This is not an original idea, but worth repeating I think. If mls hired a full time "communications assistant", if that is a thing, it would help alleviate a lot of stress. The CA would be responsible for seeing everything that gets posted, and letting mls and key av123 staffers know of any posts that needed his personal touch and attention. The CA would screen all other modes of communication, and again give mls the stuff that needed immediate personal answers, while passing on other inquiries to the appropriate folks. Inquiries like "can I auction my ring off on your forum" would have to be met with a polite "no" rather than a personal response from The Man.
This set up would mean that mls loses some of his active participation in the forum. It would also create a layer of insulation between him and his customers, the absence of which makes his company very unique. He would have to give up the famous practice of posting all of his phone #s. The CA would be the gate keeper.
The benefits greatly outweigh those sacrifices, I think. mls would gain tons of time to stay more focused on manufacturing, logistics and R&D without worrying if the forum is going to hell because he is away. I believe ultimately that he'd gain back enough time to be able to just drop by the forum and BS with people a little. Would the reduction in his personal involvement hurt? Maybe. It would be better focused on issues, but less focused on folks who seem enthralled by just being able to talk to the head of a company and feel "connected". While that handful of folks may not like it, I think the forum and potential new customers might be better off because some of those guys do mls no favors in how they "support" him.
Like I said, this is not my idea. I've seen more than a few folks post similar thoughts. I'm not quite arrogant enough to think that what I believe will solve all problems at av123, but it sure seems reasonable to think that this approach would help a great deal.
