In a world of too much information, the people who stand out are not those with the most factoids and the most RSS feeds. The people who shine like stars are those whose minds are uncluttered, whose spirits are free, who can bring perspective. To become more like that, here are several strategies.
1. Don’t try to stay up with the present, stay up with the past.
As you watch the updates fly by at www.Friendfeed.com, you have to ask, “How can anyone keep up with all this?” The question is rhetorical; no one can or should. Instead, take the time you’re spending trying to keep up with the present and read what Steven Sample calls a “super-text,” a book that has stood the test of time (see chapter 4 of The Contrarian’s Guide to Leadership).
2. Pick only one social network to really be active in.
I’m listed on Facebook and Plaxo and a couple more, but I’m active only in Facebook. I have a real life as well as a virtual one, and I need some time to maintain the relationships there.
3. Ignore the many social-networking apps you don’t need or want.
People try to Kidnap me, send me pieces of Flair, or SuperPoke me with Vampires, but just because a friend sent me one of these doesn’t mean I need to respond.
4. If you micro-blog, don’t follow many people.
Right now on Twitter, I follow only 4 people, and for only 1 of those do I allow updates on my cell phone. Many people have a quid pro quo assumption that “If I ask to follow you, you should ask to follow me.” I don’t. I follow only those people whose updates actually contribute to me, either my need for information or for relationship. For example, I just stopped following a guy who would put up 10 Twitter updates a day, but they were all about what coffee shop he was in or what he was doing with his kids. Since he’s not a close friend, I don’t need to know that; and since he’s not connecting me to new information, websites, etc., I stopped getting his updates.
5. Don’t feel you have to start blogging or keep blogging.
Most blogs start out well, but the incessant demand for fresh material soon moves people to write about their cat. I need to concentrate my limited time and writing energies on sermons, and if I blogged, the demanding frequency would cause me to write blog posts at a level I could rarely feel good about.
6. Unsubscribe from e-mails you don’t want.
Mass senders of e-mail are required by law to include that precious Unsubscribe or Manage your subscription link–usually near the bottom. Use it and your e-mail load gets lighter.
