When I read that WordPress was down yesterday, I didn’t get upset. My first thought was at least I now have an excuse for why I haven’t posted anything in a week. Fortunately for most, it was back up pretty quickly and that was a good thing. For me, all I could think was that I really don’t have an excuse, except for TIME.
I read some interesting things this week. The first was a tweet from one of the people I follow on Twitter, @unmarketing. Scott is a great guy who puts his own personality into everything he does and he definitely practices what he preaches. I’ve learned a lot from him about engaging with people in this social media world of ours. This week, I read that he posted his tweet # 50,000. Amazing. And he manages to run his own company, travel, raise a son, and spend TIME on the golf course.
Then I read a post from @ginidietrich. Gini’s blog, the Fight Against Destructive Spin, is full of interviews with interesting people, along with a variety of topics and suggestions for businesses and individuals. Even her #FollowFriday recommendations are done through a blog post, taking the TIME to carefully explain why we should follow those she is recommending, rather than a quick tweet. She’s also an avid biker who I’m sure I could never even dream of keeping up with, just like her blog, and she and makes the TIME to do this.
Then I read a post by another of my favorite folks in the Twitterverse, @katjaib. Kat is a great lady whose bio tells me she is working to find the balance in life and finding the TIME to do it all. In her blog post this week, she pondered the reasons she was a little behind on her blog (I love that I’m not the only one so THANK YOU!), with a thoughtful look at striving to be perfect, and some fun reminders on how to keep it in perspective. And she found the TIME to write a perfect post.
Then there’s @MackCollier, another person on Twitter who writes one great blog post after another, all while running his own company and finding the best ways to do things. And he even does the Twitter chat called #blogchat, which I haven’t found the TIME to sit it on. But at the same TIME, he’s finding the TIME to share his lessons learned with all of us. If I could ever find the TIME to read Mack’s posts or sit in on his chats, I’d certainly have a better blog with more posts and do a better job at promoting it.
These are just a few of the people who amaze me, and either inspire me or make me feel like a complete slacker… I haven’t figured out which! (And an apology to all those others out there who are not mentioned in this blog because there are SO many of you!). I’m calling upon these fantastic folks to share their thoughts on how they find the TIME to do all that they do. First, do you sleep? Second, how do you fit everything you need to do to make a living into a day and still have time to do your blog post, tweet, and do the things you love and have TIME for family and friends? I think we can all learn a bit from you. So THANK YOU in advance!
And if anyone else wants to add to this, PLEASE DO!
Please share this!
Just my two cents 
June 13, 2010 at 3:52 pm
Nancy Jean, I am mortified that it has taken me so long to comment here to your incredibly kind, kind post! I’m going to blame it on lack of TIME this weekend. That — and I’m not sure what I’m doing in the company of the legendary @unmarketing, @mackcollier, and @ginidietrich. So I’ve been trying to think of something clever to say. So far… nothing.
You are right that social media takes TIME. I think the key is also ENTHUSIASM. Scott tweets 50,000 tweets and writes so damn much because (I’m guessing) he loves it. Same with Gini and Mack. I’m not nearly as prolific or consistent with the blog posts, but I find myself writing them in my head as I go about other business. Then, when I actually do sit down, they tend to spill out pretty quickly. As for Twitter, I’m sort of a SWAT Tweeter. I’m not on often, but when I am, I like to try to clog the tweetstream with rapid-fire tweets. Tweetdeck helps. So does Tweetie and FB for iPhone.
As for Gini, I’ve heard that she likes to write her blog posts and tweets while doing 100 mile bike rides at 90 mph. She’s a multi-tasker like that. Pretty sure Scott (@unmarketer) has a clone. And Mack (@mackcollier) has found the secret to eliminating sleep — but he won’t tell us.
Thanks again for your generous post. It’s people like you that are the real joy of social media. So keep doing what you’re doing. Givers win! And you’re a winner.
June 13, 2010 at 4:41 pm
Awwww… Kat. You are SO sweet, and don’t give yourself enough credit! You’re an amazing writer and a very kind person, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to meet folks like you, Gini, Scott, Mack and so many others through these outlets. I think you’ve struck gold on the idea of limiting your time in any one area like Twitter, which, as we all know, can be all-consuming! Thanks you SO much for making time to comment, and for giving me more precious insight. 🙂
June 13, 2010 at 4:25 pm
Hi Nancy Jean! Thanks for the very kind mention, and the wonderful company you put me in. I think we are all struggling with finding enough time to do everything we want to, and there are always trade-offs involved. For example, many of us use our blogs as a bix dev tool. And I know from my own experience that the more I blog, the more work I get. But the more work I get, the harder it is to blog as often as I want to.
As for finding the time, especially as it relates to social media, I think the key is to not try to do too much. And make sure you spend your time as constructively as possible. For example, I spend a lot of time on Twitter. I use it as a networking tool primarily, but it benefits me as a tool to get me work leads, and also as a way to get ideas for posts.
I don’t spend very much time on Facebook, because it doesn’t work for me. I have friends that swear by it, and spend little time on Twitter. Like me, they are using the tools that work best for them.
Thanks again for the mention and the great post about time management, Nancy Jean! Hope to see you at #blogchat soon!
June 13, 2010 at 4:39 pm
Mack, thanks SO much for taking the TIME to comment! Your comments, like your blog posts and tweets, are incredibly helpful, and also make me realize that I’m not the only one struggling to find the time to manage all we have to do and still have lives! Look forward to chatting more with you either through Twitter or, at some point, #blogchat! Hope you’re enjoying your weekend. 🙂
June 13, 2010 at 4:43 pm
I wish there were 24 WAKING hours in a day. So hard to grow a business. For me, I just make sure I make the time…partly to set an example for my clients who tell me they don’t have time for blogging and social media. I guess my feeling is…if you’re not going to do it right, don’t do it at all.
Part of it for me is that I work out of my home, so I have the ability to be with the family a lot while I work, but many don’t have that luxury (and it is a challenge to work in that environment at times).
But thank you for this. I blog nearly every day, but it takes a toll on me and I am at the point where my business is growing at a rate where I may need to cut back. And I need to tell myself, “That’s OK!”.
And now the pressure’s on. Since Mack tweeted your post, I found you, and now I’ll subscribe…and now I’ll expect you to post more!
June 13, 2010 at 6:44 pm
Hello Ken! It’s such a pleasure to meet and thanks for your comment! Sounds like you have your hands full but enjoying every minute of it. Happy for you! If you find little tips and tricks along the way to fit in everything you need to do and keep a blog going, please do share them with me! And I’m honored and a little scared of this new pressure of a reader waiting for my next post! But pressure is good for me… so here we go! I’ll be checking out your blog as well and look forward to getting to know you! 🙂
June 13, 2010 at 7:01 pm
One trick I have found is to get the most bang for your buck. You spend a lot of time writing, so why not do your best to get it out there with minimum about of work. http://inklingmedia.net/2010/05/just-one-click-to-the-world-simple-ways-to-extend-your-blogs-reach/
The other thing is, for some reason, I find blog ideas all around me. I have nearly 150 ideas in various stages of writing in my editor. some will never see the light of day. Some are just one or two words that will help spark and idea. But I write everything down. Most of my ideas come when I”m walking my dog, so I store those ideas in my phone.
Plus, not every blog idea has to be long. I’ve noticed that folks like Chris Brogan and Seth Godin often have blog entries that are only about 4 sentences long. But…they get their point across. I tend to be verbose, so I wish I could write like that!
My blog post tomorrow is actually about blogging.
June 14, 2010 at 12:15 pm
THANK YOU! More great tips. 🙂
June 13, 2010 at 8:38 pm
It’s so funny what perception is versus how you feel. I recently read an article about Pete Cashmore and how he started Mashable by working 20 hours a day and writing five blogs posts daily. I remember thinking, “I need to do that!” And then employees and clients and family got in the way. I suppose it was the only thing he was doing as he launched his business, but he was doing something that had a goal and a vision.
So, that’s how I do it. Everything I do has a goal that ties into the big vision. You’ll see us launch a new blog site in a few weeks – it’s part of the bigger vision. You’ll see us begin charging for some content – it’s part of the bigger vision. You’ll see me continue to hire experts in certain fields – it’s part of the bigger vision. You’ll see me write more blog posts, do more videos, and launch an Arment Dietrich branded podcast – it’s part of the bigger vision. I know what the vision is. Everyone who works with me knows what the vision is. And we all have goals with deadlines. Suddenly we all have TIME to get things accomplished.
As for cycling, that is the one thing I do for myself that is not work-related. It relieves a ton of stress and I find I’m overly tired when I don’t ride. Plus, to Kat’s point, I do tend to write blog posts (in my head) while I’m riding…it’s the only time I have to think without interruption. I feel about exercise the way I feel about brushing my teeth – it’s just something I have to do.
I will tell you, though, adding one more thing (last year it was blogging) into your schedule is not easy. I created daily appointments with myself to write. Then it became habit and now I just do it.
So create an appointment on your calendar to write your blog posts, if you know why you want to write them and what you want them to do for you. Suddenly you’ll have TIME, as well!
xoxo
June 14, 2010 at 12:15 pm
Gini — AMAZING story and thanks for sharing. Your insight is so appreciated, as always, and you really are a great inspiration for folks! Looking forward to the new blog. I love the idea of making the appointment to write.
June 14, 2010 at 9:46 am
Hey there!
I have time to tweet because I made it an integral part of my business.
I believe that business is built on relationships, so I dedicate most of my time to building them.
50,000 tweets sound like a lot, and it is 🙂 But really it doesnt take long at all to do and with it on my Blackberry it’s second nature
June 14, 2010 at 12:12 pm
Thanks, Scott… for your response and for all the tips and tricks along the way!! 🙂
June 14, 2010 at 12:19 pm
I think Scott hits it right. My clients tell me they don’t have time. I then talk to them about budgeting time in the same way you budget money for marketing, lead generation, etc.
If they truly believe that Social Media is important, they must budget the time. Plus, if they believe SM can be more important than other types of marketing, they can save money and time by reducing or cutting out some of those other tasks, and perhaps hire someone to help them.
Plus, if you have multiple employees, recruit them to help out. All employees can and should be brand ambassadors. What’s good for the business is good for them.
June 15, 2010 at 8:22 am
Love this post, Nancy Jean, and really love the comments and feedback from some wonderful bloggers.
Gini – I LOVE your suggestion to schedule an appointment to write. I always have it on my daily task list, but it’s easy enough to shift a “task” to the next day and the next, but an appointment I will keep.
June 15, 2010 at 12:23 pm
Hello! It’s suck a pleasure to meet and thanks for the comments! I’m with you — I need to stop shifting things and stick to an agenda!