Like many of you, I am continuing to discover that more and more business is being conducted over the Internet and, specifically, by way of e-mail. When I first began speaking professionally, I never imagined I would ever book engagements without communicating with the meeting planner on the telephone and through traditional mail. Along came the popularity of the fax, which changed procedures somewhat, but nothing like the changes instigated by the Internet explosion about 10 years ago that began noticeably affecting the manner in which my speaking engagements were booked and continues to become more common.
Recently, I spoke for the first time with a meeting planner when she met me as I arrived at a conference in Arizona for which she had booked me as the keynote speaker. Up until then, all communication with her had been via e-mail, except for the signed letter of agreement and deposit check I received through the postal service. Even the questionnaire I require to be completed as I customize presentation preparations was handled through e-mail and never discussed on the phone. To top that, however, I had another engagement where even the letter of agreement was taken care of over the Internet and the speaking deposit was made via Internet transfer.
All of this is being shared in this column because it is hot on my mind as a result of a recent conversation with some other speakers who have been in the business for a long time like I have. And the thing about it is, no matter the profession in which you are involved, if you have been around for very long then you know what the changes have been like in your specialty - and how things continue to change.
As many businesses can attest, the Internet affects all services and products. In my case, selling books and other materials through my Web site has replaced flyers, brochures and various traditional methods. And I'm sure that many readers of this column agree with me when I say that letters received through traditional mail are becoming few and far between (except for bills - and even the billing companies are emphasizing more and more that consumers receive and pay bills via Internet). In response to my columns, e-mails arrive weekly. On the other hand, I can't remember the last time I received a column-response letter through the post office, which used to come frequently.
And with the introduction of MyMerlin.net, our new mentoring Web site for students and others, I am receiving some e-mail responses and questions that at first glance appear to be written in hieroglyphics or some alien language. It's a continually-changing writing style that is popular with contemporary texters, tweeters and other such communicators. In discussing this with school teachers, I am told that some students are trying to merge this communication style into text written for school projects. Based on their frames of reference, experience and ages, teachers are dealing with this in various ways.
I received a recent e-mail regarding MyMerlin.net that began with: "?4U" (Question for you). Following the question that dealt with the disposition quiz I developed for the site, the e-mail concluded with: "TIA" (Thanks in advance). Now, I will tell you, I am not into texting, but I did rather easily recognize the "?4U" part and deciphered the "TIA" closing. I struggled through the question enough to comprehend its essence. Maybe next week I will share with you the question and my reply to it. It is something of interest to just about anyone, and I think of special interest to readers of my weekly column.
TAFN (That's all for now).
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About our guest Blogger:
© Carl Mays, father of ClaimCare CEO Carl Mays II, is an author and speaker at over 3,500 events. Contact carlmays@carlmays.com or 865-436-7478. His motivational speaking and book information can be found on http://www.carlmays.com/. The Student Mentoring site MyMerlin.Net for students and others is based on his book and program, "A Strategy For Winning."