Friday, October 31, 2008

Ummm… well, we’re having some great meetings!

Howard Fineman of Newsweek tells about participating in both campaigns’ conference calls today. He said his head was spinning by the end of the second one. I’ve been there, in business. It’s exhausting to take it all in on the phone when you’re missing key sensory input, hard to think quickly for hours on end, trying to be smart and persuasive and spontaneous, but all the while keeping your guard up.

This observation reminded me of business marketing, too:

By contrast, the McCainanites are talking less about the Electoral College map or voter groups than they are about the total number of calls and contacts they have made, and the historical trends that would suggest that they are not as out of the ballgame as it might seem.

Isn’t that funny? It’s exactly the kind of thing business unit managers or sales managers say when they’re not making their numbers, so to compensate in review meetings they very! enthusiastically! relate how many great! meetings they’re having and how much interest! they’re seeing out there in the marketplace.