faster and easier. Part two: We are busier than ever before so we value time more. This also seems like a double negative. Because we have all these gadgets like cell phones, email, computers, tablets, etc., we have some neat tools to increase our productivity and get more done with less time. There is never enough time, though, no matter how many gadgets you have or how you use them. It’s human nature to want to get more done in less time. Gadgets simply enable you to take on more, thereby committing to a larger obligation of completion. It’s just never going to balance. Accepting phone calls takes time. It takes a ton of time that could have been spent texting and emailing. It takes up resources and time that you don’t want to spend because you are busy. You are busy getting things done so you can do more things. You are saving those five minutes that could have been spent on the phone making an appointment with a potential new vendor and you got three emails out. Here’s the rub: as you increase productivity, you get less quality. It’s easy to lose sight of what is valuable when you have more to do. It’s easy to miss good opportunities because you feel you don’t have time. In either part, it’s easy to ignore incoming calls from potential vendors who are simply wanting to introduce you to them and their offerings. It’s really easy to send them to voicemail or tell them just to email you something. It’s easiest to not see any value in that offer for contact and simply delete it. But what you are doing is not only ignoring opportunity for your caller, but also for yourself, and you are helping another human to think it is okay to ignore someone else. Take the time, answer the phone, return the call, or reply to the email. Treat others the way you wish to be treated and remember, it’s not your fault if you do this, it’s humanity’s fault for creating all these gadgets that help you value your time more than someone else’s. – David Elenbaum has been engaged in the sales of decking and other building materials for over 16 years, currently as VP of sales & marketing with Green Bay Decking. He can be reached at delenbaum@greenbaydecking.com.
Building-Products.com
October 2016
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Building Products Digest
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17