Purchasing Cards

After researching different Purchasing Card Providers, here are the three that seem to provide the best offers and advantages.

• Visa Purchasing Card
• HSBC MasterCard BusinessCard
• J.P. Morgan Purchasing Card

If I had to pick one of these three, based on the little research I did, I would choose Visa's Purchasing Card for my business. With Visa's Purchasing Card you can become a more cost-efficient business. Visa Purchasing eliminates paper based orders and invoice orders. Other advantages include: Further analyzing spending data, use of Purchasing Card wherever Visa Credit Cards are excepted worldwide, and a variety of billing and payment options. 

Records and Records Systems

Records can have many values for an organization. That is why many companies store and record important documents all the time. There is usually specific employees who deal with their businesses record management. Record management is no easy task. There are different ways to organize or sort records. You should always sort and organize based on the rules your employer wants. You should know the basic rules such as inspecting, indexing, coding, sorting, and storing. You should know the records life cycle which has five different phases, and know where and how you are going to store those documents. 

The three factors that must be considered when planning an effective records system are the following: Having the specific basic equipment and supplies, planning an effective storage procedure, and an easy record retrieval. Depending on your place of employment the equipment and supplies you would use differ. For example, some companies may use a file folder system while others use storage cabinets. the storage procedure is just knowing you basic rules that I listed in the first paragraph.  

Google Drive or Sky Drive?

My experiences with Google Drive and Sky Drive are very little. I have yet to use Sky Drive at all. Google Drive is more familiar just because of the familiarity I have with Google. I use Google as my primary Internet search engine, so I have played around with all they offer at least once. I have also used Google for the class Office Procedures and Technologies. I think I should start using these tools more frequently because of the many tools Google provides. Both Google and Sky Drive offer free space for you to save documents, presentations, spreadsheets, and more. I usually just carry my USB drive with me at school which is probably the reason I have not used the services both drives have to offer. Maybe I will start using Google Drive for assignments at school and use my USB for assignments completed at home.That might be a hard habit to break though.

Written Communication

After reading the Written Communications chapter in our text book, I found many ways to strengthen my skills in written communication. There are multiple ways to communicate through writing. It does not matter if you are creating a memo, letter, report, or e-mail you should figure out what strategy you going to use. The strategies discussed in the chapter are as follows:

• Direct Approach
• Indirect Approach
• Persuasive Approach

You should always use proper sentence structure. Here are some structures I need to practice and work on to improve.

1. Parallel Structure
2. Organizing Content
3. Using Active and Passive voice verbs properly
4. Choosing correct Tone 

I would say the easiest way for me to communicate through writing is the direct approach. I know I will get  a lot of practice because I am learning some of the same things in other classes. Document formatting is not really a problem for me. I know most formats. 

Poor Customer Service

I have experienced bad customer service many times in my life. I have dealt with bad customer service at fast food restaurants, clothing stores, sporting goods stores, school offices and many more. The worst customer service I have ever had in my life, however, was PG&E. Here is the situation. I moved into my gorgeous new Solar powered house a couple years ago excited and anxious to see that first electricity bill. I wondered how much this solar power would actually save me. When I first went to the local PG&E office to switch account to my name they told me everything would continue to be the same I would get a bill with all the information on it just like before. When I received my bills the next few months I only had to pay $20-40 a bill I was ecstatic! Turns out that when you have solar you only have to pay the gas chargers and taxes for that months bill, PG&E waits to bill your electricity until the end of December. So if you do not make a payment on your electric you will end up with a $1200 bill like me. When I called customer service and explained to them my situation the man was completely rude. He sounded like he did not even care, had no sympathy for me, and seemed like he was trying to end the call with me every couple seconds. When I explained to him that nobody explained to me how the billing cycle worked for the solar powered houses, his reply to me was "how is that my problem". I felt like he was making me angrier by the minute. If he would of used proper techniques like taking responsibility, asking for my input to help future customers, and kept a positive attitude I might not of went off on him like I did. After awhile on the phone I was able to set up a payment plan but I was definitely still annoyed. I was an angry external customer but had to deal with it. What other company is there besides PG&E.........NONE! 

Future Leader

I think chapter six has made me reflect on myself as a leader and how I can improve on leadership skills for the future. The chapter provided many ways to improve, but the ones that stuck out to me are:

• Set good Examples
• Take Ownership
• Build Relationships
• Motivate

If you set good examples in the work environment people will notice and start doing the same. Upper-management notices what employees are succeeding and who others go to for advice or help. I think building relationship goes hand-in-hand when you talk about setting good examples. You should always try and help fellow employees when possible. Usually when companies are succeeding there employees are working well and have built relationships with their co-workers.

Ethical Situation

I'll be the first to admit at times I could care less about making the right ethical decision. I know this sounds like a selfish statement, and I would agree. Of course, this only pertains to minor situations. I would never turn the other way if I felt someone was in danger or being stolen from or taken advantage of. A couple years ago, I was at a gas station pumping gas, when I noticed a group of kids in a car parked in front of the station. Something about these kids seemed suspicious to me. Then two males got out of car, casually walked into the back of the gas station near the alcohol, and then all of sudden the two kids grabbed a case of beer each and ran to their getaway car. As soon as I noticed what was happening, I grabbed my cellphone and took down the license plate number. After the employee got off the phone with the police I told him I got the license plate and gave it to him. I definitely felt like I contributed to society after the incident, and I am glad my gut instinct told me to stick around a bit longer. What if those kids were planning an armed robbery. I felt I made the right ethical decision in sticking around and at least was able to give information to help catch the kids.

TEAMWORK

NONE OF US IS AS SMART AS ALL OF US.
                         ~ Ken Blanchard

I chose this quote because I truly believe when people work together as a team the sky is the limit. I have a lot of experience working with teams and as a team member. My whole life I have been in sports. I started playing organized Baseball when I was four years old. When I was ten came Football and finally Basketball came around junior high. Almost all of the coaches I had, preached about how working as a team will benefit us not only in the game we played but in life as well! Sports is what taught me how to be a team player, you will not get far if you try and tackle life by yourself. Everybody should value others advice or expertise, especially if you are working on a team project. Imagine how many ideas or solutions a team of five could come up with, instead of just one individual. Five brains is always going to be smarter then one. 

Professional Business attire

I think something like this would be appropriate for a casual Friday. Not to flashy but looks professional.

This might be another option for a casual dress code or casual Friday. I do not think I would wear such a bright shirt though.

This is the look I think I would go for at a professional office setting. The clothes look comfortable and professional!
Now this look is for a super professional setting such as a lawyer or CEO type. I like the fit but I do not I would like to be in a suit like this for 12 hours a day.

Chapter 1 #6 Areas of Growth

After listing the skills I was comfortable enough with to put on my resume if I were to look for an Administrative position right now I realized I am a long way to were I need to be. Here is a list of the Areas of Growth I need to learn and practice during this semester.

• Take better notes
• write neatly so others can read 
• become better at multitasking 
• telephone techniques (tone of voice, greeting, politeness, patience)
• procrastination
• better with time

I know that over time I will learn how to overcome these things I have difficulties with. The two major things I need to spend a little more time on are the procrastinating and becoming professional with the telephone. Good thing I have Professor Backlund's telephone techniques class!

Chapter 1 #4 Assess your skills

I have came a long with my skills I possess, for a career opportunity in the Administrative profession. When I started at MJC I had absolutely no keyboarding skills. I never took keyboarding in high school because back then I thought I would have no use for it. I knew enough about computers to get by but that was it. Now I am more comfortable than ever with my computer skills. Here is my list of skills I currently possess and still sharpening to get even better!

• Keyboarding (40-45 wpm)
• Training in Microsoft Office such as
• Microsoft Word
• Access
• Excel
• Power Point
• Communicate well with others in person
• Good with schedules
• Good decision maker

I know I have a long way to go, I especially need to learn how to be better with the telephone, learn how to speak like a professional, and be a little more courteous. Practice makes perfect! 

Hello! Mrs. Backlund