I'm watching the news tonight. The last segment is a lifestyle story about the fact that more and more people are now able to fit 31 hours into a 24 hour day! Wow! Fascinated, I rewind to make sure I heard right...What's the secret? Well, you may have guessed. It's multi-tasking.
Today, Americans have become so efficient that we can have several conversations online while talking to people 'live'. Vacation hotspots must be equipped with wireless access or we may avoid them because we can't stand being 'disconnected.'
If a page download on our computer takes more than a couple of seconds...we actually hold our breaths in exasperation. Tonight's broadcast sited a study by an elevator company which indicated that our impatience level while waiting for an elevator to arrive is now 30 seconds!
As a broker, involved in training agents and teaching about various topics related to real estate, including blogging, I do have some legitimate concerns about the misuse of this medium. Social Networking combines the most engaging qualities of interaction online with the unsettling reality of it's ability to be a major time stealer.
The benefits of the Internet are undeniable. From a business perspective, the lead volume and contacts from our online marketing have been profitable. Years of print advertising have not yielded the equivalent results that ratcheting up our efforts through blogging and online marketing have.
In addition, sites like Active Rain have provided the opportunity to interact and learn from individuals across my community and nation in a way which I have never experienced. It's intoxicating & refreshing.
But, there is a downside which I think that we ignore at our peril. Drinking too much of this blogging elixir can be unhealthy. Sally Cheeseman wrote a fascinating series earlier this year about the physical challenges which she experienced as a result of blogging...These injuries are well documented for people who spend excessive amounts of time on the computer.
My concerns are professional and personal. When I started my career 13 years ago, there were fewer outside opportunities to distract my attention. Yet, I will always remember a wise veteran who gave me some solid advise. She said, "Lola, make sure your build your business first before you get involved in all the other stuff." She was talking about involvment with my local Real Estate Board.
Today...I know she was right. If I had not invested my time and attention in building my business by prospecting for clients, listing homes, showing and selling homes and successfully negotiating transactions...I wouldn't have been of any assistance to my profession. I would have compromised my ability to secure a solid business.
TLW's recent post about the fact that agents who are blogging and not working on the basic core elements of the real estate profession may not be helping themselves or their employers is on target. This past year and a half has shown me by personal experience and observation of others that it is nearly impossible for most people to be involved in trying to sell real estate and keeping appropriate track of their transactions and also be continually connected to their Blackberry's through responding to comments and instant messaging.
There does need to be a balance. Brokers cannot afford to ignore or marginalize the Internet. It is incumbent on real estate professionals to understand how to engage people who are seeking information and services online. But the standards for professionalism for our industry must also be set by us. WE must resist the temptation to be blind followers of technology rather than innovative, intelligent users.
So, how effective has this new 31 hour day really been? Well, studies are showing that we're paying for our 'productivity' by increased levels of tension and stress. Even our downtime and vacation is increasingly polluted by our connectedness to an electronic tether.
Think about this...While I would love to be in e-mail contact with my physician if I had a question, I think I'd wonder a little if he was always available online. After awhile, I'd be curious about when he had time to see his patients...
Then, I might start wondering about when he had time to see his wife & kids...
You might also enjoy reading Pam Winterbauers' excellent Featured Post...The Art of Monotasking
Copyright 2008 Audu Real Estate All Rights Reserved
Lola Audu, is the Designated Broker & Owner of Audu Real Estate. Our company specializes in helping people buy and sell homes in the greater Grand Rapids, West Michigan area. We've had the privilege of helping hundreds of clients succeed in their goals of purchasing and selling property including demonstrated success in the negotiation of Short Sale Transactions. You can contact us via e-mail @ info@auduhomes.com or by phone at 616-791-0511.
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. :)
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
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
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,
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
Lead generation is the fuel for the engine and Prospecting is a key ingredient in Lead Generation!
Lola, Glad to see this post brought back to life from two and half years ago. All good information...all still applies. 31 hours are being fit into the day.
Margaret