Sometimes I bounce around my Google Reader looking at different sections trying to find snippets to read. Every once in awhile (turning into quite often) this random act brings related ideas from different bloggers together and sparks a thought in my head, which I then relay to you.

Today I was catching up on local Des Moines marketeer Mike Templeton’s blog as he describes in his post, “Late Nights Still Win“, the problem he and many of us face as web workers and entrepreneurs. I run into the same problem with my company. During the day I work on software development for a client that requires full-time attention from me. This creates a predicament for me as I have web strategy and development consulting clients, product development, community maintenance, and blogging to deal with. I’m in the same position as Mike - I work all day and sometimes find time to spend with friends and family.

Interestingly enough right after reading Mike’s post I stumbled upon The Chicago Reader’s coverage of the SEED conference in Chicago, featuring what the Reader calls “Web Cowboys” (I like that - can I be a web cowboy?). In it they interview GaryV (who recently visited Des Moines) and he said something that hit home:

“Don’t quit your job to become the queen of cheese,” he cautions. “But if you’re doing something that blows and you hate it, go work at 7-Eleven to pay your bills and spend every other hour building your personal plan. If you work 9 AM to 6 PM and get home at 7, whatever you put in between 7 and 3 AM is what you’re gonna get in return. You want to watch Lost? Knock yourself out. I don’t watch shit. I don’t read shit. I’m all about my community and putting out content. I don’t consume. I put out.”