At the core of all customer-focused organizations are two essential characteristics: trust and commitment. Through trust and commitment customer-focused organizations demonstrate that they are dependable, reliable and that they honor their word. With that said, my hat is off to Bill’s Jewelry Shop in downtown Grinnell, Iowa. In a recent article in The Grinnell Magazine I read that Elizabeth McJimsey Souder graduated from Grinnell College in 1988 without picking up [...]

CREW WANTED FOR HAZARDOUS JOURNEY Small wages. Bitter cold. Long months of complete darkness. Constant danger. Safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success. ** Sir Ernest Shackleton’s recruitment notice for the 1915 Endurance Antarctic expedition (some 5,000 applicants were rejected. For the record … the entire crew did return!) I welcome each of my new marketing classes with the Endurance help-wanted advertisement. It’s always an attention grabber [...]