Service: Our Principle Business!

In the small town of Blairsville, nestled in the North Georgia Mountains, there is a billboard advertisement of the local bank which states; "Strong Bank, Strong Service". My wife and I as well as many of the locals use this bank. The bank does have excellent service. Most of the tellers know not only myself but many of the customers by first name - impressive, especially today. The bank's advertising statement however is wrong? It was not a strong bank which built strong service, but rather strong service built a strong bank!

Now some of you are saying to yourselves or talking out load if your even stranger, "Ernie, you are being to critical." That critical spirit of mine when expressed outward toward others is dangerous and can be very unhealthy however, when expressed inward to self examine and self evaluate can produce tremendous results. That is why this particular bank is doing better than most, because they are constantly looking towards themselves for improvement.

When I think of "Customer Service" I think of my good friend Russell Krauskopf.  He would tell me that he treated them how he would like himself or a family member treated under similar circumstances. With Russ, Customer Service was his Service! There were times I thought he would give away the store, but he consistently had the highest sales and the most compliments by customers. To this day when I need something done that requires a "special touch" - I still call on him.

For an in-depth look at this principle CLICK HERE.

The Principle of Application

The "Application" Principle or its more common name "Procrastination" is a Traditional or Home Based Business' nightmare. Even I procrastinate at times. I could prove it to you, but I just haven't gotten around to doing it yet!? Every thought that eventually makes its way to completion passes through a myriad of phases. In its most simplistic form there are three basic phases; Idea, Development and Application. It is "Application that separates all the other good ideas, plans and preparation from the rest.

Like every other "Phase", Application is best met with a time table. In other words; Plan your Work and Work your Plan. Someone once said that the key to eating an elephant is to take it one bite at a time. Most of our problems are our bites are to big to swallow? If you are "Melancholy" (in personality or temperament) like myself, we beat-up ourselves for not accomplishing EVERY LITTLE PLAN we make.

With the Business Principle of Application / Procrastination there are too many cliché's. I will end with one though; Just Do It...

The Principle of Integrity

For those of you who are fortunate enough to know him, Frank Baker is one of my best friends. Last month while Frank was visiting he told me a story about his son Matthew, when he was a pitcher for Lynn University. I contacted Matt to get permission to relay the following:


Matthew told me that he was approached by a young lady who wanted to "hook-up" with him. He told the girl that he was a virgin and was not interested. Apparently she spread the word about Matt's vow of abstinence and it eventually reached his baseball teammates. Matt had already been picked on for not talking (swearing) like the others, however when they caught wind of this he was ridiculed by the other players. During one of the verbal assaults which Matt usually weathered humbly, he turned to his teamates and said; "This evening I could be just like you, but you can never be like me!"


What an incredibly powerful statement which not only shut them up but gained their respect. This statement later opened doors with some of the players for Matt to share his faith in Jesus Christ. Matthew Baker is a man of strong moral character, like his father before him and his grandfathers. Matt currently attends a christian college and for a hobby fights in the MMA (mixed martial arts) and is single. Mom's tell you daughters - He's a Catch!!!


For an in-depth look at this principle CLICK HERE.