Here’s a carefully written, thought-through article on the issue of poorly planned international Zoom meetings — followed by a recommended fair global meeting time that balances all major time zones: When “International” Isn’t Really International: The Problem with Poorly Timed Zoom Meetings In an increasingly connected world, online communities and international groups are supposed to bring people together — not leave half of them out. Yet, time and again, many group administrators and event organizers fail to grasp one very simple reality: the world does not revolve around North American time zones. Take a common example — a Zoom meeting scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).At first glance, that sounds perfectly reasonable — for those living in North America, at least. People on the U.S. East Coast can come home from work, have dinner, and comfortably log in. Even for those on the U.S. West Coast (Pacific Time), it’s just 3:00 p.m., still within the working day but manageable. However, the moment you step outside North America, the picture changes dramatically.That same 6:00 p.m. Eastern meeting translates to 11:00 p.m. in London during winter (or 1:00 a.m. during daylight savings overlap). Across France, Germany, and Poland, it becomes midnight or later. By the time you reach India, it’s already 3:30 or 4:30 a.m., and in Japan, the clock is pushing 7:00 a.m. the next day.Move further to Australia, and it’s already 8:00–9:00 a.m. — people are getting ready for work while North Americans are winding down for the evening. This isn’t merely inconvenient; it’s exclusionary.Organizers often label these events as “international” but fail to truly consider the international audience they claim to include. In practice, their meeting times cater almost exclusively to North American evenings, making participation nearly impossible for those in Europe, Asia, Africa, or Oceania. The irony is that these are precisely the people most eager to participate — professionals, entrepreneurs, or enthusiasts who stay up late or rise early to connect globally. Yet, when every meeting is planned around U.S. convenience, it sends a silent message: “Your time doesn’t matter as much.”

Continuation : 💬 A Story of Success: How One Group Got It Right When Global Connect Entrepreneurs first launched their weekly Zoom calls, attendance was a disaster.Every session was held at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time — perfect for Americans, but not for their international members. You now know if you have read the above article this sure does make sence. Their European partners struggled to stay awake until 1:00 a.m. U.K. time, while members from India, Japan, and Australia had to miss out entirely. Despite having over 400 registered participants across 15 countries, only a small handful regularly joined live. Then the founder, Lisa Chen, decided to rethink the structure.She sent out a quick time zone survey asking everyone for their most practical hours. Within 48 hours, she had a clear pattern: - North Americans preferred mornings. - Europeans preferred afternoons. - Asians preferred evenings. So, the team made one simple change — they moved the weekly meeting to 10:00 a.m. Eastern (3:00 p.m. UK / 10:00 p.m. Japan). The results were immediate.Attendance tripled within two weeks. Members who had previously been silent began sharing their ideas and experiences. Networking blossomed. A partnership between a U.K. designer, a Canadian marketer, and an Australian coach even led to a joint product launch that generated over $25,000 in their first month. Lisa later said, “It wasn’t our content that changed — it was our timing. When you respect people’s time zones, you invite the whole world to participate.” The Global Connect group now rotates its meeting times every quarter, ensuring all continents get equal representation. Their success became a shining example of what true international collaboration looks like — thoughtful, inclusive, and productive. 🌟 The Lesson A little planning can make a big difference.When you make your Zoom meetings global in both schedule and spirit, you don’t just get more attendees — you build stronger, more connected communities.