Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

As time progresses, people are expected to become more efficient and more productive each year. One way people attempt to cram more activities into their daily lives is to conduct business on the phone while commuting to work by way of bus, train or car. I frequently see drivers putting on makeup, eating, reading, and even changing cloths while driving. I have even seen a delivery person, practicing guitar while driving. They had cut the “head” off the guitar “heck” to allow it to fit in their lap without sticking the end of the guitar out the window.

It’s obviously dangerous to take on other activities while driving. At the same time, in an effort to “catch up” on loose ends, you can accomplish a lot while driving!

Some people are born beautiful. The hair grows in all the right places, at all the right lengths. Others must spend several minutes primping and pruning to reach the “standard” level of visual acceptance. This does create time constraint problems when there just isn’t any additional time to catch up on beauty, or to read an article about your area of interest or trade.

Now there are many states introducing legislation (laws) that bar you from such activities… in specific circumstances. For example, it’s ok to talk on the phone while driving, so long as you have a headset (...Which blocks your hearing from surrounding noise causing people to rely on visual information to drive safely.).

It’s interesting to me, to know the types of activities people are angry to see, and how many people do it anyway. For example, some people would say talking on the phone while driving is too dangerous. But you will occasionally catch those same people talking on the phone while driving, when they think no one is watching. Of course they have an excuse… like, “well, my boss called and I have to answer him.”

Of course some people pull over for that situation, and that’s fine, but now they have lost the benefit of the “catch up” time. If you are stopped on the side of the road talking on the phone, you are no longer moving toward your destination, and therefore are not multitasking… Thus, not saving any time.

Talking on the phone may not be an issue to you. Maybe catching a quick snack while at your desk is more suitable for “catch up” time. Some employers find that to be acceptable. Others would say eating should not be done at your desk.

Federal law states you are to receive a short break after two hours of work. Do you really get that short break? Some people do. Many don’t. Yet no one says too much because we all need a job.

Can you accomplish as much as you do in a day without breaking the “rules” of your society or social circle? Do you do what you know you should not do when no one is watching? Do you make exceptions to the “rules” in specific situations because it helps to keep you “caught up?”



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Vincent Wilcox (a.k.a. KRAKR)
Drummer
My band: Letters Make Words

I vote you take BART or other public transportation so you can do all your catch-up work while someone else "drives". 

vincent as a motorcycle rider I couldnt agree more. People need to lay off all the "added tasks" they do while driving and pay attention to the most important thing, driving.  Honestly, I cant wait for computers to take control over the car, most people simply cant drive, or are too busy to drive.

A few months ago my cell got washed, yep waterlogged. A real bummer, I ended up going almost a week without a phone. I have to say it was actually quite nice, especially while driving I had no interuptions, I could drive and relax. Of course the vacation needed to end some time....LOL

tikki50... Yes! I agree. I love to drive, but I believe the most logical progression of the auto is become fully computer controlled. All computers talking at real time will create a better flow of traffic. And, the computer makes far less mistakes than a human. The side effect of loosing the driver in cars is that they can now do other things like conduct business, or talk with Grandma on the phone while arriving at her house. 

But until then... What do we (the people driving) do to compensate in our daily lives? How can we avoid doing those socially unacceptable things? Of course... you just don`t answer the phone or make a call, if it`s about driving and cell phones... But that means Grandma doesn`t hear from you. You may not have the additional twenty minutes to talk. Now you can`t telling her how much you enjoyed last night`s dinner with her.

I realize it`s all about budgeting your time. But the truth is, there are only 24 hours in a day. Organize it anyway you would like... but there`s still only 24 hours. When your day is full, how do you cram more things in, just to keep up with others?

Let`s face it. Some people are really smart. So to be as smart as them, you study everyday. Eventually you are smart too. Eventually, you are working one "smart" projects and have no time available to continue studying. The people who were smart before you were smart may be inherently smarter. Therefore they don`t require the amount of studying you require. How do you find the time to study? Cut your sleep time? You know... according to the most recent sleep studies I have heard, researchers say lack of sleep (average of 8 hours) causes stress, shortens the life span, and makes you less effective in thought and actions. It is said, even though you may think you`re at the top of your game, without proper rest, it`s evident to others, you are not.


nhgnikole... I agree with you too. Whenever possible, I would use public transit. The problem in this area is that they don`t have a very good record of being on time, and the public buses I have traveled on here in San Jose are way too public for me. I am not fond of catching others colds. But I digress... I still ride them from time to time (like when my car`s in the shop ).


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Vincent Wilcox (a.k.a. KRAKR)
Drummer
My band: Letters Make Words

Isn`t there some needle-point saying about not working harder, but working smarter? :-)

I`m one of those fortunate people whose hair grows in the right places. And so, given my exceptionally hairy elbows, I have to be careful when holding a phone. Otherwise, my arms slip off the armrests, and I have to say I`ve had more than one phone jam into my eye.

People who talk on the phone while driving, I suspect, are more ego driven than business driven. They want everyone around them to notice how important they are, and that they`re VIPs of some sort. I figure they`ll eventually drive into a bridge abutment, and cull the herd. It`s only a shame that they could as easily drive head-on into a family of parents and kids.

Portland is a big bicycle town.  More and more lately I`ve been seeing people riding their bikes and talking on their hand-held phones.  What`s with that - some kind of death wish?

I love not having a cell-phone myself.  Had one for about three months 11 years ago and hated it.  I`d conducted business very well for 17-18 years prior to that without having one - and I just don`t want/need to be that connected. 

- J.



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Jeff Fisher | Jeff Fisher LogoMotives | Tweet! Tweet!

I have a cell phone, but everyone who has the number knows that it is for important calls only. I don`t sit around talking on it, because I don`t bother buying a lot of minutes. I like being truly *away* when I`m away.

I`ve seen a few people on bikes here, riding with their cellphones. I guess if they want to take the chance on getting hurt or killed, that`s up to them. If you`re not paying attention when you`re riding a bike, the only person you`re truly likely to hurt is yourself. Whereas when yapping away in a car, you are also likely to hurt others around you, or passengers in your car.

I don`t like driving all that much, personally. If there were good public transportation here, I`d probably take it. Something along the lines of a subway. I`d definitely take a train if there were one that connected my city to other similarly sized cities around here, and also to the bigger city. I really despise distance driving and would be happy to do away with it!


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I have noticed that employers are blurring the line of "on the clock" hours and "off the clock." You could have your employer say something like... "We are going to have a meeting to share methods of increasing sales for the company. Could you create a report to hand out at this meeting?" But of course they are not expecting you to use work hours to create the report.

Do you refuse your employers request unless the process can be completed during work hours? If you are paid on a salary basis or in another manner which your hours are not tracked, but it`s apparent you work at least the prescribed 40 hour work week, do you just create the report knowing the creation time will have to come from your moments typically spent with your child?

As an employer, do you care about your worker`s personal time? I mean do you really care? When the "work hours" are over, do you call them for quick answers to continue your own work? Or do you wait for their return to work the following day, and find some way to accomplish your task without interfering with their personal time? Do you make exceptions to this "rule?" If you make an exception and contact your employee during personal time, what situation makes you (the employer) feel you should intrude on their personal time? Is this action an abuse of your power as a boss / employer? Could it be that employers are the sole beneficiary of "off the clock" workers? Are employers causing the "on the clock" and "off the clock" hours to be blurred or do the people (workers) feel they should work while "off the clock" because it provides flexibility in during the "on the clock" hours?


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Vincent Wilcox (a.k.a. KRAKR)
Drummer
My band: Letters Make Words