Vikings have nuthin' on credit cards when it comes to pillaging small businesses

When you see those famous Viking commercials promoting the "What's in your wallet.....," they should add a shot of merchants like me getting pillaged. When I signed on to the service, my rep, a friend from church, didn't explain the difference between the types of cards. From a recent conversation with my service reps on the extra money charged in my monthly statement, it seems that if a client uses one of those cards that provides airline miles or other benefits that I, the service provider/merchant provider, pay an extra fee for those cards.

  

So, why does VISA and Mastercard make the merchants pay? It's pretty simple. They have everyone by the short hairs, and their sales reps don't explain the difference between the type of credit cards. Truthfully, the credit cards execs know that I wouldn't ask a client for his type of credit card.

So, here's a short primer on credit card terms. There are some cards that take the standard rate, but when you get into Class 2 or 3 credit cards, you get to pay for your client's vacation in Tahiti.   If you are smart, you'll ask your bank rep about them the next time your contract comes up for renewal.    And, as I have found out, you can also negotiate the cost down on these fees.

However, Visa and Mastercard have nothing on American Express. I got a bill for nearly $6 for processing services even if I didn't use their card. I am in the process of eliminating the Amex cards from my services.

 

How public affairs professionals can deal with attorneys

In the world of public relations, the local staff counsel or outside attorney is either a great colleague or an adversary. In the Air Force, the staff judge advocate was typically helpful, but there were times when public affairs professionals like me had to remind them that they should serve as a roadblock in the communications process.

ABD published article on difference between San Antonio and Texas

One of my local competitors likes to use his blog to promote his work.   So, think of this posting as my way of letting my friends and colleagues know about my recent article on the difference between San Antonio and Austin in the current issue of the Austin Business District Magazine.  

How blogging helps those in need cope with their child's sickness or ailments

When faced with a tragedy, most men want to withdraw within themselves.   For me, the illness and subsequent death of my oldest son, Andrew,  nearly 20 years caused  me to pull within myself.   In Hessisch Oldendorf AS, Germany, it was hard to tell people what I was feeling after hearing the news that my son had Trisome 18 and a short life span ahead of him.

Are hospital grief counselors discovering the merits of therapeutic blogging?  In an article in the San Antonio Express News, writer Debra Skoddack chronicles the life of Granton Bayless, a 14-month old baby with severe combined immunodeficiency or "bubble boy" disease.  Through blogging, Bayless' parents can update the family on his accomplishments or setbacks.

"You know, a doctor tells you that there is not enough oxygen in your son's body, you get hit with a ton of bricks," Daniel Bayless, Granton's father, said in the article.  "You man up, you swallow it up and then you have to call your parents, your grandparents and tell them and they get hit with a ton of bricks.  You try to be strong for everyone." 

Like Daniel Bayless, I tried to remain stoic through the ordeal of dealing with my son's illness, waiting for a relocation to the U.S. so that American military doctors could help care for him and a job as a public relations professional.   It wasn't until I got my orders that I was able to write about it in a "au revoir" piece as the editor of  the base newspaper and share the pain and tragedy of his illness.

The power of the blogosphere is that not only does it help influence people's decisions about things, but it allows those in pain to share their thoughts with friends and loved ones.  In Granton's blog, there have been over 350,000 visitors to the web site.  It has given hope to other parents who have similar pediatric illnesses.  And, it allows those who are family to stay updated and continue their prayers for the parents and their ailing child.

January Austin Business District showcases a great story and my ability to write....

Most of my clients know that I have a pretty good reputation as a media relations professional, yet few are aware of my writing ability.  This cover article in the January issue of the Austin Business District showcases my ability to professionally write an article on someone.   In a typical year, I probably write 20 to 30 manuscripts like this, but I have to say this article about "Brother Matt" Genovese is one of my favorites in recent memory.

An open letter to Barack Obama

Dear President elect Barrack Obama,

My local newspaper had an editorial cartoon of you awaiting the new year with fear and trepidation.   

So, please Mr. President elect, please try to be upbeat and as charismatic as I believed you to be when I pulled the voting lever for you.

More importantly, try to motivate those who work for the government.  As a retired Air Force guy, I know many government types embrace the status quo and are afraid to shake things up.  With a nearly trillion investment in businesses, now is the time to figure out a way to motivate the government sector to truly change the way they do business.   

Here, sir, the ultimate motivation is not to send executive leadership  to conferences but truly create metrics to evaluate performance.  And, for those who truly perform above the requirements of their job, another "employee of the quarter" plaque is not the way to recognize them.  Instead, it's time to give those who do the job monetary bonuses that reflect the level of work performed.

In closing, Mr. President elect, please motivate those who work for you and help those of us in the private sector believe that things will change under your watch.

A matter of perspective -- my New Year's resolution for 2009

I am starting the new year with the perspective that I should be thankful for what I have and now what I don't have.  It's hard in today's modern market not to want something new or better.  Commercials, pop-up ads, display ads all remind us of things we need from dinner to a new shirt.

So, my resolution is to simply turn off the marketing channel and focus on the basics of helping others more.  For me, it's hard to not always heed the messages from all of these channels.   But, my biggest resolution is to focus on the simpler things in life.