Farrier Articles, News, Quotes and Fun Stuff

I Promise You Won’t Lose Control
by Carla Repke

I was so excited to attend the 2005 FIA tradeshow and AFA Convention in Chattanooga, TN. I wanted the exposure for my new business, Farrier Appointment Service Team, Inc., but I also could not wait to say hello to old friends, meet some of the subscribers to my newsletter, and make new friends.

February 23 found me getting on the plane to Chattanooga, Tennessee. Somehow, the airlines had me fly from Denver to Charlotte, NC, change planes and then fly into Chattanooga, TN. That was a little weird to me, but that is a whole other story.

Anyway, I set up my booth in the convention center. I first hung my bright, yellow, red, blue and black banner that is so intense it just screams out at you as you stroll past. Then I placed on the table my business information flyers and three kinds of paper airplanes with instructions. I brought the paper airplanes because I have found that there is a kid in everyone…no matter how old. Next I put out a huge container of chocolate covered peppermint paddies (everyone said I had the best candy at the tradeshow), two bright red stuffed pups named Heart Bar and Egg Bar to be given to two lucky winners if they dropped their information in a drawing box, and a sign-up for my free monthly newsletter. With the red carpet and curtains and the royal blue skirting around the table, you really could not miss my booth!

I was hoping the farriers would be receptive to my business because it offers a service that they have not had the opportunity to use before. In past experiences, I have found that it takes awhile before farriers warm up to new concepts. Many farriers still don’t want anything to do with computers.

To my surprise, farriers were a little more than curious about my business, they were interested! It was such a pleasure to converse with them. I was encouraged by farriers and vendors that I had known for years and also by farriers that I had met for the first time.

As a group of us carried on a conversation about Farrier Appointment Service Team, Inc., I asked them, “If farriers think that a scheduling and phone service is such a great idea, why aren’t more them taking advantage of the service?”

A farrier’s wife said, “I can’t speak for everyone else, but with my husband, it’s a control thing!” She went on to say, “He’s not comfortable turning his customers over to someone else. He’s afraid of not knowing what is going on or losing his contact with his customers.”

The farrier looked at his wife and said, “I guess it is a control thing.”

A big pause went over the group…I said, “Well, we have something in common. I too have a control thing, but I learned one thing…delegate it! When I delegate office work, chores, and everyday issues, I find that I have not lost control; I just made my life easier. I have more time to do things that I would not have time for if I did not delegate a few things in my life or business. I stay in contact with those I have delegated to and by staying in contact, I know what is going on and have not lost any control.

Are you willing to allow a time consuming part of your job which is returning or not returning calls, playing phone tag, rescheduling when you are sick or there is an emergency, making appointment reminder calls, calling to let your customer know you are delayed, and more, JUST TO STAY IN CONTROL?

While you are at work or when you come home from a really long day are you excited to make phone calls to respond to your messages or schedule another appointment or even answer your phone? If not, you should be, because the person on the other line can tell your mood just by the sound of your voice. If you are not able to give your customers great telephone customer service, then you should delegate it.

Let me assure you that you won’t lose control of your customers by becoming a Farrier Appointment Service Team client because:

In closing, I had a great time at the FIA tradeshow and AFA Convention in Chattanooga, TN. Like I have always said, “People in the farrier industry are wonderful to work for and with!”

During the tradeshow at AFA in Tennessee, farriers had great things to say about Farrier Appointment Service Team, Inc.

“Wow, I wish someone would have thought of this service for farriers years ago!”

“This is really a great idea!”

“This service can make me more professional!”

“My customers will be happy to have someone to talk to right away when they (customers) call instead of waiting for me to come home.”

“My customers won’t be mad anymore because I did not return their calls. You’d be there to take their calls!”

“My wife does all my scheduling and taking my calls for me.” Wife, as she gently pokes her farrier husband’s ribs with her elbow, “Yes, but this does sound good!”

“You would handle all my phone calls? You would do reminder calls and call my customers about delays? You would reschedule if needed? You would be there all day just to take my calls? Sounds great, but are you sure you want to do that? That sounds like a lot of work for you!”

Wife to Farrier Husband, “Here, take this flyer, we’ll discuss this when we get home!”

Disclaimer: The above statements were made during the AFA tradeshow in Tennessee at the Farrier Appointment Service Team, Inc. booth. Names of farriers and vendors who made the above statements withheld because we forgot to get their permission to display their names next to their statements.

Character Quality:

"WISDOM"
According to definitions provided by the International Association of Character Cities (IACC), Wisdom is defined as "seeing and responding to life situations from a perspective that transcends my current circumstances."

Here are a few key aspects of wisdom: