Well, I'm back--sort of. Wow, what a summer! I can't remember one so full of work and play. As many of you have noted, I have been MIA from the blogosphere since late June. And, while it is true that no explanation is necessary, I think my experience may be instructive. Part of the reason I started to blog was to share that experience with others.
Blogging takes a fair amount of time. Finding good topics that are new and noteworthy, crafting a message worth reading, and creating the post with helpful links all take time. Sure, it takes less time to find an article or some information on the Internet and just point readers to it, but it still takes time. For my style of blogging, it's at least an hour a day, often more. Blogging is fun, and has been personally rewarding to me as I both gain knowledge and hone my writing skills. But it is also one of the first things to be dropped when "off-line life" gets in the way.
Summer is actually my busiest time. When law firms slow to an easier pace in the summer, they have more time to address their own business needs, so I get busier. I've been working with several start-up firms, as well as established ones seeking to innovate. That's good news for me, but leaves less time to blog. True, blogging professionally is often a component of marketing--which must not stop even when you are busy--but it can't be the only one. A blog can reach many people, but it is not a complete replacement for personal interaction when it comes to building business relationships.
Which brings me to the subject of golf. The immortal Bob Hope once said, "If you watch a game, it's fun. If you play it, it's recreation, If you work at it, it's golf!" I've been "working" quite a bit on the golf course this summer--more than ever before. Chasing the little white ball is more than just fun, it is a business activity too. Plenty of business gets conceived or consummated on a golf course. (In fact, I'm playing in a charity golf event today with more than 40 lawyers.) And far from being a "man's only" sport, I have played with several women this summer who understand that the only barrier in golf is the one between the tee and green. Four hours of fun and discussion with potential clients is what makes golf a contact sport!
I've also taken time to enjoy the summer with my family whenever possible. As my sons get older, we enjoy more things together, golf being one of them. Roller-coasters being another. (Oh, and a guy named Harry Potter has cast a spell on my two youngest sons and I. The spell should be finished next week.)
The family vacation starts tomorrow, so don't think I'm back to blogging full-time. I'll have my laptop with me, but I'm also bringing my clubs!
