Take Back Your Life!

So, I went into the library the other day and saw this book in the new book section called: Social Media Is Bull Shit by BJ Mendelson.

I haven’t read it yet, but I’ve been feeling fatigued by social media the past few months and thought it might make a good discussion here on social media! Should a discussion on the potential bullshitedness of social media be conducted on-line or in person? Good question.

Can you believe that discussing this topic gave me enough energy to write a blog post?

Maybe I’ve been too engaged with face-to-face interaction in my town and my creativity group, not sure. Actually, the past few weeks I’ve been commenting on this leadership group on Linked In that found me and invited me to join. I must say that I’ve found the questions really intriguing. Is that BS? Not sure.

Anyway, I think part of the social media BS phenom seems to revolve around the promise of making a gazillion dollars if you just spend enough for a high end coach – like $50,000 and up for a year. If you do that they say, then you’ll make it in the biz world. If you don’t want to spend that money (to make them a gazillionaire), then you are somehow not invested in yourself.

Those arguments make me crazy. I tend to think that the earlier folks in the social media pyramidish scheme made it big and the late comers have a harder time because so many folks now understand that it is a pyramid of sorts. I had to get rid of so many newsletters because everyone sounded the same because they were trained by folks who coached them on what to say based on what they were coached to say. Those templates that get passed around.

I’m doing well with my face-to-face organic marketing campaigns. I do good for the world and meet folks that way. Often my clients aren’t the people I meet doing good, but friends of friends who get referred by the folks I’m doing good with or take time to have coffee/tea with. And I’m not doing that to even get clients. I do it because it makes me feel like I’m contributing to the world in some way.

I enjoy listening to folks and sharing my own experiences in the hopes it might be of use to them.

Maybe it’s just me, but I do the thing that makes me feel good – which is speaking out – and if folks want that they contact me.

I’ve met some wonderful folks on social media and that part is bullhumble (golly, is that even a word? I’m trying to find the opposite of bullshit.). It’s the template training that feels fraudulent to me.

How about you? What’s your take on social media? Is it really even social?

thanks! G.

I’ve been watching Twilight Zone Episodes at 11 pm every night.

Great training for writers who want to learn to “twist” their readers all around. Masterfully written. No special effects. Just a few characters. Scary. Short. Make a social or political statement.

Last night — Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder.

A woman sits up in bed wrapped in bandages. She wants to know if she will look more presentable when the bandages come off. The nurse and doctors cannot guarantee she will become less “hideous.” She’s already had ten surgeries to alter her appearance. Folks turn away from her in disgust because of her disfigurement. You don’t see anyone’s face.

They remove the bandages s.l.o.w.l.y. The nurses recoil in horror. She is still “ugly.” (more…)

I love Yes! Magazine and its tagline: Powerful Ideas, Practical actions. Every issue comes jam packed with new ways to look at the way we humans do things.

The article titled “Survival of the Nicest” in the spring 2013 issue caught my eye right away. Runs contrary to what I’ve been raised to believe about my fellow humans.