How to Stay Awake in Meetings

Do you keep falling asleep in meetings and seminars?
What about those long and boring conference calls?

Here's a way to change all that.

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

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

3. 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

* pro-active

* win-win

* think outside the box

* fast track

* result-driven

* empower (or empowerment)

* knowledge based

* at the end of the day

* touch base

* mind-set

* client focused

* paradigm

* game plan

* leverage


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

5. 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."
- Adam, Atlanta

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

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

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

"The speaker was stunned as eightof us screamed 'BULLSHIT!' for the third time in two hours."
- Paul, Cleveland

"When I won and yelled "BULLSHIT!" the woman sleeping next to me slid off her chair!"
- Joseph, Los Angeles