A break from the norm

Today must have been the first time in quite a while that I was out of the house for the beginning of the day until after business hours.  I pretty much work from home most of the time in my capacity as a Communications Director, but the mighty Meetings had me tied to downtown and Ballard all day.

I was a committee connoisseur today bouncing from one administrative engagement to another.  Decisions, discussions, defensiveness, diatribes and difficulties all wrapped up in a pretty, crinkly paper package tied with a bow of good intentions.

I had a break when I went for lunch and broke down and bought a sandwich (which always reminds me of one of my favorite jokes.   Why are deserts so popular?  Because of the sand which is there.) and after making sure to go light on the sauce, but keeping all the guacamole, I scarfed it down while waiting for the bus OUTSIDE IN THE SUN...FOR REALS.

Meetings tend to be fun affairs for me because i like watching other people stop paying attention.  I can predict with a fair sense of accuracy what time the meeting will move from effective to antagonizing with pen's point accuracy.  Yes, I meant pen's point  because before any meeting starts I write down how long I think it will take for the majority of people to mentally check out.  I then watch how the meeting is going to see if I was correct. 

Some of you may be saying I should be paying attention to the meeting itself and to that I say "tsst."  I keep extensive notes and refer to them from time to time to really commit them to something or other.  I'm one of the best meeting goers ever as I really do help people express themselves even if that expression is detrimental to the stated goals of the meeting.

Pretty much that last paragraph was just for my own amusement.  I actually do really well in meetings, especially picking up the unsaid portions.  Body language of course is the number one way we really communicate and I am a student of the shrug, eyebrow perch and the crossed arms head bob.  I love meetings especially if there is food involved.

Pro-Tip for meetings.  Always have food even if it is the simplest carbohydrates one can find.  Human interactions that have meaning ALWAYS have food involved.  Nothing sends a message that a meeting is a waste of time if their are no vittles available.  If people aren't chawing on something their hearts are in another place.  Feed them and they will not only come back to the next meeting, but they will have a pleasant association with everyone involved with that meeting, of course all bets are off if you serve Spam.