| The advent of the computer and email has been | | | | enormous amount of what I call field intelligence. |
| a godsend to communication and particularly small | | | | You learn a lot when listening to their spontaneous |
| business operations. | | | | response, the tone of their voice and their |
| Sending messages electronically could not be | | | | attitude surfacing in the conversation. |
| more cost effective. Both consumers and | | | | It occurred to me that whatever their concerns |
| businesses save tons of money by not using the | | | | and fears were they mostly were afraid of being |
| United States Postal Service to deliver mail. | | | | found out. If you think criminals do not hide behind |
| We still need the postal service and other delivery | | | | emails you are terribly naive and misguided. |
| carriers (UPS and FedEx) to deliver packages and | | | | When you deal with me you are either open, |
| printed materials, but there is no question that | | | | honest and somewhat transparent or you will not |
| communication between individuals and groups has | | | | be dealing with me very long as your coach, |
| increased tremendously by email usage. | | | | mentor, confidant, consultant or whatever else |
| Online experts estimate that there are 700 million | | | | you want to call me. |
| web sites on the Internet today, and there are | | | | In all of my reading I have not read what I am |
| millions of people who use email but do not yet | | | | sharing with you here: that some people are |
| have a web site. It can only be a matter of time | | | | choosing to hide behind emails rather than |
| before the vast majority of people on planet | | | | communicate more effectively in person or at |
| Earth become computer literate and have their | | | | least over the phone. |
| own web site. | | | | If I were to coin a word to describe them, it |
| You would think that all of this usage would put a | | | | would be "email phantoms" as you do not hear |
| real dent in the volume at the postal service, but | | | | them or see them. They communicate only in an |
| I doubt it. My guess is that mail volume continues | | | | electronic world. |
| to rise as the world population increases. | | | | If you do not relate to my observation that |
| With email usage we communicate more than we | | | | some individuals are hiding behind emails, you will |
| ever have. When we add to electronic emails | | | | relate to this: You have a new computer that |
| such modern conveyances as fax machines, | | | | breaks down and you try to call the company, |
| pagers, text messaging and cell phones, we | | | | but they only solve technical problems through live |
| clearly live in an over communicated world. | | | | text messaging online (a form of electronic |
| Is there a teenager above poverty level left in | | | | emails). |
| America that does not have a cell phone, iPod or | | | | The only company that can help you does not |
| handheld computer and is constantly plugged into | | | | accept correspondence, and they do not accept |
| some device and talking, looking or listening? Just | | | | phone calls, even if you are willing to pay the |
| asking because it seems so. | | | | charges. You must correspond by email or not at |
| The epitome for me was when I stopped at a | | | | all. |
| red light and the couple in the vehicle next to me | | | | The perfect example of this is amazon.com; you |
| had both the husband and wife leaning out their | | | | do not, repeat, do not, write or call Period. Even if |
| side windows to get better reception while | | | | you are a vendor rather than a consumer; I |
| yakking on their cell phones. | | | | know as I have an account with them. |
| The stream of communication has become much | | | | And while I am extolling the wisdom of phone |
| quicker and more abundant but whether it is | | | | conversation over email transmissions let me |
| deeper or more meaningful is another question. | | | | launch another social observation: some people are |
| My impression is no, it has not become more | | | | no longer answering their phone when they are |
| meaningful. | | | | able to do so. |
| I launched a service to help people realize and | | | | You heard me right. Here is their routine: |
| achieve their potential in all areas of life, and as | | | | Someone calls you, leaves a message and asks |
| quickly as I launched the service I stopped it | | | | you to call them. I call them on their land line that |
| because I realized how society has changed as I | | | | evening after work, and no one answers so I |
| have grown older. | | | | leave a message, and now we begin to play |
| All of this happened because of a couple of | | | | phone tag. |
| experiences that convinced me that we are not | | | | Then I immediately call them on their cell phone |
| communicating as a people like we did when I | | | | because I am trusted and one of the few people |
| was younger. | | | | who have their cell phone number, and they |
| I never really advertised my new service but | | | | immediately answer. They were home but chose |
| word gets around and a few people emailed me | | | | not to answer their land line. |
| requesting my attention. I hit the reply button and | | | | The point is they never answer the phone |
| said I would be calling them to set up a time | | | | anymore. Later, when the mood strikes them and |
| when we could talk on the phone because they | | | | they reassure themselves they are totally in |
| were across the country. | | | | control and want to call back they do. In other |
| Their answer surprised me. They had zero | | | | words, common courtesy and respect for my |
| interest in communicating over the phone. They | | | | time are missing. |
| wanted to email me their challenges and problems | | | | It is almost as if they feel no need to answer a |
| and then I could email them back with my | | | | phone ever again unless it is in their work |
| answers and advice. | | | | environment. |
| I understood immediately that as a professional | | | | I always answer the phone when it rings, even if |
| writer I do not pig slop my way through email | | | | it is a loathsome telemarketer calling me when |
| communication, and that it would take me 20 | | | | my number has supposedly been taken off their |
| times as long to write them epistles rather than | | | | call list. |
| give them the same message over the phone. | | | | Young adults and professionals perceive |
| I did not take them on as clients. I realized that | | | | themselves as very important which may explain |
| they wanted to hide behind their email message, | | | | why many of them spend more time talking than |
| which unfortunately is a voiceless and faceless | | | | listening. |
| form of communication. | | | | Need I say it? Smart, successful, competent |
| Talking to clients on the phone gives you an | | | | people spend far more time listening than talking. |