A Plea to People Who Send Calendar Invites: Write Better Subject Lines You + Me = much more informative.

By Jason Feifer May 30, 2017

Next Thursday at noon, I have an item on my calendar that says, "Call with Jason Feifer." Except, you know, I am Jason Feifer. And I don't schedule calls with myself; if I need to chat with Jason Feifer, I can just talk out loud.

So where'd this thing come from? I was emailing with someone I need to speak to, and, once we settled on a time we're both free, his assistant created an invite and sent it to both of us. The title was "Call with Jason Feifer," because that's exactly the information her boss needs. But it doesn't really help me, the other person invited to this event. Now, come Thursday, I might look at that entry on my calendar and have absolutely no recollection of who I'm talking to.

A quick scan backwards in my calendar finds many, many other examples of this. May 9 at 4 p.m.: "Jason Feifer Conference Call." (Question to ponder: Is a conference call more or less insufferable if you're the only person in one?) April 13, 10 a.m.: "Interview with Jason." I hope I asked myself some great questions! Tuesday, April 3, at 11 a.m: "Jason from Entrepreneur." Just a statement of fact?

So here is my simple plea to everyone who sends calendar invites: Write titles that help everyone out. Put my name and your name. My company and your company. Or hey, some combination thereof. You can get creative! Here are some fine options:

1. Jason Feifer + Joe Smith

2. Entrepreneur / Joe's Startup

3. Sync up: Jason/Joe/Nancy/Andrea

4. Joe/Jason interview

You get the point.

Together, we can maintain a baseline level of coordination between multiple parties. Together, we can remain fully informed and prepared. Together, we can create a living, mutually useful document of our finely scheduled time. And most importantly, together, when we get on the phone at noon on a Thursday, we can know who will be at the other end of the line.

I just spoke to Jason Feifer, and he thanks you for your attention to this important matter.

Jason Feifer

Entrepreneur Staff

Editor in Chief

Jason Feifer is the editor in chief of Entrepreneur magazine and host of the podcast Problem Solvers. Outside of Entrepreneur, he is the author of the book Build For Tomorrow, which helps readers find new opportunities in times of change, and co-hosts the podcast Help Wanted, where he helps solve listeners' work problems. He also writes a newsletter called One Thing Better, which each week gives you one better way to build a career or company you love.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Most Popular

See all

Leadership

7 Telltale Signs of a Weak Leader

Whether a bully or a people pleaser who can't tell hard truths, poor leadership takes many forms.

By Peter Diamond

Franchise 500 Annual Ranking

50 Franchise CMOs Who Are Changing the Game

Get to know the industry's most influential marketing power players.

By Jeff Cheatham

Marketing

5 Critical Mistakes to Avoid When Giving a Presentation

Are you tired of enduring dull presentations? Over the years, I have compiled a list of common presentation mistakes and how to avoid them. Here are my top five tips.

By Cynthia Kay

Side Hustle

'Hustling Every Day': These Friends Started a Side Hustle With $2,500 Each — It 'Snowballed' to Over $500,000 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

Paris Emily Nicholson and Saskia Teje Jenkins had a 2020 brainstorm session that led to a lucrative business.

By Amanda Breen

Science & Technology

5 Rule-Bending AI Hacks to Make Your Mornings More Productive and Profitable

By 2025, AI will transform productivity by streamlining workflows and cutting costs. Major companies like Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI are leading the way, advancing AI into "Phase 3," where tools act as digital assistants. Discover 5 AI hacks to boost efficiency and redefine your daily routine.

By Ben Angel