consumption Archives - Adam Kirk Smith

Outside of the professional sphere of my life, I love to consume information. I am not saying I don’t consume information at work, because I most certainly do (otherwise I probably wouldn’t have a job), but the information I love to consume is the kind I get after work is over.

After I get home from work, I generally go for a walk or run. Probably half of the time I go do this, I do it without headphones so that I have time to clear my head and just think through everything going on in my life. It is a great time of digestion and if I take headphones with me, I am far too tempted to listen to music. However, the other half of the time I grab my headphones and dive into my exercise. Occasionally I will listen to music, but for the most part I plan to dive into a podcast. Most of them aren’t terribly long so I will listen to one or two or I will put my headphones away and continue the conversation about what I just heard inside my head.

Creative Commons Photo Credit by NS Newsflash

Have you ever struggled with when you should produce media rather than always consuming it? I know I have.

It is so important to not only fill yourself up with information so you know what you are talking about when you address the masses, but you also have to know where others are coming from, so you can find your unique voice in the crowd of other resources on YOUR topic. But, at some point you have to put your fingers to a keyboard and start typing. Whether that’s writing for you or something else, your talents are crying to come out.

So, when is it time to display your talents, rather than continuing to just read about it?

Here are five signs that it might be time to produce: