Tic-Toc !Tic-Toc! How much ACTIVE TIME do you clock?

Jessica,
I bet Craig knows because he is well versed in the challenges of perfectionism.  He probably is challenged by some of those traits but has found a way to manage them or break through them and can easily identify them in others because of his experience.

One thing everyone, including myself and Craig, must guard against, and it's probably why he asked the question, is that this type of site can become a very addictive place and can become a form of procrastination that keeps us from doing real business activity.

We can get lulled into thinking we're doing stuff to improve ourselves and our business, when in reality we are coming here because its comfortable, friendly and we don't really face the rejection we may subject ourselvles to by making the calls and putting ourselves in the position we need to, to really build our business.

I know this because I guard against it every day.  Come here wtih a direct purpose in mind and set a time limit.  Get in, Get Out and Get something of value every time but don't lurk around and surf endlessly.

Procrastination is a killer of our hopes and dreams, its a killer of our self-confidence, self-esteem and self-worth and causes much undo stress.  A few years ago I created a program to help business professionals with this issue, it's called, "End Procrastination NOW!" and perfectionism is really just a fear of failure and rejection and is another form of procrastination.

Just my two cents (or maybe 3-4 cents)...hmm, maybe this should be my next blog posting, thanks CRaig for stirring my thoughts on this subject...

Craig, Thanks for this blog on Skip

Skip, we NEED you. Welcome to AR!

Jessica, and Craig. count me in with the "P" group.

Hey do you think we should form a "Perfectionist" beta group so we can procratinate some more?

ginger

Ginger,

Thanks for the greeting and positive reinforcment...

I strongly advise against your suggestion. But that's just me, you guys can do what you want.

Remember that the capital "P" should be for 'Procrastinate' and the little "p" on perfectionist.  As the latter is a subgroup of the former.  Too many people wear both as a badge of honor instead of doing something about it that can really set them apart from the rest of the field!

Hi Craig... great pic for this post BTW. I try to limit(budget) my time to no more than an hour per day. I'm not a prolific blogger(yet) so I spend my time on AR reading & commenting on posts that catch my eye and lately, keeping up with the new changes on AR.

 As for the ROI, the simple answer would be the great connections I've made, as well as some very promising business contacts.

Skip.

You have good insight overall.

But, I was joking about the perfectionist group. Don't need any more diversion. LOL!

BTW I don't wear the badge of honor! I want to overcome! HELP!  

PS, I am only a PT perfectionist, Some things I am very casual about.

Craig, Your both 1/2's are perfection to your fans! LOL!

Check your email ...I sent you one a while ago

You are so right that being an Active member of Active Rain can certainly drain your time, the first thing in morning and last thing at night is when I usually check in to see what is new. If I find myself on the site too long, I have to set limits because my day has way too much in it that  must get done.

The time spent away from the computer is totally freeing

Phyllis Pafumi

I have started to manage my time on AR better, but it is still spend several hours in the evening.  I comment for about 45 minutes in the morning and then most of the time I go back on after dinner. However, my evening can go on a lot longer than it should, so I need to get that under control.

ROI - I enjoy it so the personal satisfaction is worth a lot to me, and like Linda Davis said, the friendships. For example if it was not for AR, I probably would have never gotten know Linda, TLW, and others that I now consider to be my friends.  I can't put a price tag on that.

Skip, you have no idea how much you've impacted me by writing that!  I even printed it off to show to my husband.  I too had goose bumps!

Thank you so very very much and I look forward to seeing the blog. 

Thanks for the feedback, Jessica, glad you find value in my writings and coaching.

So, I'm just wondering, as a coach I'd be remiss if I didn't ask you, 'what are you going to do differently now as a result of that impact? what decisions have you made?"

I'm working on the blog but it may be a day or two 'til I get back to it as I'm doing a workshop on Friday for members of my coaching program.  Of which the topic is Emotional Mastery and Breaking Through F.E.A.R. which has an awful lot to do with both procrastination and perfectionism.

Beause of this thread I'm actually working up a survey for AR members on the topic and so it may take me a day or two to get the whole thing set up.  Look for it soon, though...

OMG Craig - you've like totally read my mind!  Have you wondered where I've been or why I was suddenly so silent?

I, too, love AR and all of the wonderful people that I have 'met' here through blogging.  But I had to take a step back.  I had no quality of life left!  I would sit at my computer and literally turn my back on my family!

I also found that I was beginning to neglect the business that brought me here to this site.  I found that I would put off working on my website, or marketing in favor of making connections on AR.   I'm not saying that connecting with everyone here is not important to me, but everything needs to be done in moderation and I was spiralling out of control!

And so, ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce myself...my name is Val Allocco and I am an AR addict!

I'm working on my time-management skills and fighting to limit my time here each day now.

I hope to be better soon!!!!!!  :)

Craig - this is a great post, and looking at the comments, it sounds like a good many of us are addicted to AR.  My name is Ann Cummings and I am an AR addict, just like VAL!!

I spend, as others have also said, ALOT of time on AR.  Some days, I spend less than an hour, and other days I find that I skip some of my work to get back onto AR.  And that's not a good thing.

Most of my blog posts take me a long time to put together.  I tend to be a perfectionist, and that costs me time when I put together a post.  Hours are sometimes spent on ONE post.

Skip, you are so on the money on your comments here.  I am going to go check out your blog and add you as one of my associates as Craig did - I don't want to miss anything you write, if your comments here are any indication of what I'm going to find on your blog.

Thanks Craig & Skip,
Ann

Blogging is real work - I didn't know what it was until two months ago when I discovered AR and now its 1:16 in the morning and I'm typing this response.  At least it helped my search engine placement.  Something, then, other than just breaking up my days!

If you were talking about actual financial ROI, right now, it hasnt generated any business yet. But I'm only on my 5th day. This place has proved to be very solid as a content provider. I have enjoyed the blog and have challenged myself to contribute effectively. So far, I've thoroughly enjoyed it. And the people that visit are courteous too.

PS: It makes me more conscious of what others have brought to the table, I plan to do the same.

Pssst...It's us. Happy New To You...Sorry we think it sounds better without the Year. SVW.

Last year's words belong to last year's language and next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning. "T.S. Eliot"

From Broker Bryant and The Lovely Wife...Wishing You a Good New. ROAR!