WE CAN CREATE CHANGES BY REALIZING WE DO MAKE A DIFERENCE.
Since sales are the “life blood” of any company, we subscribed to a company that finds various government leads for specific products, namely printing.
Several weeks ago, I downloaded a bid request for bar-code labels for Broward County, Florida. Our estimating department went through the extensive process of furnishing a price for the two separate items which included die charges, programming, etc.
I turned the prices over to Ruth so she could read all 24 pages of the quotation request and fill in the necessary information required. As she was reading the contract section, she saw that they would only accept bids from vendors who held a business license within Broward County, Florida, and put it back on my desk.
Since this sounded like a very strange and somewhat prejudicial rule or specification, I contacted the person in charge of purchasing these labels. During the course of our conversation, I mentioned the time we had spent working on this bid and why did they put it out for bid if it was a useless exercise? He asked me what I was planning on bidding. It turned out our price was less than half of what they had been previously paying. At that point, he asked me to please submit our pricing in writing, and he would do a price comparison to turn over to his management.
A week later, I e-mailed him again to see who got the contract and for what price. He informed me that the contract had not been awarded yet, since there was now an internal investigation in process. A week later, he informed me that the quotation would be going to an unrestricted market (national market) the following morning with a new bid closing date. He e-mailed me copy of the bid the following morning and at that point I sent in a formal quotation with our pricing.
At the time of this writing, the bid has not closed the due date. I don’t know if we will get the order or not. The main thing I want to emphasize is that we can and we will make a difference as long as we don’t cower whenever we face an obstacle. Our industry is extremely competitive as it is, without having to face these extra restrictions that just don’t make any sense. I am sure the County Managers weren’t even aware that they were over-paying on these items, and who knows how many more there are. I think we opened up a “can of worms” for this group.
Showing posts with label SEPTEMBER 1. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SEPTEMBER 1. Show all posts
Thursday, January 14, 2010
What does all the above data add up to?
129 Days. 30.5 lbs. 16.9%. 10,378 Minutes.
172.966666 Hours. 664.11 Miles. Coyotes Encounter. Morning wake up at 2:45 AM. Walk morning and evenings.
What does all the above data add up to?
This article is being written on Sunday August 24, 2008.
When I visited my doctor for my regular 3-month check up, my blood pressure was 140/90 and my other related health numbers were not encouraging. My weight had taken its own upward road because of happy eating. My doctor told me that I was over weight and should try losing some to help my vital statistics that were high and which needed to be lowered ASAP.
In general I was not feeling good and my energy level was lower than normal. I was feeling uncomfortable and upset at myself for losing control of my general health.
I left the doctor’s office determined to regain that control and recapture the feeling I had before the weight gain.
When I arrived home I went straight to my computer and signed up for the Nutra System Diet Plan I had seen advertised on TV. The food arrived 3 days later and I started their eating and exercise plan. Do not fool yourself… you can not lose weight without exercise. You have to get your body moving or it is a waste of money as well as time and effort, and nothing happens.
I started my program in California, but had to take my business trips to the other plants. I increased my walk daily while I was visiting Calico, NC and then Futek, WI. I was out for my morning walks at 4:00AM and also in the evenings at 6:00 PM when the weather was cooler. I enjoyed walking in the mornings because it was cool and they made me feel energized during the day. I also enjoyed the evening breezes later in the evening. At first, walking 3-4 miles was a chore. Now I am up to 12-14 miles per day and do not want to stop. My IPOD keeps me company with my downloaded podcasts that make the time disappear.
When I first began my routine, my morning and evening walks were in streets and at the park near our house in California. However, my California morning walks were changed to going to the Gym when I encountered two coyotes at the park. As I was walking one morning, I heard some rustling in the bushes. I looked to the side and they were 10 feet from me. Although my heart beat jumped, I continued to walk the same speed and did not run because I knew that would encourage them to chase me. So with one eye on them, I walked away until I got to the other side of the park while they continued to stand there and watch me. In my mind I was contemplating what I should do if they decided to run toward me and attack me! I’m very thankful they did not.
It was not a hard decision to transfer my walk to the gym from that day on. I was getting up 3:00AM for the park walk, so in order to stick with the rest of my daily routine; I had to change it to 2:45AM. This would give me time to drive to the gym and back by 6:00AM to get ready for work.
In my opinion, the Nutra System food is delicious and easy to make. No refrigeration is needed, and it takes 1-1/2 minutes or less in the microwave to have it ready. I would encourage anyone to try it if you want to lose weight.
So this is what it took to loose 30-1/2Lbs.
129 Days of diet and exercise.
Weight lost: 30.5 lbs.
Percentage lost: 16.9%
Minutes walked: 10,678 Minutes = 172.96666667 Hours
Miles walked: 664.11Miles
Coyotes Encountered: 2
Morning wake up at 2:45 AM
Walk morning and evenings.
Average daily distance walked: 5.14814 Miles.
Now the fun part is that I can go to my other closet every morning and it is like going to the store and picking out new clothes for that day. I can pick my favorite pants and shirts that were moved to the other closet due to weight gain. Everything old is new again.
My doctor took me around the office on the last visit to show me off to the staff and the other patients to show what one can do if one is mentally ready to do it. I believe if you are not mentally ready to take the challenge, it will be a futile exercise and any lack of dedication will not let anyone achieve the goal.
My blood pressure is 110/70 and all the other vital signs are looking great. I have so much energy now, which really makes my days a pleasure.
Now if you are good at math, you can figure out what my starting weight was!
172.966666 Hours. 664.11 Miles. Coyotes Encounter. Morning wake up at 2:45 AM. Walk morning and evenings.
What does all the above data add up to?
This article is being written on Sunday August 24, 2008.
When I visited my doctor for my regular 3-month check up, my blood pressure was 140/90 and my other related health numbers were not encouraging. My weight had taken its own upward road because of happy eating. My doctor told me that I was over weight and should try losing some to help my vital statistics that were high and which needed to be lowered ASAP.
In general I was not feeling good and my energy level was lower than normal. I was feeling uncomfortable and upset at myself for losing control of my general health.
I left the doctor’s office determined to regain that control and recapture the feeling I had before the weight gain.
When I arrived home I went straight to my computer and signed up for the Nutra System Diet Plan I had seen advertised on TV. The food arrived 3 days later and I started their eating and exercise plan. Do not fool yourself… you can not lose weight without exercise. You have to get your body moving or it is a waste of money as well as time and effort, and nothing happens.
I started my program in California, but had to take my business trips to the other plants. I increased my walk daily while I was visiting Calico, NC and then Futek, WI. I was out for my morning walks at 4:00AM and also in the evenings at 6:00 PM when the weather was cooler. I enjoyed walking in the mornings because it was cool and they made me feel energized during the day. I also enjoyed the evening breezes later in the evening. At first, walking 3-4 miles was a chore. Now I am up to 12-14 miles per day and do not want to stop. My IPOD keeps me company with my downloaded podcasts that make the time disappear.
When I first began my routine, my morning and evening walks were in streets and at the park near our house in California. However, my California morning walks were changed to going to the Gym when I encountered two coyotes at the park. As I was walking one morning, I heard some rustling in the bushes. I looked to the side and they were 10 feet from me. Although my heart beat jumped, I continued to walk the same speed and did not run because I knew that would encourage them to chase me. So with one eye on them, I walked away until I got to the other side of the park while they continued to stand there and watch me. In my mind I was contemplating what I should do if they decided to run toward me and attack me! I’m very thankful they did not.
It was not a hard decision to transfer my walk to the gym from that day on. I was getting up 3:00AM for the park walk, so in order to stick with the rest of my daily routine; I had to change it to 2:45AM. This would give me time to drive to the gym and back by 6:00AM to get ready for work.
In my opinion, the Nutra System food is delicious and easy to make. No refrigeration is needed, and it takes 1-1/2 minutes or less in the microwave to have it ready. I would encourage anyone to try it if you want to lose weight.
So this is what it took to loose 30-1/2Lbs.
129 Days of diet and exercise.
Weight lost: 30.5 lbs.
Percentage lost: 16.9%
Minutes walked: 10,678 Minutes = 172.96666667 Hours
Miles walked: 664.11Miles
Coyotes Encountered: 2
Morning wake up at 2:45 AM
Walk morning and evenings.
Average daily distance walked: 5.14814 Miles.
Now the fun part is that I can go to my other closet every morning and it is like going to the store and picking out new clothes for that day. I can pick my favorite pants and shirts that were moved to the other closet due to weight gain. Everything old is new again.
My doctor took me around the office on the last visit to show me off to the staff and the other patients to show what one can do if one is mentally ready to do it. I believe if you are not mentally ready to take the challenge, it will be a futile exercise and any lack of dedication will not let anyone achieve the goal.
My blood pressure is 110/70 and all the other vital signs are looking great. I have so much energy now, which really makes my days a pleasure.
Now if you are good at math, you can figure out what my starting weight was!
DRIVING IN OTHER STATES
DRIVING IN OTHER STATES.
When traveling frequently to other states, one is more aware of the surroundings and especially what is happening on the road. Driving is the most prominent. Certain states come across as having more aggressive drivers who insist on speeding and driving right on your tail.
I thought driving in California was bad. No way! There is more traffic on the road, and as a result you do not have the dare-devil driving as much as you see in other states. In the Carolinas, the roads are narrow and not many street lights to help you see where you are going, which slows the traffic. In Nevada, they have heavy traffic but the roads are in good shape, new, organized, and easy to drive on. In California the drivers are semi-courteous and you do get many dirty looks and finger gestures if you are holding up the traffic.
Now for Wisconsin. I find it very uncomfortable to be on the freeway. The drivers are all speed drivers who drive right up to your back bumper and keep it there following you, even if the next lane is open. I noticed they do not change lanes to take advantage of the open, traffic free situation, and they use cell phones freely, since it obviously is not mandatory to have hand-free phones. During my visit in August of 2009, I was going to work in the morning on Hwy 41. Two girls in the car behind me were laughing and talking on the cell phone. The traffic was heavy during that time of the morning, and they were right on my tail. At the exit for Wal-Mart, they are adding a lane. I was in the slow lane when the car in front of me suddenly hit the brake. At that point of recognition, I had only 3 car lengths left between us. I had to raise my arm to let them know to slow down. They almost hit me because they were too close and not paying attention.
When I got home in the evening, I decided to find out what states have the worst drivers by rank. To my surprise, Wisconsin was number 13 of the best drivers on the list, North Carolina was 22, California and Connecticut 33, Nevada 39, and South Carolina was 40. The best drivers are in Kansas.
For a complete list of all the states to see how your friends’ and relatives’ states are ranked go to: http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/GMAC-Insurance-National-Drivers-Test-Rankings/
My apology to Wisconsin for thinking they would rank lower, but I still think they are the most aggressive drivers.
Remember, your family loves you and needs you as well as your fellow employees at the company. The next time you are on the road, please do not use the phone without a hands-free device, pay attention to your driving, respect the other drivers around you, and drive safely. Taking a few extra minutes to get to where you are going is far better than a serious injury or death. “Better late than never”…. We do not want to “miss” you because of an unfortunate driving accident.
When traveling frequently to other states, one is more aware of the surroundings and especially what is happening on the road. Driving is the most prominent. Certain states come across as having more aggressive drivers who insist on speeding and driving right on your tail.
I thought driving in California was bad. No way! There is more traffic on the road, and as a result you do not have the dare-devil driving as much as you see in other states. In the Carolinas, the roads are narrow and not many street lights to help you see where you are going, which slows the traffic. In Nevada, they have heavy traffic but the roads are in good shape, new, organized, and easy to drive on. In California the drivers are semi-courteous and you do get many dirty looks and finger gestures if you are holding up the traffic.
Now for Wisconsin. I find it very uncomfortable to be on the freeway. The drivers are all speed drivers who drive right up to your back bumper and keep it there following you, even if the next lane is open. I noticed they do not change lanes to take advantage of the open, traffic free situation, and they use cell phones freely, since it obviously is not mandatory to have hand-free phones. During my visit in August of 2009, I was going to work in the morning on Hwy 41. Two girls in the car behind me were laughing and talking on the cell phone. The traffic was heavy during that time of the morning, and they were right on my tail. At the exit for Wal-Mart, they are adding a lane. I was in the slow lane when the car in front of me suddenly hit the brake. At that point of recognition, I had only 3 car lengths left between us. I had to raise my arm to let them know to slow down. They almost hit me because they were too close and not paying attention.
When I got home in the evening, I decided to find out what states have the worst drivers by rank. To my surprise, Wisconsin was number 13 of the best drivers on the list, North Carolina was 22, California and Connecticut 33, Nevada 39, and South Carolina was 40. The best drivers are in Kansas.
For a complete list of all the states to see how your friends’ and relatives’ states are ranked go to: http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/GMAC-Insurance-National-Drivers-Test-Rankings/
My apology to Wisconsin for thinking they would rank lower, but I still think they are the most aggressive drivers.
Remember, your family loves you and needs you as well as your fellow employees at the company. The next time you are on the road, please do not use the phone without a hands-free device, pay attention to your driving, respect the other drivers around you, and drive safely. Taking a few extra minutes to get to where you are going is far better than a serious injury or death. “Better late than never”…. We do not want to “miss” you because of an unfortunate driving accident.
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