Here’s a little story from my old blog that I felt needed to be here:

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I just got hung up on.

While this was a common occurrence during my dating youth, the frequency has declined markedly since marrying. But this hanger-upper wasn’t an angry woman, but someone who simply dialed the wrong number. Here’s how it went:

*ring ring*

Me: “Dan Furman” (this is how I answer the phone)

Caller: Is Mel there?

Me: Sorry. No Mel here. You must have the wrong number. What num…

Caller: *click*

Me (to myself): …ber were you trying to call… oh well…

Ten seconds later:

*ring ring*

Me: Dan Furman

Caller: Is Mel there?

Me: DON’T HANG UP. No, he isn’t. This is the same number you called ten seconds ago, and if you didn’t hang up so quickly, we would have figured out that you didn’t dial the wrong number, but you are calling the wrong number. I was trying to help you.

Caller: I’m sorry - I was just… I don’t know why I hung up so quick. You’re right, I should have stayed on to figure out which it was. Thanks.

…

I think people hang up so quickly because they are embarrassed. Trust me - there’s no shame in calling a wrong number. There’s no need to abruptly hang up. In fact, it’s rude.

Here’s wrong number etiquette in a nutshell - no matter which side of the conversation you are on, take ten seconds to find out of the wrong number was dialed, or if the caller actually dialed correctly, but has the incorrect number. It makes everyone’s life easier, and saves a repeat performance ten seconds later.

Also, perhaps the person you called has the right number. Perhaps their number is one digit off the number you want, and this happens all the time for them - personally, I get a ton of calls for “mental health” (really), which makes one wonder.

I’ll finish this on a somewhat related note: why do we still call it “dialing?” I haven’t used a dial phone in perhaps twenty years. Probably the same reason we still “roll down the windows” in a car. 

First really warm night of the year, and I was out playing with my camera. I got a Nikon D80 over the winter, and have been really enjoying learning how it works and such. I recently bought a tripod too, so I can take some stable night shots.

This was taken about 11:00pm - that’s my 100+ year old oak tree in the foreground, and obviously the moon peeking out behind it. Out of about 25 shots with various settings, this was the best (I’m finding out that’s how it works with photography - you take 20+ shots to get that one killer shot).

I love this camera and tripod - I’ve pointed various crappy cameras at the night sky for years, and never got anything nice. First night out with this setup, and I get this (you can click it to make it bigger):

I’m a bit disappointed that the corner of the house, and the electrical wire are in it (lower left) - I suppose I could retouch them out, but that’s too much like work. This is what I saw, so this is what I shot. Yea, you pros are laughing that this shot impresses me, but I’m new at this - gimme some time

So what does this have to do with business and marketing? Nothing. It’s Friday night - time to relax!!

Both “Do the Web Write” and the second edition of “Real Home Based Business“ should be in stores / online shortly.

I got my advance copies of “Real Home Based Business” last week via FedEx, and it looks great - very happy with it. It has MORE content, yet it’s actually shorter in page count. Nice printing job.

As far as Do The Web Write is concerned, well, I was out for maybe twenty minutes this morning, which means that was the exact time that FedEx came to make another delivery. So instead of a package, I got a “we were here but you weren’t.. ha ha  ha” note on the door (FedEx has an odd sense of humor.)

Seriously, since the only thing I’m expecting from FedEx are my advanced copies of ”Do the Web Write”, this must mean it’s done printing as well. Hopefully, I’ll have them tomorrow after I sign the little note (you know, in this day and age, there has to be a better way than this to deliver stuff. I can take a payment from China in thirty seconds, yet I can’t get a package delivered unless I am physically here - just seems odd.)

But anyway, that’s what’s happening on the book front. Both books out this month. Awesome.