general rule of thumb: forwards piss me off

but this is fun, from a like-minded coworker. don't think for a second i'm not doing this...

HOW TO STAY AWAKE IN MEETINGS: OFFERED AS A PUBLIC SERVICE...

Do you keep falling asleep in meetings and seminars? MAYBE Staff Development Meetings? What about those long and boring conference calls? Here's a way to change all of that.

1. Before (or during) your next meeting, STAFF DEVELOPMENT, seminar, or conference call, prepare yourself by drawing a square. I find that 5" x 5" is a good size.

Divide the card into columns-five across and five down. That will give you 25 one-inch blocks.

2. Write one of the following words/phrases in each block:

* Synergy

* Strategic fit

* Core competencies

* Best practice

* Bottom line

* Revisit

* Expeditious

* To tell you the truth (or "the truth is")

* 24/7

* Out of the loop

* Benchmark

* Value-added

* Proactive

* Win-win

* Think outside the box

* Fast track

* Result-driven

* Empower (or empowerment)

* Knowledge base

* At the end of the day

* Touch base

* Mindset

* Client focus(Ed)

* Paradigm

* Game plan

* Leverage

* Going forward

3. Check off the appropriate block when you hear one of those words/phrases.

4. When you get five blocks horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, stand up and shout "BULLSH!T!"

TESTIMONIALS from satisfied "Bullsh!t Bingo" players:

"I had been in the meeting for only five minutes when I won." Adam W., Atlanta

"My attention span at meetings has improved dramatically." David T., Florida

"What a gas, meetings will never be the same for me after my first win."- Dan J., New York City

"The atmosphere was tense in the last process meeting as 14 of us waited for the fifth box." - Ben G., Denver

"The speaker was stunned as eight of us screamed 'BULLSH!T!' for the third time in two hours."