[Ken_Calhoun]

Posting on forums can be a huge distraction and waste of time. Can you relate?

Since pretty much stopping posts on a marketing forum altogether, and dropping my posts here quite a bit (even moreso coming), I have increased my productivity, i.e., getting things done (like DVD renders, more lessons/emails to my lists, more production accomplished)... significantly..

Tips for Cutting Down on Forum posts:

a) disconnect forom the net for at least 3 hours a day
b) "log out" and stay logged out as much as possible, so it's harder to post
c) remove forum names from your bookmarks, so you have to manually type in the sitename..

Does that make sense? Anyone else have insights, or "forum withdrawals" etc?


thx,

ken

[Ken Strong]

LOL -- Ken, this is about the fourth or fifth post you've made in the last six months about how much of a timewaster forum posting is. Sounds like a textbook case of Forum Withdrawal to me. "Sure, I can quit anytime I want, no problem."

[Michael Morgan]

Originally Posted by Ken_Calhoun

Anyone else have insights, or "forum withdrawals" etc?


thx,

ken

Hi Ken,

Well, I haven't been around much lately either. That's because I'm drowning in projects!

You know, for me, it became easy to cut my visits to the forum. Just looking at all of the writing, strategizing and business building tasks I have through out the day makes me totally forget the forum even exists!

I wish I knew how Michel does all he does... and still has time to help people on the forum.

My two cents...

Cheers,

Mike
(Sipping on a smooth Doma coffee)

[Motley1]

I used to be on another forum and I would get into debates. I would get so fired up to out-do the other person that I would spend an hour or two a day on it.

Once I realized how petty the debates were, I noticed all of my posts and the time put into big long threads about marketing and whatever...

I quit that forum and spend about 20-30 minutes per week on forums now.

My production has skyrocketed.

[Deb Holder]

I love this forum, but at times I've been addicted to it, especially when I first began my copywriting business last summer.

Recently, someone commented to me that I hadn't been posting much lately and asked if my absence has been because I've been working a lot. Yes! It's a good problem to have, but I do miss the comraderie of other writers when I'm away.

I did discover, like you have Ken, that posting on forums can steal away a lot of productivity time. When I first joined the board, I was learning EVERYTHING and discovered that I spent literally hours each evening reading and replying to posts. I discovered that although there is a wealth of information here, the best thing to do is to just get busy and start working.

When I get a free moment (like now) or when I need to rely on the expert advice of others, I still come back to this forum to learn. It's a great place to visit, but living here (like I used to) is not a good idea if you're serious about making a living as a copywriter.

The best advice I got came from Stephen Davies, and I continue to pass it on: Spend a month reading and learning everything you can, and then go out there and just do it.

[Stephen Davies]

Originally Posted by Deb Holder

The best advice I got came from Stephen Davies, and I continue to pass it on: Spend a month reading and learning everything you can, and then go out there and just do it.

Thanks for the plug Deb...

Now if I could just take some of my own advice (and Ken's as well), I would be a heck of a lot more productive.

[Mr. Subtle]

Any of you girlz want some cheese with your whine?

If you don't like it in here then leave...and don't worry about the virtual door hittin' your buttz on the way out. I promise it won't hurt at all.

It's funny how so many can find the time to whine, but they can't find the time to help...unless of course someone attaches a $1,000.00 check.

For me, this board helps turn on my creative juices. If I'm reading about some problem a NOOB is having, sometimes a brainfart fires in the back of my mind and the act of helping that person (using a combination of NotePad and PhotoChop) I get ideas for my personal stuff. I take the time to help someone and somehow it ends up helping me too.

So, go ahead and spend time BOASTING (about your accomplishments)...go ahead and PIKE (your upcoming projects for sale), but PUH-lease don't WHINE...leave that for some Warrior's thread.

[John Manley]

I think it's just a matter of everything has its time and place. I literally clock myself at 12 minutes a day handling forums and/or emails of a networking nature. Seems to work. Though, I type near 90 words per minutes, so that helps.

One thing that I have substituted involvement on forums, blogs, etc. with is keeping a good book on hand. Something like Dan Kennedy's No B.S. Time Management book was on the desk for a while there. Now I got Claude Hopkins in arm's reach. Much better to turn to them when you need a break. Usually reading a page or two of Pyscho-Cybernetics or something like that can get you all fired up to go back to work.

John

[MichaelWinicki]

Originally Posted by Mr. Subtle

but PUH-lease don't WHINE...leave that for some Warrior's thread.

And boy do they have whiners over there...

[Stephen Davies]

Originally Posted by Mr. Subtle

Any of you girlz want some cheese with your whine?

Hey that sounds pretty darn good right about now!