How Much Time Should I Spend Blogging?

I often wonder how much time is really appropriate to spend writing a blog post. Is it okay for me to waste two hours if I'm convinced that I'm writing something absolutely brilliant? Or should I be more regimented, ensuring that I have more time to accomplish other responsibilities?

Naturally, it's all relative. Some people only write epic tales that span on for pages, while others are only writing bits and pieces that contemplate the perplexities of life. And certainly, some bloggers are much better at writing than others. They can plow through a post with ease while the novice spends extra care not to say something he/she will regret.

So let's pretend (or accept) for a moment that you're a novice blogger. Most beginners spend way too much time thinking about a topic, and even more time writing and re-writing. Fortunately, you can train yourself to do otherwise and save a lot of valuable time in the process.

Don't think, just write

Okay, think…but not too much. Thinking too much is what brings your ego into the equation. You'll start to worry about how people will react instead of just getting some ideas down to work with. FYI: even professional writers write stupid things. That's why we edit.

Instead of thinking too much and wasting time, formulate your core topic, write down a few bullets and get to it. A good third of my ideas end up getting scrapped after a first draft, but what evolves after a round of editing is usually something much better than I originally envisioned.

Which brings me to editing…

Typically, the difference between a great post and a crappy post is careful editing. If you value what you write, you'll make this a priority during your dedicated blogging time.

A good way to save time is having a reliable editing buddy that can catch your spelling/grammar mistakes and keep you in check when you're about to say something stupid. Consider them your blogging referee. If you don't have this person in your life now, find them quick. It's a must for any good blogger. Even Penelope has a good ref.

Linking it up

Many of us take care in who/where we link to in our posts. Some people don't link at all. To be honest, I tend to link pretty erratically, but I'm trying to get better.

Linking is important because it strengthens your ties with other bloggers and it's good for community. Everyone loves to be linked to.

The problem with linking is that it takes a lot of care and a lot of time. How much effort you put into the process is all up to preference, but if you can afford to spend the time, do it.

So how much time should you really spend on a blog post? There's no clear answer, but your goal should be to maximize value while keeping some boundaries on your time.

In my life, blogging is fairly important and falls right in with the rest of my routine responsibilities. So spending more than an hour is acceptable, but when I start to push on 2-3 hours, I'm reaching my limit.

To put things further into perspective, if I were to work a typical 8-hour day, an hour and a half worth of writing would seem okay. But then again, I'm not sitting in a cubicle anymore.

Thinking Inside the Box: I Can't Take You People Anywhere

My department has a fun little tradition where whenever it is someone's birthday, we all go out for lunch. The birthday boy (or girl) is treated to a free meal, as we buy a card and then all chip in a dollar so they can have a happy birthday while the rest of us blow our entire food budget for the week.

It's normally a nice little tradition whose only downside is the fact that it seems like every time I turn around someone's having a birthday and I have to dig out a buck. It's frustrating because I haven't carried cash since college, and you can't very well go to the ATM and request $1. It actually laughs at you if you do, go ahead and try it sometime.

Recently, it was time for an office excursion once again, so we headed off to "Local Midwestern Casual Dining Restaurant." Upon arriving we were promptly seated and met by "Earnest Yet Inept Server."

"Hi! I'm Earnest Yet Inept Server, and I'm going to be taking extra good care of you today." I should have known from this simple sentence that things weren't going to go well.

You see, whenever you go to eat, you should fear the server who attaches adjectives to sentences that don't need them. "I'm going to take great care of you," usually means "I'm fairly good at this job, but I've been known to fall down and drop soup in laps." "Extra good care," in addition to being a twisting of the language that makes my brain cry, implies that not only is this server not a member of the varsity serving squad, but very well may be a danger to everyone in the restaurant. Sure enough, it didn't take long for Earnest Yet Inept Server to prove my theory.

Things started off with simple drink orders, mostly water with a few sodas. Upon returning with the drinks, one of my coworkers pointed out that she received a regular soda when she asked for diet. "No problem," declares EYIS, who was off to the drink station to set the universe right. Unfortunately, in his zeal to fetch a new beverage he managed to knock over at least 6 full glasses of soda ready for another table. We're off to a great start.

After a solid fifteen minutes of us staring at menus and wondering if we have to somehow conjure the food out of the table using our obvious superpowers, EYIS returned to take our orders. Things go well, and then "Diet Soda Coworker" mentions that it sure would be nice to have some bread for the table. Our ever diligent server promises to get right on it, and then disappears into what I can only assume is another dimension, one likely populated by giant, constantly spilling drink glasses and perpetually empty bread baskets.

Twenty-seven minutes and thirteen seconds latter our food arrives, just as the fifth member of our party keels over from lack of bread (now I know what those poor pioneers had to suffer on the trek out West). EYIS is followed by two other servers and what can only be described as a passive-aggressive, mildly irritated kitchen staffer with our various dishes. He plops down our food and is off once again; thankfully "Attractive Server" lingers for a moment to ask if anyone needs a drink refill or sodium pentothal injection. God bless you dear, you're the only hint of kindness we've seen yet today.

As we eat, Diet Soda Coworker decides her soup is too cold and too large, so she'll take it to go and eat it later. She asks EYIS for a bowl, and he returns a few minutes later with a small Styrofoam vessel. Diet Soda Coworker is sure this will not do, so she asks for another bowl. EYIS brings four, in a not-so subtle "screw you" to everyone at the table. Diet Soda Coworker decides now would be the perfect time to make a scene, and it's not long before the manager comes over have a little chat.

After some harsh words and implied threats of physical violence we paid our checks and were off, with EYIS getting no tip beyond the mandatory gratuity that has already been added to each bill. And so ends my adventure to Midwestern Casual Dining Restaurant with a server who ranked somewhere between awful and unbearable, and a coworker who decided that there was no reason for him to be left with even an ounce of self-confidence.

The best part…my birthday is next. I think we'll just order in.

How an Economic Recession Could Affect You

With the US and world pending an economic recession, many Americans are considering how they will fare if the economy takes a turn for the worst. Here are some things for millennials to consider in case of an economic recession:

Less Jobs, More Layoffs, Longer Hours

Maybe. It depends what industry you are in. There's certainly a fear of losing your job or watching others lose theirs and having to pick up the extra slack by working longer hours.

Not all industries are the same, however; for example, restaurants and hotels will see a decline, while pharmaceuticals and health care services will probably stay the same. Some industries may even do better in economic recession, like the higher education sector as workers flood to grad schools rather than leave gaps in their resumes.

Tip: Find out how an economic recession affects your industry and company so you can better prepare in case it happens.

Tax Breaks and Rebates

It looks like many of us will be getting an extra $600 back with our tax return this year thanks to the White House. Whether that return will come in time to halt an economic recession remains to be seen, but either way it's important we take the money and spend it to stimulate the economy.

Tip: Invest the money by spending it on career or personal development – it's a win-win purchase.

Decrease in Property Value, or Lower Interest Rates

Now is not the time to sell property you own. If you plan on moving, consider renting the property out instead, or not move at all.

The good news is for renters or investors – now is a great time to buy real estate and build equity, provided you have a steady source of income and enough money for a down payment. Interest rates will be low for at least the next few months, so you will get a good deal as long as you have a high credit rating.

Tip: Make sure you will have a steady source of income before purchasing property and do your research! Buying a home is a big commitment.

401k Investments

For people retiring, the declines in the stock market are bad news, but for millennials, this is a great time to put your money to work with long term investments, like your retirement savings account. If you have a plan with your employer, now is the best time to either start or raise your contributions because stock prices are going down, meaning you'll get more shares for your money. Roth IRAs are another option if your company doesn't have a 401K plan.

Tip: Schedule a meeting with an HR person at your company to learn about your company's 401k plan and how to invest in it. If you are an old hat at 401K contributions, consider changing your contribution spreads to maximize the effects of recession on the markets.

Starting Your Own Business

Sounds crazy, but now might be a great time to start a business, depending on the industry. With a weaker US dollar, we could see growth in the US tourism industry. How about exporting products to other countries not (as) plagued by recession? There's even room for consulting about finances, investing, or anything else people might face in times of hardship.

Tip: Ensure your idea for a business is sound to capitalize on the current state of the economy and don't start a business that relies solely on an economic recession state. Otherwise, a growing business helps the economy out recessions, so you would be doing the country a favor.

It's important to understand how an economic recession could affect you, so start preparing now and consider capitalizing on some effects which might be in your favor.

Want to Engage Gen-Y? Stop Planning and Start Doing

The biggest lesson that I've learned since launching Employee Evolution and starting a company is to stop planning and start doing. For the past five months, we've been planning the launch of Brazen Careerist. We've gone through a pre-launch redesign and a hundred new ideas that were sure to be great for our audience.

Now, we're finally at the point where we are very close to launch, and guess what? We eliminated 99 of those great ideas to focus on the best one. The funny thing is, the best idea is the same one we started with, a blog network.

I thought we were wasting a lot of time planning when we could have been executing, and truthfully, I was really frustrated, I wanted to take action. But now I can see we were executing the whole time. We weren't just talking about it, we actually acted on many of those ideas. All things considered, we've moved pretty quickly for a small start up with limited resources.

The point here is that you can plan all you want. You can question whether or not you should start that blog or if you should send your resume to that company. You can go back and forth redesigning your website to make it perfect before launch, and you can sit through hours of pointless meetings to determine the best course of action. Or, you can just do it and see what happens.

These days, the people who act and then react are the ones who get ahead. Successful entrepreneurs have quickly learned this, and Millennials seem to intuitively understand it. This is why executive summaries have replaced detailed business plans. This is why most new companies start with little idea of what they are actually going to do. And this is why Corporate America is out of sync with Generation-Y.

We're ready to act, we get frustrated when we can't. We're ready to get so much done and be so productive that we move up the ladder faster than anyone in the history of the organization.

Established companies seem pretty content to waste time arguing pros and cons in meetings, passing ideas up the chain of command, creating strategic plans, and perfecting their big picture vision. It's one thing to realize you're moving too slow and learn from your mistakes, but to keep running in circles is just counterproductive.

No wonder we're changing jobs every 18 months, starting side projects, or ditching the corporate world all together. It's just our way of saying, "I'm not waiting around anymore. I'm going to do something."

When companies finally get with the times, stop all the planning, decentralize, and actually change rather than talk about change, maybe they will begin to keep their employees around for a few years. But if I were you, I wouldn't hold my breath.

Ask These Questions to Make Sure Your Boss Won't Suck

It would've been nice if someone told me that there are early warning signs that determine whether or not your boss is going to suck. I had to learn the hard way.

Unfortunately, that's the case for most of us. As early as the first interview, we're so consumed by how we're perceived by the company that we don't take the time to look at who we're going to work for; even when they're sitting directly across from us.

In an interview, the questions you ask are just as important as the questions your potential boss asks you. They can determine what the relationship will be like and they can determine whether or not working for this person is really right for you.

What time do you typically get into the office?

If your potential boss can't at least answer this question with a hint of certainty, it's hard to say whether or not you can count on them to be there when you need entry-level support. It's understandable that throughout any given day, meetings, lunches and workshops will keep any boss from committing a daily dose of their time. I've learned that the morning is usually the time to get the guidance you need out of your manager.

When I worked in corporate communications, my boss was missing in action for the majority of my 8-hour days. If I needed to meet with her, it was up to me to catch her while she ate breakfast and read the morning news. Otherwise, my day was going nowhere.

Having a boss that can't commit to what time they will show up in the morning is dreadful. And unless of course they can commit to meeting you at some other habitual point in the day, you're not going to get the attention most entry-level workers crave during their early career.

What time do you typically leave the office?

Just as important as when your boss gets into the office is when they leave. If they're someone who never stops working, it's probable that they'll have a hard time understanding that you do.

Penelope rarely turns off work mode. Her hours are erratic and it completely clashes with my ability to have a "work-life" and a "life-life." Luckily, I'm not in a position where getting fired concerns me. Unfortunately, most people are.

If you hope to have a life outside of your job, unpredictable bosses are the worst. You'll either spend hours waiting for something they may need rather than calling it a day, or you'll leave at a reasonable time and get blasted the next morning when it turns out that something important came up and you weren't there.

What type of person do you like to work with?

Having a manager who knows exactly who they want working for them is crucial. First off, it says a lot about their character. And secondly, it shows that they'll know how to get the best out of you if you're hired.

A boss who knows who they want to work with shows that they know enough about their own strengths and weaknesses to choose people that will work well on his/her team. When I was an intern reporter for a collection of community newspapers back in New Jersey, there was one editor that I consistently did assignments for. She was overburdened with hard-news (borough council meetings, crime reports, etc.) and because they were such high priority, her feature/soft news stories were suffering.

Seeing that I was such a great people person, she realized that she could leverage my abilities by using me as a feature news writer. I went out and met with people around the town she covered, found the stories and covered the pieces of the news that were missed because of her workload.

What is your boss like?

The people that your boss has to deal with will inevitably play into how your boss deals with you. If their boss is really demanding, you may be seeing less of them, but more challenging work. If their boss if more lax, you'll probably see more of your boss, but less challenging work during your day-to-day.

How you deal with the answer to this question all depends on what you are looking for most in a job. We'd all like to have both challenging work and a manager who is always around to help, but you'll never find that perfect balance.

Accept that fact. Then decide whether or not your boss's boss is going to make your job better or worse.

How do you like to communicate with your employees?

When I look back at my first part-time jobs as a baker/cook, a gas station attendant and a liquor store employee, what I miss the most is the face-to-face communication I received on a daily basis. To me, nothing beats the value of that kind of personal attention.

Both the corporate world and entrepreneurship have been tough. Communicating the way I like is sometimes impossible. Blackberries and laptops are essential in order for us to stay connected…it sucks.

So first, face the fact that 75 percent of our communication is going to be electronic. Next, make sure that your boss does make an effort to communicate with you in person. If they don't you'll unavoidably become disconnected and you won't like it.