social media for business | Moving You From Surviving to Thriving

I’m happy to say I finally consider myself to be a successful Coach. Yet, looking back, I realize I’ve been hard on myself. I haven’t always recognized the progress I’ve made.

I’ve consistently increased my income for the past few years and grown so much. But in 2020, I achieved a new credential (Professional Certified Coach) from the ICF, as well as a Certification as a Mentor Coach. I stepped solidly into the role of Coach Training Delivery Leader, a goal of mine since 2009! I popped a lot of champagne last year in celebration of my milestones.

As a result, I was really busy. So much so that I kept my head down and got stuff done. Lots of stuff. Things I am very proud of.

What I didn’t do yet again was pay much attention to my online presence. You may be shocked to hear that and yet, there are reasons that’s important for me to declare. I don’t get many referrals from my website or my social media presence, at least, not at the moment. So I spent much of my time engaged in activities that moved me forward toward my professional and financial development goals.

And of course, 2020 was the year of COVID19 and world-wide Quarantine, combined with a difficult year of division in many ways across the US. Honestly, I found social media a place I needed to avoid for my own self care. Most of my interactions were on coaching and business groups, creative groups and with my family and close friends.

Yet, at the end of the year, I realized I was longing for something new. A new perspective on marketing for my business. A new way of connecting and belonging again. More human connection, even if it still needs to be mostly online.

And when I looked at my online presence, I definitely felt like some changes needed to be implemented. So I started reflecting on what I really wanted. As I entered into my own business planning process at the end of last year, I wanted to be sure to add a few things:

1) Rebrand my Professional Presence Online and at In-Person events, however that may unfold.
2) Write, Create and Share in whatever way I can
3) Deliver free and paid content again
4) Cultivate opportunities to Speak about topics that I am passionate about
5) Serve in a leadership role as I feel led, especially in my own ICF Chapter
6) Support new and current clients in their professional and personal development plans as a Coach.
7) Organize myself more efficiently and effectively. One area in which this is critical is my digital data. It MUST be tamed.
8) Show up more fully and authentically than ever before.

So I’m off and running on managing Project Rebrand. I’ve redesigned my logo and I’m updating social media sites and this website. As of today, there’s a huge learning curve as Instagram and Canva have both changed a bit since I was a regular user. And I want a whole new look here on WordPress. In December, I thought I would be complete by now. Turns out, it’s going to take a bit more time.

I’m also renewing my commitment to some free content and online events quarterly. I enjoyed delivering my Inspiration series, my Accountability Days and various webinars on topics that I thought were of interest to my clients. I love giving value no matter if the effort yields a new client or just a new connection to support and develop a friendship or collaboration. So I’m in the process of Refreshing that content and talking to clients about how their businesses have changed as a result of what happened in 2020. What I am seeing and hearing is exciting!

It appears as though some of the platforms have calmed down a bit following the January 2021 Inauguration and I’m grateful for that. And though we’ve seen over 500,000 deaths from COVID19, I am also seeing evidence that more and more people have been vaccinated and cases are decreasing in many areas. My hope is Renewed.

And maybe most of all, I miss writing. I did very little writing in 2020, except for a few blog posts for others who requested that support from me. I even signed up for a 30 day writing challenge that I realized quickly I didn’t have the bandwidth for.

Normally, I would have continued to add to that list of things I want this year to get to an “even 10.” Now, I’m good with 8. It’s a lot. And yet, I feel energized and ready to take it all on.

I’m going to need to lean into Diligence on the Tilt Wheel in order to show up for these things fully. And Diligence is absolutely the polar opposite of where I naturally Tilt, which is Ideator through and through. I’m going to need to lean into Architect and create the systems and workflows to make it all happen, while having fun along the way. (if you’d like your own Tilt assessment and debrief, let me know and we can get you scheduled).

Enough about me – what are you showing up for fully this year? What’s on your plan?

Virtual coffee? Happy to get that scheduled too. Just reach out and I’ll put on my favorite brew.

For now, Cheers to all that 2020 was and to all that 2021 has in store.

Laurie

I’ve been on Facebook for awhile. I don’t know how long. I originally balked at the idea of creating a page. (I was, however, an avid MySpace user. What ever happened to MySpace??)

My youngest daughter convinced me that it was a good idea because I would be able to see many current pictures of my kids and my granddaughter. She was a baby, so I am guessing I joined some time in 2007.

I signed up for a Twitter account in January, 2009. I only have a little over 800 followers. Clearly, I’m not consistent.

Instagram – April, 2012.

Pinterest – Lord knows when.

YouTube – Yep. I’m there too. Look at the last video. I’ve cut my hair five times since then! (I’m more active sharing books on this channel for sure. Maybe that’s where my spare time is going?)

The point is…I can’t keep up with all of this stuff and I don’t even try any more. And sometimes, it annoys the hell out of me.

I think social media brings out the best and the worst of us. Just like I believe that we generally carry a blend of the best and the worst of our parents around in our pocket. Sometimes the best qualities emerge. Sometimes, we default to those phrases, habits or behaviors that don’t represent us in a generous light.

In the past 10 or so years, I have watched social media users say things that they might never have said in a face-to-face conversation. It’s escalated to a point that makes me cringe. Hastags like #fakenews are usually inserted when someone decries a media post about one highly charged or sensitive topic or another. I’ve seen examples of the very worst of human nature and I often see more than one in a day.

So why am I still logging in to these sites and sharing/posting/liking/commenting?

Because there are more examples of things that bring me joy.
Because I want to share joy with others.
Because life is too short to criticize another person and too long not to lift someone up or encourage them along the pathway.
Because I am connected to my tribe in groups that let the rest of the ugly fall away.
Because, despite all the things I dislike about social media, there are memories captured in each place that are important to me.

Like the tweeted photo of the night I met Kristen Chenowith and she sang a song about Mississippi to us after we saw her perform in Promises Promises.

How about my first blog post ever about my daughter leaving for college on MySpace?

Photos of my son’s graduation from University of Alabama as a Paramedic.

The first glimpses at my granddaughters births shared on Facebook.

Shares of my mom crowned as Mardi Gras Queen at the assisted facility where she lived nearby.

My daughter-in-law’s growth as a mother and entrepreneur.

Special Olympics events where my oldest carried the torch and competed bravely.

Numerous dance competitions and awards won by my tiny dancer.

And the business accounts I’ve created for 4 Elements Coaching. My infrequent posts are now proof that I am busy enough that I don’t have time to blog, tweet, post and share as often as I might want to do.

So yes, I may get tired of the complaints and insults and #fakenews. And yeah, I’m pretty inconsistent. But the honest truth is I’ll probably be around for awhile. And sometimes you may find me in person and we can chat a bit IRL. Which for me is infinitely better than your comment or laughing emoji.

And maybe soon, I’ll have to hire someone or learn a complicated new batching system through sites like Hootsuite or Meet Edgar to be able to really be consistent and keep up with it all. (Meet Edgar would be my choice just because it has a cool name!)

See ya around the Social Meeds! (cuz I’m hip like that).