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We recently began phase one of our name change by changing out the signs at the Fulton and and Macon offices.  We have about three offices to go to complete the first phase and the rest of the offices will be completed after three to four more phases.  We have already had many compliments on the new logo from friends and customers here in Fulton.  Once we get all the offices under the new name and logo it should help with marketing and branding tremendously.

“A business with no sign is a sign of no business.”  Sign Salesman

  Yesterday, Louis, Shane, the Area Managers and I had lunch with the graduating class of our most recent Montgomery Enterprises Leadership Skills Course for new hires.  After lunch we enjoyed getting to hear what all they were able to take away from the class and also to see the projects they had been working on for the past few weeks.  Rubye Del, the class facilitator, does a great job in bringing out the best in the class participants and this class was certainly no exception.  Congratulations ladies! 

Claire Darty, Amy Alexander, Alise Dill, Elisha Hopkins, Juanita Smith, Rebecca Davis, Tiffany Walker

While some individuals try to get by doing as little work as possible, others possess a commitment that leads them to give it their all every day.  General George Patton once said “always do more than is required of you.”  This is a characteristic that I see in many of our employees as I travel from office to office, and I would like to applaud all of you for that.  Hopefully, the audit reports that some of you have already received are beneficial and will be a tool to help you in identifying areas that need improvement.  As I learn more, my goal is to continually find ideas and methods so that we can all improve.  The idea of “auditing yourself” is one concept I recommend that all of you do when time permits.  The benefits of performing an audit of your own store will help you to:

• Catch errors early
• Look for trends in errors being made
• Ensure compliance with state regulation
• Ensure compliance with internal policies

Some offices already do this and it definitely shows during an audit.  I will be happy to work with all of you on a system that you can use to perform a quick audit of your store.  Remember mistakes are to be used for a good purpose – to show us what we need to learn!

Rachel

“Life’s not just being alive, but being well.” -Martial

Our insurance provider, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, has many benefits for its members from a Nurse Advice Line, a call center staffed with registered nurses that answer questions and give advice on healthcare decisions that may save you time and unnecessary medical expenses, to a free smoking cessation program to help you quit smoking.

Another of these benefits is a program called Healthy You!.  Healthy You! is a wellness benefit that provides you and your covered dependents an annual wellness visit with your doctor or nurse practitioner as long as they are in the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Network.  Your visit is paid 100% with no deductible, copay or coinsurance but you must tell the provider that it is your Healthy You! visit.

Covered wellness screenings and immunizations are based on age and gender guidelines to ensure you receive the screenings you need to “know your numbers” and manage your health risks, both at an early age and as you get older.  For example, females aged 18 + can get free pap smears, pelvic exams and breast exams, while females 35 + can also get free mammograms as a part of their Healthy You! visit.

For more information about what is covered and available benefits go to www.bcbsms.com.

Shane

Teresa Hughes is the manager of our Reform store. She recently had a birthday on August 2nd. Instead of the usual flowers, card, or a small gift, she was gifted with a lifetime gift. Jimmy Curry asked for her hand in marriage and she accepted. They will be wed on September 15th, 2012. Congratulations Teresa and Jimmy! We wish you the best for many years to come…..Tracie

One of the figures that we are tracking closely this year is the “write off to income” by each individual office.  We have even developed quarterly competitions to help keep each office focused on this important figure.  This morning I just wanted to remind everyone that not only do we have the quarterly write off competitions going but each time your office hits its quarterly goal then your name goes into the pot for the grand prize drawing which will be awarded at the Christmas party this year.  I think we had mentioned something about “cruising to victory” maybe?  Anyway, I just wanted to remind everybody about the importance of working to maintain acceptable write off figures. 

The “write off to income” figure is VERY important.  Often, when we see offices struggling financially it is  most commonly due to lack of proper collections.   Good luck with your collections and hopefully we will see you on stage at the Christmas party.

I hope everyone has a great week! — Luke

“The surest way not to fail is to determine to succeed.”  Richard Sheridan

The beginning of each new month means my mailbox becomes packed with various newsletters I subscribe to.  I got my booklet of “Bits and Pieces on Leadership” in yesterday.  Thought I would share some quotes. — Luke

“Argue for your limitations, and sure enough they’re yours.”  Richard Bach

“Two important things are to have a genuine interest in people and to be kind to them.  Kindness I’ve discovered, is everything in life.”  Isaac Singer

“Arguing with a fool proves there are two.”  Doris Smith

“If you lead through fear, you will have little to respect, but if you lead through respect you will have little to fear.”  Unknown

“Most misfortunes are the result of misused time.”  J. Willard Marriott

“When an archer misses a mark, he turns and looks for fault within himself.  Failure to hit the bull’s-eye is never the fault of the target.  To improve your aim, improve yourself.”  Gilbert Arland

“Anger is a thief who steals away the nice moments.”  Joan Lunden

Changing one’s mind is not a sin.  It is a way of saying that I’m wiser today than I was yesterday.”  George McGovern

As I have mentioned before, I am not a fan of reality tv but I do occasionally keep the channel on one long enough to become interested in an episode.  One of the few reality tv shows that catches my attention from time to time is Undercover Boss.  Yesterday, a marathon of Undercover Boss was running on cable and I stopped in on more than a couple of episodes to see what each particular boss was up to.  After about the third episode I realized that Undercover Boss took the road most traveled by reality shows.  After the first season, the producers decide what type situation is best for ratings and each year it just becomes more and more scripted.

For example, the script that works best for Undercover Boss is to have the CEO go out in the field and work in about three different jobs in which they always appear completely incompetent.  The CEO is assigned an employee to work with while performing each particular duty, and invariably, the employee has some type of heartwarming personal story to tell.  While getting to know the employees the boss always is absolutely amazed that the employees have struggles within their lives yet still maintain to hold down a full time job.  This tells me the given boss has truly lost touch with their employees. 

It is about this time that the undercover CEO realizes themselves just how out of touch they are and begin to cry uncontrollably. . . some for real and some just for the camera.  At this point the boss goes on an apology tour telling employees how sorry he is for taking them for granted and thanks them for the job they do for the first time in months if not years.

While watching a couple of episodes of Undercover Boss yesterday I thought I would use our company blog today to thank each and every one of you, our employees,  for being the professionals you are.  I know everyone has their particular struggles, whether they be financial difficulties, health issues or family matters yet it is hard working people like the employees in our company that make the world go round.  Thanks for the service you provide our customers and to your communities.  Your hard work is appreciated by many people.   

“Professionalism means doing your best, even when you don’t feel like it.”  Glenn Shepard

“Giving 100% at work despite personal problems is how successful people succeed.  Allowing personal problems to be an excuse is how unsuccessful people fail fail.”  Glenn Shepard

Real leaders are ordinary people with extraordinary determinations.

-John Seaman Garns

He who stops being better stops being good.

-Oliver Cromwell

There is no excellency without difficulty.

-Ovid

Character is a diamond that scratches every other stone.

-Cyrus A. Bartol

Anger is never without an argument, but seldom with a good one.

-Lord Halifax

Hope everyone has a good Friday and a great weekend.

Louis

The folks at the Fulton office gave Dad a “surprise” birthday lunch today.  Happy Birthday Dad!