I Thought That Was the Starboard!?

Summary

Podcast Summary: Armstrong & Getty On Demand – "I Thought That Was the Starboard!?"

Release Date: August 6, 2025

In the episode titled "I Thought That Was the Starboard!?" from Armstrong & Getty On Demand, hosts Jack and Joe delve into their personal experiences with meetings across different generations, blending humor with insightful commentary. The conversation also takes a playful detour into Jack's newfound interest in sailing lessons. This summary captures the essence of their discussion, highlighting key points, notable quotes, and the overarching themes presented.

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1. Navigating Meetings: A Generational Divide

The episode kicks off with Jack recounting a recent Zoom meeting experience that underscored the stark contrast between his generation and that of the younger attendees.

• Jack (00:09): "One more thing. Did you say Starbursts starboard as opposed to port?"

He humorously introduces his participation in sailing lessons, setting the stage for a broader discussion about meetings.

• Jack (00:40): "Joe and I were on a meeting yesterday, a Zoom meeting with a whole bunch of people for a client. And everybody on there but us was in their 20s, early 30s. They were pretty young."

Jack and Joe express their rarity in attending meetings, attributing it to their career paths and personal preferences.

• Jack (01:09): "To have a career in life and go to like one meeting a year is pretty awesome."

Joe adds to the sentiment, emphasizing the universal dislike for prolonged meetings.

• Joe (01:09): "I don't know anybody who likes a nice long meeting."

Katie's Insight: Katie, presumably a co-host or guest, reflects on the efficiency of younger professionals.

• Katie (01:48): "I emerged from it thinking, boy, those people are really sharp and good at their jobs."

This highlights a mutual respect for the younger generation's ability to conduct concise and effective meetings.

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2. Efficiency vs. Protraction in Meetings

The conversation transitions into an analysis of meeting dynamics, contrasting individuals who aim to achieve objectives swiftly with those who seem to perpetuate meetings without clear goals.

• Jack (02:15): "They don't do the niceties. And maybe that's a bad thing, I don't know."

Katie elaborates on cultural differences in meeting etiquettes, pointing out that some cultures value brevity, while others see it as disrespectful.

• Katie (02:30): "In some cultures, that would be incredibly disrespectful."

Historical Leadership Styles: The hosts reference prominent business leaders known for minimizing unnecessary meetings.

• Katie (02:43): "Elon Musk and Steve Jobs, very famous for barely having any meetings."

Jack concurs, linking the efficiency observed in such leaders to broader business success.

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3. Personality Traits Influencing Meeting Behavior

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around how different personality types impact meeting structures and efficiency.

• Katie (03:06): "I was just gonna say, I try to be honest about what is. What seems to me to be right or good or better."

She identifies a division between those whose primary role is to accomplish tasks and those whose presence is more about maintaining a position within the company.

• Katie (03:54): "If you're leaving at 5, no matter how much you've gotten done or whether you've worked hard or just coasted or whatever, you're gonna prolong that meeting as long as you possibly can."

Joe's Anecdote: Joe shares a memory from a meeting dominated by older professionals, highlighting generational differences in communication preferences.

• Joe (04:15): "These people are still back in the day where we couldn't just, like, text somebody or email somebody your question after the meeting."

Jack expresses his skepticism about meetings' necessity.

• Jack (05:01): "I've been to, like, two meetings. My life that needed to happen. Couldn't have been a phone call or an email."

Katie connects this to broader societal perceptions of introverts and extroverts.

• Katie (06:13): "I think it's because most people are introverts and introvert or I'm sorry, are extroverts, and extroverts think they're normal and introverts are weird."

This insight underscores the varying preferences and comfort levels individuals have with different meeting styles.

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4. The Chameleon Nature of Meetings

The hosts discuss common scenarios that often derail meetings, such as repetitive questions and unproductive diversions.

• Katie (07:01): "Everybody kind of looks around awkwardly for a minute, then launches into it again."

Jack humorously vents his frustration with meetings reiterating previously covered topics.

• Jack (07:39): "I want to assault people."

This exaggerated expression serves to highlight the irritation many feel towards inefficient meetings.

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5. Sailing Lessons: A Lighthearted Diversion

Shifting gears, Jack shares his humorous misadventures with sailing lessons, providing a personal and relatable anecdote.

• Jack (07:48): "I was all excited. The disappointing thing was even though the teacher didn't show up, I still got scurvy."

Katie joins in the banter, referencing historical naval discipline with a modern twist.

• Katie (07:59): "Rum, sodomy and the lash. The worst, those are the three things that kept order in the British Navy."

Their playful exchange continues as they discuss the practicalities and absurdities of Jack's sailing certification.

• Katie (09:15): "Well now you can present that certificate at the security guard for the ocean."

This segment adds a lighthearted balance to the episode, showcasing the hosts' chemistry and sense of humor.

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6. Concluding Thoughts

As the episode wraps up, the hosts reflect on the interplay between personal interests and professional obligations.

• Jack (11:24): "I'll start wearing the hat all the time and you get a parrot. Yes, I'll have a parrot. Parrot. That's a must."

The episode concludes with Jack humorously envisioning himself as a seafaring character, tying back to the sailing theme introduced earlier.

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Key Takeaways

• Generational Differences: Younger professionals tend to favor concise and goal-oriented meetings, while older generations may prefer more extended discussions with social interactions.

• Personality Influences: Introverted and extroverted personalities significantly impact how individuals perceive and conduct meetings.

• Efficiency in Leadership: Successful leaders like Elon Musk and Steve Jobs exemplify the benefits of minimizing unnecessary meetings to boost productivity.

• Personal Anecdotes: Balancing professional insights with personal stories, such as sailing lessons, adds relatability and humor to the discussion.

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Notable Quotes:

• Jack (01:09): "To have a career in life and go to like one meeting a year is pretty awesome."

• Joe (04:15): "These people are still back in the day where we couldn't just, like, text somebody or email somebody your question after the meeting."

• Katie (06:13): "I think it's because most people are introverts and introvert or I'm sorry, are extroverts, and extroverts think they're normal and introverts are weird."

• Jack (07:39): "I want to assault people."

This episode offers a blend of humor and critical analysis of workplace dynamics, making it both entertaining and insightful for listeners navigating the complexities of professional interactions.

Transcript

[Jack]

This is an Iheart podcast. I thought that was the starboard. One more thing.

[Joe]

Armstrong and Getty.

[Jack]

One more thing. Did you say Starbursts starboard as opposed to port? We will get to my sailing lessons here in a little bit. That's right. I'm taking sailing lessons. That's not something I thought I would ever say in my life. Was gonna bring this up. Joe and I were on a meeting yesterday, a Zoom meeting with a whole bunch of people for a client. And everybody on there but us was in their 20s, early 30s. They were pretty young.

[Katie]

Yeah, yeah.

[Jack]

Almost everybody.

[Katie]

Yeah.

[Jack]

Anyway, Katie, I thought this was interesting and maybe you can relate to it since you're young. Joe and I are, because of our schedule and everything like that and our personalities. We both, one, luckily, very rarely have to go to meetings. To be able to have a career in life and go to like one meeting a year is pretty awesome. And then. And then neither one of us like them to last very long. Fair. Yeah.

[Joe]

I don't know anybody who likes a nice long meeting.

[Katie]

Well, I'll tell you yet, most of them turn into that.

[Joe]

Yes.

[Jack]

Because it really only takes one person in a slight position of authority to drag it out. Anyway, so we're on the Zoom call yesterday with a whole bunch of 20 somethings, talked about the business we were gonna do. I don't know how many minutes. It wasn't very, very minutes. And then somebody said, is that about it? Can we wrap it up? And yeah. And it was over.

[Katie]

It was over.

[Jack]

And I texted Joe, I said, if there had been one 55 year old salesperson on that, we would still be talking right now. The younger generation has no interest in just sitting around in a meeting jabbering.

[Katie]

Is it because they're so awkward communicating in person to people? I don't care. I mean, if that's it, I'm encouraging it.

[Jack]

I didn't get that sense from this crowd. I think it's just a. They don't, they just don't do the niceties. And maybe that's a bad thing, I don't know. But they didn't feel any need. Joe and I have sensed over the years there's a certain belief, especially by whoever called the meeting, it can't get over too quick. Or that kind of like makes it seem like we shouldn't have had a meeting.

[Katie]

I mean, or it's not respectful to just come in, take care of stuff and leave now. In some cultures that would be incredibly disrespectful. Cultures like do no small talk, no Chat. No, you would never do that.

[Jack]

Cultures like some of the most successful businesses on Earth. Both Elon Musk and Steve Jobs, very famous for barely having any meetings. And when they have them, they're quick.

[Katie]

Right? Steve Jobs, famously. Nobody's allowed to sit down.

[Jack]

Or is it.

[Katie]

Was it, we're gonna check the boxes and go.

[Jack]

I don't remember if it's Musk or Jobs, but it was always. Can this be an email when somebody would talk about a meeting.

[Katie]

Yeah.

[Jack]

Which I've often wondered. How many meetings have you been to where you thought this could have been a group email so easily?

[Katie]

Well, and for what it's worth, just getting back to that. That video conference, I emerged from it thinking, boy, those people are really sharp and good at their jobs.

[Jack]

Yeah, me too.

[Katie]

Inefficient. It was not in. Of course, you know, getting back to our personalities, you know, the one thing that dawned on me crystal clear early in our careers where we did have to go to a fair number of meetings was the great divide between people whose job is accomplishing something and people whose job is being somewhere for a set amount of time. And maybe they accomplish something because, you know, the nature of our thing is we just. We work until we can't stand to work anymore, and we try to do a good show and get ratings, blah, blah, blah. But if you're leaving at 5, no matter how much you've gotten done or whether you've worked hard or just coasted or whatever, you're gonna prolong that meeting as long as you possibly can.

[Jack]

Might be the best part of your day.

[Katie]

Oh, yeah, exactly. Sit around chatting with co workers and laughing, and you're not focused, you're not working or anything. So, yeah, it was. It was always that sort of person who prolonged the meetings. Meanwhile, a lot of the salespeople, like, had to sell to survive or like, can we get out of here, please? The good ones, anyway.

[Joe]

I remember being in a meeting. This had to have been, like, 12 years ago. And one of the guys who I was talking to, and when I'm saying a meeting, I was the youngest person in this room by, like, 25 years. Everybody in there was probably 55 or above. And it was being run by somebody in their 70s. And I was talking to the guy, and he was like, I think these people are still back in the day where we couldn't just, like, text somebody or email somebody your question after the meeting. So everybody felt like they had to get it out right then. And I thought that was kind of an interesting element. Because, yeah, a lot of us, it's like, okay, I'll ask. Like, if I have a question, I'll just ask him later.

[Jack]

I used to always say, and I still believe it. I've been to, like, two meetings. My life that needed to happen. Couldn't have been a phone call or an email.

[Katie]

Oh, boy.

[Jack]

Do you think there's any. Go ahead.

[Katie]

I was just gonna say, I try to be honest about what is. What seems to me to be right or good or better. Just because of being something of an introvert. And I don't like small talk. I don't like pretending to be chummy with people, apparently, you know, and other people are not made that way. Like, you know, we have friends, I'll keep it vague, who are, like, way down the road of being individualists, who don't need, like, any associations and friends and support and whatever. And it's a blind spot because they don't understand. No, like, 85% of the population's not made that way. So the way you see the world is never going to work. And I try to be, you know, fair about that because there are people who are energized and given joy by being in a meeting for a longer time because they're with other people.

[Jack]

That explains that part of it. But does it explain why a company that's goal is to make a certain amount of money and then make more the next quarter allows that? Do that in your own time. Yeah. Your social life.

[Katie]

I think it's because most people are introverts and introvert or I'm sorry, are extroverts, and extroverts think they're normal and introverts are weird.

[Jack]

Before we move on to port and starboard, Katie is the youngest person here. Does it make any sense to you our idea that if there had been one older person there, it would have lasted twice as long?

[Joe]

I didn't want to say it, but yeah, probably.

[Katie]

Yep.

[Jack]

I think the young crowd's like, we're done.

[Unknown]

It's always the old guy when they say, does anybody have any questions that decides to stand up and say, yeah, I have a question. And then everybody looks at him and.

[Jack]

Says, you know, my favorite thing in any meeting, my favorite thing of all is the person that comes in late and then asks question about something that was already covered. And then they cover it again for everybody else that's already heard it.

[Katie]

Right. Everybody kind of looks around awkwardly for a minute, then launches into it again. Have the confidence, America, humanity, to say, we covered that before you got there. We can talk. After the amount of time that doesn't effing happen, it makes me insane. It makes me militant. There are like crimes against humanity that piss me off less than when the moderator of a meeting just looks around like, well, there's nothing else I can do but waste everybody else's time by repeating all this. So here we go. God, I want to assault people.

[Jack]

Okay, so I'll keep this brief since the last lessons actually didn't happen. So I signed up for these sailing lessons and I was all excited.

[Katie]

Three things, Rum, sodomy and the lash. The worst, Those are the three things that kept order in the British Navy. And if they're good enough for the great British Navy, they're good enough for your sailboat Jack.

[Jack]

The disappointing thing was even though the teacher didn't show up, I still got scurvy. I did. I thought I could avoid it somehow and I got buggered.

[Katie]

Oh, another day, another bugger.

[Jack]

So I live next to this little man made lake and they, people sail on it and they were doing lessons and I thought one, I've always kind of wanted to do that. I, I'm not really into boats, but I've always liked the idea of sailing just because it's so ancient and that and it's the way human beings, you know, got out of their continents and traveled the world. Anywho, I thought I'd take these little sailing lessons and I thought maybe because they got the boats there, we live right next to the little lake, they got the boats there. If I learn how to do this, maybe Henry and I could go out and start doing that. Maybe. Bye, bye.

[Katie]

Love it.

[Jack]

Another thing for a kid to learn how to do. Unfortunately, somehow they missed my email or whatever and nobody else signed up for the class. So the instructor didn't think there was anybody for the class. So I waited around for a while. The instructor didn't show up. But in two weeks I'm going to do it. What I find funny is it's a two hour class two days in a row. So Saturday and Sunday, noon to 2 and then they give you a certificate and I don't know what the certificate is going to say.

[Joe]

Certificate of what?

[Jack]

A certificate of you have completed the four hour class with this person, at this little, like with this boat.

[Joe]

I don't know, safe for the ocean.

[Katie]

Well now you can present that certificate at the security guard for the ocean. Tell them no, this is fine, I'm certified.

[Jack]

Exactly who do I show this certificate to and in what circumstances?

[Joe]

Sail around the World and then show them your certificate.

[Unknown]

Jack, you gotta frame it.

[Katie]

Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo. You. You can't just walk in this marina and grab a boat. Oh, oh. You have the certificate. I'm sorry, sir. Help yourself.

[Joe]

Yes, sir.

[Jack]

Or perhaps I get some of those Somali pirates. I'm the captain now. I just show him my certificate.

[Katie]

It's beautiful. Now you famously refuse to don short pants.

[Jack]

I'll be wearing swim gear.

[Katie]

Always wearing. Okay.

[Joe]

Oh, now to find swim gear. Because it, that's a, that's special jeans.

[Katie]

That you swim in.

[Jack]

Like I. We're in Florida. I got swim trunks and a swim shirt and something to cover my head because if I'm out there for two hours, man, their opportunity to get burnt really exists.

[Joe]

Are they jorts?

[Jack]

They're. They're not jorts, but.

[Katie]

And do you have rubber sold cowboy boots since you usually wear cowboy boots or drift shoes?

[Jack]

I do.

[Katie]

Otherwise you'll slip and crack your head open.

[Jack]

Well, I was there the other day lifting weights and I saw one of the. I saw some kids out there on one of the sailboats and it flipped over in the water. And so I went into the office, I said, hey, the sailboat just flipped over. I don't know, is that something to be worried about it? And they said, no. They teach you that in the class. You flip over the sailboat on purpose to show you how to get it back upright again and everything. Like I thought. Okay, so I will be getting wet, I guess. But of course, because of the way I am, having not even taken the classes yet, I'm on Facebook Marketplace, shopping for sailboats and planning giant excursions and.

[Katie]

All this sort of year on the road.

[Jack]

Yeah, exactly. Having not even gotten on this 12 foot sailboat in a man made lake with no wind.

[Katie]

There's a guy who went on a long screed about the evils of TV and how he should give it up. Then showed up with the biggest TV I've ever seen in my life. Two days later, I could see you like buying 150 foot sailboat. Yep.

[Jack]

All the cap.

[Katie]

And announcing you you'll be back in six weeks.

[Jack]

I'll start wearing the hat all the time and you get a parrot. Yes, I'll have a parrot. Parrot. That's a must.

[Unknown]

You can always go pirate eye patch, peg leg hook for a hand. Probably the eye patch is the easiest. Well, I guess that's it.

[Jack]

I would say it is.

[Unknown]

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[Jack]

This is an iHeart podcast.