Where Do You Find the Time?

When talking to people about my participation in online social media, the question I’m most frequently asked is, “how do you have time to do all this?”  And while they might deny it, the questioner asks it with a tone that implies You are either a total social misfit or a slacker in other parts of your life. 

My initial reaction is usually defensive, as if have to prove I actually do real work and spend quality time with my family.

I then spend the next 20 minutes stewing over the question - regretting I didn't have a prepared answer.  So I never have to go through that process again, here is my response from now on.  Would love to hear your builds, and of course any other thoughts you would like to add.

• I have an 18 month old son.  I’ve become a time management ninja.  While the kid takes up a lot of time and energy, my new found discipline has given me more hours in the day.


• I get up at 5am on weekdays, 6am on weekends.  While I don't get up and start Tweeting at 5am, I do use that time to deal with administrative issues at home (bills, etc.) which gives me more free time in the evening.

• I don't watch a lot of TV.  When I do, it's almost always on DVR thus saving me around an hour a week on commercials.  When I watch sports (the only TV I don't DVR) I am usually multi-tasking.

• I enjoy it.  Just like you enjoy birdwatching or reading WWII novels.

• I use my mobile phone to participate in social media during otherwise wasted time.  I Tweet, upload photos to my Facebook page and text message friends during my morning and afternoon commutes - time that might otherwise be spent staring out the train window.

• Besides on airplanes, I never read the newspaper.  HOWEVER, I am better informed than I've ever been, with much less of a daily time commitment.  I must tell people this five times a week - if you're not using an RSS reader to get your news feeds, you are not consuming information in the most efficient and effective way available.  Sign up for a Google Reader account and spend the 30 minutes to figure out how it works.  It will change the way you think about news consumption.

• I view social media participation as a professional survival tool.  It keeps me current, connected and informed.

The net-net is that I make the time.  Just as a marathon runner makes the time to run; a celebrity junkie makes the time to read Us Weekly; an amateur photographer makes the time to take photos.  It's no different.  There I go again sounding defensive – I must break that habit!

Comments

[giles rhys jones]

hi, nice post and nice to find another ogilvy blogger - thought you might enjoy this one:
http://interactivemarketingtrends.blogspot.com/2008/05/where-do-you-find-time.html
have added you to the blog roll http://www.widgetbox.com/widget/ogilvy-blog-aggregator-

enjoy

g

[T-bone]

Of course the other, simpler response would be, "It's my job, fool." But then you wouldn't have worked in the birdwatching zinger.

[Steven]

I think the last point is the most important. You may even want to a a little about evolution, you know evolve or die out.

[Nina]

If some of these people work with you, this just underscores the disconnect between PR agencies and the sort of skills their staff needs to have to be successful in social media marketing.

Also, people who ask questions like that usually aren't good at managing their own time, whereas people who have more commitments and obligations are better at time management, and more effective at delivering on things they've committed to do. Don't bother justifying yourself to them.

[Catch Up Lady]

TESTIFY BROTHER.

This question drives me nuts too.

Personally, it's something I enjoy doing just like any other hobby.

Professionally, I think you are not doing your job as a communications professional in 2008 if you're not participating in social media and understanding this new channel. That's not to say everyone needs to go jump on Twitter - but at least get into Social Readia and start keeping your finger on the pulse.

[Tim]

Nice post Ian. My girlfriend still thinks I'm a complete geek, but perhaps if I print your post onto a t-shirt, that will answer any future queries... probably establishing my girlfriend's presupposed opinion in the meantime... oh well, jocks rule school, geeks rule the world!
Added to the blogroll. Tim

[Virginia Miracle]

Its all about prioritizing what you enjoy. The "I don't have time for this stuff" comments drive me bananas.

There was an interview with Sting a few years ago where he said that making time to do 2 hours of yoga daily has allowed him to accomplish more every day. I feel that way about blogging - making the time to do it forces me to be relentless in getting the read of my act together.