Boldness and indecision
"Each indecision brings its own delays and days are lost lamenting over lost days... What you can do or think you can do, begin it. For boldness has magic, power, and genius in it."
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
1749-1832, Poet, Novelist and Scientist
How to Avoid Getting Stood Up for Appointments
Probably 95% of my appointments are there, and waiting. But there are always a few who will miss. It's a fact of life. The secret is how to minimize those who miss. Here are some hints that will help.
1.
Never pressure someone to make an appointment. If you are sufficiently annoying, people will sometimes say yes to get rid of you, but you may count on them not being there (or not answering the door) if they make an appointment under such circumstances. You will have agents who want you to pressure people. I just have to say that I don't do that, that it doesn't work, and that it's not happening.
2. It goes without saying that you should ignore agent suggestions that you "just show up" or something of this nature. As Nancy Reagan used to say, "Just say no."
3. Give people your phone number. Encourage them to call you if they have questions or need to re-schedule. Most people are genuinely nice, and will make an effort to not inconvenience you. Make sure they have a way to contact you.
4. If you have any doubt -- especially if the appointment involves much driving at all -- confirm the appointment 24 hours ahead of time. Just call, say you know it's been a few days since you made the appointment, and you're wanting to make sure everything's on go. If you get a voicemail, leave a simple message asking them to call you and confirm, and say that you'll need to confirm the appointment before you come out. On a voicemail, also mention that if they need to re-schedule, that's fine, just let you know, and you'll accomodate them.
5. Be nice. If you're annoying, shrill, painful to talk to, or whatever, people will avoid calling you back. Make a point of smiling when you're talking to people and your voice will resonate with friendliness.
6. Know that occasionally -- despite your best efforts -- someone will not be there. Maybe they'll forget, maybe they're scared, but whatever the reason, it just won't happen. It's part of the business. Try not to get angry, and know that tomorrow will be better.
You're the Best!
If you've been in this business more than a few months, you've had this scenario happen. Names have been changed to protect the guilty.
An agent calls, and their first question is, "Are you still doing exams?" (Which -- as long as I've been doing this -- strikes me as about as dumb as someone calling CarMax, and asking if they still sell cars. But this is the usual routine).
After answering yes, the agent introduces himself, and says, "I've been using Susie Doe to do my exams, but I am not happy with the work she's doing. I've talked to other agents, and they tell me you're really good, and I'd like for you to start doing my exams."
Now the first time or 2 this happens, you positively beam for the rest of the day. Finally! Someone is recognizing my skill! Finally! My hard work has been rewarded!
Your honeymoon with this agent will last for several weeks or months. Then, however, you will find that this agent is unhappy with something you've done. And the agent will stop calling. Someone else will get the phone call you got.
When an agent calls me like this, I try to enjoy it while it lasts. It's flattering to be told that I'm the best around. But an agent like this is a malcontent who can't be pleased. The examiner before you couldn't, and you -- despite your best efforts -- won't be able to, either.
All of us are going to have agents move their business to us. That's a good thing. But when someone tells me I'm the only one who does a good job, that's ridiculous. I have competitors, and they're mostly quite good.
What's my advice here? First, when someone mentions a competitor, I try to praise them. You heard me. Because people
expect you to criticise your competition. Being a nice person in such situations is good for you. Plus, you deflate the malcontent.
Secondly, as I've suggested before, treat everyone alike. When agents like this come into the picture, it's easy to try and please them. They will tend to ask you to do things you shouldn't do (such as cancel another appointment for their clients). Just politely tell them you appreciate their business, but you're already booked at that time. Or whatever. The bottom line is that we shouldn't treat old customers badly in order to curry favor with a new agent. Treat everyone alike. In the end, it's the best thing you can do for your business.
How to Make Everyone Love You
OK, so the internet police are going to get me for that headline.
No way you're going to get everyone to love you.
However ...
There's a sure-fire way to endear yourself to agents and those you are examining. It's
flexibility. Probably 95% of the people I see make an appointment one time, and keep it. However, some have to cancel or postpone. It's going to happen.
If I'm easy-going about it, if I'm nice to people when they call to postpone, they will be happy. If I'm rude to them, unpleasant, or make it difficult, they will be less happy.
Ironically, being hard to get along with about postponements guarantees that you'll get stood up more. Because if people dread calling you to let you know they can't make an appointment, some of them just won't call at all, on the theory that forgiveness is easier to get than permission.
This is the way to be flexible, and still guarantee that most appointments will make at the time you set them.
First, as much as possible, go with the needs of those you're making appointments with. It's not always possible, and it's certainly not wrong to suggest a time if it's good for you. (I'm not suggesting you be a doormat). But if someone wants to do this at home, try to accomodate them. Same if they need to do it early, late, whatever.
Secondly, give them permission to call you.
Of course, you give them your phone number. I give them that, and suggest that if they have questions (it almost never happens, but people feel better if it's OK to ask) they should call me. I also suggest that if they have a scheduling problem come up, they're welcome to call and reschedule, if need be. Again, this almost never happens, but people want to feel you're not some kind of ogre who just set their appointment time in stone.
Finally, before hanging up the phone, confirm details: "OK, so I'll meet you at your house next Tuesday afternoon at 4:30, right?"
Be pleasant. Be nice. Everyone won't love you. But most of them will.
Enjoy your day!
Habits to Protect Your Financial Life
Here are some great habits to help you
protect your finances. Forward this valuable
information to your friends and loved ones.
1. Every six months do the following:
Take all of your credit cards, drivers license,
social security card, and passport and make a
photocopy of them on a copy machine. Make
sure to copy both sides of
your credit cards. Keep the photocopies
in a safe place.
Here is why this habit can help protect
your finances.
We all know that we should cancel our
credit cards
immediately if they are lost or stolen.
The key is having the toll
free numbers and your card numbers handy.
If you wallet or purse is lost or stolen
you will have instant
access to the account numbers and also the
telephone
numbers to call to report your cards stolen.
In addition to calling your credit card
companies
you should also call the three national
credit reporting
organizations immediately to place a fraud
alert on your name and
Social Security number. Here are the numbers
to call.
1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
3.) TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
4.) Social Security Administration
(fraud line): 1-800-269-0271
2. Do not sign the back of your credit cards.
Instead, put "PHOTO ID REQUIRED." If a clerk
checks for your signature he/she
will ask for your photo ID which will further
protect you.
3. When you check out of a hotel that uses
plastic magnetic strip
cards for keys (most of them), make it a
habit to keep the cards
and destroy them. Do not turn the "keys" in.
Those little cards
contain all of the information you gave the
hotel, including address and
credit card numbers and expiration dates.
Someone with a card reader, or
employee of the hotel, can access all that
information.
4. When you are writing checks to pay on
your credit card
accounts, make it a habit to always put only
the last 4 numbers
of your account number in the "For" line.
The credit card company knowz the rest
of the number. If you put your
entire credit card number anyone who handles
the checks during processing will have access
to your card number.
5. Don't keep your social security card in
your wallet. Many people do this and it is a
big mistake. If you wallet is stolen the thief
will have instant access to the most important
account
When Our Google Masters Just Don't Do the Job
OK, I posted a few days ago about using Google maps. But sometimes the address you're looking for just doesn't show up in their system. (This has happened twice to me in as many days).
I like Google a lot. But as with anything else, it doesn't always do the trick. If you can't find an address with Google, I recommend
Mapquest.comThe directions for using it are quite similar. Usually, between the 2 of them, you'll find the directions you need.
New Blog
I've begun a new blog today, where I talk about the relatively safe and potentially lucrative investment strategy I use with my IRA.
Read it here:
Covered Call Investing
How to Mess Up Your Career in One Easy Step
This is not the usual things you think about. It's not about a bad stick on an agent's husband. Or forgetting an Important Person's appointment.
This is about not renewing your license.
Yeah, your driver's license is important. But forgetting to renew that is a minor nuisance compared to
forgetting to renew your professional license.
I'm an RN. In North Carolina, we have to renew those every 2 years. Failing to do that -- or forgetting to do so -- opens a nurse up to a charge of practicing nursing without a license. And that is a major headache.
I'm like most people. I put off paying bills until they're due. But with a license, I try to renew it as soon as I get it. Because the annoyance factor is so large.
Whatever your license or certificate (RN, LPN, EMS, whatever), when it comes up for renewal, renew it. It wouldn't hurt to note on your calendar when it comes up for renewal just in case the mail got lost. Keeping on good terms with your licensing authority is important, and makes life easier for you.
Estimating Time Between Appointments
In a previous post, I wrote about using Google maps for directions. When Google returns directions, it provides an estimate of how long getting there will take.
People
always want to argue with that time. They assume they can get there faster than Google estimates.
Maybe you can. If you drive really fast, and if you hit no traffic whatsoever, you might shave a few minutes off their estimate. (It assumes the posted speed limit). But generally speaking, I've found it to be pretty much on the mark. I tend to go a few -- say 5 or 6 -- miles above the limit, and I'm usually just a couple of minutes faster than the estimates. But generally speaking, the Google estimates are good. Use them, and you will be able to accurate say when you can get somewhere. Folks you're seeing will appreciate it.
Using Google Maps
I've become addicted to Google maps. So should you, if getting where you need to fast is important.
Of course, you know the routine. Go to
Google.com . Fill in the address you're going to.
If you've got an accurate address, the first listing on the Google response page will show a small map, and the address you've entered. An entry pad below the address will say "Start Address," here you enter the address you're coming from.
(If the Google response page doesn't show a map as the first entry, you've probably got a bad address. Consider whether you've mis-spelled the address -- easy to do -- whether you've entered the wrong city, a wrong house number, or a wrong zip code. I don't normally enter the zip code, just the city and state, because it's easy to have the wrong zip, and it messes up the search. Giving the address with the city and state works just fine).
After you've entered your start address, and pressed "get directions" you'll have returned a map with directions along the left side. The "print" icon is on the upper right hand of the page.
How to Get Ahead
"The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one."
Mark Twain
Dare to Be Free
I've had folks ask me about my book,
Dare to Be Free: How to Get Control of Your Time, Your Life, and Your Nursing Career. And while I don't intend this blog as a pimp for my book, some of you might find it useful. The book is designed for nurses who want to make their careers -- and lives -- better, but a lot of the advice is useful to paramedical examiners, too.
You can check out the book at Amazon here:
Dare to Be Free
Housekeeping Details
Some have complained that reading my blog is difficult with the black background. So I've changed the template of the blog in hopes of making for easier reading.
As always, I welcome your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions. Have a wonderful weekend!
When You Feel Like Complaining
When you feel like complaining, give a thought to someone else: the insurance agents you work for.
If agents were perfectly honest, they would tell you that they wish we weren't here. That's not a slam on you, it's just the reality.
Because the hard-working agent has probably put a
lot of time, energy, and effort into a particular sale. Then we come along. And we have the potential to mess up that sale.
Because -- to the folks you're examining -- you represent the insurance company. (Many of them assume we're insurance company employees).
If you dress badly, smell, have bad breath, whatever, that person wonders if the insurance company has something wrong with them. Same if you are late, don't return calls, are rude, or just plain weird.
Even worse is when we botch a blood draw. Truth be told, agents are more than a little scared of us.
So when an agent is hounding you to get something done quickly, it's because they want this sale to go through. Same when an agent is irritated because something gets lost. And if you're working through Portamedic/EMSI/ExamOne, they're just passing on the grief that an agent's giving them.
The point I'm trying to make this beautiful weekend is this: if you can make your work easy and hassle-free, everyone benefits: you, the client, the agent, everyone. No one expects perfection. But if you are easy to deal with, pleasant, and competent, you'll find that work will flow to you. Likewise, if you are annoying, rude, whiney, complaining, and less than proficient, don't be shocked that people when people avoid sending business your way.
Listening to Clients
This morning, some veins from hades. We've all seen them. I was baffled. Couldn't see or palpate anything. I was ready to cut off a finger ... : )
Then the man quietly volunteered that although they
always have trouble with his blood draws (not something we want to hear!) that they usually had luck if they did it
here (and he points to a spot) and go in at an angle, very shallow.
This man was not a nurse or doctor, and had no medical background. What he did know was his own body. And I got the blood, doing
exactly what he told me to do.
The point I'm making is to listen to your clients. Ultimately, you have to make the final call as to whether you'll stick someone at a particular spot or not, but even the dumbest people are smarter than we sometimes think. Listen to them. Hear what they have to say. And very often, they'll make your job easier.
The Weather Report
Yes, we had snow. Or what passes for snow in North Carolina.
I lived in Chicago for 5 years. So I know snow. This was one of those beautiful snows that began around 7 a.m., and was basically finished by 9. Now we've got rain falling, and it's freezing on my deck. Brrr ...
If you're like me, what makes me crazy is that I could have been working today. Instead, I had time to get caught up on paperwork, and get my desk cleaned up. Well, a tad more clean. But instead, on what was basically just a cold and rainy day, folks were cancelling appointments. I'm waiting for Spring ...
