Marshall Yard:

By: Susie Kleiner 

I must share a “customer service” at its best with all of you readers, but first you will need a little background on what lead up to it.  Over a year back, I purchased a piece of software to help us with our imports and database management, to work hand in hand with ACT 2007.  Upon my transfer from one position to another and a different computer -  I needed to un-register this software.  Understandable, really, truly it is – as my position grew, I needed to un-register this software once again and re-install it on another’s machine.  Understandable, really it is! Then yet again, another’s position grew and moved on, and I need to un-register it, guess what? Now the sellers of the software want a fee for this, it wouldn’t re-register, I ran out of re-registers? What the heck is that? What is this all about, I do not understand this concept, we bought the software, we bought a license, clearly they have control and know when it is trying to be registered, not an issue. 

We needed it, and are willing to comply, with the one machine rule.  Willing to comply with we have you over a barrel now, pay us more. Not a chance, its principal.

Well, this is where true customer service comes in, after the conversation I had with this company, I decided to look elsewhere.  I found a company called ACTMate Corporation and decided to download the trial version.  It seemed to do what I needed but I couldn’t clearly see the end results being a trial version and it seemed to be missing something.  

With emails back and forth to the owner of the company, Mitch Stephens, he told me he would check into this.   He did, Mitch took the time to contact me and said it would be much easier to delve into the issue I had live.  Mitch spent quite a bit of time on the phone with me on the initial conversation and had to do some tweak’s to the program to help me out.  He did just that!   

When Mitch called me back after he “tweaked” the program, ON FAITH, he gave me an access code to get the full results of this program.  I say ON FAITH, because, this man knew me not from Adam or Eve, and was willing to put himself and his program to the test for someone who found him online.   Thank you Mitch, customer service at its best!

Zen Gardens help the mind and calm the nerves.  The Zen Garden in Account Management was the first I spotted at Catalyst – I wondered what the person was thinking as they quietly raked the delicate sand and rocks. This prompted me to place one up at the reception desk and  I noticed people (almost instinctively) drawn to the Garden. Patterns created included circles, zig-zags, straight lines and completely smooth surfaces.  What do these patterns represent?  Oddly enough, desk-dwellers and “creative minds” at Catalyst often raked very simple patterns…but individuals whose work is more physical raked elaborate, intricate designs.

My own interpretation is that, through the Zen Garden, people rid themselves of mental clutter and stored energy – in a manner seemingly inconsistent with their daily routines.

Stepping away from deadlines, shipments, phone calls and schedules for just a moment nurturs a sort of mental deep breath.  What happens when the solution to a problem alludes you? Often the remedy is made clear after you’ve put it aside for a while.Researchers tracked 23,861 healthy Greek adults for an average of six years.  Those who napped for a half hour three times a week revealed a 37% lower risk of expiring from a heart attack.  Rejuvenation in any form does a body good. Enjoying only a minute or two of untrained thought can give us a fresh mind and a more positive approach.  Allow a cleaner channel for creative thought and for physical performance.Have you ever created shortcuts on your desktop? Have these desktop icons become visual clutter on your screen? When you look at the icons on your desktop that you created for ease of use, do you realize the tracking clutter you are creating? When you have to spend more than 30 seconds searching that cluttered desktop you are only creating mental cobwebs that inventibly catch more clutter. When you simplify your surroundings, you release all the chaos that often goes unnoticed.Simplicity is the antidote for chaos. What better form of simplicity than powdered, white sand?Any type of relaxation techniques you can choose from out there will reduce negativity and your reactions to any negativity around you.  When you choose to allow any negative into your life or build up during routine activities of your day, you wear down you ability to fight off illness, emotional well being and become less productive in the long run.   

The halls of Catalyst are often times beaming with screams and at the root of most of those screams is one of our Account Managers - Deb.  When I first came to Catalyst I was fore warned and have only gotten traumatized by the prankster one time.  Hiding behind a door, pretty mild. 

I share with you a story of Deb & her family - it is my understanding it is a family of pranksters and goofs, imagine yourself in Deb’s shoes, she has traveled to San Clemente for a very anticipated family reunion, her flight was one of the last to arrive, she was very excited to see her other siblings, she is one of four.

She had not seen her brothers new domicile and had no clue to where he actually lived.  They approached the home and Deb was beaming with excitement and anticipation of a weekend filled with laughter, food, throw in some booze and most of all spending time with family.  Her brother approached the house and told Deb he was going to pull around back, but to take her bags, and go on in, the kids where waiting, so, being Deb, beaming with enthusiasm for life and laughter she ran up the steps, bag in tow and burst through the door. 

Imagine the horror - when she realized her brother dropped her off at a complete strangers!

Stay tuned for What lies in wait as Deb opens a secret santa gift……