I can relate to this article so much, JP. I like the creative reference to the kabobs.
I'm in a similar boat. Full time job as an engineer. Family. Committments.
My original goal was to publish every Saturday. Saturday turned to Sunday. Sunday turned to Monday. It feels more time stretches between each article. And I'm okay with that.
I love your depth / resonance over reach approach. Keep prioritizing your family first. Substack (and comments) aren't going anywhere :)
Thank you Kristian. The Saturday to Monday drift is real. That's not slipping. That's building inside a life that's already full. I had to scale back my weekday Tues and Thur posts. I felt like I was on a never-ending treadmill. Glad the depth over reach piece connected for you. Really appreciate you reading and commenting.
Same thing that I found. The part of you that is trying to figure it out is the creative part looking for ways.
You can also see the contrast if you look around and oay attention, or even in yourself maybe, where more time doesn't equal more output, because the feeling of having a lot if it makes you chill more.
Wow, this is such a real and vulnerable piece. It really creates the imagery of the battle in the mind about presence and balance. Know this ... comment in your time. Continue to be authentic. Whether it is in 2 hours or 5 days later. When you create a structure that respects your time, there is a peace that settles the mind. Those who know you understand the challenge of building something new while working full-time.
Patrick, that word "peace" is doing some real work. The guilt around late replies is real, and it compounds. You're right that the structure has to respect the time first, or none of it holds. Thank you. Appreciate your support and you always taking the time.
I LOVE this and LOVE that your daughter will always be the right choice. I agree and you know what? We’ll be here when you’re good and ready to respond!✨
As you know JP, I too am writing on Substack with one foot in day job world. But whether someone can be devoting a lot of time to Substack or not, there has to be balance. You can't miss what's important in either case.
For me, it ebbs and flows as my time permits. Some days I have time to dive in more than others. I will say though that I've found people don't necessarily expect a response to a comment or for me to read a piece they've put out instantly. Even if it's not in "real time" I will acknowledge or read on my schedule and I think the people I have the best connections with understand and appreciate it.
Hey JP, a very thoughtful and thought-provoking post, thanks!
And there it is, the choice, the struggle to stay connected with an unrealistic platform that has "rules" of perceived engagement.
Sure, if you're doing this social media thing 24/7, knock yourself out, get the latest AI prompts, the fancy pictures, do the podcasts, the live streams.
However, if you have a 9-5 and a family, then do the best you can on social media or whatever platform you have chosen to express yourself.
Family is most important, and whatever you have to do to maintain the 9-5.
Social media will be here longer than the current people on whatever platform.
When you, I, or anyone is gone off the face of this planet, no one will really care on social media.
Our families may recite snippets of a blog at our funerals or watch a YouTube video that may live forever on the net after we are gone....maybe.....for sure, social media will easily forget
Of course, everyone/most people are very supportive, genuinely, to the extent social media can be.
Ken, what you said about the funeral is the real answer to everything in this post. The platform moves on. The people in your actual life are the ones who show up when it matters. That's the math I keep coming back to. You said it better than I did. You've been in my corner since the beginning and that means more than you know.
I feel you! I‘m getting up at 6am, writing and commenting for 2hours and then my day job starts with meetings, presentations…the whole thing. After work household chores, sport (sometimes), friends (rarely), phone calls…the list is long. Still, I made that commitment to myself and I blocked the time consciously and allow myself to have time off from this. Keep going 🫶🏻
I can relate to this article so much, JP. I like the creative reference to the kabobs.
I'm in a similar boat. Full time job as an engineer. Family. Committments.
My original goal was to publish every Saturday. Saturday turned to Sunday. Sunday turned to Monday. It feels more time stretches between each article. And I'm okay with that.
I love your depth / resonance over reach approach. Keep prioritizing your family first. Substack (and comments) aren't going anywhere :)
Thank you Kristian. The Saturday to Monday drift is real. That's not slipping. That's building inside a life that's already full. I had to scale back my weekday Tues and Thur posts. I felt like I was on a never-ending treadmill. Glad the depth over reach piece connected for you. Really appreciate you reading and commenting.
I personally find the time constraint to be an advantage. It forces you to be creative with the time you do have. It forces you to create a system.
Same thing that I found. The part of you that is trying to figure it out is the creative part looking for ways.
You can also see the contrast if you look around and oay attention, or even in yourself maybe, where more time doesn't equal more output, because the feeling of having a lot if it makes you chill more.
Wow, this is such a real and vulnerable piece. It really creates the imagery of the battle in the mind about presence and balance. Know this ... comment in your time. Continue to be authentic. Whether it is in 2 hours or 5 days later. When you create a structure that respects your time, there is a peace that settles the mind. Those who know you understand the challenge of building something new while working full-time.
Patrick, that word "peace" is doing some real work. The guilt around late replies is real, and it compounds. You're right that the structure has to respect the time first, or none of it holds. Thank you. Appreciate your support and you always taking the time.
I LOVE this and LOVE that your daughter will always be the right choice. I agree and you know what? We’ll be here when you’re good and ready to respond!✨
Thank you. I really appreciate that Kendra.
As you know JP, I too am writing on Substack with one foot in day job world. But whether someone can be devoting a lot of time to Substack or not, there has to be balance. You can't miss what's important in either case.
For me, it ebbs and flows as my time permits. Some days I have time to dive in more than others. I will say though that I've found people don't necessarily expect a response to a comment or for me to read a piece they've put out instantly. Even if it's not in "real time" I will acknowledge or read on my schedule and I think the people I have the best connections with understand and appreciate it.
I agree Melanie. There definitely needs to be a balance. It ebbs and flows for me too. Some days are more forgiving than others.
Hey JP, a very thoughtful and thought-provoking post, thanks!
And there it is, the choice, the struggle to stay connected with an unrealistic platform that has "rules" of perceived engagement.
Sure, if you're doing this social media thing 24/7, knock yourself out, get the latest AI prompts, the fancy pictures, do the podcasts, the live streams.
However, if you have a 9-5 and a family, then do the best you can on social media or whatever platform you have chosen to express yourself.
Family is most important, and whatever you have to do to maintain the 9-5.
Social media will be here longer than the current people on whatever platform.
When you, I, or anyone is gone off the face of this planet, no one will really care on social media.
Our families may recite snippets of a blog at our funerals or watch a YouTube video that may live forever on the net after we are gone....maybe.....for sure, social media will easily forget
Of course, everyone/most people are very supportive, genuinely, to the extent social media can be.
Answer the BBQ question, late or never.
It shows you are realistic, authentic, just YOU.
Ken, what you said about the funeral is the real answer to everything in this post. The platform moves on. The people in your actual life are the ones who show up when it matters. That's the math I keep coming back to. You said it better than I did. You've been in my corner since the beginning and that means more than you know.
I feel you! I‘m getting up at 6am, writing and commenting for 2hours and then my day job starts with meetings, presentations…the whole thing. After work household chores, sport (sometimes), friends (rarely), phone calls…the list is long. Still, I made that commitment to myself and I blocked the time consciously and allow myself to have time off from this. Keep going 🫶🏻