DARE - Because Entrepreneurs Do

Working with a client I often have to travel to their place to discuss things. They also work with a different agency for something that aligns with my work. Last week, for a discrepancy, I was asked me to intervene. A call was scheduled for 12 noon today when all of us would meet at my clients' place.  I was to meet them about 30 minutes earlier which meant 11.30 for me.

On the way, almost about to reach the stop I got a call that the agency guys are not coming at all. And then ask to do it over call around 3! Some how then they agreed for 12.30 since I was already almost there. We discussed a few things and then spent, read waste, the next 30 minutes chatting.
After not receiving their call, at 12.40 we called them to be told "we will call you back". We wait another 5 minutes and then get a call. They want to get someone on line from Mumbai and ask us to hold. Another 5 minutes wasted but they are unable to connect their colleague. We are asked to hang up and connect again. 5 minutes later another call but the same story repeats. And then another 5 minutes. This time we kept waiting. Finally at 1.15 I had to say I cant wait anymore. The call is rescheduled for Monday. I headed back to my office where it takes me another 40-50 minutes to reach.

Now count the man hours wasted. I started at 10.45 and reached back at around 2.15. A good three and a half hours of which only thirty minutes were useful. My client wasted a good one and a half hours. Thats 5 man hours gone down the drain or almost an entire day for a single person! Importantly, I work(charge) on an hourly basis, imagine the money I lost!
Disheartening to see such sad level of professionalism from a company which is very well known and was even among Asia's top 100 Technology companies once! No, I can't name them, at least not now.

What's the point in writing/whining here? Well, the message I wish to convey is we should learn to value others' time at least, if we can't value ours.

 

About me: I run a digital marketing startup called Niswey. You may read my profile here and/or reach me via email on abhinav@niswey.com or shout at twitter @AbhinavSahai}

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Dare to think beyond professionalism
written by S. Tanmay , March 07, 2012

As Indians, we have to learn to accept unprofessional behavior instead of fighting it. Consider this, if instead of calling a face-to-face meeting you intelligently opted for a video-conference, things would have been much more efficient. Society values professionalism as thought it were some dharma signed in blood. Be yourself, accept unprofessional behaviour in yourself and others. If you think this is radical, then yes it is.

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written by Abhinav Sahai, February 11, 2012

Hi Amit, as told to me by the editor, this is my blog space and I should even write about my family trips here, so I guess, whining also on my blogspace shouldn't be a problem :)
Unfortunately the platform does not allow my post to be tagged as a blog. I'll add a disclaimer here, till the time that feature is not available.
Regarding your point on learning from mistakes, yes I do believe in the same but not sure what was my mistake in the incident i mentioned here?

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So this is what it has come to?
written by Amit Gangurde, February 11, 2012

Whining online at a place like dare blogs; very professional. You are doing a business. Learn from your mistakes, correct it, and give people tips as to how to handle it instead of whining :)

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