Odds and Ends from the Odd Weekend

MY ANKLE
       I’m an idiot and if my ankle heals at a 67 degree angle it’s all my fault. I don’t like to ask people for help. I like to do things on my own and I usually have five projects going at once. I have my own system and I want it done the way I want it done.
       So I didn’t bother waiting for my wife or my son and his friend before I decided to clear the three-season porch so that it could become a tempory storage area. My father is moving and we are losing the storage space in his basement.
       I began by trying to tip a couch on its side. I knew I couldn’t put much weight on my right leg so I’d have to mostly use my powerful upper body strength. You are all the first to hear about this and I’ll expect you keep it to yourselves. The freaking couch was almost on its side, we were both barely balancing. We landed together. Luckily we landed together and with me on the top.

THE BIRTHDAY PARTY
       My youngest Godchild turned two years-old last week. We had her birthday party on Saturday. My brother and sister-in-law  have three girls. The two youngest are twins. My sister and brother-in-law have also have three girls. The two oldest are twins. Our youngest is a boy. He does not have a twin. In fact none of our children has a twin but if we had to choose which one we’d like to have two of, it would be the girl.
       Even though he was outnumbered six to one, the only boy of the group had a fantastic time. I know this because he told his mom and I all the way home and then again once we arrived home. A year ago he was bored out of his mind at such occasions. It’s a welcome transition.

SCRABBLE
       You can play Scrabble on Facebook! Years ago I was introduced to the game by a coworker. We bought a travel size Scrabble board and hid it in a corner. Throughout the day, we’d mosey on over to our corner, take our turn and return to our job until the other person went. We’d go back and forth all day, all week, for months. She would pound me into the ground and had no mercy.
       I’m doing fairly well on Facebook. I have one friend that gives me a run for my money and has beaten me twice. But besides that, I’ve only lost one other game to some hotshot college kid. I’m sure I am only an average player at this point, but it’s addicting as all heck!

BUDGET
       My sister-in-law is about to take on a huge task. She will be teaching my wife and I how to budget our money. My sister has offered her services many times over the past couple of years too. But now, with my paycheck based on how many groups and companies I can get into, it’s imperative that we get help.
       So whereas I didn’t ask for help with the couch, I am fully aware that I need help in this area. So I want to thank my brother and sister-in-law for everything that they are about to help us with.
       As I have learned recently (beginning with my dear friends that helped us out with oil), asking for help is not admitting that you are weak. We all have friends and family that love us and if we are lucky, can read the signs and know when there is trouble.
       I have been so lucky over the past two-and-a-half-years. Little guardian angels have appeared when I’ve needed them the most. And you all know exactly who you are.
       I’m also lucky to have friends that will guide me in the right direction and share their knowledge like my dear friend that I spoke with today on his way to New Hampshire.

THE CENTURY
       Recreational cyclists have a test that we call a Century. It’s riding 100 miles in one day. 
       I want to do that this season. I did it once on my only attempt and it really is something to be proud of.
       I’d like to get as many of my friends together as possible to join me this coming September. The plan is to train during the summer and little by little work up to the big day. I’m thinking perhaps the second Saturday in September but that is subject to change.
       We can even collect money to donate to cancer or another cause. It’s not a race and you don’t need a $3000 bike. I’ll write more about it in the upcoming months. I’m still at least a month away from ditching my crutches so if you think you are too out of shape to even think about it, I DON’T WANT TO HEAR IT!
       Let me know if you are interested.

MMM
       I’ll be getting out of the house tomorrow to attend the Monday Morning Meeting at work. As you have all read, I need to jump-start this train and follow some leads to the bank. It won’t be easy following the new budget if I can’t make any money. So please read the last few posts and if you can help me out at all, I would appreciate it more than you will ever know.

Networking… networking… networking…

I’m networking. As we’ve discussed in prior posts, I have a cold-calling phobia. I also have trouble walking into a business unannounced and asking to set up an appointment.

At our Monday Morning Meeting (or MMM for short), one of my peers shared some statistics that he had learned last week. He said that cold-calls produce about a 20% success rate for booking appointments, while referrals from friends and business owners were closer to 80%.

That’s what I need my friends. I need referrals. I need to sit with business owners of companies from 3 to 3000 (or more) people. And the message is simple: Aflac is the cement that holds the bricks of a traditional insurance plan together. We don’t change anything that is already in place. It costs the company nothing to offer to its employees. And if we are a fit, we can save the company money on their taxes.

A person’s insurance plan is built to pay the doctors and hospitals. Aflac pays the policyholders cash so that they can do whatever they need to do with the money.

Please take a few minutes to think about the people that you know and the people that they may know. I’ve been to companies where the employer did not offer Short Term Disability but allowed me to come in and sell each person their own policy. Everybody needs to protect their paycheck.

Thanks for your time!