Hi Lola, I agree.  Back when I started my career I always focused on my career and not the board type activities.  I know that was the right thing to do.  I am so happy I have found AR and this world of blogging and social networking, but sometimes a girls gotta go and sell a house or two!!  I don't know how people belong and are active on all of the site?  Maybe I haven't really figured out the 31 hour day yet?

Audrey, It is a 'double-edged' sword in a sense.  There is no longer any doubt in my mind about the potential and actual profitably of this medium.  However, invovlement must be tempered by an appropriate accounting for the 'costs.'  It is not FREE.  Although we may not pay to blog or interact on social networks, we must consider the cost of the involvement of time and other issues.  For a new agent, excessive engagment might impact their ability to build a solid base if they become so immersed in the social aspects that the business is depleted.

On a lighter note...24 hours is more than enough for me. :)

And here I thought you had found some sort of real life TiVo...  I use it to time compress TV programs... and ofc ourse I am blogging while they are on...

Lola, This was some good advice......"make sure your build your business first before you get involved in all the other stuff."  I have seen agents so involved in board activities that they made no time to build a business.  

Lola, I love this! I have wondered the same thing many a time when seeing some people who seem to have time to write such wonderful blogs continually. I know as soon as my license comes in, I have work to do and it wont be blogging. Of course, I will do that when I get a some spare time in the evening. Thanks for another great post!

Susan

I think it also depends on the type of blogs.  Social networking is far more interactive.  I do a lot of localism and often have an empty comment board!  It 's hard because it feels like I'm not being rewarded for all the work while others are getting features and the like.  But localism gets the phone to ring....social networking may pay off in the murky future, but not just yet. 

Thank you because you have just gave me something to think about and discuss tomorrow with all of our employees!!!

Lola Thank you for helping us to keep things in perspective, spending too much time with technology can definitely distract one from other priorities, the internet and computers are wonderful however on human need we should not deny is the need for meaningful social interaction. Thanks Orobosa

Wow, Lola this was a great read.  I also do think that it is important to build your business first before trying to get into all that other stuff.  It can be very difficult to focus on the most important thing when your so involved in other things. 

I'm pondering what you've had to say...I feel like I need to go back and read it again...I'm amazed at how many Brokers are on here.......I'm also reflecting on how much time I've been spending on here, and wondering whether it really an escape from other things I should be doing....hmmm....:-)

I'm pondering what you've had to say...I feel like I need to go back and read it again...I'm amazed at how many Brokers are on here.......I'm also reflecting on how much time I've been spending on here, and wondering whether it really an escape from other things I should be doing....hmmm....:-)

Hi Lola,  I must say the 31 hours in a day caught my attention!  Everything you said is spot on...the 30 seconds for an elevator is so true, and in my  house we have all been exasperated that our computers are running slower lately.  You're right that there is a downside to all of this, and I will share this very well-written with some near and dear to me.  Cheers,  Harley

A lot of us likely try and cram in 31 hours. We need to think about more rest. Somehow it is illusive.

Excellent points Lola. I just taught a consumer centric/web 2.0 class and in it I stress balance.  I struggle with it myslef so I know how hard it is to find and maintain that balance.

I have been struggling with this explosion for over a year now.    The  tether has become a way of life for me and I am slowly finding ways to cut loose.  It is so great and I feel more and more free.  To me, it is about letting go of control (which causes more stress!)

You are correct about the doctor analogy!  When we go to the doctor, we see all the patients in the waiting room and realize they are BUSY.  When we are selling real estate, not too many other people realize what goes on in the back end of the transaction or throughout their day. 

I think another way people are fitting in so many hours is by sleeping a lot less these days!  More and more demands our time every day and finding a healthy balance is important but also difficult.  Thanks for the insightful post! 

Lola,  So true and so well written.  But this just isn't our industry, it's our society.  It doesn't mean that we have to subscribe to this way of life.  It's sometimes very difficult to decide what modalities to utilize and how much.  It's all a learning process.  But as you, TLW and others have written, you need to take care of business first.  Some will say that this is business and they are somewhat correct.  But, it's not the core of what makes up our business.  Also, many hide behind the online persona hoping to alleviate their so-called pain about going about business the old-fashioned way.  OK, I'm rambling.

Darn, I thought I was going to learn how to get 31 hours. Do you think we can petition for an increase in hours of the day? HEHE

Lola,

excellent post. I agree completely with you. I found that I was doing a great job of blogging, while I wasn't doing a great job of building the core elements of my business. Blogging is now a part of what I do. It's a part I enjoy, but only when I have the time to do it. Thanks for the insightful post.

Lane...I record most programs, but when I do sit down to watch them on the weekend, I may have a snack...but that's about it. :)

Margaret, Thanks for your comment.  We do have to raise our awareness of how what we are doing online impacts our core business.

Susan, Congratulations on obtaining your real estate license. You're entering our profession at a very unique time.  Blogs can be an incredible way for you to learn and gain information which will help you in your career.  However, it is important to develop a solid real life work experience in this profession which includes meeting people, prospecting, listing and selling homes and learning all you can through experience and practise.

Ruthmarie...Localism posts are very important and an effective way to prospect.  Although they may not get a lot of comments, these are the types of posts that I encourage new agents to focus on.  After all, they're trying to build a business.  Like you note in your comment....it's not as exciting, but far more likely to yield contacts that help pay the bills.

American Affordable Homes...Thanks for your comment.

Orobosa...Thank you for your comment. Social Networks do provide interaction & because many agents now work at home, this element is a powerful attractor.  Sites like Active Rain do bring potential clients as well...the methods of engagement are changing, but we must all be careful not to drift from our primary focus if we desire to continue in the real estate profession.

Ryan, Thanks for stopping by.  What happens is that we become somewhat distracted when we have too many things on our plate.  It's definitely a challenge in all areas of life.

Liz...It's an important conversation to have with ones' self.  The Internet is arguably one of the most powerful mediums that the world has ever had at it's disposal.  As real estate brokers, we must use it...not allow it to overwhelm us or the agents who work for us.  That's the key.

Harley...Thanks for stopping by.  I'm glad you found this post interesting and helpful. 

Bob & Carolin...Rest is illusive because we are restless.  We don't need to find rest, it's always there if we are open to receiving it.

Monika, that sounds like a fascinating class.  I wish you were closer.  I know that I would thoroughly enjoy your teaching.

Renee, good for you!  The piece that I referenced in the post indicates that most people now need at least 3 days of a vacation just to decompress and begin to enjoy themselves.  The 'electronic tether' as well as the other hurried aspects of our lives is more powerful than most of us truly appreciate.

"I'm in a hurry and I don't know why, all I really need to do is live and die but I"m in a hurry and don't know why"
People rush and tear, to earn money to buy faster cars, Blackberry's, other gadgets and have no time for family. Then the next thing we're all stressed out with some even taken drugs so they can even speed up their own lives.
Aim for balance, not more empty tasks accomplished in a day.

Multitasking is a mode that we get forced into when we take on too many obligations.  I may multitask while blogging, because I don't want to give up blogging.

I also don't want to give up exercising, which takes time.   Should I take my cell phone with me?  Am I or my client being well served if I'm out of breath and distracted trying to talk to him while I jog?

Modern life is a juggling act.  Multitasking is generally the result of doing too many things at once; probably none of them well.

Lola,

You are so right.  I am a person who won't go to a resort unless they have wireless internet.

I enjoy doing the other stuff and blogging and selling  homes and golf and family and I don't know where to stop but as long as I enjoy it I will keep on doing it the key to my life is having funa t waht ever I do. Thanks

Lola- I enjoyed this read...although I hope Liz doesn't leave us....I find it somewhat sad when certain people drift off the network, but I do understand.  Thanks for writing this...those 31 hours are elusive at best :)

Lola...

Better late than never :)

The things I see the most is folks just sitting around on their p.c. waiting for their phone to ring and trolling the Internet for leads. It doesn't work like that. You have to get out there and MAKE the phone ring. In doing so you shoot kill two birds with one bullet stone. The human/business interaction and the release of happy hormones :) Okay. So maybe that sounded better in my head :)

P.S. Almost time for me to go walk three miles in my shoes :)

TLW...ROAR!

Having just under a year of real estate experience, I am glad to learn this now.  I now know that I have been doing the right thing by getting involved with different groups and just trying to socialize and let everyone know what I do.  I always feel guilty for not being on the computer as much as others because I am trying to be more involved outside of the office. 

Multitasking is a mode that we get forced into when we take on too many obligations. I may multitask while blogging, because I don't want to give up blogging. I also don't want to give up exercising, which takes time. Should I take my cell phone with me? Am I or my client being well served if I'm out of breath and distracted trying to talk to him while I jog? Modern life is a juggling act. Multitasking is generally the result of doing too many things at once; probably none of them well.

Patricia...you're so right about sleep!  That's something that I've had to work diligently to make sure I get enough of.  You can become so involved online that you don't realise how quickly time has passed.

Marc...intelligent rambling is always welcome here. :)  While I don't underestimate the importance of an online presence...it has been tremendously valuable to me...I also see that it is easy to become distracted from the core of what creates a profitable business. 

Christy..LOL...I think God has squeezed in all the hours he's willing to give us already.  We continue to try to create more apparently to our own disadvantage.

Andrew...Thanks for sharing.  I don't blog on Sunday and tend to do most of my posting in the evening.  It's important to attend to business first.  Keeping a balance requires continual vigilance.  I'm not always successful...but, I'm working on it. :)

Keith...Very well stated.  Thank you.

Brian...The irony of this is that all these gadgets were supposedly created to allow us to have more time..

Russ...And think about what you may be missing...maybe some real peace & quiet?

Terry, I'd agree that it is about enjoying what we are doing. I love communicating and teaching, blogging is simply a vehicle to share that gift with others.  The challenge is to keep things within a healthy perspective and to actually be 'present' when doing whatever we are involved with at the time.

Amen Kathy...Illusive, Illusory & Ill-Advised.

TLW...Actually, I think it came out just right.  There's a benefit to 'real' human interaction that can't be 'quantified.'  No matter how many times, you comment on someones' post, there's a difference when you pick up the phone and call them.  I am grateful for what blogging has done. for my business..but, I'm also realistic, like you are about it's potential downside.

Michelle...Prospecting is the most important thing a real estate agent must be able to do effectively.  Internet Marketing is part of that, but for a new agent, it will not yield the results that meeting and talking with people will.  Where blogging is very beneficial is in bringing in business which is not a part of your referral base or sphere of influence and providing a means of evaluating your skill professionally and your communication skills...A large number of people are looking online for real estate, so this avenue must be a part of a comprehensive strategy.

Hi Lola,

You are so right about "drinking too much of the blogging elixir".  I took a month off from blogging just to recharge.  Great post!

Catherine