TMI – Too much (irrelevant) information

If you’re looking for a job or marketing your company/product or building your brand you are advised to “use your network.” And I agree, absolutely.  But I also think you need to actually know your network and understand what they can and are willing to do to help you.  It seems these days there are many people who want to network with me and my company but they haven’t taken the time to get to know me.  If they had they would know that:

1) I’m a mom and bedtime in my house is important.  I cannot listen to or be part of your talk show at bedtime.

2) I live in Boston…not (fill in the blank city/state).  Thanks so much for inviting me to your event tomorrow – but until teleportation is possible you know I cannot be there.

3) I’ve told you I’m off the road – no more business traveling.  I would love to speak at your conference…as soon as it comes to Boston.  (And you actually pay your speakers for their time!)

4) Nope I’m not interested in your political fundraiser, online learning course, how to network networking event, contest that is really a way to get my email address event, please stop inviting me to like, join or take part in it.

I think one of the reasons our work/life seems so cramped and uncontrolled in today’s world is due to the massive amounts of information and opportunities coming at us.  While being connected and having info readily available is helpful some believe the more choices we have the more stressful it is to choose.  And there may be something to that, but I just think it’s no fun to see all that you are missing out on.   Especially if it’s something that you were never going to be able to participate in anyway.  And as I pointed out above some of what comes our way is completely inappropriate.

For example in the past week I have been invited to 5 events.  None of which are anywhere near where I’ll be on the day of the event.  And the people who sent me the invitations know that.

I’m thrilled they are planning an event, I’d be happy to go if I were going to be within 20 miles of them – but in fact I’m a few thousand miles away because that’s where I live and work.

Perhaps it’s the former marketing manager in me, perhaps it’s that I value my network so much that I wouldn’t bother them unnecessarily with information that is not relevant to them, perhaps it’s that I’m getting old and cranky.  But seriously, why would you invite me to events you know I cannot attend?  If I’m coming to your neck of the woods and you are in my network – I’ll let you know – because I do truly want to see you if I am able with my work/life juggle.   It is one thing to announce something publicly and another to specifically spam the ones you “love.”  Please cut down on the irrelevant noise in my various inboxes, before I am forced to do it for you.

What about you?  Are you constantly being barraged with information and event invitations that are completely off the mark?  Does it increase your work/life struggle?