another time

i just spent a half hour writing an entry about my strengths and weaknesses, then i answered the phone here at the office, and now i feel like shit.

Somehow i managed to offend a little old lady who wanted to donate money over the phone using her credit card. Okay, standard procedure... get out the form and go over it with her on the phone.

Now, i am a super polite phone talker... when i have my business voice on... which i did.

We went through the form - both of us cheerful (usually the little old ladies are great to chit chat with), and when we got to the reason for donation this is how it went down:

"And what was your reason for donating today?"

"what do you mean?"

"well, some people like to specify what their donation is going towards."

this is where started to go downhill...

"well, i'll tell you what. We have a list of charities that we donate to every year, and it's a new year! If you don't want my donation then i'll take my money elsewhere!"

Normally, i would say something like: "well that's just fine, we'll get by without you, you grumpy old bitch!!" but i can't say that! Not at the office, and especially when your office is a charity... so i took a breath, re-grouped and tried to smooth things out.

"Oh, no, i'm sorry. I meant that sometimes people donate in memory of someone who's passed away, or would like their money to go towards Asthma research, that kind of thing."

"I don't like the way you asked me that. That's a terrible way to go about it."

"I'm sorry, i am very new. I'm still learning."

"i don't appreciate the way you're talking to me. You can believe that if that's the way you're talking to people you won't be getting very many donations!"

"..i'm sorry. i didn't mean to offend you."

"so just take my money and let's let it be that!"

"okay, thank you for your support. Have a nice day."

"goodbye." CLICK.

anyway, my day is shot now. 35 minutes till home time...