Partner

 

Whether it is with Customs or with cooking, one always needs support. To think that someone can do it ALL on their own is unrealistic.

Let's look at a compliance department. Not a single individual will be available to respond to issues and emergencies 24/7/365. A team is built (whether it is a team of many or of two) to support each other. Vacations are taken. Family responsibilities need to be attended to. Personal health appointments are scheduled. All these "life issues" come up and require one to be away from their desk. Therefore, there is someone to back them up. Even if it is to defer and deflect until such time that the individual is back, there is usually someone to ensure that, at the very least, there is oversight of what is going on and what the best next steps should be.

We can also look at back-up from the perspective of tools. Data is backed-up to ensure that if the primary location cannot be accessed,

(see Blog post: https://customsandcooking.blogspot.com/2021/07/preserve-data.html ),

the data is still secure in a secondary location.

Another aspect of having a "go-to" person is the ability to bounce ideas and discuss strategic action plans and initiative. Two minds are usually better than one. I'll give you an example...

I was working on a project that had the potential to provide a sizeable Customs duty refund to a basket of clients. There were a variety of quality control steps that were initiated and my colleagues suggested another step be incorporated that I did not think of. That one extra step solidified the filing and ensured a seamless claim process with Customs.

When I began to cook, I had many questions about ingredients, portions, units of measure, etc. My "go to" was my amazing beautiful wife, Mindy. "What is Saffron?" I asked when the spice was listed as one of the ingredients. (See blog: https://customsandcooking.blogspot.com/2021/05/we-need-to-talk.html ), Mindy smiled and explained what the spice was and what it usually was used for. Key pieces of information that helped me with the recipe.

Of course, there are on-line search engines that can be used, but similar to consulting, researching on-line may not provide the clarity that one receives when speaking to an expert, whether that expert is focused on Customs compliance or on cooking (or dare I say, both).

My wife Mindy and I have supported each other not just with cooking but with all aspects of life. I have much to thank Mindy for, starting with being my wife and life long PARTNER.

Thank you for all the guidance and support, my love.

Realize how much a trade chain PARTNER can assist with arising Customs issues and understand that a PARTNER to go to with questions about and for cooking can only enhance the recipes that one undertakes to make.

Special thanks to my wife Mindy for all the support she has provided with the overall idea that I should begin to Blog and for all ideas that we have worked on together for last 22+ years!!!