Posted by SheilaSJCA on 9/20/05 10:23am
Msg #66161

OT: how to stay awake in meetings


HOW TO STAY AWAKE IN MEETINGS: OFFERED AS A PUBLIC SERVICE...


Do you keep falling asleep in meetings and seminars? What about those long and boring conference calls? Here's a way to change all of that.

1. Before (or during) your next meeting, seminar, or conference call,
prepare yourself by drawing a square.
I find that 5" x 5" is a good size. Divide the card into columns-five
across and five down.That will give you 25 one-inch blocks.

2. Write one of the following words/phrases in each block:
* Basically
* core competencies
* best practice
* bottom line
* revisit
* obviously
* to tell you the truth (or "the truth is")
* 24/7
* out of the loop
* benchmark
* value-added
* proactive
* win-win
* think outside the box
* essentially
* "hit the nail on the head",

* "having said that"
* "ya know what I'm say'n"
* at the end of the day
* touch base
* he goes/she goes

* client focus(ed)
* paradigm
* "I'm like"

* leverage

3. Check off the appropriate block when you hear one of those
words/phrases.

4. When you get five blocks horizontally, vertically, or diagonally,
stand up and shout "BULLSHIT!"

Testimonials from satisfied "Bullshit Bingo" players:

"I had been in the meeting for only five minutes when I won."

- Adam W., Atlanta

"My attention span at meetings has improved dramatically."

- David T., Florida

"What a gas! Meetings will never be the same for me after my first win."
- Dan J., New York City

"The atmosphere was tense in the last process meeting as 14 of us waited for the fifth box."
- Ben G., Denver

"The speaker was stunned as eight of us screamed 'BULLSHIT!' for the
third time in two hours."- The Bullshit Bingo Championship will be
played at the next meeting.

Reply by TinaG_CA on 9/20/05 10:32am
Msg #66164

Sheila:
This kind of makes me wish I still worked for corporate America. (Not!!!!) I am going to pass this along to some friends that still have meetings for meetings.

Thanks!!!!

Tina

Reply by SarahBeth_CA on 9/20/05 11:07am
Msg #66170

That's a riot! I could just imagine that. My hubby is lucky enough to sit in on conference calls regularly and I have had the pleasure of seeing the look on his face. You know the one that says "oh good grief, shut up you pontificating windbags; get to the friggin point, enough already". While he's making the move it along already hand gestures that closely resemble Queen Elizabeth's wave. I shall now copy, paste, and e-mail this to him.

Reply by Brasring_Ca on 9/20/05 11:14am
Msg #66172

Thank you.... this is perfect to send to my networking group of women whom most of the time we find ourselves sitting in meetings and seminars both! I too will be sending this along!

Reply by Charles_CA on 9/20/05 11:32am
Msg #66175

Sheila I am truly humbled to be in the presence of...

so stellar a personality. You certainly have the right to chastise me for my stupid attempts at self amusement. Obviously you are with out a doubt the champion of amusement at the expense of others in a business setting. I bow to you. I'll bet meetings with you around are just a barrel of laughs. If my memory serves me well I believe someone recently made some comment about glass houses, I'm not sure but I do seem to remember something along those lines.