THIS IS HOW SOCIAL MEDIA IS SUPPOSED TO WORK

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I opened my LinkedIn invitation & it included a note that said, “Hi David, I’m sitting here next to George Whitson & he tells me you trained him on social media & LinkedIn.  Would you join my LinkedIn network?” 

I accepted his invitation & immediate received a note back from him saying, “I’m the sales manager at my company & I’m looking to hire someone to help us with social media.  Would you please give me a call?

Wow!  That felt really good, so naturally I did as directed & called him first thing the next morning.

He answered the phone & started talking about his company.  He said his salespeople were way behind on social media & he was looking to hire someone to get them up to speed.

After I gave him a opportunity to talk about his needs, I started to tell him about my background & qualifications.

He cut me off almost immediately & said, “That’s not necessary.  I know all about you.  I have listened to your podcast & have visited your WeMentor web site.  I know all about your partner, Phyllis, have read her blog & reviewed your LinkedIn recommendations.”

To be honest, I was a little taken back.  I know this is how social media is supposed to work, but I have never seen it work so well.

I have been a small business owner most of my adult life.  As a small business owner, I spend a great deal of my time selling.  A major component of the sales process is obviously to sell yourself & your qualifications.  This is the first time I have had the luxury of skipping that step.  And what makes it better, is that I didn’t have to sell myself, others did it for me.

Now if this doesn’t show the power of social media, nothing does.

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

WHO KNEW FACEBOOK COULD BE SO PROVOCATIVE AND FUN?

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I think I hit a nerve.

Here was my Facebook post.  “16 year old girl tries to sail around the world.  13 year old boy climbs Mt. Everest.  Are parents crazy?  I would never allow my child.  Would you?”

At the time I asked my question, I didn’t think much about it.  I assumed I’d get a few parents to say they agreed with me & that would be it.  I couldn’t have been more wrong.

The first two posts were in support my position, but then all hell broke loose.  My friends got into a major disagreement about parenting.   The parents who limited their children were accused of stifling their potential.  The liberal parents were called irresponsible.

And since the parents of the girl sailor & the boy mountain climber, lived in California, there were accusations that “California is the land of fruits & nuts.” Then some of my California friends started calling the people from Alabama, “toothless red-necks.”

The conversation went on for more than twenty-four hours.  More than four pages of banter…forty-three separate comments.  And then when I arrived at the YMCA the next day & was approached by one of my good friends who had not commented on line, but wanted to give her opinion.

I had to stop & think about what had just happened.  Facebook had created a new & different dynamic.  Keep in mind that I knew everyone participating in the discussion.  Most of the people commenting didn’t know one another.  So we have a virtual conversation between strangers with basically one common friend—me. 

I found the whole conversation fascinating & fun.  I got some great insight into people—many of which I didn’t know very well.  I also got some great insight into parenting.

People sure are interesting.  This is David Sher, your WeMentor guy saying it’s not what you know, but whoo you know.

A FACEBOOK SUPER HERO

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I walked to my mail box, thumbed through my mail, and noticed an envelope from Dona Bonnett.  I had worked with Dona when she was a healthcare consultant, but a few years ago she decided to open a photography business in her hometown of Decatur called A Digital Reflection.

I opened up the envelope and there was a sympathy card that read, “Dear David, So sorry to hear about the loss of your Aunt Gladys.  My aunts were very special to me and I’m sure Aunt Gladys was a very special person in your life.  It’s never easy to say goodbye.  May God speak to you during this time, Sincerely Dona.”

My first thought was, how did Dona even know about my Aunt Gladys?  And then it dawned on me, I had posted it on Facebook.

I don’t know if you appreciate the kindness and brilliance of sending this personal card, but Dona really understands how to use social media and how to build relationships.

First of all, these days, who sends personal notes or cards?  It’s just too easy to post a response on Facebook or send an e-mail.

And secondly, many people think that social media is all about themselves.  They are so busy posting stuff about things that are of interest to them or pushing information on others, that they forget the very basics of social media is to try to help others.

I will always remember this kind gesture.  My Aunt Gladys was very important to me and to have a friend acknowledge my feelings at a difficult time won’t go unappreciated.  Dona understands the most important rule of human relations.  If you want others to be interested in you, then be interested in them first.

This is David Sher, your WeMentor guy, saying it’s now what you know, but Whoo you know.

SOCIAL MEDIA–NETWORKING ON STEROIDS

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I recently received an e-mail from Lynn Rathmell who works for Jewish Family Services.  One of her duties is to help unemployed people find work.  She asked me to meet with a seasoned business executive who lost his high level management position when his business was sold.

Lynn felt if I tutored him on social media & LinkedIn, I could help him find a job.

When I met him, his first comment was, “In the past I haven’t done a very good job of networking.  I ran a successful distribution business for many years & didn’t feel networking was important.  Now here I am, out of work, and I have very few contacts.”

This is typical of most people.  But the fact is all through life we need help from others & and the more people we know the better off we are.

One of the most important books I ever read was “Dig Your Well Before You’re Thirsty,” by Harvey Mackay.  Mr. Mackay explained in every way possible that success in life is heavily dependent on your business & social networks.  He spent most of his book talking about the importance of keeping your Rolodex full & up to date.

At that time, my Rolodex was pretty skimpy & I remember thinking it was too late to fix.

However, you & I have been given another chance.  My Rolodex was converted to Outlook and then to LinkedIn, Facebook. & Twitter.  I currently have over 800 first line connections on LinkedIn alone & that explodes into about 150,000 people my first line connections can put me in touch with.

My connections have helped me in every facet of my life.  John Mackay says in his book, “When two individuals swap pennies, each has a penny.  When each shares their networks, they each have two networks.”   This David Sher your WeMentor Guy saying it’s not what you know, but whOO you know.