Cheryl Crow wrote that Every Day is a Winding Road. And that is how my book writing project went today; just as I was getting started I made a U-turn. Something was bothering me about the road I was on. Either that or maybe I had to see it in a new way. So, I rewrote my chapter summaries in a new voice, with a little help from a 'new voice.'
The voice I imagined was this. "Look Jeff, just cut through the noise and show me how to use this social media stuff. No B.S. Lay it out for me. I'm a successful businessperson. I've been around. I'm street-smart. I don't need the 'dummies' version. So, don't talk over me just because I don't understand this technology. Talk to me."
That's the voice I had in my mind, with a picture to go with it, thanks to an excellent comment on yesterday's post from fellow speaker Gilda Bonnano to use the power of visualization. What Gilda may not have known is I'm a huge believer in visualization, having suggested it at the close of a recent post on getting the most out of conferences and trade shows. Nevertheless, we all need a gentle reminder once in a while, and this one was both appreciated, and exactly what was needed. That voice helped me find the right voice for my writing.
Suddenly, I was in that special place where time stops because you are so jazzed with what you are doing that you are not even aware of it. I was writing and reorganizing when I excitedly realized, "now I've got this baby in my sights!" It is still out there, but it's not nearly as distant as it was yesterday. This can only happen by getting into the hunt, getting into the race, getting into the game. Whatever metaphor works for you, use it!
Every day is a winding road, and it leads somewhere, but you aren't going to know where that is if you don't take a good hard look ahead. This certainly works for writing a book, and it's sound advice for getting traction with your social media efforts too. Will you be ready when that big whale of a fish jumps out of the social media waters? (Yes, ha ha, I know a whale is not technically a fish. I'm nutting this out for clarity because a whale looks like a fish!)
Do you have your business in order to handle the work you are trying to get? What happens if you get that dream inquiry and you are unprepared to respond quickly and professionally? Then all of this work has just been play time.
Experience matters. If you don't have enough of it, you still have to at least be ready when it comes your way. I've said before that social media is a dangerous place to 'fake it till you make it.' There are a lot of people out there with a lot of experience that want to know how you can help them. And they can spot a fake a mile away. So just do your best, but know that social media a tool like any other that requires learned skills and consistent effort if you plan to get results with it.
Now go fishing.
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