Ok, I wanted to keep this blog to write about Nate and my first year of marriage and all the lovey doveyness that goes along with that, but I have to vent.
For the past 3 years I have poured my time, passion and energy into building a music studio. I love teaching private lessons and over the year have been able to build a fairly large base of students. I call my studio Kauffmans Music and now Nate and I have over 80 of the most talented students walking through our doorway each week!! God is good and has given us a love for kids and a passion to teach music. We are currently looking at locations to expand and how to outsource some of our incoming business. I have been learning instrument repair and have added that to my bag of tricks. Nate and I have also been working on writing some music together. Pretty much we love music and i love running my own business.
Now, in the beginning, it was not easy. I juggled an office job, a waitress job and taught for some local teachers. I juggle a lot more than that now, but at least its in the same field:) I deal with lots of parents, grandparents, friends, co-teachers and friends. I took a ton of financial hits in the beginning because I wasnt the best about keeping records. Basically, if I didnt keep track, I didnt expect payment from customers. Kauffmans Music grew to this size for a few reasons I feel: 1. I love music and I cant help but exude my excitement and passion on my students. 2. I worked with people, with their schedules and their financial situations. 3. I love watching students succeed and learn about hard work. I wish I could be as flexible with my schedule, but I cant due to the size of the studio.
I have drawn some conclusions over the past few weeks about my attitude toward people that give lousy customer service. Here is the preface....I recently started going to this alternative medicine facility where they practice "nutrional response testing" I was so excited to go. I loved their philosophy and did some research about NRT and thought it would be awesome to try. My first interaction with this place was on the phone to make my appointment. The girl on the phone was nice, but not very accommodating. "Ok, she could just be having an off day" I thought to myself.
But then I arrived for my first appointment.....yes, first appointment. Call me crazy, but I always thought it's good to make a great first impression. I do whatever i need to with new students to make that first impression a great one. I don't think this facility cares to feel the same way. I was about 5 min late-because I got lost-and for what was suppose to be a 45 min appt. ended up being almost 2 hours. Is their time more important than mine? Yes. This is the message they sent loud and clear to me that day. For someone that bends over backwards to accommodate lots of families on a very regular basisbecause I want to have a growing business, I was not impressed.
The last straw came this weekend when I had beyond rude treatment on the phone. I was so annoyed, mad, angry and quite frankly, pissed. I was then upset with myself for getting so upset. Was my heart so full of anger it came out in this fashion? Lord, I feel you had brought be so far in this area?!
I came to the conclusion that, yes, i probably shouldn't have been so upset, but my annoyance came from the fact that I try my best to please people on the business side of my studio, that I just cant take crap from anyone else. For real. You may be a thriving business now, but continuing to treat people the way I was repeatedly treated will not be blessed. Its ashame that some business run that way. I hope I am the only one that experienced this, but I have a feeling I am probably not alone.
Anyways, I love my husband and we are so excited to attend the Weekend to Remember Marriage retreat in two weeks. We've had a bumpy few weeks here lately and I think this weekend away is going to be rejuvinating for both of us and give us a new refreshed look on this awesome gift he has given us to enjoy.
Whew, time for bed!
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