When time ain’t enough.
Posted by 
Michael) on Mar 29 2008 | Tagged as: Language Is Free, Me, Projects, Social Media
I have just done something I thought I would never have the opportunity to do again.
I took a week off.
Yes I checked my mails, yes I did drive 250 miles back to Milan for a meeting that didn’t need me there. But even though I was still ‘on’, I actually took a week ‘off’.
It’s amazing how a few days can clear your mind, or in my case, make it up.
Now I’m back, I feel refreshed, revitalized and, more importantly, re-focused.
More than thinking outside the box, it’s as if I see the world above the clouds. Possibilities, opportunities, potential, all within my grasp, yet seemingly so far from my clients’…
Shame the real world is fast approaching beneath my feet.
I still have time left. Time to solicit a website I’ve been waiting 9 months to be delivered, time to start the biggest project of my life, time to look my kids straight in the eye, and giggle with them for hours on end.
Soon, routine will settle in with all the unpleasantness of a small dog whose cocky bark repeats incessantly with bone grating persistence. Soon can wait, right now, I’m a star.
Best not to think about tomorrow when today is so sunny, so sweet.
Taking a week off from Twitter, RSS feeds and even newspapers is a very, very pleasant experience for no other reason than you are suddenly presented with an inordinately large dollop of time on your hands. Time to decide… Time to kill… Time to think… Time to breathe…
Remember what that felt like? Didn’t think so.
In the fast connected world, time isn’t actually used by us, we do not hold the keys to our time. More often than not it is used (badly) by our clients to get things done (badly). It’s taken from us, and we readily give it up in return for feeling part of the moment, part of the big equation. How sad is that?
One of my random thoughts concerned a very big client of a client who’s taking too long to get what I can help them embrace. Not just social networks, the whole online caboodle. The web, its codes, conduct and - now - transparency are all beyond what they’re prepared to welcome on board in one fell swoop. They need more time to absorb the message, assess the potential damage and prepare their excuses.
And in my current position of outsourced copywriter, I’m not exactly in a position to help.
Which brings me back to time. When you have enough time on your hands to realize that you don’t have the time your clients need to decide, what do you do?
You start your own project, that’s what you do.
Thanks to the one person I’m always happy to hear from and who has inspired me without knowing it, I am expanding my product portfolio to include conversation marketing. I think I’ll be the only one selling (or buying) it for a while in Italy but at least I’ll be in excellent company 
A new service will allow me to concentrate on using my time well for the benefit of my clients, or in other words: the better I use my time, the better the quality of service I offer my clients.
And the project? Well I’ve just got off the phone with a web design agency in Toronto and am happy to say I’m going to give them the green light. I can’t believe that after twelve years, my little idea will finally get the chance to prove its worth. I hope I don’t make a hash of it as without wishing to sound too full of myself, the world really does need something like this.
Thought that would make you jump.
If any of you know any English language teachers or bloggers/writers looking to participate in something really radical (and get paid for it), please give them my mail. Trust me, they will thank you.
| 2.5 |
on 29 Mar 2008 at 2:17 am 1
Valeria Maltoni (Check me out!) said …
I bet you did not know that I have a degree in linguistics from the University of Bologna - yup, I’m an English teacher : ) And I can be articulate on occasion.
Glad to read you had the chance to unplug and recharge - now aren’t these expressions straight out of the box? Maybe “the cloud” will hold more imaginative vocabulary.
Can’t wait to hear what you’re up to. As far as routine goes, I have tips on how to make your days anything but routine. We’ll have that capuccino, or drink in Milano to talk about it. Promise.
on 29 Mar 2008 at 4:16 pm 2
Michael (Check me out!) said …
Hi Valeria,
Thanks for taking the time to answer. Breakfast’s on me!
I had no idea of your education but the plain truth is that you write better than any Italian I’ve ever come across so the question had actually crossed my mind. You must have had one hell of a teacher…
Bologna has always been my favourite Italian city, but I haven’t been there for more than ten years and they say it’s not like it was back then. Great memories and one hell of a holiday!
Back to the question, it’s not vocabulary you see beyond the clouds, it’s the view, and what I’m seeing about where I’m heading is as scary as it is challenging.
For starters, I am coming to the conclusion that it’s my time to ride out Seth Godin’s “Dip”. I have reached the point where my efforts to get Acer involved in the “discussion” have started to conflict with the interests of the agency I work for and who are ultimately responsible for Acer’s global communications program.
Without their support, and a genuine structure, the makeshift blog I created as an experiment 2 years ago has developed into a kind of outpost for support problems and, let’s face it, where’s the fun in that?
While accepting the limits of my current employer is positively scary, I cannot go on being a copywriter drone all my life churning out 1.0 marketing collateral if that’s what I’m no longer cut out to be and not what my market is evolving into, even if the pay is undoubtedly good.
So, I’ve looked around and the closest to what I want to do within my particular sector is what you have done with Conversation Marketing. Think about it as a concerted effort to start the Italian branch of your company. How big a compliment is that to the effect you have had on the professional me?
And that’s just the start.
I think it was Seth again who wrote in one of his books that nothing new is invented, just new combinations of existing models.
Well, that’s precisely what the 2.0 language course is. You’re actually overqualified to take an operational part in the public areas of the site but your support at the other end is, as ever, greatly appreciated.
It’s one hell of an idea so I’m reluctant to publish details online before time although sooner or later I’m going to have to if the idea is to catch on…
I’ll probably write you a mail with more info about what it actually is. I’d be great to get your feedback.
on 29 Mar 2008 at 7:57 pm 3
Valeria Maltoni (Check me out!) said …
Everyone is my teacher. That’s what has made me - and can make anyone - good. There’s a post in there. I sense that what people need most is what they get least - inspiration, encouragement, a kind word at the right time. I’m fortunate to be able to be of service on occasion
We should talk. I might be able to help brainstorm execution. Who knows? Looking forward to your email. A presto.
on 13 Apr 2008 at 11:59 pm 4
RichardatDELL (Check me out!) said …
Hi Michael
Boy, did I hear you, loud and clear. My recent trip across to West Texas, with no cell phone, email connections, web, twitter…just car, my parents, the mountains, scenery and beauty I had never seen before….completley unwound and how sweet it was.
Congratulations on the impending moves. You are great and will do great…and talking to folks in Toronto…those Canadians are good people