I read a wonderful post tonight by Jeff Belonger: Are you sucked into the Active Rain black hole?
If you happened to have missed it, I would highly recommend it. It speaks of the TIME we spend here in the rain, the actual HOURS we devote to posting, commenting and going back to our posts to comment there as well.
I've never been good at math and hadn't given it much thought but when he broke down the approximate hours, he calculated some of us (many of us, in fact) were on here as much as if we were working a second full time job! I thought immediately of several things for myself, personally, that would add on to those hours: This computer is SLOW, waiting for it to get back to where it's supposed to be I can't just do one comment after another, I have to wait in between each one.
I also, probably like many of you, am averaging 30+ comments a day, not the 20 he estimated. When I first joined, I recall that I kept my comments to 10 per day. As more people joined and I met more of them, it increased. When I was up to 20 I promised myself that it was all I could possibly do per day. I found more people I love, or they found me and I asked myself, how do I NOT comment? Sometimes I am so "commented out" I don't have time to post---at least not anything that would be worth writing about.
Are we all just addicted to the rain so much that we don't want to miss a thing? I can tell you before I joined this wonderful site and started reading I was writing exclusive articles for a very well ranked site. It pulled my articles way up on Google and Yahoo but I wasn't happy; the articles had to be written in the third person, obviously NOT the way I write. Instead of being happy when I finally got one out that passed the editorial guidelines, I realized I wasn't having any FUN. I did in fact get work from them but there was no satisfaction in writing for something where I really wasn't free to express myself or my opinions. I WASN'T HAVING ANY FUN and it became a chore.
**I wanted to insert that wonderful little collage picture here but didn't know if that was a copyright infringement! Just pretend it's here :)
We all choose whether we LIKE to write and enjoy the interaction of ActiveRain or if we are content to write for other sites, as long as it brings in "the business." For myself, I want to be doing something I ENJOY, a place where I feel I belong with the freedom to express myself how I chose. I get to know many other members through their comments and phone calls, I can have freedom of expressing myself and I get business as well.
If this is my second "job," I can tell you it's one I enjoy VERY much. A place where I choose to be. If I am in fact "working" it's not a job I'm ready to give up! Thanks to Jeff for his wonderful post which inspired this one!
*Carole Provenzale has been a Certified Feng Shui Consultant since 1997 and is the Founder of Feng Shui Long Island, Oyster Bay, New York. On site and distance Feng Shui Consultations are provided for homes, businesses, new construction, renovations, real estate agents and corporations.
Carole,
One of the strengths of AR is that it's so versatile. It is much more than just trying to post good real estate content to attract readers. It's about networking, self-expression, SEO, industry info, socializing and much more. Yes, AR can keep you busy for hours at a time, if you let it.
I agree, it is time consuming but I do enjoy it. I mostly am on AR early in the AM and at night after getting little one to bed. I do enjoy it--it's social and beneficial to my business. What a great combo!
Hi Carole~ I have cut down my time on here considerably, that's how I missed Jeff's post. My ultimate goal is to post, read and comment in 1 hour a day.
Fernando, It is certainly addicting, don't say I didn't warn you :) But a wonderful place to be. I stay away from the "professional arguments" (very politically correct!) because it's not what I want the public reading.
Sally, You have been missed! A day without your posts and I feel like I'm missing something important :) It is about balance, I expect with my daughter home I won't be on as much and I have a good number of consultations set up. I believe we'll all be much busier with other things this time of year.
Brian, It is taking me much longer---the amount of comments and the slowness of this computer. I am longing for a brand new, very fast computer in my near future :) Thank you for your comment.
Esko, It has a lot of value, that's for sure. But Jeff's post really hit home, I couldn't believe it when he added up the numbers!
Karen, It definitely is a worthwhile activity and part of what I love the most is the interaction! And new friends---it's a wonderful site to be on for sure.
Kris, Your Comment is a post in itself, you're so right! It's such a learning lesson, there are so many things I read that I've never heard of. You've got your next post lined up, how great is that? If only you have time to write it!
Cynthia, It is a pleasure. I get on when I can, sometimes it's not for the whole day and then try to catch up (which can be impossible). But when I finally get a new computer I will be able to work faster. It's on my ever growing list :)
Jennifer, I look forward to meeting you one day and all the other New Yorkers at least :) That would be so much fun! This is a wonderful place to be and if I didn't enjoy it, I wouldn't be here either.
Lisa, I will be busy these next weeks, I have work to do and my daughter will be home. I won't be on as often and will certainly miss some wonderful posts! Jeff's post is what made me think of the TIME we are putting in, it's amazing to have added that up!
Donald, Jeff's post was terrific, the actual numbers which is something I hadn't considered! But we love it, we make friends and we get business. And it doesn't feel like work!!
Lisa, Go back and read it, I'm even going to re-read it...how many hours? Isn't that amazing I just never thought of it in those terms before! Except to me, it's FUN. And I like having fun!
Hi Carole,
Some people say to me sometimes that writing for AR must be an obligation since it's a business-related site; however I gladly proclaim that it's not an 'obligation' at all and that I thoroughly enjoy it (and can't wait to get back to my regular writing once the holiday season has passed).
I love reading all of your posts and it's clear that writing for you is a gift and a passion.
((-:
Jo
Carole... great follow up in regards to what I mentioned. You certainly touched on a few good things and I am glad that you enjoy writing now as before when you started out. I was sometimes the same. But as so many have mentioned, it's been very beneficial and just a pleasure. I just need to keep time in-check. thanks for the polite mention.
Carole
Activerain can really take up some time, and I am the first to tell you that I look forward to it.
Sincerely
Tom Braatz
Julie, What a beautiful comment, it brought a tear to my eye! We are all blessed not to have just found this site but found each other! Like really does seek like. I loved that you spoke of Jo's gift box, it is very true, that was an incredible post!
Jo, You are SO missed on here! Laura won't put her book down so I've got time to be in the rain...and it's never a chore, that's for sure.
Karen, I think I have managed to find a balance. Some times we have more time for posts and comments, other times we dont. But I'm never gone for long, I would miss too many people! Thank you for your comment.
Jeff, You post really made me THINK....I had never measured my time here in HOURS or days! I'm very happy here and when I don't have the time I am sure people would understand.
Tom, I can tell that you enjoy posting and commenting, it comes across somehow in your blogs. It's a wonderful place to be.
Bonnie, Truthfully, I don't want to know myself! We slow down at times and then come back..because we miss it :)