“Go Ahead and Make My Day!” (Why Americans Love Being Carded)
Dirty Harry Callahan got it right with this most famous movie one-liner. In the context it was spoken in The Enforcer it was never intended to improve anyone’s day. Today, in this blog let’s consider a more positive, fresher version.
Sometimes an e-mail or phone call just won’t work to help a friend through their ‘bad day blues’. Especially, in today’s ruthless, roller-coaster economy where lots of people are suffering serious personal and financial challenges, with many ending in tragedy.
When tragedy hits close to home it’s a quick splash of cold water reality in the face. Last week, we heard about two in our church family. One lost his job and house to foreclosure. The other, unemployed for 8 months with lapsed health insurance, discovered his wife had an advanced-stage cancer.
I prefer to send 3 greeting cards over a 3 week period to let people know we really care and we’re here for them, for the long haul. Why 3? It sends a strong signal their friends are in their hearts and prayers and they are not weathering this crisis alone.
Like many, my busy schedule gets in the way of going to the store to pick out the right card to send. Unlike others, I’ve taught time management training so I feel double guilt when I don’t do what I instruct others to do. Shame on me!
Here’s my near-perfect solution for personal and business card-sending. You may recall, I train sales pros and small biz owners how to painlessly get new customers.
In 2006, I discovered a process for opening doors, minds and hearts. It is the single most effective component for ending cold-calling described by some as the scourge of the selling profession. Since then, I have created dozens of greeting card-based direct mailing campaigns that have achieved double-digit sales-buster results.
In 2007, I’m was almost embarrassed to sit opposite a CEO of a $130 million dollar software company to tell him I was replacing his expensive, slick direct mail marketing campaign, which he paid his former advertising agency, big bucks to create and print, with 3 off-the-shelf personalized greeting cards.
Almost embarrassed, because I snail-mailed him these 3 off-the-shelf greeting cards with the right message. My reward was our first in-person sales appointment because I gave him a live demo. I proved it worked with my in-your-face Mr. CEO Demo!
I demonstrated exactly what I had in mind for his sales team to use to get the focused attention of starch-collared chemical engineers who made the final decision to buy his expensive software solution or that of his competitors.
His former advertising agency rep thought it was funny until he was instructed not to come back which gave me a great deal of ‘make my day’ satisfaction!
The right greeting card with a matching right message snail-mailed to the right decision-maker at their business address is all it takes to set the stage for a timely phone follow up call. But ‘right’ is the key. Executed properly, this process completely disarms the coldness associated with communicating effectively with a stranger.
Here’s why. We are people 24/7 underneath our decision-maker, doctor, lawyer, nurse, starch-collared chemical engineer’s skin. Even on the job, when we become our alter work egos, we still laugh, tear and act human when triggered to do so.
In our cut-throat economy with paper-thin margins, tight budgets and longer work days people crave a quickie break from their daily grind. Relieve this tension, for a few seconds, and they will remember and appreciate your tasteful, funny gesture.
You can do it for less than the cost of a cup of 7/11 coffee and in nearly the same time it takes to pour, mix and cap that cup of hot java. I’m still astonished at how few marketing professionals apply this psychology to their positioning advantage. Their oversight has become my competitive advantage.
Personalized, funny, colorful graphic images on off-the-shelf greeting cards can be used very effectively to trigger these human nature tendencies we all share.
I use Sendoutcards.com, an online greeting card processor, headquartered in Salt Lake City, UT to automate this need. What www.sendoutcards.com has so brilliantly done is made the process of sending personalized greeting cards a time-saving, no-brainer anyone can execute from the convenience of their favorite chair and computer.
In minutes, you can select a card from several categories of a constantly refreshed 7,000 card online inventory. Appropriate-to-the occasion glossy, coated cards with eye-popping colors and/or pictures with serious or humorous wording are available.
A very user-friendly online navigational system prompts you to open the electronic image of the card on your computer screen; type a personalized message; add a first name or title (Mr., Ms, Mrs.) last name; colorize the type font and even add your picture and your facsimile signature. Other options include adding denominational gift cards from The Home Depot, Chili’s, Barnes & Noble and other nationwide retailers.
Names and contact info, including a company name are captured in a database which can be imported from an Excel or other common CSV database files, or manually entered.
Merging the selected card(s) with the database addressees takes minutes and your personalized greeting card mailings are ready to go! The entire process of sending a snail-mailed, personalized greeting card (or as many as you choose) takes minutes, online, instead of the hassle of shopping for a card and manually processing it, the old-fashioned way.
Once you proof your message, you CLICK on Send Card and the named addressee, your return address, the selected card with your message are electronically transmitted to SendOutCards’ computer servers in Salt Lake City, for processing within 24 hours.
Best of all, there are no label-addressed envelopes. It’s a direct-imprint on the outside envelope and it even includes an affixed first class stamp for first-class personalization.
FACT: Whether you choose to imitate my success or not, Americans love to receive greeting cards at work or at home. Putting Human Nature to work in the marketplace can be a very rewarding experience for those who demonstrate tasteful creativity to achieve their corporate marketing goals with this innovative and inexpensive process.
I encourage you to investigate www.sendoutcards.com. Should you wish to wander around their website, enter ID # 8265, to gain online access.
My Power Prospecting® ebook for sale for $40 includes my 4 card campaign with the copy if you wish to duplicate my 83% success response while minimizing your risk. Just CLICK on the Power Prospecting ebook button in the right margin. You can download my FREE minibook before you buy at my www.powerprospectingebook.com website.
So, go ahead and make someone’s day and discover what I learned (and, maybe, profit too) about why Americans love to be carded.
Human Nature Can Make Your Response Rates SOAR!
For starters, do you prefer to receive a USPO delivered greeting card, e-mail or voice-mail?
I still prefer a greeting card, delivered the old-fashioned way by the mailman; even when I don’t know the sender. To me, it’s always a mysterious little package.
I’m not alone because so does most of America! NOT advertising hype from THAT card company who often pitches us to “always send the very best.” According to a survey conducted by Harris Interactive Research, 51% of Americans will direct mail at least 25 greeting cards between Halloween and year-end.
Americans enjoy being carded, even while at work. They are people first and business professionals, second. Sending cards to people at work is appropriate and attention-getting even if they are strangers and you are trying to introduce yourself.
Using greeting cards as a solicitation tool isn’t new. What is new is a lesson I learned as a result of conducting a 2006 Test Mailing. The Lesson: mail 3 funny message cards over 15 days to decision makers. Then, place a phone call within 4 days of their receipt of card # 3.
To your delight, you will discover you will NOT be speaking to a stranger. Mail 3 appropriate cards to a business person so they receive one card, 5 days later – another card, and 5 days later – another card. That person will be waiting for your call, provided your 3 cards:
1. Don’t hard sell you, your company, product or service.
2. Are tastefully funny and your message is direct and business-like.
3. Include your basic business card info: name, job title, company, cell ph
Even when they are up to their backsides in alligators, busy people will take a few minutes to speak with someone who creatively contacts them out of respect and curiosity. Respect for imagination and curiosity about the mailing. Human Nature, at work, at its best.
The Secret Sauce: link your call purpose with your 3 just-mailed greeting cards, and maybe you, too will speak with a shocking 83% of mailed addressees, as we did in 2006. No kidding, an 83% response to my Test Mailing!
Stay tuned and next week, you will learn why 332 of the 400 mailed card addressees responded favorably to my 2006 Test Mailing, in my blog titled, “Why Americans LOVE to be Carded”.
How Paying Attention Netted me a $127,000 Contract!
In 2000, I was one among many trainers competing for a six figure sales training contract with a South Florida software company who was dissatisfied with their outbound telemarketing sales results from the prior two financial periods.
Mrs. Jimenez, the gatekeeper, whose contact information was e-mailed to the other 19 trainers and me, invited to bid on this sizable training assignment, was very matter of fact during our first phone conversation, as would only be expected.
During our conversational exchange I detected a real sense of stress in her voice so I asked if she would prefer that I call her back at a later, less busy time.
“No”, she said and continued with, “I just received some distressing new about my husband’s job and I’m a little distracted, now and I apologize to you.” I empathized with her and offered to help, commenting I had local contacts I’d be glad to call, on his behalf.
Her husband, a mid-level bi-lingual manager, who had been employed for 18 years with a large OEM tool distributor in Miami, just received his pink slip. This was a complete surprise since his recent job performance report awarded him a 5 of 5 stars ratings.
Getting this news, without any prior warning, was cruel and unusual punishment, especially for a loyal employee with an 18 year one-company employment history!
When I inquired further about his job title, responsibilities, bi-lingual skills and whether he was interested in seeking employment since he was already close to retirement, she affirmed my suspicions that his salary loss, at this time, would be ‘catastrophic’.
I made no promises but I ended the call on a pleasant note.
The next day, I made six calls to local friends, associates and past training clients. One of them ‘knew of a plastics manufacturer just a few miles up the road who was adding an export sales department.”
Aha, wasn’t Jimenez bi-lingual? My friend agreed to immediately seek more information. He called his contact at the plastics manufacturer who told him, “Yes, we’d like to interview a bi-lingual person, as soon as possible, since we have no one on staff and we have bushels of export inquiries which need translation.”
Shortly after, I called Mrs. Jimenez and gave her the details and contact information. I can’t begin to describe, in words, her surprise and jubilation. Surprise, that a stranger would make the effort to help and jubilation with my instant results. She asked, if I’d mind calling her husband at home that evening which I agreed to do.
When I hung up the phone that evening, I can’t begin to tell you the feeling of personal satisfaction I enjoyed as a result of making a few phone calls which resulted in something positive happening even though I had no idea whether a job offer would result.
In Paul Harvey’s lingo, the rest of the story is: Jimenez interviewed well and was hired, part-time, which became full-time 22 days after his first interview.
As a result Mrs. Jimenez became my inside scout at the software company. When I asked her who the power broker was on the Training Review Committee and if I should be aware of any past good or bad history with contracted trainers, she gave me the competitive intelligence I needed to make ‘the convincing presentation’.
Talk about a win-win opportunity.
The Lesson: Pay attention! You just never know where it will lead.
PS When I visit Miami I always have an open invitation for dinner.
When Sales Opportunities Knock Will You be Ready?
In 1983, I opened the doors to my current company, Leads-Plus Inc. Then, I decided (against the advice of my peers) to narrow focus my sales consulting services rather than become a generalist, as did most of my peers. My niche was then and still is: training b2b sales professionals and small b2b owners how to painlessly and systematically get new customers. Much to the chagrin of my wife, I have passed up other sales training assignments outside of my niche expertise. I even coined the phrase: Power Prospecting® from which I developed a copyrighted formula.
From 1967-1978, I repeatedly tested and perfected my sales prospecting formula. In my early years it was primitive. While it produced results it wasn’t consistently successful. Oh, it worked well enough for me to book enough new sales clients to exceed my sales quotas and to rapidly progress up the corporate sales ladder. I became National Sales Manager for a computer industry leader at age 32 which is still remarkable by today’s career path standards.
Today, several hundred b2b clients later, the Power Prospecting® Formula continues to consistently improve and work its magic even in this lean economy. My point is simply this: dedication, perseverance and patience continue to payoff. When planted in fertile ground, they sow the seeds of prosperity, even in today’s economy. Here’s a case in point.
About 9 months ago, a CPA referred me into one of his b2b clients. The client provides technical OEM services to major corporations in one of the three very competitive growth industries which fuel our Central Florida Economy. Sales were flat, even before the effects of this Recession began to trickle down into our marketplace.
I was hired to work with one sales person and tasked to help him develop new market segments and to grow his prospecting skills. We developed a solid personal chemistry and worked well together. This young man, while lacking formal education, was highly motivated to learn from my experience and to apply my expertise to his selling style.
Since January he has become a first-rate sales prospector with polished, confident phone qualification skills and a disciplined mind for staying on-point and on-purpose, regardless of the sometimes sour attitudes of those he calls on, weekly.
As a result, he has become a sales star by greatly exceeding the expectations of his boss, his peers; and even himself. When we started the process he had doubts. I didn’t! I’d worked with enough raw sales talent since 1983, to have an experienced eye to spot a ‘diamond in the rough’. This young man was hungry to improve himself and to succeed.
I welcomed this opportunity to help him fulfill his destiny and mine, too. In sales, results speak louder than promises. Monthly sales and the size of the individual sales contracts have both tripled over this same period last year. Competition is a distant memory and the sales pipeline is full of qualified new prospects ready to join the ranks of satisfied customers.
Can I take all the credit? No. I was presented with an opportunity and the right set of circumstances with a client that needed my polished and proven skills set. I was ready for that ‘knock’, ‘knock’ on my door.
My question for you is this: What have you done lately to improve your skills set so when your sales opportunity knocks, you will be ready?
Getting Client Referrals is Easy. Here’s How to Ask!
Picture this: you are sitting in your client’s office discussing the final details of your recently completed consulting assignment. The client, the company’s Marketing VP, Sales Manager or President, begins the conversation with small talk about the noticeable jump in sales since you and your sales techniques were applied by her sales team. You can tell by her gestures and voice she is absolutely thrilled with the results!
Test Question:
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Do you thank her for the compliment and sit quietly with a Mona Lisa-like smile on your face?
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Do you just nod your head in agreement and thank her?
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Do you say, “[Mrs. Prospect], now that you have experienced first-hand my value-added services, which one of your vendors, do you think could use my services?”
Number 3 is the answer! Provided, you wait for the client to respond with a company name or individual’s name at a named-company. Then, you follow with this bridging statement: “[Mrs. Prospect], while I’m here why don’t you call and introduce me to
[individual’s name at a named-company]?”
What if the client sits there silently, without answering? You say, “[Mrs. Prospect], you know, my training delivers sales results. I can probably do the same for Bob Smith at ACME Widgets, so your introduction right now will benefit both of us.” Again, wait for an affirmative reply.
I know what many of you are thinking. This guy’s smoking funny cigarettes; or been sitting in his car in traffic too long, sniffing exhaust fumes; or, this is not my style, or it’s too brassy!
My answer to you, as I have defended my actions many times in 31 years, to similar incredulous comments is, “Try it. You may be pleasantly surprised!” Here’s why. Your client, verbally and with gestures, expressed her satisfaction. She began this conversation with laudatory remarks. FACT: 3 clients, in 31 years, have refused me!
If a client is this satisfied with the results of my work, it is human nature for her to want to return the favor, even though I’m paid well as their consultant. In many instances, it’s an ego thing. They want peers to know how smart they are by hiring you, a proven expert who delivered on their promises! They are thrilled to share the good news with others. So, just ask. Do it when you are in their offices, not over the phone. What is the worst that could happen? She could say, “No”. Instead, I know you will be pleasantly surprised most of the time!
How to Turn Good Ideas into Killer Apps!
I have always considered myself to be a resourceful person. One who can move a good idea along to the next stage until it becomes a killer app or useful tool. Here’s my method for making it happen.
My week begins 4:00 am each Sunday. For 31 years, I’ve used a Franklin-Covey Planner with the 2 letter-size pages for each day because my handwriting is large. One page has 2 columns: Column 1 for my 3 each, A-type Priorities identified Prioritized Daily Tasks and column 2 for time from: 4am – 8pm.
The opposite page is for ‘Daily Notes’. This page is further divided into 4 sections. The top 14 lines are for Communications which include: phone calls, voice-mails, e-mails and, even snail-mail correspondence to be completed this day.
The next 18 lines are for Action and include my hand-written notes concerning the 3 A-type Priorities from the opposite page, as well as any addition remarks from the Communication section. I’ve learned to only schedule 3 A-type Priorities each day to manage those must-do activities which will move my goals forward.
My Monday Pages always include another category: New Idea, which I write any idea worth consideration that will promote my book sales and consulting services. During the Week, I return to this New Idea section and write timely, relevant notes.
The last Section is Food, where I record my daily menu. I’m a Type 2 diabetic, so what goes into my mouth goes onto this page together with the time of consumption.
At month-end, before I summarize my month’s activities and remove the pages which are then saved in a past months binder, I go back and review each Monday’s New Idea and my notes for that day.
Then, I select the Best Idea of the month and I create a Projects-in-the-Works Action page where I time-line what steps to complete to move this Best Idea out of the idea stage and into the action stages.
Some of my past Best Ideas included: converting my printed books into ebooks; authoring blogs for each ebook and my consulting services; and cross-platform marketing concepts which increased revenues.
Since I prefer to use a paper-based appointment planner system instead of an electronic PDA or smart phone, I know there is some duplication writing and re-writing. While re-writing may appear tedious, I think best on-paper plus, by re-writing I conceptualize my thoughts more effectively. It fits my particular comfort zone.
My good ideas capture system makes certain good ideas don’t fall through the cracks since I have an orderly but hectic daily schedule. What works for me may not fit your work ethic but I encourage you to create your system to capture your Best Ideas.
Ok, so what works for you?
What Your Reading Habits Reveal about You
Recently, a client, who was interviewing b2b sales candidates, asked me: What one question would you ask each sales candidate, and why?
My reply surprised him when I quickly answered, “Name the title of the last non-fiction book you read and why you read it?” One’s reading habits reveal much about one’s priorities, disciplines and motivations. Success in the sales profession requires balanced doses of each.
Selling is more of an art than a science. If we reverse a few steps in the sales process we may still close the order. Do the same with a scientific experiment and the desired chemical reaction is not likely to occur. As an art, there are variations which will work to accomplish the end result of a successful sales transaction.
While understanding and learning the sales process is best achieved by doing rather than passive learning such as: reading, viewing a video or computer-based-training course; or, completing a game-based learning challenge; reading about the experiences of sales experts, in other industries, is a valuable and relevant learning tool.
Reading combined with these two disciplines: 1] Re-composing, in one’s own words and adding memory hooks to the recently-read concept and; 2] Hand-writing a short explanation of the same concept. Just the process of writing our interpretation improves our memory retention of concepts we may wish to recall and apply at a future time.
Reading to improve one’s job skills and to acquire new techniques should become a weekly habit. Product knowledge is essential and so is reading to improve one’s selling and communications skills. As an art, we can personalize a sales process which best matches our personality and vocabulary and apply it to our specific selling style.
Sadly, the attraction and lure of the Internet’s on-demand social networking participation prevents many new sales people from becoming serious printed book readers. Add to this, the mistaken presumption by many that once one leaves the hallowed halls of learning, formal learning is over.
This mindset can retard a person’s career growth. Aside from the pure joy which accompanies an ‘aha’ learning moment, becoming a lifelong learner pays huge career-related dividends.
When a sales candidate struggles to recall the last non-fiction book they read, it’s a sign of someone who isn’t motivated to improve their skills; or, who lacks the discipline to prioritize self-improvement. Self-learning of new concepts is an essential ingredient of a sales person’s progression.
We are all too busy, but finding the time to read won’t become a priority unless we make it one. Others judge us by how well or poorly we communicate in writing; by our e-mail composition, and our speech.
Reading extends our vocabulary and introduces us to words and phrases that color and anchor the mental images we paint when we attempt to communicate.
So, take a tip from this 31 year sales veteran and make reading a priority to become the sales professional you aspired to be when you joined our noble calling. You have so much to gain.
Besides, you may be asked this question on your next job interview: “Name the title of the last non-fiction book you read and why you read it?” Your answer may well determine the successful outcome of your job interview.
Expressing Opinions versus Taking Action
What if ‘John Hancock’ had signed his name as ‘John H’ or just ‘JH’ instead of his bold first and last name signature stroke for all to view? This was truly a proud, bold statement of one of the few who stood against the Tyranny of the Oppressive Rule of King George in Colonial America.
This was a stroke of penmanship which could lead to dire consequences and did for many of the original Declaration of Independence signors and their families.
I’m challenging all you ‘big talkers’ out there in the blog sphere to cease being so critical and to start applying your skills and talents to initiate something constructive.
Is action too much to ask? I don’t think so. I’ll publish your relevant, verbatim Comments if there is no abusive language and your comments are formed sentences, not just Tweets.
Yesterday, while enjoying a cigar with a good friend, we mused at how few people, today take serious action to convert their opinions into concrete actions. Flapping one’s lips versus walking the talk has become the safe, acceptable behavior.
While freedom of speech is a wonderful expression of what we cherish as Americans and blogging has unleashed millions of individual opinions, isn’t it time to take action to convert concepts into practical realities to give them legs and feet not just voices?
The great divide or chasm between thinking and doing remains broad because of the fear of consequences, scorn by peers; or, it may require effort to do more than lift a finger at a keyboard. Action requires effort, commitment and exposure.
Lately, the Radio Talk Show Media has moved millions of Americans to attend Tea Parties to protest out of control government spending. In cities across America protesters have registered their dissatisfaction with our current Federal Government Policies.
Fair Tax Advocates have formed local groups to take constructive action to move their cause out of the discussion stage. Strong feelings and opinions have motivated some groups to form lines in the sand and to create plans of action.
Whatever your cause, I encourage you to take the next step to take action because we only have to take note of the ultimate sacrifices of our defenders of freedom at the far outposts they guard to preserve our July 4th Freedoms we sometimes take for granted.
While July 4th Celebrations reminded us of our consecrated values, lets demonstrate to those in uniform that we seriously appreciate their actions on our behalf. That we too are brave enough to stand up and be counted and held accountable for our actions.
Do you agree?
Making “Real Money” on eBay!
While you know me as author of this sales prospecting tips blog, you probably aren’t aware I’m also an eBay enthusiast and eBay Consignment Seller who achieved eBay Power Seller status in 2003-2007 by successfully mining a neglected niche market.
Like many eBay consignment sellers, after selling their miscellaneous household items, I was stumped with where to get inventory to fuel my weekly online auctions. Exhausting and frustrating visits to weekly garage sales and consignment shops annoyed me. My peers told me of their nightmare experiences with Drop Shippers. Nope, not for me!
FACT: Where can I get stuff to sell online? Is one of the most popular questions queried online Search Engines. Many of the unemployed, who once poked fun at eBay, are now giving it a serious second look as their day job, especially with Corporate America’s daily announcements of huge layoffs and hiring freezes.
Never one to let a challenge stump me, answering this question became my battle cry. One 2003 February Sunday, while sitting in church, the answer (answers) came to me.
The answers were sitting all around me. The answers were the retired seniors in my church family. Just suppose, I could figure out how to mine the real antiques and collectibles seniors stored in their attics, cellars and garages? I bet some of them could even use the cash!
I did it and I was very successful at it! So, I wrote an ebook about my detailed marketing plan with all the fixings. Everything that worked for me, why it worked and, how to duplicate my success including free prospect list URLs and working forms are included in this 4 chapter ebook. I held nothing back!
The title of this week’s blog: Making “Real Money” on eBay is the title of the first reader review given my new ebook. I’m thrilled the reviewer saw fit to grade it 5 of 5 possible stars. Also, he placed it in the must-read category for anyone seeking to earn big bucks on eBay as a Consignment Seller.
This is the subject of this blog for these 3 reasons:
- The ebook is a near-perfect example of the marketing maxim: Find a Need and Fill It!
- My patriotic contribution for getting America’s Unemployed back to work.
- Unashamedly, I’d like to sell some ebooks at $18.95 each.
At hundreds of workshops I conducted around this country for 17 years, I always said: finding a need and filling it was the Number 1 Rule of Successful Marketing. Add the right timing of marketplace introduction, a product which solves a contentious problem; and, make it affordable. This is the secret sauce for a marketing success recipe.
Wouldn’t it be great if eBay once again became an American Success Story by putting Unemployed Americans back to work? Like the mythical, Phoenix bird rising from the ashes! What a hoot, if my little ebook had something to do with this happy ending.
To get your FREE Preview peek, downloadable to your PC, cell phone, smart phone, electronic ebook reader or PDA, go to: www.mobipocket.com and type: Gordie into the Search box at the top of the page.
It’s appropriately titled: How to Get Stuff* to Sell on eBay (*an Endless Supply of Real Antiques and Collectibles, NOT Drop Ship) and I think it does the Number 1 Rule of Marketing proud. Do you agree?
Multi-Tasking Madness!
As long as I’m attacking useless technologies as discussed in my last post, it’s appropriate for me to attack the ‘horrid’ and rude practice of multi-tasking.
Multi-tasking is roughly defined: as doing several activities at one time. It is another profane transition of our Techno Insane Age because it couldn’t and wouldn’t have existed in past historic periods.
Can you imagine, text-messaging, while being chased (on horseback) by a posse of yelping, scalp-hunting Indians incensed by your poaching for souvenirs on their sacred burial grounds!
Little-known trivia, but scalp-hunting was introduced to the American West by French trappers who fought in the French-Indian War, a Pre-American Revolution conflict conducted along the NE Canadian-American Frontier.
Removing a victim’s scalp, with a dull knife, while he or she was semi-conscious, must have been a painful and humiliating experience usually followed with a slow, horrific death.
Dangerous Times required vigilance of period participants and incidental distractions such as multi-tasking would certainly have brought many more lives to a premature end. Personally, I don’t know which is worse:
· The woman in the car to the right of me on the Interstate adjusting her makeup in the visor mirror, while passing me at 65 mph; or,
· A fellow eating, shouting into his cell phone; and weaving in and out of lanes.
Both are endangering themselves and anyone in their vicinity as long as they retain control of their speeding vehicle.
Some who are reading my rant are probably deriding me as a relic from the distant past. I’ll never know unless you Comment, will I? So, Comment!
Nor, are we limited to examples of multi-tasking in the privacy of one’s car.
A sales client who owns a growing distribution business in Tampa, told me how he quickly shuffled a sales candidate out of his office, when the ‘offender’ answered his cell phone during their job interview.
There was no: “Excuse me, this is my mother who is experiencing a seizure!” …….or, “My wife is in labor and I must answer this call.”
They just do it regardless of time, place and those present with a total lack of etiquette or disregard of respect for others’ conversations or privacy.
Back to the ‘horrid practice’ of multi-tasking. Is it possible to hold 2 separate thoughts in one’s conscious mind at the same time? No, according to scientists who study the mechanics of the human brain.
While driving an automated 4,000 pound vehicle only requires one hand, answering one’s cell phone with the other is a distraction which can result in life-threatening issues.
Taking one’s eyes and mental concentration off the road ahead for a few seconds has fatal consequences as substantiated by mounting Department of Motor Vehicle statistics.
A ‘few seconds’ distraction has killed or maimed drivers, their passengers and victims of this callous loss of focus. Public Etiquette and Multi-Tasking are two opposing forces and when mixed make it impossible to practice both, simultaneously.
Time Management and Human Performance Experts, in growing numbers, agree: it is more efficient and effective to begin one activity and to concentrate on it until completion. Then, move on to the next task. It’s much less stressful and even enjoyable, to focus on one task or challenge. This enjoyment is described by psychologists as getting into the flow.
Try this experiment. Time an activity you normally multi-task and log your start to finish times. Repeat this singular activity and log your start to finish time. Compare both times. Now, answer the question: which of the two was completed with more dedication, fewer errors and thoroughness?
Multi-tasking is a convenient habit of our Times. Not necessarily a better use of time and, life-threatening in some dire instances.
Do you agree?