Time Warner Cable

Customer service...oh don't you just love calling customer service. That's what I did the other day and spent over one hour on the phone with Time Warner Cable...mainly because the first two people couldn't get it right...and one of them was a supervisor.

Here were the tweets of my wonderful experience that started about 15 minutes into my experience:

• Can I tell the whole twitter world that "Time Warner Cable" technical support absolutely is horrible 11:02 AM Feb 3rd from TweetDeck
• I have a technical problem and they tell me they can't come out and service me cause there are no available dates 11:02 AM Feb 3rd from TweetDeck
• that I need to call back some other day and try to schedule 11:02 AM Feb 3rd from TweetDeck
• WHAT????????????????????? Time Warner Cable that is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. 11:03 AM Feb 3rd from TweetDeck'
• From @Pastor_Bob: @jasoncurlee Tell them you can't pay your bill either, since there aren't any available dollars. 11:05 AM Feb 3rd from TweetDeck in reply to jasoncurlee
• @Pastor_Bob right....yeah when you can't do that they are quick to shut you down 11:08 AM Feb 3rd from TweetDeck in reply to Pastor_Bob
• Then I was told I can't speak to a supervisor.....WHAT????? 11:10 AM Feb 3rd from TweetDeck
• AGHHHH...if the first person would have recognized that I was a "commercial" account....that is why you ask for a supervisior 11:24 AM Feb 3rd from TweetDeck
• FYI - Still on the phone 11:26 AM Feb 3rd from TweetDeck
• Reason we are with Time Warner Cable was for internet/phone/cable for our building...fastest internet for our building in area located 11:29 AM Feb 3rd from TweetDeck
• Now on with fourth person - 2nd person (a supervisor) connected me with the wrong department...nice one Time Warner Cable 11:39 AM Feb 3rd from TweetDeck
• If you guys and gals don't think I'm blogging these tweets you're crazy 11:40 AM Feb 3rd from TweetDeck
• Finally hung up...over one hour on the phone...which could have been resolved by the first person who had....NO CLUE!!!! thanx again TWC 11:48 AM Feb 3rd from TweetDeck

And then a few minutes later:

• From @AlexTWC: @jasoncurlee do you need help from Time Warner Cable? 12:09 PM Feb 3rd from web in reply to jasoncurlee
• @AlexTWC think I got it...long story...you'd have to read through my tweets...I was pretty mad 12:40 PM Feb 3rd from web in reply to AlexTWC
• @AlexTWC first two customer service rep one being a supervisor...had no clue what they were doing. that's what messed it all up 12:41 PM Feb 3rd from web in reply to AlexTWC
• @AlexTWC 3rd and 4th people absolutely fantastic 12:42 PM Feb 3rd from web in reply to AlexTWC
• From @AlexTWC: @jasoncurlee clearly you were mad...sorry to hear. Glad it's resolved. You can always reach me here. 12:57 PM Feb 3rd from web in reply to jasoncurlee

All that because the first service rep I called told me that she couldn't schedule an appointment for a technician to come out because there were no open appointments because that is what her computer showed...I even asked, "for the whole next year?" She then told me that I just needed to call back some other day and try again. And then wouldn't let me speak to a supervisor...which when I finally did...connected me to the wrong department.

All that to say...just cause you have a customer now...you better take good care of them cause they may twitter or blog it to about 1,500 people who just might not ever....and I mean e.v.e.r. choose your business.

You ever experience anything like that? What's your customer service horror story?

Green Grass

They say "The grass is always greenest on the other side"

I say "The grass is always greenest over the septic tank"

Have you ever found that to be true like I have?

[photo credit flickr.com]

Turning Ideas Into Reality

Brad Lomenick, from Catalyst, had a GREAT post on the process they use to execute ideas. In reading the full post, you will realize this is a simple process that can be implemented by any organization.

The points of the process are:

1. Create
2. Criticize
3. Optimize
4. Validate
5. Execute

Read the full post to get a breakdown on Brad's blog.

You Need A Coach 2

In the first post I talked about the need for a coach. So you know the need...NOW WHAT???

I was a really good player in high school...it wasn't until I played in college that I realized that in order for me to play at that level I was going to have to be better at my technique. In fact, after our first day it was apparent that I hadn't learned much in high school but had gotten by on athletic ability. If it weren't for the great coaches I had in college I would have found myself not being able to continue on that level.

For you to begin reaching your potential you need to find someone that will help you get there.

Let me give you three ways to reach those new levels:

1. Ask - Ask someone to mentor you who has been where you want to go. Hire a coach to help you in an area you are lacking.
2. Read - Some of my best coaches I have never met in person. I have read their books or blogs.
3. Join - Join a network with others where you can all learn and share in the journey.

You don't have to do it alone. Whether in business or ministry do it with a coach. Do it with someone who can help you develop yourself to your fullest potential.

[photo credit by flickr.com]

Ownership In Ministry 3

This week we have been talking about ownership in ministry. You can catch up with these posts in Part 1 and Part 2.

I can think back to my very first job. I was actually 15 years old...a couple of buddies and I worked one summer scraping paint off a house. It was a two story house and boy was it hard work. I don't remember just how good of a job we did but by the end I'm not too sure we really cared. Why??? Because it wasn't our house...it was just a job. We had no ownership.

Today I want to talk to those out there who are volunteers or staff.

It is important to realize the role you play is a great one. You are not just serving a leader...or working for someone. As a son or daughter of the Most High you play a huge stake in what God is doing in this world.

When you begin to realize that you are an heir and that you have an inheritance then you will begin to realize that everything you do matters.

That doesn't mean that we all play the same role...it means we all after making our Father's Kingdom greater each and every day.

That is where the shift comes in....if you are a greeter....you are an heir and share in it all.

If you are a department head....you are an heir and share in it all.

If you are the pastor...you are an heir and share in it all.

That is why I love the story of Nehemiah so much....when you read chapter three you see that everyone takes responsibility for their point on the wall. That is the shift that needs to take place.

Let's micro that down to a church. Lives hang in the balance and everyone from a parking attendant...to children's volunteer...to maintenance person...to the pastor...to the follow up person...all play an important link in the chain of someone inheriting salvation.

Our inheritance will be the lives that will stand in heaven with us...they are the crowns...they are the jewels...they are the reason we all do what we do.

It's time we all take ownership......

What are you now planning on doing????

[photo credit flickr.com]

Ownership In Ministry 2

When it comes to taking ownership...whether it's business or ministry...I believe it takes a great deal of shifting of a mind-set.

Let's focus on the perspective of an employer today.

One of the things that stands out tremendously in my first position in ministry is that my pastor let me...be me!!! He didn't run around making me do ministry the way he would do it. It gave me the ability to work on me and our youth ministry. I was able to use my personality and strengths.

How do you get your staff to take ownership?

• Cast Vision For Something Greater - Can you show them how what they do works on a larger scale?
• Train and Release - Do you hover or have a tendency to boss them around?
  
• Help Find Their Niche - I know you have a bottom line but how can their niche help your bottom line?
  

Getting your people to take ownership really is your responsibility as a leader. Whether they are volunteers or paid employees they can make the mind-shift if you can take them there.

What is something you have done to make a shift in ownership???

Stay tuned for part three where we will talk from the perspective of the employee.

[photo credit by flickr.com]

Ownership In Ministry 1

One of the hardest task in business and ministry is to get volunteers or employees to take ownership. To move from a state of being asked to do something...to taking responsibility and doing it yourself.

Leading people who don't get paid is a world of difference from leading people who get a pay check...BUT...that is only if you take it from the perspective of the person leading.

I know many people who are absolute poor leaders of their employees. They lead from a state of holding a persons paycheck over them. Poor...POOR...LEADERSHIP.

Let's talk a little this week about Leading People....and People moving from Servantship...to OWNERSHIP.

[photo credit flickr.com]

Talking Business and Leadership

If it's one thing you may notice if you read my blog long enough...it's that I love talking leadership. I want to give some link love out to my pastor....Bil Cornelius...who has three posts that hit in this area.

5 Things To Consider When Hiring
How To Keep Your Best People
3 Ways To Create A Culture Of Excellence

Three great posts for you to drip on.

Here's an excerpt from 5 Things to Consider

5. Always hire someone who is a raving fan of the organization, and dare I say it, a raving fan of you! They better think you are “all that,” or you do not want them working for you. I hope you understand this is not “let’s all worship the leader,” but if you want a staff that has a fast pace, you need a high trust from the beginning and that comes from a high esteem for one another. This goes both ways too…I really believe that greatest compliment I can give someone in “my world” is to offer them a job.

Leading In Uncertain Territory

One of the things that you can be certain of is that as you lead you will encounter uncertain territory.

If you are pushing forward there will always be a measure of uncertainty in your leading. For example...even though I have worked on staff at a church of 3,000, and I have worked in ministry for 14 years, right now I am leading in unknown territory for myself.

Daily we are pushing forward to launch a church. I've never done construction...I've never lead a church full of adults...and at each level of growth that we will experience it will be a new level I've never experienced.

The price of leadership success is greater uncertainty. As you gain more responsibility your uncertainty level increases. As each level increases it is vital for you to learn to thrive in environments that are uncertain.

Isn't that what faith is all about???

[photo credit flickr.com]

Is It Really A Team

Many churches, and I could also add in businesses, say there is a team when it comes to staff. Unfortunately, when you look from the outside in...that isn't what you see.

You don't see a group coming together to collaborate.
You don't see a group working together.

Sometimes you see a group of people running around trying to do what the head person wants and tells them to do.

Many times you see a bunch of people that when they leave work, they all run to their separate corners (homes) never to interact together.

I'm sorry to tell you...just because you are a pastor and you hire a bunch of people and you get them to do what you want...it doesn't mean you have team

I would have to say that a true team....works together, collaborates together, envisions together, enjoys each other, brings out the best in each other, lives in community, pushes each other to more, prays, sweats and bleeds together...when one is down they all rally around and lift them up....shall I say more. That's probably why I enjoy being where I am right now.

TEAM....is that what "YOU" call it.

An Enjoyable Work Experience

Let's flip it....have you worked somewhere or for someone and it has been the absolute best experience.

What's your story? Let us hear it.

Disturbed Yet?

Are you disturbed?

Sir Francis Drake says…

“Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves. When our dreams have come true because we dreamed too little. When we arrive safely because we have sailed too close to the shore. Disturb us, Lord.”

Is your dream large enough to disturb you? Is it large enough to keep you up at night? Is it large enough to drive you to your knees because you can't do it?

It it's not....it's not a God-sized dream. And it will not produce the faith necessary to glorify God. God wants us to dream dreams that only He can make happen. When that happens He is glorified and we are not.

What size is your dream? Is it disturbing you?

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Bringing Change

Often times we make little or no progress because the task ahead is to great. When it comes to turning around an organization whether that is a church or a ministry department it can be turned around by making little changes day after day and week after week.

When you know change is needed there is no point in delaying.

What you can begin to do to see massive change over the long haul is to initiate smaller micro changes that will add up over time.

Small Daily/Weekly Changes + Consistency = Massive Organizational Change Over Time

Let's say your organization if really weak from a leadership development standpoint. Having this problem could be a reason that your growth has flat-lined or you never had growth from the beginning. Don't feel that you have to make the change overnight. Start this week with something small. Spend time with your staff going through a leadership book. Better yet you start with a leadership book. Another idea would be having your staff with you go visit a larger church to expand their thinking.

There are lots of ways and things you could do...the point is start and do something small each week. As you do that you will see over time the massive organizational change you are looking for.

What are some things you need to do to see change?

Sparks In Ministry

Whether it is business, church, ministry departments, family, marriage, or any other area dealing with people relating to each other:

"When iron sharpens iron...there's always a lot of sparks."

What are your thoughts?

Personal Growth Part 4

All week we have been talking about personal growth. Today, I want to give you some elements that you could include in your personal growth plan as well as a document that can help you get started..

If you need to get caught up on this series check out Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

It is important to remember as you launch out on this journey of personal development that you to not get trapped into a one-dimensional mindset. You can't just emphasize one area for the sake of other areas.

There are four dimensions to your own personal growth that I see should be emphasized:

1. Spiritual Development
2. Leadership Development
3. Relationship Development
4. Career Development

As you begin to develop yourself you must work to be well-rounded. One thing I believe is that development leaks. That means one area leaks into other areas. Developing your leadership capacity will flow into your relationships and career. You must work on developing your whole life. True life success will be gained when you have a congruency of all areas.

A document that will help you in putting together your plan that I created is Your Life Plan.

You can also read more in my post "Components of a Life Plan" and "Life Plan Recap"

What do you see as vital to include in a personal growth plan?

Personal Growth Part 3

Let's get right to it. Part 1 and Part 2 warmed us right up so we should be just about ready to get to the nuts and bolts of a personal plan.

When you look at people who are successful, no matter what their arena is, you will always find that there was a plan behind their success. People who are on a path to a destination, know what they want, develop a plan, and go after it with all they have within them.

Jim Rohn said, "If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they may have planned for you? Not much."

When it comes down to it, all of us have the capacity to get whatever it is we want. Through the process of personal development we can transform our lives.

1. Develop the Plan for You - Everyone is different. Some are very detailed and some are very "free-spirited". When it comes to a plan, guess what??? There is no right plan. The right one is the one that best works for you. Are you are reader? Then plan it around books. Like to listen? Use podcasts or audio books. Whatever your personality, your strengths or weaknesses, develop a plan around them.
2. Establish Times to Spend Working On Your Plan - Set a time and do it. Right down what you want to accomplish each week and discipline yourself to work on those steps everyday.
3. Keep A Journal - Take notes. Document your journey. Don't trust your memory, write it down in a notebook as it happens. Record your ideas and inspirations as you travel down this road of personal growth. These will be valubable.
4. Set Goals - Your plan is the road-map to attaining your goals. Look at your destination and begin to work backward. Set shorter goals that are on the path to the larger goals you are trying to attain. Make sure these goals are measurable and attainable and go after them.
5. Act - People who get where they want to go get there because the act. They work their plan. Right now as you are reading this you are beginning to see clearly the idea you want to attain. That is why you need to act now. Don't wait. Start setting those goals, develop a plan and take action. If the plan is good, the results can be miraculous.

What is your first step?

Personal Growth Part 2

When it comes to personal growth, we are affected by everything around us. The things we read, watch, who we spend the most time with, and who we allow to speak into our lives all play a part in our development. Yesterday, in Part 1, we starting talking about having a personal growth plan. Today, I want to talk about our associations and those that influence us.

W. Clement Stone said, "You are a product of your environment. So choose the environment that will best develop you toward your objective. Analyze your life in terms of its environment. Are the things around you helping you toward success - or are they holding you back?"

You should never underestimate the power of influence. There is great power in those that are around us to influence us. Most of the time we don't recognize how it has affected us because these influences have developed over an extended period of time.

When it comes to influences you need to ask yourself three questions:

1. Who Am I Around?
2. What Are These Associations Doing To Me?
3. Is That Okay?

Having the right associations in your life that are influencing you in a positive way can make or break you. I see the power of this every day in my day to day job. The students I teach have allowed negative influences to shape their lives to the point that the damaged things they are doing are positive behaviors to them.

As a pastor, business leader, department head, or head of a household it is vital that you begin to allow your life to be shaped in a positive direction this coming year. Here are three ways you you can handle associations or relationships that might be holding you back:

1. Disassociate - Obviously this is a tough one. Some people that are holding you back may be close people in your life. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't take this one lightly. You are going to have to make the choice to allow a negative influence to stay and determine the quality of your life.
2. Limited Association - You can begin to limit your time with a negative influence and begin to spend major time with positive influences.
3. Expand Your Associations - Begin to find other successful people in your industry and spend time with them. Take them to lunch...call them on the phone...do whatever you can to begin to have these people start speaking into your life.

How are you letting positive associations affect you?

Another great post to read to kick off your personal growth plan is Your Life Purpose.

Personal Growth Part 1

Jim Rohn said, "The greatest gift you can give to somebody is your own personal development."

As we creep ever so slowly to the dropping of the ball signaling the end of 2007 and on into 2008 I thought it would be pertinent to talk about personal growth. If there is one thing that I could tell you that should be on the top of your goals/new year resolutions for this coming year it would be to Grow Yourself.

As you set out to lead your church, business, department, or even family it is vital that you develop a plan that will help you grow. Personal growth is a journey because it doesn't happen overnight. It is a journey because it is an adventure taking you to places within yourself that you have never been. As you get closer and closer to your destination and you feel the growth taking place you will have a sense of excitement.

Truth is personal growth is a process and a destination. It is a process filled with steps that lead you to being and becoming a better person. It is a destination that truly never ends as you find out when you reach it, there is one more that is farther down the road.

As we step out on this road to personal growth let me give you a few things that it is going to take:

1. Change - Most people think where they are is just fine. Truth is if you aren't going forward you are going backward. I say backward with intention there as there is no such thing as staying still. If you don't use it you lose it. Change is a decision that must be made and accepted if you are to grow.
2. Perseverance - Many people start, successful people finish. Truth is growing is not an easy task. And a plan of growth is going to take time. You don't grow overnight, you grow as you develop and stay consistent in your plan.
3. Work - It is hard work. It is setting aside time everyday to work on yourself. It is easy to sit and do nothing. It is easy to stay right where you are. It takes work to become the person you are destined to be.
4. Action - It take starting. You must start. Don't hesitate. Don't shrink back. Go forward one step at a time. Burn the bridges of nonresistance behind you. Spring forth into a life of purpose.

What are you waiting for?

Know Where You Are Going

Many years ago I was taking our basketball team to the state tournament in Galveston. Since I had been there two years in a row I was pretty confident that I knew how to get there. Only problem was this time I was going at night and I didn't double check my directions. Needless to say I missed my turn and about 10 miles out of the way I knew I was lost.

As a leader of a church, business, family head or even as an individual I believe that it is important to KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING.

One of the things I've been guilty of is allowing life to take me where it wants me to go. I've allowed others to put me in that proverbial box. They have made the choices for me based on their needs and desires. This is all great and fine until you realize you have gone down a path that didn't take you to your ultimate destination.

I want to challenge you early on that you need to begin to start shaping the journey to your destination. I believe this is possible even if you work for someone else. When you you begin shaping your destination it is easier to motivate yourself, your team and even your organization to move toward where it needs to go.

You can know where you are going by:

1. Create a Map - One thing you can do is design a road trip map to your future. Just today I read the vision for CityLife Church in Australia. It was a great example of an organization that has mapped out specifically the direction they are going. Know your life purpose and chart your course.
   
2. Set Up Mini-Stops - These would be quantified goals that strategically let you know you are on track to your future.
3. Refuel Along The Way - Sometimes trips can be taxing. It is important to remember that part of the fun of reaching a destination is the journey along the way. Make sure you and your organization recharge and have fun.

Where are you on a journey to?

Keep Moving Forward 4

To begin to experience breakthroughs in our life we must demolish an obstacle that, for some people, holds us back from experiencing life at its fullest. That obstacle is failure.

This week we are digging into three points we have extrapolated from a quote by Walt Disney. Part 1 and Part 2 set the stage for this weeks blog posts, while Part 3 hit on the first point, Keep Moving Forward. Today, I want to discuss the second point: OPEN UP NEW DOORS.

“Around here, however, we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things - because we're curious. And curiosity keeps leading us down new paths. We're always exploring and experimenting.” Walt Disney

When and where you have experienced failure in the past tends to be an area where you focus negative energy. Sometimes that failure might be in an area which simply isn't one of your strengths or talents. That is why it is sometimes important to open up new doors. Try another arena in which you might find that breakthrough outlet.

I teach science this year and one of the concepts is scientific investigation. This is where you observe a problem and try to come up with a solution. You create a guess and then you experiment until you come up with a proven theory.

I think that is what opening up new doors is about. It is about going forward until you find that exact door that creates a breakthrough. Truth is you won't find that if you aren't trying.

Thomas Edison, in talking about the light bulb, was quoted as saying "I have not failed 700 times. I have not failed once. I have succeeded in proving that those 700 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work."

Edison was the king of the empirical approach in which he literally tried everything until he found a suitable way to the answer to a problem. I believe he kept opening up new doors. He kept moving forward. He didn't personalize failure, he looked at it as success.

Matthew 7:7 says, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

When it comes to you getting your breakthrough you must keep knocking and opening up new doors. Whether it's in your personal life or in your business or organization, don't look back. Keep progressing from one door to the next. I know it's risky. The reality, though, is that not taking risks increases the odds of failure. Open new doors today.