chrisbrogan.com» pleasedontmakemesignthat http://www.chrisbrogan.com Learn How Human Business Works - Beyond Social Media Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:30:05 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Fix the Paper Hole http://www.chrisbrogan.com/fix-the-paper-hole/ http://www.chrisbrogan.com/fix-the-paper-hole/#comments Thu, 05 Feb 2009 10:30:04 +0000 ceb http://www.chrisbrogan.com/?p=3266 paper products I’ve got a problem. As a professional speaker and someone running an online marketing agency, I am often in a situation where someone sends me a contract to sign. Makes sense. LOTS of businesses run on contracts. Here’s the thing: I’m a digital nomad. I rarely visit the office. I don’t have printers and fax machines. Think about it.

The Process

  1. Someone sends me something to sign in email.
  2. I look at the email for days.
  3. I plead to just send an email signature.
  4. Seven reminder emails later, I find my way to Staples (or *.placewithprintersandfaxes)
  5. I print the form/contract.
  6. I sign the form/contract.
  7. I dig into my iPhone email to find the fax number, can’t.
  8. I email the person to remind me of their fax number.
  9. I listen to bad in-store music and make small talk with the Copy Center person, who hates everyone.
  10. I get the email.
  11. I dial the fax number.
  12. It takes four tries.
  13. The fax goes through.
  14. Weeks later, the process is complete.

It’s 2009

Can we please stop the paper thing? Isn’t there another way?

I know there’s not, but if nothing else, I feel better for explaining why you’re still waiting for me to sign whatever it is.

Photo credit Vali

]]> http://www.chrisbrogan.com/fix-the-paper-hole/feed/ 206