Comments on: So I Just Wasted 60 Minutes of System Time http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/03/so-i-just-wasted-60-minutes-of-system-time.html Tue, 14 Feb 2012 01:23:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: lloyd_fasse7242 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/03/so-i-just-wasted-60-minutes-of-system-time.html/comment-page-1#comment-7706 lloyd_fasse7242 Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:51 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/?p=2122#comment-7706 That's a post that makes me want to work with you because it means I can believe you. That's a post that makes me want to work with you because it means I can believe you.

]]> By: aziz_griese5636 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/03/so-i-just-wasted-60-minutes-of-system-time.html/comment-page-1#comment-7708 aziz_griese5636 Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:51 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/?p=2122#comment-7708 Good post. Good post.

]]> By: Mat http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/03/so-i-just-wasted-60-minutes-of-system-time.html/comment-page-1#comment-7719 Mat Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:51 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/?p=2122#comment-7719 Brad <br /> Just dealt with a similar issue: <br /> 1. Software implementation issue needing my organisation's input. <br /> 2. IT manager sends email saying "Hey, need your organisation's input. Let's schedule a meeting." <br /> 3. I send a reply saying "Would love to help. Before having a meeting can you summarise the problems? Maybe we can solve sooner." <br /> 4. IT manager get's the hump because he perceives we don't want a meeting. <br /> 5. Six weeks later, no progress solving problem. <br /> <br /> 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. <br /> <br /> We all do it. Human nature I guess. 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 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/03/so-i-just-wasted-60-minutes-of-system-time.html/comment-page-1#comment-7760 MrPositioning.com (S Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:51 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/?p=2122#comment-7760 Meetings are places where people often take minutes and waste hours . . . <br /> <br /> 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. <br /> <br /> Mr. Positioning <br /> Stanley F. Bronstein <br /> Attorney, CPA, Author and Professional Motivational Speaker 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 http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/03/so-i-just-wasted-60-minutes-of-system-time.html/comment-page-1#comment-7773 Russell Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:55:51 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/?p=2122#comment-7773 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. <br /> <br /> 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). 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).

]]> By: Russell http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/03/so-i-just-wasted-60-minutes-of-system-time.html/comment-page-1#comment-43986 Russell Thu, 27 Mar 2008 08:21:12 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/?p=2122#comment-43986 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. <br /> <br /> 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). 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).

]]> By: MrPositioning.com (S http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/03/so-i-just-wasted-60-minutes-of-system-time.html/comment-page-1#comment-43985 MrPositioning.com (S Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:16:18 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/?p=2122#comment-43985 Meetings are places where people often take minutes and waste hours . . . <br /> <br /> 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. <br /> <br /> Mr. Positioning <br /> Stanley F. Bronstein <br /> Attorney, CPA, Author and Professional Motivational Speaker 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: Mat http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/03/so-i-just-wasted-60-minutes-of-system-time.html/comment-page-1#comment-43984 Mat Sat, 22 Mar 2008 02:44:18 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/?p=2122#comment-43984 Brad <br /> Just dealt with a similar issue: <br /> 1. Software implementation issue needing my organisation's input. <br /> 2. IT manager sends email saying "Hey, need your organisation's input. Let's schedule a meeting." <br /> 3. I send a reply saying "Would love to help. Before having a meeting can you summarise the problems? Maybe we can solve sooner." <br /> 4. IT manager get's the hump because he perceives we don't want a meeting. <br /> 5. Six weeks later, no progress solving problem. <br /> <br /> 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. <br /> <br /> We all do it. Human nature I guess. 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: Lloyd Fassett http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/03/so-i-just-wasted-60-minutes-of-system-time.html/comment-page-1#comment-43983 Lloyd Fassett Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:36:11 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/?p=2122#comment-43983 That's a post that makes me want to work with you because it means I can believe you. That's a post that makes me want to work with you because it means I can believe you.

]]> By: Aziz Grieser http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2008/03/so-i-just-wasted-60-minutes-of-system-time.html/comment-page-1#comment-43982 Aziz Grieser Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:45:51 +0000 http://www.feld.com/wp/?p=2122#comment-43982 Good post. Good post.

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