Information Overload

We are living in a day of information overload. If you’re anything like me, you choose to use commercial breaks for snack-grabbing so you don’t miss the show you set out to watch. Or you find yourself multitasking instead of focusing on what’s at hand.

It’s difficult to sort through all the information that’s readily available. Let’s face it. We’re all busier than we’d like, so it’s important to latch onto good resources when they come around.

If you’re like me, you want to do the best job possible, be it as a speaker, writer, or most importantly, the best person you can be. To help me to that end, I have a few go-to sources. I’ve yet to be let down by any of them. I go to these sources for wisdom, knowledge, encouragement, or for solid advice. While I hate listing the who’s and what’s that are important to me (because I can’t list them all), I know it’s good to at least give you an idea of what to build in your list, to help you with information order load.

 

Speaking Information

I found the best place to find great information related to speaking, is to go where the speakers you like go. It’s like playing Follow the Leader. One of the best places I ever found that gave me hands-on experience with different speakers who wanted to see me succeed, was attending a Christian Communicators Conference. Co-Directors, Tammy Whitehurst and Lori Boruff have one goal during their time at the conference–to help a woman speaker be who God wants them to be. And I made life-long friends with some of the gals I met there. Gals like Cherie Nettles, Becky Carpenter, and Christina Custodio to name a few.

Writing Information

I follow several sources when it comes to writing, but when I have a question regarding any how-to in writing situation I come up against, my first go-to reference is Edie Melson’s The Write Conversation. There, Edie and a host of trusted authors address topics that impact the life of a writer. If I want information on the world of publishing, I find The Steve Laube Agency site the most informative. And to round out the information, I follow anything related to Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference. Be it the conference website itself, or different Facebook pages referencing Blue Ridge’s successful authors, I can always find great insight into writers’ issues.

 

Personal Information

I try to never be far from the Scriptures. When I’m at my desk, I have Bible Gateway front and center, ready to be accessed. And I rarely spend time in my office when I do not reference this website.  When I’m on the road, I use my phone’s YouVersion App. This, too, offers the ability to underline and leave notes, both helpful when studying and learning. I also grab onto who appears to be where I want to be in my speaking, writing, and personal growth. Women like Eva Marie Everson, Lori Roeleveld, and Sheila Walsh are just a very few of many who have blazed the trail I’m following. Not only are these women powerful in their fields, but they are also truly nice women … the women you’d love to have a cup of coffee with.

 

I hope this helps you deal with your own information overload. Take a moment or two and make a list of your own. What sources are your go-to’s when you need a bit of wisdom? Who is modeling the life you find best fits where you want to be?

[box] Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. James 3:13[/box]

(I used Bible Gateway to confirm that scripture.)