I'll get back to you...

I'm not a technology guy. While my job has sparked an interest in technology in me I never thought I had, I'm not a technology guy.

What's a "technology guy" anyway? Anymore, it's more than knowing how to Google something. It's more than having an email account (or multiple ones). It's Twitter, texts, Facebook, Skype, instant messaging and more. My rough definition of a "technology guy" is someone who can actually manage all this stuff. They have unbelievable time management skills. I have "good" time management, but sometimes I wonder if it's good enough for 2009. I'm a perfectionist - but lately I find myself responding to emails typing in lowercase only. Texts don't have punctuation. It reminds me of an art teacher I once had. She told me while water coloring one day, "Jay, don't do it 'neat', just get the paint on the canvas. Just get it on there!" That's me, anymore. Just getting it done, but not perfect, at least in my opinion.

I "do" Twitter. I "do "Facebook". I read your texts. I get your messages on my cell phone. Despite recently figuring out some important emails were going to my "junk" folder, I get your emails and respond to them promptly.

Here's my problem...

There's simply not enough time in my day to monitor all the messages I get, whether that's on a social networking site or electronic apparatus.

Here's what I like...

Family time. Yard work. Grilling. Watching my NCAA bracket vaporize on TV before my eyes. Golf. A peaceful drive to the Shenandoah Valley on Route 11. Art. Model railroading. The list goes on...

The solution...

Maybe I need to realize every call, email, Facebook message, isn't worth responding to. It's always been my thought that if someone took the time to email me, I should email them back. I think it's time to only start responding to the really important, pressing stuff. The other day, for example, I received nearly 25 emails (on two different accounts), 4 texts, 3 missed Skype calls, 10 incoming calls to my cell phone, a few direct messages on Twitter, endless Facebook chatter, and 1 missed call on my answering machine at home. Most of these people just wanted to say, "hi".

I could sit in front of my computer all day and watch this stuff come in, and respond to it all. Instead, I'm "off" tomorrow and I'm not going to turn my computer on all day. Think of it as going Green. No juice running to this puppy all day!

Unfortunately, it's come to the point unless you're on my "short list", chances are it'll be a few days before I get back with you. Come on, you know you are wondering - who's on the short list? In no particular order: my parents, my wife, the weather team, and at the moment, my CPA.

Back to my original thought. A "technology guy" will probably respond to you instantly. I'm not a technology guy. Let me get your message, ingest it, process it, and... I'll get back to you.