# Why Visualize the Cost of a Meeting?
Time is the most expensive and least renewable resource in any organization. This tool is not designed to discourage collaboration — it is designed to foster productive awareness. When we watch dollars burn in real time, we become more punctual, more concise, and more intentional about what goes on a meeting agenda.The Hidden Cost Math
We calculate cost based on annual gross salary or hourly rate. For annual salaries, we use an industry-standard baseline of 1,750 working hours per year (accounting for vacations and public holidays) to convert salary to an hourly rate.
The burn rate formula is:(Hourly Rate × Number of Attendees) / 3600
This gives the exact cost per second shown in the ticker.
Annual Salary: $85,000Hourly Rate: $85,000 / 1,750 = $48.57/hrBurn Rate (4 people): ($48.57 × 4) / 3600 = $0.054/secCost of a 1-hour meeting: $194.29
# Tips for More Efficient Meetings
- The 2-Pizza Rule: Popularized by Jeff Bezos — if two pizzas cannot feed everyone in the meeting, there are too many people in the room.
- No Agenda, No Meeting: Never accept a meeting without a clear agenda and defined objectives. Catch-up sessions are often a euphemism for wasted time.
- Stand-up meetings: Keep daily syncs standing. Physical discomfort promotes brevity and keeps discussions on point.
- Parkinson's Law: Work expands to fill the time available. Set a hard 25-minute or 50-minute slot instead of defaulting to the hour.
Use the ticker as a live prompt: Share your screen with the meeting cost ticker running during team meetings. The visible dollar amount creates a natural incentive to stay on topic and wrap up on time.