Tim Bursch

There is so much information available today. I could seriously read for hours on end and still have more to read.

I’m reading, well maybe scanning, over 100 blogs a day as part of my job. I do learn a lot.
The challenge is I’m spending so much time consuming content that I don’t take time to create content.

I need to be selfishly generous and guard my creation time.

Some ideas I have to be more selfish:

• Wait to check email, blogs, and Twitter until I write something
• Block my time better–If I was planning on 30 minutes of blog reading or Twitter checking, stay in that time block
• Music. I sometimes create better with music. Put the plugs in and make something.
• Practice. Plan on 30 minutes every day to write something whether I share it or not. Just do it.

Other resources here and here.

How do handle the information firehouse today? Does your blog miss you? Are you being selfish?

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Some businesses focus on goals, results, and ROI (outputs). That’s really important. Without results you won’t be in business long.
I wonder though, do we think enough about inputs?

I did not grow up on a farm, but I believe in the natural law of reaping what we sow (mind, body, work, etc).

What are you planting in your business? What are your inputs?

• Good people (Linchpins)
• Collaboration
• Action
• Courage

Want a great harvest this year? Think about what you’re putting in the ground.

Photo by: Wonderlane

Tags: harvest, inputs.

Part of my work is managing online communities. I would hesitate to call it management. It’s more like development. Mostly relationship development.

When you sell something people are going to have complaints. There will be mistakes. Right? And people are being more public with their beef.

So, how do you handle complaints?
Here are a few ideas:

• Acknowledge. Respond to the person’s issue and take it serious. This usually relieves the tension.
• Be quick to act. Be the first one to comment. Think real-time customer service.
• Use this as an opportunity to show your great customer service. Other customers are listening too.
• Follow up. Make sure the person’s issue is resolved.

How do you handle public complaints?

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I read this post by Jen Kane and have been thinking about it ever since. She brings up some great points and as usual challenges us to action.

So, here’s my idea: start small mastermind groups of people that are interested in going deeper.

Let’s talk about metrics and ROI. Let’s figure out action steps too. And let’s support each other and share ideas.

A few challenges with starting mastermind groups:

- Trust is needed in order to let a small group of people give you feedback and learn together.

- Time is needed. Who has time for another meeting? There’s work to do, but this would be a commitment to going pro.

- Logistics need to be figured out. Where, when, and what if people don’t show? All good questions.

There’s not an institution to go learn social media from, yet. If we want 201 learning, we will have to make it happen.

So, who’s interested in a mastermind group?

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I hope you had a good week. These posts inspired and made me think:

1. Leaders Can Be Human Too
2. A local social media call to arms
3. Why does your company have a cheap website?
4. Spam is not just email, it’s a way of thinking
5. Give life everything you’ve got, even when you’re winning.

What was the best part of your week?

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I was looking at draft posts and thinking about what makes the cut.

Here are some posts that won’t see the light of day:

-What are your listening practices? (Yawn)

-5 Ways to Start Building Your Personal Brand (overdone!)

-What will you do about poverty? (umm, I need to look at what I’m doing)

-Behavior change and community (interesting, but it needs to stew)

How do you decide what to share with the world? Is is all about giving away value. Sometimes.

Here are some of the things I think through:

Will this add value? What am I giving to my reader? Am I wasting someone’s attention? Does this just need to be said?

What about you? How do you decide?

Image by:miemo

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I hope you had a good week. Here’s are some of the best ideas that impacted me this week:

1. Readers lead. Books still matter.
2. This is about conversation. Are you joining in and commenting on blogs?
3. It does work to help people and your business at the same time.
4. Pizza places are doing good marketing. They’ve got me thinking here and here.

What impacted you this week? Share it.

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I hope you had a good week. Life is good, but hard sometimes. Be grateful for what you’ve got.

Here are the top ideas that I’m thinking about this week:

1. You can beat Walmart
2. Personal branding? Be yourself and make an impact.
3. Be part of people’s narrative first.
4. Check in on Linkedin at least once a week and take action (intro, recommend, send a message)
5. Email still works- I received two emails this week (a restaurant and a newsletter) Both caused me to take action. Email= action.
6. Conversation- Take time to really listen online and offline. People are good. And their stories matter.
7. The people of Haiti suffered this week. Take notice and help.

What about you? What ideas have impacted you? Share them.

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These ideas and articles made me think, stretch, and go further this week. Actually I’m still thinking about them.

1. Live a good story.
   
2. Be open to different voices and influence.
   
3. What is the soul of your business?
   
4. How can you change the world in 2010?
   
5. The golden rule still matters online and off.
   
6. Relationships make or break business today.
   
7. Be creative with new media. Think bigger.

And just for fun #8

A New Map of the USA

What made you think this week? What did you share? Tell me about it.

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It is that time of year when a lot of us make resolutions and goals for the new year. I know I do.

Here’s a thought: Why do we focus mostly on personal goals?

What about community based goals or resolutions? Have you ever thought of creating a goal with your community? Yeah, me neither.

Here’s the deal. I think there might be some power in collective resolutions. Let’s say you are part of a industry community. You share ideas, network, help each other get better at your business. What could your group (community) impact this year? If you were spending some of your goal-energy working with other people on a bigger goal, don’t you think you would grow…and everyone in the group.

So, what communities are you part of? Why not start a group resolution this year?

Image by: urban_data

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