I am SO GUILTY of the words that describe "the cobbler with no shoes" To the point that I Googled to see where the phrase originated. There were many entries, but here are two...
"Origin unknown; however the essence of this phrase is used to describe the phenomenon where certain 'professionals' in any given area are so busy with work for their clients and their teams that they neglect using their professional skills to help themselves or those closest to them. For example - the painter & decorator who never decorates his own house, the web designer that hasn't finished their website, or the accountant who is late in submitting his own tax return!"
"“The cobbler’s children have no shoes” means that a professional may by employed in helping his clients. He/she may be industrious and preoccupied with his/her work. He/she is obsessed and engaged with making his business succeed, but when comes to doing his/her professional work at home, nothing is done."
Or the marketer and graphic designer who does for others before she does for herself.
Yes...guilty...I advocate blogs. I design blogs. I have done well with Facebook because it is a DAILY HABIT. I check it multiple times. I "admin" and design many pages. It is an "instant gratification" media. But my BLOG? Sorely under-used and not quite updated. Because like anyone in their own professional field there is the "do as I say, not as I do" challenge.
One of my latent 2012 resolutions is to make some personal and professional changes. Yeah, the treadmill activity is a bit more further behind than the blog activity...but I'm working on it, you know? (http://www.trekdesk.com/ is on my radar. I want one.)
Social Media expertise takes more determination than people realize. It is not a light and fluffy, casual "'l'll get to it" format. It requires scheduling. If it is your business to market, I suggest a schedule. The kind with a check-off and accountability list. Logging results. Checking stats. Seeing who your recipients/potential customers are.There are so many free "insights" applied to Social Media today you would be adverse not to utilize and embrace them. Hoard them actually. After all..IT's FREE STUFF!
I am teaching some classes soon and I was sorely aware that I had not updated my recent experiences and skills on my web-page information. (bad Sue) Can you say "back-burner"? which is not as urgent as "meet your clients deadline!"
My own descriptors of what I "do" and "Can do" and "have done"were lackluster. I have added skill sets not represented on my website 6 months to a year ago. Mostly because I love to learn. At least a couple/few new things a day. This industry moves fast. If you don't try to keep up with it, it is easy to lose track. 20 years ago change may have occured at a 2-3 year clip. Today it can be measured in months or days. Sometimes hours"You snooze you loose" has been exponentially speeded up. "Warp speed, Mr Zulu" comes to mind. (BTW George Takei recently hit a MILLION Facebook followers)
That combined with my volunteer opportunities (not obligations) at the Coventry Regional Farmers Market in it's recent state of flux and change, my "day job" in floral wholesale and my Grandma duties with the squeezable little Jacob...would easily explain my absence. Not justify mind you...just explain.
"So , without further adieu"...I promise that tomorrow I will post for you...what has been happening in my world, in particular the business world of www.suemuldoonimages.com
There are some really awesome graphics about. Collaborations and flat-out inspirations.
You can see some recent updates before I blog them at www.suemuldoonimages.com
Blessings,
Sue
PS...I'll leave you with one of my most peaceful mornings. After a day of family medical dilemma followed by P&Z meetings and a stressful snow drive 2 hours home (about a 20 hour day)... I grabbed the camera the next insomniac morning and walked through a snow-dusted orchard. Divine.
Your reflections in this post are so true. I, also, have not kept up with the Terra Lux Facebook page ~ or any of the social media sites on which we have a presence. You are correct that it requires scheduling (and that statement has hit one of my Virgo cords) and the 'free insights' that come from all this wonderful 'free stuff'. Thanks for the little wake up call.
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