Monthly Archives: May 2019

I Have A Love/Hate Relationship With Social Media

Posted on by
Reply

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).

 

 

What Comic Con Taught Me About Entrepreneurship

Posted on by
Reply

Late in 2018, my daughter texted me to let me know about a special deal on Comic Con weekend tickets. I’ve never attended  Comic Con, though the idea of them intrigued me.  I didn’t know what to expect, but I did know that there were a few panels of celebrities I couldn’t pass up. Namely, the writer and stars of the series Outlander.  So we decided to buy our tickets and head to New Orleans for a weekend of games, books, superheroes and Anime.

What I didn’t realize was that I would learn quite a lot from this weekend of panels on a variety of topics. For instance, I attended:

How To Create a YouTube Channel
Nerdy Lady Entrepreneurs
How To Make A Nerdy Living
and more…

 

What was clear to me was the intentional message that you can create a following (or Fandom) around anything you love. If it feels authentic to you, talk about it. Wear it. Share it. Create a panel around it.

And isn’t that what Entrepreneurs are trying to do every day? So..

Lesson One: If you create a pack of raving fans that will tell everyone they meet about what you do, you’ll no doubt experience steady growth.

Lesson Two: Comic Con taught me is to be true to yourself. The Cosplay game – nothing like it! And, there was a lot of talk about being nerdy and unique. The consistent messaging was “You are welcome here, no matter how you’re dressed or how different you might be. There’s no sense in trying to step outside of your essence and try to do something that feels hard or too scary. While Entrepreneurism isn’t for the faint of heart, it truly makes sense to do something that lights you up and connects to your core essential self. As one of my favorite quotes by Howard Thurman always reminds me:

Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.

Lesson Three: So many business owners were represented at vendor tables and panel discussions. It was dizzying and overwhelming at times, but definitely inspiring. They knew where the customers would be and they met them there. And everyone was energized by the field – the exchange of supply and demand.

Finally, Comic Con taught me the value in connecting with your tribe. While there were literally thousands of people in the convention center, there were no fights or even harsh words that I could hear. Like-mindedness can create light heartedness! It was crowded and sometimes the lines were long and the available seats were few and far between, but honest and polite people raised their game and made it a family friendly and personable event. As Entrepreneurs, it is when we connect with others that fit like a glove, we are surrounded by support and a sense of belonging. This goes a long way to keeping us from running out the door and giving up.

I absolutely plan to return to this Comic Con in 2020. It will be interesting to me to see how I feel the second time around. But I am truly thinking about these lessons as I take some steps in a brave new direction this year.

Sometimes the learning comes from the most unexpected places.