Tammi's World

Yeah - I'm one of THOSE....

Harvey and Teresa both chime in on how they feel about people chit chatting in public on their cell phones. They don't like it. Both make excellent points.

But I gotta tell you...... Guilty as charged! Yep - I'm one of those really annoying people that is on the cell phone all the time - having long conversations while waiting in line to pick-up dinner at Burger King, paying for grocerys, on the train, you name it and I've had a conversation while doing it (well, I do draw the line somwhere.....)

I live on my cell phone. I have 30 stores, all with numerous sales associates that all call All The Time. Most of the time when they call they have a consumer standing there trying to decide if they want to buy a certain item or not, and me answering that question often times make all the difference. Hell, there have been times the salesperson puts the consumer on the phone and I pitch the sale that way. Oh - I don't give away any secrets. I just "guide them" to the answer. If I don't take that call we could lose the sale. But I also am not going to get out of line to take it. I used to. A simple stop to pick up a bit of lunch could turn into an hour if I do that. And I don't have that time.

When I traveled to Bentonville AR a lot, I learned to be very careful. Speak in code as it were - and never ever ever work on the plane. Luckily I learned that at someone else's expense. You see my seat mate on the flight between Atlanta and Bentonville - on my first trip - got out his laptop and was working on his presentation. I glanced over and WOW.....he was my direct competitor! AND HE WAS TRYING TO STEAL MY RETAIL SPACE. I never said a word, never took the first note, but read everything in his presentation. When we landed, I went straight to my hotel room and made some changes. I kicked his ass. And I learned a lesson. I've never made that mistake myself, and I'm grateful to him. ;-)

So no - I don't give away trade secrets, but I do talk business. I have to. AND I use my handsfree. Yep....geeky girl walks around with a headset on, mic right in front of her face, talking away. I hate it, but I have to do it. It's called time management.

Also - my friends work. They are busy people. If we manage to get a chance to talk I'm talking - damnit. But in that instance, I'll often walk away, light a cigarette and have that conversation. Sometimes though I can't. Then - I just watch what I say.

I have 5000 mins on my cell phone plan. I run it to the limit each and every month. I LIVE ON MY CELL PHONE. And I know I irk the people around me when I'm on there talking in public. And for that I'm sorry - but..........I'm not going to stop. I am on the go constantly, I will do WHATEVER it takes to make my day easier and to add a little joy. If that means you gotta listen to me talk about the dinner party I attended last night - sorry. If it were terribly personal, I wouldn't do it.

But you know what? On the 12th of February the cell phone gets turned off. No forwarding, nothing. Just a message saying I'm unavailable. My Family (& Friends) are comin' to town!!!!!

Posted by Tammi at February 1, 2005 08:24 AM