Keep Your Cell Phone Contacts Updated

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 19:54:00 GMT

I scheduled a lunch meeting for today with two other consultants to compare notes, learn about their specialties, and help each other gain business. This had been in the works for several weeks with back and forth emails, so I wasn't worried about no-shows.

I got to McAlister's Deli right at the appointed time, 11:30. I've had these types of meetings before. I know the drill: Look around, who looks like they're trying to meet someone? One guy at the door did. But I was meeting two women; one of whom I've met before and one who has her picture prominently on LinkedIn. So, I didn't think it would be an issue finding them. I knew the deli would fill up fast before noon, so I staked out a table for the three of us and kept my eye on the door.

After 10 minutes, I'm thinking, "Should've put their numbers in my phone. No worries, I'll just jump on the internet with my trusty smart phone to look up a number. Well, it turns out the connection was very slow and I couldn't navigate well enough to find the number. Now it's been 20 minutes and I still didn't see the ladies I was supposed to meet. Oh well, back to the office.

Lesson Learned: ALWAYS put the contact numbers of the folks I'm going to meet in my phone. It's a habit I have to establish, and it would have saved me from rescheduling, since one woman was already there and the other one walked in just after I walked out.

Time management challenges are bad habits that need to be replaced by good ones. My good habit will be to immediately put contact numbers into my Blackberry.

Time Strategies

Keep Your Cell Phone Contacts Updated