How to Stay Awake in Meetings

Do you find yourself falling asleep in meetings and seminars? What
about those long and boring conference calls? Here's a way to change all
of 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 eight of 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