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Realized I was the guy who talks too much at the board meetings
At last month's Bothell Community Board meeting, I was going on about sidewalk repairs for like 10 minutes straight. Then an older lady named Carol passed me a note that just said "you're losing them." I looked around and three people were on their phones and the chair was checking his watch. That was the moment I figured out I need to keep my comments to two points max and sit down. Anybody else get a reality check like that at a local board meeting?
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ray_hernandez26d ago
@christopher_wells4 is onto something with that napkin trick. My wake up call came at a Shoreline zoning meeting when I started rambling about tree preservation and a guy in the front row actually fell asleep. Now I write my main point on an index card, read it out loud, and sit down before anyone can start checking their watch again.
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ray_miller412mo ago
Carol passed me a note once too but it just said "breathe" lol. I was at the Kirkland planning commission and went off on a 15 minute tangent about parking lot drainage and the mayor literally started counting ceiling tiles. Now I set a timer on my phone for 90 seconds and when it buzzes I just say "that's my time, thanks" even if I'm mid sentence. People actually clapped the first time I did it.
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christopher_wells41mo ago
Timers are a lifesaver honestly. I just scribble my main points on a napkin and stick to those, forces you to stop rambling.
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