Earlier today Chris Brogan wrote a post about Not Having The Time To Blog.  It was a good post – one that rang very true for me.  Look back at my posts – or lack thereof. Really, look back…there has not been much here in 2011.

For a really long time now, I have been telling myself that I don't have the time to do a lot of things.  I don't have time to blog because I am no longer sure of my focus, I don't have the time to write because I am not sure where to start, I am not eating the way I want to because I am busy with work and family obligations, I don't spend enough time with my kids or my husband – because I need to focus on yet one more project.  And fitness…while let's not even go there…at least not in this post.  Wow…just look at that list.  Does any of it ring true for you?  Why is it that so much time can go by while we some how manage to make excuses that seem truly legitimate?  

In January, I wrote this post because I was thinking and processing a lot related to the future of both my blog and my work.  Back then, I thought I was right around the corner from knowing exactly what was next for me in relation to my blogging.  Well, guess what…once again…life got in the way!  Truth be told; I didn't make the time that I needed to finish and action my thinking process.  By the time the summer rolled by, I knew that I needed to take a far more active role in ensuring that I would actually make the time for the things that matter the most in my online world.  So this past September, I headed off to SOBCon Northwest; where my mind was significantly blown and awesomely inspired. Just over a month has passed since SOBCon and I can honestly say that I am still reaping the rewards of being in the room with so many amazing people. Since that time, I have worked really hard to find a way to make the time that I know I need to plan, create and truly begin to make the shifts that I know are needed for the future on my blog and online business.

If finding the time to do what inspires you is something that you are struggling with, then I suggest you at least do this much.  Take a moment to look around at others who inspire you. (Here are just a few that are doing it for me these days: Greg Hartle, AJ & Melissa Leon, Chris Brogan, Jeff Pulver, The NonConformist Family and of course SOBCon's co-founders Liz Strauss and Terry “Starbucker” St. Marie.) Look for examples of the very things that interest you the most. Think about what you see. Really think. Consider, evaluate and start to ask questions – both of them and of yourself. Engage…first in small ways and then in even bigger ways. At the same time, start to let go of the things that don't inspire you as much as they used to.  After a while, you will begin to recognize that you actually can make the time for what matters the most and that it feels amazing when you do.

Right now…today..I tell you this:

 

• I am in a very new place in my mind and it is an excellent thing. Over the next while, I will be transforming this blog and many of the projects that I am working on to be much more reflective of where I truly want to be focusing my energies and passion.

 

• Yes, YOU CAN make the time you need to do the things that matter the very most to you.

 

So, what will you do to make time for the things that inspire you?

In follow-up to my post on being ready for 2011 here is more on one of the people/events that has been having an impact on my thinking and work.

Jeff Pulver is the creator the 140 Characters Conference.  Jeff's work has done a lot to influence both my thinking and understanding of social media over the last year and a half. He is virtually always there to answer my tweets and is one of the first people to say "Good Morning" to me many days of the week through the Twitterverse.

Key take aways from Jeff's work that have been influencing my thinking include:

• Understanding "The State of Now" – What it is, what it means and where it is going.
• What community really means and how it exists online.
• The importance of listening and how people/organizations are learning to do this through social media.
• How social media has enabled us to really be able to create collaborative opportunities for engagement around the world.

Here is Jeff's closing video reflecting on his work in 2010 and where he sees it going for this year.

 

In 2011, I am planning on attending the 140conf event that is happening on June 15 & 16 in NYC.  I am also hoping to bring a 140 LOCAL Conf of one of the Canadian twitter communities that I am actively involved in.