| If only he had listened to my suggestion of using an | | | | the paper...he was a burly man...the rack couldn't take |
| online diary planner | | | | his weight...it crashed along with him onto another |
| I'll never forget the meeting that took place last August. | | | | rack...and he fell under the rusted iron of racks and |
| I don't think anyone in our company will forget it. It was | | | | bureaus...by the time we all rushed into the rack room, |
| a meeting called at very short notice. It required the | | | | he was lying unconscious and bleeding heavily...we took |
| presence of all the managers, as well as of the | | | | him to the hospital...and they pronounced him dead...it |
| company's top brass...it was hardly a meeting, | | | | was awful...of course, we lost to the other company at |
| resembling more a competitive situation than anything | | | | the meeting...they bagged the sops, which we badly |
| else...who would be awarded the sops...us or our | | | | needed...but more important, we lost a colleague...and |
| competitors...that was the sum and gist of it... | | | | what was tragic was that the loss could have been |
| For many months, long before this August meeting, I | | | | averted if we had relied on online diary planners, which |
| was toying with the idea of using online diary planners...I | | | | would make data storage and retrieval much more |
| had felt that the time had come to automate the | | | | easy. |
| meeting management process. Hence, when our CEO | | | | Subsequently, the CEO allowed me to put into action |
| granted me the permission, my team and I began to | | | | my meeting automation plans. It took quite some time |
| work on and subsequently devised a software and | | | | for each executive to upload all relevant data from the |
| meeting tool which was an online diary planner and I | | | | files and papers onto the online diary planner. But once |
| thought it was great...Instead of only my team and me | | | | it was all uploaded, everything became as smooth as |
| using it, I wanted everybody in the company to use | | | | silk. Writing and sorting agenda and minutes, finding |
| it...but Rick objected. He was always against my | | | | contacts and venues, searching for and referring to |
| policies...said that if I introduced the online diary planner...I | | | | meeting details of meetings that took place long ago, all |
| would end up doing away with all the staff, such as | | | | became a piece of cake. New contacts from our |
| PAs, secretaries, clerks, etc., who would help in | | | | various email ids could easily be imported into the online |
| managing meetings. He said that I was planning to take | | | | diary planner. And the amazing thing was how we |
| away their jobs by creating a paperless office and he | | | | could connect with each other! Through the Shared |
| brainwashed them and together they caused an | | | | Meeting and Shared Agenda features of the online |
| agitation...so the CEO decided not to put the online | | | | diary planner we connected with those we wanted, on |
| diary planner into action...But Rick's reason went | | | | issues such as meeting dates and times, attendees, |
| deeper than what it seemed...he thought I was getting | | | | agenda, etc. without sending emails or letters to each |
| too much praise from the CEO for the projects I was | | | | other and without going up and down floors or |
| involved with. My processes were really helping to cut | | | | crossing roads to meet each other. It was curious |
| costs...without any downsizing. So, when I came up | | | | social networking if you can call it that...but that's what it |
| with the plan of automating the meeting management | | | | turned out to be! |
| process by using an effective online diary planner, | | | | The next major meeting was held in November last |
| Rick's hackles were raised. My plan was not | | | | year, within 3 months of the tragedy. I was told to |
| implemented...thanks to Rick's devious ways. | | | | present it...and it was a gala success. Though we had |
| Anyway, suddenly the CEO made the announcement | | | | lost the advantage of sops, we scored a victory over |
| about that meeting last August. It was to be held on a | | | | our rival in the way we discussed the agenda with the |
| huge scale just 2 days after the announcement. I didn't | | | | Government and clinched the contract, and we |
| know what was happening - whether we were | | | | became even with our competitors. The CEO praised |
| coming or going. The entire office went mad. | | | | me and I was given a double promotion - first, because |
| Everyone was running helter-skelter, finding files and | | | | my methods were instrumental in gaining special |
| papers and records...tables were turned over, drawers | | | | benefits and the contract from the Government and |
| were turned inside out. Secretaries rushed from floor | | | | second, because I had demonstrated the advantages |
| to floor taking notes and dictations about meeting | | | | of meeting-data automation and going in the 'paperless' |
| agenda, not even waiting for the elevators. We | | | | direction with zero downsizing or layoff. Everybody |
| worked all through the nights, for both the days. | | | | was very happy after the November meeting, |
| Formulating agenda, collating minutes of past meetings, | | | | especially the secretaries...they now fully understood |
| sending invitations, making sure people supposed to be | | | | how they could benefit from using an online diary |
| present weren't left out...the whole office looked like a | | | | planner - especially when they thought of how they |
| garbage dump...with papers, stationery, files, notepads, | | | | had run from pillar to post in August, tripping over files, |
| file clips, pin cushions, tables, chairs and bureaus strewn | | | | banging their heads against racks and almost landing in |
| all over...Rick had taken charge of the event...the CEO | | | | the same plight as Rick...Today, a year hence, I'm proud |
| was reluctant to assign him the task...but he had | | | | to say that I feel very happy when I see all the happy |
| insisted on taking charge of it all...he wanted to prove | | | | faces around me...but there's only one thing that makes |
| something to the CEO...I guess...and wanted to have | | | | me sad...Rick's untimely death...he might have disliked |
| one-up on me...but then...a terrible thing happened...one | | | | me...but I never disliked him...and if only he had listened |
| key document couldn't be located, no matter how | | | | to my suggestion of introducing the online diary planner |
| much the secretaries searched the drawers and | | | | as a meeting-data-automation tool in the company, |
| rummaged through layers of dust...Rick got | | | | months before the August meeting, he could have |
| desperate...he pulled down papers, stormed through | | | | lived...and been happy...like all of us... |
| cupboards, and climbed onto a rack, pretty high, to find | | | | |