BASIC SERVICE PACKAGE

  

BASIC SERVICE PACKAGE

Another blog inspired by contemporary society.  USA-related, but within the parameters established by universal presence.  Reading headlines and suddently U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke planted a seed and here I am, bringing the fruit of his comments to you.  Had something to do with the potential of innovation to lift living standards.  Graduation.  Jobs for our youth.  And baseball.  So we throw in a Yogi Berra quote just for good luck.

"Is it true, then, as baseball player Yogi Berra said, that the future ain't what it used to be?,"

Keywords for me in all of this were:  Innovation and "…ain’t what it used to be."    Used-to-Be.  And brings to mind that a novel approach might be necessary to get me through the next 48 hours.  Blending of the old and new.  Is that not what Chairman Ben Bernanke is suggesting?  Not sure, but now I want to tell you a story.  Wrote a blog about Friday Night and Weekends recently.  Now its Monday and I would like to continue on.  Needless to say, I like going out on Friday Night, after a busy week, because you never know.  Never know how it might turn out, and surprise and just having fun is my motivation.  

Blending the old and new, if and when the right situation comes along, and things are interesting, but mostly done in a non-serious way,   ‘ …casual Friday’, I call it.  Have been warned lately about cell phone thefts, and how that is happening more often than one suspects.  So instead of handing out my phone, expecting you to bookmark or transfer my number to your digital phone/address book, I give you my business card.  

It reads:  

Basic Service Package

    Guy

phone:   1-800-123-4567

Come Monday morning and the phone rings.  Happened to be in a good mood,  and answered it before it went to recorded phone message.

"How may I help you?"

"Is this the BSP Guy?", a friendly voice asks.

And quickly I had to come up with something interesting to say.

"BS-Pak.  Basic Service Package."  

"How may I help you?’

 

And before you know it, I am making a commitment to make a house call later on in the afternoon. 

Have time on my hand before my afternoon commitment.  Have time to blog about The Basic Service Package.  Innovation.  Job Works.  Using one’s imagination to discover what happens next.  And so I was talking to this friendly person on the phone, trying to recall who this might be that I met on Friday Night, and if this was business or personal, or a little of both.  Was talking and mentioned that I was using an old business model once made popular by Sears and Roebuck, and by their main competitor, JC Penny’s.  Put your wares on the table and let the customer pick through it and find something they are interested in.  Now flash forward.  Amazon.com.  Modern Packaging.  Visual Basic.  

 

All comes down to what Yogi Berra said.

The future ain't what it used to be?

 

And what I learned from all of this is to be yourself, and not assume you know what the other person needs.  Ask.

 "How May I Help You?"  

And see what happens.  So I did all that.  Gave out my business card.  Waited for the phone to ring.  And when she or he said, "Do You Make House Calls?", it was decided.  I would just come over.  We would sit and talk.  My basic fee includes travel time, and so the starting point for turning the meter on is the place we met on Friday Night.  Travel time and conversation and before you know it we have a deal. 

"I like this."  S/he said.  Turns out the Standard Basic Package works best like this.  You tell me what you want or are willing to pay for.  If I can’t provide the service during the initial meeting, I will find somebody who can.  Visual Packaging.  What is pleasing to the customer.  What you want depends on so many variables.  When you see it, you will buy it.  Sears and Roebuck.  JC Pennys.  Worked way back then, and what needs to be done today, to make the customer happy.  Just ask.

  

And that’s my blog for today.  Going out soon.  Making a House Call.  Will let you know later how it all works out.  Not sure its all that simple , but seems logical.  Show up.  See what happens.  And be happy.  Life is what you make it.  Just show up.