Being in the "sales" field I learned a long time ago, treat people as you would want to be treated.

I have had clients with credit that is less than stellar and worked with them as if they were clients with A+ credit.  Clients facing divorce, foreclosure, bankruptcy, getting married, buying for the first time, buying for the 5th time.  Refinancing to lower their interest rate, pay off debt, or obtain a home equity loan for emergency.  No matter what the situation they all have been treated and respected with the same fairness.  I don't think I am any better than the client with the low credit scores nor do I think I am any less than the couple with the stellar credit, or the clients driving a Ferrari or riding a bicycle. 

Over the labor day weekend, my husband and I found ourselves in a pickle!  We were pulled over on our way home from Wisconsin Dells on our motorcycles.  We were cruising along at 62 mph on a 65 mph highway.  Cars and trucks flying past us at 75 -80 mph.  In the middle of the 4 lane highway is a state trooper taking radar facing us as we cruise by.  Neither one of us think anything about it, were not speeding, we are in the "slow" lane and minding our own business.  About 5 miles later down the road, Mr. Friendly State trooper with an EGO two times bigger than himself, blares his siren behind us.  We pull over to the side of the road, cars and trucks still whizzing by.  Mr. State trooper manages to maneuver himself and his big badge out of the squad car. 

Long and short of it is we were not pulled over for speeding, as you would think, as he was taking radar.  We were pulled over because we have loud pipes on our motorcycles.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  Could you say that again Mr. State trooper, I can't hear you over the trucks that are flying by us as we stand on the side of a 65 mph road.  The entire time Mr. State trooper spoke to us in his condescending tone and managed to contain his smirk, he assured us he was not out to pick on Harley's.  He did however need to put a stop to the loud motorcycles due to the fact that he has had a blown ear drum, and the "little old ladies" on his block are constantly complaining about the loud motorcycles at the stop sign.  I'm sorry I must have missed the little old lady and the stop sign?!  After receiving our tickets, with a price tag large enough to buy a nice new TV, we spent the next 5 minutes or so trying to get back out into speeding traffic.  It's still unclear to me how my loud pipes were more dangerous than us pulling over on a 4 lane road with a speed limit of 65 mph and then trying to get back out into it?

For those of you that are going to say, well, they are illegal.  I agree, there are certain standards for the decibel level, and the tickets we received are probably not arguable because of this law.  In my opinion, those pipes have saved my life on more than one occasion.

My whole point here is, we felt inferior to Mr. State trooper with his obviously big badge.  He was arrogant, condescending, and down right rude.  I cant tell you the last time either of us had received a ticket.  But I can tell you than I may not be as frustrated with this situation had we been treated with respect. 

Regardless of what type of industry you work in always remember, treat people the way you would want to be treated.  Everyone is someone's mother, father, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, grandparent etc.  Would you want any of your family treated the way you may be treating someones else's loved one?

Kim Murphy| 1st Advantage Mortgage ~ Treating you with the respect you deserve!