The start of the journey

This morning, I woke up a bit earlier than usual (4:44AM!) to make sure everything was in order before heading to GRR for my trip to #NECC. Everything went pretty well... until I faced the rest of the phalanx, lined up dutifully ready for inspection by the ever watchful security folks.

It's interesting that the five people in front of me had no idea that they needed to have ready: a boarding pass, some sort of ID, their toiletries in a baggie, etc. Interesting.

Anyway - here we go. Things will only get better!

BORING!

Scott McLeod at Dangerourously Irrelevent posts something dear to my heart - the act of walking out on presentations that are less than engaging.

We have all been there... the presenter is reading a PowerPoint slide deck to us, they're unprepared, they trip over their words, use lot's of 'ums and ahs', etc. Frankly, it drive me nuts. I always give the presenter the respect they deserve, however, I will flee (with my hair on fire) any presentation that is not useful, engaging, or enthralling.

If I don't depart in a rapid manner, I will turn to other work on my laptop and engage in something a bit productive. Sometimes I will even make notes about what I shouldn't do in my presentations based on my observations.

So, if I walk out, don't take it personally. You are just not meeting my needs, but you are probably doing so for others.

EDIT: Doug Johnson at The Blue Skunk Blog has some additional points on the topic as well.