We’re all busy.
Seriously. If you have rent, a mortgage or any financial obligations, a job, a significant other and some small semblance of a social life, you’re busy. There’s little free time for anyone these days, especially at work.
Can I please finally put away this tiny violin for your sob story of how there’s no time for [insert productive activity here]? If ____ can do it, so can you, because ____ is pretty damn busy too.
Me
I love blogging, but truth be told, I don’t have as much time as I once did to do it. I wish I could write everyday. Maybe someday I will again…
I love to Tweet but I’m not able to be in front of Twitter as much as I’ve been able to in the past.
I am starting a new business and lucky for me, my incredible network of friends, former colleagues, clients, partners and industry peers have been looking out for my best interest and helping my business grow by keeping me “hella busy” chasing new opportunities. Every day is booked, start to finish. It’s true when entrepreneurs tell you that you will work MORE when you work for yourself.
So why do I lack sympathy for the sob story even as I admit that I lack the time to do what I know is important, that I love to do? How can I possibly tell you to quit your whining?
I remember how I got here
I got here by meeting people on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and live events. I got here by doing great work with my clients. I got here by blogging daily, and sharing my ideas and opinions about the industry in which I work. I got here by packing my schedule to the gills with face-to-face meetings to talk about what I’m passionate about. All of that effort has paid off and it wasn’t easy, though it was really fun.
What do you REALLY want?
Whatever the answer to that question is I’ll bet you this, it’s not easy. If you want to accomplish something big, it’s going to take brass balls, elbow grease and a duffel bag of moxie, but most of all it’s going to take time and effort. When I meet with a prospect and they say that they “just don’t have the time” to tweet or blog or meet new people on LinkedIn, all I can think is “BS!” I’m willing to bet that they do, it’s simply a matter of priorities. We all have a to-do list that takes more hours than there are in a day, but somehow, we get the important things done. When you can see the value in something, time magically appears for it. I may not have the time, but I still make the time. If you appendix burst right now in the middle of reading this, it would take priority, and you didn’t even plan for it.
So here are the questions:
- Is it a priority for you to know what people are saying about your company online? Do you care what they are saying to each other? Do you have ANY interest in influencing that conversation?
- Do you have any idea what people think about your customer service and is it a priority to find out?
- Is it a priority for you to beat your competition to the punch?
- Is it a priority for you to get more web traffic and more leads?
- Is it a priority for you to have a loyal customer base?
- Do you seriously think people are just waiting for you or your company to show up online and post something once every 3 weeks?
If you can’t muster up 15-20 minutes per day to do something positive for your business then you either have more business than you can handle, you’re scared or someone hasn’t made the value of those activities clear. In any case, I may not have sympathy but I can help.
Pris Killingly says
I really enjoyed your post here, Jeff! It’s true, we all make excuses and it always pisses me off when people tell me they’re too busy for this, that, or the other (that is, when they’re talking about what they WANT to do). I, too, use the excuse of “too busy” when it comes to things that, unfortunately, might not be at the highest of my priority list at the moment (certain social situations for example, versus ones where I might meet people who will help me get to where I need to be and whom I can also help in return). I am about to embark on working 3 different “paying” jobs (on top of the countless writing non-paid stuff I do, and all my other miscellaneous projects). But hell, I’m making my priorities count and taking every free second to do something productive towards my goals (which, by the way, may at times include taking downtime for myself so as to NOT go insane). More people would end up where they want or wish to be if they also practiced this mantra.
Jeff Gibbard says
Pris,
It is so important to build in that time for yoursel, so that you don’t go totally bananas. Good luck on those 3 paying jobs in conjunction with everything else. Based on your outlook I’m confident that you’ll get where you’re going.
Pris Killingly says
thanks jeff! yeah, its funny though because when i dont have a job and not much else going on its so much harder for me to be productive and do the work i love to do (writing and such), but i hope that once i get accustomed to the new work schedule (one of the jobs is only temp, for maybe a month, so not so bad) i’ll be able to establish good writing habits and post more frequently, etc. ill keep you updated of course. keep up the good work as well, you’re awesome! 🙂
Jeff Gibbard says
Thank you! I really appreciate that. Definitely keep me posted.
Emarm89 says
love the part talking about face-to-face meetings. Reminds me of a certain conversation at dinner the other night.”I completely disagree with you 150%” lol good times
Jeff Gibbard says
Best comment ever. Nicely done cuz.