Wednesday Words
To Go Where Your VisionPoints, a few inspiration points for you and your business.
It is possible that the telephone has been responsible for more business inefficiency than any other agency except laudanum…. In the old days when you wanted to get in touch with a man you wrote a note, sprinkled it with sand, and gave it to a man on horseback. It probably was delivered within half an hour, depending on how big a lunch the horse had had. But in these busy days of rush-rush-rush, it is sometimes a week before you can catch your man on the telephone.”
—Robert Benchley, U.S. writer, humorist
Grow and be well,
Kelly Erickson
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23 April 2008, 7:31 am
Microsoft Office 07 is the primary cause of inefficiency today. Trying to figure out where all the features are in Word 07 makes my head hurt.
23 April 2008, 7:41 am
LOL!
List of inefficiency causes grows:
Telephone
Office 07
I’ll add in: Blackberries. How can the things save and waste time in equal measure?
Regards,
Kelly
23 April 2008, 7:54 am
I love it!
This reminds me of something Ralf Hütter said (of the electronic band Kraftwerk):
“The telephone is an antiquity—you never know who is calling, there is no image, it is an outmoded product that constantly disrupts work.”
Apparently the telephone in their studio had no ringer. Callers were told to call the studio at a certain time, and Ralf would pick up the phone at the same time each day. I guess you’d take your chances to call, or just make an appointment.
Thanks for the words today – Brett
23 April 2008, 8:03 am
Brett,
Ha! New policy at VisionPoints—phone calls at 2pm only! Oh, delicious. That would be unbelievable. Just think of it—instead of dreading that your [vendor, accountant, mother-in-law] is on the phone, a sense of mystery and anticipation at 2:00!
Plus how much would get done. I should probably do that with my email.
Then folks would think I was rude.
*dilemma*
Ah, well, the time-waster stays.
Until later,
Kelly
23 April 2008, 8:41 am
Kelly,
I’m glad you liked that! We kind of do the same thing at home. People just know that we can hardly ever get to the telephone (busy family), and they leave a message.
So it means that telemarketers and so forth just don’t bug us at all.
Of course, we also have a “drop-in” policy – if someone wants to drop-in at a reasonable hour, that means they took the time to come and see us. Perhaps that means they see us as important to them, so we are happy to visit.
I know what you mean… can’t… ignore… time-waster!!!
(Twitter, I’m lookin’ at you)
-Brett
23 April 2008, 9:04 am
Brett,
My cell is the same way. I absolutely never answer it, to simplify my life (unless I see a welcome distraction on the call id!), but everybody knows they WILL get a call back promptly during my call time. I’m careful about that so people trust it.
Oh my goodness—drop in? People would never find a place to sit in my apartment. Back when I was in a house I did like that feeling. I had more room to be Martha Stewart then. Must have advance notice now. C’est le divorce.
Whee! Brett mentions the one I dared not whisper:
List of inefficiency causes:
Telephone
Office 07
Blackberries
Twitter
Regards,
Kelly
23 April 2008, 10:17 am
Kelly,
Yes, I might be excommunicated for taking the “T” word in vain
I understand it is a bit difficult with an apartment. I remember apartment living like that too. People would buzz, and I’d think, “hmm…”
I love what you do with your cell phone. That’s a Tim Ferriss trick – he never answers his cell phone. You have to leave a message, and he’ll call you back.
Oh, and to Jay’s point about Office 07, there is an aftermarket product ($30) that brings back the classic menus:
http://www.addintools.com/english/menuoffice/
You can try it free for 15 days.
-Brett
23 April 2008, 1:31 pm
Too funny!
My weekly lesson on inefficiency was when I emailed a friend about making a lunch date, and she called instead of replying by email.
When I saw her name on the caller ID, I didn’t even pick it up. I remember rolling my eyes and thinking, “If I wanted to talk to you I would have called you…”
Which sounds horrible (and maybe it is), but I didn’t have time to talk. Email was so much more efficient that day! It takes less time than a convo, she doesn’t have to be available, and I don’t have to be immediately responsive when there’s a reply.
Technology has spoiled me for real world interaction. I’m often wanting to turn up folks’ volume…or mute them
Too bad the world doesn’t come with a personal remote…
23 April 2008, 2:22 pm
Brett,
Tim Ferriss rocks. Oddly, I did have to unsubscribe recently, because I realized I couldn’t have a productivity expert invading my world with so many messages and taking down my productivity. So now I visit once in a while, and just go back through old posts. Not enough nuggets of genius to rate being on my very exclusive list!
Crystal,
The advantage of the horse and rider: The message gets to your guy but you’re already on to the next thing. Just like email. Where have all the cowboys gone?
So you’re saying you are the woman Robert Benchley couldn’t get hold of sixty-five years ago?
Later,
Kelly
23 April 2008, 2:47 pm
Kelly,
I hear you. I have a select few I filter into a favourites folder (you’re there, Tim’s not!) – the rest are what I call “river of news”.
I’ll scroll rapidly through the RSS feed for the river and if something catches my eye, cool. If not, mark all as read. Takes me about 1 minute for 300 articles.
If it is important, the universe will bring it back to me!
23 April 2008, 3:01 pm
Brett,
Proud to be in the inner circle! Racing through RSS makes me dizzy (really!), which is why I’m so exclusive. Everybody comes into my email inbox, so I’ve got to love you a lot to subscribe and stay subscribed. Getting email subscriptions only is a big productivity tip.
I agree completely. The universe will bring it back to me if I need it.
Later,
Kelly
23 April 2008, 5:41 pm
Kelly,
You know, that’s not a bad idea to be honest. I’ve been thinking as I get farther along this path, I need to spend more time creating and less time consuming. Or at least, only consume what is tasty.
Maybe I’ll consider that – thanks for the tip.
-Brett
23 April 2008, 5:47 pm
Hell, Brett, you don’t pay me to come up with bad ideas, do ya?
I do it to keep from being seasick but it works well for staying sane too.
Until later,
Kelly
23 April 2008, 5:52 pm
LOL you got me there, my friend! Speed reading is a skill I picked up digesting technical procedures where I work. Too much BS
-Brett
23 April 2008, 6:01 pm
Hehehe.
I can read paper darned fast, but scrolling + computer screen = ill Kelly.
If I had to put up with what I suspect you do, I’d endure the seasick feeling to be done faster.
Later,
Kelly
23 April 2008, 7:02 pm
Come on, freelance business!
-Brett
23 April 2008, 7:20 pm
What’s the profit margin on Zorb rides?
Later…
23 April 2008, 7:39 pm
Well, the guys at Zorb Rotorua reminded me for all the world of stoner surf dudes, so maybe if I just start saying “gnarly” and put cornrows in my hair I won’t need much money
-Brett