Long pointless meetings are useful in that they keep incompetent people from interfering with those who are working.

An employee who needs permission to buy a box of paperclips can spend tens of thousands of dollars worth of employee time on bad meetings.

Many people attempt to save time by Not planning. This false short cut guarantees that everyone will spend more time later.

Unstructured spontaneity leads to serendipity, which (in business) leads to bankruptcy.

Meetings are a magnetic opiate that keep people from tasks they were hired to perform.

Ask questions

Many salespeople work from a script. Rather than let them read it, interrupt with, "Excuse me." Then determine purpose of call by asking questions such as, "What are you selling?" or "Why are you calling?" Set bounds on call by stating that you will take one minute to hear their offer and that you have a timer. Cut through enticement by getting facts that you need to decide if their offer has value.

Just say no

If you have no interest in offer, tell salesperson, "No." If you have no interest in company, product, or service, ask to be removed from their call list. Be polite and firm. Simply say, "We have no need for your service. Please remove my name from your list." Avoid small talk, arguments, or complaints. All of these waste your time and lead to nothing. In addition, savvy sales people appreciate candor. It frees them to proceed with their business.

Decline literature

If you attempt to rid yourself of a salesperson by asking for information, you cause three bad things to happen. 1) You guarantee a return call ("Hi, did you get what I sent?"). 2) You waste salesperson's money. 3) You add to mail that you have to process. Thus, decline literature unless you are interested in offer. Similarly, decline appointments, trial samples, or invitations that you know you would cancel. And never ask for a proposal if you have already selected another provider.