Page 4 Volume 7, Issue 11

Freedom Tanks & Fiberglass LLC

12538 Hwy 99

Seminole, OK 74868

P) 888-505-2862

f) 888-506-5702

How does having a positive customer service interaction make you feel? Pretty good, right? Now think of how you feel after interacting with someone who is rude, not helpful, or impatient. My bet is that it leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth. Whether it be in person, over the phone, or online, poor customer service turns people off and has the potential to lose them as customers. Being in the service industry, it should be our goal to make our customers – or members – our top priority. Realistically, there is no way to please everyone, but we should strive to provide the best experience possible. Below are three simple tips that can go a long way. Respond within 24 hours. Even if your answer requires time to craft or if you are relying

on an outside source, responding within 24 hours to an email or voicemail is important. There is nothing wrong with letting someone know you’ll get back to him. The important part is that you have acknowledged receipt of his message, thus ensuring that he is not left wondering.

Remember to smile. It sounds simple enough, but it’s harder to do when an angry member is in your face telling you what you did wrong. No matter how difficult it might seem at the time, a smile can demonstrate that you care and that your customers are important to you. This applies to phone conversations as well, as your tone of voice is key when facial and body expressions are removed from the equation.

Take a breather. I can think of more than a few instances where my immediate reaction to a complaint is far different from my actual response. It’s human nature to become defensive when on the receiving end of a criticism or complaint, but it’s often not in our best interest to respond in a defensive or angry manner. That’s not to say that a decision or policy can’t be defended, but it’s a good practice to step away and cool down before doing something that can’t be undone.

3 Tips for a Positive Customer Experience - Karyn K. MacRae, IOM, CAE, CMP

Page 6 “Better Because We Care”

P) 405-382-3356 f) 405-382-3879 www.olgpropane.com

Save the Dates in 2015!

Thursday November 5, 2015 Friends of the Chamber Auction

Please help us to WELCOME our newest Seminole Chamber of Commerce members! Stop by their businesses and let them know

you’re glad they’re a part of the Seminole Chamber.

Borrowed & Bleu Owner: Jennifer Colbert Roberts

601 W. Broadway 405 - 434 - 8647

Firelake Arena General Manager: Tracy Peltier 18145 Old Rangeline Road Shawnee, OK 74801 405 - 273 - 1637

Seminole Insurance Agency Owner: Billy Choate Manager: Steven Choate 201 E. Oak 405 - 382 - 2280 TLP Custom Homes LLC Owner: Tom Pollard 2014 Lakewood Dr. 405 - 692 - 0248

“Better Because We Care” Page 5

Ronnie Allison Trucking

35464 EW 1250

Seminole, OK 74868

P) 405-382-1617

f) 405-382-1623

McCown Refrigeration & Heat & Air

35694 EW 1180

Seminole, OK 74868

P) 405-382-2458

Page 3 Volume 7, Issue 11

Colclazier & Associates

404 N. Main St.

Seminole, OK 74868

www.colclazier.com

P) 405-382-1212

f) 405-382-1214

Coates Roofing Co., Inc.

P.O. Box 1340

Seminole, OK 74818

www.coatesroofing.com

P) 405-382-2113

f) 405-382-5008

New Year, New Business Goals Now is the prefect time to sit down and make a list of business goals for the new year. Whether you want to take the leap with a new start-up or are looking to grow your existing business, planning out what you want to accomplish can help you stay motivated and on task all year.

Here are 4 business goal ideas to get you started: Lower your expenses: Take a realistic look at 2015’s business expenses and ask yourself which ones are higher than they should be. Brainstorm ways to decrease everyday expenses like buying office supplies in bulk, or re-evaluating the vendors you work with. I bet you’ll find ways to cut costs and trim corners that can even

make your business run more smoothly. Get more customers: Make 2016 a success by reviewing last year’s marketing plan to see what worked, and more importantly, what didn’t. Social media and online advertising are more affordable than ever before, so if you aren’t advertising online it’s time to start. Make a list of stores you’d like to develop a wholesale relationship with or customers who need your service, and reach out to them to pitch your business. Remember not to let no’s slow you down. Every time you hear a no ask why, and learn from the answer. Learn something new: Growing your business is a constant learning opportunity. Read business books, take a marketing course or join a networking group to learn about an aspect of your business you feel could use your attention. With each new skill you learn you’ll be adding valuable knowledge to your business. Take time for you: As an entrepreneur, it’s easy to let your business take over your life. Don’t forget to make time for friends, family and even just some time to yourself everyday. Set yourself work hours, and strive to work within them so you don’t get burned out. Evaluate what aspects of your business cause the most stress, and look for ways to automate tasks or out-source to create more time for you. Whatever your business goals for 2016, make sure they are achievable, quantifiable and have a time frame. Creating achievable goals will help keep you motivated because each time you meet one you’ll know you can go even farther. Quantifying your business goals with specific numbers, for example growing your customer base by 20%, will give you something to strive for and let you know when you’ve met your goal. Lastly, placing your goals within a time frame will help you stay on task, and help you update your approach throughout the year.

Page 2 Volume 7, Issue 11

15 Habits and Behaviors for 2016 Make more money, lose weight, and live by the Golden Rule. These are some of the most popular New Year’s resolutions around, but the formula for a better future is variable. For some people, learning to manage stress is a more constructive goal than shedding a few pounds. For others, the New Year might be best spent reconnecting with old friends, or taking more time off work to recharge. Come Jan. 1, one in three Americans will vow to make changes that better their lives. Most, however, will collapse long before reaching the finish line. About 75 percent of people who make New Year’s resolutions are on target a week later, but that figure drops to less than 50 percent by July, according to Health.com. That doesn’t mean New Year’s resolu-tions should be abandoned before they even have the chance to come to light. It’s time to knuckle down. In the words of the venerated Oprah Winfrey, “Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us. Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.” Here are 15 habits and behaviors to adopt in 2016 to make this year better than the last. 1. Become a better time manager. Time is an invaluable asset and should be spent wisely. Learning where to expend energy, and where not to, has innumerable benefits, including less stress, more free time, fewer mistakes and improved production. Forbes writer Jeff Boss suggests spending a week making a list of everyday distractions – the things that occupy time throughout the day but serve little purpose. Then eliminate them, or set aside an hour every day for tending to those diver-sions. 2. Manage your debt. The peace of mind that comes with taking control of debt can do wonders for overall health. The first step to getting on track financially is to get organized. Make a list of all debts, including minimum monthly payments and due dates. Create a bill payment calendar to remind you which payments are due when. Figure out what order to pay off your debts. Perhaps you start with the debt with the lowest balance first. Credit card debt is often a good place to begin, ac-cording to About Money. 3. Go back to school. Furthering your education can be a great way to grow intellectually, find a new career path, or discover a sense of purpose. “Becoming a stu-dent again is a chance for you to reconnect with yourself,” Rebecca Little, a massage therapist in Boulder, Colorado, who attended Boulder College of Massage Thera-py at age 45, wrote in 2009. “It is the opportunity to explore, find and create new interests and passions. You are able to let your guard down and become a student again, rather than always feeling the pressure of being the teacher, boss, mother, father, provider, mentor, etc.” 4. Make an effort with co-workers. We spend countless hours with the people we work with, but few of us take the time to get to know our colleagues. Building friendships in the workplace can actually relieve stress or tension in the office, according to the San Francisco Gate. 5. Be more mindful. Downtime can make many people uneasy – all those errands aren’t going to run themselves! – but getting off the hamster wheel every now and then is a must. “Having unknowns in your schedule and being OK with that can force you to really focus on what’s at hand,” according to Life Dev. What it comes down to is learning to live in the moment, what some psychologists call “mindfulness.” Many of us schedule our every move, and then obsess over sticking to the plan. Few people allow room to improvise or to simply be still. Learning to be mindful – putting your attention on the present, rather than thinking about the past or planning for the future – can relieve stress, improve sleep, lower blood pressure and improve overall well-being, according to Harvard Health Publi-cations. 6. Be a better listener. Cultivating strong professional and social relationships, as well as improving memory, are just some of the advantages of being a good lis-tener. Eye contact and positive body language can go a long way in a conversation. Listening will help you better show support for others, resolve problems and build rapport. 7. Quit smoking. Smoking cigarettes is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the U.S. Each year, more than 480,000 deaths – about one in five – are linked to smoking, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Smoking increases the risk of heart disease or stroke by two to four times, lung cancer in men by 25 times and lung cancer in women by 25.7 times. Make 2016 the year to drop the bad habit. Start by setting a quit date, spread the news to family, co-workers and friends, and discard all cigarettes, lighters and ashtrays from your home, car and office. Most importantly, talk with a doctor about developing a quitting program that’s right for you. 8. Log in some volunteer hours. Volunteering is a great way to make a difference in someone else’s life, build self-confidence, develop new skills, foster friend-ships and cultivate a sense of purpose. Find something you enjoy doing, and commit a few hours a week or a month to giving back. 9. Reconnect with estranged friends or family. Holding grudges can be toxic. It’s time to exorcise the old demons that foster ill will toward others. The first step toward mending a broken relationship is to own up to a mistake. “The easiest part of any relationship breakdown is to place blame on the other of how they wronged, hurt, offended or betrayed you,” Mike Wasilewski and Althea Olson of Law Officer wrote in 2012. “What's harder, but more crucial, is to look in the mirror first and foremost in order to take ownership of what you contributed to the conflict.” The next step is to offer up some solutions. Simply calling attention to a prob-lem doesn’t do much to change the past. “The plan may or may not be elaborate,” Wasilewski and Olson wrote. “It may be as simple as pledging to get together in person or by phone quarterly to catch up, a conscious effort to include them on your holiday card list or making time to stay connected via social media.” Finally, give it time. Mending past wrongs can be emotionally taxing. Don’t try to rush the process. 10. Eat better. Reducing the risk of heart disease, boosting energy, fighting disease and improving mood – these are just a few of the many benefits of having a healthy diet. It’s easy to get into a routine of eating out. Making a run to the deli or burger joint for lunch during work might seem convenient, but all of those calories end up costing more than an hour’s wage. Make a point to pack your own lunch for work, a lunch of fruits and vegetables and protein. 11. Try new foods. The adage that variety is the spice of life holds true. Exploring new culinary traditions can be fun, engaging. Get adventurous! Make a point to try a new recipe once a week. Learning to give something new a try is a lesson that will take you far in life. 12. Get enough sleep. The average adults needs between seven and eight hours of sleep a night, according to Mayo Clinic. It’s one of the best ways to keep your body and mind in tip-top shape. A good night’s sleep has been linked to less stress, increased alertness, reduced inflammation and may even prevent certain cancers. 13. Make time for exercise. Just 20 minutes a day of moderate physical activity can boost energy, improve mood and keep certain dangerous health conditions like high blood pressure at bay. Walking, swimming and mowing the lawn fall into the category of moderate exercise. Exercise doesn’t have to be tedious. In fact, it can even be fun. Take a dance class, go hiking or join a local sports team to get the blood flowing. 14. Take a trip. The benefits of taking a vacation are many and can contribute to a positive attitude and improved emotional health, according to USA Today. "Vacation should be really defined as a time when we can really turn off those tech work savers and just relax and have fun," Robert R. Butterworth, a Los Angeles psychologist, told ABC News. "If you have a job that's very creative and you don't take time off you hit a wall and you need a change. The break will allow you to re-fresh your brain cells.” 15. Be kind to yourself. Above all else, remember that it’s OK to make mistakes along the way. Be kind to yourself – the process of making improvements to our daily routines is a marathon, not a sprint. Self-love can go a long way toward a healthier lifestyle.

Page 8 “Better Because We Care”

Seminole Chamber of Commerce Post Office Box 1190 Seminole, OK 74818-1190 Phone (405) 382-3640 Return Service Requested

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE

PAID Permit No. 129 Seminole, OK

326 E. Evans ~ Post Office Box 1190 ~ Seminole, OK 74818-1190 Phone (405) 382-3640 ~ Fax (405) 382-3529

Visit us on the web at www.seminoleokchamber.org

Page 7 “Better Because We Care”

NOVEMER FORUM Thursday November 12, 2015 - 12:00 p.m.

Seminole State College Enoch Kelly Haney Center

Ken Miller, State Treasurer The public is welcome;

Cost of lunch is $8

Thank you to our Friends of the Chamber

Auction sponsors: The Grand Casino

Resort, Moran Oil Enterprises, and

Seminole State College.

Thank you to our Benefactors: VF

Jeanswear/Wrangler, Enviro Systems,

Security State Bank, First United Bank,

and BancFirst

Goff, Inc. is a leader in the Abrasive Blast Cleaning

Industry having manufactured quality equipment from our Seminole, OK location for

over 40 years.

Semino l e Chamber o f Commerc e

2015 CHAMBER BENEFACTORS

“Better Because We Care” Inside this issue:

Spotlight on a Bus.

Benefactors/BOD

1

1

15 Habits for 2016 2

Business Goals 3

Positive Customer Exp. 4

FOC Auction 11/05/15 5

Save the Dates 6

NEW MEMBERS 6

TRC Goff, Inc. 7

Forum 7

TRC Tinker Federal CU 8

2015 Board of Directors:

President: Jeff Fine - Best Western Inn & Suites

President Elect: Zouheir Abdelnour - Enviro Systems

Past President: Doyle Long - Seminole First Assembly

Carol Friar - Individual Member

Mitch Enos - Edward Jones Investments

Natalie O’Dell - State Farm Insurance

Bryon Gates - Seminole Chemical & Supplies

Marci Donaho - Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum

Harry Patel - Executive Inn

Butch Victor - Ozarka Water Co. (Eureka)

Cory Crabtree - Sullivan - Dollar Insurance

Bobby Walker - Individual Member

Lana Reynolds - Seminole State College

Cindy Sims - BancFirst

Roy Sisco - Seminole Ford

Eli Landry - Seminole Veterinary Hospital

Martin Tucker - First United Bank

Advisory Members:

Bill Weldon - Interim Superintendent Sem. Public Schools

Jim Utterback - President Seminole State College

Steve Saxon - City of Seminole Manager

Banc

First

VF Jeanswear

Wrangler

Security State Bank

First United Bank

Enviro Systems

NOVEMBER 2015 Volume 7, Issue 11

Spotlight on a Seminole Business Electric Service Company 12549 S. Hwy 377

405-382-2804 Electric Service Company is a family oriented business and is recognized for their commitment to service. The company was incorporated April 10, 1987 by Robert L. Cross, Richard Wright and the late Jim Martin. Richard retired from ESC in Seminole, 2014 to pursue other ventures, but was always a vital part in all operations. ESC began operations one mile South on old 99 Hwy at Letha. After two years it moved two miles South of Seminole on new Hwy 99/377. Electric Service Company has established a reputation for service and dependability throughout the oilfield industry as well as the industrial and commercial business. Their slogan is “Serving the oilfield industry”, 7 days a week with 24 hours a day service. ESC is involved in all types of electric work to the oilfield including: building power lines, installing transformers, control equipment and meter service. Also trouble shooting and repairing switchgear up to 2500 volts. Work also includes installation and repairs in pipeline stations, so industrial situations and agricultural projects as well. Plant facilities include hold digging equipment, aerial bucket truck, trucks, motor shop equipment - adequate to completely rebuild electric motors up to 150 hp. Owner Robert L. Cross brings over 37 years experience to the electrical field, along with his son Nathan Cross who brings over 7 years of experience. Robert began with B & L Electric in 1978 and is a Licensed Electrician. Nathan began with ESC in 2008, and is now a Licensed Contractor.

Back Row (L to R): Randall Branson, Stephen Hearn, Donnie LeForce, Joey Ellis, Jim Northern, Terry Dillon. Front Row (L to R): David Hall, Bretly Jett, Cody Hines, Marshall Dillon, Bob Cross, Nathan Cross, Tasha Cross, Ruthie Gentry.