Talk Ain't Cheap

     I was studying the Bible today because part of my life is spent as a Bible student and Sunday School teacher.  I enjoy reading it because of the many life lessons it holds.  Today's scripture has everything to do with communications.  And since this is a communications blog, I will refer to the verses I read in it just like I would in any book where I find something worth repeating.  In the book of James, chapter three, James is talking about talking--specifically cursing, lying, gossiping, boasting, and a bunch of other things we say that we shouldn't.  These behaviors are born out of one small part of our bodies that we all lose control of along with our brains at varying points in our lives.  But when we lose control, we amass large amounts of grief for ourselves and others.           Beginning at verse three, he describes this failure of ours.  "When we put bits into the mouths of...

     Recently, I experienced slack customer service from a company with which I'd just started doing business.  I'd been asked to do an event with them.  I was supposed to provide the training, and they were in charge of marketing.  They dropped the ball on the marketing so registration was slow.  They decided to cancel without consulting me.  After a series of missteps following that poor decision, I was left frustrated and determined I wouldn't be working with them again.  I expressed my concerns to the contact person, and the response came via an email--a long one, packed with excuses.  There was something about a mishap with the phone system, a failed attempt at reaching me by phone earlier in the week (I found no evidence of this), and other commitments that got in the way of her following up.  None of these were of concern to me, of course.  They were not my problems.  Most customers feel that way.  They do...