SOCIAL MEDIA MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD

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The How of Happiness, a book written by Sonja Lyubomirsky, has changed my life.

Sonja is a scientist and she’s studied & measured all the things that make people happy.   She says most people mistakenly think that wealth, beauty, & fame are the keys to happiness.  But she says it’s actually the little things we do every day that make the difference.

She’s identified twelve techniques that increase happiness & asks her readers to select two or three they think might work for them.

One of the techniques I chose is to practice acts of kindness—doing good things for others whether friends or strangers– & social media gives me those opportunities.

My friends know I have lots of connections and I receive requests regularly to help people find jobs, connect with potential clients, or to network with others to help them in their career or social life. 

I get a great deal of satisfaction & happiness from these little acts of kindness.

Here’s a hand written note I recently received. 

“Thank you so much for your help in my efforts to obtain a position at blank company.  It is so incredible to have friends like you at this difficult time in my life.  This type of friendship is what will help me make it to better days.  Thank you so much.”

People often jump on social media with a selfish plan to help themselves, but to be successful; your plan should be to help others.  You will feel better about yourself, gain pleasure, and your success will come.  This is David Sher, your WeMentor guy, saying it’s not what you know, but whOO you know.

FACEBOOK–SAVE BIG BUCKS

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My business partner, Phyllis Neill, at WeMentor Social Media Marketing & I were off to visit with John Montgomery at Big Communications.  John & I have become good friends through his community volunteerism.

John is a great advertising guy & I wanted Phyllis to meet him.  I had never been to John’s office, so I was startled but not surprised to see a big mannequin of the old Shoney’s Restaurant Big Boy at the front entrance.  Big Boy…Big Communications…I got it.

We sat down with John & he told us about his varied clientele ranging from Ringling Brothers & Disney on Ice to our Convention & Visitors Bureau & the Birmingham Airport. 

But as might be expected, the conversation quickly transitioned to social media.  John said he was an early adopter of Facebook, but then he made a comment I never expected.

He said he has saved Big Communications a fortune since he’s gotten active on Facebook.  He said, “Us advertising people, we feel it’s important to be out & about…to see & be seen.  I was always attending receptions & dinners; taking people to lunch; entertaining; going a mile a minute.

Then my life circumstances changed.  I became a new dad & my home responsibilities increased.  I couldn’t be out of the house every night.  So I started spending my time on Facebook.

I found I could sit on my couch & keep up with my friends, see what was going on, and expand my Rolodex.  Then I noticed an interesting thing.  I found I was being more effective at work & saving thousands of dollars.”

John opened my eyes to some Facebook strengths I’d never thought about.  But who am I to argue with a better home life, stronger business connections, & saving money?

This is David Sher your WeMentor Guy saying it’s not what you know, but whOO you know.

AVOID SOCIAL MEDIA AT YOUR OWN RISK

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My wife & I recently went to see Buddy—The Buddy Holly Story & had the best time.  Buddy is in his early twenties & has the good fortune to sign a recording contract with Decca Records.  However, Decca wanted him to sing gospel & Buddy wanted to sing rock & roll.  The issue was adults were afraid of rock & roll.  They didn’t understand it & thought it would ruin their children.

So Buddy quit Decca & shortly thereafter signed with a record company that would allow him sing rock & roll.  Between August ‘57 & August ‘58, Holly charted seven Top Forty Singles & became a rock & roll legend.

This is exactly what is going on with social media.  I got a call from the head administrator of an economic development agency in North Alabama.  She said the Mayor received a complaint that an employee was caught on Facebook when she should have been working.  So the Mayor banned all social media from the work place.

Actually, I understand the Mayor’s concerns.  But the same thing could & probably was said about the telephone.  We all see people waste time on phone calls at work every day.  Would any of you think it would be a good idea yank out all the phones?  It’s pretty clear no business could operate without them.

My niece, Amanda, who is a senior at the University of Georgia, asked me for help with social media.  She is in the final few months of school & is looking for a job in a bad economy.  On several interviews, she was asked about her knowledge of social media. Amanda is bright, smart, & aggressive.  She will do fine, but Georgia has put her at a terrible disadvantage not offering social media in their marketing program.

Facebook is growing at 5 million members a week; LinkedIn at 1 million new members every twelve days.  You can think social media is going away, but you do so at your own risk.  This is David Sher your WeMentor Guy saying it’s not what you know, but whoo you know.

I REALLY LIKE SOCIAL MEDIA

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I really really like social media.  I know that this should come as no surprise, but I can’t quite get over how much Facebook, LinkedIn, & Twitter have enriched my life and broadened my friendships.

Recently I had a close friend take me aside and tell me she thought one of my posts on Facebook was a little too personal.  I thought about it and decided to ask my Facebook friends if they agreed.

I posted that I had received a massage at the Birmingham School of Massage.  I had lots of responses…more than you would ever imagine and thankfully everyone thought my post was okay.  Many of my friends were just darn right indignant that someone thought my post was too personal.  One friend wrote, “I am going to hear some static about this, but it is no more personal (and a lot more interesting) than hearing people go on and on about their religious beliefs or political views.”  Another wrote, “to those critics I say ‘bah hum bug,’ of course I’m keeping my language G-rated.”

I thought these and other responses were so funny and I really appreciated everyone taking up for me. Another post I made on Facebook was a poignant video showing an adult son losing patience and screaming at his father who was losing his memory. The video not only touched a nerve with me, but many of my friends.  I received several emotional comments, thanking me for the video, and suggesting that we as a society don’t treat our seniors with the respect they deserve.

I gain insights every day to my friends and feel closer to them thanks to social media.  This is David Sher, your e-networking guy saying its not what you know, but whOO you know.

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