I’ve been getting this so much lately- “Just call when you get a chance!”. Hmmm. I’ve never been one to call a buddy to catch up while I’m stuck in traffic or waiting for the dentist. I actually enjoy forced down time deeply. Take a few breaths. Maybe actually listen to the words of a song. Catch up with myself. But when it comes to phone calls and my work, I have to say that communicating through email and text are HANDS DOWN the most efficient way for me to conduct business.
10- I can save everything. I have documented entire streams of consciousness regarding what to get family for holiday gifts going back to 2006. Why is this important to my business? Each email is a receipt of terms, agreements, promises, and requests all fabulously cataloged by date and name! What better way to stay accountable than good ole’ black and white. I worry when someone won’t email me what they need.
9- No phone tag or office hours. I can send what I am thinking NOW and don’t have to remember it tomorrow between 8 and 5, sit on hold or leave a voice mail about something you’ll just call/email me back to explain anyway.
8- Copy / Paste / Forward. Ever feel like a parrot repeating yourself all day long? Copy /Paste / Forward, baby.
7- Links! This is what I am talking about… and here is a picture! Client communications around the world simplified in seconds into a few red circles and sketched arrows.
6- No time for off-topic diversions. I’m working here! Silly kitten forwards in emails are much faster to delete than getting someone off the phone who has to tell you about the funniest thing that just happened….
5- Can you hear me now? Enough said.
4- It follows me everywhere. I have my documentation of email conversations on my phone, computer, iPad and iPod. I know what we just talked about from anywhere I happen to be.
3- Virtual “Inbox”. Emails that come in are tended to first come first serve so I don’t miss anything or anyone. Anything not done sits in my inbox until it is dealt with. Anything dealt with goes into a client folder so I can review it anytime.
2- Email signatures are windows into the soul- I get a glimpse of what business you represent, where it is located, what your logo looks like, if you took the time to change the font or colors, and if you have a favorite quote 
1- Concentration. Even people who have a job based on the phone lose track of what they were last doing when it rang. For me design work is kind of like being asleep- I’m in a deep trance.. pushing pixels around… editing code…thinking up clever text……RRIINNGG…..”oh, yeah I’ll have 6,000 ordered today, sure. No problem at all, have a good day”……trance resumes…. 3 hours later I remember that someone may have called while I was deep in R.E.M design. That, the dog buried my shoes and I don’t think I have eaten today.
The point is, it seems as though people like to draw a line between our “real” lives and our “virtual” lives. They say things like “texting is so impersonal“, or “why can’t people just call us to place an order?”. For me, the exact opposite is true. I can connect asap when I am thinking of something or someone. I actually connect MORE with people because I am not worried about interrupting them at work or at home with their families.
Tracing back this year, I have texted back and forth with my brother in Tampa over 400 times. We have talked on the phone maybe 5 times this year total (Holidays aren’t here yet, that will account for another two calls probably). Would I call more if I couldn’t text him? No! I love my brother but we are both crazy busy people. I’m thankful we have the ability to “chat” via texting and email and I have to say that connecting more often is far more personal than using the phone every few months ever would have been.
Maybe it is just my generation. Maybe it is because I am a geek. Could possibly be because I have hermit tendencies. What ever the reason is, my phone is still on silent and my email alert dings reallllly loud.
Leave a Comment
No comments yet.
Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI
