I’ve been trying to figure out a good way to write this blog post. I knew that it was an important one, because it’s a conversation that a million of my clients have had with me. There is an inherent struggle happening between clients and businesses, where as clients, we forget one thing: we’re dealing with a real person. I’m only human.
What does that mean? It means that if you text me at 11pm, I may answer, but maybe don’t unless it’s an emergency. It means that I do take days off, even though you see your posts going up and responses to them. Being human means that I have a life outside of my business – and you should, too. After all, isn’t that the idea of outsourcing? To make sure that you have time to be yourself and live your life? It’s the adage of wanting to work to live, not live to work.
“I’m only human” means that I may take up to 24 hours to answer an e-mail, that life exists when I’m not sitting at my computer desk. It means that I care so much about my clients that oftentimes it DOESN’T take that long, even when it should. “I’m only human” means that I spend more time answering emails than hanging out with my friends. It means I respond to clients WHEN I’m with my friends. It also means that sometimes I don’t.
Having a social media manager means that you have someone to look after your social sites all the time. I get all your notifications and address them as soon as humanly possible. I also take vacations, and spend time with my family. When we decorated the Christmas tree on Friday, guess what? I didn’t have my phone on me. I didn’t answer calls, e-mails, or texts.
Being human also means that I have real emotions, and bad days. As a business owner, I think we all have those. It can be REALLY draining owning your own business. It’s also supremely rewarding, and that influx of emotions, one way or another, cannot effect my ability to do my job, even though I’m only human.
While this may seem negative, there are a million positives to having a real live person like me to handle your social media. It means that I care. My reputation is my livelihood, and I’m going to do whatever I can to make sure that you’re extraordinarily happy with the work that I’m producing. Being human means that you get the drive that comes along with it. You get my motivation to keep growing, to be better for myself, my family, and for you.
Wouldn’t it be great if you could always have these conversations with your clients? It’s about setting boundaries. I’m the queen of not having them, so I tend to be answering emails at midnight, texts on holidays, or scheduling posts during dinner. This is one of those “do as I say, not as I do” blogs. It’s important. REMEMBER that you’re human. You’re allowed to have bad days. You’re allowed to take days off. The most successful business owners do (including me). I take vacations and have a staff that can help me. They take vacations and have me to help them. You should be taking care of yourself. Being businesses owners means that sometimes we forget that – but it’s the MOST important thing. If we don’t take care of ourselves, take a moment to breathe (or, you know, sleep), our clients will suffer for it.
We are ALL only human, after all.
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