Recent Comments...  
(available upon request)

Good afternoon Mike,
My name is Pam Smith, I was recently at the Springbrook Conference in Portland Oregon, and you were a guest speaker.
I have always believed in customer service not only in places where I worked but also when I am not at work. Customer service is more than just making people happy and adapting to their needs but it is also making yourself feel good and knowing that you made someone’s day. I have dealt with many customers, employees and yes, family most of my adult life, if there is one thing to learn it is this, if you can’t make yourself happy how you can make anybody happy. Customer service is a relationship that is built with trust, honesty, fairness, and an open mind.
I wanted to say thank you for your touching speech and your humor, it was wonderful to sit and listen to you.
I believe people like you can make a difference in the world one company at a time; we have lost caring for one another, helping each other, and getting involved, I guess this is why we have lost the good old customer service attitude.
I worked for Wal-Mart as a customer service manager; I loved it very much, I was not allowed to spend too much time with a customer nor an employee. How in the world could you help someone if you’re limited the time you have to help them? I did a paper on Wal-Mart in one of my classes and was amazed how well Sam Walton cared about his customers and employees; I tried to relay this to the manager and wanted to know where the values mission and hard work that Mr. Walton has put into the company before he died. Managers reply “Sam’s dead, and things have changed” yea it’s called make a profit so I can get a bonus.
After I quit Wal-Mart my dream was to become a consultant for companies to train their managers and employees how to become good leaders and teach superior customer service skills. I feel that we need this more now than ever.
I will always choose to give a smile where a smile is needed, I will always choose to help those who are having a bad day, and I will always choose to love those that do not love me.
Thank you for opening my eyes and letting me know there is still someone out there that still values customer service the same way I do.
God Bless

Thank you,
Pam Smith
Clifton Sanitation
3217 D Road
Clifton, CO 81520

Well Michael, check out all the great comments from our team on the attached document!   just asked for their feedback and this is what they had to say about you!

Many thanks for your great presentation and for the wonderful boost of inspiration and motivation!  And…I always share your name with others looking for a great speaker, I am a fan too!  

Speaker Comments 4.20.10  -  Heritage Bank

He did a wonderful job.  I heard him at another STAR party in the past, and look forward to hearing from him again.  One thing I was wondering is if you could get the names of the books that he mentioned.

I thought Mike was very entertaining and charismatic. He shared some great stories. Although his information was somewhat basic, it rang true and the way he presented it made it very clear that treating your co-workers with respect and courtesy will benefit everyone. 

I loved that Mike used the book “what I learned in Kindergarten”.   The simple, common sense way to live one’s life and treat other people.

Mike always delivers a good message.  It’s usually light hearted and simple, but it gets to the root of potential problems that can be easily corrected.   Furthermore, after a long day at work, it is refreshing to get a work-related message that is this easy to absorb. 

I enjoyed his point of view that came from his real life experiences.  He was serious, funny, and made a lot of sense!  Mr. Meines was a great motivation to come back to work and make some changes.  Sometimes we just need to be reminded of the simple things.  Thank You! 

I think the speaker did an excellent job! I loved his stories and his inspirations. He really made me want to strive to be better in all aspects of customer service.  

Always a joy to have him come speak.  Look forward to next time and what “food for thought” he will have for us. 

He was a wonderful guest speaker.  I also appreciated that he added humor in his presentation and also shared some wonderful ideas to boost morale in the workplace.

I always enjoy hearing Michael speak…he makes very valid points without making you feel like you’re being lectured to.  This is the third time I’ve heard him and each time he is fresh and I take away great ideas for improving myself and my interactions.  I love his message of personal accountability…it’s something we can sometimes lose track of and something my team can struggle with from time to time.  Those that own up so to speak are able to learn from the experience and springboard it into growth.  Thanks for the reinforcement. 

I really enjoyed Mr. Meines presentation.  He’s very easy to listen to, uses humor (as I try to do every day) and kept our interest.  You know, in the evening after a meal, that’s hard to do!  I’ve read (a couple of times) Robert Fulghum’s book and I love it!  Everything in it is so very true!  It would be great if everyone could read it.  It contains a lot of really good, really basic lessons.  The world would be a better place if it was mandatory reading – especially for world leaders!  Anyway, please convey to Mr. Meines that I thought his presentation was great and I appreciated his approach to the topic of internal customer service.

Hello,

Thank you again for speaking at Learning in the Olympics...You were a great hit. I am including your evaluation in this e-mail...

Kindly

Fiona Shannon
West Sound Advanced Practice Association, Treasurer
Learning in the Olympics, Planning Committee
360-297-1274

Saturday, March 13, 2010
Harrison Medical Center at Kitsap Conference Center
Event Average 4.71

5=excellent 4=very good 3=good 2=fair 1=poor

8:15-9:15 Morning Keynote
Practicing Positive Selfishness by Michael Meines

Knowledgeable about subject matter  4.89

Prepared and organized  4.83

Ability to communicate well  4.81

Stated objectives achieved:

1. Describe the “I Contact” philosophy: positive attitude, customer service  4.79

2. Discuss the power of choice as it relates to improving patient care: self awareness, accountability, positive attitude, workplace relationships  4.88
Overall strength of presentation  4.85

Comments:
1. “Good wake up for the morning, very positive. Excellent presenter.” X18
2. “Sexy speaker.” X3
3. “Mike – you are funny, confident and most of all sexy!”
4. “There is nothing sexier than a man who can make me laugh and Mike is very sexy! Great way to start the day.”
5. “Very good speaker, funny and informative. I can truly say I can use and will all the information given.”
6. “Pleasant to hear same topic in a different way – story telling is very effective. I will remember the information.”
7. “Awesome speaker – made me laugh a lot!” x3
8. “Very good. I will try to avoid the vortex.”
9. “Very funny, personable, easy to listen to, easy to relate to – loved him!”
10. “Excellent speaker. Really hit home on many issues. Kept the audience engaged.”
11. “I love the ‘in the air’ concept!”
12. “Very relevant to profession. ‘Downward spiral’ talk…priceless!”
13. “Changed my morning outlook and potentially my life. Top notch – everyone should hear him.”
14. “Very engaging, excellent subject matter.” X5
15. “Looked like Dave Thomas.”
16. “A pleasure – back to basics.”
17. “Very motivating – wishing we could present it to our teens in CK.”
18. “Loved him! Amazing! Moved me to tears!”
19. “Best presentation of the day!” x3
20. “He was a kick!”
21. “Helped me to CHOOSE to get out of the funky mood I was in.”
22. “Serious subject dealt with humor. You almost didn’t know how much the speaker knew and how much you learned!”
23. “Excellent! Fabulous! Thank you. I will remember this for a long a time.”
24. “Important and necessary information conveyed through humor.”
25. “Put yourself first.”
26. “One of the best presentations I’ve ever had the pleasure to attend.”
27. “Energetic, enthusiastic. Loved that he presented a subject that has been beaten to death in a different perspective.”

Hi Mike,

I would like to again thank you for your presentations yesterday to DOL.  Everyone I spoke with thoroughly enjoyed your presentation and got a lot out of it.  You really made them think!

Thanks –

Myke Gable
Assistant Director
Driver and Vehicle Services
WA Dept of Licensing

Mr. Meines,

I wanted to Thank You for your Inspiring, reaffirming, and up-lifting talk.
[SHD staff still 'buzzing' from your talk:-)]

It is nice to hear someone remind us that we do not need lots of books or expensive programs to provide positive customer service. We just need to be welcoming, smile, and listen.

Sometimes we can get a little lost in our own problems and forget the simple things; but everyone I have spoken to or heard from, since yesterday, has felt that having you come to our All Staff meeting was so positive and more smiles and positive greetings abound.

When we have our clinic staff meetings our Supervisor is including one of the positive statements to the top of the agenda sheet.

Sincerely,

Betsey Denonville, RN
Lynnwood, South County Office
Snohomish Health District

Thank you so much Michael and Carol. We have received glowing reviews of your presentation yesterday. We had 97 employees attend and 23 provided feedback so far, which I have attached. All gave the course excellent marks. And, I have to say I have never read a course evaluation form from anyone in this bureau who wished the trainer could have spoken longer!

I'm talking with our Director and the other managers about bringing you back to speak to staff who were unable to attend, and also give the second half of your presentation that we did not hear. Staff want more! I'll be in touch about that.

Thanks again,
Alisa Cour
Customer Service Manager
City of Portland, Bureau of Development Services
-------------------------------------------------------
Course Evaluation Comments
Michael Meines – “I Contact” Presentation
October 17, 2007 

• I loved his presentation. It made me laugh so hard tears ran down my face and cringe inside when he told about his accident. It would be great to have him back. It is always great to be reminded that the only person I have control of is me. After 2 hours of laughter, I feel great. Thank you.
   
• Please have him come back if he has more to share! He’s the best speaker I’ve ever had the privilege of hearing!
   
• I wish he could have had longer for this session. I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time. I could have listened to him talk for hours.
   
• This course by far is the best offering to date. This should be a mandatory session for all. Although there was ample time to cover material, more time would no doubt have been beneficial. The anecdotes proved to be applicable to both the work environment and to our personal lives. Training aimed at morale, choices, and interactions with people (like this training) is what we need.
   
• The next time we have a bureau-wide meeting, these are the kind of speakers we need. This class should be mandatory for everyone.
   
• Would have like to hear more! I have never been to a class that was more informative and taught this well. I did not come away feeling it was a waste of time. It was a great class!
   
• This was an excellent presentation. Mr. Meines has wonderful insight on human nature that applies to life in general. Thanks!
   
• Great motivational speaker. Good stories and good ways of sending positive message to employees.
   
• Mr. Meines’ delivery of this subject was excellent. He was interested in his topic and he focused on staff. I thought it was a great morale builder. I suggest we do further customer training with him and make it mandatory for all staff to be there.
   
• He was perfect. Can he record a little pep talk for me to play on my iPod before I come to work every morning?
   
• He was hilarious and made learning fun.
   
• Outstanding teaching technique. Excellent information. Helpful in all areas of life.
   
• Humor and self-stories made the class awesome!
   
• Very good class – fun – informative.
   
• Bring him back!
   
• He is the sexiest speaker I’ve ever had the pleasure to listen to!!
   
• Mr. Meines infectious style was engaging in a way that I have not experienced before. I appreciated the focus on relations rather than service. Please invite him back again!
   
• Self awareness, accountability, positive attitude, excellent presentation delivered in an entertaining style – Bring Mike back! All BDS staff should hear him speak!
   
• Validating & fun.
   
• Excellent course – really appreciated the positive spin on customer service. I would like to have a copy of the powerpoint.
  
  I give Mr. Meines excellent marks on all points of the course evaluation.
  
  He is great, his presentation and philosophy absolutely fantastic. His use of humor kept it entertaining and interesting. I not only gained valuable perspective about being positive, but I thoroughly enjoyed the time spent. Mr. Meines’ approach and theory is valid, worthwhile and real.
  
  If we could all practice giving and maintaining dignity and respect, and recognizing the value of being positive as much and as often as possible, imagine how pleasant the workplace could be. These tenets would over-ride any issues of customer service, diversity, cultural competency and any other PC type of buzz that the City thinks can be solved with “training”.
  
  I could relate to what he said and I gained more in this 2-hour presentation than I have in any other customer service related training. This was far superior to the customer service training required for every BDS employee which is a long – boring – mandatory – waste of money.
  
  Instead, I would recommend that you invite Mr. Meines back so that the balance of BDS employees may have another opportunity to hear his message. I repeat opportunity. Unfortunately, BDS staff have developed a distaste for mandatory training and become squeamish, particularly when it is used in conjunction with the words customer service.
  
  Thanks to whoever suggested bringing Mr. Meines in to speak. I came away feeling good, happy, positive and with the belief that I gained a valuable insight.
  
  Thank you Michael Meines. I enjoyed your talk so very much – just great.

Mike,

Your words made me feel so good. You made my day.  Everyone who has ever taken your class that I know has loved it and have walked away with appreciation.  You've made us laugh, cry, think seriously about life and each other.  More importantly, you've made us feel good about ourselves and think about ways we can positively impact others.  Our lives change for the better when we apply your expressions.  You bet I'll keep in touch because I would not want you to stop doing this most important,
worthwhile and wonderful work you do.

By the way, tell your lovely wife hello and for her to keep up the good work on encouraging and helping you along life's journey.  And, oh yes, I know your ex-wife is "a wonderful mother."  You have no idea how that impressed upon my mind to always have something nice to say about someone or don't say it at a ll.  You're one of a kind Mr. Meines.  May your family, your wonderful granddaughter and your friends all be blessed by your presence!

Hoping to see you again at another convention or presentation. :-)

You have my permission to put it on your website.  I have had the wonderful privilege and honor to hear you speak at least three times now and each time I go away with a heart full of thanks and appreciation for being a part of your audience.  Your message is so simple, basic and truthful.  If only everyone in the world would apply your words, what a wonderful world we would live in.  Please continue what you do, you impact people more than you know.  Anyway that's one person's opinion! :-)

Dorothy Palmer
Auditor's Office/Financial Services
Portland Water Bureau
Customer Services Director

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