Chad Clark's Open Journal : 2008-01-22

1) Angus Reid phoned at work.

Someone claiming to be calling from Angus Reid called today.  They were
conducting a survey on office supplies.

I asked what the commission was.  She did not know what I meant so I asked
"How much will I be paid for the survey?"  She seemed surprised and replied
"There is no money.  It's just a survey."  I explained that there is no
incentive for me to participate in the survey.

I was not trying to antagonize.  Such a survey would take time away from
other things.  If the opening had been presented differently then I might
have listened to the pitch.

It should have been presented that I would be getting something out of the
deal.  Maybe access to other survey results or free stationary supplies.
Angus Reid charges for their survey work.  Why shouldn't I?

I just googled for "angus reid" to make sure I had spelled it correctly.
The top of the page had a paid-for link reading "New Angus Reid Survey
AngusReidForum.com Your opinion matters. Join Angus Reid Forum. Get paid
for surveys."  If I sign up on my own schedule I get compensated but when
they phone and interrupt me I do not.

It is not unheard of to pay someone for their time to participate in a
survey.  Stanley and Danko mention several times in "The Millionaire Next
Door" that they had to pay millionaires to participate.

By not paying for survey time the survey becomes biased towards people with
nothing better to do or perhaps people who want to be helpful and kind.
Are those the kinds of people making purchasing decisions for a business?

Maybe for a large business with a bored person working in supplies.  My
experience is that small business owners are busy enough without surveys.

Most of the cold calls I see at work are about the caller.  They are rarely
about what the caller can do for the business.  Also oddly most of them are
about office supplies.

Remember this in your pitch: The recipient of the pitch is busy and already
judging you the moment you start talking.  You need to present the value to
the recipient early on or else it will be another short call.

2) A kite is to help pull a ship across the Atlantic.

The BBC article reads:

  The designers of the MS Beluga Skysails say the computer-controlled kite,
  measuring 160sq m (1,722sq ft), could cut fuel consumption by as much as
  20%.
  
  ...
  
  Ms Frank said the efficiency of the kite depended on wind and weather
  conditions.
  
  But the advantage of the SkySails system "is that you do not need only
  backward winds - there can also be side winds and you can still set
  sail," she said.