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Content is cheap.
Connections
are currency.
Let me know how I can add
value to you, your business, and your network.
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Thanks to modern technology
there are many different ways to communicate and connect.
In addition to the numerous benefits, I find technology has
also created a small number of negative idiosyncrasies, e.g.
spam (and similar high noise-to-level communications), but
also what I call an 'expectation culture'; an environment
which suggests that a message left on voicemail or email
sent demands an immediate and almost automatic response.
Quite often, email is used
by many as a 'shoot from the hip' communication medium, i.e.
I don't have much to say or don't know what to say so I'll
shoot out a message quickly to say "hi"; and quite
often that is pretty much the extent of the message. The
emergence of micro-blogging sites such as Twitter would seem
only to exacerbate this condition.
The other extreme is the
bombardment of your inbox with trivia. Of course junk mail
and chain letters are a whole different kettle of fish.
Also, the explosion of instant messaging (IM) and internet
telephony (VOIP) services over the last several years has
further contributed to the high noise levels of Internet
communications.
My opinion is this. If I send
an email, I want it to be meaningful and valuable to the
recipient. All threads and discussions eventually come to
a natural conclusion; to continue them ad infinitum would
be both frivolous and deafening. Each of us has our own priorities
on which we act accordingly; I do not take this as a lack
of respect for my communication or as a suggestion that it
has no value to you. The above does not refer to customer
service which has its own dynamics. Just because someone
is online with one of my IM or VOIP services, does not mean
that I have to message or call them; just because it is free.
If I call someone, unless it is simply to catch up on a personal
level, I plan what I want to talk to them about so that there
is a purpose, and an expected outcome, respectively end-point
to the call. I expect the same courtesies in return.
Please feel free to use any
of communication medium you wish to contact me and
in the event we do not connect at that time, I will endeavour
(where relevant) to return your call/IM/e-mail as soon as
possible if required. Please however also understand that
I do not constantly monitor Skype, MSN, Yahoo Messenger,
Google Talk, Twitter et al, and I use several filters on
emails to filter out and automatically file away for later
review what is for me low priority content. In some cases
those filter cause direct automatic deletion (e.g. when unsubscription
attempts fail).
All of that said, if you have
my contact details, please use them. For personal reasons
I am in the process of changing various contact numbers and
email addresses. If you do not have my latest details, you
can email
me here.
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