I do not know how I missed these photos of a ceremony that took place on March 12, 2014 in Boston. While attending the ClinTech Summit, Garrett Smith and Vladimir Pyagay received their membership cards. I know you’ll find this hard to believe, but they received their cards in a conference hotel bar. A shock, I know.
Found this set of quotes from a meeting which yielded some excellent quotes.
If you quote me, I will shoot you.
– Ulrike Brenner
I’m going to keep my mouth shut, so I don’t end up in the quote show.
– Matt Clacy
This is a quote-free zone.
– Unidentified
Contracts people tend not to be flexible.
– Stephen Breen
Good ring tone Ann.
– Scott Nodolf to Ann Nightingale
Hello, there appears to be no activity ongoing at this meeting, good-bye.
– Teleconference Phone Robot
Do we have and I know we don’t.
– Stephen Breen
Check back for more postings. If your name is mentioned and you’d like it removed, please email me at chris@focmnetworking.com and I’ll give your request strong consideration and may even possibly act on it. Seriously, though I will remove it if you want me to.
Background: This all started at a US Sales meeting and in order to stay focused on what was being said, I started writing down the business cliches, like “let’s circle the wagons”, “let’s table that”, “always be closing” and then count how many times they were said. As I began paying attention, I would hear a phrase that was appropriate for the context in which it was said, but wow, it sure was amusing to see the phrase just sitting there by itself. That lead me to put them into a slide show show so the phrase was seen in its purest form along with the person who said it. As this practice became known, the slide set became the unofficial and humorous wrap-up presentation, kind of a summary of the things stated over the course of the meeting.
Here is the next in the ongoing series of quotes taken out of context in business meetings:
It doesn’t mean I have to like it.
– Jim Ashby
You’re making the assumption they logged in during the last 7 days.
– Jessica McGeehan
If you want to touch your client.
– Brenda Van Houten
What Andrew said is perfect.
– Mark Matson
That would be ridiculously awesome.
– Paul Colombo
You have to quit and come back to get a new computer.
– Mark Matson
Say something naughty.
– Unidentified
ITG knows the bowel.
– Unidentified
She just needs to get in there and get her hands on it.
– Scott Nodolf
Check back for more postings. If your name is mentioned and you’d like it removed, please email me at chris@focmnetworking.com and I’ll give your request strong consideration and may even possibly act on it. Seriously, though I will remove it if you want me to.
Background: This all started at a US Sales meeting and in order to stay focused on what was being said, I started writing down the business cliches, like “let’s circle the wagons”, “let’s table that”, “always be closing” and then count how many times they were said. As I began paying attention, I would hear a phrase that was appropriate for the context in which it was said, but wow, it sure was amusing to see the phrase just sitting there by itself. That lead me to put them into a slide show show so the phrase was seen in its purest form along with the person who said it. AS this became known, the slide set became the unofficial and humorous wrap-up presentation, kind of a summary of the things stated over the course of the meeting.
Today marks the day that 55 years ago Peter Holthe was born. Peter and I first met in/around 1998 while working at Quintiles. We traveled the country talking about and demo’ing web-based electronic data capture systems for use in clinical trials. As many of you know, FOCM has come to exist because of Peter. The name, the pronunciation and the logo were his idea.
Words that come to mind to describe Peter: larger than life, bon vivant, gourmand, wickedly funny, witty, sharp as a stick, passionate.
The phrase “larger than life” – I’m not sure I knew what that meant until I got to know Peter. For me, it means, the way he made life fuller, brighter, bigger and more fun. His exuberant passion about golf, wine, food, plants, fishing, hunting and dogs (in other words – life and living it to the fullest) would exhaust normal people. But when you were around him, you were energized by his enthusiasm. Pranks and practical jokes were so well thought out in the blink of an eye. After we no longer worked together, most of our contact was by phone. He would make my day by adding laughter and insightful observations. Peter lived a very full 50 years. I miss him.
Happy Birthday my friend.
See the link below for a blog I wrote on the website of my employer (Y-Prime). For this blog, I focused on helping introverts become better networkers. My co-presenter at the Drug Information Association annual meeting in June, Bob Muzerall was the source for some of the content.
http://blog.y-prime.com/networking-clinical-research
One of the benefits of paying one’s annual FOCM Networking membership (an incredible value at $20/year – double check to see if you’re paid up for 2014) is that you get either your business or yourself highlighted in the prestigious “Spotlight”. The first Corporate Member Spotlight featured RxTrials where FOCM member Adam Chasse is the COO.
In the first “Member Spotlight”, Vicky Martin is featured. Vicky is one of my favorite people in the world. She’s funny, quick-witted, sarcastic as the day is long, tough as nails and lives on a compound in an undisclosed section of rural central Pennsylvania where her family strives to reduce their carbon footprint.
How do I know Vicky and when did I first meet her:
I probably first met Vicky over the phone interviewing her for a position with ICON Interactive Technologies Group (ITG). Vicky joined ITG in Business Development in 2004. We first met in person when she went to Sugarland, TX for training. Not only was my product and sales training instrumental in her future success, I continue to act as life coach, guiding light and vegetable canning mentor which goes a long way in explaining the zealous personality she has become.
Vicky’s bio (this should be interesting): Vicky comes to the FOCM Network via working with me at ICON. Vicky grew up in so many places that, if you name one, she probably lived there or within a two state radius (Alaska and Hawaii excepted). She attended 5 high schools in 4 years (no, her parents were not officially gypsies), and graduated with honors from Clear Creek High School (Evergreen, CO). Vicky se habla the espanol. As a member of the U. S. Army, she defended America in Operation Just ‘Cuz down alla’ in Panama. She likes to jump out of planes, she can kill another human with one hand and a pen knife and, as a mother, make you know she means business with one look.
As the mother of 4 children, there isn’t much Vicky doesn’t know about the limitations of parenting skills. Vicky also speaks Scottish (aka Jockenese) and knows exactly where both Auchtermuchty and Ecclefechan are located as well as the correct pronunciation of towns like Strathaven and Milngavie (which, unless you are Scottish, you will never guess).
Vicky is a reliable member of FOCM, she doesn’t miss many of the PA events even though she has to drive her horse and buggy from Amish Country of PA. She plans to live forever. So far, so good.
FOCM Member Tommilynn Baker works for SunGard K-12. SunGard K-12 Education is a leading K-12 technology solution provider, serving over 8 million students or 1 out of 6 students nationwide. We work with over 1,550 school districts around the country to deliver K-12 software solutions designed specifically to support student achievement. Our PLUS 360 solution is a powerful and more efficient approach to K-12 technology: A single integrated suite of products for student information, assessment and curriculum management, special education, and financial and human resources.
SunGard K-12 is hiring Technology Project Management and Software Consultant, see descriptions below:
Looking for a job! My company is hiring. SunGard K-12 ….These positions are home based.
…
Saw this good article by Nina Sunday on LinkedIn:
“When a new hire joins a company their expectations are high. But a common reason they leave is not the organisation; it’s their immediate manager. According to Wilson Learning research on employee engagement*, happiness at work flows from the leadership skills of managers.”
Here is the next installment of quotes taken out of context in business meetings I have attended:
Is Jim Ashby going to make it home in time for “Parenthood”?
– Kris Kuhner
Everything is DEFCON 5
– Kris Kuhner
All the beaches left.
– Mark Matson
Snuff is the powdery stuff, right?
– Andrew Smith to John Perrin
Cannonball it!
– Pete Nieto to Michelle Burlingame
The fat American?
– John Perrin
You can’t trust an IPhone. Internets lie.
– Kris Kuhner
The Droid doesn’t lie.
– Kris Kuhner
The Droid will lie to you.
– Mark Matson
I’m going to leave before I get a nickname.
– Unidentified
A gold medal is a gold medal.
– John Perrin
Check back for more postings. If your name is mentioned and you’d like it removed, please email me at chris@focmnetworking.com and I’ll give your request strong consideration and may even possibly act on it. Seriously, though I will remove it if you want me to.
Background: This all started at a US Sales meeting and in order to stay focused on what was being said, I started writing down the business cliches, like “let’s circle the wagons”, “let’s table that”, “always be closing” and then count how many times they were said. As I began paying attention, I would hear a phrase that was appropriate for the context in which it was said, but wow, it sure was amusing to see the phrase just sitting there by itself. That lead me to put them into a slide show show so the phrase was seen in its purest form along with the person who said it. AS this became known, the slide set became the unofficial and humorous wrap-up presentation, kind of a summary of the things stated over the course of the meeting.
FOCM Networking window stickers are now available!
Suggestions for use: in the back window of your car or in the front window of your place of business or in a window at your house. To place your order please “become a FOCM Member” and put your mailing address in the “Message” section, so I can send you the sticker. The stickers are $5 a piece. You can use the PayPal link in the “become a FOCM Member” to pay for your order. If you don’t want to use PayPal, you can hand me $5 next time you see me.
Next item will be T-shirts.
