Just Wondering About Following...
Tonight I started with BootCamp but somehow lost my direction. I started thinking about how many people I follow. I normally follow everyone that follows me and along the way I usually find someone that I think is interesting and worthy of following in hopes of having good dialogue with and maybe learning something from. But as some of you know, I usually do not follow motivators, only instructors because I really just desire direction, not motivation. I've got the Stephen Covey deal, even brought home the 'planner' and everything! But in my opinion that dog don't get the job done. Show me the money and that is the motivation that works for me. Show me your cash and how ya' got it and that'll get me across the river!
So... I'm currently going through everyone that I follow(over 1000) and 'Unfollowing' the ones that just "take up space" and thought that I would pose the question..."Where Do You Draw the Line". Where do you just draw the line and say "Hey, you're just not gonna waste my precious time?" OK, I'm just curious... and I've been wondering how the majority really thinks about this. I notice that many of the noobs go the motivational route right after starting with WA and I'm not sure if this is a reaction to "Getting Started" or what. Just curious.... entertain me as I unfollow over 1000 individuals here at WA!
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I just don't think of that way. I like to get to know people from different place and with different experiences. That's what keeps life interesting.
I actually like the inspiration and encouragement that people some give, because of being around too many negative people for years. Now, my life is more stable and I stay away from negative people.
Hey there Randy,
I feel ya! I follow only 180 here and the sifting through the email from that many eats up a ton of time. Not sure I could handle almost 10 x that.
In the beginning I just followed anyone who followed me. Not any more! You have to be selective or else it's a big waste of your time.
I decided to focus on my sites and my ranking with google vs my ranking here at WA.
Just my thoughts.
David
Good thinking there David... I'm catchin' on in this department! Wishin' I would have caught on as quick as you.
Sure has been great to watch you grow here David... thanks for your thoughts!!
I typically follow anyone who follows me, and anyone who I find interesting. Sometimes you have to clean up. I think removing people who don't actively participate, or have left WA altogether, is fine for cleaning house, but doesn't do much to filter out the posts you're not interested in.
If someone is prone to posting motivational content, and you know that's not what you want to read about, stop following. A lot of people choose it as their niche, and newbie or not, the motivational messaging is not going to stop :)
On the money Marcel! I do have to say that a lot of people that I follow are more than likely not here any longer. As I go through the list I realize that out of over 1000 people, there are probably quite a few of these making up the list.
I really think that Berny and others are nailing it with the discipline thing though and I need to just concentrate on the things that are most important to me at the time. If something urgent comes up, we do have the PM function and that's a great catch-all.
Thank you Marcel... good having ya' here!
Hi guys - just wanted to add my thoughts here. If you are getting too distracted by opening every email you get - don't do it. Discipline yourself and only open those where you think you can help lend a hand, or that the subject interests you and you may learn something. Maybe one day one of these people may have an email subject header that you open that makes a difference to you. I now look at the subject and either delete it because it is something I don't need to know yet, or I open it and I learn from it. What's better than that? I've disciplined myself to save time. I am not being rude but feel free to unfollow me if you wish DoubleTap in particular if I am "a waste of space". It was a pleasure spending less than 60 seconds to answer your question (I'm a fast typist). Cheers
Ey there Berny, naw, you're right on the money! I was just talkin' to Miss T about it and yup, it really does come down to me being disciplined, especially right now with so much going on. I've always felt like I needed to follow anyone following me hoping to gain valuable information as I build websites. But like you said, it all comes down to discipline and Miss T just gave me a great plan of action.
Thank ya' for chiming in Berny, I sure do appreciate hearing from ya'!
I agree with you. I am trying to get going with building an online business and working all day as well. When I come home in the evening and log in to WA, I spend half my time reading emails that are social comments.
Just curious how you ended up following that many people to begin with :) ?
I guess it really depends on what your goal here is. If it's simply to find direction, then you know what works for you and follow only those people. For most of us, the motivation is equally as important as the direction because while direction is great on a technical level, without the right motivation it is easy to lose focus, get discouraged and then at that point even a 'director' can't help us. Again, you know what works for you...
On a different note, I try to follow those who follow me. As a huge supporter of WA, I believe in giving back to the community and being engaged as a friend. I'm not into social media, I don't do the whole Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, SnapChat, What'sApp thing... so it's not just a product of my generation. I sincerely want to interact with fellow WA members.
Therefore, by following others, I can answer questions, comment on posts (like this one :) and yes, sometimes, create tutorials. I've thought of unfollowing people several times, but each time I realized it would be a selfish decision. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but if I'm gaining so much from WA, I feel that it's important for me to contribute in my own way and I do that by following others.
Just my thoughts...
Good luck with whatever you decide!
Stephanie
Yah Stephanie, I'm with you Kiddo. I only follow those who follow me with the exception of BIS, @Rich, Welchy, Trialynn and folks like that when I run across them... these are 'Must Haves'. Somehow it got up to over 1000 and now I find that I'm totally inundated with stuff that just sucks up tons of time that I should be spending on my sites. Just wondered how everyone else feels about it! Thank ya' Stephanie!!!
Well, that's an interesting viewpoint. I'll have to pray about that one some more. I thought it was like the Bible here, "be a disciple, make a disciple." Jesus had twelve of them & told them to multiply themselves exponentially to spread the gospel (in Terry's words). So, everyone in our "team" is supposed to be 'discipled' by each other in the team because there are some WA'ers on your team with seniority, some in between, & 'newbies.' (All are at different maturity levels.) But, then again, maybe I just don't understand rightly at how things work here. I know that from being a 'loner' in the past, I got 'picked off' quite a bit, but when I teamed up with others, it was almost impossible for that to happen. Ms Terry Ash
Terry, I am so with ya' my Sister. Unfortunately we do occasionally deal with a Judas having totally abstract intentions that might distract us from the straight and narrow. I am so easily distracted and deceived that I have to really stay on the guard and lately it seems like there has been so many distractions. I was just wonderin' everyone elses opinion on everything!
Blessings my Friend... thank you for keeping my perspective straight on!
It's hard for me to draw the line, because I like to follow someone back if someone follows me..... I have been teased by family that I worry too much about what others think etc. I feel funny if I don't follow back someone who followed me first, like I am being rude or something. :P But so far, most everyone I follow I learn a lot from, so it works out.
But as your post expertly points out, if you get to have so many people like you do, it can be crazy to handle them I imagine.
Jenna, I am right behind ya'... I just feel obligated to follow everyone that follows me and haven't really drawn the line before this. But tonight I realized that I am opening way too many messages that really don't make a lick o sense to me. I just don't operate on 'feel good' stuff. I need 'Point A to Point B' stuff! It's really hard saying goodbye to some individuals that I've really grown to like even though they haven't contributed a single solitary thing to my success!
Managing all of this has totally become unmanageable and I really need to do something about it. I'm hatin' it but gotta do it!
Thank ya' Jenna... sure do appreciate ya'!
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You are wise to manage your time by not following too many people. I applaud you for doing what is right for you!
Thank ya' Amy... I'm a slooooooowwwww learner!!! LOL!!!!