Jul
25
2010 |
Where Are You Going With Social Media?
I'm now reading (for the second time) the powerful book The Principle of the Path by Andy Stanley. The premise of the book is clear: Direction-not intention-determines our destination. This principle isn't something you follow like a rule. It follows you and it has the power to break you.
If you choose a path of financial irresponsibility, you will eventually arrive at an undesirable and inevitable destination. That's not speculation. That's fact. The author also notes that the same principle of the path applies to each of us relationally, academically, spiritually, physically, and professionally.
Let me share a story that serves to remind me of this important principle.
Back when I was in college at James Madison University, a friend in my dorm had made arrangements for his brother to visit him at school. The drive from their parents' home in Northern Virginia to the Shenandoah Valley is pretty simple. Interstate 64 West to Interstate 81. Two hours away. Visible from the Interstate:
So his brother headed out to JMU by himself. After 3.5 hours, his brother had still not arrived. Finally, the phone rang from a pay phone (these were the pre cell phone days). "Where are you?", my friend calmly asked. "I'm in Harrisburg. Where on earth is the JMU campus?"
My friend burst out in laughter.
You see... JMU is in Harrisonburg, VA. His brother had arrived in Harrisburg, PA.
His brother had the absolute right intention when he left home that day. He just went the wrong direction on Interstate 81. And that decision determined his destination.
So now I find myself asking myself this question at this stage of my career.. Where am I going with social media? And I encourage you to ask it of yourself.
Where do we think we are going to end up relationally and professionally? Will it help our career whether we are a job seeker or an entrepreneur?
I regularly receive LinkedIn invitations. We all do. Some are clearly from LinkedIn open networkers (or LIONs). They don't know me. I often have no idea where they found my name because they fail to even include a personal note in the invitation.
A year or two from now, what is their expectation? That because we "connected" anonymously at some time, I'm ready to go to bat for them when they need that perfect referral to a potential client or hiring manager?
Don't let that become your destination because you may find yourself alone.
Other people take a different direction.
Over the past year, I have met some very gracious and smart people on Twitter, such as Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter, Melissa Cooley, Cindy Kraft, Kris Plantrich, and Julie Walraven. We're now connecting and talking on Facebook or LinkedIn as well.
And we are doing so not to increase our connection totals. We're connecting because we are confident we can be of more service to each other in the years ahead. And the destination may simply be the right referral at the right time. Or at next year's Career Thought Leaders Conference.
That is a direction I wish for all of you.
What are your thoughts on using social media? Where do you feel it is taking your career?
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 9 Comments
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| Darin Kirschner said on Jul 25,2010 at 9:20:22 PM |
Great post Brent!
I use SM in a couple different ways, but all of them are directional and intentional. One is to reconnect and strengthen my old relationships. The other is to strengthen my business network, by aligning myself and engaging people who clearly "get it", the way I do. In both cases, I truly ENJOY interacting with all of the people I'm connected to.
I tend to use Facebook for my personal connections, because I feel its better suited to it. I use Twitter and my blog (and to a lesser extent LinkedIn) to connect with business and industry people. I learn from all of my connections and even in the last 6 months, have begun to feel better engaged on a personal level with everyone I'm talking with. I don't follow people who I don't think will add anything to my conversation, or who I think I can't add to theirs. As such, I don't have a huge following on Twitter for instance, but the people who I follow and those who are following me are of a high caliber in relation to the direction that SM seems to be headed, and as someone who wants to continue being relevant to the internet industry, that counts. |
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| Tom Peracchio said on Jul 25,2010 at 9:22:35 PM |
Great story! Too many jumping on the social media bandwagon without a clear plan.
To quote that famous philosopher of New York, Yogi Berra ... "You got to be careful if you don't know where you're going, because you might not get there."
This article hits on that theme that I have preached often in my career, if you have no picture in your mind of what you want, or where you are going, how will you know when you get there! |
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| John said on Jul 25,2010 at 10:09:35 PM |
| I have to agree that I keep my Facebook reserved for personal networking, friends, old classmates, etc. whereas Linkedin is used primarily for professional purposes. But on the side of Linkedin I use it not to network, but to build alliances, I had the privilege of hearing a great presentation on "building alliances" instead of "networking". I do feel that many people do jump on the SM wagon thinking that a potential employer may see the mass amount of links/connections that person has and want to hire them, well having a big network and good amount of friends they neglect to realize that what matters here is the quality of the relationship. Yes, I could spend 6 hours on Linkedin requesting anyone and get 100 connections or so, but what do they mean? The way I try to utilize Linkedin is as an additional tool for learning, there are a mass amount of groups for whatever flavor of knowledge you desire, most importantly: real-time, real world knowledge. |
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| Ed Han said on Jul 26,2010 at 7:48:10 AM |
| Brent, very well said, and the example does a great job of underscoring the message. |
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| Daulton West, Jr. said on Jul 26,2010 at 1:16:35 PM |
I use social media several different ways. First, it can be a great way to build "quality" relationships, grow a wider network, and establish an online brand presence.
For developing business contacts, job leads, personal branding, marketing, and sharing information - especially when it comes to Twitter, social media can be a great information conduit. I find Twitter to be valuable tool for recommending and promoting the work of others, researching and gathering information, sharing links, late-breaking news, tools, and tips.
I use my Facebook business page – ASocialMediaChampion4U, to share the latest social media news, views, and Examiner articles I publish as the Richmond Social Media Examiner. I reserve my personal Facebook page to track and connect with friends, and family, for the most part.
LinkedIn is my main professional connectivity tool to research companies, people, jobs, groups, and keep up to date with the status changes of all my professional connections.
Where is all this headed? What are the tools of tomorrow? How will the existing social networking sites evolve, and what new features will continue to be added?
Obviously, no one knows what the future of social media holds. It seems to me the key is to continue to find ways to leverage the social sites to “add value”, strengthen relationships, and build a strong network to maximize the “pay it forward” factor (find ways to help and support others).
Put another way, “less is more”, and those who “connect the dots” understand this. I’ve found the most successful users of social media share timely, valuable content, on a regular basis – but not too frequently, otherwise, inundating people with too many messages can come across as “spammy”.
The industry leaders in social media know that to be successful, you have to share your findings, items of value, recommend the work of others, and avoid excessive self-promotion.
Brent, I liked your thought, “We're connecting because we are confident we can be of more service to each other in the years ahead. And the destination may simply be the right referral at the right time.”
Hopefully, people see it’s not just about collecting followers, but rather, finding ways to “connect” with people, and use social media to build some quality relationships along the way.
Great question, Brent, and thanks for reaching out to me for feedback.
- Daulton
aka “ASocialMediaChampion4U” and ‘@DWestJr’ on Twitter
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| Melissa Cooley said on Jul 26,2010 at 10:16:52 PM |
Thank you for including me in your post, Brent! I certainly have felt fortunate to have met you on Twitter :)
I agree with your point completely -- we're not connecting simply for the sake of growing our numbers. It is because of the mutual value that we derive from our interactions.
The even greater benefit that I also see transcends our connection. By talking, sharing, and working together, we are able to provide products and services that are of more benefit to the job seekers we serve than if we operated in isolation. What a wonderful outcome! |
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| Executive Resume Writer said on Jul 27,2010 at 4:31:04 AM |
Brent,
I love the idea that 'direction' (not intention) determines our destination! We can espouse intent to 'do or achieve a certain result,' but without a clear direction (some may call it a map, perhaps) that we follow, we may never reach that result.
Driving in a focused direction may require a few strategic detours along the way, but as long as we maintain a compass, we generally will arrive where we need to be.
Love the example of your brother reaching the 'wrong' destination when visiting you at college! His intentions were surely good, though!
Thanks kindly for the shout-out, too! I appreciate knowing you via Twitter and LinkedIn!
Jacqui |
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| Lisa said on Jul 28,2010 at 9:03:30 AM |
Like many of you, my Facebook page is personal. I use it to stay connected with my family and friends. My blog is also personal, a way to download my observations on current events. I network my blog with my Facebook. I use Twitter to quickly download article links to my blog.
As a recruiting manager for a university, I use LinkedIn to maintain my professional connections with employer contacts and university alumni. It helps me maintain an extra “touch.” I also use the LinkedIn group feature to follow discussions regarding topics of a professional nature that interest me.
Regardless of venue, I rarely ever connect with anyone who I do not know in some fashion. The one exception is my connection with various politicians, bloggers, and commentators on Facebook.
While I agree with the “experts” that social media branding can be invaluable, I also realize that it can be damaging. It can help connect users with the right people and perhaps even land jobs. On the other hand, it can be damaging if used improperly. In the end, some tend to share more about themselves than is prudent while others keep a very low profile to their possible detriment. Social media is a narcissist’s dream and a private person’s nightmare. Who has it right? Well, the “experts” are making a lot of buck with books that offer tips on personal branding and social media. I have a few at home awaiting a read.
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| Resume Services said on Jan 11,2011 at 11:18:12 PM |
A nice article with a great stuff of information, I really ejoyed reading this. Confusion between Harrishburg VA and Harrisburg PA is very funny.
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