Lester Ryan Clark

Yes, exactly. I was using my electric phone. I would crank it up. And every 12 seconds, a voice would come on the line telling me that I was on hold. Got it. I'm there. Have you ever had... There's a rash of facilities out here in Los Angeles that they don't say, we'll be right with you. They say, you are currently on hold. But they don't tell you like what place you are in.

Yes, exactly. I was using my electric phone. I would crank it up. And every 12 seconds, a voice would come on the line telling me that I was on hold. Got it. I'm there. Have you ever had... There's a rash of facilities out here in Los Angeles that they don't say, we'll be right with you. They say, you are currently on hold. But they don't tell you like what place you are in.

They're just reminding you exactly the purgatory you're in. It's like when I go to an AMC movie theater and there's an ad for, hey, do you want to try AMC? I'm here. I am doing it. So 48 minutes. And I was getting really frustrated. It was, I mean, it turned off my air conditioning because I was afraid that I was going to lose my apartment.

They're just reminding you exactly the purgatory you're in. It's like when I go to an AMC movie theater and there's an ad for, hey, do you want to try AMC? I'm here. I am doing it. So 48 minutes. And I was getting really frustrated. It was, I mean, it turned off my air conditioning because I was afraid that I was going to lose my apartment.

And then I tried to change my way of thinking, and guess what it was, Pete? It was Vipassana.

And then I tried to change my way of thinking, and guess what it was, Pete? It was Vipassana.

It was Vipassana. Because even though I was in the right and was suffering for reasons I didn't deserve, was it really that big of a deal? I was able to just sort of sit back and be like, I didn't have to cancel a meeting to be on hold right now. I'm sitting in my incredibly expensive, now I know, apartment, just draining electricity into the ground. And...

It was Vipassana. Because even though I was in the right and was suffering for reasons I didn't deserve, was it really that big of a deal? I was able to just sort of sit back and be like, I didn't have to cancel a meeting to be on hold right now. I'm sitting in my incredibly expensive, now I know, apartment, just draining electricity into the ground. And...

Why not just see it for the ridiculousness that it was? So I took a deep breath and just decided to go through it with as much kindness and patience as possible. And this is going to have a reason that this exists. Well, the next step is I met Janelle. Janelle finally came on the line. And in a bit of a monotone, she introduced herself and asked how she can help.

Why not just see it for the ridiculousness that it was? So I took a deep breath and just decided to go through it with as much kindness and patience as possible. And this is going to have a reason that this exists. Well, the next step is I met Janelle. Janelle finally came on the line. And in a bit of a monotone, she introduced herself and asked how she can help.

And as cheerfully as I can, I explained that I believe there's a problem with my bill and I'd like to see what the options are to help with it. And with all due respect, Pete, Janelle is ready for me. And I don't mean ready to help me with open arms. I mean, she is ready to explain exactly that the only problem is me and there's nothing to be do about it. And.

And as cheerfully as I can, I explained that I believe there's a problem with my bill and I'd like to see what the options are to help with it. And with all due respect, Pete, Janelle is ready for me. And I don't mean ready to help me with open arms. I mean, she is ready to explain exactly that the only problem is me and there's nothing to be do about it. And.

instead of becoming defensive or cutting her off or coming back at her because I was in this Vipassana type of mood, I was like, she just must be yelled at all the time.

instead of becoming defensive or cutting her off or coming back at her because I was in this Vipassana type of mood, I was like, she just must be yelled at all the time.

Every day. No one says, thanks for the water. Click. Why would you do that? That's what a crazy person would do. No, she just deals with people. She is like the LADWP customer service must be like every airport person that like sits at the different gates. Like all you're doing is Hurting cattle. Taking problems. Taking problems that you did not cause and you are not in charge of.

Every day. No one says, thanks for the water. Click. Why would you do that? That's what a crazy person would do. No, she just deals with people. She is like the LADWP customer service must be like every airport person that like sits at the different gates. Like all you're doing is Hurting cattle. Taking problems. Taking problems that you did not cause and you are not in charge of.

And so, and yeah, so obviously her defenses were up very high. So again, patience, kindness for Basana. I didn't talk over her, shut her down. I let her say her whole piece. And then I very calmly and very cheerfully asked, do you mind, could you just pull up my bill so we can look at it together? Yeah. And she starts typing away. I can hear her typing.

And so, and yeah, so obviously her defenses were up very high. So again, patience, kindness for Basana. I didn't talk over her, shut her down. I let her say her whole piece. And then I very calmly and very cheerfully asked, do you mind, could you just pull up my bill so we can look at it together? Yeah. And she starts typing away. I can hear her typing.

And she starts a new speech about how bill fluctuations happen. And they're almost always accurate representations of usage. And other than payment plans, there isn't a lot they can do. And whoa, that's what she says. She stops at mid-sentence and goes, whoa. And she says, yeah, that is certainly a jump, huh? And I laugh and I say, that's why I was calling. And that's when everything turns.

And she starts a new speech about how bill fluctuations happen. And they're almost always accurate representations of usage. And other than payment plans, there isn't a lot they can do. And whoa, that's what she says. She stops at mid-sentence and goes, whoa. And she says, yeah, that is certainly a jump, huh? And I laugh and I say, that's why I was calling. And that's when everything turns.