Did You See the Discussion?
Yesterday’s discussion about playing for keeps was a peek at a the idea it’s important to our best selves to what we do. The best people connections in life and business happen when our inside values are visible on the outside. Or as John Haydon said in the comments:
… whenever I am being honest with myself and authentic with others, I donât even have to ask if Iâm walking the walk.
Why Here? Why Now?
Each wave of new bloggers and social media practioners finds a different socialsphere. They arrive a little further from where it all began. The information, tools, and practices change and move from hands to hands. People find new uses for the tools. People use the tools and application in unintended ways.
The socialsphere changes a little with the integration of each new group.
It’s getting harder to tell the authentic practioners from the frauds. One cause could be that not enough of us are clear about the expertise we offer or how competent we are.
Soon the waves will be larger — more in the form of companies. The companies will come with goals / plans, money, and their own traditions and histories. Some wlll learn the tools, join communities, and understand the cultural shift the tools were made to facilitate. Some will learn the tools, but succeed by applying them in old culture ways. It’s likely some will try the tools and fail miserably.
And a new generation is arriving who’ve been using and testing the tools while they get their degrees. What changes will they bring?
We want mainstream arrivals to succeed and to grow what we started rather than accidently knock it down. Yet, it’s almost as if we’re the company and they’re the customers now. Like customers responding to a product, they’ll decide whether social media works for them.
Mainstream definition of social media and its success or failure will define the culture of the Internet.
In an apprentice environment such as this, new arrivals are only as good as the one who teaches them. It’s natural for people to study the folks they connect with most quickly and trust the most. That would be the first people who look competent, who talk with intelligence and confidence, and if at all possible, who already know their friends.
Right here. Right now.
It’s time to reach our best hand out to the folks coming in.
4 Steps to Raise a Barn and Build a Bridge
The plan that is unfolding begins with this model project. It’s planned to be the first of many projects for many people on the Internet. If you have a dream project on the shelf, you might start yours and track it alongside this one of mine.
This project that I’ve named “Don’t Tell ’em, Show ’em” involves bringing out the best of this blog, of myself, of the SOB list, and in a second part, help for others to do the same. It’s a barnraising and a bridge building endeavor that has these four traits.
- The project is a business and community idea.
- It’s a barnraising in that the community is invited to participate in building the space made for them.
- It’s a bridge building in that businesses and individuals offline and outside the community are invited to participate. It’s a natural way for new arrivals to learn culture of the social web.
- The project will have a date upon which it will be complete so that everyone gets the payoff of feeling and seeing success.
Then the folks who can will raise more barns and build more bridges on the next projects.
The process will be open. I’ll keep you in the plan as it unfolds. I’ll tell you what’s happening. I’ll ask for help when I get stuck. I plan to get attention, raise the bar, and show the value of what we’re about. If you have ideas how to do that better, faster, louder, or more efficiently — where to go what to start — if you have skills to volunteer, or if you want to track a project of your own, I’ve a comment box below. C’mon let’s talk.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!
Related:
Why Play the Game, If We Arenât Playing for Keeps?
Liz,
Thanks for welcoming me!
This is very funny – and you’re not going to believe this: I have a post scheduled for tomorrow that quotes your post from yesterday.
I swear… check it out: http://tinyurl.com/6lvhox
The universe works in strange and mysterious ways…
John
John,
I’m looking forward to seeing the rest of that one. It looks like a great read!
Grateful that you beat the drum to open the doors. I always find it funny when key practitioners in this sphere make it clear that your not worthy, or at least not welcome to play in their sand box…
When I’m a few years into my work here, I’ll always recall and try to put into practice the welcome both you and Chris Brogan showed me. I do not think my commitment and determination would have solidified without it. So again, thanks.
What a great idea, Liz! “New” media meets traditional barn raising. Community at its best. It’ll be fun to see how the project unfolds and how the end result will look different than any of us might imagine.
Liz,
I’m reading this post now with some fresh eyes.
In addition to announcing your blog/barn raising, I see that you’re also encouraging other bloggers to do the same in their local communities.
John
Waltham, MA
This sounds exciting and as though I would like to find a niche in the project and I have helped raise several barns but not blogs…just working on my own…
I would like to hang out and see if this newbie has something to offer and I know I will learn from the experience – why just last week Liz you taught me F5 what an eye opener! Oh yes! and Cath tutored me onto StumbleUpon!…
After building several communities from the ground up, I do have some people skills and communication skills that might be useful tools?
Hi Liz
Here, across the big wet, I’m always eager to show small businesses (specially the ‘trade’) that social media, blogs etc aren’t just for the service ‘boys-and girls’, they are definitely for the ‘brick-layers’, plasterers and plumbers too. But it is hard to get the message through to those who spend most of their time IN the business (as trades do).
Simple online-sources they can follow in their ‘own’ time is my way forward.
And then sometimes you see ‘the professionals’ of webmarketing – who are regarded as examples of how it should be done – make such simple ‘errors’ that I cringe. Like not taking the simple but gallant effort to create a ‘why-confirm’ page for all new subscribers.
But then again: I’m a perfectionist 😉
So, much brick and mortar work to do before more small traders will enter this community and help build this barn too.
Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)
Liz,
I love the new refocused, re-energized Liz!
I am also a big fan of “visible authenticity”. I have called it being âunsanitaryâ and have provided below a link to my blog post on the same subject.
http://www.somersetcpas.com/wordpress/?p=41
Thanks!
Howard
Howard,
I love that term, “Unsanitary”. Can I steal it?
John
Hi Richard,
I’m noticing how easy it is for folks who’ve been here a few years to get into a pattern of joking with the folks they — not noticing when new folks come around that it’s hard to get in. I would guess that some days it feels that way here.
We try. Brogan makes room beautifully. So How to Blog Without a Blog’s Barbara Swofford.
Cheryl, John, and Patricia,
It’s thrilling to this that this captures your imaginations. I’m all for all of us showing up and showing off the talent that is here.
Hi Karin,
What I’m hoping for is a low-risk way for folks to participate in worthwhile short-term projects. Being part of new-forming communities offers everyone a wealth of benefits: new ideas, new relationships, new inspiration . . . without over-long time commitment.
People can invest at their own level of comfort. But you’re right, it is gonna take some time before some folks feel comfortable investing at all.
Thank you, Howard!
And thank you for sharing your own thoughts on the subject. We need as much perspective as we can gather. 🙂
Hi Liz
One brick at the time will do 😉
Karin H
Liz, you know you had me at, “It’s time…” But I am all in as you already know and am willing to reach out my hand to whoever wants to take it. I’ll supply, the hammer and the nails.. Looking forward to this journey as well.
Show ’em not tell ’em is something I preach to writers… what a great idea for community building… looking forward to this as it develops.
Hey, Liz!
I just linked to an old post of yours in my latest post discussing why I blog…why anyone blogs. Your blog was an excellent way to demonstrate a blog community, and this post really shows me how invested you are in motivating that community.
Your excitement is pretty contagious!
Zoë
Hey Marc,
Reaching out and inviting folks is the best way to say ‘hello.’ I’m with ya! Ready to start building.
Hi Anne,
Me too, gotta get that designer going and stuff like that. 🙂
Thanks, Zoë!
Looks like you’re doing some pretty special things on your own site as well. 🙂
I’m almost in tears reading this and of course I’ll tell you why…
I was just over reading the serial blog posts of a self-styled ‘social media marketing guru’ who just doesn’t get it.
I kept thinking to myself “No! No! and the worst part is that there will be people seeking direction who will find this, follow it, and add to the muck in the stream…”
Then I sent a DM to a mutual friend of ours – telling her how thankful I was that when I needed direction and guidance I had found people like her and a host of others I could name that you would sit and nod your head too.
Then I thought to myself “oh! Speaking of which, I need to go read where Liz is going with this ‘playing for keeps’ project – that will make me feel better.”
Here I am… reading this and nodding. Thinking “Yes! Yes!! Finding the right people to collaborate with and to listen to and learn from, sharing that knowledge, helping each other out, raising barns and building bridges – helping those who enter this beautiful Social Media Space to understand it rather than to destroy it!”
Now I’m just all teary and happy and I’m so in this with you Liz.
Thank you.
~GeekMommy
GeekMommy,
I like what you said: âI need to go read where Liz is going with this âplaying for keepsâ project – that will make me feel better.â
@GrantGriffiths said that his golden rule for SM is to “give way more then you receive”.
John
Hey Liz,
Here are two questions that have come to me since reading this post:
1. Architects interview folks in order to write a program for the new space or building which will meet needs and give boundaries to their designs….What are some interview questions one should ask an architect to help them program their websites create communications/dialogue and help them market their work? The Internet marketing folks in our area are not asking the right questions so many architects don’t know how to use what they have or work with what their suggestions are to meet their needs. In other words what are questions that will help them program their space?
2. Are there folks who write blogs who can give newbies an evaluation of what their space looks like/reads like/ or on their writing style? I miss the semester evaluation of the academic world and also feel I need some feedback?
Hi Lucretia,
I feel as you do and I so want to keep what’s dear and good about what we’re doing. If it’s doable, we’ll be doing it. Because we value it and we have no fear.
Hi Patricia,
I’m sure I fully understand your first question, but I think you’re asking What do you need to know before you start building?
Is that it?
And you’re looking for peer evaluation and mentoring?
Right?
Good ideas.
Liz, Yes on the second idea that is what I am asking.
On the first question let me be more specific.
My partner is an architect – owns a small firm with a strong niche in sustainable design. They see the 100 person firms hiring marketing teams to assist them in getting work.
His firm has a web page but not a blogging part of that page/ just email. First they do not seem to grasp (not being writers) the power of the blogging part of their page…nor why it would be helpful and increase their contacts.
Lots of e-marketing firms contact them about purchasing their products…which are carts that do not work with architecture needs, and they put the team off. What I am attempting to do is teach them how they can market and share their skills and design through blogging and conversation….and make there web site more interactive and their presentations more available and their design values and contexts…but I don’t know the questions to ask them? to get them interested and of course, I don’t know any of the technical parts of blogging…so how do I help them/what are the questions that assist in the learning of the power of this medium? I see this as the future and they need to be getting on board, asap, and not get left behind….
People all over the world need to know about the skill and talent available from this small but amazing group in ecological design and sustainability…
The Women Architects by the way are way ahead of the guys in this frontier…
Does this part of the question make sense…aren’t you in marketing? or just writing?
I just don’t know how to do this…or how to get them started…lots of folks want to design their website but how to make it truly useful and promoting they don’t understand?
Couldn’t a barn raising group explore the questions and how to help others get on line/on conversation?
Hi Patricia,
Could there be a barnraising that teaches that? Yeah, that’s good idea. It would probably need to involved a team of social media practioners volunteering time. Or some folks who wanted their first clients. . . With a good guide that could work. hmmm.
Liz, I’m eagerly reading along and ready for action. I’m attracted to authentic community building experiences because at our core we’re all one. It’s up to us to reach out the hand of hope and wave the flag of authentic business building so the genuine folks will rally round.
Hi Tom,
I’m working on how to get the action started. Glad to hear you find it attractive. Now I have to get the groundcamp built so folks have a place to congregate.