What’s the toughest problem you’ve solved at work, and how did you do it?
I was running my own plumbing company. And one of the restaurants had filed bankruptcy. In a bankruptcy, the amount that they pay is incremental and applied with a less than dollar value. Generally companies will greatly discount a bankruptcy receipt. However, I went to speak to the owner of the establishment, and I was directed to stand just outside of his office because he was on the phone. That was a mistake he’ll never repeat. On the phone he told the person, “Yeah some east Podunk plumber did some work for us, and they don’t know we are under bankruptcy, and I’m getting ready to stick it to him.” He hung up the phone and motioned me in. I walked in, shook his hand and I sat down in front of his desk and I said, “this won’t take long” He said, “Oh really, great, how can I help you, I said well, perhaps I should introduce myself. The look on his face when I told him was priceless! I said something to the effect of, “Hello, my name is Cheri, and I am the wife of the East Podunk plumber you hired. And I have a lovely recording of you on the phone telling your associate how you were gonna stick it to us. So I’m gonna give you a get out of jail card. And I hope you noticed that I didn’t say free! So, I’ll be picking up a check, and I’ll give you a discount of two cents on the dollar. Because that’s the kind of generous east podunk business owner I am!” So he took out his checkbook and wrote out a check, without any argument. And I took it directly to his bank and cashed it. Cashed it before he had a chance to cancel it. So that $8000 job, the first job we took as a plumbing company, I learned a very powerful lesson. Never back down! Never give up! And never let anyone disparage your company name, Ever!
Almost missed a court date. Ran into the attorney's office to tell him. While I gathered prepared information the attorney was running out the door.
Not problem
Rescheduled a criminal docket during x-mas break.
I WAS A WAITER IN SEATTLE FOR 30 YEARS AND REALLY HAD FEW PROBLEMS. HOWEVER THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE WHO HATES THE WORD "NO." SO I NEVER USE IT. JUST SAY YES TO WHAT I DO HAVE AVAILABLE. LIKE COMP THEIR DINNER FOR EXAMPLE. NEVER HAVE AN ATTITUDE. BUT ADMITTEDLY "NO I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE SIR."