I am buried. I have no idea how to handle the communication crisis. I see no light at the end of the tunnel. Here’s why:
I am most likely the worst operator in the history of business. I have proved it. Don’t admire me for my honesty – it’s not self deprecating if it’s true. Even now, I have no employees. Anybody that has ever worked for me – hates me. I am an ass. Employees have said they are scared of me – PLEASE. Horrified maybe.
I have spent the last 4 years reaching out, crackleberrying, networking and taking some big risks and now, after a year of blogging and some wind at my back – it’s an inbound information crisis. I love writing and will do so until I die, but I did not see this coming. I guess it’s a “tipping point” of networking 2.0.
Not too long ago, I responded to every deal and inquiry immediately. I was in chase mode. Now I am a deer in the headlights of incoming email and phone calls.
Quite frightening.
great idea. Finish school and move to Phoenix.
better yet, just leave school. Pull a rodney
Leaving school is alright. I went back recently, though. Unfinished business.
You can do quite well if you’re smart and well networked though. One of my friends was rich at 20. (At 23, he works for google and is sporting a growing collection of shiny fast things. I was playing poker with his crowd from work and kept getting asked where my degree came from. Doh. Also was pestered to go work there.)
send em my way.
Remember this, you are overqualified for the position you hold. You have to delegate!
Hire me! lol!
congrats! the tipping point is a good place to be. It is where you get to start paying attention to high impact items instead of ALL items. I am sure people would love to hear your direct path to the tipping point.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels that way! I was wondering how you handled all the stuff you’ve got going on. No wonder why you can’t sleep. :-)
Jim – Thanks – I THINK?
I agree about high impact but I still am involved in lower impact projects and I consider all my friends and requests HIGH IMPACT and the stress comes from not being able to respond in the same fashion I did just 3 months ago.
Tom – I think you mean underqualified in which case, I agree :)
I had to recently abandon a few projects for this very reason. It’s nearly impossible to keep up with more than a few startups, unless you’re just an advisor. And those can still keep you up at night.
I hated having to put a couple of gambles on hold, but sometimes you have to dedicate yourself to the proven winners. If only I could find a suitable partner in crime..
Maybe in 2007?
Yes the key – winners! I have no idea
They key is control Howard. You don’t HAVE to respond to everything. Put out a blanket apology ahead of time for anyone you don’t get back to. Have a communication plan agreed to for the importnat people (once a day? twice a day? as needed with an upper limit?) and promise everyone else to check in once or twice a week.
Having to stay constantly in touch is an illusion. More stuff happens more effectively when you limit what you do.
Angry, you’ve got it right. And without all of the trappings of “Getting Things Done.”
Besides, Howard, everyone knows you’re a crackberry addict therefore you read all of your email.
(firefox 2.0’s new textbox spellchecker needs ‘crackberry’ in its dictionary.)
good advice my friends.
Expect to be read but not answewred than
That was easy