A dad's advice to himself and his kids.

People that can’t sell seek validation as a way to feel good about their social media efforts.  The only score card that matters, though, is the ability to get people to take action.  But, social mediocrities must feel good about the hours they spend on Twitter.  They have to keep score in some other way: followers, retweets.  To feel better about themselves, they get a chorus of mediocrities screaming “hallelujah, brother, you said it best.”   That’s meaningless.  What’s better: 15 people that will drop $100 bucks when you say so, or 10,000 people that will retweet your every word?  Thought so.

But, all the social mediocrities  are popular. They approve.  Engage, connect. Don’t be pushy. How dare you try and sell to me using social media. No achievement, and yes, you must submit your every thought to Twitter in order for us to vet what you’re doing next.   Americans have been fighting mob enforced behavior norms since the Salem Witch Trials.

Spam: The Ultimate Insult.

The nasty accusation of “spamming” almost always follows those that monetize their following.  The medicorities insist that everything you say must be said (a) for free and (b) for no financial compensation to you.  They’d rather wade through shitty but “pure” advice than take action great advice that costs.

When you engage the social mediocrities, there’s a rule.  You’re only permitted to sell but rarely, and only IF you’ve provided value (in their eyes, to their standards).  And even when you have provided value, other people place a claim on what you can/can’t do by sending you nastygrams when you dare try and make a living.   You’ll be a spammer, otherwise, even if you’re not technically spamming, and even if they DID opt into your list.

The next frequent insult is calling you “unprofessional”  nothing more clearly marks someone as an idiot as the frequent and shrill cry of “unprofessional” to insult those that are smarter and faster than they are.  The second time you try to hang the albatross of “unprofessional” to describe someone that is having more success than you is when I tune out forever.  What the hell does “unprofessional” even mean? Dan Kennedy is ugly and unprofessional.  He’s also dirty, fithy stinking rich.

ROI & Social Media: The Real Currency

Validation is not currency. You can’t send Twitter Followers to pay your AMEX Bill.  You don’t get ahead when you demonstrate that you live in lockstep with the masses who, by definition are average.  You don’t get ahead by following the tired and vague formula “engage & connect.”  What does that even mean?  Go say hi?  Big. Old. Waste. Of. Time.

ROI matters.  It’s the end all, be all.  You’ve gotta track it, and if your social media goon is saying it can’t be tracked, then they’re full it it.  Wide swatches can be tracked, measured, tested and duplicated.

Hey, Jealousy

When there’s backlash against social media monetization, it’s because there is  jealousy against those of us that earn money.  Most people on social media, hell, most Americans, are deeply in debt and gravely scared, stuck at work unable to segue.  When people are in that moneydrunk panicked state, they’re not gonna act normal. I know. The IRS pursued me so hard and during the darkest part of that,  I lashed out at people that loved me, people that supported me, let alone strangers. It’s nearly impossible to be sane or kind to others when you’re hording pennies in a workaday battle for survival.  The people that haven’t had their fix of cash focus on “need cash-need-cash-need-cash” not “how can I truly be helpful.”

Most people are unhelpful in any way that matters.  Most people are negative and sour, and they will pull you down and harm you.  Because when you succeed you demonstrate that they could succeed too.   And when you demonstrate something that they are not doing right, you indirectly point out what they haven’t done.  This makes them use what they have–social acceptance–as a tether.  When you value other people’s thoughts and opinions of you, you open yourself up to this.

So what to do?

Sure:

1. Set Your Own Agenda
2. Be Selective On Who You Interact With. (Key.  Mediocrities get mediocre all over you)
3. Help Others Proactively and With All Your knowledge.
4. Earn money.  Nothing in the world restores your sanity fastest
5. Be yourself, don’t be an echo of the social media greats
6. Realize there’s always room at the table for excellent people with loads to give.
7. Be happy about others successes: they are lighting the path for you to follow.
8. Do It Your Way.
9. Promote those that are scary good and scary different.
10. Pick your own tribe, don’t let your tribe pick you.

Don’t let the bastards grind you down.