Running out of time seems to be a daily occurrence in my life, and I know for a fact that this is happening to all the busy people in my world. I plan my day in pencil since it changes daily.
Many times in the past I was approached by people I knew who invited me to “meetings” telling me this is a great opportunity, but that is all the information they shared. Being the nice person I am, I showed up at the time and place they said only to sit through a sales pitch for some selling scheme or new start-up. As time went by slowly, I was creatively thinking of a reason to leave the meeting early, and wondered why I let myself get cornered into this situation.
I am sure I am not the only person this has happened to, especially in today’s economy. Many of my friends and acquaintances are starting new jobs or getting involved in group schemes. They are told to approach everyone they know so they can build a stable of contacts.
My biggest complaint in this scenario is that I am not told what the meeting is about or what their intentions are. That is the first clue for me to stay away. If they were my friend they would respect my time, which is one of the more valuable things in my life.
Being more direct, asking why people want to meet with me and what they want to talk about is the way I manage my time. Deciding if I want to know more about what they are doing and getting involved with them is my choice.
Once time is spent, it is gone forever. Choose wisely.
Amen sister!!
Nancy, I totally agree.
When the downturn occurred (and even before when you get a bit older and thus the employment opportunity window narrows) these “Pyramid Scheme” opportunities seem to come out of the woodwork.
I won’t identify them but I found, very quickly and to my own detriment, that they can and do make you a Pariah among your friends and neighbors.
I fell victim to two. Both were exceptionally easy, albeit not inexpensive, to get in to. Getting out was a bit more difficult.
I learned a few very important things – to wit: if something seems too good to be true, it usually is; nothing in life is free; if a friend approaches you with an “opportunity” of this nature, he isn’t really your friend and finally; the approaches frequently came from customers or former customers who felt they had you over the proverbial barrel.
At the urging of my wife, we test drove some of these. We quickly learned that they certainly weren’t all they were cracked up to be. In one (not identifying, of course) that featured an internet based video telephone service, the quality was so horrendously bad that it was laughable.
Interesting that so many folks made so much money (according to the promo video). Any doubt that these video productions were, perhaps, a bit misleading?
Funny how gullible we all are from time to time.
Best,
Kirk
I know exactly what you mean. My days are so hectic and fly by so quickly there just aren’t enough hours in the day to accomplish all I have on my calendar for that day:)
Nancy,
So true and as usual you say what others are thinking…