my equipment to perfection by finishing everything that I need to do, then having my laptop power fade out 15 seconds later. I feel like I have beaten the buzzer and won the game by sinking a 3-pointer from the halfway line – okay so that may seem quite drastic but it makes me feel like a winner! Like I have outsmarted the laptop!

This may happen when you have just enough battery on your phone to sms your partner/mum the address for them to pick you up from, your ipod runs out of power just as you finishing your run, the remote control batteries are fading but they still work to turn the tv off so you don’t have to get out of bed or your electric toothbrush keeps spinning until the morning of your weekly shopping trip for more batteries.

Whatever it is, hopefully your good fortune does not go unnoticed and it makes you smile.

Happy power saving!

Becstar x

#68: Your friends are truly happy!

#68: It makes my day when………….. Your friends are truly happy!

Last week I had the pleasure of a quick trip back to Perth for work, which I jumped at as it always a great chance to catch up with my lovely family & friends.

This is an even more special time to be coming back to see them at the moment, as there is so much going on with engagements, weddings and even the odd baby popping up (or out). At the moment these babies are only nieces & nephews but I am sure it is not long until we welcome one into our group of friends.

I have already flown back for 4 weddings this year (3 more to go) and luckily I have a cool boss who allowed me to tie this trip in with a good friend Rachel’s engagement party.

I also got to catch up with Shones, who was recently engaged and gossip with Anita & Kate who are in the midst of planning their December/January nuptials.

Add to this, we farewelled Emma who was off to Europe on a 5 week trip.

Wow! And this is just the tip of the iceberg. But the overwhelming feeling I had every time I walked away from seeing everyone was that everyone just seemed so happy, in a state of excitement with so many “I am so looking forward to….” or “I really can’t wait….” And this just made me so happy.

To see the people that I love so much, so happy & content was enough to make my day 10 times over. What a great feeling!

Happy days!

Becstar x

                 Some of my beautiful, happy friends at Janelle’s wedding a few years back!

#67: A true champion prevails

#67: It makes my day when…………..A true champion prevails.

Wow what a month it has been of late nights watching the Tour de France but for all the tired mornings  it was so worth it!

So many people have bagged Cadel over the years but I knew he had it in him and the way in which he did it, was nothing short of extraordinary.

I get goosebumps just thinking about it and I know I'm not the only one.....

Bravo Cadel, you have totally made my day and it's so great to see true champions prevailing.

Happy riding!

Becstar x

                                 Combining two of my favourite things – Champers & Cycling!

                                     

                                     What a moment of relief - not only for Cadel but for all us watching at home!

#66: You tick everything off your to-do list!

#66: It makes my day when…………..You tick everything off your to-do list!

If you are anything like me then you would list your hobbies as follows –

·        Hanging out with friends & family

·        Exercising

·        Travelling to new places

·        Making lists

My whole list is run on lists, what I need to do at work, how I run my social life & manage my relationships (Yes I have a list for who I need to call/contact each week), running errands, shopping lists, exercise schedules and so on…..

I usually end my work day but sitting down and writing out my schedule for the following day with all the things I need to do. I also have a whole set of rules about incomplete tasks & not being able to forward them more than 3 times but that’s a whole other story that is way too complicated to explain.

Anyway my point is that there are not many other things that can happen to me throughout the day that make me feel as satisfied as when I finally cross  that last task off my list (I have to manually cross out each line item, so I feel like I am achieving something) What a day’s it’s been when I have actually managed to cross off all 36 items which may include everything from ‘Tidying email inbox, preparing an invoice, calling my nanna, going to a gym class, paying a bill, putting on the slow cooker, painting my fingernails and catching up on my favourite blog’

Oh yeah, I put all sorts of things on my lists, some of which are even too embarrassing to put here. If someone ever stole my diary, they may be in for a laugh!

Writing the MMDW blog is usually the first thing on my weekday lists and you can tell it’s been a busy one when I am not posting the blog until 5.10pm Perth time! Whoops, only 11 items left on today’s list L

Happy list making!

Becstar x

#65: You change lanes & avoid hitting the lane markers

#65: It makes my day when………….. You change lanes & avoid hitting the lane markers.

Today’s post was sent in by my baby bro Trav and as soon as I read it, I thought ‘Yes, I love it when that happens!’

While it may not be a mood changer or have you punching the air in delight, it certainly brings a smile to my face & has me thinking “Geez Bec, you are a bloody precise driver!”

I am sure you all know exactly what I am talking about but in case you aren’t, this happens when you are driving down the freeway, changing lanes or perhaps merging and you miss hitting the cateyes in the middle of the road and avoid feeling the “doon-doon” when you drive over them.

The pleasure of a smooth ride is enough to put a smile of my face and hopefully on yours too.

Happy merging!

Becstar x

#64: You master a new skill.

#64: It makes my day when………….. You master a new skill.

Firstly apologise to you all for my lack of blog posts last week – I was just having too much of a great time in the snow at Falls Creek. I had tried to be organised and prepared 2 drafts for posts on Monday & Tuesday but then I literally did not turn on my computer for the rest of the week (First time in over 2 years, I’ve gone two days without switching it on!)

Anyway today’s blog post is all about what I was doing last week – mastering the skill of skiing! Or more generally mastering a new skill!

How good is it when you are able to finally dominate a new skill that you have just learnt or may have been practicing for ages.

Whether it was finally being able to tie your shoelaces when you were a kid, mastering the art of cooking pumpkin scones or learning to ride your bike backwards sitting on the handlebars (This one took me ages to master. I have no idea why I spent so long learning such a useless skill but it does impress people when I whip it out!).

Nothing beats the satisfaction of achieving the desired result after putting in the hard work!

So last week, I was full of smiles as I conquered the blue runs of Falls Creek gaining confidence (perhaps too much confidence) with each run and pushing my speeds higher and higher.

What’s next of your list of new skills to conquer?

Happy practicing!

Becstar x