Tue, 19 Aug 2003

ivman update...

The ivman subscriber list is almost at the 800 mark! As far as I can figure, I have subscribers in over 20 different countries now. Keep sharing the humor!

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personal update...

I have enjoyed my second summer as a tech at Information Technologies on campus. I learned a lot and will miss my co-laborers very much.

But I also thoroughly enjoy teaching, and our annual teachers' meetings begin on Wednesday of this week. It's not easy to sit through so many meetings and sessions, but the things covered really do help us to sharpen our focus for what lies ahead in the new school year.

If you think of it, please pray for us from time to time as we go through this school year. These are such critical years in the lives of our students when they make many choices that will shape the course of the whole rest of their lives.

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today's instant vacation...

Though, in general, I enjoy our teachers' in-service meetings, I know that some of you routinely have to attend meetings, seminars, etc. that can be a challenge to endure. I received something a while back that I thought would be amusing for y'all. Just be careful with this one!

 =^..^=  =^..^=  =^..^=   
Rob Loach in Greenville SC

Always remember - everyone of us is someone else's weirdo!
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DISCLAIMER: I'm not suggesting you actually play the game below at any meeting, but it would be fun at least as a mental game. If nothing else, people will wonder why you have an amused look on your face, when no one said anything apparently funny. I must admit, though, that several friends and I take great delight in counting the number of times certain individuals say certain phrases in some of our meetings - you just *know* they'll say them!  8-)

That said, on to the iv....

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Do you keep falling asleep in meetings and seminars? What about those long and boring conference calls? Here's a sure fire way to change all of that:

1. Before your next meeting, seminar, or conference call, prepare yourself by drawing a square -- 5"x5" is a good size.

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

3. Pick you favorite 25 "buzzwords" from the following list, and write one  word or phrase in each square block:

synergy
bottom line
strategic fit
core competencies
best practice
revisit
take that off-line
out of the loop
24/7
benchmark
value-added
proactive
win-win
think outside the box
fast track
result-driven
empower(ment)
knowledge base
at the end of the day
touch base
mind set
client focus(ed)
ballpark
game plan
leverage
at this point and time
based on

4. Check off the appropriate block when you hear the word/phrase in it.

5. When you get five blocks horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, stand up and shout "BALONEY!"

-- Testimonials from satisfied "Baloney Bingo" players:

"I had been in the meeting for only five minutes when I won." -- Jack W., Boston

"My attention span at meetings has improved dramatically." -- David D., Miami

"What a riot! Meetings will never be the same for me after my first win." -- Sue S., NYC

"The atmosphere was tense in our last process meeting as 14 of us waited for the fifth box." -- Joseph R., St. Louis

"The speaker was stunned as eight of us screamed BALONEY! for the third time in two hours." -- Kathleen L., Dallas