I refuse to respond to surveys from the plumbers, electricians, and repair people. I am upfront about it. I just bought some windows and told the salespeople I won’t be filling out a survey when the work is done. I have occasionally offered to fill out a customer survey for $130.00.

Medical clinics and urgent care also send surveys that I don’t respond to.

As the person receiving service, the customer survey doesn’t provide value.

Most surveys are too long or they ask the wrong questions or both.

I don’t ask my clients to fill out surveys either. I do ask for feedback when appropriate but not in a demanding or forceful way.

Real estate professionals who use surveys get five-star ratings. It is almost impossible to find a real estate agent with a four-star rating. All agents with ratings have five-star ratings.

The land my house in St. Paul sits on once belonged to the Anishinaabe. The original people. Historically, the Minnesota region was strategically important to Native American peoples for thousands of years as they used the waterways for transportation and food and to develop an extensive trade relationship with other native peoples. By the 1600s, two main groups lived in present-day Minnesota, the Dakota and the Ojibwe.

Let’s not forget that the land we live on was stolen from the Anishinaabe and they were almost exterminated in the process.

Last year, the Biden administration issued a proclamation recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day for the third consecutive year. The commemoration of Native American history and culture is now federally recognized alongside Columbus Day, which has been historically observed on the same day.

We can honor Indigenous people by learning about them and our shared history.