“I won’t write those types of posts, they are beneath me”
“I don’t have all day to spend on Twitter, I have a real job”
“There’s no way he writes his own posts, can’t be”
“Did you hear what she charges to keynote? No way she deserves that much!”
“Yeah if I didn’t have any work to do I could probably spend all day on Facebook too”
The last four months of 2011 were my busiest ever since I started consulting on social media marketing in 2006. I spoke at several major events, and did three Live #Blogchats in September alone. In addition, I had regular consulting work for my clients plus a few other projects that were ongoing.
I was hella busy, but it was also the happiest I’ve been in years. But around August of last year I made a choice which I now regret greatly. I knew the last few months of the year were going to be insanely busy, so I decided to spend more time on my work and presentations, and less time on my blog and Twitter.
Big mistake. While my work and speaking was very well received, not posting as often here or on Twitter meant my visibility suffered. Referrals shrank, as did speaking and other opportunities.
But it was my choice. Even if it was the wrong one, I have to own it and learn from it. So after things calmed down a bit after Blog World last November, I began to realize that things were calming down TOO much. That was when I decided that I needed to rededicate myself to my blogging efforts and time spent on Twitter in 2012.
So I got back in the swing of things in January then really kicked it up a notch last month. Now, traffic is up, and I’m getting more referrals and work requests, even interviews.
The truth is, if I had my way I wouldn’t blog here everyday. I’d write maybe a post a week, if that. It wouldn’t be ‘5 Steps to….’ or ‘3 Reasons why…’, it would likely be ‘here’s what I think’.
But I don’t do that because I know that this blog is a tool I am using to build my business. We are all responsible for our own actions. This blog was in a bit of a tailspin in late 2011, and I own that, just as I am responsible for why it’s now doing better.
My point is that there comes a time when we all need to stop worrying about what everyone else is doing or saying, and accept that we are the masters of our own path. ‘I don’t have time for that…’ is an excuse. You have the same 24 hours in this day that I do. We both decide WHAT we will spend our time on, and we both own the results. Whether they be good or bad.
“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” – Thomas Edison
If you don’t have as many blog readers or Twitter followers or BUSINESS as you want, you can either find a scapegoat, or you can roll up your sleeves and do something about it.
UPDATE: I had some fun with my pal Chris Brogan in the picture above, so I wanted to include one of his videos which really ties into the theme of this post: