5 Ways You Can Beat Stress With Good Nutrition

This article was first seen on NateAnglin.com. To see original article, click here. As you sit in front of the TV, your hand in the Dorito bag, you immediately feel better.

Or even worse, maybe you're being yelled at by the engineering department and the giant popcorn bag is screaming your name.

I’ll happily admit chips are my kryptonite (did I just coin a Superman term?)

You often use food to make yourself feel better, but usually the foods you choose wreak havoc on your I-want-to-be-healthy life.

Adrenaline is produced in times of intense stress and it gives you a sudden burst of energy. After the stressful situation passes, your blood-sugar level drop and you become the tyrant of the pantry.

Your first intention is to grab the Dorito bag, but slow down their killer and breathe.

Take these tips and break the bad reaching for anything habit.

You can beat stress with good nutrition

The foods I’m getting ready to discuss...drum roll please…are known to reduce anxiety and help you manage yourself during stressful situations. Even those crazy AOG situations.

Avocados: High in delicious, saturating fat, avocados are a must in the stress busting arsenal. These little guys are rich in stress-relieving B vitamins and high in monounsaturated fat and potassium, which helps lower blood pressure. So, put your heart back in your shirt.

Asparagus: Depression has been linked to low levels of folic acid and may result in feelings of irritability, depression, and brain fog, as well as insomnia. Asparagus is one vegetable that boosts this nutrient. You can fit it in to any meal.

Blueberries: When we’re stressed our bodies need antioxidants to help repair and protect our cells. Blueberries are small in nature but they pack a powerful punch in the antioxidant and Vitamin C aisle. No, a blueberry pie doesn’t count.

Almonds: They may be small but almonds are rich in Vitamin B2 and E. Both of these nutrients help immune system function during times of stress. All you need is a quarter of a cup and toss them in with your blueberries. Try this recipe.

Spinach: Get Popeye out of your head, this little leafy creature deserves a lot more credit than a cartoon. Spinach is packed with magnesium, the mineral that helps you regulate cortisol levels. It also promotes a sense of well-being.

HABITS: Okay, you caught me. I put an extra 6th one in here. In stressful situations research suggests that you reform back to your normal habits, which typically are unhealthy habits. You must break the bad habits and focus your efforts on a healthy, energetic lifestyle. Your body, mind and stress levels will thank you.

It’s crazy how we can revert back to poor nutrition when stressed when good nutrition is a great ally to help overcome stress.

From now on get your hand out of the drawer, drop the Snickers bar and whip up an awesome snack with the ingredients I talked about.

What’s your worst eating habit when stressed? Comment below.

4 Easy Ways To Identify The Symptoms Of Stress

This article was first seen on NateAnglin.com. To see original article, click here. You lay in bed, heart pumping, blood boiling and your stomach is in a knot. There’s a slight sensation of a headache brewing. But it’s time for bed. You and your stressed out self.

30 minutes ago you were chowing down on a big box of chocolate ice cream, reminiscing on the day that just passed.

You had 3 aircraft with AOG (Aircraft On Ground) situations and you only were able to resolve 1 of them. So now 2 aircraft that are in your stress portfolio. They each lose $15,000 a day they're not in the air.

After your stressful day, you then go home to personal bills, screaming children, and possibly doggy doo doo that has to be cleaned up.

It seems never ending and when you look in the mirror, neither does your weight gain. You have clear symptoms of stress.

In order to get your life back on track you need to know how to define stress but then you must get good at identifying stress.

Identifying Stress

Stress lurks it’s head everywhere. Sometimes it’s natural (good stress) but most of the time it’s life threatening, cortisol spiking, fat inducing stress.

Over the years you’ve got use to what stress feels like and today it’s just another day in the office for you.

You’ve got “smushy” (fat), your blood work is terrible, you can’t sleep, you have psoriasis, heartburn is normal, you have low self-esteem, anxiety is like a routine morning breakfast and your spark for life is non-existent.

If this sounds like you, I just identified your symptoms of stress. You have 4 classic signs: psychological, emotional, physical and behavioral.

Here are 4 categories to identify the symptoms of stress.

Psychological signs

From the moment you get up in the morning you have a deep inability to concentrate. You have a myriad of excuses but every day it’s the same ole’ thing. You have memory lapses and are easily distracted. As a dog would say “ball, ball, biscuit, toy, ball, ball.” Focusing has become hard for you. You use to have such a creative mind, but now it’s full of negative thinking and worrying.

Emotional signs

For most, identifying stress is hard because you think of it as a natural part of your life. Sadly that is far from the truth.

If you feel angry, irritable, defensive and frustrated, that’s not life. Those are symptoms of stress. Pouncing out of bed with a big smile on your face ready to take on the day is how you should be acting. Instead you go through the day with no confidence, a lack of motivation and are incredibly sensitive to criticism.

Physical signs

A study out of Yale University looked at how stress may cause excess abdominal fat in otherwise slender woman. Their study stated "Everyone is exposed to stress, but some people may secrete more cortisol than others, and may secrete cortisol each time they face the same stressor," Epel adds. "We predicted that reacting to the same stressors consistently by secreting cortisol would be related to greater visceral fat."

They are more physical signs than just adding on abdominal fat. You frequently call in sick because again, you have another cold. Or maybe you have frequent infections, high blood pressure, acne, allergies, physical tiredness and the list goes on and on.

Listen to your body. It’ll tell you that something isn’t right.

Behavioral signs

Do you ever go home, sit on your back porch and watch the sunset? Or do you sit outside, anywhere, and take in a breath of air and dissect the smell of nature?

If you don’t take the time for relaxation or pleasurable activities it’s a clear symptom of stress.

Think hard about your relationships.

Do you constantly have social withdrawal? Has your relationships with important people in your life become difficult?

Identifying stress could even be you noticing insomnia or you've become reckless, aggressive and nervous.  Or you're now more prone to accidents and are increasingly careless.

Stress can become a combination of psychological, emotional, physical, and behavioral signs.

Identifying stress is to effectively defeat it. Once you can define and recognize the symptoms of stress you can take action on managing it.

Do you have clear symptoms of stress? What signs do you see in your life? Share your story by commenting below.

The Definition Of Your Demise, Stress

This article was first seen on NateAnglin.com. To see original article, click here.

Stress is like a nagging sister. Disclaimer: not saying I have one of these or anything.

She pulls our hair, pokes us when we’re concentrating, and to reflect a bit, embarrassed us when we brought a new “date” home in high school.

The effects stress has on you both mentally and physically is killing you. 

A day in the not so distant past, I was a part of the re-stocking initiative (sound fancy?) to replace the wheels and brakes for an A320. This project was a little shy of $100,000 and had several risky obstacles to stay on budget.

One of these obstacles was dealing with a new third party to handle repairs. If you know me, any “new” third party makes me sweat. With no history, we had no true knowledge of how they did things. It was a gamble.

2 weeks pass with several updates along the way. On the 14th day of the second week we called to check up on things, you know, the nosy in your face check up. They claimed that our account manager was fired and they never received our purchase order.

I about blew a gasket.

They went on to tell our Director of Operations to just cancel the order.

Now 2 weeks in with a 2 week deadline, we were in trouble.

I began to feel nauseous, slept poor and was craving some crazy foods. I think I may have even put on 5 pounds. Or maybe it was just the mirror. Let’s go with that.

Stress has a crazy effect on our body but most of us can’t even define it. We can quickly claim we're stressed in a broad term but so what.

You need to know what it is.

So, what is stress?

I define stress as demands put onto the body but then again, that’s vague and I’m not a doctor.

A respected psychologist, Richard Lazarus defines stress as “...any event in which environmental demands, internal demands, or both tax the adaptive resources of an individual...”

Stress affects your body's ability to control its inner environment. It’s a disturbance of homeostasis. If you've seen the movie Biodome you’ll know exactly what a homeostasis disturbance is.

Your adrenals are two glands that sit on top of your kidneys. Picture a walnut if you need a visual.

They’re the pilots of your hormones. They secrete cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine that regulate stress response. For this reason, the adrenals are what determine our tolerance to stress. They’re the system of our bodies most affected by stress.

Picture a pilot out partying the night before with a 12 hour transcontinental flight the next morning. Your adrenals are the pilot when burdened with stress. Out of whack.

Different types of stress

There are 3 kinds of stress worth explaining as we often times define stress in a general term.

Acute stress

Acute stress is the most common form of stress. In small doses, acute stress can be thrilling but over time it can be exhausting. A challenging workout in the morning can be beneficial and invigorating.

But if you did the same workout three times a day you might find yourself less energized. You’ll feel tired and groggy. Performing activities beyond your limits can lead to injuries.

The good news is acute stress symptoms are recognized by most people. It can be a deadline you’re looking to meet, the car door being slammed into the wall, or the loss of a large contract.

Because acute stress happens in the short term it’s less likely to manifest into extensive damage that occurs during long-term stress.

Episodic acute stress

Episodic acute stress are for those who encounter acute stress on a regular basis. They live their lives in chaos. They’re the ones who rush out the door, stub their toe, drop their coffee and are always late. They're in a rush to be late.

They can’t seem to organize their life and everything is out of order. Sound like you?

Individuals who are overwhelmed with episodic acute stress can be over aroused, short-tempered, irritable, anxious and tense. They describe themselves as constantly having nervous energy. The “Type A” personality often times falls into this stress category.

Another form of episodic acute stress is in the form of ceaseless worry, or better known as worry warts. Everything's an issue and disaster is lurking around every corner.

Chronic stress

Chronic stress is the killer. While acute stress can be thrilling, chronic stress is far from. This is the type of stress that beats on you day after day, year after year. It destroys your mind, body and soul. According to American Psychological Association:

It's the stress of poverty, of dysfunctional families, of being trapped in an unhappy marriage or in a despised job or career. It's the stress that the never-ending "troubles.”

Chronic stress comes when a person never sees a way out of a miserable situation. It's the stress of unrelenting demands and pressures for seemingly interminable periods of time. With no hope, the individual gives up searching for solutions.

The worst part about chronic stress is most people just get use to it. They live with it and forget about its presence. “People are immediately aware of acute stress because it is new; they ignore chronic stress because it is old, familiar, and sometimes, almost comfortable.”

Natural occurrence of stress

Unbelievably, stress can be well intended.

You're probably familiar the term “fight or flight.” It’s your body’s natural response to stress.

When presented with a stressful situation, we either get aggressive, or run away as fast as we can in the opposite direction. 

Just picture a grizzly bear with cubs and without cubs. With cubs, she’ll tear into anything presenting danger to her children. Without cubs a loud noise could make her run in the other direction. Or for you aviation folks, a Cessna may try to fight with a Cessna, but when challenged by a B747, she's off in the other direction.

Your natural “fight or flight” response is incredibly efficient at energy preservation. It’s what helps you survive. You begin to sweat, your muscles tense, and your hearing sharpens. You are now incredibly alert. Concentration and awareness on anything else is avoided. The nervous system gets a flood of adrenaline (epinephrine). Your adrenal cortex pumps out 30 different types hormones to help compensate for the stressful situation. Your immune system temporarily shuts down so your body can efficiently use its resources to combat the potential threat.

Our body is a magnificent feat of science. When used properly we can turn a stressful situation into a way for us to hear better, jump higher and run faster. We will either outrun or out live a potential threat. Or that's the main objective at least.

Sadly, we now do most of this from an office chair.

Modern day captivity

Today our bodies are subjected to lifestyles that create an enormous amount of sedentary stress. We didn't evolve to deal with a daily barrage of stressful situations.

Persistent low-level stress turns into chronic stress over time. Maybe you sit in your office getting yelled at by the engineering department for 8 hours a day or you get stuck in traffic... every day. These are persistent low-level stressors.

Your body interprets this as a “natural” threat and your adrenals pump accordingly. Cortisol releases glycogen stores for immediate energy. The problem is with persistent cortisol release, it requires other important mechanisms to shut down. Some of these mechanisms are immunity, digestion, endocrine function, and the list goes on. This is why the link between elevated cortisol levels and weight gain have been established.

In the natural world stress is your super human ally, while in the office world it is your greatest nemesis. It’s your killer, your achilles tendon, your greatest foe.

To understand stress is to effectively define it. In the next blog post we’ll discuss how to identify it and symptoms you should be aware of.

What does your normal day look like? From this definition, what category of stress are you in? Comment below.

5 Benefits Of Humor In Customer Service

Do you think you’re funny? Do you have a good sense of humor? An appropriate one?

With all these questions now racing through your mind, who cares.

You are not the one being dissected here. Customer service is becoming a robotic dance between buyer and seller. No emotion, not friendly interaction...nothing.

We recently talked with a company who, on occasion, we call for quotes.

We called and they said, “You haven’t ordered from us lately, so this is a no quote.”

Not once has this company tried engaging with our purchasers, not once has this company engaged in a friendly and memorable dialogue, not once has this company called to ask us how they can best serve us. And lets be honest, they're not funny or entertaining so calling them is rather pointless to begin with. They're not memorable.

What happened to the days when you picked up the phone, laughed, joked and built a relationship. Humor is more than making jokes, it’s having fun and loving what you do.

Today, this “vendor” was tossed in the trash and we’ll make sure to call someone more humorous next time.

5 Benefits Of Humor In Customer Service

Humor is a dying breed in customer service. With greater technology comes distanced human interaction. Humor is necessary, just like smiling. Why do you think Southwest has maintained such a competitive advantage using humor in there customer service practices?

Laughter relaxes the whole body. When you laugh it relieves physical tension and stress. It’s reported to leave your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after. When your customer service agent uses humor it relaxes you and allows you to make the best decision.

Laughter boosts immune system function. When you laugh it decreases stress hormones and increases immune cell function. It also increases infection-fighting antibodies, improving your resistance to disease. So, if your customer service agent makes you laugh and smile, thank them for saving your life.

Laughter triggers a release of endorphins. Endorphins are the body’s natural feel-good chemical. They promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.

Laughter protects the heart. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow. Now, thats a heart healthy alternative to drugs. This can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems. Did they just save your life again?

Laughter boosts social skills. Many scientist believe laughter allows humans to connect, bond and communicate with one another. Laughter is a universal means of communication. It’s a great way to connect with many cultures and is the reason “...when you laugh, the world laughs with you, but when you weep, you weep all by yourself.”

Humor and laughing is a natural part of being.

So why are so many companies avoiding this connection between their company and their customers?

I challenge you to focus on people who can make you smile and laugh. It will not only help you during procurement but it just may save your life.

How does laughing and humor make you feel? Have you had an experience where it changed the outcome of a situation you were in? Comment below.

10 Ways To Spot A Customer Service Robot

When you pick up the phone do you hope to talk to a human?

In the not so distant past I was calling an OEM for status on a repair we had gone through.

I picked up the phone, palms slightly sweaty as I was already anticipating what I was about to encounter.

After dialing the number the phone began to ring...

My ears aware of what was coming next I hear “You have reached ___ please listen carefully as our menu has changed”

Oh no!

After 8 options I chose 4 for repairs.

“You have reached the repairs dept. please press 1 for…” and they go on to list customer support, shipping, QC, among 5 other options.

I chose the option that I thought was best, customer support.

They then go on to list 5 people whom I can press an extension for and talk to. Frustrated being on the phone for 5 minutes at this point I press 3.

I call the extension and it goes to voice-mail. I was nearly a few seconds away from throwing my phone across the room but I decided to leave a voice-mail. I received a return call 2 days later.

To me, this is horrible customer service and is no way how to interact with paying clients.

Would this even be considered customer service?

This is why I give you 10 ways to spot a robot and avoid situations like this.

10 Ways to Spot a Customer Service Robot

1) Pressing multiple numbers to reach one person Just as you saw in my beginning story, pressing all sorts of crazy numbers adds stress, anxiety and annoyance in a world where you already get plenty of that. Hang-up the phone, throw it across the room, or avoid any companies who want you to go through 15 robots automated answering machines to get to a human. Clearly they're too busy or cheap for you.

2) Overpromise and underdeliver Have you ever talked to a person who overpromises on everything but never pulls through? “Oh you need it there by Thursday, I’ll get it to you by Wednesday.” Come Friday you still don't have your order. Or they quote you an average repair price and they either find out they no longer have capabilities after you send them the unit or their average is double just from labor.

3) No personality If you call a company and the other person doesn't sound alive, like they want to talk to you, or are miserable...RUN. You’ll be on a fast track of a whole mess of “I Don't Care About You” if you continue any further.

4) Significantly delayed responses People are busy and delayed responses are normal. But and I mean a big “but” is when you see a company that says if you do not hear from us in 48 hours consider it a no quote. This statement shows this company has their priorities straight (incredible amount of sarcasm in that sentence).

5) “Sorry for the inconvenience” We've talked about this before and I hear this often. You order something and they can’t locate the part or whatever excuse it may be. They then send you an email saying “sorry for the inconvenience.” Inconvenience? You deserve more than than an inconvenience statement. An inconvenience is when you run out of salt for your dinner, the dry cleaners are closed on Saturday, but this order, your time is much more than an inconvenience. It’s a distribution nightmare that you now have to fix.

6) Poor problem solving skills The people who write “sorry for the inconvenience” are always people with poor problem solving skills. If a problem occurs you deserve solutions to be presented to you. Or better yet they just figure out a solution and go on as normal and don’t stress you out.

7) Unreachable on weekends Now, you may debate with me on this one but if you are close with your supplier they should be accessible to you on weekends. Aviation is an industry that never sleeps and for you, neither should they.

8) Avoids emailing after closing Companies close and that’s fine. Your account manager or whomever you talk to should still be able to respond via email after closing. Granted, they can’t make magic happen but they can still address you if its pertinent. This small step shows they care and that they’re not a robot.

9) Constant push lists and sales tactics This drives me crazy. I get a push list from a particular company every single day.  I've actually tried to buy off this company. I submitted the PO, I never got a confirmation and my phone calls would go straight to voice mail. Surprisingly, I still received push lists despite them ignoring my attempt to buy. Crazy I know.

10) Reading from a script This is the worst case of I’m a robot. Just recently we contacted a company and a young lady answered. Sounding rather timid we advised her the reason of our call. I kid you not, she replied after a brief pause “So it looks like I’m supposed to ask you how the weather is". Wait, what? After a brief laugh we parted ways.

There are plenty of articles on customer service and how it should be done but there’s no magic formula.

Just deal with a human that cares about you and you’ll be all set.

Avoid robots, talk to humans and live stress free.

Have you experienced dealing with a robot? Comment below.

Problem Resolution: A True Testament To Vendor Relationships

We've all been there. In the office, palms sweating, heart racing on the verge of an emotional breakdown.

Last week we had an international air force AOG for a scarce, nonexistent yoke. No, not the egg kind.

Now envision a drill sergeant yelling at you if you screw anything up.

The order was planned, distribution was set. A week later the OEM advised us they had changed their “policies.” Meaning our order isn’t a priority and there’s now an additional lead time.

Thank you corporate structure governed by an aggressive union.

No calls to advise us on status, 10 emails left ignored and a careless attitude because of internal politics and simply not giving a ****.

Companies are horrible at communicating and resolving problems.

This is true for 95% of the industry, big OEM or small, 2 person distributor.

Identify the problem & fix it

Identifying problems and issues is a three step process.

Most people over-complicate the first step and then kick and scream eventually giving up and leaving the customer high and dry.

First step: Identify

This is where you dig down and find the real issue. Most of the time the problem is rarely the real issue. Dig deep to find the cause.

For us we recently had a fire-bottle that needed to go to Uganda on an AOG basis. Every day the freight kept getting bumped and we narrowed it down to the 1.4S HAZMAT classification.

With the real issue identified we could begin discussing resolutions.

Second step: Discuss

In an open and honest environment everyone must share their thoughts, ideas, concerns and possible solutions regarding the issue. After discussing and debating with the greater good in mind, the solution is always simple, though not always easy and sometimes very hard.

For the fire bottle our client and VP discussed and debated collaboratively. No rock was left unturned, no email went unanswered. We were on a mission to get it resolved.  A few carriers were crossed out, a bonded warehouse was found and the end destination was possibly going to be changed.

Step 3: Solve

Once a solution has been stated and agreed upon it’s time to take immediate action. Put it on the person who owned it’s to-do list and confirm completion.

We eventually decided that the fire bottle was best to be transported to S. Africa to a bonded warehouse in Johannesburg. Then our clients could take receipt of the goods and install it. A decision was made to redirect the material and that's exactly what happened.

An effective problem resolution strategy is best in conjunction with effective communication.

Once people begin only thinking about themselves and not in a collaborative, team environment, more unnecessary problems will surface.

Do you have issues resolving problems? Or do you deal with vendors who do? Comment below.

How To Avoid Fatigue In Aviation

Do you feel drowsy and just roll out of bed? You're tired, sleepy and working is the last thing on your mind.

Once you get to work, you painfully manage to get through the day but at a great cost.

According to the FAA defining fatigue in humans is extremely difficult due to the large variability of causes. Causes of fatigue can range from boredom to circadian rhythm disruption to heavy physical exertion. In layman's terms, fatigue can simply be defined as weariness. However, from an operational standpoint a more accurate definition might be: “Fatigue is a condition characterized by increased discomfort with lessened capacity for work, reduced efficiency of accomplishment, loss of power or capacity to respond to stimulation, and is usually accompanied by a feeling of weariness and tiredness.”

Problems of fatigue in aviation

A long day of mental stimulation can be taxing. Studies have shown that studying for an examination or processing data can be as fatiguing as manual labor. Manual labor and mental fatigue may appear different but the end result is the same, an inability to function normally.

In the FAAs Pilots Safety Brochure,  fatigue leads to a decrease in your ability to carry out tasks. Several studies have demonstrated significant impairment in a person’s ability to carry out tasks that require manual dexterity, concentration, and higher-order intellectual processing. Fatigue may happen acutely, which is to say in a relatively short time (hours) after some significant physical or mental activity. Or, it may occur gradually over several days or weeks. Typically, this situation occurs with someone who does not get sufficient sleep over a prolonged period of time (as with sleep apnea, jet lag, or shift work) or someone who is involved in ongoing physical or mental activity with insufficient rest.

Fatigue in aviation has been a major cause of several aircraft accidents. It has been estimated to contribute to 20-30% of all transport accidents and 70% of all fatal accidents in commercial aviation are related to human error.

The math is substantial and the effect is dramatic.

Whether you're a pilot, technician, or a procurement professional fatigue is real.

Maybe you bought the wrong $50,000 part, or installed the wrong component on your turbine engine. There may be measures to catch these mistakes but not all mistakes get noticed.

Fatigue alters your mood, cognitive function and is a pain to deal with.

Fatigue is easily mitigated

Fatigue in aviation can easily be reduced, unless you're a pilot with strict demands and an unalterable schedule. For the majority of us, fatigue is reduced by making a few minor life changes.

One of the best ways to eliminate fatigue is by getting at least 7 - 8 hours of sleep. [TWEET THIS]

Do not...

• Consume alcohol 4 hours before going to bed.
• Take work to bed.
• Watch TV while in bed.
• Use sleeping pills.
• Eat a heavy meal right before bed.

You should…

• Keep a sleeping pattern. Try to go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day.
• Create a sleep sanctuary. Block out all noises, eliminate any light and keep your room cool.
• Get active. Being sedentary will affect the way you sleep. Do something physical during the day.
• Reduce stress. No one goes to bed easily when stressed. Find ways to reduce this.
• Get all your thoughts out onto paper. When your mind is racing it’s hard to relax and fall asleep. Write all your thoughts down and address them in the morning.

Fatigue in aviation is real.

Find ways to minimize this and you’ll see a noticeable effect on your mood, your work and your life.

How has fatigue affected you? Comment below.

Stop Losing Money To Freight Forwarders

You have an urgent requirement for an over-sized shipment. You need it shipped urgently but over-sized freight doesn't move like small parcel.

A phone call is made to your freight forwarder.

It takes them 24 hours to get you a quote and when you decide to schedule for pick-up it takes another day to get the package.

Not to mention the SLI, power of attorney, invoices and the hundred other documents supposedly needed.

Dealing with Freight Forwarders is painful.

Full of excuses

90% of all freight forwarders are designed and raised to make excuses.

Trust me, I’ve dealt with all of them.

You may have had an experience like this:

We needed to arrange the transport of a life raft that was HAZMAT. It was AOG and our customer needed it NOW. We gave a Freight Forwarder the details that morning and they said, “not a problem, we can manage this. "

We provided all the documents and arranged the pick-up. At the end of the day they proceeded to call us and say “Sorry for the inconvenience but because this is HAZMAT we don’t want to arrange the transport.”

Wait, what? Because it involves a little more effort they didn't want to manage the transport?

Ridiculous, but very true.

Build a strong relationship

We've dated and broken up with at least 10 Freight Forwarders over the past 10 years. They lie, cheat, cancel and make excuses better than most.

But don’t be a heartbreaker and end things at the sign of trouble. If you feel you have a competent well established company on the other line, nurture the relationship.

Take advantage of these simple tips to ensure the relationship with your Freight Forwarder is maximized.

Tip #1: Make sure they have history transporting aircraft material.

Tip # 2: If they don’t know what AOG is, end the relationship.

Tip # 3: Signing documents doesn't have to take longer than the transport of your material. You don't have to sign your life away on every shipment.

Tip # 4: Ensure they have offices at origin and destination. This results in better communication during quoting and transport.

Tip # 5: Deal with one account manager. Build a relationship. They should know all about your needs and wants.

Tip # 6: Your account manager should be able to email you back after hours.

Tip # 7: They should be able to accommodate special services like HAZMAT & Engine transport.

Having a strong relationship with a Freight Forwarder or a vendor who has a strong relationship with a Freight Forwarder is crucial.

For large freight they are the connection between the material you need and the destination you need it at.

They are the link between you and the world.

 Do you have a strong relationship with a freight forwarder? Or maybe you’ve had a bad experience. Comment

5 Reasons Your Phone Etiquette Is Terrible

Whether it’s you, an aircraft parts vendor, an MRO or someone entirely different,  having good phone skills is crucial in an international environment.

But sadly this is far from what we experience in the aviation industry. It’s tragic.

When I approach a vendor for procurement purposes, my eyes are set on the end result; a successful purchase in time for my requisition requirements.

But sadly I end up making contact with someone that has as much energy as a snail. Slow moving and couldn't care less about my needs.

When I reach a sales manager often times I’ll get the “I’ll call you back in an hour.”  When that hour arrives and I don’t hear from them, I call them back. You would be surprised how often I get, “He’s out to lunch for an hour, can I take a message?”

First who takes an hour lunch and second who tells someone they’ll call them back during the time they know they're going to lunch?

It makes no sense.

Or how about this one. People ask you to email them and they never acknowledge, respond or cater toward your email. So why did they tell you to email them in the first place?

Bad phone etiquette

There are some fundamental truths when talking on the phone. One is  to greet the other person with respect. “Good afternoon Skylink” or “It was nice talking with you ___, take care.”  Simple yet respectful.

The next fundamental truth is to follow up on your commitments. If you tell someone you're going to do something, then do it. Plain and simple. If I tell you I’m going to email you in an hour, I’m going to email you in an hour. If I don’t, I’m going to tell you why my email is going to be delayed.

It’s about communication fundamentals.

If you make these 5 mistakes, your phone etiquette is terrible:

• You say, I’ll call you back in 15 minutes and never do.
• You say, send me an email and never do anything when the email is received.
• You yell something to your coworker, or even worse, you have a full conversation with them.
• You answer, “HELLO."
• You’re monotone.

Follow these 5 rules instead to make sure you're doing it right:

1. Greet with energy - nobody wants to talk to a sourpuss.
2. Do what you say you're going to do - don’t say one thing and do another.
3. Avoid the hold button - people hate being put on hold.
4. Listen and learn - don’t interrupt or talk to your co-worker.
5. Smile - don't’ be so serious or dry.

Practicing good phone etiquette should be on everyone's mind. I don’t care if you're an airline, MRO, supplier or freight forwarder.

Having good communication skills is a necessity to build lasting relationships that you can count on. [TWEET THIS]

Have you had an experience where the person on the other line was disconnected? Comment below.

Excuse Epidemic: Are You a Culprit or Victim?

Whether you like it or not, you’re very much a part of the excuse epidemic. Airlines, OEMs, aftermarket suppliers and especially MROs have been affected by this plague.

You hear it day in and day out. Maybe your MRO provider called you and said “sorry to inform you but the average overhaul we quoted was actually under quoted by a $1,000. The OEM raised their price.”

All you will probably get is “Sorry for the inconvenience.”

No plans to make things right, no sincere apology and a possible solution. Just a requote and a “Sorry for the inconvenience.”

Why the excuse epidemic exists

The excuse epidemic exists for one inherent reason. People are selfish.

I know that may be a little harsh but it’s true.

Excuses are born by people wanting the easy way out. I’m sure you’ve dealt with this on many occasions.

People would rather point the finger at a problem than take ownership that the problem was created by them.

Excuses come from laziness to correct an issue.

We all make mistakes but it’s how we try to overcome them that makes a difference.

What we can do to resolve this

Things happen. No matter who you are, where you’re from or what industry you deal with. Problems will always occur.

Plain and simple.

But do we make an excuse of why this issue occurred or do we report the problem with possible solutions? I’ll take the latter rather than the former.

Instead of making excuses, a conscious effort needs to be made to find solutions to the current issue.  [TWEET THIS]

Making an excuse is the easy way out. Finding a solution is a win / win strategy.

We've all been a culprit and a victim of the excuse epidemic. Whether you’re an airline, aftermarket supplier, OEM or MRO you've been on both sides.

I challenge you today to make a conscious effort to not be and not tolerate excuse makers. 

Find solutions.

Have you been the victim of the excuse epidemic? Comment below.