moved...

my blog has moved to http://mward317.wordpress.com

Preorder You Shirt!

The RPM'S Light Rail Pub Crawl is only a few days away!

Preorder your shirt today!

Carrotmob... the Power of the Consumer, Powers the world

Came across this blog today with the below video. Carrotmob is an organization designed to use the buying power of mass consumers to urge major corporate companies to become "green". Check out the video...

It's something we've all thought about. I'm glad to see someone doing it. You can help change corporations to make a change... check out the Carrotmob Blog.

MUW

DISCOVER customer service - NOT!

I recently had gone through my finances and made all my payments to my creditors. I later found that the payment to my DISCOVER CARD did not go through. So, I resent the payment, and paid the late payment fee of $35. When I finished my payment I saw a button at the bottom of receipt form to request a credit of a charge or fee. I click on it and it gave a simple form to select what I believe had happened, when I had tried to make a payment, and how the payment was made. Mind you this form had dropdown selections which leads me to believe that it happens often enough that they have a standard for the form.

In response to my inquiry I received this message in my DISCOVER account inbox:

Re: Credit Request: Missing Payment [#1487009]

From Discover Card Customer Service Date Received: 12/11/2008 08:35 AM

Thank you for taking the time to contact us about a payment you attempted. I understand how frustrating it can be when a payment does not post as expected. An online payment may not be credited to your Discover Card Account if the entire payment process is not completed properly. To complete an online payment, please follow these steps:

1. Choose one of the following three payment options listed on the blank check: - Minimum Payment (will show the Minimum amount due) - Last Statement Balance (will show statement balance) - Other Amount (you choose the amount)
2. Verify your bank information at the bottom of the check.
3. Click the "Continue with Current Posting Date" or "Revise Payment Posting Date" button.
4. If you have chosen to revise the posting date choose a new posting date from the calendar displayed, and click "Continue."
5. Review your payment information.
6. Click on the "Submit" button. You should see a confirmation number, verifying that the payment will be processed.

Online payments made before 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time will be credited to your Account the same day, while payments made after that time will be credited the next day. Please remember that a payment may not be viewable in the Account Center for an additional 24 to 48 hours after it posts to your Account. I appreciate your business and the opportunity to be of service.

Thank you for choosing to use Discover Card.

Sincerely,

Wendy

DISCOVER, CASHBACK BONUS and the other trademarks, logos and service marks used in this e-mail are the trademarks of Discover Financial Services or their respective third-party owners.

I found this to be pretty awful customer service. Not only does the message not address my questions, but it is also assuming that I'm an idiot and don't know how to use their website. I've been a client for the last year and a half and made previous payments online, so I find this email to be irrelevant. This was such a horrible display of service that I wrote back :)

Wendy,

I know this is not your fault, but I would like to let you know in hopes you may pass this along to your superior.

I find your message insulting. Your information on how to make a payment online I'm sure is helpful for some people. However your message did not address my inquiry about the credit of a late payment charge. Most appalling is the fact that when DISCOVER wants money from me they are willing to call my phone and remind me. However, when I contact DISCOVER about a possible error in the online payment feature I receive in response a “how-to” message in my account inbox. You did not event bother to send it to my personal email, which you have on file.

Overall I have been a good, little DISCOVER client. I've made payments promptly and never caused much of a ruckus. Your impersonal and illusive attempt to address my inquiry is degrading. It is obvious that efficiency has overtaken customer service.

I hope you all get lumps of coal in your stockings.

Merlin U Ward
###.###.####
******.****@gmail.com

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Merlin U Ward

Christmas Movie Marathon!

Who's interested in doing a movie marathon on Christmas Day?

Typically movies that come out on Christmas day are horror, but this year 3 movies come out that actually look great! Check out the trailers...

The Spirit
Bedtime Stories
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The marathon starts around mid-day Christmas day and the schedule is flexible! So, whether you want to get away from your family, want to bring your family, or your family isn't in town; come and join the movie madness!

Let me know if you're interested to finalize the marathon schedule!

The Flu can go shove it!!

So it happened... I got sick. I managed to stay healthy for over 2 years with no serious virus/illness, but it finally happened. The last 2 days have been spent "sleeping it off," or as I like to call it... "wasting my time!" Don't get me wrong. I understand I need to rest, drink lots of fluids, and eat when possible. I just forgot how hard it was to force it especially when I when I have so much on my mind. It's been a real slap in the face. To me getting sick is like binding my hands to my feet and telling me to walk down a flight of stairs at gunpoint. Nearly impossible without breaking your face and very nerve-wracking.

It started out as back pain, which I thought was from too much time spent on a friend's couch. That quickly changed to body pains and really killer headache. Most who know me know that I'm not one to pop pills when the first signs up pain show up. Unfortunately I gave in when the pain was finally so bad I could not even "sleep it off." I decided some ibuprofen would be necessary. With no medical training and thanks to the collective opinion of some friends, I have decided this illness is the flu. Special thanks to Rhonda for suggesting Tylenol Sinus.

Today, Tuesday, I felt well enough to make it to an important meeting for RPM'S. I had my 3 bottles of fluids and took some drugs before I left the house. I barely made it. By the time I got home I was dizzy with pain again. At least I got something accomplished. Tomorrow, I have a few more meetings, which I will make even if I die halfway through. I promise I won't breathe on anyone too hard.


Stay well my friends!

MUW

Who Is Your Ideal Business Partner?

A question perhaps not asked enough. You may not even put a lot of thought into this question. You should. I've talked with lawyers and seasoned entrepreneurs and the business breakup horror stories always link back to a bad partnership. So, it holds true, that cliche saying that I mention from time to time. Business is People. The Club E Network understands this and thats why we ask it in your profile. But how do you go about finding this "ideal" business partner?

I came across a blog by a fellow named David Alison who has a blog on blogger.com. He came up with a pretty good list of the Do's and Don'ts of finding a business partner. The summarized version is below... For the full version click here

"The Do's and Don'ts List

Here is my list of the things you will want to do, and not do, when picking a partner to start a business with:

DO: Choose someone that compliments your skills.

DON'T: Choose a partner because you really like them.

DO: Choose a partner that has connections.

DON'T: Choose someone that has different goals.

DO: Define how you resolve disagreement up front.

DON'T: Worry about offending a potential partner.

DO: Check references.

DON'T: Compromise on the issue of ethics."

I've expereince many of these first hand. I luckily fell into great business partnerships with both my businesses. The logic David Alsion offers it correct. But I felt there was still something missing. So here are a few more Do's and Don'ts to add to the list.

DO: Communicate all the time about everything.
Be sure your parter is someone you can talk to about everything and that you both communicate well with one another. This may intersect with "Define how you resolve disagreement up front" and that is the point. Especially in a start-up, covering issues twice is never a bad thing. The worst thing that could happen is that both you and your partner forget something, even the smallest detail. Then you get sideswiped with a problem that takes you away from the big picture and current operations.

DON'T: Forget about the past.
During your first "interview" with your potential partner make sure you know what they've been doing up to that point. It's only fair that you know their history and work ethic from past business relationships. You, of course, need to pony up the skeleton's too.

DO: Just hang out with your partner.
A business partner is not just for business. They're people too and you need to make sure you can connect with them on that level. Take some time to kick back and relax with your potential business partner. When you're working together, the daily grind can sometimes put a lot of tension on your relationship. It's always healthy and fun to grab a beer and "dream" together on the big picture away from the office. So, make sure your potential partner is someone you can do that with.

DON'T: Leave structure to build itself.
Once you decide to work together, be sure you and your partner map out exactly all the process you need to work together. That includes, decision making, disagreement resolutions, and fiscal responsibilities. A very detailed operating agreement will cover all the in's and out's of your working relationship. It's a dirty job, but get it out of the way in the beginning and make sure you both agree to it whole heartedly.

Some may say they don't need or want a business partner. I say you can't do everything by yourself. These Do's and Don'ts apply even if you are working with a strategic partner who has no equity in your busines. All your relationships with business people, at any level, can cause your business to fail. Work with people you like and trust and you know will be there to see you succeed.

Merlin U Ward, young social entrepreneur and co-founder of the Club E Network .