Moving is already stressful enough on everybody. We can verbally voice our distress and dislike now our pets have ways of voicing their opinion on how things are going and sometimes is destructive.

To make a move less stressful to any pet here are a few tips:

1. Before and during the move try to keep a normal routine for your pet as possible; like feeding at the same time, going out and playtime at the same time and keep up the normal bedtime routine as well.
2. Get with your vet and make sure that all of the vaccinations are up to date and you have written proof as such. When you already know your pet does not travel very well, ask your vet about this. In some cases the vet can prescribe something for the pet to make it easier for them to travel.
3. When you packing for the move, make sure you keep some of your pet’s items out of the moving truck. Pack their water and food bowl, medications, bedding, food and overnight crate separately. Keep it with you in your vehicle. Have enough food for your pet that you have enough time to either buy more or change your pet over to a new type of food when their current food is not available in the new home town. Be prepared to move your pet personally. A pet will do better when they move with their owner to the same time, together. Moving companies will not move your pet for you.
4. When you are driving with your pet make sure you keep your pet safe in the vehicle. When you know your pet will not do well when traveling you might consider not feeding the pet before leaving. Make sure you keep your pet confined in a travel crate or maybe buckled up for safe travel. Make frequent pit stops for everybody to stretch their legs, relieve their bladder and have a quick drink.
5. When the move has to be made by plane, call the airline to fin out what their rules, regulations and restrictions are for flying with pets.
6. Sometimes during the move a pet can get lost or possible stolen. You might consider micro chipping our pet as proof of ownership later. Be sure your pet’s identification tags are securely attached to a collar or leg band. The ID tags should include your pet’s name, your name, address and phone number, destination address, phone number and their rabies tag. You also can get a small GPS locator that attaches to the collar to be able to track your pet right in time. Take color pictures of your pet with a written description of its size, height, weight, colorings and distinguishing marks.

When you are in the new home, give your pet time to acclimate to the new area and surroundings.

I walked into the office of a friend of mine and right on the left hand side, right inside the door to her staffs’ offices is a suggestion box and on this box she has a small sign:

“All complaints are welcome as long as you offer a suggestion for a solution. Otherwise the complaint is just another complaint.”

I asked her about her blue suggestion box with the light bulb picture on it as I sat down with her.

This suggestion box idea came from one of her employees who at one time had a great idea but was not able to catch up with her and this staffer was not very comfortable using email. Now once a month all the complaints that also have a suggestion of a fix with them are going into a drawing for different items.  Many times she has gift cards she personally purchased for either gas, a nice restaurant, different stores or just a plain AMEX card so they can use them how they think fit.

She has received some great improvement ideas from her staff that she implemented.

She also told me when an improvement idea that was implemented came from someone in the staff she made sure this staff person received credit for the improvement. She also is now receiving ideas and suggestions of improvements from her outside vendors and many clients as well but she does not include them in the internal draw for the gift cards.

“I have so much chaos in my life, it’s become normal. You become used to it. You have to just relax, calm down, take a deep breath and try to see how you can make things work rather than complain about how they’re wrong.” –  Tom Welling –

Sitting with my morning coffee at the local franchise coffee shop and I was able to overhear a father talk to his daughter about the lack of willingness of the counter staff to listen to what their clients telling them.

As he was ordering a breakfast and he was asked if he wanted the order for here or to go. He wanted his order for here, to have a nice sit down breakfast with his daughter. As he received his order he received a to-go order.

This reminds me of something my grandmother used to tell me: “You have two ears and one mouth. Use them accordantly.”

Stephen R. Covey said it best:  “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.”

When you listen to your clients are you truly hearing them? There is a huge difference between listening to them and hearing what they truly telling you. Do you truly listen to them without any bias and pre conceived notions or intentions?

Active listening truly means to let go of what’s on your mind. Don’t interrupt others before they are finished speaking and strive to understand what the person is saying. Don’t try to formulate an answer prior to the person has finished their part of their conversation.

Be more comfortable with silence when you have a conversation with others and when you think you need to interrupt the silence, ask questions. It is your goal to understand the other person and truly listed to what they have to tell you