It s a shame I've been sitting on this book for about two years now. A friend of mine gave me Never Eat Alone , by Keith Ferrazzi a couple years ago (thanks Rey), and it s been on my bookcase ever since. It was resting there not because I didn't want to read it, but because I already had so many others in the pipeline. I finally got around to reading it last month and I definitely recommend it. In very simple terms, Ferrazzi explains why networking is important and how to do it. From how to make call lists to planning dinners to personal branding to goal setting, it s all here. He also maintains a valuable blog .
Inevitably there will be times when you have setbacks or things don t go your way. Maybe you didn't get a job you thought you were sure to get. Maybe you lost a job unexpectedly, didn't win a contract, or lost a major client. Your car always seems to break down right after you've had some other unexpected expense. These kinds of situations immediately place us in crisis. They don t feel good, but sometimes they re what we need in order to grow. The beautiful thing about crises is that they force us to take a step back and reevaluate what s going on in our lives and rediscover what we truly want and need. When we get over that initial shock and feeling of disappointment, we might realize that maybe that job wasn't really the best for us anyway. Maybe, just maybe, that wasn't what you really wanted to spend your life doing. Maybe that friend was holding you back instead of pushing you forward. The way I deal with crises of these sorts is simple: If something doesn't go my way professionally, I try to create a situation that would be more rewarding than the situation originally planned. A while ago, I was offered a job that looked very promising. After I accepted the offer, they pushed the start date back three times, later informing me (via e-mail) that they wanted to bring me on in the near future but I should feel free to explore other options. I was extremely disappointed. I felt disrespected and angry, but decided to make the best of the situation and follow my dream of working internationally. I then flew to Santiago, Chile and had great professional and personal experiences I wouldn't have had otherwise. Later, reflecting back on the original opportunity, I realized that working for a company that avoids a start date three times and then can t pick up the phone to explain the situation is probably not where I need to spend my time. Use setbacks as an opportunity to put your goals in order and act on them. In the moment, it s difficult to look at a setback as temporary, but they are. They happen to everybody. It s how you respond to them that will determine how they affect you.
After finally catching up on some summer work I missed while in China, I watched a recorded class in social web for social change. In that class, we learned about participatory media, stickiness in ideas, and influence using the social web. One of the things that stuck me was when one student stated that they find it difficult to remain motivated to create content when there is a Bueller Effect in which there is no response. When this happens many feel as though their efforts are wasted. So with that, here are a few reasons to keep blogging, writing, drawing, etc.
- Know your purpose: Are you creating content to spark conversation? If so, maybe you will be more effective by finding other, more well-known media sources to share your content. Also, ask more notable contributors blog on your own site. This will naturally help you engage with a wider community. If you purpose is to share yourself or serve as a creative outlet, take satisfaction in the act of creation itself.
- Numbers lie: Looking at response alone does not tell the entire picture. Many more people consume media than actually participate with it. Just because you don’t see comments does not mean your content isn’t being read. I’m often surprised when I run into people and they tell me, in person, about a recent blog post I wrote. Although they never left a comment, they were keeping up with the content.
- Controversy Sells: Look at the stuff that sparks the most discussion. Sex, controversy, scandals, and technology all spark more conversation than the content you might be producing.
- If you want feedback, ask for it: I’ve read many blogs. The ones I see with the most comments and participation are those who ask for it. At the end of the articles that have an active discussion, they often ask their community to leave their feedback, ask questions, or otherwise join the conversation.
- Your voice matters: Regardless of what happens, know that your voice matters. If you have something to share, share it.
Global Washington is hosting GlobalFest 2012: Stand for Girls on September 22nd to celebrate the achievements of women worldwide and the innovations of Washington State’s collaborative global development organizations. Attend this free event and discover how Washington organizations are advancing the well-being of thousands of girls each day by making education accessible, expanding economic opportunities for women, and ensuring the health of mothers and children. GlobalFest welcomes the entire family to the Center House at the Seattle Center and will feature interactive booths and exhibits from 40 of Washington’s leading global development organizations, live world music, informational “GlobalEDU” sessions on topics related to women and girls, and a special screening of the new film Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide. GlobalFest is part of a September Stand for Girls Campaign, organized by Global Washington to raise awareness about and funds for issues affecting women and girls. Learn more at www.stand4girls2012.org.