Twisten Carefully

Harvard Business Review ran an article last week entitled 'Let's Tweet About Something Important!' I was yet again surprised by the premise of the article - that the power of social networking is being hijacked by frivolous, not-important-at-all information. 

We all know there's a lot of noise out there.

That's one of the best things about social media - Twitter especially. People can share whatever they feel like sharing. Everything from what they had for breakfast to personal details I'd rather they kept to themselves.  But there is also great value found on Twitter. From people sharing ideas and information, to folks sharing themselves and their experiences.

That's what social media is all about IMHO.  Any and all information and insights are available for whoever wants to listen to them. And there's my point.

We get to choose what we hear.

We don't have to listen to all the noise - we get to choose who and what we Follow. We naturally UnFollow the people who don't match our tastes.  We search, use #hashtags, download TweetDeck or Seismic, create friend streams or lists. We  filter the stream to meet our own personal needs...not to hear everything that's said.

Saying Twitter has little great info is like saying television has nothing but sports and reality TV. There's so much more out there!  We just have to click through the 5000 satellite channels to find the great learning and entertainment. 

Similarly, we have to search to find the great insights, information and people on Twitter. We need the right tools and we need to be curious.  But just think what we can find in the Twitter stream! Anything and everything we want!

My Twitter Experience

I've met mentors and friends in the Twitter stream, ready to share their wisdom and expertise, as well as their hearts.  I have new friends from Warsaw to Paris - people I communicate with every day, who I've never met face-to-face. And it doesn't really matter. I've found blogs to follow, information to guide my own learning - all from the folks who share on Twitter. But I've found even more.

As may of you know, I'm launching a new platform and book this year. Thanks to Twitter, I met my fabulous speaking coach, Scott McKain. I met my publisher, Clint Greenleaf of Greenleaf Book Group.  I met my strategist, Thom Scott and his fabulous business partner Bob Burg, both of whom I'm honored to call friends and associates. I found my favorite art director (who I haven't spoken to in 10 years) and now he's helping me with some re-branding.

Thanks to the Twitter Vortex, I have the perfect team to help me launch 'Rebel 2.0'.

My information and networks may not be 'important' to other people- but it's darned important to me. I believe that everyone can find value on Twitter. Just look beyond the mundane and just plain silly (or obnoxious) and focus on what we want and need. We'll find relevant information, meet new friends, expand our networks.  

And yes, we can also know what that stranger had for lunch - if we so choose.

Comments

[Rebel Brown]

Hey Jenn!!

I wondered how your "leave the validation behind' journey was going! Great to hear from you. Did it work out? By the way - the tool your sent me to block AutoDMs is FABULOUS! LOVE IT!

Thanks much for coming back to chat with us! And I'm glad you're having fun "out in the open' on Twitter. It's easy - just hit the UnFollow button whenever you want.

Tweet on!

reb

[Rebel Brown]

Hi Zoe

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Ya know - I have a feeling it's related to fear of change. We are such creatures of habit. We hang onto the ways we know because it's safe and comfortable.

Twitter is so different than I think it's subconsciously scary to some folks. It SO GOES against the status quo of the way we've always done it communication!

I'm just grateful that I had the chance to find and enjoy it's power. And every day I appreciate Twitter more. I meet great people (like you), I keep up with what's important to me and learn loads of new things every day, I share what I've learned in 20 something years of consulting - things I hope help folks challenge their status quo in business and professionally. Twitter Rocks for me!

Tweet on!

reb

[Jenngbob]

Rock on, rockin' Rebel! I agree wholeheartedly, and well said - we get to filter what we choose to fish out of the stream. It's thanks to your "No DMs Please" article that I no longer bother with validation - and really, it feels better to trust my own instincts and research.

And I also agree with the commenters above (Ryan, Bridget, Steve, Zoe, Ava) that it is amazing and yet somehow perfect that so much can happen in our lives 140 characters at a time.

[Rebel Brown]

Ah Ms Feisty

How could a Feisty Ava such as yourself NOT have a great experience on Twitter.

As our dear friend Bob Burg would say - the more you give - the more you'll get. you give SO MUCH that you're destined to receive back from the Twitterverse!

THX for taking the time to comment!

reb

[Rebel Brown]

Hi Ryan

Wow - two comments in two days - I am SO honored.

You got it - value is in the eye of the beholder (I think I said that in my upcoming book:)) And Twitter is a real world demonstration of that philosophy! I'm glad you're having a positive experience with it!

Tweet on!

reb

[Rebel Brown]

Hi Steve

Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing. I needed to hear your comment! Some folks on the next post (Life in the Stream)continue to think Twitter is useless - and I just can't find a way to see that perspective based on my own experience and that of so many of my colleagues.

Like you - I have found so much value. Maybe it's just a matter of time and learning to act and think differently about the way we find information, meet new people, share our thoughts.

Thanks again for taking the time to comment! I really appreciate it!

[Rebel Brown]

Hi Bridget!

Wow – I was just thinking about you the other day and here you are! Thanks so much for stopping by! Horsing around – that would be me!

I couldn’t agree with you more! The beauty of twitter – and social media in general – is that people get to be themselves and share what’s important to them. Thankfully we can filter it – otherwise we’re be overwhelmed and underwhelmed at the same time

I get sad when I see people dissing what folks say on Twitter – just because it’s not their cup of tea. Everyone gets to say what they want to say – and we choose where we listen. And there is lots of value – for those who want to find it.

Thanks for the comments and great to hear from you!

reb

[Bridget Haymond]

Twitter and social media in general all goes back to the power of personal choice, so it’s really about what is important to each individual. If you use one of the many twitter tools available, the various types of people that you connect with can easily be followed and enjoyed. And it’s okay if people enjoy horsing around a bit too!

Like you, I have met some terrific people whom I have yet to meet in person, but I hope to someday.

Now, about those horses…

[Steve Bent]

Twitter is the single most useful tool in my personal development in the last 9 months.

Given the various attitudes stated above it's not hard to imagine that some people might find that odd, ridiculous or even sad.

The point is it's a fact!

I would go so far to argue that as a process, using the usage guides mentioned, that it is a more efficient and imho more effective a tool than the 500 channels of TV...you just have to find the right people to follow.

[twitter.com/quirkytraveller]

Excelletn article Rebel. What is fascinating is the varied responses to Twitter here in England. Soem are embracing it fully, others are very suspicious and a good number of people won't even give it a chance. Which to my mind indicates just how powerful it is.

As you say, just look beyond the mundane & plain silly and there are huge benefits for those that want to see. I am currently creating a whole new wayof being as the QuirkyTraveller - the REAL me, and it has all been facilitated by Twitter.

See you there :-) Zoe