401-954-****

The time is 2:30 pm on a Tuesday afternoon, EST.  Less than 6 hours prior, at 9:00 am, I had a business review with my manager to talk about some techniques to get back on track with sales and making my metrics.  In my job we are expected, during two specific times of the day, to make outbound calls to new prospective customers.  The goal: make at least 15 calls and spend at least a total of 20 minutes on the phone in that hour.  For me the biggest issue is distractions.  I like to multi-task and with my cell phone right on my desk, e-mail, IM, and 5 other applications that I use to do my work, not to mention the internet on all day, there is a lot to be distracted with.  Also for me, business reviews are very motivating and usually get me back on track.  I am a goals oriented person and as long as there is a goal in mind I strive for it with focus.

So here I am ½ hour in to the second of these call blocks during the day and I am doing it.  I am focused, keeping out all distractions and then my cell phone goes off…

401-954-**** (number starred out to protect the stranger that will enter the story shortly).  It is a number I not recognize.

I hit “IGNORE” and keep up with being focused.  Usually I would have answered it right away.  I am curious like that.

401-954-**** rings again.  Now I have to answer it.

“Hello.”

“Joe, this is Kristy.  Don’t hang up.  I am calling from a nice man’s cell phone.  I am at the Target parking lot.  I just locked my keys, my phone, my purse…and the baby in the car.  Can you come down here and unlock the car?”

Now luckily, the parking lot at Target is just 5 minutes away from where I work so I was out and back by 2:45 pm.  Funny thing is that I took the last 15 minutes of the hour I was supposed to be focused in and wrote this post.  So much for no distractions.