Connected Worker

I’m a big Twitter advocate. It has plenty of benefits, and chief among them is keeping me connected to my online network. Justin Kownacki and Laura Fitton agree.

But when I’m not careful, Twitter can also take me away from important work that I need to get done. With that in mind, I posed the following question to my Twitter followers:

How do you stay engaged on Twitter without allowing it to become a huge distraction/time suck?

Here are their responses — in chronological and not reverse chronological order:

• pyyhkala @Bryper I don’t know. There are pages and pages of posts now even if gone for say 10 hours or less. Maybe @chrisbrogan knows.
• mrsb @bryper: by using twitbin, not going back to see everything I missed and just popping on the regular page to ck 4 @ and DMs
• randelaw @bryper: it’s like IM - you need to use it strategically. Also, only follow links if you have the time - that’s the real time waster for me
• connieblogger @Bryper I read twitter to/from work on my blackberry. Otherwise, periodically as a break from other work. I close it down otherwise, do …
• prblog @Bryper - only do it web-based and check it a couple of times a day (like you’re supposed to with email). that’s my secret.
• jangles @bryper, the only way, Brian, is not to be here all the time. Only check in from time to time, unless you’re in a deep conversation.
• DougH @bryper I use desktop app (Twitteroo), but turn it off if I need to shut down. I often find the discussion connects me to my work, though
• jangles @bryper, and web only (as Kevin noted). Also no SMS from phone. Keep control!
• DougH @bryper - also, as a diversion/break/procrastination aid, Twitter, is far more productive than solitaire
• danieljohnsonjr @Bryper I subscribe to the RSS feed for my friends timeline and then check in periodically.
• kamichat @bryper Twitter is like a stream, you dip in and out as you can and subscribe to your @
• LenEdgerly @Bryper - Taking a day off Twitter (and email) a week helps me stay focused on other work, but now, instead of working on podcast, I’m here!
• SteveCasbeer @bryper Great question! Twitter has some good nuggets, but the cost to catch those seems high in terms of distraction/time suck.
• SteveCasbeer @bryper I’m curious to see what tips to minimize “twitter-drain” people have.

Technorati Tags: Twitter

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Let’s be honest: we all want our friends, family, and colleagues to remember our birthday — even if we appear to be nonchalant about it when they do. It’s the one day of the year we’re allowed to be truly selfish and not feel guilty about it.

But if you’re a smart Connected Worker, you’re making sure that you remember the birthdays of the people in your personal and professional networks, too. Calling or e-mailing friends or colleagues on their birthdays is the perfect way to catch up, or reconnect, with people that matter in your life. You’re also being thoughtful.

… but remembering is the hard part
When I was younger, I prided myself on being able to recite the birthdays — and ages, too — of all my friends and family. I was like that with phone numbers as well. I could retrieve this information seemingly at will.

But as I’ve gotten older and put more and more “stuff” into my head, birthdays — along with plenty of other things — have become harder and harder to remember.

I need a reminder system.

Facebook displays birthdays
Now there are plenty of sites out there that could do that for me — just see the Google search results for “birthday reminders” to get an idea — but why not choose a social networking tool that I’m already using to make my life easier?

I’m talking about Facebook.

If you’re a Facebook user, take a look at the right sidebar of your “home” page. You’ll see a list of your friends’ birthdays (yes, that’s my wife’s name at the top of my list for today; happy birthday, Stella!).

Facebook also has a fun application called Birthday Stats, which keeps you informed of upcoming half-birthdays!

So work a Facebook birthday check into your daily routine, and then go and spread that birthday cheer.

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