Comments on: Learn to Say "NO" to Meetings http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/05/17/learning-to-say-no-to-meetings/ Entrepreneur turned VC Mon, 14 Nov 2011 23:37:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Shanghai Dude http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/05/17/learning-to-say-no-to-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-7433 Shanghai Dude Tue, 25 May 2010 09:39:05 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2680#comment-7433 I met Mark yesterday after he did a speech in Shanghai. I asked him if we could meet and he politely put me down saying he didn't have time.<br><br>It is great to see people practicing what they preach.<br><br>P.S He gave a great presentation! I met Mark yesterday after he did a speech in Shanghai. I asked him if we could meet and he politely put me down saying he didn't have time.

It is great to see people practicing what they preach.

P.S He gave a great presentation!

]]> By: Shanghai Dude http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/05/17/learning-to-say-no-to-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-9869 Shanghai Dude Tue, 25 May 2010 09:39:05 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2680#comment-9869 I met Mark yesterday after he did a speech in Shanghai. I asked him if we could meet and he politely put me down saying he didn't have time.<br><br>It is great to see people practicing what they preach.<br><br>P.S He gave a great presentation! I met Mark yesterday after he did a speech in Shanghai. I asked him if we could meet and he politely put me down saying he didn't have time.

It is great to see people practicing what they preach.

P.S He gave a great presentation!

]]> By: hegranes http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/05/17/learning-to-say-no-to-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-9870 hegranes Fri, 21 May 2010 02:04:02 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2680#comment-9870 When I first read this, I discounted its relevance to me -- figuring that I'm less than two weeks into our beta launch and that EVERY meeting COULD be meaningful... Just a few days later, I've already realized how screening meetings and saying no is crucial. So demo at the Open Angel Forum -- obviously I said hell yeah to that. But whether to go to every networking event or dinner that I'm invited to, I'm not so sure anymore.<br><br>One comment mentioned the prospect of serendipity, and I think that's the rub... What is the best way to screen whether or not a meeting is worth your time? I'm often surprised what comes from some meetings that I thought would have provided little value... When I first read this, I discounted its relevance to me — figuring that I'm less than two weeks into our beta launch and that EVERY meeting COULD be meaningful… Just a few days later, I've already realized how screening meetings and saying no is crucial. So demo at the Open Angel Forum — obviously I said hell yeah to that. But whether to go to every networking event or dinner that I'm invited to, I'm not so sure anymore.

One comment mentioned the prospect of serendipity, and I think that's the rub… What is the best way to screen whether or not a meeting is worth your time? I'm often surprised what comes from some meetings that I thought would have provided little value…

]]> By: hegranes http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/05/17/learning-to-say-no-to-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-7423 hegranes Fri, 21 May 2010 02:04:02 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2680#comment-7423 When I first read this, I discounted its relevance to me -- figuring that I'm less than two weeks into our beta launch and that EVERY meeting COULD be meaningful... Just a few days later, I've already realized how screening meetings and saying no is crucial. So demo at the Open Angel Forum -- obviously I said hell yeah to that. But whether to go to every networking event or dinner that I'm invited to, I'm not so sure anymore.<br><br>One comment mentioned the prospect of serendipity, and I think that's the rub... What is the best way to screen whether or not a meeting is worth your time? I'm often surprised what comes from some meetings that I thought would have provided little value... When I first read this, I discounted its relevance to me — figuring that I'm less than two weeks into our beta launch and that EVERY meeting COULD be meaningful… Just a few days later, I've already realized how screening meetings and saying no is crucial. So demo at the Open Angel Forum — obviously I said hell yeah to that. But whether to go to every networking event or dinner that I'm invited to, I'm not so sure anymore.

One comment mentioned the prospect of serendipity, and I think that's the rub… What is the best way to screen whether or not a meeting is worth your time? I'm often surprised what comes from some meetings that I thought would have provided little value…

]]> By: joesunga http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/05/17/learning-to-say-no-to-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-9871 joesunga Wed, 19 May 2010 06:37:55 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2680#comment-9871 As a bizdev person who probably does set up a good amount of meetings, I'm pretty good at setting them up if they are truly necessary<br><br>(1) Having time constraints, which keep the meetings focused<br>(2) Try scheduling phone meetings -- sometimes you don't need to meet in person. There's a lot of hassle meeting at a brick and mortar area sometimes. And for what I do -- I rarely meet the partners we connect with. <br>(3) Set an agenda, so both parties know what they're getting into.<br>(4) Always send a follow-up -- surprisingly enough a lot of people don't. For me this is a good thing because it helps justify the meeting for me and give me and the other person what the next to-dos are (if any).<br><br>If you're trying to get a meeting with someone (who clearly doesn't have time) -- try to make it as easy as possible for them. As a bizdev person who probably does set up a good amount of meetings, I'm pretty good at setting them up if they are truly necessary

(1) Having time constraints, which keep the meetings focused
(2) Try scheduling phone meetings — sometimes you don't need to meet in person. There's a lot of hassle meeting at a brick and mortar area sometimes. And for what I do — I rarely meet the partners we connect with.
(3) Set an agenda, so both parties know what they're getting into.
(4) Always send a follow-up — surprisingly enough a lot of people don't. For me this is a good thing because it helps justify the meeting for me and give me and the other person what the next to-dos are (if any).

If you're trying to get a meeting with someone (who clearly doesn't have time) — try to make it as easy as possible for them.

]]> By: joesunga http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/05/17/learning-to-say-no-to-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-7421 joesunga Wed, 19 May 2010 06:37:55 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2680#comment-7421 As a bizdev person who probably does set up a good amount of meetings, I'm pretty good at setting them up if they are truly necessary<br><br>(1) Having time constraints, which keep the meetings focused<br>(2) Try scheduling phone meetings -- sometimes you don't need to meet in person. There's a lot of hassle meeting at a brick and mortar area sometimes. And for what I do -- I rarely meet the partners we connect with. <br>(3) Set an agenda, so both parties know what they're getting into.<br>(4) Always send a follow-up -- surprisingly enough a lot of people don't. For me this is a good thing because it helps justify the meeting for me and give me and the other person what the next to-dos are (if any).<br><br>If you're trying to get a meeting with someone (who clearly doesn't have time) -- try to make it as easy as possible for them. As a bizdev person who probably does set up a good amount of meetings, I'm pretty good at setting them up if they are truly necessary

(1) Having time constraints, which keep the meetings focused
(2) Try scheduling phone meetings — sometimes you don't need to meet in person. There's a lot of hassle meeting at a brick and mortar area sometimes. And for what I do — I rarely meet the partners we connect with.
(3) Set an agenda, so both parties know what they're getting into.
(4) Always send a follow-up — surprisingly enough a lot of people don't. For me this is a good thing because it helps justify the meeting for me and give me and the other person what the next to-dos are (if any).

If you're trying to get a meeting with someone (who clearly doesn't have time) — try to make it as easy as possible for them.

]]> By: joesunga http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/05/17/learning-to-say-no-to-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-9873 joesunga Wed, 19 May 2010 06:31:36 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2680#comment-9873 I was going to write a comment here about the infamous Hops and Chops, but it seems like you've already done it Dave. :)<br><br>As a person who's met a lot of great folks at Hops and Chops -- it's definitely a good alternative to taking tons of coffees with a lot of different people. I was going to write a comment here about the infamous Hops and Chops, but it seems like you've already done it Dave. :)

As a person who's met a lot of great folks at Hops and Chops — it's definitely a good alternative to taking tons of coffees with a lot of different people.

]]> By: joesunga http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/05/17/learning-to-say-no-to-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-7420 joesunga Wed, 19 May 2010 06:31:36 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2680#comment-7420 I was going to write a comment here about the infamous Hops and Chops, but it seems like you've already done it Dave. :)<br><br>As a person who's met a lot of great folks at Hops and Chops -- it's definitely a good alternative to taking tons of coffees with a lot of different people. I was going to write a comment here about the infamous Hops and Chops, but it seems like you've already done it Dave. :)

As a person who's met a lot of great folks at Hops and Chops — it's definitely a good alternative to taking tons of coffees with a lot of different people.

]]> By: jonathanjaeger http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/05/17/learning-to-say-no-to-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-9879 jonathanjaeger Wed, 19 May 2010 04:48:13 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2680#comment-9879 Yes, that's true. They opt for sending emails back and forth so you can get to it on your own time, rather than carving out chunks of your own productivity time. Problem is, you can't utilize in-company chat software and email to discuss things with outsiders (who are probably strangers). Great book, though. I recommend it, and it's a quick read for those who are busy and don't have much time. Yes, that's true. They opt for sending emails back and forth so you can get to it on your own time, rather than carving out chunks of your own productivity time. Problem is, you can't utilize in-company chat software and email to discuss things with outsiders (who are probably strangers). Great book, though. I recommend it, and it's a quick read for those who are busy and don't have much time.

]]> By: jonathanjaeger http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2010/05/17/learning-to-say-no-to-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-7419 jonathanjaeger Wed, 19 May 2010 04:48:13 +0000 http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/?p=2680#comment-7419 Yes, that's true. They opt for sending emails back and forth so you can get to it on your own time, rather than carving out chunks of your own productivity time. Problem is, you can't utilize in-company chat software and email to discuss things with outsiders (who are probably strangers). Great book, though. I recommend it, and it's a quick read for those who are busy and don't have much time. Yes, that's true. They opt for sending emails back and forth so you can get to it on your own time, rather than carving out chunks of your own productivity time. Problem is, you can't utilize in-company chat software and email to discuss things with outsiders (who are probably strangers). Great book, though. I recommend it, and it's a quick read for those who are busy and don't have much time.

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