Archive for October, 2013

New Whiteboard Marker

graphic showing the effects of different color markers on a white board and how a white marker will appear on there

Whiteboards and dry-erase markers are a great idea.

But sometimes the colors don’t erase very well.

Then the board becomes hard to read, and the eraser is useless.

Some people might give up and just buy a new board.

But don’t do that. Keep going until the whiteboard is a complete mess.

(muddled whiteboard)

That’s when you buy my new product – the white whiteboard marker!

Now that board can be used again.

Keep using the white marker until

the board is fully white!

Then start the process all over again.


I wish I had an actual product available, but I don’t. Nothing here for you to buy.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.

Revelation 2:17

Exceeding Expectations

comic showing a plumber who exceeds a customers expectations, including on the price

Transcript:
Telephone handset: Hello, and thanks for calling Paul’s Appliance Repair, where we exceed your expectations. How can we help you?
Lady: Yes, my washer stopped working. Can you come take a look at it?
Paul’s: Sure, we can be there in 10 minutes.
Lady: Wow, you got here fast!
Paul’s: Yes ma’am – we try to exceed your expectations.
Paul’s: Okay, it’s fixed now.
Lady: Wow, that was fast too.
Paul’s: Yes ma’am – we try to exceed your expectations.
Lady: How much do I owe you?
Paul’s: $500. That’s $250 for the service call and $250 for parts and labor.
Lady: I was expecting to pay around $200.
Paul’s: Yes ma’am – we try to exceed your expectations.
Lady: I knew there was a catch.


I never really liked the phrase “exceed your expectations”. In general, I prefer not to have surprises. I want to know what to expect and then I want those expectations fulfilled.

It’s nice if you can do better than forecast, but don’t surprise me with it.
“Good news, sir. We were able to fix your car two days faster than the initial estimate of six days!”
“Why is that good news? I’m out of town and won’t be back for another two days – right when my car was supposed to be ready. I hope you didn’t have to work any overtime to finish it sooner.”

The car owner might sound grumpier than he needs to sound, but I hope you get the point – surprises are not always good. In the service industry, your goal should be to make the customer happy, not to exceed his expectations. Maybe exceeding his expectations is one way to make him happy, or maybe understanding his expectations and meeting them is another way, or maybe clearly defining what you will accomplish so that his expectations are correct is another way.

Behold, your expectation is false; Will you be laid low even at the sight of him?

Job 41:9

Stranger

Drawing showing one complete stranger and one incomplete stranger, who is not drawn all the way.

Watch out for that incomplete stranger – he’s not quite all there.

When they were only a few in number,
Very few, and strangers in it,

1 Chronicles 16:19