Writing Boots

On communication, professional and otherwise.

Is it a live performance at Carnegie Hall, or just a business call?

05.15.2017 by David Murray // Leave a Comment

Remember when you'd just get it in your head to get in touch with someone and you'd look up the number and call 'em up?

Sometimes you'd go into voice mail, but more often they'd pick up. And it just wasn't that big a deal. You'd have a conversation that ended after 15 seconds with a "Sure, send it over, I'll have a look."

Or five minutes with a, "It's not a bad idea. Let me think about that and call you back next week."

Or a half hour, with an, "I'm really glad you called, and I'm looking forward to lunch."

Now, a phone call is the fucking Super Bowl.

It's been scheduled for weeks. It looms all morning, until suddenly there are only 20 minutes to go—now 15. You take some notes to make sure you cover everything on the call, because God only knows when you'll get this chance again. You actually find yourself rehearsing your opening conversational patter.

Now you need to go to the bathroom and get a cup of coffee to pep yourself up—and oh my gosh where's the number again, now I'm a minute late!

Lookit: Nobody ever sold anything, including themselves, via email.

But I do understand why people avoid these Appointment Phone Calls.

If I thought I could, I'm sure I would.

Categories // Uncategorized

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Now Available

An Effort to Understand

Order Now

SIGN UP TO RECEIVE BLOG UPDATES

About

David Murray writes on communication issues.
Read More

 

Categories

  • Baby Boots
  • Communication Philosophy
  • Efforts to Understand
  • Happy Men, and Other Eccentrics
  • Human Politicians
  • Mister Boring
  • Murray Cycle Diaries
  • Old Boots
  • Rambling, At Home and Abroad
  • Sports Stories
  • The Quotable Murr
  • Typewriter Truths
  • Uncategorized
  • Weird Scenes Inside the Archives

Archives

Copyright © 2025 · Log in

  • Preorder An Effort to Understand
  • Sign Up for Blog Updates
  • About David Murray