Since I have been asked by several people how to do this...



In order to create a '30-seconds of silence' ring tone I used a program called Free Sound Recorder to create an mp3 of 30 seconds of silence. (FSR converts whatever comes across the sound card of your computer to mp3 format). I then uploaded the file to www.3guppies.com and then sent the new 'ring tone' to my cell phone. Voila!

Feel free to pm me if you would like the mp3 of 'silence.'

__________________
Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"

Lily -

Dumb question... why would you need 30 seconds of silence for a ring tone?

Becky

I work a 9-5 job and my boss doesn't know about Goddess. My employer doesn't like 'personal' calls during working hours, although he doesn't mind an occasional call to me from the hubby on my cell phone as long as my phone doesn't ring constantly. Also, my cell phone doubles as my business phone, so...

My 'default' ring is 30 seconds of silence, my home phone ring is a clip from The Princess Bride "mawaige - mawaige is what bwings us togethuh tooday...", my hubby's cell phone is a clip from Blazing Saddles "oh Lily... Lily, Lily, Lily, legs Lily, Lily...", and my work ring is a jazz clip. This way when the phone rings I know if it's:

Home - I can call back if I'm busy

Hubby's cell phone - need to answer it 'cuz he's usually home and only uses his cell phone for high priority calls (he HATES cell phones) ut:

Work - must answer it

Current/potential client or unknown caller - I don't hear it so the call can go to voice mail for a call back. My clients are aware that I usually don't answer my phone as it is a distraction and they either leave me messages or email me :cool:

Everybody's happy 'cuz my phone rarely rings and my boss can diagnose who is calling me when it does

__________________
Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"

Got it! I, too, am working a 9-5 as I try to launch my business. You had mentioned that your clients 'are aware that I usually don't answer my phone...' - do they know you are still working a 9-5? That's one of my issues. Maybe I'll search on the forums to see more dialogue on that issue. By the way - Princess Bride is one of my favorites - great choice for a ring 'tone' !

Becky

Nope, clients are as unaware as the boss! My explanation to my clients is that answering the phone is distracting and it can take up to 10 minutes to get 'back up to speed' after finishing the call and it MAY be their project I am working on...

I return calls during my morning, lunch, afternoon breaks and right after work. My job is flexible so I can come in early/late and I can leave early/late as I choose; the proviso being that I work 40 hours/week. In fact, I have an 8:30 appt w/a client tomorrow morning to work on his budget so won't be coming in until approx 10am but, in trade, I have already come in early once and left late on other days this week to 'pre make up the time.' I don't have to tell my boss what my schedule will be for the week, which is really nice!

__________________
Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"