Category: Call That Girl’s Tech Blogs
Call That Girl is the SCORE success story of the month
Since 2007, I have worked with 2 counselors at SCORE to help with my business coaching needs. As I had never started a business before, I really had no clue how to do a few things and needed mentoring. I set up an appointment to meet with Virgil at the St. Louis Park office and it’s been smooth sailing ever since.
SCORE has posted a blog about my successes with them at their Minnesota Blog, feel free to read more here
http://www.scoreminnesota.org/2010/05/04/call-that-girl-another-score-success/
If you have a few questions about your business and need assistance, I highly recommend using SCORE. They are all retired business professionals who want to help you, for no charge.
Star Tribune and Sports Illustrated hit by viruses!
Not a shock to Call That Girl, well known websites have been hit lately by viruses, and there is not much “the average user” can do about that….unless you know how to avoid getting them!
If you watched the segment tonight on WCCO’s “Good Question” with Jason DeRusha, then you will have seen our interview about Malware and viruses! It goes to show that everyone/everywhere now can be hit by these sneaky intruders.
The interview was pretty cool, I have to give props to Jason…He has heard of Call That Girl and forgot our name, Tweeted it and got responses…called me immediately and had an interview done within with the hour! Talk about a HOT on the TROT journalist!
I was very impressed with his interview style, he knew the topic and it was like having a conversation with a client, even the cameraman was interested in what I had to say.
What did I have to say? The Star Tribune was attacked over the weekend (Jimmy’s List Tony Lopez was the first to call in did the recommendation today!)….Jason figured this was a GOOD QUESTION…what is malware and how can you all help yourself from being attacked! The Star Tribune didn’t even know about this…until it was too late.
Call That Girl to the rescue! We are here to help!
My first job as a 411 operator
Below is a picture of me sitting in front of a USWest/Qwest terminal. I was a 411 operator from 1988-1995. I look back at this picture and just laugh. The reason why I am holding up a little notepad with the word “jerk” on it was because one of my co-workers just bought a new camera and was taking pictures of everything. So I wrote that up and when he said he was taking my pic, I flashed the “jerk” sign. What is really more hilarious is the big ol green screen monitor working off a terminal system. Little did I know back then I would own a computer repair company 20 years later (eeks! 20 years flies by!)
The Qwest job by far was never one of my favorites, but I was making great money for a kid that age. I drove a sports car and took trips often. Ah, the good old days of having freedom and not caring about anything but where I was going out that night. I had to work many split shifts and weekends, but that was the life of a 411 operator. Times have changed now, we get the computerized 411 lady now–which I hate. As I build my business I have learned a few things…I will do the exact opposite of everyone else and NEVER ever, no matter how big my business gets, ever have a phone queue, “press 1 for this, press 2 for that”.
Call That Girl will always always always have a live person answering phones…unless of course, I’m out of the office or busy with a client, but we are changing that too now….changes coming folks!
Fun blog today about people and their computers
Nothing too special today folks, just some “fun” comments I have.
One thing that kinda gives me the “weirds” is when someone comes over and says, “Can I use your computer”. I don’t care, but I always feel weird about it. Computers are VERY personal these days. They are YOUR life! Most adults have their own and some with children have to share. (but many now are getting their own). And doesn’t it seem when someone borrows your computer, something is wrong with it afterwards?
Time after time I hear stories like these, “my brother was over for the weekend and now I have viruses all over and my internet isn’t working” “My mom came over and now I have a coupon page that pops up” or my favorite!!! “My ex-boyfriend came over and said he wanted to do something on my computer, popped in a flash drive and saw a window moving for 20 minutes” (WOW, he was TAKING HER STUFF!!!).
Eeks! We all need to be somewhat careful when we borrow our computers. Not everyone is as savvy as you are right? 🙂
Back to the creepy feelings…computers are now an extension of “us”, it’s how we work, play, eat, sleep and breathe. Ok a bit extreme, but for the most part it’s true. I had a computer stolen from me once and I didn’t care about the data (as it was backed up) but I felt more violated and “who is using it now!!!” I missed it actually.
To close for today, Happy Hump Day!
My favorite prank phone calls. I’m not a call girl!
I get prank phone calls on occasion, lately I’m getting more of them. I know, I know! It’s the name of my business..but I’m not changing it for a few randoms that are searching for call girls in Eden Prairie on Google at 12:30 at night. (yep, that’s what my stats says).
Yesterday while driving home from work, I was on Penn Ave getting on to 394 eastbound and I got a call…here are the details.
Me: “Call That Girl this is Lisa”
Dude: “Do you really send hot girls out to fix computers”
Me: Silent
Me: decides to look at my rearview window to see who is behind me, more often than not..I get calls from people behind me while I’m driving (many become clients!). I see a young kid smiling and on his cell phone.
Me: “Are you behind me right now?”
Kid in SUV: “Yes”
Me: “Do I look hot to you?”
Kid in SUV: “I can’t see you”
Me: “I get calls like this from folks driving behind me all the time, I do computer repair”
Kid in SUV: “oh ok”
Click.
Me: Laughing at the kid.
Last night at 12:30 am, I get a missed call. I know it’s a call girl type call, so I leave it. Then they called back, I didn’t get that one. They called back again and I picked up.
Me: “hello”
763-639-2641 “what other kinds of services do you have”
Me:”You know what, I fix computers and I really don’t appreciate you calling me at this hour, and I’m tracing this call!!”
click.
I’m posting his number for the world to see because if he has the audacity to call me at 12:30 at night 3x in a row, his phone number should be posted. Idiot.
More bloggin’…
Nice…I totally spaced off Monday and Tuesday. But that’s a good thing I guess, I’m busy and loving it! As of yesterday I had my week almost booked up. I have a wee bit of room for a couple of emergencies, but other than that…life is good at Call That Girl Land.
This week I trained the interns on how to run projects. They just finished up their first rounds of projects and moved them to the next level. Many of them are working on great proposals or marketing plans and project training was in order. Mostly because of the ways I run projects, I felt I had to teach them how I work so they have some foundation to work with. Then we had LinkedIn training, phase I. As I am a LinkedIn maniac, it only seems appropriate that they all learn LinkedIn from me and have great profiles and connections. Most of them are graduating in 2010 and I am excited to have them all for another year!
I’m meeting with Arend Geurink of InHouse Productions to start working on a viral video. I met him via LinkedIn at a happy hour and am thrilled to have him assist me and the interns on this project!
Other than that…busy with this and that! Client load this week was awesome and business is growing. A Girl can’t be happier.
Lisa
Happy Monday!
Hello everyone! I just got back from Waterloo, WI and don’t have any good tips or tricks today, but thought I would give a quick recap of my weekend and how refreshed I feel today!
I left on Friday afternoon, dropped off puppy with the folks down in Rochester and headed to Winona and took Hwy 61 through LaCrosse to I-90. What a beautiful drive, the day was so sunny, shiny and cool….great day to be on the road.
When I got to Waterloo, it was late and we rested with some refreshments out on the deck and then went to bed around 1:00am. I woke up at 10:30 am! I can’t believe I slept in so late, but apparently when you are on vacation…it’s ok!
On Saturday we laid by the pool all day, had more refreshments, got sunburned and then napped. Around 7:00 we went to a small town Lake Mills and hit a carnival, then went to Waterloo for some small town bar excitement. I was surprised to see you could still smoke in the bars there. It’s been years since I have been in a smokey bar…felt like I went back a few years.
Sunday we had coffee and I hit the road. Nope, not the most activity driven weekend, but it was so nice to just relax and I never popped open my laptop and only checked my blackberry on occasion.
That is the first vacation I have taken since last fall and boy did I need it…a growing girl needs her beauty rest:)
I hope you all had a great weekend!
Lisa
