Do you keep 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. Divide the card into columns-five across and five down. That will give you 25 one-inch blocks.
2. Write one of the following words/phrases in each block:
basically core competencies best practice bottom line revisit
obviously to tell you the truth (or "the truth is") 24/7 out of the loop benchmark
value-added proactive win-win think outside the box essentially
"hit the nail on the head", "having said that" "ya know what I'm say'n" at the end of the day touch base
he goes/she goes client focus(ed) paradigm "I'm like" leverage
3. Check off the appropriate block when you hear one of those words/phrases.
4. 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 W, Atlanta
"My attention span at meetings has improved dramatically." - David T, Orlando
"What a gas! Meetings will never be the same for me after my first win." - Dan J, New York City
"The atmosphere was tense in the last process meeting as 14 of us waited for the fifth box." - Ben G, Denver
"The speaker was stunned as eight of us screamed 'BULLSHIT!' for the third time in two hours." - Richard C, Chicago