Contrary to popular opinion, blogging doesn't take up my whole life. It takes up a fair amount because I blog professionally, but there are other events in my life that take precedence over blogging. One of them is my daughter's up-coming wedding.

The wedding will be on October 8th, one day after my dear, darling friend Jory gets married (here's hugs to you, Mom Joy!). At this time, only a week and a half before the big event, we are prepared for over 100 guests, most of whom are family. We have a large family, but not everyone can make it. Those who will be there are members of the true core family - mostly MY family. My three sisters and my brother, and various children from their families.

Then, of course, the Grandparents. Maggie is lucky to have all her grandparents alive and able to attend. My Mom and Dad (two outstanding folks who - after over 40 years being divorced, got remarried!), and Grandma and Grandpa DiVita, her Dad's parents. They're a bit older - this wedding will be difficult for them - traveling far from home, but they're determined to be there.

I wonder how much we folks who are into social networking take our friendships for granted? I am very close to many of my blogging friends, like Toby, and Susan, and Jane, and Joy (aforementioned - whose pet post, linked here, is adorable!), and Dennis and Matt, and the list could take up this entire post - but those friendships are a part of my life that is so separate and distinct from my family connections, it's as if I'm two different people, associating with groups of two different species.

That's an overstatement, I know. It's just that I act differently when I'm with my family, than I do when I'm with my friends. I feel differently. On Friday of last week, I attended my monthly CEO Fellows session where we discussed groups and how to manage them. I forget that I'm a part of many different groups - like Fellows, and my blogging connections, and my family. Having spent the day talking groups last week, I recognize that even within the family - there are separate groups. I'm one person to my children, a different person to my parents, and yet a different person to my siblings.

I was talking with two women locally - members of RAMA, our chapter of the AMA - and one of the young women said she can't be two different people, one at work and one at home. I didn't disagree with her but - she is two different people. She is many different people - a different person for each group she belongs to. That day, she was with myself and D-D and the group was communications. At home, regardless of whether she's working or not, she's Mom and Wife. And, when the hubby and kids are off to work and school, she's a professional working on PR and marketing. I hope she can open up and recognize that soon - or else may feel so torn apart, she could despair of being independent, and crawl back to corporate America. Eeek!

Here's your question for today - are you aware of the different groups in your life? In the lives of your customers and prospects? How can you help the women you would sell to embrace their different groups? Can you offer a personality test on your site? Dozens abound, all over the net. Can you offer stories and examples of successful ways to handle being in groups? I suggest inviting your website visitors to talk about how they handle groups - because the more you get them involved, the better you'll be at marketing to women online.

Here comes the bride!