FREEMAN-SPICER FINANCIAL SERVICES

Finance • Leasing • Accounting • Premium


316 South Eddy Street South Bend, IN 46617

574.234.0069 (V) • 574.234.6414 (F) • surekey@aol.com

Vol. 23, No. 10 • October, 2005

You can find this newsletter on the web at Freeman-Spicer.com


First Impressions


It never ceases to amaze me how unfriendly the first few seconds of arriving at any building or business is. You’ll see signs: “No Parking,” “No Soliciting,” “No Loitering,” and worse. Why would you greet a parade of customers with “No” instead of the word “Welcome!” It makes no sense. The reason? People who own or run the business don’t think like customers. They have meetings about satisfaction and service and then send the wrong message from the first second the customer enters the door. Brilliant. How are you greeting your customers? Any different? How many ways do you say “No” to customers at your business? Can you find one sign with the word “Welcome” on it? (Customer Satisfaction Is Worthless)


Those That Really Mean Something


The following is the philosophy of the late Charles Schultz, the creator of the “Peanuts” comic strip. You don’t have to actually answer the questions. Just read this straight through, and you’ll get the point:

1.         Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2.         Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3.         Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.

4.         Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5.         Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor or actress.

6.         Name the last decade’s worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners. Here’s another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1.         Name a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

2.         Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3.         Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4.         Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

5.         Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier?

The Lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards - - - they are the ones that care. (trefdesigns.com)

 


Everyday Briefs


What’s Riskier than Bioterrorism? . . . . . . . . . . . The probability of dying this year in the U.S. varies widely by specific reason.

Cause                         Annual Odds: 1 in                Cause                         Annual Odds: 1 in

Heart disease                             322                               Homicide                          16,949

Cancer                                       524                              Injury at work                    47,619

Diabetes                                  3,937                              Food poisoning                  56,424

Flu & pneumonia                     4,484                              Asthma                              71,429

Alzheimer’s disease                 4,587                              Accidental drowning           90,909

Motor vehicle accident            6,579                              Bicycle accident                376,165

Suicide                                    9,524                              Lightning                        4,478,159

Alcohol-induced                    14,706                               Bioterrorism (anthrax) 56,424,800

(Source: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention; Harvard Center for Risk Analysis)


Marketing.............................. Sometimes as you work with an ad agency or marketing person, they forget that you know your product and customers better than anyone. So keep in mind that it is you who has looked customers in the eye and listened to their needs and explained your product. You and only you know best the special story that makes a customer’s heart sing with glee. You know what is important and what is not. You know the buzz words the customer uses. This means that with whomever you work on literature, ads, or trade shows, you are the expert. You prepare the draft of the literature. Don’t be intimidated. Their creative person can hone your rendition into beautiful prose. But it’s up to you to incorporate what “feels right.” (Rethinking Business To Business Marketing)


Subject: How smart is your right foot?................... You must try this – it’s amazing and takes only seconds. See if you can outsmart your right foot . . . .

1. While sitting at your desk (or wherever) lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles with it.

2. Now, while doing this, draw the number “6" in the air with your right hand. You foot will change direction.

Hmmmmmm - thought you could outsmart your foot didn’t you? (Mel)


Computer Junk ........................ Browster.com - look at a link from a web page without having to actually go to that page. Point your cursor at the link and a small box appears - move your cursor into the box and the link pops up just for a quick glance. Makes looking at links easy and quick (and it’s a free download). * Camcentral.com - there are many many webcams on the internet that let you look at the world. Camcentral is a clearing house for these webcams. * This takes a minute to loan so be patient - http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/the_mission/flyby_movie.html is a link so you can watch the planet earth from the Messenger spacecraft as it used the earth’s gravitional pull to propel itself toward the planet Mercury. Watch as the earth gets smaller and smaller. 1st pictures are from 41,000 miles above the earth - last picture is from 271,000 miles out.


Per Diem ............... Travel per diem has increased as of 9/30/05. In high-cost areas the increase is $22.00 - now at $221.00. In low-cost areas the increase is $12.00 - now at $139.00. (Drevs)


If you have any financial needs - please give us a call. We can finance and lease any of your business needs. Office equipment (copiers / phone systems / computers / furniture) we can help. Need a car, we can help with the purchase and the financing. We have been helping companies and people since 1927 and we wish to continue helping. Please contact us at 574-234-0069 for more information.

 

 

It’s Wise to Advertise - Sign of the Times .......................... On a Septic Tank Truck in Oregon: Yesterday’s Meals on Wheels. / On a Plumber’s Truck: We Repair What Your Husband Fixed. / On a Plastic Surgeon’s Office Door: Can We Pick Your Nose? / On an Electrician’s Truck - Let Us Remove Your Shorts / On a Maternity Room door - Push Push Push / On a home fence - Salesman Welcome! Dog Food Is Expensive. / And finally - Sign on a Chicago Radiator Shop - Best Place In Town To Take A Leak. (LaFree)


Most popular baby names last year ..................... Males: 1. Jacob 2. Michael 3. Joshua   4. Matthew 5. Ethan 6. Andrew 7. Daniel 8. William 9. Joseph 10. Christopher 11. Anthony  12. Ryan 13. Nicholas 14. David. Females: 1. Emily 2. Emma 3. Madison 4. Olivia 5. Hannah  6. Abigail 7. Isabella 8. Ashley 9. Samantha 10. Elizabeth 11. Alexis 12. Sarah 13. Grace  14. Alyssa (Business Digest)

 

LIFE IS SHORT AND FRIENDS ARE FEW

(A different perspective)

One day a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?" "It was great, Dad." "Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked. "Oh yeah," said the son. "So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father. The son answered: "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them." The boy's father was speechless. Then his son added, "Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are." Isn't perspective a wonderful thing? (Lopatin)


Snapshot of Social Security ................. 69% of Social Security beneficiaries are retired workers. 17% are disabled workers. 14% are survivors of deceased workers. / 22% of older Americans claim Social Security as their only income. / 66% of older American get 50% or more of their income from Social Security. / The average monthly Social Security benefit is $872. / People 65 and older get 42% of their income from Social Security. 22% from wages. 21% from pensions and 14% from assets income. / The average Social Security lifetime benefit for a two-earner (avg/low wage) couple is $330,000.

Snapshot of an Aging Nation .............. 79% of people 65+ own their homes. 23% of men 75+ live alone. 50% of women 75+ live alone. 18% of people 85+ live in nursing homes. 18% of people 65+ have mobility limitations. Married couples 65+ will spend 35% of their income on health care in 2030. 10% of people 65+ live in poverty. 33% of men 65-69 work. 12% of men age 70+ work. 23% of women age 65-69 work. 6% age 70+ work. Average life expectancy past 65: men = 16 years and women = 19 years. Average life expectancy past 85: men = 6 years and women = 7 years.

 

Sincerely,                                                                     

 

Edward C. Levy

President