Rothacker Reviews

M & M Sharpening - Tampa & Wesley Chapel

We were at Wiregrass Mall this past Saturday. Rosemary was shopping and I was people watching and vendor observing. Wiregrass had their Fresh Market event going on. 

I walked up to M & M Sharpening's booth. Or rather I was attracted like a rat to cheese. I've owned knives since I was a pre-teen. I think I'm on my fourth or fifth sharpening stone and I flat out suck at putting a decent blade on a knife. I asked proprietor Mark Bertsche how long it would take to sharpen my pocket knife. He did it and would not accept payment. He said, "tell your friends about us." He didn't know about Rothacker Reviews and I didn't tell him. Btw, my knife's blade was gorgeous when Mark finished with it.

I asked Mark how he got into the business. He retired as a software engineer and needed something to occupy his time. He attends local Tampa craft shows in the winter time and heads up north in the summers. Mark will not be back in Tampa until the Fall. Ric, a protege, who is also an ex-software guy, was sharpening knives in the booth on Saturday. He is providing area sharpening services at this time. I'll give you the 411 on Ric once I use his services, but I was watching him work on one knife and it looked pretty sweet. Drop me an e-mail if you'd like to get in touch with Ric in the meantime. 

Both Mark and Ric sharpen much more than knives. Check out M & M's site for more info. I love the fact of doing business with people who love what they do. Check them out!

New Tampa: Swiss Spirit Massage

You live in New Tampa and need a massage. Do you get one to relax? Or do you get a massage for the therapeutic value? Until first going to Swiss Spirit Massage a few years ago, I didn't even know there was a difference. I'd been trying out the various New Tampa massage establishments but couldn't seem to find the right one. Ten minutes into my first massage at Swiss Spirit and that changed. I experienced something that day that I continue to experience every time I go there and, after years of message therapy, had never experienced before. Still however, it's not the main reason that I go to Swiss Spirit once per week.

Bonnie Whitaker is one of the Swiss Spirit massage therapists who I see. Although Bonnie has had her therapist's license since the late 1990's, owned her own business, is most talented and knowledgeable, I think one of her main assets is due to her previous work history - she's no longer there. Bonnie finally found an outlet to truly channel a deep desire to help and make a difference in people's lives. 

Bonnie possesses a very, very rare talent when it comes to message therapists. She orchestrates a combination of physical strength, compassion and softness of spirit into a symphony of pure ecstasy. Bonnie's specialty is deep tissue massage along with therapeutic, neuromuscular, myofacial release and traditional Thai massage.

Marlen Caduff is the owner of Swiss Spirit Massage. Marlen is a registered nurse with four-year college degrees in both nursing and massage therapy. That experience that keeps me coming back to Swiss Spirit every week?  Well, actually, it's an integral piece of the culture that Marlen has built over the years. I call it a learning environment. To learn one must be exposed to knowledge, information and wisdom. That is exactly what Bonnie and the others do each week. Whether it is anatomical, physiological, holistic, nutrition-wise or basic overall health, the knowledge is there to be had. I suppose if you wanted to lie there in silence and listen to relaxing music you could. I'm way too curious for that. And the fact I'm educated in a subtle, clear and succinct manner, I simply can't resist. I've dealt with therapists at other establishments who have a pretty good handle on anatomy. But never a place like Swiss Spirit where an overall holistic knowledge is so pervasive.  

What could be even better than the opportunity to be educated and massaged each week? This borders on downright magic and it's difficult to explain. A deeper grasp and understanding develops after multiple visits. Bonnie and the other therapists learn your body and its needs and adjust treatment as they go. It's positively uncanny. I have fibromyalgia and am in tremendous pain 24-7. Bonnie has the ability to sense and exert the exact amount of pressure that I can handle and the treatment my body requires. 

I continue to visit Swiss Spirit once per week for the therapy my body needs and the knowledge my mind craves. Call and ask for Bonnie today! 813-325-1296

Come to Expect

So I'm waiting in line at Wal-Mart the other day.

Actually, it was nine o'clock in the morning and there was just one lady in front of me in the pharmacy line. We stood there for seven or eight minutes before I spotted a person working behind the counter. But she was about sixty feet away on the other side of the department and I'm not sure she saw us standing there. Another ten minutes went by and the pharmacist called out, "she'll be right with you."

I said to the lady in front of me (in a friendly tone), "it's Wal-Mart, what do you expect?"

She shook her head and then it dawned on me, she expected some other type of service than what we were getting.

Prior to losing my job, I bought my medications at Publix. Co-pay allowed me the luxury of friendly, competent service. One of their pharmacy assistants even called me by name.

Without insurance, we had no choice but to start using Wal-Mart's pharmacy. That was two years ago. Since then, I've had six or seven problems/hassles, with getting my prescriptions filled. That doesn't include standing in line or unfriendly service.

I'm not mad however. This is Wal-Mart. This is what I expect out of Wal-Mart. There are reasons other than Wal-Mart's strangle-their-vendors-until-they-bleed-buy low tactics and superior logistics's systems that they are so low priced.

I really didn't mean for this to turn into a rant on Wally-Mart, but my fingers simply wouldn't let me tell you what I really wanted to say until we got that out.

You, me, the guy selling hot dogs down on the corner, the 7-11 girl, Publix and Wal-Mart all condition people on how they want to be treated. People are going to come to expect something out of you, good or bad. Make it good, you have that power.

So, after picking up a few other items at Wal-Mart that day, I wheel the cart up to the store greeter and take my bags. He looks up at me, smiles and says, "thanks for making my job so easy!"

"No problem brother, no problem."

Retail Business: We are really busy!

As a retailer, did you ever think about the message that you send to your customer when you tell them how busy you are? We've had two businesses in the last three days tell us how busy they were. One in person and the other over the phone.

Business in person - Best Buy, Wesley Chapel, Florida. Rosemary and I took our vehicle in to have a stereo installed. There was one person working in the mobile installation department. This fellow had to answer phones, wait on customers and in between he was installing audio gear in a car. He acknowledged our presence and got to us as soon as he could. While we were filling out a form he dashed back to the car for a couple minutes of work.

I don't recall this gentleman's exact words, but he said they were busy. Stevie Wonder could see this guy was busier than a one arm paper hanger, but he maintained a pleasant tone with us. When I asked if he could get to the car before closing, he said he'd be finished with it even if it meant staying.

So, what do you suppose Rosemary and I, two people with a combined fifty plus years in management think of this situation? From where we stood this dude is an outstanding employee. Secondly, we question management. To have one person answering phones, waiting on customers and installing gear, is bad business. Of course we were exposed to a ten minute window in this operation. Perhaps they normally have two people working in this department. A pleasant employee who acted as if he wanted to be there and acted as if he wanted us to be there, overcame this slip in operations. And speaking of operations, the smart and clean way the installation shop was kept speaks volumes for this business.

Business over the phone - I am going to be a little critical here. Basically this person was pleasant and maybe what she said would not effect most people. We called to have service performed at our house. She said, "I guess everyone waited till the holidays to call. We are very busy."

To Dave-the-former-manager, this comment neon signs these sentiments: 

• We are a poorly run company
• We are short of help
• We can't keep competent help
• Dispatcher: I'm stressed
• Dispatcher: I don't like my job

Unless you are able to overcome your we are so busy comment like the Best Buy guy did, it's better if you do not mention how busy you are to your customer.

New Tampa: Grabbing Some Coffee

The following are locations in New Tampa where you might consider stopping in for a cup of coffee. Taco Bell and Wendy's might sell coffee, but would you really stop in either location to grab some?

My tastebuds are fairly flexible when it comes to the flavor of coffee. They are not flexible when it comes to burnt coffee or coffee that has been left on the warmer too long. If any of these locations have served burnt coffee to you, please let us know.

19090 Bruce B. Downs Blvd

19080 Bruce B. Downs Blvd 

Tampa Plumbers: Chuck's Plumbing

I had been out running some errands when I returned home and was immediately overwhelmed by three forces of nature: My daughter, my wife and raw sewage. Two were in a panic and the other was advancing on all fronts.

We needed a plumber - like yesterday. It was 4:30 p.m. and we had to be somewhere by 7:00 p.m. We didn't have time to phone friends for referrals. Rosemary got on the computer and came up with three choices. She explained our predicament to the first contractor that she called. She ended up speaking to the owner, who when hearing our story, said he would come out himself.

Flashback to earlier in the day. Rosemary and I met Donna Cutting for coffee to talk about her book The Celebrity Experience. Ironically, Donna spoke about the superb customer service exploits of a Boston plumber who she profiled in the book. She said this guy's technicians wore shoe covers and laid out a red carpet at the customer's front door...

At 5:15 p.m. that day I answer our front door. There stands Chuck, owner of Chuck's Plumbing. Chuck introduced himself, handed me his business card and laid down a red carpet. Chuck was wearing shoe covers.

Chuck repaired the problem and cleaned up in time for us to make our 7:00 p.m. engagement.

Discovering Chuck was like finding a needle in a hay stack. Getting him to our house within an hour was no less spectacular. That he was clean, courteous and knowledgeable was almost too much to believe.

Hopefully this message will spare you from the anxiety that grips one around the neck and chokes one's airways when trying to find a competent plumber in Tampa. Hopefully our good fortune will be yours too.

Chuck's Plumbing in Tampa Bay

Why Listen to dave?

About dave:  From the tag line underneath my site's name you can see I write reviews on books, businesses and folks.  You can also see that I am neither a celebrity, leader or expert.  Why then should you read my stuff and take action on my recommendations?

I like to think that I have an eye and ear for people who are sincere, authentic and want to succeed. I am attracted to people or things who travel in the opposite direction of status-quo.  In a world of change, status-quo was yesterday.  And in a world of change, status-quo is a greased rope that survivors do not trust.  The opposite?  Those are people who are constantly learning and evolving.  They walk about in the world eyes wide open.  They observe, they listen, they synthesize and then they produce (or try to with all of their might), stuff that makes the world a better place.

As a dad, husband and Baby Boomer, I care very deeply about this:  I passionately want the younger generations to succeed and the older generation to be valued!  To know and understand me then, is to know the lens in which I view the world. 

Tampa Romance Authors / Writing

Do you have a soft and warm spot in your heart for Romance?  Can you, dear Tampa Bay neighbor, envision cuddling up with a good Romance novel in front of the fireplace...even though you only get to actually use that fireplace once a year?  Sure you can!  Can you envision yourself as the leading female character in that book?  You can do that too!  And why not?  Fantasy is therapy for the challenges we face in everyday life.

Girl yearns for guy.  But girl plays hard to get.  Guy starts suddenly slipping away.  Girl concocts mad scheme to win guy.  Girl gets taste of guy.  Sex involved.  Exquisite amenities cloak every scene. Guy begins to really dig girl.  More sex.  Guy suddenly kidnapped by bad guys.  Conflict sets in.  Girl saves Guy.  Mad, passionate sex involved.  Guy and Girl marry.  Happy ending. (my wife tells me in the real world of romance writing there is probably a little more sex involved :)

Did you ever wonder who writes these heart-throbbing, page-turning tales of love?  How would you like to meet Virginia, C.L., Elissa, Ann and LInnea?...a few accomplished and very successful authors.  You can.  And they'll even autograph one of their books for you!  Stop out Saturday, November 8th between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m., to the Barnes & Noble located in the Carrollwood neighborhood.

But that's not all!

If you buy a book at Barnes and Noble that day, you'll help the folks who help our sick children.  You'll be helping All Children's Hospital - Tampa Guild.  All that you have to do is mention this number to the cashier when you buy your books that day:  376236

Why not nurture that warm spot in your heart and help kids in need at the same time!!  See you there!

To the rest of my friends throughout the United States: Shop at ANY Barnes and Noble Nov.5 - Nov. 10 and a portion of your sale will be donated to All Children's Hospital Tampa Branch!  Just mention this number to the cashier that day:  376236 and you will be helping kids in need!

Tampa: Basketball Training

"Dad!  I kept my eyes on her feet just like Scott told me to do.  It worked, I stole the ball.  I couldn't believe it!"

"You know mom, I'm really starting to think about college!"

Scott Savor is responsible for initiating both of the above remarks.

Scott is a Human Performance Specialist, who works out of Sport's + Field's, Athletic Performance Center.  We are sending Carla to work with Scott to improve her basketball skills.  We think we're getting more.

Victoria, our older daughter started playing basketball in 1991.  Rosemary and I have been around girl's basketball coaches ever since, including the prestigious Trinity High School teams of the mid-nineties. With the exception of crossing paths with Pat Summitt, at Trinity while she was recruiting for the University of Tennessee, we have never met anyone who knows basketball like Scott Savor.

One of Scott's main performance enhancing philosophies is that over ninety percent of an athlete's potential for improvement can be found above the neck. If you are a parent, you don't even have to wonder how refreshing this point of view is, you instinctively feel it.

Although Scott trains professionals, he is still taking on high school and college athletes. If you or your sons/daughters are interested in one, free complimentary workout with Scott, please contact me by e-mail and I'll hook you up.  david(dot)rothacker(at)gmail(dot)com.  Please contact me if you'd like to help your student athlete improve more than their vertical jump, say like their desire to go to college!!

Scott's credentials.

Update 8/3/2009 - In a mind blowing twist of fate, Scott left Tampa, Florida, last week to work with Pat Summitt and other coaches in a strength and conditioning role at UT.  I am sure that UT put in careful diligence in selecting Scott.  They are well aware of the wisdom that he brings above and beyond the science required of his position.  They are well aware of his coaching philosophies and his passion to help develop young people's minds.  I know they know, but they don't quite know how much they really are getting with Scott.  Please allow me to paint a more clear picture:

New York Met's Scout in 1965: That Nolan Ryan is a talented young man with a blazing fast ball.  Let's draft him.

WingHouse Tampa: Imagine

Imagine owning a restaurant.  Imagine for one day, the cash registers scream out in mercy, "boss I'm overworked. I can't take in anymore money."  Imagine for this to happen all you have to say to your employees is, "folks, we're going to honor our public and civil defenders.  Lets have some fun, and oh yeah, wear a costume."

A few of us from work eat lunch a couple times a month at the WingHouse on Route 301 in Tampa.  We always try to get there before noon to beat the lunch rush.  We pulled into the parking lot the other day at a quarter to twelve.  There were no parking spaces.  Burly pick up trucks had even invented a few of their own parking spaces - off pavement.   We quickly tried to figure out what was up.  Was Hillary Clinton in town?  Was Britney Spears in town?   Paris Hilton?

We were mystified, until the young lady opened the front door for us.  Costume day at the WingHouse.  You'll have to use your imagination, but I can start you off with young, fit women wearing slightly less than full uniforms.

The atmosphere inside was festive and cool.  Ownership was running a contest for the most favorite costumed girl.  Sitting there with my colleagues, my mind began to drift (I know, I am a little sick).  I thought of this one simple and brilliant decision that the owners made...to quadruple their business.  And aside from promoting the event, it didn't cost them a dime.  How could this work in my business?

WingHouse takes their product (wings are their other products), and basically, puts it on steroids.  This takes thought and imagination but think of what kind of move you could make with your own business, using this mindset.

Speaking of thought and imagination and increasing your revenues...   While dining that day, an announcement came over the loudspeaker asking people who had parked in the Red Roof Inn parking lot to move their cars or they would be towed.  Now we are talking the middle of the day at a hotel.  Were the cars disturbing the cleaning folks?  It seems to me that for folks smart enough to whip up an event that hardly costs them a dollar and makes them thousands more, they might be able to work out an arrangement with hotel.  It is also entirely possible that they have and Red Roof Inn is stonewalling.  No matter which company is doing what, the Red Roof Inn came away with egg on its face and the WingHouse was short on parking spaces.

I like this WingHouse.  No matter when we've been there, the staff has been friendly (in spite of the pressure to git ya out), they always demonstrate a sense of urgency - like they actually want you to be there, and the food is good.  And in an attempt to demonstrate that I am not sick, the girls are pretty.