5 tips for breaking bad cellphone habits

Sheryl Baumeister,
Human Resources

I recently read an article on entrepreneur.com called, "The 10 biggest productivity killers and how to overcome them," and it listed cellphone use as the number one productivity killer. Are you surprised? I'm not! Researchers have actually found that people get legitimately anxious if they are away from their phones for too long. It's no wonder that this one tops the list.

Since July is “National Cellphone Courtesy Month,” let’s see if we can become a little more respectful and aware of our surroundings when using our cellphones. Here are just a few tips to get started:

1. Be in the now. Anytime you are expected to participate or simply listen to someone, silence your phone. There’s no need to look at your phone every time someone sends you a text or comments on a Facebook post.
2. Keep confidential information private. Be aware of your surroundings. You never know who might overhear part, or all, of your conversation. If you need privacy, find an empty room or quiet corner to have your conversation.
3. Avoid “cell yell.” Always use your regular conversational voice when speaking on your cell phone. Be mindful of your volume in busy places where people tend to speak more loudly.
4. Be a responsible driver. Don’t answer your phone if you’re in heavy traffic or hazardous driving conditions. Wait until you come to a stop or arrive at your destination before taking the opportunity to return the call. Always use a hands-free device so you can focus on your driving. And, please remember to NEVER TEXT AND DRIVE.
5. Get unplugged occasionally. Leave your phone in another room and try not to check it more than two or three times a day. Give yourself a smartphone break once and awhile. You should be in control of your phone, not the other way around. 

This article originally appeared in Modern Memorialization, Trigard Memorials' weekly electronic newsletter featuring information for the funeral industry. Sign up for your free subscription at http://www.trigard.com/thursdays.

Capturing memories with "new technology"

Donna Darby-Walthall,
Chief Financial Officer

Do you remember when we loaded a roll of film into our cameras in order to take a picture? Then when the roll was finished, we took them in to be developed. We would then walk away with actual photographs in our hands, instead of on a screen. Today, that is seen as “old technology.”

You can call me old fashioned and make fun of me, because my daughters do all the time. But, I liked it when technology wasn’t such a big deal, because I have to admit, I am not technologically savvy. I liked loading film into my camera and having photographs in my hands. I don’t understand a lot of the devices and jargon being used today. What does storing on the cloud really mean? How do you use a selfie stick? And, boy is it a big deal to get pictures off of my camera now.

Where am I going with this you ask? No matter how you take pictures or get them developed, we need to be sure we are capturing our memories. Not only are they great to look at in the future, but pictures help tell the story of our lives. In the future when our loved ones are searching for pictures to create a permanent memorial, their options will be plentiful.

Personally, I am going to challenge myself to learn how to better use my digital camera and this “new to me” technology, because in the end it is a much better way to capture memories. I encourage you to talk to families about taking pictures and do it yourself as well. There is nothing better than finding an old photo to bring back a ton of memories.



This article originally appeared in Modern Memorialization, Trigard Memorials' weekly electronic newsletter featuring information for the funeral industry. Sign up for your free subscription at http://www.trigard.com/thursdays.

The power of positive thinking

Rich Darby,
Chief Operating Officer

How many of you truly practice thinking positively? When our television screens are full of negative political campaigns and businesses bashing other businesses, how can we stay positive?

Last year, I joked around with some of the staff that this year was going to be our year. I ended every conversation, whether it was a text, email or phone call with those very simple words - this is our year. Do you know what happened? It ended up being our best year ever. It got to the point where it wasn’t a joke; it was truly a daily declaration. It was going to be our year, and we had lots of reasons to believe it.

Soon after I started this little campaign, other staff members caught on. It kept us positive. Whenever we saw a drop in business, we weren’t worried because we were always saying it was going to be our year.

Positive thinking keeps you in the game and keeps you focused on the prize. Negativity breeds negativity. If you are always talking negatively, your life will be consumed by negativity. If you talk negatively against your competition, your business is going to suffer. I am sure you have heard the old saying, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Well it is true, no matter the situation.

I challenge each of you to pick someone in your life and either tell them in person, text them or email them every day for the rest of the year that “it’s going to be your year.” You will be amazed by the results.


This article originally appeared in Modern Memorialization, Trigard Memorials' weekly electronic newsletter featuring information for the funeral industry. Sign up for your free subscription at http://www.trigard.com/thursdays.

Do your customers know what you're thinking?

Linda Darby-Dowers,
Chief Executive Officer

Do you think your customers can tell when you're having a bad day? Is it obvious when you are excited? Do you think they can tell if you believe in what you're telling them? Trust me, they can.

Think about your last hospital visit, dental appointment or even oil change. Did the person taking care of you go out of their way to help you and make sure you received the best care possible? Or did they ignore you and act as if they could hardly wait for you to leave? I'll bet you could tell if they cared about their job or were having a bad day. I'll bet you could tell if they believed in what they do.

That's why it really matters if you truly believe in memorialization or not. If you feel like you don’t believe in the part we play in maintaining our history, please come to Trigard University, read articles in trade publications, attend webinars, talk to families who’ve been served well by someone in our profession. The future of the memorialization industry depends on it.

This article originally appeared in Modern Memorialization, Trigard Memorials' weekly electronic newsletter featuring information for the funeral industry. Sign up for your free subscription at http://www.trigard.com/thursdays.

Memorial Day 2015

Honoring the men and women that fought selflessly for our freedoms and paid the ultimate sacrifice is something that many of us in the funeral industry do not take lightly. We received many great photographs and stories of how you celebrate and honor the fallen during the Memorial Day holiday.

Calvary Catholic Cemetery & Mausoleum in Lincoln, Nebraska
At Calvary Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum, they held an outdoor mass followed with a meal of hot dogs, chips and cookies. They also held a ceremony dedicating and blessing the new stained glass in their mausoleum and an above ground mausoleum for miscarried babies.


The Funeral Source
For Memorial Day weekend this year, The Funeral Source attended four different wreath-laying ceremonies and four different parades around the Cincinnati Tri-State area. They also laid flags on a number of fallen veteran’s graves, including a gentleman who fought in Iwo Jima and Guada Canal. The Funeral Source is thankful for the sacrifices that our soldiers have made so that we may enjoy the freedom and democracy that the U.S. offers to its citizen.


This article originally appeared in Trigard Tuesdays, our weekly electronic newsletter featuring information for the funeral industry. Sign up for your free subscription at http://www.trigard.com/tuesdays.