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January 2011
Executive Errands eNewsletter
Serving Others in the New Year
In This Issue
Our Favorite Things - Loren Biggs of Edward Jones
The Best New Year's Resolution
Editorial Correction
New Services - Mobile On Site Drapery & Blind Cleaning
On a Clear Day
Glorious Vinegar
After the Holidays
Wedding Bells
Free Concierge Services
Save the Date!
Quick Links
Join Our Mailing List

Greetings!    

 

telephone callCall more, Email less.  That's my New Year's resolution.  It is rapidly becoming a pet peeve of mine that as a society we are becoming so isolated.  So many tasks can be accomplished without ever being in the same room as someone or even talking with them directly.

Ipad, Facebook, Email, Skype, texting.  So many ways to 'stay in touch'.  Email especially is so convenient.  You can work at any hour of the day or night.  You can blast off your 'to do' lists, inquiries, follow-ups and work assignments easily.  I myself am guilty of working late Sunday evenings, sometimes filling up the inboxes of my employees and colleagues with a rash of emails for their enjoyment on Monday mornings.

email mountainI am quite sure this is not fun for them and I hate doing it, but sometimes my days get away from me and Sunday is the only time I can catch up on the massive volume of email received each week.  And worse, rather than creating one email per person and adding issues to it so they only have one to review, I just fire them off as I work through my own inbox.  That means someone could have five or even ten emails waiting for them Monday morning.

On the other hand, I've found that if an email is too long, people will 'blank' out.  Their brain goes on overload and they won't read it.  Many times I've tried to consolidate and categorize information to save my colleagues a massive volume of emails, however this approach is ineffective.  They simply won't read the long ones.

inboxSo this year, I've decided to try and call more often and to email less.  That way I get to connect with another human being.  I get to take a moment and share some conversation, not just firing work info back and forth.  And I get to avoid any misinterpretations that often arise due to the lack of tone and vocal inflection in email.

At the beginning of each year it is tradition to make New Year's resolutions.  This year, my goal is to connect more.  Bring more human-ness into my life.  I will still utilize electronic technology as it would be foolish not to take advantage of its timesaving properties, but I will consciously make an effort to actually talk with my friends, colleagues, clients and associates.

Not only is it good for business, it's actually good for your soul.  So here is fair warning:  If your phone rings..... It's likely to be me!  Happy New Year!

============================================

Executive Errands - consciously focused on Customer Service every day! 

www.executive-errands.com 760.469.2487 or 760.898.9604

Our Favorite Things...
Edward Jones (Loren Biggs)

customer serviceCustomer service is often a casualty of lost human connection and this casualty has been exacerbated by the economic roller coaster of the last few years.

Many businesses that were particularly hard hit by the default of debt repayment have now changed their rules and requirements.  Whether by design or subconsciously, many have also adjusted their customer service levels - and not in a good way.

One of these is the personal financial management industry.  Many of the big companies have sent out letters recently setting portfolio minimums and if you don't meet these minimums, they will no longer provide you with an individual manager.  Instead they will turn your account over to be managed via their call in customer service line where you'll get a different advisor every time you call in.

investment adviserI don't know about you, but it seems logical that if you can manage to save any amount of money these days, you should be entitled to a real and consistent human being with whom to work. 

Someone you can call by his or her first name, who gets to know you and who can advise you on financial decisions because they know your objectives well enough to make a solid recommendation.

Enter Loren Biggs of Edward Jones.  Loren's Edward Jones office is located in La Quinta.  It has all of the big firm services with a decidedly small town feel. 

Edward JonesWhen you need to discuss your investment portfolio, you speak directly with Loren.  He takes the time to get to know you, your objectives, and your future plans.  He is active in the community and he remembers you when you run into him outside of the office.

And Loren doesn't care about the size of your investment portfolio.  Whether it has $1000 or hundreds of millions, you get the same personalized service from him and his staff.

Managing your finances is a delicate and highly intimate activity - and one where you need 100% confidence in your financial advisor and the consistency he provides.  Give Loren a call.  You'll be glad you did!

For more info, please contact Joni or Loren at 760.564.9777 or via email at [email protected]  

 Loren Biggs of Edward Jones - one of our favorite people!

["Our Favorite Things" gives us an opportunity to share people, places, events and things that we truly love and that you might too.  We have no business affiliation with any company or individual featured here.  We just want to share good things with you and if our recommendations help build business for someone else or saves you time or money, GREAT!!!]
The Best New Year's Resolution
  
Donate LifeDid you know you can personally save up to eight lives as an organ donor and as many as 50 lives as a tissue donor?  It's so true.

I've been an organ donor since it was first offered through my Driver's License renewal but you don't have to wait until your driver's license renewal to make this commitment.

If you go to www.donatelifecalifornia.org you can create a donor profile.  You can donate all of your organs and tissue or you can specify specific ones.

Unless you have religious prohibitions (which should be completely respected), please consider becoming an organ donor as your 2011 New Year's resolution.

CA Donate LifeEven though I was a donor, I had some small reservations - that is, until I came to know someone who was fortunate enough to receive donated organs.  He wouldn't be alive today without them.  But he is now thriving and driving us all crazy and we are so thankful he is.

Please visit www.donatelifecalifornia.org and set up your donor profile.  Over 7,000,000,000 people already have.  It's the greatest gift you can give and a perfect New Year's resolution.

www.executive-errands.com  Call 760.898.9604 
Editorial Correction
 
For the first time ever, we sent a supplemental newsletter alerting our clients, service providers and colleagues about two new bulk services.

periodic tableOne of these was predicated by new California State legislation enacted in May 2010 and going into effect this month.  It is now necessary (over the next two years) to install carbon monoxide detectors in all homes.

In the course of that promo piece, we mindlessly selected the incorrect element abbreviation off the Periodic table.  Carbon monoxide is CO.  We said CO2 which is actually carbon dioxide.

Our apologies for any confusion and thank you to the two association managers who kindly and humorously pointed out my finger dyslexia.

For more information about carbon monoxide detectors or about any of our bulk service offerings, please contact us at at 760.469.2487 or by email at [email protected]
New Services....
Mobile Onsite Drapery & Blind Cleaning

blind cleaningDraperies and blinds are items we often overlook when it's time to do a major cleaning. Often we ignore them because:
  • We don't want to lose privacy when our windows are bare while the draperies or blinds are out for a week or more getting cleaned
  • We worry they will fade or lose their shape in the cleaning process
  • We are concerned they won't reinstall easily or worse, we are reluctant to attempt the reinstall effort ourselves

All these concerns can now go out the window (pun intended!). 

Effective immediately we are offering mobile and onsite same day drapery and blind cleaning.  Depending on the number of windows you have, the entire process may take a few hours or a whole day but either way, your draperies or blinds will be back in place by the end of the day.

Sand and grit finds its way into fabric blinds and draperies accelerating sun rot and damage.  Sand reduces the lifespan of both types of window treatments and it is amazing how many bugs end their lives within the folds of pleated fabrics.

we cleanHere are the benefits of using a mobile drapery and blind cleaning service:

  • Same day cleaning service - no extended loss of privacy
  • Draperies and blinds carefully removed and expertly rehung after cleaning
  • There is no shrinkage and all pleats are perfectly back in place
  • All drapery hardware is cleaned and lubricated.

To schedule a cleaning estimate for your blinds and draperies or for a referral, please contact Executive Errands at 760.469.2487 or 760.898.9604  www.executive-errands.com 

On a Clear Day....

There is a song that goes - On a clear dayyy, you can see foreverrrr...... but that's only true if you take proper care of your windows and window treatments.

windowsIn addition to blinds, draperies and shade cleaning, we also offer the following:

  • Expert window cleaning - interior, exterior, screens and vacuum of tracks
  • Shutter and blind repairs
  • New shutters and blinds
  • New exterior, high quality awnings - both remotely and manually controlled
  • Awning repairs and maintenance
  • Glass replacement
  • Sliding glass door repairs and replacement
  • Replacement windows and doors

That's a lot of viewable area to maintain - and like all the work we do, we care for your home as if it were our own.

For more information or to schedule any of these tasks, or, if you just want a referral, please call us at 760.469.2487  www.executive-errands.com

Glorious Vinegar!
  

all natural vinegarMaybe this year we'll resolve to use fewer solvents.   Cleaning products can be expensive and often harmful to the environment. 

 

Sometimes the simplest products work the best.

 

White distilled vinegar, because of its acidity, is super-effective at killing most mold, bacteria and germs AND it's eco-friendly.

 

Here are a few ways to use white distilled vinegar around the house:

 

  • Shine chrome and remove lime buildup by making a paste of 2 Tablespoons salt and 1 teaspoon of white distilled vinegar.
  • For a natural scouring cleanser, mix � cup baking soda with 1 Tablespoon liquid detergent and just enough white vinegar to give it a thick and creamy texture.
  • Make your own window spot cleaner with � cup ammonia, 2 cup white vinegar and 2 Tablespoons cornstarch in a gallon of water.
  • cleaning with vinegarDeodorize a garbage disposal by pouring in � cup baking soda and � cup hot white vinegar.  Let sit for 5 minutes, then run hot water down the disposal.
  • Mix � cup white vinegar with � cup water in a microwave safe bowl, put in the microwave and let it boil to clean baked-on foods and remove odors.  Wipe clean.
  • Mix equal parts water and white vinegar into a solution to clean the refrigerator inside and out.
  • Mix equal parts of salt or baking soda with white vinegar to scrub away stains from coffee and teacups, then rinse clean.
  • Polish brass and copper with a mix of 2 Tablespoons ketchup and 1 Tablespoon white vinegar.  Rub it on with a clean cloth until dry and shiny.
  • Soak a sponge in white vinegar to wipe grease off of exhaust fans.
  • vinegarClean grout with full strength white vinegar and a toothbrush.
  • Kill germs by spraying full-strength white vinegar on doorknobs and then wipe dry.
  • Clean your BBQ grill by spraying white vinegar on it and then scrubbing with wadded up aluminum foil. 
  • Remove stickers, decals, or sticky stuff with a cloth dipped in white vinegar.


760.898.9604 www.executive-errands.com
After the Holidays....

Now that we're past the holiday season and you've taken a cell phone, flip camera or camcorder's worth of photographs, let Executive Errands help you convert them to DVD or CD.

vhs to dvdOr, if you have old VHS, BETA, cassette tapes, 8MM or other out-of-date data mediums, we can also convert them to DVD or CD.  It's a great New Year's project to help catalog your memories without the clutter of photo albums that will fade, fall apart or drop your pictures.

Another case for technology!  A VHS conversion typically runs about $20.  Additional ones on the same order drop to $15.  Copies of DVD's and CD's (after the first one) may be as little as $5.  There is no more affordable way to preserve your memories in an easy to use format and believe us when we say digital photo albums make wonderful gifts to give all throughout the year!

We'll get you to the right company for all your digital needs!  760.469.2487  www.executive-errands.com
Wedding Bells....

If you just got engaged over the Christmas holiday and you're not sure where to start the planning process, check out Simply Celebrated at www.simplycelebrated.com

weddingSimply Celebrated offers an all inclusive wedding for small gatherings.  If you limit your guests to 25-50, you can have a full service wedding that ranges from $3000 to $6500.

This all inclusive wedding program includes two venue locations, cake, champagne, music, photography, flowers and various meal plans.  Each four-hour event is perfectly lovely and will help you celebrate your love simply, yet affordably.

If you are cost conscious yet want the wedding of your dreams, consider Simply Celebrated
It doesn't matter if this is your first wedding or you've fallen in love for the last time.  Simply Celebrated is here to help you do it right!

Simply Celebrated is a division of Executive Errands. 
 
For more information www.simplycelebrated.com or 760.469.2487 
Referral Special....Don't Pass This Up!

Your referrals have always been the best compliment we receive.  In celebration of our upcoming 5th anniversary, we are offering you a sweet incentive!

homechecklogoFor everyone (existing clients, business associates, friends, anybody) who brings us three (3) new absentee home clients, we will give you a FREE YEAR of Absentee Home Service - or the equivalent of two hours free per month!

That's a better than $1300 gift - and it's pretty sweet since you're already referring us anyway.

To qualify, all three referrals must sign up for a regular membership commitment of a minimum two hours per month.  And they must satisfy the entire year.  Your free service shall run parallel with theirs so you don't have to wait for their year to complete before receiving your gift.

What could be simpler?  You bring us three new clients, we give you a year of service free.....Lovely....

For more information
www.executive-errands.com or 760.469.2487 
Save the Date...

Soroptimist logo
The Cathedral City - Rancho Mirage Soroptimist
Spring Fling fundraiser is scheduled for April 9, 2011.

Venue and times to come later but for now we want you to know the club is planning a Boutique Sale event where each member will showcase their particular hobby, talent, craft or business.

Even if you're not a member, you may be able to showcase your special goods along with us.  Just contact us for more information.

house of hopeAs always, the CC-RM Soroptimist club raises funds for House of Hope and other desert charities.

Mark your calendars now and keep an eye out for more information.

If you'd like to attend a club meeting to see if you might like to become a member, please let us know. A really great group of women participate in this club.  

Please call at 760.898.9604 or 760.469.2487  www.executive-errands.com

acts of kindnessAs we start this New Year, I hope everyone will make a resolution to set aside some time to serve others and to give to others.  We are lucky enough to live in one of the most charity-driven communities in the US, which is really wonderful.

But what many people may not realize is that charities, even though they are non-profits, still employ a great many people and are a significant contributor to our local economy.   

 So when you give to a local charity, you can feel good on two fronts.  First that you are actually helping those in need and second, that you may well be contributing to our economy which is so very important.

There are many ways to be of service to others.  Commit to do something every month.  It might be a random act of kindness or some actual time at a shelter or soup kitchen.  It could be a monetary donation or a gift for a silent auction.  You might clear out your closets and send seldom used clothes and linens to an organization that could really benefit from them.

HNYNo matter what your current situation, there are always ways to give.  Even a simple 'please' and 'thank you' can brighten someone's day.  No "gift of you" is too small.

We wish you a year of prosperity, health and happiness.

Happy 2011!

 

Leslie Spoor

 

760.469.2487
 
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