The Way The West Was One http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one Sat, 14 Jan 2012 21:23:57 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Why do People Lie http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/2012/01/14/why-do-people-lie/ http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/2012/01/14/why-do-people-lie/#comments Sat, 14 Jan 2012 21:23:57 +0000 "Big" Al Manor http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/?p=37 I am admitting to all that I have lied in my life. I have not told the truth or I have not said anything about a situation which is the same as lying. I kept things from my previous wife which was lying. Not being open and honest about conversations I had with other women was being unfaithful and is the same as lying. Saying thing’s I thought to be little lie’s would eventually turn into big lies. After doing this for a period of time eventually caught up with me and things happened to me that caused heartache to me and others. I have always thought of myself as a good person. I ask you this; how can anyone be a good person who is not honest?
I have a new outlook on life, which is I will do all I can to be honest to myself and others. One thing is what I had to do was find out what it was that caused me to lie. I was able to justify the reason for all lies I have told. The main reason I lied to people was based on two things SELF, and FEAR. Then I sat down and wrote the reasons I would lie based on those two reasons.
1) Make myself look better in the eyes of others (of course that was only my perception).
2) Thinking if I told the truth would cause the other person to be hurt, which would make me feel bad. Not paying attention to the fact when the person would find out the truth they would be hurt and upset with me for lying.
3) Telling the truth would cause the other person to be mad at me. Again that was only my perception. What is the difference with them being mad at me now or real mad at me later?
4) Telling the truth would cause the other person to think badly of me. So what?
5) I would think it is only a small lie and it was what they wanted to hear any way. Like I know what they want to hear!
6) Not saying anything at all. I would think if I stayed quite about something that was not lying. That is the biggest lie I ever told my self. Because when others found out I knew, it was worse for me, than if I would have said something about it in the beginning.
Here is the bottom line to this whole subject. If you and I want to be honest and enjoy life with out having to worry about if someone finds out we lied or knew about something; don’t lie and be honest to yourself and others around you!

 Until next time, I am

Big Al Manor

]]> http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/2012/01/14/why-do-people-lie/feed/ 0 Commissioned Sales Person http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/2011/06/28/commissioned-sales-person/ http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/2011/06/28/commissioned-sales-person/#comments Tue, 28 Jun 2011 16:53:30 +0000 "Big" Al Manor http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/?p=36 Here is a topic that is not talked about or mentioned enough. The back bone of the American work force in my opinion is the commissioned sales person. They are people who get paid for what they do and how much they produce.
Most people in the American work force exchange time and effort for money. They go to work; they are assigned or given a task to do and they do it. The employer decides how much he is willing to pay that person for doing that task and the worker agrees to do the work for that amount of money.
Our government works on the same principle. They get elected and then they work for the people who elected them for a certain amount of money each year they are in office.
We have people who put their time in at a job and it doesn’t really matter how well they do it as long as they are there. Then we see the ones who keep their job based on how well they keep the bosses happy, not necessarily how effective they are at performing their job just how well they are at keeping their superiors happy by just going along with what ever they say.
These types of people which are a majority of the American workforce are salary or hourly employees. Now let us look at the commissioned sales person the one who sells mainly to people who are salary or hourly employees.
This is what I wonder and have for many years. Why is it people tend to have a problem with the commissioned sales person. It has become that it is a bad thing in our society to have commissioned sales staff. There are places that advertise to the public that they DO NOT have a commissioned sales staff. Is it that people would rather deal with people who have very little desire to earn their business? Is it that people would rather deal with people that have very little drive and determination?
Maybe we should put more people on commission. For example put our politicians on commission. Tell them that their pay would be in accordance how they serve the people who elected them. Their pay would be in accordance on how low unemployment is in the district or state they were elected to take care of. Their pay would be based on how many businesses’ stay in business and don’t go out of business. Their pay would be regulated on how many times they go out and meet the people and have town hall meetings.
How about these employees that deal with the public on a daily bases? Put them on a commission type pay structure. Have their pay based on how satisfied customers are who deal with them. We hear when we call a business “this call may be recorded”. If that is the case put the people who answer the call on some type of commission bases on how they handle the call. On how many times they resolve the situation for the person called.
Commission would change things in our society. It would make people more aware of what they do and how they do it. In a lot of cases it would make better employees and more efficient work places.
I am not saying that people have to be on a total commission pay plan. I do believe it would not hurt any business to have some type of commission structure.
You will hear more about my opinion on the commission sales person in blogs to come. Until then don’t think bad about that commission sales person have respect for him/her. Because they are getting paid in accordance on how they perform and make you the customer feel good at doing business at that particular place of business.

Until next time, I am
Big Al Manor

]]> http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/2011/06/28/commissioned-sales-person/feed/ 2 My Dad http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/2011/06/19/my-dad/ http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/2011/06/19/my-dad/#comments Sun, 19 Jun 2011 21:14:01 +0000 "Big" Al Manor http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/?p=35 As some of you may know by following my blogs/articles; I talk/write on sales and doing business with others. I talk/write about how you can make others feel good, meeting, and doing business with you. I am going to take a little turn right now and write about something that is more important to me than sales and doing business. What I am talking about is family!
Today is father’s day, I along with others have had the misfortune of losing our fathers; some earlier than others.
I am not going to write about other fathers I am going to write about mine. My father was a career United States Marine, a veteran of two wars (some call conflicts) Korea and Vietnam. He was wounded and received five purple hearts. He was a man who stood for this country and believed in everything he did when it came to protecting our freedom. He retired in 1972 as a Gunnery Sergeant (E-7). He was a hard man and would allow nothing or anyone take our freedom from us.
He was a man that stood up for his country and his family. He married his high school sweetheart. He stood by her and for her for 54 years. He watched and stood by many of men in combat, and watching them breathe their last breath. He stood by the woman he loved and watched her battle cancer for six years. He sat by her bedside and watched her breathe her last breath. The date was September/19/2008.
He had done all he wanted in life, he stood for, and defended a land he loved and cherished. He stood by and defended and loved a woman whom he married in March 1954.
My father like so many other fathers during those years understood commitment. My father understood what a man’s word meant and he would do nothing to break his word or the commitment he made.
Sixteen months after his wife passed, my father received his orders from our creator and went to join her, that day was January/22/2010.
If you are one like me where your father is no longer with you remember him and let people know how great he was. If you are a lucky one where your father is still here with you. Let him know periodically how much he is appreciated and how much you love him!

Until next time, I am
Big Al Manor

]]> http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/2011/06/19/my-dad/feed/ 0 Get to Know the Service Department http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/2011/06/13/get-to-know-the-service-department/ http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/2011/06/13/get-to-know-the-service-department/#comments Mon, 13 Jun 2011 23:01:38 +0000 "Big" Al Manor http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/?p=33 Ok, you go to a RV or car dealership and find the RV or car you want. It has all the equipment and all the options and more. The sales person you have is very good; he or she explains all about the unit. You and the sales person work out the numbers to your satisfaction and you are now an owner of a new RV or car. The time you spent with the sales person may vary, but you probably spent approximately four to eight hours with the sales person.
The national average  you will own the unit for is three to six years. Now that you own the motorhome or car who in the dealership are you really going to be spending most of your time with?
The answer to the question is: the service department! It amazes me that when sales representatives sell a unit they do not introduce the customer to the service department. You need to know the people in the dealership who are going to preform the routine maintenance; the people who are going to be doing any repairs if needed.
When you go to a dealership and purchase a car or recreational vehicle make sure you are introduced to the service department. In fact you should make getting to know the service department as part of your shopping experience for a car or RV.
I want to share this with you. The last two vehicles I purchased I got to know the service writers at the two dealerships very well. Not because things went wrong with my vehicles because they didn’t. They were both very good vehicles. One was a ½ ton Dodge truck and the other was ½ ton Ford King Ranch. Both were excellent vehicles and I had all my routine maintenance done at the dealerships I bought the vehicles from. Here are just some of the benefits:
You would probably agree with me that it is nice to go somewhere you are known. That is exactly what happened to me, I was greeted by name each and every time I visited the service department. When you are greeted by your name you feel welcome and appreciated? I am sure you can agree that is a real good feeling.
Anytime that they had service specials the service writers were sure that I was included in any savings they could pass on to me.
Anytime a recall from the factory came in, my service writers were sure to make me aware of it and they took care of the vehicle.
I urge you to know the service department; it will benefit you in the long run. Prior to buying from a dealership make it a note to get introduced to the service department. How they respond to you will tell you a lot about how you are going to be treated after the sales.

Until next time, I am
Big Al Manor

]]> http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/2011/06/13/get-to-know-the-service-department/feed/ 1 Do You Know? http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/2011/06/03/do-you-know/ http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/2011/06/03/do-you-know/#comments Fri, 03 Jun 2011 19:41:34 +0000 "Big" Al Manor http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/?p=31 I am writing this blog to the people who know. It seems as though a lot of people know.  They know right from wrong, they know what should be done and how to do it. They know how companies should be run, how leaders should lead and how the country should be run. If you don’t believe what I am saying just ask most people and they will tell you that they know. If you give a suggestion to someone about what they could have done to make a situation better they will normally reply by saying they “know.” Or, they will say I should have done this or that because I know that would have been better. Or, they may say I knew that wasn’t the right thing to do.

I believe that most people do know, they just don’t act on what they know. Here is a question for you. Why is it that so many people don’t do what they know? I am going to answer the question and see if you agree with my answer. They are afraid to do what they know because they think they will lose their job, or no one else will want to do what they know, so they don’t do or say anything.

Here is something for you to consider if you know.  If you really know, stand up for what you know.  The people who are around you will benefit.  If you keep silent, then all lose. The reason why we are in such a mess is because not enough people are standing up for what they know. So many do what an ostrich does, they stick their heads in the sand and they say I know better, but I am not going to say anything. The question is then, “Why didn’t you say something?” The response is “I didn’t want to cause any trouble”. Or, “They wouldn’t have listened anyway.”

To all that know: Don’t stay silent!  You owe it to the people who live around you or the people who work with you to say what you know!

Until next time I am “Big” Al Manor

]]> http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/2011/06/03/do-you-know/feed/ 0 Getting a Good Deal http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/2011/06/02/getting-a-good-deal/ http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/2011/06/02/getting-a-good-deal/#comments Thu, 02 Jun 2011 21:38:40 +0000 "Big" Al Manor http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/?p=28 I am often asked by people shopping for a car or RV where they should go to get the best deal. It’s a fair question to ask me since I have been in the automotive and recreational vehicle selling industry for 27 years. I have a pretty good idea what I am talking about when it comes to dealerships.

So let’s talk about the “best deal”. First of all, what is a deal? According to the dictionary it is, “a bargain or arrangement for mutual advantage”. So is the best deal just financial? In actuality, the best deal is far from financial.
You work very hard for your money and before you are willing to part with any of it you want to know you are getting the biggest return on your investment. You shop around to find the dealership that will provide the product you want for the lowest price. However, that is normally all the shopping you do; you shop for price. Once you find the lowest price for the desired product, then you are willing to give up some of your hard-earned cash. But here is the million dollar question…Was that the best deal? The answer is usually NO!

Why? The product was purchased for the lowest price wasn’t it? However, there is so much more than price to take into consideration. For instance:
1. Does the dealership show that they care about you as a future client? When you are greeted, are you “Welcomed” in a way that makes you feel good, and comfortable about doing business there? As you walk around are you introduced to other employees so you don’t feel like a stranger if you need to return for any reason?
2. Does the dealership show pride in itself and the products it offers for sale? Is it clean and trash-free? Is the product being offered for sale, clean, and presentable inside and out? If a dealership doesn’t show pride in it’s self, how are they going to show pride in dealing with you?
3. How does the dealership demonstrate its willingness to take care of you after the sale? Do they introduce you to the service department where you will do most of your business after the sale? If not, maybe that tells you they don’t have much confidence in their own service department, so why should you?

There are two dealerships in the automotive and recreational vehicle business  that I am familiar with in the Tucson area where all these questions can be answered, “YES!” For automobiles it is the Jim Click Automotive Group. Jim Click has an excellent organization filled with highly professional people. Just call one of his dealerships and you realize immediately that you have reached a first-class business that cares about its customers.

First of all, a person answers the phone, not a machine telling you to press this number and that number to talk to someone. Jim Click hires people to deal with people, not machines to deal with people. He cares about his business and he cares about his community. There is no reason anyone looking for a new or used car or truck should ever find it necessary to go anywhere other than the Jim Click Automotive Group. His organization takes care of its customers during and especially after the sale. Now that is a GOOD DEAL!

The other place to shop is Frost RV located at 5101 N. La Canada. They specialize in previously owned recreational vehicles at prices that are extremely affordable. The dealership is clean; the sales staff is experienced, extremely knowledgeable and CARES about customer service. The service facility takes great pride in making sure that each vehicle is clean when presented and ready for the road when a customer takes delivery. Bruce and Kelly Frost are the owners and their main focus is to provide good, quality service during and after the sale. They will also consign and sell your recreational vehicle for you, saving you the hassle. Anyone looking for a great all-around deal should visit Frost RV or call them at 520 888-9209.

The bottom line is this: it’s not just about the bottom line. When shopping for a car, truck or RV, shop the place that is going to give you the complete deal and continue to take care of you and your vehicle for as long as you own it.

Until next time, I am,
Big Al Manor

]]> http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/2011/06/02/getting-a-good-deal/feed/ 0 People in the Work Place http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/2011/01/20/people-in-the-work-place/ http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/2011/01/20/people-in-the-work-place/#comments Thu, 20 Jan 2011 18:41:11 +0000 "Big" Al Manor http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/?p=32 When it comes to business we often speak about how we should treat customers. After all, it is the customers who pay our bills. Right? But, how often do we talk about how we should treat the people we work with? The answer is not very often. This blog/article will discuss exactly that. Treating the people we work along side of with kindness and respect, no matter what their position is in the company or place of business. Oh yes, when the boss or owner walks by, employees are quick to put on a smile and be cheerful and nice. Is it the same way when a person who sweeps the floor or empties the trash walks by, are they greeted with the same enthusiasm? The majority of the time the answer to that question is no.

It doesn’t matter what an individual employee’s position is, each and every person has a role that makes the business operate. It is each person’s responsibility to do what they can to make everyone in the business feel good about being at work.  Say good morning or good afternoon to your co- workers, and say it with a smile on your face and love in your heart.  When people in the work place are happy and know they are appreciated, the workplace becomes enjoyable for all.

Do what you can to make other employees feel good.  In turn, the customer who comes to your place of business will feel the warmth.  When a customer feels the warmth and see’s how the people in the business treat each other, they will be more inclined to do business there.

Introducing customers to other co-workers makes the customer feel more at home. When they feel more at home they are more likely to do business with the place they are visiting or considering to doing business with.

Do all you can to make your fellow co-workers feel good being at work.

Until next time I am “Big” Al Manor

]]> http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/2011/01/20/people-in-the-work-place/feed/ 0 Be a Leader http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/2011/01/17/be-a-leader/ http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/2011/01/17/be-a-leader/#comments Mon, 17 Jan 2011 19:51:10 +0000 "Big" Al Manor http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/?p=27 One of the greatest leaders of our time, in my opinion, is Lee Iacocca.  I have read his autobiography and his most recent book, “Where Have All the Leaders Gone”.  I am not a book critic but I will admit that there were parts I didn’t like. But, of course, there was a lot of it I did like. One topic he wrote about is, “Where have all the leaders gone? They’re right here in this country. But they need to be called forth.” 

This statement is so true. Businesses today don’t realize that they have great leaders right in their own back yards.  Usually the reason an employee leaves his/her company and goes to another company is because they want to advance or lead.  However, it could also mean they feel unappreciated. Maybe the company or organization they are currently with is not looking at what they can do, only at what they are doing.  It’s sad that companies or organizations can’t see past their own noses when it comes to the people that they are currently employing.

While in the United Sates Marine Corps as a Lance Corporal, I became a fire team leader. This was a leadership position which consisted of me leading three other Marines who were a part of my fire team.  I was instructed by my squad leader and platoon sergeant to make sure I knew everything there was to know about each of the men in my fire team.  I was required to have a book on each Marine which was to include all the information requirements.  It started from their date of birth, to knowing about their parents, wives, children and their likes and dislikes in life. Knowing about the person made it easier for me to require them do some things that perhaps weren’t very pleasant.  They trusted in my guidance because they understood I knew them and cared about them as a person. That was leadership.

How many people in your company know about the people they lead? I learned at a very young age to know who you lead. Know what it is they want to accomplish in their personal and business lives. Know their aspirations. When a leader knows this about the individuals on their staff, turnover will reduce considerably. A leader needs to know more about a business than just the financial bottom line. What increases the bottom line or reduces the bottom line? I will answer that for you in case you don’t know. PEOPLE!

If we as a nation expect to get ourselves out of this ugly recession we need to call out the leaders. It is the leadership in our work place that will pull our country back to the top where all of us are more comfortable. If you have a title in your place of business such as a manager, boss, foreman, etc… remember… it isn’t the title that makes you a leader. It is the ability to lead and have people follow your direction. Leaders care about the welfare of the company. So many people in leadership positions forget that the company is the people.

If there is anything you get out of this article/blog get this: If you are a leader in your company and you know nothing about the people you are leading aside from their name and position, get out there and know the people you lead.

“If you can inspire someone, anyone, to dream more, to learn more, to do more and become more. Then you are a leader” John Quincy Adams

Until next time, I am “Big” Al Manor

]]> http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/2011/01/17/be-a-leader/feed/ 0 Knowing Where You Are http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/2010/11/30/knowing-where-you-are/ http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/2010/11/30/knowing-where-you-are/#comments Tue, 30 Nov 2010 17:10:02 +0000 "Big" Al Manor http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/?p=25 Most companies in the retail selling industry have a sales plan. By this I mean they have designed a step-by-step program for use by their sales staff. It doesn’t matter what it is called, it is their system. There are always steps to follow. Some may have three steps or some may have……who knows how many steps? The bottom line is all sales staffs have a plan to follow.
Here comes the million dollar question. How many sales people actually follow the sales plan that their company has laid out for them? My experience has shown me the answer is very few.
Here is my point: I have played golf. I am not very good at it, but I have played it. I am going to ask you a question and you don’t have to play golf to be able to answer this question. What is the most important shot in golf? Is it the drive? Is it the fairway shot? Is it the putt? Is it the first shot you make or the last shot you make? What is the most important shot you make? The answer is. The one you are making!
A sale is no different. The most important part of a sale is the point where you are. It doesn’t matter how many steps or stages you have in your sales process. The bottom line is the importance of following a plan. All sales programs are the same; they are just called different things. You have a greeting and a close. The things in between are named differently by different companies, but basically they are the same. When sales people skip certain steps (thinking they are unimportant) they will very rarely close the sale.
For example: Normally in a golf game the first club used by the golfer is a driver and the last club used is a putter. If they try to use a putter as the first club and the driver as the last club, they probably won’t win the game. When sales people try to do things that are not in accordance with their sales plan, they will probably not close the sale. Simply said – Do things in order when making a sale and you have a much better chance of closing the sale.
Now what is the most important part of your sales process? It is the one you are at. It is very important that you make sure you close each part of the sales process before you move on to your next step. Many sales people will move on to the next part of the process or try to close a sale before they completed the prior part of the process.

All sales programs have three areas: 1) meet, 2) find out needs and match those needs with the product you are selling, and 3) close the sale. Now I know there are things in between, but I am sure you get the point. Don’t move on to the next part of your sales process until you have closed or completed the one you are on.
Until next time, I am “Big” Al Manor

]]> http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/2010/11/30/knowing-where-you-are/feed/ 0 Training http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/2010/11/16/training/ http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/2010/11/16/training/#comments Tue, 16 Nov 2010 20:08:11 +0000 "Big" Al Manor http://tucsoncitizen.com/the-way-the-west-was-one/?p=24 I do not play on a field that has yard markings, with other people walking around in Zebra costumes telling me if I did something wrong. I do not walk around a beautifully manicured lawn with an audience along the side oohing or aahing when I do something good or bad. I don’t get paid a lot of money to catch a ball, hit someone in a roped off area or hit balls over a fence. However, I do have something in common with these people that do those things for a living. In order for them to be good at what they do, they must train. How good they are at what they do, hinges on how hard they are willing to push themselves in their training.
Here is something all of us know. People like to watch people who do things called sporting activities for their favorite high school, college or professional team. When we are a fan of those teams or individuals we like to see them WIN! When they lose we are bummed. I believe we all realize in order for them to win, to give us that pride of being a fan, we know they have to practice and train. When these teams start losing do they say “We need to cut something out, so let’s cut training”? Of course they don’t. They increase their practices and training. They do that so they will WIN! When the individuals who are hired to conduct these training and practicing sessions don’t have an effective way to produce wins, they are replaced by people who do. They don’t cut out practicing and training, they increase it.
Is what we do for a living any different? The answer is pretty obvious. NO, we are not. When companies start to have a rough time selling and making money; when they are in the retail/people business, the first thing they cut out is training. I don’t really understand that, do you?
I will be writing more about training in the future. I could write a book on this subject alone. If you are a manager, boss or owner, ask yourself this question. How is the training in my company? We wonder why the economy is the way it is? It is the little things that are actually the big reason we don’t produce as much revenue as we should. The most important things are training and developing our staff to be the best in the industry they are in! It is the complacent managers, bosses and owners who lose! Be a WINNER, train, practice, and develop your staff!
I urge you to go to my website, and contact me if you are interested in motivating and developing your staff.
Until next time, I am “Big” Al Manor

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