This past week was pure insanity in regard to number of obligations on my calendar. Usually the weeks following Thanksgiving slow down a bit and the focus turns to holiday preparation. Not this week.
In a nutshell, I was working part time doing some copywriting and proofreading; I had a marketing communications project due for a client; I was appearing on two radio programs and one podcast; I had a few doctor appointments; my car had been ticketed twice so I was taking care of those; there were a few random Tweetups in town I wanted to attend; I was planning to cover a technology conference; and the Movember Gala was on Thursday night.
Add to that the care and feeding of two cats, the importance of personal relationships and the day-to-day operations of the Bungalow, and you’ve got a week that’s too full for words.
Which brings me to the title of this post. Phases.
Each of us runs into times that cause us to refocus our energy. For me, this week was a wake-up call. I’m feeding content vehicles all over the Web. I have three client projects underway, and I’m attending Social Media events as if my schedule was completely free. That’s about to change.
The next phase of Jeff Cutler – not 2.0, but more intelligent – will feature an enhanced panel and speaking calendar; a diminished social calendar (within the Social Media space); and a focus on client and journalism projects.
It’s not to say I won’t show up at the random Tweetup, but that’s something better left to people who define themselves as Social Media Superstars. Let them ride the T to five events each night in an effort to be everything to everyone. I choose to be the best in my current endeavors.
I’ll be great on NomX3.com, in my role as Social Media Trainer for the Society of Professional Journalists nationwide, as a continuing education teacher (also in using social media tools to communicate), a conference panelist, a skilled writer, a dedicated reporter, and a guest on various broadcasts that cover media, lifestyle, technology and passion.
For most of you, this won’t change what you see on the blog or where you see me. Most of my readers have been smart enough to adopt this method themselves and are discerning when choosing which events to attend and when. I’m just following your lead.
See you at a Tweetup or two, a tech conference, or better still…let’s connect over tea and spend some F2F time together.
While social media is a great way to connect, if we do nothing to move beyond the superficial first hello, then we’re not really moving forward. We’re just running around the city smiling and waving, then moving on to the next fleeting greeting.
I’m choosing to make my presence more significant. And this post marks the start of that phase.
Keep reading!
**Oh, yeah. I’m working on a book too. That’s gonna take up some of my time as well. 
Jeff, your one busy guy!!
.-= Nick´s last blog ..CCleaner and Why You Should Use it =-.
Pingback: uberVU - social comments
I’ve read blog posts more than once about the sheer number of social media events in Boston, and been boggled by it. Not that I don’t think people should have networking opportunities, or spend time with the people they like, but if you went to everything, you’d literally be out every single night (and some lunches, and some afternoons, and some breakfasts…:)
If you’re a single person with a 9 to 5 job, maybe that’s not a problem. But if you have a relationship and/or a family, and your job ends when the work gets done (instead of within office hours), then it’s too much time away from the people and the tasks that should be your first priority.
Not to mention the sheer amount of cash it takes to “stay involved.” Sure, many things are free to attend, but many have cash bars or happen over a meal you need to buy yourself (instead of one you could just make at home, or brown bag to the office.) Factor in gas money on top of that, and these events really aren’t all that free.
Again, I get networking. I get the importance of face-to-face communications in ANY job. I also get spending time with friends you love. But when there are 13 hashtags rolling around any given week, and mini (albeit good-natured) guilt trips poking at the folks who can’t make it to every single #Up, then it gets to be a little much. You don’t need to go out drinking 4 nights a week to make your career happen unless you’re Paris Hilton. 1 or 2 is enough to keep on the radar and make great connections. Or less.
I DO respect that people back off when folks say, “Gotta spend time with my family.” But sometimes I feel like people aren’t saying that quite enough.
I guess I grew up with parents who were spending most of their time with us when they didn’t have to be working. Yes, there were meetings they attended, and social events they went to, but it wasn’t an every week, multiple nights a week kind of thing. It was clear to us that we were their priority, unless my mom or dad needed to be at something (there are a lot of meetings for ministers to attend at churches, but they aren’t quite #FaithUps) or had a much-deserved date with one another or with their friends. But even their closest friends weren’t having get-togethers every single week.
Lots of people in Boston have good perspective on this stuff, and have a really healthy attitude about balancing the time they spend out, and the time they spend in. But more than once, I’ve been surprised to hear someone had a family at home, because they were out every. single. night. of. the. week. for. weeks.
nice post. i’m relieved. following your phrenetic activity from afar of late i actually came to believe you’d cloned yourself. glad to know you’re human. good timing too. in a couple of weeks your self-inventory would have gotten lost in the new years resolution hype. hope to see you and meet cf for more than a drive-by hello sometime soon!
I think you said it best when you mention people trying to ‘be everything to everyone’. I find this is a huge mistake that a lot of people make. I’ve done it myself. It’s pretty easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of networking events, people need to learn to prioritize. This is best done around your niche.
.-= CJ Bowker´s last blog ..Is Advertising Catching Up To Sales? =-.
I feel that time is best spent divided among three activities: attending social networking events, reading about social networking events, and commenting on blog posts about social networking. now that I have taken care of the latter two, I’m off to partake of the first! : )
.-= Todd Randolph´s last blog ..facebook ceo announcement on privacy 12.01.09 =-.
by the way, my comment was made in jest. I am in full agreement with you, jeff, as well as all my esteemed fellow commenters.
Great post Jeff! Good insight as to how you’re refocusing on being more “intelligent.”
I think the move will pay of HUGE!
Vik Duggal
Pingback: better than real time? meet the intention web | the qualified yes