(Updated in 2020)
What Does It Mean?
You’re working on a deadline project. One large part is due at 10 a.m.; the rest goes at 3 p.m. Your day is “Goldilocks just right.” Well, just right if no monkeys come, and no alligators raise their ugly heads.
You get a call asking a favor ASAP. When will you do it?
ASAP is always later, usually LAST.
A real-time deadline always comes first. It has a win or lose line.
ASAP has an “out” of “possible is when I have time.”
ASAP to the speaker means “As Soon As you can Push it through.”
But to the listener it means, “As Soon As the Pressure’s off.”
Unless the person asking wields great power, ASAP will always lose.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
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Photo by Niklas Kickl on Unsplash
A trackback on “What does ASAP mean?”
http://www.scotherrick.com/bizblog/2006/5/29/what-does-asap-mean.html
Hey Scot,
Your boss wouldn’t be a prize, now would he? Monkey and daily emergencies. Whew! I think he should work for you.
ASAP, that’s the most common word I have seen being used, infact used by me, used on me and sometimes used against me.
My boss say hey Keith I need this done urgently, I say ASAP boss it seems urgent.
I say to my team members, hey I need this bug fixed ASAP, i have a presentation due in 3 hours for the demo.
And the utmost thing I hate, hey dude I need this done ASAP, i have some people waiting for this.
But with these different meanings, I can laugh aloud now.
Psst: dont show my boss this one.
Hi Keith,
Don’t worry, Your secret is safe with me. 🙂
Argh!! I cannot stand people using ASAP when they really mean NOW! it drives me mad. Phew…At least I am not the only one who feels like this…I thought I was just being pathetic for letting this bother me lol
Hi Alan!
I don’t let it drive me mad. I just take folks at their word and do things as soon as possible. 🙂