Comments on: So I Just Wasted 60 Minutes of System Time

By: lloyd_fasse7242

lloyd_fasse7242 — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:51 +0000

That's a post that makes me want to work with you because it means I can believe you.

By: aziz_griese5636

aziz_griese5636 — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:51 +0000

Good post.

By: Mat

Mat — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:51 +0000

Brad
Just dealt with a similar issue:
1. Software implementation issue needing my organisation's input.
2. IT manager sends email saying "Hey, need your organisation's input. Let's schedule a meeting."
3. I send a reply saying "Would love to help. Before having a meeting can you summarise the problems? Maybe we can solve sooner."
4. IT manager get's the hump because he perceives we don't want a meeting.
5. Six weeks later, no progress solving problem.

Point being... "Let's have a meeting" is often used as a reason to delay thinking in detail about an issue. Even after a meeting is arranged, too many of them happen without planning an agenda or issues list. They end up being meetings about meetings.

We all do it. Human nature I guess.

By: MrPositioning.com (S

MrPositioning.com (S — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:51 +0000

Meetings are places where people often take minutes and waste hours . . .

I ran into something like this last week. I had someone trade 10 emails with me to set up a 15 minute phone call. I told them during the 15 minute phone call to just forget the emails and simply call me the next time they need me. There is a 90% chance I'll be able to take the call and a 10% chance I'll tell them to call me back. In any event, we won't have to trade 10 emails that took up more time than the meeting.

Mr. Positioning
Stanley F. Bronstein
Attorney, CPA, Author and Professional Motivational Speaker

By: Russell

Russell — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:51 +0000

In that instance you wasted time, next time in the same circumstances your comment might trigger a thought from one of the three which sparks a new thought in another etc. etc. which might not have happened if another "VC value add" email hit the trash can.

I rarely think time spent face to face with portfolio companies is wasted as long as there is two sided conversation rather than one-sided presentation (from either side).