Why I got rid of Voicemail

why turn off voicemail

I reached the point of voicemail irksomeness a few years back but I felt the pressure to keep it. Pressure from whom I really don't know - but I felt it just the same. Today's planet is dominated by email, texts and instant messaging... not to mention the up and coming peer to peer video.  Voicemail is now as needless as pigeons and pagers... or pigeons with pagers.  And that little voicemail notification icony-thing... %#$@^ you!

There were two catalysts...

First - I've been looking for ways to increase space in my day. Removing trivial time-suckers that we all find ourselves buried in ie. checking email every 5 minutes, popping in on facebook or instagram etc.  I needed to remove access, increase space and go against the myth that being busy is being successful.

Second - This past year a new pain in the ass arrived - automated robo-calls from "Google" New Jersey, Florida, Chicago, Connecticut etc. who left a voicemail... every. Damn. Time.  That was it, adios little voicemail notification.I experienced a little push-back from CEO-Straight-Business-Vaughn - he had some reservations about my clients access to him.  I reminded him that nearly all initial communication is done via email and my website, about 5% of my clients actually reach out initially by phone and rarely leave a message. Most hang up and email me asking for availability, pricing and package info.

As a photography business owner, keeping all communication organized with email just makes good sense. Removing voicemail and the possibility of communication error is another step in the right direction.  Less access, improved organization and more space - that's why I got rid of voicemail.Here's a great poem by W.H. Davies to illustrate my goal and this baby-step towards creating more space in my life.

What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare?No time to stand beneath the boughs, And stare as long as sheep and cows:No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass:No time to see, in broad daylight, Streams full of stars, like skies at night:No time to turn at Beauty's glance, And watch her feet, how they can dance:No time to wait till her mouth can Enrich that smile her eyes began?A poor life this if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.

I'd love to hear other suggestions for creating space, removing access fellow entrepreneurs? I'm all ears, and no voicemail...  

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