I applaud this point of view and try to live by it as well. I’ve just been revamping some business planning midway through because I caught myself creating an offering that didn’t align with how I want my life and work to fit together. It’s so easy to get caught up in trying to be everyone’s cup of tea, when we need to be our own too. I always enjoy your emails. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks so much Sara. I think that's really the essence of what I was trying to say.
I don't want to pretend there aren't times when you have to knuckle down and do things you might prefer not to out of necessity. But I think the reality is as you say that often we do things because we're caught up in trying to do what others want or say.
I enjoyed reading this Ian - a very perceptive and pertinent newsletter.
Like you I find the striving for social media impact somewhat disconcerting: it feels as though you're in a race of thousands trying to compete for 'likes' and 'followers'. I'm sure that building a profile and a following do help provide an audience to whom you can promote your events, services etc, but so many posts lack depth, and the race seems relentless (Professor Joe O'Mahoney described it as "shouting at passing traffic").
What I'd really like to spend my time doing is having meaningful conversations - listening and trying to understand others' situations in depth (an organisation's current strategy challenges in my case, but the point is general). Counting 'likes' and writing 'follower grab' posts feels a long way from this.
I have the feeling that Joe himself does pretty well on social without engaging in the usual tactics. But he does post rather more than I would have the energy to do!
I'm definitely of the opinion that early on in your career or at various points you need to grit your teeth and just get on with what's needed whether you like it or not. But at my age and having been relatively successful, it's just not needed if you think about it. I'd rather do without the extra bit of money and have the time to do what I want instead.
I think knowing what you enjoy and are good at (as long as it's something that works) is crucial. Even though you might theoretically get more from other strategies it never works out that way if you really don't click with them.
I applaud this point of view and try to live by it as well. I’ve just been revamping some business planning midway through because I caught myself creating an offering that didn’t align with how I want my life and work to fit together. It’s so easy to get caught up in trying to be everyone’s cup of tea, when we need to be our own too. I always enjoy your emails. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks so much Sara. I think that's really the essence of what I was trying to say.
I don't want to pretend there aren't times when you have to knuckle down and do things you might prefer not to out of necessity. But I think the reality is as you say that often we do things because we're caught up in trying to do what others want or say.
I enjoyed reading this Ian - a very perceptive and pertinent newsletter.
Like you I find the striving for social media impact somewhat disconcerting: it feels as though you're in a race of thousands trying to compete for 'likes' and 'followers'. I'm sure that building a profile and a following do help provide an audience to whom you can promote your events, services etc, but so many posts lack depth, and the race seems relentless (Professor Joe O'Mahoney described it as "shouting at passing traffic").
What I'd really like to spend my time doing is having meaningful conversations - listening and trying to understand others' situations in depth (an organisation's current strategy challenges in my case, but the point is general). Counting 'likes' and writing 'follower grab' posts feels a long way from this.
Very true.
I have the feeling that Joe himself does pretty well on social without engaging in the usual tactics. But he does post rather more than I would have the energy to do!
I'm definitely of the opinion that early on in your career or at various points you need to grit your teeth and just get on with what's needed whether you like it or not. But at my age and having been relatively successful, it's just not needed if you think about it. I'd rather do without the extra bit of money and have the time to do what I want instead.
I think knowing what you enjoy and are good at (as long as it's something that works) is crucial. Even though you might theoretically get more from other strategies it never works out that way if you really don't click with them.