RLE, Curacao, February 10, 2012. Yesterday I went to the beach ā Mambo Beach. At around five oāclock when people start to go hotel and the water empties I do my three laps. I start at the far end of the Cabana Beach Resort all the way up to the Lions Dive Beach Resort. I actually have no idea how far it is ā a mile or so, maybe less. I have no idea how fast I swim. I do not particularly like swimming. Yet I do it almost four times a week. Yesterday I had a very fast second lap. I know that even without timing it. I won. You know I am in a competition with myself. Everyday I want to get better a little bit. I actually never compare myself to others; only with me yesterday. Probably a very pathological streak in my curious personality, but ā hey ā Cāest moi.
Many people struggle with social media. Because others do it, they do it. They open a LinkedIn page, a facebook page, a Twitter account and the very disciplined a Google+, Tumblr or even an Pinterest account. The truth is they do not understand it. When you talk to somebody for five seconds, you know whether they get it or not. Most donāt get it. I get it. Ā ā¦.. (most people ā even good friends do not realize that this a joke; it is the way I humor myself). It is not that I think that I donāt get it. I get it. But it doesnāt mean anything that I get it ..or not. Am I a better person because I get it and they donāt? Does it make me happier that I am better than them? To me it is senseless. It is like being right that you came from the right-hand side and the bus not (Hi Petrusā¦).
I am searching like a blood-drunken vampire for people who know more than me. Who are smarter than me? Who know more. I want to suck their know-how from their surprisingly tasty necks. A scene described by many as vicious. I do not care for I want to be smarter tomorrow than what I am today. I think I can beat death by growing every day a little bit more. And I will believe this even after I die.
Social Media is an attitude. Your personality allows you to be open, trustworthy and you like to share. On a deeper level you observe, listen and accept the frailties of the ones you connect with. Also you are hard and keen enough to cut off a connection if it does not lead to business. Social media is about a win-win situation for both. It is about business. It is about selling. It is about supporting the other to benefit yourself (not always in monetary sense). Ā It takes being smart to find the mutual benefits of collaboration.
Many in my age-group (50-100) not only do not get it; they simply do not have the personality or attitude for it. Of course, there is no way for me to prove it. And a big chance even that it is complete bullocks. If confronted with it ā I do my republican party move ā I adopt the opposite argument and deny ever to have said it. It is that simple and Romney is getting away with it (now does he?)
Social media is about being interesting enough for people to want to read you the next time; to listen to your next explanation; your next uploaded picture, story and so on. It is about emotion and about real and authentic (or allothentic). Customers do not want to see your pancaked, photoshopped face, your 10.000 times rewritten hyped profile of yourself. Ā They want the truth. they want to know whether your products are any good and that when something happens that you will be there for them. And not just run away with the money. (Who is that laughing all the way to the bank?). Customers want to limit their risks and buy what they think they are buying. Ā And if they do; they will tell the world about.
You (the one selling) can use that to sell more. Or if the consumer review is not that great; you can use their feedback to improve your company. You do not need McKinsey to show you how to run your shop; you need customers to give you feedback. You do not need a $10.000 add in the paper, you need happy customers to increase revenues.
Social media is about losing control. Let it flow. Just like in sports; you need to find a way to relax when performing under stress. Lose control, share, collaborate, be interesting, observe, listen, articulate well your opinions, be sensible controversial, stand out, donāt take it personal, be personal, act on feedback, donāt be defensive, be clear to people you do not like (and disconnect), show your real face, be surprised, be curious, love, do not be middle-of-the road, act on feedback, know what type of relationships you are capable of, know your limits, use logical arguments, search for facts, be a curator, do something crazy once a day, connect with robert eikelboom, kiss a stranger ā¦..
Of course, I get it. The question is do I get it more today than I ever got it yesterday. Or am I so afraid of myself that avoiding the mirror become my life goal. Well, If that is the case, than just go out and blame others for whatever you can or cannot blame them for. You know that is why I Got Milk. I look in the mirror when swimming from one resort hotel to another. Dreaming to be Mark Spitz (age group 50-100), while knowing I am not bad as a 50+ loser doing my daily Mambo crawl.
My question is I Got Milk; how do I get people to know it too. Tomorrow I have a better answer.
from http://bit.ly/xSEtLn
