A RICHER LIFE BECAUSE OF FACEBOOK & SOCIAL MEDIA

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It’s with mixed emotions that I make these comments.  I had one of those weeks that was happy beyond belief.  My daughter Melanie delivered my first granddaughter and my wife, Ina-Mae, and I celebrated our 43^rd wedding anniversary.  Two positive powerful events that make you appreciate and understand how great life can be.

 I posted my blessings on Facebook and immediately heard from many of my Facebook friends with notes of congratulations and best wishes.  But somehow, I felt badly…because some of my friends are having a difficult time.  One is going through the early stages of divorce; another’s wife is struggling to learn some of the basics of life after having gone through a major health episode that came close to ending her life.  A third friend lost his job several months ago and is terrified that he won’t be able to find something soon.

 So, somehow, I felt guilty…like I was flaunting my good fortune in the face of others misfortunes.  And then I realized that if these events had happened a year ago, I never would have had this dilemma…because I wasn’t on Facebook and I wouldn’t have this platform to make these public announcements.

 Facebook and my other social media platforms like LinkedIn & Twitter have literally changed my relationships and interactions.  When I think about the people I interact with, I now have a window into their lives and theirs into mine.

 I followed posts in the past week from two female friends who were both joyful with their success of potty training their children.  Another friend was thrilled with a 5K race she ran.  Others talked about their experiences on a special trip, a celebration dinner…or a family trip to the zoo.

 What’s amazing is I’m getting to know people in ways I’ve never had the opportunity.  Many of these people are clients, prospective clients, and business associates. If business is about building relationships…and it is, social media has created opportunities to build relationship that never existed before. 

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

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