Why I Don't Really Like Using Twitter

I know, I know, Twitter's the most popular social networking site going (outside of Facebook). Millions are joining each month and everyone in the US is crazed about micro blogging. Well, I've been on Twitter for a few months now, and to tell the truth, the appeal has worn off. When I first started, I was out reading everything I could to learn about how best to use Twitter. I updated Twitter several times a day, worked hard to gain more followers, read others' posts and tried to be as socially engaging as possible. To date my account, @workfortweets, has 1,558 followers and I have posted 304 times. But honestly, I'm unfulfilled and here's why:

1. ITS ONE WAY COMMUNICATION - hardly anyone ever actually responds.
2. THE ENDLESS PURSUIT OF GENERIC FOLLOWERS - how targeted can you really be with a free-for-all forum.
3. PEOPLE FOLLOW YOU IF YOU FOLLOW THEM BACK - then you're stuck trying to keep up with updates from thousands (how much time do you have on your hands?).
4. URL SHORTENING - it means you can't actually qualify the link someone is asking you to go to.

With that said, you'll still find me interacting on Twitter. Why? The possibility and the potential. The idea that thousands of people might read what you say and the ability to follow other people in their daily lives is just irresistable. I guess that's why it's become such a recent social phenomenon.

Learning to Draw

I've been a full-time Sales and Marketing Manager for several years now. Writing and verbal communication are a central part of my background and education. Years ago I took up learning a new communications skill while owning a real estate advertising company: the skill of Graphic Design. Design has always been a part of my job that I enjoy doing. Over the past few years I've seen my design skills improving, so I decided that it was time to formalize my design education and I headed back to school. When you're in Marketing, it's one thing to contract a designer or to have one on staff; it's whole other thing to control the initial vision and final execution of your own ideas yourself. Here is a drawing of mine from the first week of my first ever drawing class (don't laugh, yes they're bananas):