Tossed my crackberry

[read]

I downgraded, got a phone that's just a phone (and a camera), and I'm not looking back!

The interesting thing is that I hadn't thought I was spending so much time checking email on my phone. It was just nice to have. For the first two weeks without it, though, I kept opening my phone, then realizing my email was not there. I must have been checking my email 20-40 times a day! No wonder I hadn't been successful at elimination!

Elimination has been tough for me. Another thing I've done is gotten the 80/20 book by Koch, which Tim recommends. It's given me more practical ideas for elimination -- and ways to apply the 80/20 principle to parts of my life that I hadn't considered before.

Slowly getting there...

[webgal]

Good for you. It is harder that you think.

[AntonTheKhan]

Its sooo funny. I met this girl in the park while she was typing away on her crackberry. I seized the day and just approached her but couldn't keep myself from making fun of her crackberry. People miss so much in life because of these devil gadgets.

I downgraded, got a phone that's just a phone (and a camera), and I'm not looking back!

The interesting thing is that I hadn't thought I was spending so much time checking email on my phone. It was just nice to have. For the first two weeks without it, though, I kept opening my phone, then realizing my email was not there. I must have been checking my email 20-40 times a day! No wonder I hadn't been successful at elimination!

Elimination has been tough for me. Another thing I've done is gotten the 80/20 book by Koch, which Tim recommends. It's given me more practical ideas for elimination -- and ways to apply the 80/20 principle to parts of my life that I hadn't considered before.

Slowly getting there...

[TimW]

People miss so much in life because of these devil gadgets.

That same device has made me money when I was able to return a potential customer's email more rapidly than one of my competitors. While they can be addicting, it's really all about personal habits and responsibility. Just because I have beer in my refrigerator doesn't mean I have to drink it all at once, just as I don't always have to check my Blackberry. :)

[read]

Tim W.,
I'm sure you're right, that answering an email faster did get you more business -- but answering email the moment it comes in doesn't seem to be the goal of elimination.

Of course, I know that's easy for me to say, since I'm not in an industry where a quick email response could make or break me financially. Still, without my crackberry, I'm finding that although I check email less frequently, I'm actually responding more quickly, as I batch email and get through the whole inbox, rather than piddling around reading this message or that.

Interesting conversation, no?

[TimW]

A reply within minutes of receiving it does two things:

1. it shows the customer I care...meaning that we build a relationship that builds into the future. Thus, they place more online orders and I do not have to end up holding their hand. They, in turn, tell their friends that buying online with me is easy and a good experience.

2. Since the majority of emailed questions are "Do you have X in stock?", and adding a little extra information, gets this task out of the way within 2-3 minutes. This is usually done while I am already out on business trips (warehouse or shipping packages), so I'd just be driving if I didn't. And then, when I get back to my home office, I don't have deal with it.

3. (yeah, I said only 2 things...)...I actually find I answer my phone less while out of the office...for me, an email device would be better than a cell-phone for business use. Why? because phone calls tend to beget more followup questions, which is not a bad thing necessarily, but also end up in long discussions on customer needs, etc. If I am out of my office, it's because I am on my way somewhere (post office, bank, warehouse), so invariably I arrive and end up still on the phone. Additionally, some customers call to place phone orders, and I am not in any position to tell them what their order will cost, etc., since i don't have prices 100% memorized.


So answering the email on the road and making / returning calls when I get back have allowed my crackberry to add some value.

[webgal]

I think it depends on the person. Some people get obsessed with those devices to the point they are antisocial in person or downright rude.

I do see people using it reasonably. But there are some who use it like a crack habit. And I think those folks probably do need to break the habit and are probably given to obsessive behaviors in the fist place.

I can't stand email away from home. I get so many. I don't leave the house all that much since I have a home office so when I leave I don't want to write copy or giving marketing strategy while I'm driving. Most of mine are not simple questions to answer.

So I think you do what works for you. Because in some cases it might relieve you of tasks. And in others it might tie you down more.

[JFrenzel]

I would have to agree with webgal. I had a blackberry once. There has to be time away from all the technology. It disturbs me when I see someone constantly on their cell fon. That is part of the reason I broke up with my ex, it would drive me crazy that she would check email every 5 mins. Imagine how much of deep conversation can be developed with someone cracking at their blackberry every 5 mins. What is worst about that, is that they involve everyone in their email. I don't want to hear about every little fire that gets started.


Best

Jose

[read]

Tim W,

I see what you mean with the ease of email over phones. This is something that's especially tough for me (I'm still figuring it out). I'm definitely more of an email than a phone gal. To be honest, I don't like the phone -- and my cell phone is mostly quiet during the day.

If, in my line of work, I could have someone answer the phone for me and return calls for me, that would be great. Unfortunately, a big part of my work is creating community, and phone calls are a part of that. I procrastinate on returning calls, though. As you mentioned, I always feel like it'll take so much time.

I'd love to hear thoughts on how folks negotiate these things...

In the meantime, I'm still crackberry free and loving it! Works for me so far--

[TimW]

I take calls when I am in my home office, and if I am expecting one and "on the road", I'll take it then. If I am between locations that I know will take 15-20 minutes, I'll take calls then. If I do, and can't answer their question, I tell them I'll call them back in an hour, two, whatever. The point is, I won't answer the phone if I know I won't have the time to devote to my customer.

If in the office, I'll spend as much time on the phone as I need to answer their questions, since at that time, email isn't as urgent.

I know it seems somewhat paradoxical, but it works for me. :)

[webgal]

Tim W,

I see what you mean with the ease of email over phones. This is something that's especially tough for me (I'm still figuring it out). I'm definitely more of an email than a phone gal. To be honest, I don't like the phone -- and my cell phone is mostly quiet during the day.

If, in my line of work, I could have someone answer the phone for me and return calls for me, that would be great. Unfortunately, a big part of my work is creating community, and phone calls are a part of that. I procrastinate on returning calls, though. As you mentioned, I always feel like it'll take so much time.


Another female with phonophobia! Oh my gosh. I have frequently circled the phone waiting to approach it. I hate to make calls!

TimW- That's what it's all about. What works for you.

[TimW]

I hate to make calls!

Yeah, but once on the phone, you sure aren't afraid to chat! :D

[amucci]

I have shut the notification off on my crackberry. It helps. I only check it maybe every hour or two. If people have an emergency, they call anyhow. The notification really was distracting. I'd be intensely writing, and DING, and I've HAVE to check it. It's like someone telling you to NOT think of the color RED. You're going to anyhow. I would try turning the ringer/vibrator off for a day and see. It's really not so bad. And then when you do check it, you can batch email back.

I actually did the same thing for my Outlook. If I am in Word or Excel, I shut off all notifications that I got an email. No popups, no sound. Then, when I am done doing what I was doing, I'll check email. You'll find that you only get a few emails that might be urgent, and most of them can wait an hour.

[cjbarton]

I downgraded, got a phone that's just a phone (and a camera), and I'm not looking back!
...
Slowly getting there...

Kudos! I can't seem to cut the tether to my iPhone. Although, the email push is nice - I still find myself checking my phone throughout the day. Particularly since I'm still working for the man, and I don't have access to my personal and my business email (I do web design/graphic design on the side).

[badhank]

ne1 else hate words like "crackberry" and "muse"

[Revv23]

Heh I guess I like my smart phone for weather, traffic and directions. Nothing quite like having a GPS in your hands. But I guess I would be better off if i learned to stop and ask for directions. But I'm much to impatient to waste time that way. Real time traffic with google maps on my phone saves me about 10 minutes per day in commute time, and this is on a 30 min commute so im looking at major gains.

[islandone]

A reply within minutes of receiving it does two things:

1. it shows the customer I care...meaning that we build a relationship that builds into the future. Thus, they place more online orders and I do not have to end up holding their hand. They, in turn, tell their friends that buying online with me is easy and a good experience.

2. Since the majority of emailed questions are "Do you have X in stock?", and adding a little extra information, gets this task out of the way within 2-3 minutes. This is usually done while I am already out on business trips (warehouse or shipping packages), so I'd just be driving if I didn't. And then, when I get back to my home office, I don't have deal with it.



This is all true. I think what you may want to look at is how can these responses be automated, outsourced, or how these questions can be answered in the sales process as the orders are being placed.

I got a blackberry because I am am on the go alot and I realized if I could do these things immediately, while in the car or whatever, they wouldn't pile up on me and things get handled right away.

What I found though is I get interrupted and while there is value in being able to choose at the moment whether or not to deal, I feel like I am constantly bombarded with communication, alot of which is not urgent and distracts me and wears me out.

The business I have been in for 12 years is not condusive to automation through technology, but I am starting to practice being unavailble like Tim talks about so I am not a bottleneck. Also I have recently outsourced a marketing task that I am not very qualified for anyway, and I am happy about that.

My goal is to move away from my current business by establishing a muse or a business that is much simpler so I can outsource and delegate more, as well as automate.