Author: Franz Malten Buemann

  • Your Social Media Content Calendar for Every Official (and Non-Official) Holiday of 2023

    You’ve heard it time and time again – posting on social media consistently is one of the best ways to grow your account. But it can be hard to fill up content ideas for nearly 365 days. That’s why we’ve created this holiday guide of both official and non-official holidays you can post about throughout the year.While it’s important to post content revolving around your business’s products and services, it can also be fun to change things up and post about other topics as well. We hope this list helps you flesh out your social media calendar for 2023.Official HolidaysCreating social media posts for official holidays is a great way to highlight important days and also celebrate the diversity of cultures and celebrations. When posting about other cultures and religions, make sure to do your research so you can highlight the holiday accurately and respectfully.Whether you just wish your followers a happy holiday, post a fun fact, or just bring in more awareness, we encourage you to include some of the holidays mentioned below in your social media planning.JanuaryJanuary 1: New Year’s DayJanuary 4: National Trivia DayJanuary 17: Martin Luther King, Jr. DayFebruaryBlack History Month (U.S.)February 1: Chinese New YearFebruary 2: Groundhog DayFebruary 14: Valentine’s DayFebruary 21: President’s DayMarchWomen’s History Month (U.S.)March 17: St. Patrick’s DayMarch 18: HoliMarch 21 -22: NowruzMarch 22: Ramadan Begins*The date may vary as the beginning of Ramadan changes every year and depends on the sighting of the moonMarch 22: UgadiMarch 27: Mothering Sunday (U.K.)March 31: Cesar Chavez DayAprilApril 17: EasterApril 5 – 13: PassoverApril 22: End of Ramadan/Eid Al FitrMayNational Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (U.S.)May 5: Vesak Day/Buddha DayMay 5: Cinco de MayoMay 8: Mother’s Day (U.S)May 30: Memorial Day (U.S)JunePride MonthJune 19: Juneteenth (U.S)June 19: Father’s Day (U.S. and U.K.)June 28 – 29: Eid Al AdhaJulyJuly 4: Independence Day (U.S)AugustSeptemberSeptember 5: Labor Day (U.S)September 15 – October 14: Hispanic Heritage Month (U.S)OctoberOctober 10: Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day (U.S)October 31: HalloweenNovemberAmerican Indian Heritage Month (U.S)November 11: Veteran’s Day (U.S)November 12: DiwaliNovember 24: Thanksgiving (U.S)DecemberDecember 18-26: HanukkahDecember 25: Christmas DayDecember 31: New Year’s EveUnofficial HolidaysIn addition to posting about actual holidays, you should also consider highlighting unofficial holidays, too! Not only are they a fun way to shake up your social media calendar, but a lot of them can apply to your small business as well. We’ll share some examples of other small businesses incorporating these days into their social media content.JanuaryNational Mentoring Month (U.S)The start of the year is always filled with positive and motivational energy, making it the perfect time for national mentoring month. Throughout January, you can post advice about running and operating a small business, and also shout out the mentors who’ve helped you along your journey.January 3: International Mind-Body-Wellness DayThis can be a great day for you to do a quick check-in with your customers and remind them to take care of themselves. You can also share suggestions of how you and your team partake in healthy habits and self-care.Jan 4: National Trivia DayWho doesn’t love a good trivia question? Include a fun fact about your business or field of expertise and quiz your followers.January 10: National Clean Your Desk DayOffice tours are always fun! Use this day to showcase your team members’ desks and office space and highlight the products they’re obsessed with. You can also share your tips and tricks for staying organized as a business owner.January 18: Get To Know Your Customers DayGet to know your customer’s day is a convenient way for you to do a regular check-in with your followers.You can ask them for feedback and suggestions on products or post a quick message asking about their day.The holiday actually happens once every quarter and can be celebrated again on April 20, July 20, and October 19.Jan. 27 National Fun At Work DayPost a silly picture with your team, screenshot a fun conversation from your internal communications tool, or do an AMA with a coworker on your company culture – whatever you do, national fun at work day gives you an excuse to post about the lighter moments at work.FebruaryFebruary 13: Super Bowl SundayWhether you’re a sports lover or just tune in for the commercials and appetizers, Super Bowl Sunday is probably on your radar.You can ask your customers which team they’re rooting for, share your favorite Super Bowl Sunday recipe, or even pose a question on your Instagram Stories or Twitter Poll asking your customers whether they’re celebrating or not.Feb 14: National Library Lover’s DayThis is the perfect day to share a book that has inspired you or is related to your business and field. Consider asking your community what their favorite book is too.Another great way to celebrate this day is to shout out your local library and share their socials!Week of February 17th: Random Acts Of Kindness WeekThroughout this week, think about doing kind things for your social media community! Whether that is offering a discount for your product, posting a thank you letter, or even doing a Q/A answering follower questions.You can also highlight your company culture and share how your team expresses gratitude towards one another.Mind and Heart celebrates Randoms Acts of Kindess Week on their social media Feb 20: World Day of Social Justice On this day, you can raise awareness about an important social issue that is close to your heart and educate your followers. This would be an opportune time to use Instagram’s donation feature and fundraise for a great cause too.February 27: Telecommuter Appreciation WeekEstablished long before working from home became mainstream, telecommuter appreciation week is a great way to shout out your remote team and show off their home offices. View this post on Instagram A post shared by California Regional MLS (@crmlsnews) MarchMarch MadnessAnother popular sports event, March Madness may be a basketball tournament, but you can customize it to fit your brand. Instead of showcasing a roster filled with basketball teams, be creative and do a competition between your products like Food 52 does below.Food 52 highlights March Madness on their IG storiesMarch 1: World Compliment DayMarch 1st is the perfect day to pay someone a compliment! You can shout out someone on your team, thank your customers for their support, or just even encourage your followers to compliment someone in their lives.March 5: Words Matter WeekDiversity and inclusion should be a priority for you as a small business, and words matter week is a great time to post about how you’re choosing to be inclusive as a business.Happy #WordsMatterWeek! Making a conscious effort to use words that are not stigmatizing or inaccurate is important. We believe in treating all Pennsylvanians with respect, and we hope you do too! pic.twitter.com/0lK5OXe5dh— PA Department of Human Services (@PAHumanServices) March 3, 2020 March 20: International Day of HappinessThis is a great and easy way to post about anything related to positivity! Ask your customers what makes them happy, share your favorite meme or Gif, or just try to post something to make your followers smile.March 29: National Mom and Pop Business Owners DaySmall businesses deserve all the love they can get, and posting about them on this holiday is a great way to spread awareness.While you could always highlight the fact that you’re a small business, you can also create a list of the small businesses you support and share those with your online community.March 31: International Transgender Day of VisibilityLet your LGBTQ+ customers know that you’re a proud ally by supporting them on March 31st. You can also educate your community by spotlighting small businesses owned by transgender individuals, including LGBTQ+ charities and nonprofits.AprilNational Volunteer Month (U.S)If your small business has any volunteers, you can dedicate April to them! Give them a shout-out, let one of them take over your Instagram or Twitter, and post behind-the-scenes shots of all the great work they do.You can also encourage your audience to volunteer at some of your favorite nonprofits and small businesses.April 1: April Fool’s Day and International Fun at Work DayPranking on the internet has been done – instead, use this day to share how you and your team have fun at work. Consider sharing a team bonding activity or a fun icebreaker you use in meetings.You could also turn to your customers and ask them what their favorite work pastime activities include.April 2: National Education And Sharing DayThis holiday is the perfect time to share something valuable and educational with your followers that connects back to your field.If you’re not exactly sure what would be interesting to your followers, consider asking them directly what they’d want to know about your business.This is a great opportunity to highlight a useful life hack as well!Today is #NationalEducationandSharingDay, and we can’t think of anything better to post than interlibrary loan.Did you know that you never have to pay for an article you need?Just request a copy through Primo!#lewisu #teamlewislibrary pic.twitter.com/VqXdjoXquz— Lewis U Library (@lewisulibrary) April 12, 2022 April 22: Earth DayEarth Day is a great way to post about sustainability. Write a Twitter thread about the steps you’re taking as a small business to decrease your carbon footprint or post about another small business that is making great strides in that area.Or, you can simply share a statistic about a related topic like climate change to educate your followers on the topic.Check out our blog post where we highlighted how these small businesses celebrated Earth Day on Instagram.April 28: Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work DayIf you’re back in the office and your company celebrates this holiday, take a photo of all the cute kids who’re tagging along with their parents!MayMental Health Awareness Month Create a series on one of your social channels during May to highlight the importance of mental health. Each week you can share a tip about how you and your team manage work stress.If you feel comfortable doing so, maybe consider writing a Twitter thread about any personal struggles you’ve faced around this topic and how you overcame them. This can help forge a stronger connection between you and your followers.💡You can now schedule Twitter threads with Buffer today! Get started today for free.May 21: Cultural Diversity DayHighlight the various cultures on your team! If your team is open to the idea, have one of your members record a quick TikTok or Instagram Rell where they share more about their culture. Ask them to include fun facts and pictures to help educate your followers.At Buffer, we post Cultural Spotlights regularly on our blog and it’s a great way to learn more about each other’s culture and feel more connected as a team.May 30: National Creativity DayAs a content creator and small business owner, you’re inherently creative! This day is a great way to give tips to your followers about how you spark your creativity. You can provide behind-the-scenes footage of product meetings to show where the magic happens.Another easier way to highlight this holiday is to showcase any of your products or services that help your customers with their own creativity. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Spitfire Girl (@spitfiregirlrocks) JuneJune 18: National Splurge DayEncourage your followers to splurge on themselves and buy one of your items today. Sweeten the deal by offering a discount. @boxlunchgifts This is the sign you needed to treat yourself 🧡 #NationalSplurgeDay #BoxLunch #BoxLunchGifts ♬ Best for video background music Chill Trap Hip Hop(837066) – KIh June 23: Take Your Dog To Work DayWhether you’re working remotely or in person, highlight the various dogs in your team’s lives by posting them on your Instagram. You can make a collage filled with dogs or a Twitter thread of dogs – either work.June 30: Social Media DayThis day is a great opportunity to reflect on the previous six months and do a round-up of your previous favorite social media posts.You can also share stats around how your social media has been performing – as we did in this blog.June 30: Work From Home DayNowadays, most people are working from home, whether it’s full-time or on a hybrid schedule. This holiday is a great way to share productivity tips and hacks for remote workers.JulyJuly 5: Workaholics DayIf you’re someone who works a lot, this holiday is a fun way to poke fun at yourself. But you can also use it as an opportunity to remind your online community that it’s okay to pause and take a break.Or, you could highlight the products and services you offer that make being a workaholic a little easier. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kigurumi Shop (@kigurumishop) July 17: World Emoji DayIs there anything more fun than communicating with emojis? 🤩 You can share the emoji that best represents your brand and ask your followers to respond with their favorite emoji in the comments.AugustNational Black Business MonthThis month is a great time to highlight small businesses owned by Black entrepreneurs in your area! You can spotlight a business every week of the month. @askallissa Every month is a good month to support a Black business, but I’m ending August (National Black Business Month) with HealHause — a beautiful wellness studio + cafe ☕️ in Clinton Hill. They even have the type of outdoor space I dream of doing yoga in (especially in the city) 🫠. #healhaus #blackownedwellness #blackownedwellnessstudio #blackownedcafe #wellnesshub #wellnesstok #wellnessjourney #wellnesstips #wellnesstiktok #wellnesswisdom #wellnesscafe #blackbusinessmonth #nationalblackbusinessmonth #blackownedsmallbusiness #blackownedbrooklyn #thesmallbusinessplug #smallbusinesstiktok #soundbathmeditation #soundbath #vinyasa #restorativeyoga #breathe #outdooryoga #outdooryogapractice #outdooryoganyc #brooklynyoga #meditation #candlelityoga #nycyoga #nycyogainstructor #yogadeal #fypシ #fyp #yogisoftiktok ♬ Aesthetic – Tollan Kim August 19: World Photo DayShare a photo that encapsulates your business’s values and goals. Whether it’s an image of happy customers, your colleagues, or just a product shot – any photo will work.August 17: National Nonprofit DayShow your favorite nonprofit some love and encourage your followers to support them, too.We wrote a blog post commemorating the holiday as a way to spread the word about some great organizations.August 21: World Entrepreneurs DayUse this day to share your entrepreneurial journey! Consider writing out a list of things you knew before you founded your small business.SeptemberSept. 12: National Day of EncouragementEveryone has bad days sometimes, use this holiday to share how you’ve gotten through rough times as a business owner and remind your followers that they can overcome whatever it is that they’re facing.September 26: Love Note DayAn easy way to celebrate this holiday is to show some love to your customers by posting a quick thank you for all of their support. To change things up a bit, you could write a love note to one of your products instead.Sept: 26 National Voter Registration DayEducate your followers and remind them about their right to vote! Posting the location and hours of voting centers in your area is a great way to provide helpful resources.Are you registered to vote? 🗳Voting matters. Elected officials can reflect who we are & what we value. This is why we’re *all in* on voting on climate, with the planet, and for those who are committed to act on the climate crisis.#NationalVoterRegistrationDay 📸 @revloveproject pic.twitter.com/dD2qXwvISU— Turning Green (@TurningGreenOrg) September 21, 2022 OctoberOctober 6: Inbox Zero DayWhile not everyone identifies with having or wanting inbox zero, it’s fair to say that we all struggle with email overload. This is why this is a great day to highlight on your content calendar.Have an absurd amount of unread emails? Simply screenshotting that number and posting it on your socials would make for a great post.You can also provide productivity tips for how you manage your work email. View this post on Instagram A post shared by KonarkPro (@konarkpro) October 7: World Smile DayShow off your pearly whites and post a photo of yourself or someone on your team smiling to commemorate this holiday.October 16: Boss’s DayHighlight any of the managers on your team, share your experience as your own boss, or, write a quick post honoring one of your former bosses.NovemberNational Entrepreneurship MonthThroughout November, you can post a variety of content related to National Entrepreneurship Month. It’s a great opportunity for you to share what you’ve learned as a business owner.Even better, you can invite guests and speakers who you admire to share their experiences with your audience.And consider passing the mic to your audience and asking if any of them have advice about running a business.November 9: World Quality DayThis holiday was created to showcase the innovativeness, durability, and quality of products and companies. Why not post some insights into your products, highlight your amazing team, and explain why your business should be trusted? View this post on Instagram A post shared by Comansa tower cranes (@comansacranes) November 19: Women’s Entrepreneurship DayHighlight the amazing women entrepreneurs that you look up to on this day by posting about their accomplishments. You can also educate your customers about historical women business leaders from the past.This is also a great time to share the women who were especially influential in your specific field.November 25: Black FridayBlack Friday is arguably one of the biggest shopping days of the year, and there are a ton of ways you can mark the occasion.While many brands post about their various sales, there has been a recent trend of businesses celebrating a bit differently in the name of sustainability. If that happens to be you, consider posting about your reasoning behind it.November 26: Small Business SaturdaySmall Business Saturday is all about highlighting and supporting smaller brands. take this opportunity to post about why your customers should support your business, or consider sharing the love and tag your favorite small biz.For more ideas, check out how these brands marked small business Saturday in 2022.November 28: Cyber MondayCyber Monday is a great time to highlight e-commerce promotions or offer discounts for gift cards to your business.November 29: Giving TuesdayThis is the perfect day to post about a charitable organization andIf you’re looking for inspiration for deserving brands and causes, check out these small businesses we’ve highlighted for their generosity.This is also an opportune time to announce any giveaways, grants, or donations your organization is making.DecemberDecember 2: Candle DayIf you’re not a candle brand, this holiday may seem a bit odd. But, have you ever thought about what fragrances would represent your small business? Would it be warm and cozy like vanilla spice, or edgy like Teakwood?You can pose the question to your followers on Instagram stories and share their responses!December 4: World Wildlife Conservation DayThis holiday aims to bring awareness to endangered species. Use this day to educate your followers about the great organizations that are rescuing and helping these animals.December 7: Letter Writing DayThere are endless ways to celebrate this holiday. Write a letter to your customers. Or, to your team members. Or, you can even write an ode to your products.Turn it into a competition or giveaway and have your customers submit their best letters to your small business and share the responses! @sachistorymuseum December 7th is National Letter Writing Day! It is a day to encourage individuals to write a letter to someone, especially as we get closer to the holidays. Why write a letter though when you can letterpress print one? In this video, Howard typeset and printed a phrase in 72 point Caslon font. The ink is Pantone Green rubber base. If you’re looking to write a letter to someone, how about sending one to Howard? #SacHistoryMuseum #NationalLetterWritingDay #typography #museum #printing #letterpress #history #sacramento ♬ original sound – Sacramento History Museum December 10: Human rights dayDecember 14: Free Shipping DayThe easiest way to celebrate this holiday is to offer free shipping to your customers.We hope this list of holidays helps you fill up your content calendar for 2023! Remember, you don’t have to post about all of the above-mentioned dates on your social media. Pick the ones that resonate most with you personally, and can also connect back to your business.Use Buffer to stay on top of all of your social media needs in 2023! ➡️

  • Generous and selfish

    We’re often reminded that the best way to get what we want is to help other people get what they want.

    That opening the door for others makes it more likely that others will open the door for us.

    What makes it odd is the implication that if we don’t get, it’s hardly worth giving.

    But what if we separated the two and simply chose generosity because we could?

    It turns out that happy people are more likely to be generous. (Which implies that generous people are more likely to be happy). Not because they get something measurable in return, but simply because abundance is a choice. And making choices celebrates our agency and potential.

    What an opportunity to bring justice and care and dignity to the people around us.

    Happy birthday.

  • This article was generated by AI. It’s about emails, AI-generated content, and your future

     

     

    Note: This article (except for the headlines and formatting) was entirely generated by AI

     

    Generate a blog post about catchy email subjects

     

    Writing a catchy email subject is an important part of crafting an effective email marketing campaign. A good subject line can entice recipients to open your email and read its contents, while a bad one can cause them to delete it without giving it a second thought. In this blog post, we’ll explore some tips and strategies for coming up with catchy email subjects that will help you grab your readers’ attention and keep it.

    First and foremost, it’s important to keep your subject line short and sweet. Most people are bombarded with a constant stream of emails, and they don’t have the time or patience to read long, rambling subject lines. Aim for something that is concise and to the point, while still being compelling and engaging.

    One effective strategy is to use numbers in your subject line. People are naturally drawn to numbers, and using them in your subject line can help to make your email stand out. For example, “10 Tips for a More Productive Workday” or “5 Reasons Why You Need Our Product” are both good examples of subject lines that incorporate numbers.

    Another approach is to use questions in your subject line. Asking a question can be a great way to grab your readers’ attention and get them to open your email. For example, “Are You Ready to Take Your Business to the Next Level?” or “Do You Want to Save Time and Money on Your Next Project?” are both good examples of subject lines that use questions to engage readers.

    Additionally, you can try using power words in your subject line. Power words are words that are emotionally charged and can help to grab your readers’ attention and get them to take action. Some examples of power words include “amazing,” “incredible,” “proven,” “guaranteed,” and “revolutionary.” Using power words in your subject line can help to make your email more compelling and get your readers to take notice.

    Finally, it’s important to avoid using spammy language in your subject line. Words and phrases like “earn money fast,” “limited time offer,” and “free” can trigger spam filters and cause your email to be sent directly to the recipient’s junk folder. Instead, focus on using language that is clear, concise, and engaging to encourage recipients to open your email and read its contents.

    In conclusion, writing a catchy email subject is an important part of any email marketing campaign. By keeping your subject line short, using numbers, asking questions, incorporating power words, and avoiding spammy language, you can create subject lines that grab your readers’ attention and encourage them to open.

     

    How will AI change the Marketing Automation?

     

    Marketing automation refers to the use of software and technology to automate and streamline marketing processes. This can include tasks such as email marketing, social media marketing, lead generation, and customer segmentation.

    One way that AI is changing the field of marketing automation is by enabling marketers to gain a better understanding of their customers. By analyzing large amounts of customer data, AI algorithms can identify patterns and trends in customer behavior, allowing marketers to create more personalized and effective marketing campaigns. For example, AI can help identify which customers are most likely to respond to a particular marketing message, or which customers are at risk of churning, allowing marketers to target their marketing efforts more effectively.

    Another way that AI is changing marketing automation is by automating many of the manual tasks that are associated with marketing. For instance, AI algorithms can be used to analyze data and identify customer segments, freeing up marketers to focus on more creative and strategic work. AI can also help automate tasks such as email marketing, allowing marketers to send personalized messages to customers at scale. By automating these tasks, AI is helping to improve the efficiency of marketing efforts and to reduce the workload for marketers.

    Furthermore, AI is enabling marketers to make more data-driven decisions. By analyzing large amounts of data, AI algorithms can help marketers identify patterns and trends that they may not have been able to detect manually. This can help marketers to identify the most effective marketing strategies and to allocate their resources more effectively.

    Overall, AI is transforming the field of marketing automation by enabling marketers to gain a better understanding of their customers, automate many of the manual tasks associated with marketing, and make more data-driven decisions. This is likely to continue in the coming years, as AI technology continues to advance and becomes more widely adopted by marketers.

     

    When will the AI-generated content be readily available for commercial use?

     

    AI-generated content is already being used for commercial purposes in some cases. For example, AI algorithms are being used to generate news articles, social media posts, and other forms of written content. However, the quality and accuracy of AI-generated content is still not at the level where it can be used widely for commercial purposes. Additionally, there are concerns about the ethical implications of using AI-generated content, as it raises questions about authorship and ownership of the content. As a result, it is difficult to say exactly when AI-generated content will be readily available for commercial use. It is likely that the technology will continue to improve and become more widely used, but it is difficult to predict exactly when it will reach a point where it is widely accepted for commercial use.

    Sergiusz Olszewski

    Elaborate on this topic

    AI-generated content refers to content that is created by artificial intelligence algorithms, rather than human authors. This can include written content, such as news articles and social media posts, as well as other forms of media, such as music, images, and videos.

    Currently, AI-generated content is being used for commercial purposes in some cases. For example, AI algorithms are being used to generate news articles and social media posts, allowing companies to quickly produce large amounts of content. AI is also being used to create personalized marketing messages and other forms of customer communications.

    However, the quality and accuracy of AI-generated content is still not at the level where it can be used widely for commercial purposes. AI algorithms are still limited in their ability to understand context and to create content that is nuanced and engaging. As a result, many companies are still hesitant to rely solely on AI-generated content for their marketing efforts.

    Additionally, there are concerns about the ethical implications of using AI-generated content. For instance, there are questions about who should be credited as the author of AI-generated content, and who owns the rights to this content. There are also concerns about the potential for AI-generated content to be used for nefarious purposes, such as spreading misinformation or propaganda.

    Overall, AI-generated content is already being used for commercial purposes in some cases, but the technology is still not at the point where it can be widely used. As AI technology continues to advance, it is likely that the quality and accuracy of AI-generated content will improve, and it will become more widely accepted for commercial use. However, there are also ethical concerns that will need to be addressed as the use of AI-generated content continues to grow.

     

    If the AI-generated content reaches human level, will the Marketers’ job go obsolete?

     

    If AI-generated content were to reach human-level quality and accuracy, it could potentially have a significant impact on the field of marketing. In some cases, the use of AI-generated content could reduce the need for human marketers, as AI algorithms would be able to create personalized, engaging content at scale. However, it is unlikely that the job of marketers would go entirely obsolete, even if AI-generated content were to reach human-level quality.

    First, even if AI algorithms were able to create content that was indistinguishable from human-generated content, there would still be a need for human marketers to oversee the creation and distribution of this content. For instance, human marketers would be responsible for setting the overall strategy for a marketing campaign and for ensuring that the content produced by AI algorithms aligned with the campaign’s goals.

    Second, even if AI algorithms were able to produce high-quality content, there would still be a need for human marketers to interpret the data and insights generated by AI algorithms. For instance, AI algorithms might be able to identify patterns and trends in customer behavior, but it would be up to human marketers to make sense of this information and to use it to create effective marketing campaigns.

    Overall, while the development of high-quality AI-generated content could potentially have a major impact on the field of marketing, it is unlikely that it would make the job of marketers entirely obsolete. Instead, the use of AI-generated content would likely lead to a shift in the skills and responsibilities of marketers, as they adapt to working alongside AI technology.

     

  • Have You Considered AI-Powered Salesforce Integration Testing?

    Testing your Salesforce instance can quickly go awry without a CRM testing plan that is built around clear timelines and deliverables, as well as a comprehensive strategy for stakeholder involvement. However, building and implementing this plan of action doesn’t have to be complicated, especially when… Read More

  • Tackling Loneliness in the Remote World of Work

    Working remotely can be a lonely business at times. As opposed to its contented siblings, solitary and independent, this word gives off all kinds of negative connotations. But what used to be something of a taboo has now found its place in workplace conversation, especially… Read More

  • Your secret recipe

    Perhaps it’s a proprietary manufacturing technique, or the fact that you add a little chickpea flour to your dosa batter.

    Professionals often develop secret approaches and recipes that they use in their work.

    It doesn’t matter. Even famous ones.

    If it really matters to your competition, they’re going to figure it out.

    And if they figure it out, you’ll succeed based on all the things that aren’t a secret–your care, effort and empathy. Time spent securing the secret in a vault is time wasted.

  • An event or a journey?

    They’re easy to confuse.

    An event happens at date certain, then it’s over, nothing more to be done.

    A journey might include an event, but it’s bigger than that, and ongoing.

    A wedding is an event, a marriage is a journey.

    The week a book is published is an event, while the creation, publication and lifespan of the ideas in the book are a journey.

    The focus and energy we lavish on events can easily distract us from the journeys we care about.

  • Lowes; Deceitful Sales Representative and Corporate Employees who are above speaking to the public!??!

    Let me start by saying my husband and I are in complete repugnance with the way the second-largest hardware retailer in the U.S., this “Fortune 500” company, LOWE’S has handled their business and customer relations/support. We have used Lowe’s for many different projects, on many different occasions. Around August of 2022, we purchased carpet from Lowe’s and paid to have it installed. To make a long story short, my husband took the day off of work when the carpet was to be installed, however the installers never showed. After reaching out to installation support, we were informed that the installers were double booked and they would be here the following week. There was no compensation for this error of Lowe’s, although we were told that we would be compensated all of the labor costs back. With much hesitation, we decided to give Lowe’s another chance. We had a sales representative come from the Paducah, Kentucky store to give us an estimate on replacing the vinyl, facia, trim, and gutters on our home. Meanwhile, we were in the process of having a garage built in the back and our goal was to have the garage and house match. We signed the contract and choose our color (Spruce by Royal), and we were told our installation would start May 4th, 2022. We were told our materials were ordered and would be delivered prior to the installation date. On April 1st, 2022, Lowe’s charged our credit card for the full amount of the job, that hadn’t even began. $16K+ Then, May 4th came and went, and we didn’t have any materials, nor did anyone show up to start the installation. We called installation support again…..This was drug out for months, with many calls to installation support, trips to the local store to speak with the manager, as the sales rep would not return our calls. If he did, it was via text, and there was always an excuse as to why he was unable to keep his appointment. Through installation support, we were informed that the wrong color and brand of vinyl was ordered. We went back and forth with Lowe’s for so long, that our garage was built and it was time for them to vinyl it. We wanted to be absolutely 100% sure that they vinyl in the house and garage matched, so my husband once again reached out to the rep. (via text).He took the product numbers for the vinyl we ordered for the garage and said it would be no problem, he would order from the same supplier we used for the garage (though that conversation we found out our materials had never been ordered). Our garage was completed, meanwhile, our house hadn’t been touched, we had exposed wood and no deck off the back door (we could not use this door since removing the old deck for them to install the new vinyl), since May 2022, when they were supposed to complete the installation. We made sure our windows were replaced and all metal was bent around the frames, prior to our installation date,so we wouldn’t encounter any delays. Numerous phone calls to installation support, and numerous pages of notes in their system, we finally were told another installation date for the end of September 2022. That day came and went, and no one showed. The contractors finally showed up the first week of October, but there was one big problem! Lowe’s never delivered the materials! Many, many phone calls later, doing our own researching and digging, we found out that the sales rep did place an order for our materials back in September of 2022, but Lowes never paid for it! The supplier had tried to contact the sales rep many times via e-mail and phone calls to let him know they needed an itemized P.O. in order for the materials to be paid for. He never got back with them and the contractor could not start with out materials. As homeowners, we were concerned about the wood that had been replaced on the house and had been exposed since May 2022 (5 months), to all weather conditions. The installers told us they could start as soon as the materials were here, but the supplier was not going to release them until they were paid for….I could write a novel about this horrid experience, but to try to wrap this post up, I’ll tell you, we took our truck and trailer, went and wrote a check for $5,300+ and paid for the materials (a second time as they had charged our credit card a little over 16K on April 1st, 2022) and brought them home. Installation support customer service assistant manager “Monette” had us scan in and email all our documents and informed us we would receive a check in the mail to reimburse us for the materials and the compensation would be handled once the job was complete. Folks……it is January 13, 2023, and yesterday when we called installation support, because corporate never called us like we were told they would, nor did we ever get reimbursed for the materials. We were told from an installation support rep, that corporate sent them an e-mail stating there would be no reimbursement for the materials, nor would there be any compensation. She stated that it was sent to district, to regional, and then to corporate. Lowe’s broke their contract, they were deceitful, they flat out lied to us, and no one from corporate ever contacted us, not via e-mail nor a phone call! So Lowe’s, this “Fortune 500” company, who is supposed to be ranked as one of the most admired companies, expects us to just sit back and eat this $22K!! Expects us to except their lies and the worst customer service I have ever experienced in my life (and I have been in customer service for over 20 years). So here we are, with our hands thrown in the air, unsure what step we should take next. Do we hire a lawyer, and potentially end up losing more money to try to get this straightened out!?! One would think, that a corporation like Lowe’s would stand behind their word, have dignity, and customer service. One would think they would have corporate employees who take pride in their company and customer relations. Do their best to uphold their company name, but that clearly isn’t the case with Lowe’s. Keyboard warriors, if you will. Above dealing with the public. However, if it wasn’t for us, the public, I don’t believe they would hold the position they do….I’ll wrap this by by asking for your thoughts on what you think should be our next approach. Or maybe you have experienced this with Lowe’s, please share what happened and how it turned out. Or maybe you’re a Lowe’s team member and you or someone you know, can pass this on to an individual that does have dignity for their company. All comments and ideas are welcome. I didn’t put every detail into this post to try to prevent it from being so long. Thanks for reading and I look forward to your replies! ~One very disgruntled customer submitted by /u/Appalled2SayTheLeast [link] [comments]