Smaller Indiana

Making people and ideas findable

I hate the telephone. I was never a big fan of the phone but as the years pass I become even less thrilled with actually talking when texting or email will suffice. Before you go thinking I am some kind of introvert or don’t like people it’s not that at all (I like most people….the ones that aren’t stupid). It’s more about time management. It is a better use of my time to just text/email a quick request without all the meaningless chit chat that often goes along with a phone call. If I have the time it’s one thing but if I don’t it just frustrates me to listen to someone. Especially when we already discussed that specific topic (for some reason they just won’t stop talking each and every time we get on the phone).
However, I don’t think most people really get it, even when I tell them.

Here’s an example, I tried a little experiment. On my voicemail I recorded a message that said I don’t like checking voicemail and often don’t. If you want to get a hold of me it would be better to text or email me. It only took a day and a half before my voicemail was full with people who obviously don’t listen to messages either. So then I just left my voicemail box full and every time someone told me it was full I just played stupid and blamed it on At & T (sorry AT & T).

I am not trying to replace actual human connection with technology just wanting to be more effective.

What are your thoughts on this?

Laina

Comment

You need to be a member of Smaller Indiana to add comments!

Join Smaller Indiana

Shawn Neal Comment by Shawn Neal on October 8, 2009 at 3:14am
While I agree that text messages and emails are great ways to communicate short bursts of information or ideas, the public relations side of me says that you are missing out on so many opportunities by avoiding the phone. I text when I need to convey a single thought, question, or idea and chances are that I have already held either a face to face or phone conversation previously about the topic. I email when I need to communicate a little more or to reach a broad group. I use the phone most often.

Personally, I would be very turned off by such a cold and impersonal method of communication and that surely can't be a good thing if you are trying to grow and cultivate your own business. As an afterthought- when I need to make a phone call short and to the point, I usually begin the conversation with something like: "Sorry I have to be short, but I only have a minute..." then I convey my thought, get what I am looking for, say thank you, and hang up. If the person on the other end tries to go off on a tangent, I direct them back to what I am needing and continue on my path. Maybe it is just a skill you need to brush up on rather than avoid.

Forum

Will Hardison

What is your twitter username?? 129 Replies

Started by Will Hardison in Non Profit: events, news, ideas. Last reply by Martin Dorgan 1 hour ago.

Ed Winders

New men's organization seeking...

Started by Ed Winders in Business 2 hours ago.

Pat Coyle

Do you use Twitter or DIGG to find new stuff? 1 Reply

Started by Pat Coyle in Media: mass and social. Last reply by Duke Snyder 5 hours ago.

Pat Coyle

Could an Obama Dollar Bill Help Rebrand the United States? 63 Replies

Started by Pat Coyle in Design. Last reply by Douglas Karr 6 hours ago.

Justin Carter

What is it about interviews that you do not look forward too? I wanna know! 1 Reply

Started by Justin Carter in Entertainment. Last reply by Erik Deckers 1 day ago.

Steve Stuck

Shareholder Democracy

Started by Steve Stuck in Economics 1 day ago.

Amy Lowe

Investor/Business Loan advice

Started by Amy Lowe in Business 1 day ago.

Aimee Morgan

Anybody want free Rib America tix? 15 Replies

Started by Aimee Morgan in Entertainment. Last reply by Cissi Sherlock Sep 2.

Jessica Breanne Mitchell

What's the Most Underrated Science Fiction Movie? 52 Replies

Started by Jessica Breanne Mitchell in Entertainment. Last reply by Justin Carter Sep 2.

Help

A few things to consider before joining Smaller Indiana:
1. Please use your real name (first and last) when you sign up, or we cannot open your account

2. Please do not use logos or commercial images for your profile photo

3. Events should be posted in the events calendar

4. You can post pretty much anything you want on your own personal page (self promotion, etc), and you can change the style of your personal profile page to reflect your corporate identification if you so choose.

5. Please keep all comments civil and polite. It's OK to feel strongly about a subject, and it's OK to be critical of ideas, but please refrain from personal attacks of any kind.

If you witness or experience any issues, please contact admin@smallerindiana.com and we will look into the matter.

6. "Blatant self-promotion" is discouraged on SI, and "spam" is not welcome. Please be considerate of your fellow members.

7. Display ads (graphic banners designed to promote your business) can only live on your own profile page, unless you are an approved sponsor of Sponsor of Smaller Indiana.

Smaller Indiana is supported by its members, and by corporate sponsors. If you're interested in learning more about sponsorship, please call Pat Coyle at 317 332 7878.

© 2010   Created by Pat Coyle.

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service