1. Introduction
At a cocktail party, you hear about Active Rain from an associate. You wonder about the stupid name, but decide to investigate; hey, looks cool.
You receive an invitation from your friend, but you're a busy professional, so you ignore it.
They send it again, so you join, and start working on your profile. You have no idea how to upload photos, and aren't sure what to write, but you want to appear brilliant to the world. You force yourself to slam out 17 pages of scintillating information beginning with early childhood experiences.
Then you start to panic.
2. Confusion
You question your masterpiece. Does it help readers connect with you as a person? Do you say too much about your amazing professional prowess? Is your phrasing powerful, or cliché? Will anyone understand what you're trying to say? Okay.....maybe you should cut out the parts about your First Communion, Girl Scout cookie sales awards, Junior High Drama Club, your six bridal showers, the Birthing Center, your mother-in-law, and Fluffy's abdominal surgery. There, that's better. You believe this is coming together, but for the life of you, you cannot find that photo of you, your son, and the mayor....
3. Overwhelm...ment?
Holy Cow, just WRITING your profile gave you 1,200 points. You join...this group.... and this group..... and this group. You think HIS writing is GREAT, and subscribe. Wow, you think SHE's cool, and add her as an Associate. Hmmmmm; what does this button do? The screen doesn't change, so it must do nothing. You push it 7 more times just in case; still nothing.
Gee...you didn't know that about mortgages. How did they get 221 comments on this blog? Here are some posts about coastal real estate...and look at this chunk here..., and here. Real Estate and religion. Real estate and children. Estate and Zucchini Bread. Real Estate and Crescent Wrenches. OMG, you'll never get through all this information.
4. Dipping your toes
Okay....this person makes a compelling point, but you disagree. Time for your first comment. You must be forceful and clear, but don't want to offend. You try being sweet; doesn't work. Okay....factual and to the point. No personality needed; you're just stating an opinion. Fine.....you post the comment.
Didn't go through.
Oh, you have to type that little blue word in the rectangle. Then you might as well check the little tiny box. Okay, not so bad, you can do this, and you got 25 points. Whoo hoo! Maybe now you have the courage to write your first POST!
5. Inability to look away (lack.a.points.a.phobia)
You break 20,000 points. To celebrate, you upgrade your keyboard to a fancy black ergonomic one. 
This should help you type faster.
You're polishing up your 32nd post, which MIGHT be Tthe One". Maybe it will help if all your friends log on and comment on your new post. You quickly email each of them. EIGHTEEN MESSAGES? Man, it WORKED! Okay, you have time to answer each individual comment before you leave. Oh man! Twenty seven more?
Well Ding! Dong!, you've been FEATURED (spontaneous and awkward victory dance). Now 44 comments? Well, you can skip the Homeowners Association Meeting and answer them tonight. After all aren't Vice Presidents supposed to be able to run meetings, too? On the way home you scribble down an agenda, and drop it off at the VP's house, wishing her luck.
6. Immersion
Only 1,600 more points before you become NUMBER ONE in the COUNTY. You can TOTALLY do this TODAY. Your phone rings. It's your wife. "Honey" don't forget to pick up the kids from school". "Okay....what's that little one's name again"? Blog blog blog blog blog. Your phone rings. It's your wife. "Honey, you forgot to pick up the kids". "Oh. Sorry. What time it is? "Midnight".
7. Relaxed Competence
Now you understand how to manage this stuff. Delete, Delete, Delete, Delete, Delete. Comment, Uncheck the Box. Delete, Delete, Comment, Comment, Comment, Comment. Check point totals. Comment Comment Comment.
Feng Shui; what's that? Let me read an article or two....hmmmmm. Okay, I can knock out one more blog before the 3pm sales meeting. I'll call it "Feng Shui for Dummies". Great....perfect....it's ready, BUT it is Tuesday and on Tuesday afternoons at this time typically only 1,100 people or so are logged on. You choose to save it as a draft until tomorrow night when your calculations indicate nearly three times that number will be out "in the Rain".
8. Veteran Nonchalance
After you don your smoking jacket, buff your nails and wax your moustaches, you clear your throat, and decide to post. But first a spot of tea...
You log on.
Your new password is FABU-MAN.
You critically scan your electronic library of pre-written posts, with hyperlinks, embedded photography, and animation. Shall you submit "Attracting Affluence" "Burgeoning Business Blunders", "Contracting Challenges", "Different Designations", Effortless Elegance"?
Effortless Elegance! That's the one. Now you overlay the soundtrack you threw together yesterday...
Cheers! from DC...
Jaynee
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