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How I Look Professional Even Though I’m a Screwup
Have you ever had a rushed day where there’s too much to do and not enough time to do it? Where you’re pretty sure things are falling off of the side of your plate, but you don’t have the time to look and see what they are?
And, in a day like that, have you ever forgotten a vital piece of information on your way to a meeting. Say, I don’t know…..an address?
I’ll be the first to admit it. I have and continue to have those kind of days. And, yet, I continue to look professional.
At least, until I posted this…
Anyway, if every now and again you have an “I’m a screwup” day, read on to find out how to look professional anyway.
WELCOME TO “S.A.”!
I’m thinking about starting a support group - Screwups Annonymous (S.A.), although I’ve pretty much killed the anonymous part…
In any case, I’ll start: “Hi. My name is Dan. And I’m a screwup.”
This is the part where you say, “Hi, Dan! Keep coming to the meetings! You can do it!”
I’ll admit that I’ve misplaced addresses, phone numbers, directions, and all manner of things at all levels of technology.
Was it written on a piece of paper? I lost it.
A note on a post-it? It fluttered off somewhere.
In a file on my laptop? Battery died.
On my PDA? Erased it somehow.
Tatooed it on my arm? A shark bit it off.
Okay…maybe not the last one. But you get the idea!
TECHNOLOGY TO THE RESCUE!
Fortunately, I’ve discovered one little piece of technology that has saved my bacon more times than I care to admit.
It is Tellme, which I must also begrudgingly admit is now a division of Microsoft.
So, have you lost the address to the business meeting you’re headed to? No problem!
Just call Tellme (800-555-TELL) - a FREE call - and say, “Business Search”. The nice lady will ask you the city and state and give you an address and phone number. And she’ll ask to text your that information so you have it handy.
Don’t know where that address is? Say, “Directions”. The same nice lady will ask where you are and where you’re going and then give you turn-by-turn directions.
How cool is that?!?
ALSO USEFUL IF YOU HAPPEN TO TRAVEL A BIT
While Tellme has all sorts of other useful features (stock quotes, newscenter, sports, entertainment), the one that is the most useful (for something other than wasting time) is “Travel”.
Within the “Travel” area, you can pick from Airlines, Hotels, Rental Cars, Taxi. So, if you need to know if your flight is on time, just say, “Airlines” and Tellme will connect you to whatever airline you mention.
The same is true for hotel, rental car, and taxi companies (useful since have been no yellow pages in the airports for the last 10 years).
NOW GO OUT THERE AND LOOK MORE PROFESSIONAL!
I know this sounds like an ad for Tellme, but it’s a completely free service. What am I going to get? 10% of free?
I was just realizing the other day how much easier Tellme made my life and wanted to let you know about it, too.
Thank you, Microsoft! (And if you ever start charging for this, I’ll come to Redmond and put Linux bumper stickers on every one of your employees’ cars!)
Enjoy the Search!
Dan
—–
Daniel R. Sweet
Chief Cook-And-Bottle-Washer / Sr. Recruiter
FRACAT.com - Free Resume and Career Toolbox
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielrsweet
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Photo by: rileyroxx
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