Over the last week I had a chat with two of my dear friends. These are people that for the past few years have both been very influential in the social media space, and have both garnered a high level of respect.
One of those friends was Beth Harte. I called her up to see what was new with her. Well she had just deleted her Facebook and Twitter accounts, she told me.
Wait…what?
Yep, Beth had quit cold-turkey on the two biggest social media sites on the planet. Why? Because she wanted a fresh start, and wanted to be using these sites because she WANTED to, not because she felt the pressure to maintain a presence she may not care about anymore.
This is one of the many things I love about Beth: She is true to who she is. How many of you right now are following people you would like to unfollow but you don’t cause want to ’cause drama’. Or maybe you’d like to pull the plug on a social media site, but you can’t bring yourself to do it?
But the other conversation I had with a different friend was the one that really touched me. And I’m not gonna tell you who it was cause it doesn’t matter and I wouldn’t have told you about my conversation with Beth if she hadn’t posted it on Facebook that she was leaving.
The second friend told me that she sometimes felt as if what she had to say wasn’t ‘worthy’ of other people. As if her voice wasn’t as valuable and didn’t deserve to be heard as much as someone else’s.
How many of you have thought the exact same thing? I will tell you the same thing I told my dear friend: That’s total bullshit.
Probably the most wonderful thing about Social Media is that these tools give all of us a chance to express our own unique voice. In my mind, that is truly the promise of social media.
Perhaps the worst thing about social media is that some people will believe that their voice doesn’t deserve to be heard because someone has been talking louder and for longer than they have.
Stop it. The only reason you are reading what I am writing today is because in 2005 when I started blogging I was stubborn/dumb enough to believe I had every right to put my thoughts out there with Seth Godin or Guy Kawasaki or whoever the hell I wanted to. And I had every right to make a complete fool out of myself in the process (and often did!).
But the point is…I always believed that my voice had value and that I deserved to be heard.
So do you. It literally breaks my heart that some people in this space believe that their voice doesn’t deserve to be heard because their Klout score isn’t high enough, or because they don’t have X number of Twitter followers.
If I had just one wish for you, it would be that you would stop worrying about what others think and say and do, and find your own voice. Find the passion that stirs your soul, and let it loose. Never believe for one minute that your thoughts aren’t worth sharing. Why do I keep writing about Think Like a Rockstar? Because I believe in my heart that the future of marketing relies on companies better connecting with their customers and cultivating advocates for their brand. If you don’t want to read those posts then I will shake your hand and wish you well, because I’m not changing my voice to suit your ears.
And neither should you.
I’ve never really watched American Idol, but on Wednesday night I was watching and saw this performance by Skylar. Now since I am a speaker, I tend to focus on the delivery of speakers moreso than the topics they are covering. I do the same thing with singers, I watch their posture and how they relate to the crowd. That was what mesmerized me about Skylar’s performance.
First, she’s singing Gaga. A country version of Born This Way that many in the audience probably hadn’t heard before. She swapped up the lyrics in some places. In other words, she took the song and made it her own. And refused to apologize for it. She was completely in charge of the room and totally confident because even though she was singing a version of the song that might have been unfamiliar to some who heard it, she sang it in her voice. Which is why it was so awesome.
http://youtu.be/0zLEHNsbLmI
My wish for you is that if you aren’t already, that you’ll find the courage to start sharing your unique voice. Because we are waiting to hear it.
Thank you, Mack. I’m sorry to hear about Beth and your other friend. Your message is so important, though. Speak and participate because you want to do so, and don’t let anyone tell you that you aren’t worthy of being heard. And by the way, screw Klout.
Thank you Neicole. We get so caught up in numbers and rankings, and sometimes it’s easy to place too much importance in them.
Everyone has a right to be heard. Everyone has a right to believe they have a voice worth hearing.
I started blogging in 2005 because I had so much to say about different topics, but no platform to publish them. Here we are seven years later, and like you, I’ve created a company to help others publish their thoughts.
If you think it and say it, there’s a good chance it’s very worthy of being published and read by others.
Mack, you keep knocking it out of the park. It seems that lately every post you’re writing is to answer questions or issues I have. This one is right up there. I’ll get an idea for a post, make a note of it and come back to it later. When I see that note, more often than not, I’ll think, “That’s not a good idea” or “Mitch Joel or Seth or (insert your marketing blogger here) has written about this already, so I don’t really have anything to add.”
It was great to see that there are other people that have the same concern I do.
So often, I see people say that step one to content marketing is to create great/original/remarkable content. My first thought to that is, “Thanks for the advice. If I knew how to do that, I wouldn’t need you!” Posts like this make me think that maybe there’s hope for me yet!
Kevin
Thank you Kevin. We see this all the time, bloggers think if another ‘bigger’ blogger has already covered a topic, that they can’t. Or worse, they simply reference their post, in a new post. Like ‘Hey guys I loved the latest post from Seth, check it out!’.
It’s easy to say that we all need to learn to blog in our own voice. But sometimes it can be really hard to find the confidence to do so. I don’t know how I can help there, but I wish I could.
Mack…great post and there is nothing to add other than I love seeing your passion. Keep the conversation moving forward! ~BR
Thanks so much for this post. It’s so easy to feel no one would be interested in what we have to say. You challenged us to “get over it” and “do it” instead of worrying about what others will say. Our audience won’t grow if we don’t take the risk! Thanks again.
Thank you for being so awesome Mack! A very inspiring post to remind us to let our unique voices shine. It means a lot that you care so much about your community.
Hi Mack!
Thank you so much for writing this post!
I agree that people who feel that they want to call it quits or want to take a break from social media should do exactly that if its for the right reasons, like your friend Beth. I have just started a company and as a newbie, I wonder what new insights can I bring that haven’t been covered by one of the Pros. The challenge I face every single time I write a blog post or comment on a blog post- is to not let myself become intimidated and focus on what I am trying to say. Reading this post was very encouraging to me to continue and let my voice take its place among the rest. I thank you for that!
Kyana all the topics have already been covered. Let’s get that concern out of the way. I’ve written this same post a dozen times already, but the thing is, I don’t remember any of you commenting on any of the posts before. Because you probably missed them, or else those other posts didn’t move you to comment.
The point is, if there’s a topic you are passionate about, then you should feel free to speak your mind on it. It doesn’t matter if every other blogger on the planet has already chimed in, as long as YOU can share YOUR thoughts, then you offer something new to the conversation.
Thanks, Mack. What I see is so much need for creative, unique voices. People do get caught up in what other say and how they said it, when what the community at large really wants is a fresh perspective. Sounding like you or Seth or Guy will result in being overlooked. But sounding like the unique person each of us is and bringing fresh eyes and perspective to topics is what gets us noticed.
Susan the point about bringing ‘fresh eyes’ to the conversation cannot be overlooked. If today you discover blogging, you can talk about how new and exciting these tools are to you. In other words, you can offer a perspective that I could never match, because blogging hasn’t been new to me since 2005, and this space has changed so much in the last 7 years that it’s completely different from when I started.
Everyone’s voice has value.
Back in October 2009 I decided to delete my Twitter account and start fresh, so Beth’s words hit home for me, Mack. I had gone back and forth with different Twitter tactics, including auto-following the 7,000 who followed me at one point in time. But I wanted my tweeting to be organic, for it not to be about the numbers; and so I deleted everything. I wrote about the process on my blog at the time — which I encourage you and your readers to peruse at http://ariherzog.com/why-my-twitter-account-is-brand-new-and-what-it-means-for-you/ if interested.
Every person’s voice is worth sharing — but not at the risk of being fake or someone you’re not.
Thanks, Mack. I’ve been traveling and just now catching up on posts. Needed to read this today 🙂
I be there. Good topic and I have many thoughts. Will share some here when I finally wake up this morning! I’m getting my last couple/three days of skiing in…in 70 degree weather.
Hi Mack,
I wrote a related post recently about not discounting you “duh” moments–the stuff that’s easy or intuitive to you. My point there was that a lot of times people don’t speak up because they think something is so obvious to them. But one person’s obvious just might be a teachable moment for someone else.
The thing that strikes me in this post is that both friends who are working through this stuff are women. This is not in any way intended as a comment about Beth or your other friend–just a starting point for a conversation. I wonder sometimes whether there is a gender gap, as it often seems that, in business as well as in social contexts, more women than men hesitate before jumping into conversations, adding their two cents, and/or rocking the boat. I’m lucky that I come from a family of strong, outspoken women so I’ve always been taught to be confident in who I am and that my “voice” has has much value as anyone else’s.
Just thinking aloud … and wondering what other people might have observed.
Hi Daria,
Your “working through stuff” comment struck me as… odd.
My choice to delete my Facebook and Twitter accounts wasn’t some melodramatic emotional battle. Far from it, actually!
I have been active in social media for over 8 years. Before it was even called “social media.” I am burned-out. It’s that simple. Burned-out from being hyper-connected. Burned-out from being always online. Burned-out on people who are jerks when they can hide behind a laptop or computer. Etc., etc.
I want focus back in my professional and personal life. I crave it! The best way to get it? Get offline. It’s that simple.
And you know what? It’s the best decision I have made in the past 8 years. 😉
Daria, to clarify… Just in case I sounded defensive, which wasn’t my intent. I found the comment odd because you sort of tied emotions and women together. As if it’s only women “working through stuff.”
I am not sure what you mean by “stuff,” but it sounds like a decision to close one’s social accounts (or feel that they don’t have a voice) is emotional. It doesn’t need to be, it could be completely analytic.
For me, it was analytic. Balancing time offline focused on important things or time wasted online on unimportant things. A pretty simple decision. 🙂
P.S. I hope you are doing well!
Hi Beth,
Good to see you, and trust you are doing well. I knew after I left the comment that it might seem like a “lump all together.” I had no doubts you’d made a well-thought-out decision.
I think I was reacting more to Mack’s larger issue of voice — and my observation that more women than men hesitate to speak up. We need more women like us in the boardroom — and probably in the “internets” too.
PS: And I deleted my Klout acct as soon as the option was available. If that’s what matters to someone, they’re not someone I’m interested in talking to.
As someone who’s initials are B.S., I agree with your declaration that your one friend’s feelings were BS. I’m actually more intrigued by your other friend who chose to disconnect. Would like to read/hear more about that.
Getting YOUR voice heard has NEVER been easier at anytime. I look to bringing the point-of-view to #blogchat tonight!
I really appreciated this, Mack. I have been blogging for several years in different areas and through a few bumps and bruises, I’ve become cautious about my voice.
While I think it is important to consider what you say and how you say things in a social space, it’s a pretty powerful and ‘right’ feeling when you belt out what you’re saying in a voice as true as can be to who you are.
Thanks again for this encouraging viewpoint. Timely, since I am diving back into reclaiming my own voice!
Such a great article. Earlier today I was reading my latest blog post to my husband and he commented that he didn’t understand why people read my blog? I was quite proud because I had a record viewing of sixty-six! I said, probably because I just put it out there, I write honestly, no fluff.
Mack, it kills me about Beth. She’s a sweetheart, and I love her writing. I was sorry to see her jettison her blog a couple of years ago. I even kept it on RSS for a long while hoping she’d change her mind. She’s got something to offer, I like(d) reading her analysis. Maybe one day she’ll change her mind and come back; for now I hope she finds what she’s looking for.
Hi Frank, well aren’t you super sweet! Thank you for the compliment regarding my blog, much appreciated.
The reason for shutting down my blog? Life. Yes… I was tired of sharing my IP and getting nothing in return. Why waste time and effort on a blog when there is so much more to accomplish in life? 😉
If I ever blog again, I can tell you the topic won’t be marketing as I am not sure there is much to be said these days.
Take care,
Beth
Hi Mack,
I didn’t expect you to blog about this, but I am not surprised. 😉
Like I said above in my comment to Daria and on Facebook… After 8 years of being “social,” I am simply burned-out. It’s nothing emotional or dramatic…
You know I never bought into “personal branding.” My ego isn’t so big that it requires constant stroking on Twitter or Facebook. Oh, and those 23K followers… Yeah, about 85% were spam or non-active accounts. So much for being Klout worthy…
BTW, check out this article…
http://www.usairwaysmag.com/articles/the_face-to-face_book_why_real_relationships_rule_in_a_digital_marketplace/
“More than 90 percent of the conversations about products, services, and brands that take place every day in America happen offline, according to research that will be revealed in the chapters of this book. This adds up to billions of brand-related conversations and recommendations each and every week in America that take place face to face, or in real life.”
From both a personal and professional perspective, I am now that 90%. I am opting for “in real life” conversations.