If you’re like most Americans you no doubt are already experiencing Profound Political Information Overload Syndrome, or PPIOS. And if you find yourself shouting at your car’s radio or disputing your version of the truth with a television political pundit, your PPIOS might be much more severe than you might have imagined.

The first tip for survival this political season is to keep your small business on its present trajectory for recovery during this period of modest, yet improving economic growth. Businesses that are “off-message” or that ignore the opportunities to prosper during this recovery do so at their own peril and to your advantage.

Secondly, and despite the outcome of the upcoming elections, accept the fact that our republic has survived countless elections over its more than two-century history, and we will survive this November’s election regardless of the best efforts of politicians from each party to divide our nation’s populace.


Thirdly, dial down the emotions a notch by limiting your exposure to the news. I preferred the good old days when television featured 30-minute newscasts; one in the morning and a second in the late evening. Today we are bombarded with 24/7 news coverage from multiple media outlets that are competing for viewers for the sole purpose of generating greater advertising revenues.

Don’t kid yourself. Media outlets feast on advertising dollars and the field of journalism is transforming itself into the field of entertainment in many instances. Close your eyes when you next watch cable news. What’s the deal with all the music? My guess is that its purpose is to heighten our emotions. I call that “theatre.”

I’d suggest that you catch five minutes of news in the morning, over the lunch hour and in the evening from varied media outlets.

Fourth, exercise your right to vote. Cynicism appears to be at an all time high this election season. It does every election season. But vote. Conjure up in your mind those brave Iraqi citizens who walked miles under the threat of death to exercise their first ever opportunity to vote in what they could only hope would be a legitimate and fair election that would help to determine the future course of their fledging democracy.

And finally, return to the first tip if you’re still experiencing PPIOS.

The best decision you can make for your small business, your family, your employees, your customers, and our local economy is to adhere to well thought-out and carefully implemented strategy for success. And try to ignore the fact that the next election season begins on November the 5th.

‘Tis the season for love. Yes, I’m talking about the canine variety. Thanks to the newest addition to the Alpert family, puppy love has become contagious. It is amazing how much joy a 1.9 lb. Tea Cup Chihuahua has brought to our lives. Her name is Dinky, but her name does not even come close to fitting her big personality. Since Dinky has joined our family, not only have we had a lot of cuddle time, walks, and laughs together as a family, but we all seem to be a little bit happier. I got to thinking, and there has to be something to this. So, I did a little digging.

Veterinarians and Sociologists have been talking about this subject for decades, and when I stumbled across the book entitled “100 Simple Secrets Why Dogs Make Us Happy” by David Niven, Ph.D., I knew that it wasn’t just a coincidence. The first secret makes the most sense to me. Dogs have personality. How many people have you encountered in your life that cannot even make eye contact, let alone offer a firm handshake or a friendly smile? My mother used to describe people like that as having the personality of a mayonnaise sandwich. I would look at her funny and reply with “I didn’t know sandwiches had personalities.” Then again, I suppose that was her whole point.

Every dog I’ve ever had the pleasure of owning never had a problem expressing any of these things (yes, dogs can smile), not to mention feel emotions and express affection, although often times in the form of slobber and kisses. I thought the most compelling simple secret in the book was that people who own dogs live longer. Research shows that dog owners walk their dogs, and walking not only burns calories but decreases stress. Dr. Niven says dog owners walk 79% farther in an average week than people who do not own a dog.

I consulted our local Veterinarian, Dr. Sam Meisler of My Pet’s Animal Hospital, on the topic during a visit the other day, and here’s what he had to say about dog ownership and happiness. “Dogs give us unconditional love – no questions asked. They also are very attuned to us and can read and interpret our expressions. They know when we are upset and when we are happy, and they respond. What more could you ask for?”

Now a new study reports that dogs, like infants, are able to study minor details in human communication and correctly interpret intent. The New York Times recently posted an article describing what researchers in Hungary have discovered about canine behavior. They presented dogs with two videos. In the first, a woman says “hi dog” while looking straight at the camera. The woman then turns her head toward a container and the dog follows her gaze. However, when the woman is looking down, the dog does not follow her subsequent gaze. Adam Miklosi, a behavioral biologist at Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest, says the study shows dogs can read human behavior and understand when they are being addressed.

I know what you are thinking. DUH… we already knew this. Just look at how my dog becomes putty in my hand when I talk baby talk to him or check out Mr. Jealous sulking in the corner because I’m giving the new puppy some love. (I was referring to our other dog, not my husband.) But it’s nice to know that science is confirming what most of us already know. Miklosi makes a good point in the article. “Being in a human family gives the dogs the ability to interact in a human way.” He goes on to say that you can really treat your dog as an infant, which you wouldn’t really do with a goat or another domesticated animal.

I believe a happy dog can make for a happier human, but happiness works both ways. Owning a pet of any kind takes responsibility, commitment, and a special place in your heart to love the animal. There are so many pets that need homes and want to love us back. If you are considering a dog or cat, a good place to start is the Humane Society of The Tennessee Valley. For more information, visit www.humanesocietytennessee.com.

Everything Knoxville Magazine interviews husband and wife team, Jeff and Cindi Alpert, owners of Momentum Broadcasting.

Everything Knoxville: Now that you have been in business for over three years with two radio stations, 106.1 The River and 104.9 Q-Country, what advice can you give to small business owners struggling to compete with big corporate?

Cindi: In many cases, big corporate kills the little guy based on price alone. This is very sad for small business, but we see it happening every day when a big chain superstore comes to an area and squashes the little guy who has been there for 30 years. In our case, we figured out how to provide a product (music format) where there was a need, run the stations lean, provide unmatched customer service and deliver it to potential advertisers at a fraction of the price.

EK: When you say run it lean, does that mean cutbacks or compromising quality?

Jeff: Not at all. It means being very hands on. As owners, we personally oversee every step of the business and take on a lot of the workload ourselves. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t have a face-to-face with a client, write commercial copy, audition new music, wash the dishes, or take out the trash for that matter. We do what needs to be done.

EK: What was the hardest part about starting a new radio station in a new market?

Cindi: We are broadcasters out of Naples, Florida and have both been in the business for a long time, so the process of obtaining an FCC license, building the tower, transmitter building, studio, etc. was not the scary part. For me, it was coming to a new city, not knowing a soul, and trying to gain the respect and confidence of potential advertisers in the community. I remember standing on top of Wind Rock Mountain where our tower stands on that cold February day and thinking “Wow, we’re really doing this.” My head was spinning with ideas, but I had no contacts, no friends, no family, and no marketing budget. Sounds crazy, I know.

EK: Obviously you overcame those hurdles and have built a successful business.

Jeff: It all comes down to accountability. Our revenue stream is built entirely on advertising sales. If we don’t produce results, we don’t succeed. We have no choice but to provide the best customer service, excellent creative, lots of added value and put it out in front of a growing target audience with spendable income. Cindi and I are in touch with every single client, and if there is any concern or question, you can be sure we are there to address it immediately. In addition, we have surrounded ourselves with an incredibly talented staff. That makes all the difference.

EK: It is rare these days to actually get a human being on the phone when you call a business with a concern, let alone getting right to the owner.

Cindi: That is so true. If you own a business and you advertise with the media, you should ask yourself when the last time a station owner or even a station manager called you to say thank you or ask you if you were pleased with their performance or just to say hello. In many big corporations, customer service and accountability on the owner or manager’s part has gone out the window. I work with small businesses all the time that pride themselves on just that. I think that’s how they stay in business.

EK: In one sentence, what words of wisdom would you offer to someone starting a small business amidst big corporate competition?

Jeff: Treat every customer as your biggest customer and you will be BETTER than the big guys.

By Tom Irmen

Small businesses that have successfully navigated one of our nation’s worst economic downturns in modern times are busy formulating new marketing strategies that will hopefully help them to navigate the headwinds of uncertainty fueled by conflicting economic data, high unemployment, a leadership vacuum in Washington and a housing market that may require a decade or longer to overcome falling home values, foreclosures and excess inventory.

Today’s small businesses appear to be implementing one of three current strategies in moving forward. I’ve identified them as:
• Staying the course
• The idea of the month club
• Observe, adapt and conquer

“Staying the course” accepts the premise that if your existing strategy was sufficient to guide you through these most turbulent of economic times, it can be depended upon to continue to serve you well into the future.

“The idea of the month club” represents that small group of entrepreneurs that, while receptive to change, implement new strategies at the drop of a hat with very little consideration as to their likely short- and long-term impact.

The last strategy, observe, adapt and conquer, involves observing marketplace changes and future direction, and adapting to these changing conditions, thus creating distinct competitive advantages.

It can be difficult to argue with the philosophy that “if it ain’t broke, don’t try to fix it,” but that same philosophy ignores significant marketplace changes that can be both harmful and potentially advantageous to a company. Oftentimes small business owners, fearing change, will avoid it at any cost. Ignoring change, merely to remain in your comfort zone, can have catastrophic consequences for your small business.


Conversely, there exists an altogether group of entrepreneurs that initiate changes in strategies without the thoughtful consideration that should accompany any such change. These changes can be disruptive to employees and customers alike, depriving your small business of the cohesive message you should be striving for.

Far and away, the best strategy for both short- and long-term success is that strategy that carefully analyzes prior and existing marketplace conditions, changes in consumer behavior and anticipated future marketplace and consumer responses to these changes. Small businesses that carefully access past, present and future marketplace and consumer behavioral changes and adapt their marketing strategies to take full advantage of the opportunities they represent will benefit from increased market share and enhanced competitive marketplace position.

By Cindi Alpert

“Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a four-pound spoiled Yorkie-Maltese named Gucci.”

It must be nice to be a designer breed miniature lapdog these days. No stress, no financial worries, no commitments, just eat, sleep, play and walk. A typical weekday for Gucci goes something like this: wake up, eat breakfast, walk, go to bus stop, sneak into office building in mommy’s purse, terrorize people at their desks until they pet you, pick up small human at bus stop, go on errands in car, get treat at bank, play with kids, dinner, another walk, then snuggle on couch with humans. That doesn’t even cover all the fun on weekends including rides in the convertible, play dates, visits to the park and numerous pet parades and doggie events. Gucci’s only worry is when my 7-year-old daughter decides to play dress up with her and changes her in and out of one ridiculous outfit after another. I often think of how nice it would be to have Gucci’s life in the midst of the holiday hustle bustle and stress of coping with it all while running a business and being a mother, wife, radio personality, singer and part-time writer.

It’s no wonder so many of us feel like we need to be talked off the ledge during the holiday season. For one, the department stores start ramming it down our throats the day after Halloween. Secondly, the gift giving has gotten out of control. How much “stuff” do we really need? Then there’s the holiday parties you feel obligated to go to, the cooking, shopping, planning, kids, step-kids, in-laws, step-in-laws and on and on, not to mention the kids are out of school for what seems like an eternity, especially when you’re NOT on vacation and expected to be at the office. So, are you feeling it yet?

My parents used to feel it too, because they would tease us and say things like “Kids, money is tight this year and your mother and I think we should have a handmade Christmas where we can get creative and actually make gifts for each other, like they did on Little House on the Prairie.” The very thought of this notion would make us kids cringe and we would protest vehemently. After it was all said and done, the parents gave in and we were tearing around the neighborhood on new 10-speed bikes and playing our new Atari games. As an adult, I am beginning to think that a handmade Christmas sounds like a novel idea. Perhaps I should take up knitting. If you see my husband wearing a really ugly sweater, you’ll know why.

I decided to make it my mission not to get stressed out this year and enjoy the season. I did some research and here are some common sense ideas from the experts.

1. Continue with healthy habits throughout the holidays. A healthy diet and exercise is the best way to keep the blues away. Don’t let the holidays become an excuse to have a free-for-all. Start a new holiday tradition like going for a walk during halftime instead of indulging in that second helping of bread pudding. Also, indulging in too much alcohol can actually increase stress levels. Try to fill up on fruits and vegetables before hitting the holiday parties to avoid overdoing it. Instead of having that extra cocktail, you can still be social and have a seltzer with a splash of cranberry and lime. Your body will thank you for it the next morning when the kids are up at 5 am.
Mark G. Kent, MD, General Surgeon

2. Keep fitness on the menu. You don’t have to do your regular fitness routine at the gym, but if you can manage to do even 15 minutes of cardio, yoga or walking, it allows you to energize, have some ‘me time’ relaxation and burn calories all at the same time. Working moms have so many centrifugal forces pulling on them from different directions. If they just focus on themselves and get a little downtime during the holiday season, it can significantly decrease stress levels.
Debra Durst, MD, Years Younger MediSpa

3. Get a massage. Studies done at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles and at The Group Health Research Institute in Seattle found that a 45-minute massage brought on a major spike in lymphocytes, white blood cells that fight bacteria and viruses. It also lessened production of a hormone that is associated with stress levels.
Prevention Magazine, December 2011

4. Be realistic. The holidays don’t have to be perfect or just like last year. As families change and grow, traditions and rituals often change as well. Choose a few to hold on to, and be open to creating new ones. For example, if your adult children can’t come to your house, find new ways to celebrate together, such as sharing pictures, emails or videos.
Mayo Clinic Staff

5. Keep the music playing. One of the great traditions of our family is the Christmas sing-a-long. It was great on Christmas Eve to gather around the family room fireplace and sing “Here Comes Santa Claus” with all the children, and just before midnight we would sing “Silent Night.” On most Christmas Eve’s our great friend Zane Daniel would come by dressed as Santa and pass out gifts to all the children from the big sack he carried on his shoulder. Of course he would bring musical friends with him and we would sing….what a great feeling of joy and peace. Most of the children are all grown up now, but it’s great to see them carry on the tradition. Joy to everyone.
Con Hunley, Singer Songwriter

As for me, I think I’ll take all of the advice from the sources I looked into and from my friends Mark, Debra and Con who contributed. Diet, exercise, music and even a massage is all part of the plan. In case you are interested in my remedy for stress relief, it involves cuddling up on the couch by the fire in my favorite quilt with my husband, our little girl and that spoiled brat lapdog of ours, turning on the radio and reading a book together. “The Night Before Christmas” is one of our favorites.

I was disappointed to learn that the Michelin tires I had planned on purchasing for our family car were out-of-stock. Equally as disappointing was the discovery that the special pricing offered by the dealer would expire before the tires would be back in stock again.

On the outside chance that Michelin might be able to help me out of my dilemma, I called the Michelin Man. They confirmed that the preferred tire I was in search of was indeed out-of-stock and concurred that the special dealer pricing would expire before the tires could be made available.

But it gets better.

The Michelin Man created a file for me, requesting that I install these same Michelin tires when they became available and that they would refund the difference between the current sales price and the price I would pay when the tires are installed. Now that’s customer service! It’s no wonder that Consumer Reports rates Michelin number one.

In last month’s entrepreneur article, I said that I had no definite answer as to what the economy would do in the future. A month later, I still can’t offer you an opinion. One thing is for certain, Michelin will survive and likely thrive in the future regardless of what the economy throws at them.

What does surprise me, however, is the number of companies that continue to exhibit low levels of customer excellence despite the examples of successful companies such as Michelin. With the difference between good and poor customer service, no more than a commitment on the part of management, why would any company elect to provide poor service levels in today’s economic environment, or at any other time for that matter?


Regardless of which direction the economy takes, companies with a dismal customer service will ultimately fail over time. A softening economy will only expedite their demise. And with so many companies choosing mediocrity, doesn’t it make good sense to thoroughly review your company’s customer service levels to ensure that you’re tops in your industry?

A high level of customer service in your small company will not only assure your survival, it can help to catapult you to the number one position among your competitors. Select the road less traveled and become a Michelin Man.

I became inspired to write about this subject while visiting the coffee shop I frequent across the street from the radio station where I work. There’s a gentleman behind the counter named Michael. Every morning he greets each customer with a fresh smile and an attitude that is so positive, it’s contagious. I keep thinking he is going to stand up on a chair, hands on hips, and shout out to the customers, “Hey everyone, yeah, I work in a coffee shop and you know what, I’m gonna be the BEST barista this side of the Mississippi, darn it!” It’s not just that Michael tells me I look nice or that he even has the amazing ability to recognize what fragrance I’m wearing. It’s that he takes pride in what he does… and to be honest, he makes me smile every time I see him.

Growing up, work ethic was drilled into my head by my parents and my older brothers. If you want to make more money, work more hours. If you are taking someone’s money, give them an honest day’s work, eat what you kill and so on. I am inspired every day by some of the people I work with, as well as many of the business owners I deal with on a daily basis who obviously grew up with the same principles. So why is it in this economy, with the unemployment rate where it is, getting increasingly harder to find people with this belief system, people who take pride in what they do?

I hear the same story from small business owners all the time. They have taken on more themselves because they just don’t want to deal with the hassle, the liability and the risk of hiring employees who steal, cause them to lose business or simply take a position only to quit and attempt to collect unemployment. Employers have been burned too many times, and subsequently have downsized, which ultimately has an effect on our unemployment rate and our economy.

The cost-cutting actions many employers have made to deal with the economic crisis have left businesses with fractured teams and more disengaged employees. Studies show that employee engagement levels have dropped significantly since 2008. According to Gallup, more than two-thirds of American workers are “not engaged” or “disengaged” in their workplaces in response to the volatile economic and workplace changes over the past several years.

Dianne Durkin, president of Loyalty Factor LLC, which consults with businesses on change management, employee loyalty and customer loyalty programs, said “People are disillusioned with the economy and the fact that many of them are having to do more work with fewer people, thanks to layoffs. You would think employees would be more engaged because of the economy, but I don’t think anybody is.”

So, the question I have is how do we get employees to care as much as we do? Max De Pree, former CEO and chairman of Herman Miller, used to say his job was similar to that of a 3rd grade teacher: just keep saying the vision and values over and over again. “At my company we have 300 employees spread across offices all over the world, and I send them all a voicemail each morning with a message from me about why our work is important and a reminder about one of our values. I call myself our company’s chief spiritual officer.”

Perhaps it’s time for me to purchase a high definition web cam and send inspiring video messages out to my employees every morning. Wouldn’t that be annoying, especially to my business partner… my husband. But in reality, if you own a business or manage people, it does make you stop and think what you can be doing to engage your team and improve employee morale. So for now I’m going to enjoy my coffee made by my favorite barista and try to be a better manager, coach, co-worker, salesperson and friend to those around me. As for any of that bitterness I’m holding on to about others and their bad work ethics, I think I’ll swallow it… and down it goes, warm, thin, bitter and good.

Sure to thrill and for a good cause

Ghosts, ghouls and goblins – get your groove on and get ready to rock the river on board the Tennessee Riverboat for the hottest Halloween bash in Knoxville, Thriller on the River, on Friday, October 28th from 9 pm 12 midnight. Tickets are only $20 in advance with a portion of the proceeds going to Kidz Team and benefitting East Tennessee families of children with cancer. Cruise the Tennessee River with Knoxville’s locally owned radio station, 106.1 The River. Your admission ticket includes your boarding pass, food, prizes, DJ music, dancing, costume contest and a few surprises. For tickets, call (865) 525-7827 or visit www.river106.com.

Interview with Bryan Butler, founder of Kidz Team

Cindi Alpert: What is the concept and vision of Kidz Team?

Bryan Butler: Kidz Team helps the families of newly diagnosed cancer patients at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. As soon as a child is diagnosed with cancer, we deliver one of our “emergency kits” to the family. In many cases the families have come to ETCH from several miles away and are unaware that they will be staying at the hospital for many days and even weeks. The kits contain several different personal hygiene items along with gift cards to surrounding restaurants. We even give them a gas card.

Cindi: You and your wife, Donna, are very passionate about Kidz Team. Tell us how Kidz Team came to be and why it is such an important cause to you and your family.

Bryan: In 2002, our son was diagnosed with Leukemia and we experienced first-hand what it was like to be thrust into that situation. While we were in the hospital, we witnessed how all the other families were in the same predicament. No family is prepared for that initial diagnosis stage in the cancer battle, so we decided that one day we would start helping families of Kidz with cancer. After our little boy passed away in 2006, we started Kidz Team in his honor and we have been helping families ever since.

Cindi: Halloween is also a very significant time of the year for your family. What are some of the other events you are involved in during this time of the year?

Bryan: Our son was born on Oct 30th, so Halloween has always been a special time of the year for us. We do the majority of our fundraising events in the fall. We also do something very special to us at Kidz Team. Around Halloween every year we go up to the Oncology Clinic at ETCH and have a pizza and ice cream party with all of the Kidz and their families. We also do arts and crafts with the patients and their siblings. All of the doctors and nurses get involved. It is a very special and fun time for everyone involved.

Cindi: Aside from attending Thriller on the River, what are some of the ways people can contribute to Kidz Team?

Bryan: People can always go to our website at www.KidzTeam.org. There are multiple ways to donate, either directly or buying some of our products from our website. You can also visit Workout Anytime on Kingston Pike or Newk’s Deli in Turkey Creek. Those two businesses are donation collection facilities for Kidz Team and they also help us sell our products at their businesses.

For more information, please contact Kidz Team at 865.368.0899 or email bbutler@KidzTeam.org.

Thriller on the River Halloween Costume Bash on board the Tennessee Riverboat 
Friday, October 28 from 9 pm to 12 am 
Tickets are $20 in advance with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Kidz Team
Includes boarding pass, food, DJ music, door prizes and more
Call 865.525.7827

By Tom Irmen

When I was a youth, “double-dip” referred to an ice cream cone with two scoops of ice cream. Today, “double-dip” has an altogether different meaning.


With the unexpected slowing of our short-term economic recovery, increasingly economists and media pundits are warning us of an impending second recession, a so-called “double-dip.” By definition, a “double-dip” recession is characterized when gross domestic product (GDP) slides back to negative territory after a quarter or two of positive growth. A recession, followed by a short-lived recovery, followed by another recession.

I prefer the ice cream analogy.

So, do I think we’ll experience a “double-dip” recession? I don’t have a clue. In fact, I doubt if the pros do either.

Do I think we can talk ourselves into a recession? With today’s 24/7 news stream, we are inundated with negative economic reports, which impact our emotions, which can drive our decision making.

In looking back just two or three years ago, many of us, barraged with negative economic news, modified our business behavior as a normal defensive measure. Then the bottom fell out of the economy. In just a few months’ time, many commercial and retail banks, investment banks, insurance companies and auto makers were at the verge of failure.


I don’t know if we caused the recession, expedited it, or caused it to deepen. I do know that with only two or three years separating our actions then with whatever new actions we might be inclined to make today, we should have learned some valuable lessons.


Like many of you, there are some decisions I would likely repeat and others I regret, that I hope I will not repeat. But more importantly are the decisions of our competitors. Perhaps now is a good time to take an inventory of those decisions, good and bad, made by the competition that provided them with a marketplace advantage or disadvantage. By eliminating our previously poor decisions and by refining our future choices based on the past responses by our competitors to the last recession, we just might be in a position to gain a significant marketplace advantage over those who may be inclined to repeat their past mistakes.

You can’t control future economic conditions, but you can control how you respond to them. Panic and you will lose. Why not enjoy a “double-dip,” ice cream that is, and let’s prepare to prosper during this period of economic uncertainty that will likely be with us for years to come.

By Cindi Alpert

When I got my first radio gig right out of college, my boss used to say that “anyone just entering the work force needs to be beaten with a stick first.” I never quite saw the humor in that statement as a recent graduate of The Ohio State University at the ripe old age of 23. Now, as a business owner with 17 years of experience under my belt in the broadcasting industry, I find myself chuckling at the thought.

Clearly times have changed from when we carried the cell phone “brick” around and actually had to have face-to-face contact with clients on a daily basis, but I have to pause and ask myself, what in the world has happened to communication? A prime example is when I actually had an employee ask for a pay increase via text. Of course that made me LMAO uncontrollably. I suppose he didn’t realize that it is much easier to text back something like SNCD (sorry no can do) than to actually look in his eyes, across the desk, and have to tell him that we are just not in a position to increase his pay at this time, but perhaps there is something else we can do to help him and his family through this tough economic time.

The point I’m trying to make is that texting is taking over communication. It’s even less personal than email or any of the social media outlets. American teens are texting up a storm, and many are more likely to text than talk, according to a survey from the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project. But as this generation moves into the workplace, will the use of technology cause their social skills, and therefore their job contributions, to suffer?

If I were to come up with a cell phone app, it would be called “The Bumper.” It would be kind of like the sensor on an automobile that beeps when you are about to back into an object, only your cell phone would beep when you are walking and about to bump into something or someone. It’s a great idea and somebody has probably already thought of it. Just look at any school yard. It’s a sea of kids with their faces buried into their touch screens. No one is paying attention to where they are walking and their entire universe exists on a 2×3 inch screen.

Don’t get me wrong… I love my cell phone. Angry Birds is a blast! I have an iTunes playlist for just about every mood or experience possible and I am well versed in all the language shortcuts. I can’t imagine life without the technology I’ve been used to having at my disposal. In fact, just the other day I caught myself texting my daughter from across the house that dinner is on the table. I suppose if I were to climb the stairs and actually walk across the house to her room and tell her, I could probably have that second helping of mashed potatoes.

Yes, technology has its benefits. However, it still does not take the place of face-to-face communication and good old-fashioned phone etiquette. As I have said many times before, it’s a whole lot easier to say no via text than it is to your face. So if you really want something, look him/her in the eye and just ask. If that person proceeds to LOL in your face, at least you gave it the old college try. If you don’t ask, you don’t get, and no one is going to beat you with a stick for trying.