Need Help with Voice Mail Messsage

[negativeground]

Hello,

New to 4HWW, and getting the gears spinning on trying out some of the ideas from the book.

For the last few weeks I've found my first form of liberation by simply putting my cell phones on silent mode or just not answering them at all. Every call goes to voice mail, even my personal cell phone. It's a wonderful feeling to not be available 24x7, as most of you probably already realize. The voice message for my work phone is easy, but I'm having some trouble getting creative with my personal voice message. How do I politely let my friends and family know that I do not answer my phone, but that they should leave a message, and I'll check my voice mail twice a day? I think I'm pretty close with the last sentence I just wrote, but I do not like the words "I do not answer my phone". I want something a little more subtle and less forceful. Yet they should understand and play along by leaving a message instead of simply hanging up and trying to call me again 20 minutes later.

Any good sample templates or ideas?

Cheers,

-Evan
New Rich in Training

[Marcie]

How about: "Thanks for calling, please leave a message...I check my voice mail twice a day at 10am and 4pm and I'll get back to you as soon as possible."

Short and to the point :) Good luck!

[kamakiri]

How about nothing? You are trying to out think yourself. You don't have a ton of friends who need 27/7 access or who call you twice a day. The people who do call you will leave a message if it is important, and you will soon find that the rest just stop calling.

Either way no one cares or wants to hear what you are doing, "I check my messages twice a day..." It makes you look pompous. Like you time is somehow better than theirs, and only serves to make people angry.

In a few weeks everyone will be aware and comfortable with the changes any way making this entire discussion moot. It is much easier and more personal to make a normal message, "Hey, can't answer the phone now. Leave a message and I will get back to you."

Then mention, when you call them back, that you like not answering your phone and will probably leave it off forever. You are better off having your friends think you just don't answer your phone any more, and you can trust me on this one, they get used to it quickly. Trying to get creative with a message like, "Hi, I have become a student of LD, and am working on joining the NR through the 4HWW, so I don't have time to answer your call at your convenience. Leave a message because I check my messages at noon and 4, but I will probably judge your message unworthy of a return call. Nice knowing you." will only hinder you.

[TimW]

Most systems have the ability to have it announce your name only, that you record.

"Hello, <your voice..."Bob Smith"> is unavailable. Please leave a message after the tone."

However if you're like a friend of mine who is infamous for not listening to voicemails you leave, and calling you back within seconds of you hanging up, "whassup chief?" "did you listen to the voicemail I jsut left?" "no..."

Then you're not likely to get calls at all. I rarely call him any more. Perhaps that was his plan. Doesn't bother me. He calls when he wants something, otherwise I just email him.

[phil]

Mine is, in an automated voice, "this voice mailbox has not been setup yet"

Basically a big FU to whoever calls :)

Has been like that for a year