In Search of Normal

Today I’m packing for a trip to Chicago.  A trip where I am wondering if I’ll find “normal”.

Every day, I wake up before the rest of my family.  I typically grab coffee, or other suitable caffeine, and the first thing I do is log into Hootsuite to check what’s going on with my friends on Twitter.  Next comes gmail followed by GoogleReader and my own blog.  It’s like ritual by now.  I also have all these things set up on my phone so I can be informed throughout the day in case anything comes up that I just NEED to know about.  Do you do this too?

I read post after post telling the world that we all need to be this way.  We need to incorporate social media into our work and our personal life.  There are tips and tricks offered, stories of success that can come from doing it, and promises of gold at the end of the rainbow.  IF we all jump on board and eat, sleep, and breathe social media 24/7.

BUT, what if we’re all wrong?

What if all the non-adopters are the ones who are right?  What if all we’re doing is stirring things up that will eventually just die down and wither away instead of revolutionizing work and home?  What if THEY are the NORMAL ones and we are not?

I don’t have the answer.  But, I’m headed to IL SHRM conference this weekend to find out.  It will blend those of us who drink the social media Kool-Aid with those pros who are not using it.  I’ll be on the lookout for meeting as many practicing HR pros as I can and asking them what “normal” should be and what it is to them.

So, what do you think?  Are we normal, or are they?  Weigh in with a comment.