Blog
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It’s been a busy few months – as with anything in life, I’ve been through some good things, some bad, but the net effect is that I haven’t been posting blog entries very much. I’m more active on Twitter and Facebook, so I’ll go ahead and link you to those. Come find me there, or send me a message through my Contact Me link at the top right of this website. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/supergeek Twitter – Main account @markjholmes http://www.twitter.com/markjholmes Twitter – SQL...
read moreGet out – Now, Not Later
People on the east coast, in the line of Irene, I have one thing to say: Get out – NOW. Don’t wait, don’t worry about a job schedule, just go. I survived Katrina. And Ivan, and Dennis, and other smaller hurricanes that make Katrina look like, well, Katrina. A storm doesn’t have to be Katrina to cause widespread damage. Katrina came straight in and devastated the coast in one area. Irene’s going to chew its way up the east coast for days. People who are downplaying this as “just a cat 3″ and...
read moreCustomer Service and Social Media
My wife and I recently had a day of lessons in customer service. Sunday, we wanted to celebrate reaching a major weight loss milestone (51.8 pounds each!), so we planned two movies with dinner between them. Little did we know, we’d see how a national company responds to bad feedback on a public social media forum. First, some background. About a month ago, my boss had invited the team (total four people) to lunch to celebrate reaching a major milestone – yes, there’s a pattern here. He suggested Zea Rotisserie, which...
read moreJoin My Team!
Beyond retailing product, I’m always looking to expand my USANA business team – that’s the nature of the business model. If you’ve heard the buzz and want to ask about it, contact me. I’ll work with anyone who’s open minded, highly motivated and a critical thinker. This business is not for everyone, but only you can be the judge. It helps to be a dreamer, especially with lofty goals. If you spend 12 hours a day trying to improve your current situation, or dreaming about getting out of a bad...
read moreUSANA Inventory
Since it’s a popular option, I’ve created this blog post to maintain an inventory for the smaller items that I can bring to local customers who want to save on shipping expenses. I’ll update this as soon as possible after selling out of an item, but check with me early – I typically only carry two or three of an item to keep them as fresh as possible. I currently have, as of 5/19/2011: Nutrimeal – Chocolate Pure Rest Usanimals children’s vitamins Probiotic Plus Rev3 Surge (These are the 10-calorie...
read moreThe TSA’s Arrogance
I’m going to try to keep this as non-political as possible, but I feel like something just has to be said. Last October, a new “enhanced pat-down” was put into place at airports nationwide, and it has been the subject of mixed discussion – anywhere from personal reports of trauma to “quit whining, we all have to go through it.” Before commenting, read through to the end. A few weeks ago, a bill was introduced in the Texas House of Representatives to ban actions by transportation security personnel that...
read moreNow Accepting Credit Cards!
Attention USANA customers: I can now take credit card payments in person or by phone using Square. Need a bottle of Pure Rest but don’t have cash? No problem. I can swipe your card with a reader attached to my phone, and the information is encrypted for authorization. Your card information is NOT stored on my phone, and the VISA, Mastercard, Amex, and Discover terms of use specify that you are protected from unauthorized purchases. Using Square is exactly the same as using a card reader at your local restaurant. ...
read moreHappy Mother’s Day 2011
My mom taught me to be compassionate, caring, inquisitive, and methodical. She taught me to completely avoid alcohol, cigarettes and drugs. I gave her Hell as a child. As a psychologist, I’m sure she knew I “wasn’t quite right”, but she never labelled me or treated me any differently – not as far as I could tell. Despite my challenges, she busted her tail to bring me cable TV, drive-in movies, and E.T. cake at Chuck-E-Cheese for my 9th birthday party. She never beat me, even when I ran away from day care,...
read moreThe United States of Autism
Just an hour ago, the movie trailer for The United States of Autism movie was posted to YouTube: http://bit.ly/hEooYb This looks like it’s going to be a great insight into the lives of families affected by autism. I remember watching the tweets and Facebook posts when they filmed it a year ago, anticipating the movie’s release. Several of my Twitter friends are in the movie, and while they’re not telling details, I think it’ll be quite informative. Recent statistics show that about one in 100 children recently born...
read moreStudy: Turmeric Extract Formula
(Source) http://blog.usana.com/2011/03/usana-scientists-publish-paper-in-journal-of-natural-products/ USANA’s scientists participated in a study on the absorption of turmeric extract (curcumin) , and found the formula used within Procosa II is 29 times better absorbed than the baseline – AND is converted to a more potent form within blood plasma. That’s basically the difference between aiming a pistol at a target 1,000 feet away and using a high powered scope: One is much more effective at getting the job done. ...
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