24-hour ordeal: no mobile, no internet (page 4 of 4)

Tonight I am listening to radio, and soon switch over to my iPod which plays music of my choice (U2), and no boring ads.

23:15
After a relaxing massage and small dinner, I am sitting here in front of my notes and re-think the day. To make it simple: STUPID STUPID STUPID I feel. I have achieved hardly anything today; will have double work tomorrow and probably lots of emergency cases to deal with post mid-night. I am glad that the day is over, and I am confident that I will not be doing this again, as a volunteer. The Internet is part of my life, a must for almost all of my daily business activities and definitely a GOOD thing, if handled with care.

Despite all over-communication of emails, messenger chat rooms and mobile phone / SMS, I rather have the choice to delete emails, block calls and put the "busy sign" on my MSN than being offline ever again.

One thing I noted positively: Without a cell phone it's definitely less a headache and I am considering of not using my private mobile number for business in the future, as it gives me more privacy and freedom to focus on real tasks, than many convenient calls (e.g. taking comprehensive client briefs via phone, being on busy SZRD). So everyone listen: Email me, instead of texting or calling me and disturbing me secretly browsing the World Wide Web during office hours

One last comment (since I am in the online advertising business) and a message to all my clients, want-to-be clients and every marketer in the Middle East and elsewhere: If you are still concerned about allocating any dollars (or more than 0.25% of your total media budget) into online advertising; if you still believe that you can not reach your most important target group (me) on the Internet; if you still insist on putting TV, radio, print and outdoor at the forefront of your media strategy, keeping online last or nowhere, then I only have one advise for you: STOP USING THE INTERNET, at least for a day. Try to run your department without the net, switch your communication over to fax and snail mail, rely on post-campaign research, and do not justify ROI (which by the way means Return On Internet) and please, do not send me any email - that would be considered as cheating.

Midnight - 24 hours after

I am back online. My life is back in order. Mails are coming in, a lot, too many. I don't care; things are back to normal, even with 420 items in my inbox and more than 30 missed calls.

And back to the 10 million US$ question, the answer is NO. You can take radio, newspapers and television from me, but the Internet stays with me, forever.