I received a sad email today. A friend of mine has a mother who is sick. In fact, the initial prognosis was 4-6 weeks. I hope that this scenario changes. Can you imagine many things worse than receiving the news that you have 4 weeks to live? Perhaps there are worse things . . . but I can’t think of any of them now.
As much as this has burdened my heart for her family, it has also made me realize a couple of things: 1. Life’s short. Enjoy it. 2. This was my year to be committed to several things. My blog is one of them . . . and I haven’t even taken the time to blog since early August.
If you are like me (and I am sure that you are), you get busy. You forget the things that are important. You neglect your commitments. And then you hope the new year gets here fast enough so that you can recommit. I didn’t want to be this type of person this year.
Don’t get me wrong. I have sold a business and accomplished a couple of my other goals this year. However, it seems that my grade on my commitments for the year might be a “low B.” I don’t accept that kind of work. You shouldn’t either.
This is a great week to re-commit. We are only about 51.5 hours away from the final quarter of the year. This is the time to redevote yourself to your task.
How many friends have you reconnected with this year?
How much debt have you paid down this year?
When is the last time you talked to your cousin?
Have you called your mother today?
Sent a postcard to your grandmother?
Let’s get to work and finish 2010 strong. This is the year that many of us have decided is our turnaround year. If you haven’t met your spiritual, business or personal goals, there is no better time than now.
I know people who always seem to have good things happen to them. They always seem to be in the right place at the right time. I was watching an old re-run of Seinfeld last night and saw a perfect example of this (watch the first minute and a half for the illustration and the whole thing if you just want a great laugh):
Kramer was in the right place at the right time. Part of this was due to to his inquisitive personality. Part of it was just plain luck. Either way, he got a “job” out of being in the right place at the right time. It changed his life. Of course, he lost the job due to his inability to perform, but that’s a different story.
I tossed and turned last night thinking of this from a social networking standpoint. I have spent countless hours over the last few weeks in social networking. I find online social networks absolutely fascinating. I have registered with several networks. I have set up my own community on Ning. I have submitted articles at Biznik. Social Media Networks are great! I have learned more and connectected with people to whom I would not have otherwise connected.
The same principal that applied in the clip of Kramer above also applies to Social Networking. Social Networks allow a person or business to connect with others in their industry and to their customers by providing online platforms or “networks”. However, If a person or company only registers in social networks and does not participate, potential golden opportunities could be missed.
For instance: If I am involved in social networking through a site like Twitter, many people will follow me and I will follow them. When I tweet something, they may or may not read it. But what if . . . the one thing that I tweeted that day was of interest to someone and they clicked on the link and visited my website? What if . . . that person found the information helpful and filled out a form for me to contact them and I got some business out of social networking? But not only registering in social networks, but participating in them, too. Or, being in the right place at the right time. What if 10 people did the same thing? All it took was a few clicks of the buttons, and a little effort to be in the right place at the right time, and opportunity was created!
Let me give you another example. I am big fan of Biznik. It is another social networking site that allows users to connect with others as well as publish articles. I have found several articles applicable and helpful (For instance, how do you think I figured out how to add the “Contact Me” tab to my blog?). I comment on articles regularly and have noticed that traffic to my blog has picked up based on the comments I am making to others. My participation, or being in the right place at the right time, is driving traffice to my website.
Join The Conversation Now
I would like to encourage you to join one social network that you have been thinking of joining. I can provide you with a list if you fill out the contact me form. Spend a couple of hours each day for one week on the network you join and connect with others by inviting them to join you or by commenting on their articles (Keep the negative comments to yourself). See what kind of connections you can make and how they can make a meaningful impact on you and your business. Make an effort to be in the right place at the right time and see if you can create a new opportunity for yourself this week.
Daughter is asleep. Wife is asleep. I’m watching the Texas – Missouri basketball game. I have caught up on my reading on selected articles from my Google Reader. I have read and posted feedback on the blogs and articles that I found relevant. Now, what should I do? According to Gary Vaynerchuck, now is the time to Crush It! (I just completed his book of the same title. I do recommend it, especially since I like short books).
I used to work with the great Nick Henderson at ADP, Inc. On various occasions he would come into the office and make the statement, “I Choose Joy!!” What a great attitude.
