Improving attention span in boring meetings

Got this very funny email from Abhishikt Jain, which I forwarded to the pspl.humor newsgroup.

It's really boring during meeting sessions. Many of us even sleep during it. This tip helps a lot for us.

Practical tip...

1. Before (or during) your next meeting, seminar, or conference call, prepare yourself by drawing a square. 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
• take that off-line
• 24/7
• out of the loop
• benchmark
• value-added
• pro-active
• win-win
• think outside the box
• fast track
• result-driven
• empower (or empowerment)
• knowledge base
• at the end of the day
• touch base
• mind-set
• client focus(ed)
• paradigm
• game plan
• leverage

And last but not least

• MOVING 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, "BULLSHIT!"

Testimonials from satisfied "BullShit Bingo" players:

"I had been in the meeting for only five minutes when I won."
-Paul D., Caloundra

"My attention span at meetings has improved dramatically."
- DavidD., Rockhampton

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

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