Time: A Huge Commodity in Social Media

I have been wondering about time lately.  Where do I get it and how can I make more of it.  It seems as though this is the gold standard in my business this days.  I wake up early go to bed late and never seem to leave the keyboard yet I never seem to be in the cockpit of this craziness long enough.  Part of the problem is I love the world of social media and always feel like I need to have a hand in it.  I often joke about the idea of having a USB port installed in my forehead to stay connected longer and more focused.  I didn’t see that chapter in Tim Ferris’ book about the 4 hour work week.  I try to work the four hour work week into an hour time slot into my already 80 hour week.

I talk to many businesses and they all seem to have the same problem.  The business owner or person leading the charge  always feels as though there is never enough time in the day to get all of it done.  Part of my problem is my infrastructure.  I have myself and that is about it when it comes to the "organization".  Yes I have an assistant that can help with some of the small stuff but my core business runs on me, myself and I.  This can be a problem.  I tried yesterday to get some reading done on blogs, RSS and other social networks and go back to writing and doing some of the things that I have ignored over the last few weeks since I have been traveling and I really enjoyed that luxury.  The problem with having that luxury is you have to pay for it somewhere.  I look today over my calendar after doing that and I had to jam my schedule with phone calls and other areas that need to catch now that I spent the day hooked into my network.  Obviously, time plays a big part in how you lay out a plan for your social media program.  I see social media as a commitment to doing it day in and day out.  Not something that can be done just now and then (please do  not look  at me when I preach this – do as I say not as I do).

The best way is to balance all of the activity and prioritize.  Yes, that is like telling my kids to clean their room.  It all works well in theory, but when it comes down to execution that is another thing entirely.  I try to help businesses with their social media plans and how they can work it into their already tough to crack schedules.  I need to take a page out of my own book.  Perhaps I need to hire my own social media manager.  Anyone need a low paying high intensity job for little to no praise with little to no guidance?  I have the job waiting here for you.

Photo via Leo Reynolds