#JustStuIt

There is a ton of crap out there about best social media practices and most of it falls into two categories: A. Regurgitated, repetitious information. B. Simple theory.

What makes this any different? Nothing, really. I’m going to advise you to do something that you’ve already heard: Be yourself. If you’ve tried this before and it hasn’t worked, though, then read on for a solution.

The Trick to Being Yourself AND Attracting Clients

I’m a little sarcastic. I’m a little self-deprecating. I don’t pretend to do anything by the rules. Despite the simple theories that suggest it’s best to curate your best self on social media, when I post, I use my own voice. Miraculously, I have a successful business.

I don’t post regularly. I don’t alternate images, quotes, links, and self-promotion. In fact, I flip-flop between Facebook and Twitter without either being too consistent.

Since I ignore the rules and it works for me, you can do it, too. If you are yourself on your social pages, share your story in the comments.

All the Answers

OK, I can’t give all the answers. I don’t know all the questions (You won’t either. Score another one for being yourself).

I’ll shoot for the biggest three issues.

One: “I’ve tried being myself, and I’m still not gaining momentum.”

 Ask yourself these two questions:

• What makes me different?
• What makes people understand me? (This can also be asked as, “What makes me connect well with others?”)

Use those two (or three) answers, and don’t be afraid to own them.

I’m a yoga instructor. I do web design to keep the lights on; and, I write because I enjoy looking at a finished piece. Online, I say the same to people, adding I’ll help with your website when I’m not busy. I’m also upfront about my personal disdain for the process of writing before getting to the finished piece.

You’ll get work by resonating directly with a client and having a body of work (even one or two pieces) you can show them that also have the same voice.

Two: “People don’t like the real me.”

There’s an old saying: “There’s someone out there for everyone.” This is completely true, but you do have to work to find them. In business, do you really want to find the customers that are crass and vulgar? They’re going to abuse you. Do you want the customers that are totally buddies? They’re not going to want to pay you…buddy.

You need to own yourself by being someone you’d like to work with.

We all have people on our social media feeds that we cringe at. If you re-read your tweets or posts, would you cringe at yourself? Do you retweet a bunch of tired old quotes? Do you post random complaints? How about pictures of your food tagging random followers? Don’t be that guy/girl.

Three: You didn’t honestly think there was going to be a third, did you?

Why Ignore Current Social Media Best Practices?

It works. Don’t be yourself and you will attract people unlike yourself.

As new entrepreneurs, we focus on ANY work. We try to be palatable so we can attract every customer – because, really, we want to attract any customer. Sure, this works at first; but, in the end, this is going to result in struggles with customers and clients who just aren’t a fit.

It’s efficient. Being someone else takes much more effort.

When we sit down to a computer, something happens. We change from ourselves into our “online persona” – whatever that means. This takes additional, unnecessary work because it doesn’t get you the results you want, anyway. You have to take what you’re thinking, translate it into your online persona, then edit it again so it makes sense to people reading it. What’s smart about that?

It’s much more effective to simply say what you want as you would normally say it than to craft something fake that you would never say in person.

Bonus!

We also tend to spread ourselves too thin, attacking every social media platform there is – Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, G+ (they don’t even know what this is), Reddit, etc. We never find our place in the madness because we’re never there long enough. Which is the social platform you use inherently in your private life? Start with that one. If that doesn’t “work” for your business – maybe it’s time to evaluate that.

This is a guest post by Sarah Li Cain (see author bio at the end of the post)

As a grammar nut, I pride myself on extensively reviewing everything I write. I used to read grammar books for fun. Don’t judge me. I obsess over each email I send to clients, making sure everything is written exactly the way I want before pressing “send”.

That is, except for the one day when I was in a hurry to go out and run errands.

As I was putting my shoes on, I decided to check my email at the last minute. I received an email from a potential client who wanted to confirm my rates before hiring me. I could have waited until I returned a few hours later. Instead, I quickly typed my response, pressed “send”, and went on my merry way.

When I arrived home and checked my email, a reply was waiting for me. It wasn’t nice. It contained everything from foul language to incredulity, asking how I could dare charge the rates I do, stating I would never again be successful in business.

After recovering from the initial hurt feelings, I scrolled back to see what could have caused this response and discovered the error. I missed a zero. Instead of quoting a price per 1000 words, I quoted an amount per 100 words. No wonder they gawked at my rates! I would have freaked out, too.

Lesson learned? Definitely. Don’t write important emails in a rush. I also do not recommend writing typos to purposely test a future client – in case you were thinking about it.

This is a guest post by Autumn Tompkins (see author bio at the end of the post)

Writer’s block is a fearsome condition that inflicts angst upon every writer. The term itself sounds dreadful and feels agonizing. In truth, though, writer’s block is a myth and is simply a lack of creativity.

What’s a writer supposed to do to alleviate this terrible condition?

• Bang their head against a wall, rattling their marbles just enough to shake up some creativity
• Figuratively clear out the mental cobwebs, allowing creativity to crawl in
• Hope creativity will be absorbed into their brain like some delusional form of osmosis

No. The antidote for this is easily digestible in two easy steps:

1. Come to terms with the fact that writer’s block doesn’t exist.
2. Watch this video. It will reveal the one thing a writer needs to do to start writing again.

This is a guest post by Dianna Sandora (see author bio at the end of the post)

At the end of a long day, negative people have a way of making you want to sprint home for the comfort of your bed, diving under the blanket to keep from spiraling into a rage. When dealing with these personalities in a professional setting, it is best to seek alternatives that don’t result in negative consequences for you. You understand that notion, logically, of course, but Dale Carnegie stated a profound truth in his book, How to Win Friends and Influence People:

“When dealing with people, let us remember we are not dealing with creatures of logic. We are dealing with creatures of emotion, creatures bristling with prejudices and motivated by pride and vanity” (p. 29).

As emotional beings, negative people want you down at their level. They want you to let go of your logical responses. Do not allow their negativity to change who you are. Remember the Golden Rule. Before you react, stop and examine whether your behavior mimics the behavior you desire from them; see the situation from their perspective. Learning their motivations shows that you’re taking an interest in them. Find something about them that they have done well or that you appreciate, even if it is just to complement their sense of style. When you decide to control your emotions and not allow others to control you, that determination and focus will allow you to be successful in all areas of your life.

“Where your talents and the needs of the world cross lies your calling.” ~ Aristotle

Questions

Q1. (It’s a surprise!) #GenYChat

Q2. What should a person come in knowing, what’s acceptable to learn on the job?  #GenYChat

Q3. If you don’t get recognized for what you’re good at, how do you know you’re good at it? #GenYChat

Q4.On Undercover Boss the CEO’s are often unskilled at the frontline jobs. Why? #GenYChat

Q5. If learning from failure is so great, why do we only list successes on resumes? #GenYChat

Q6. Is it ever appropriate to negate your strengths to make others feel stronger? #GenYChat

Q7. What strengths are common to every great hire? #GenYChat

Q8. What weaknesses are common to every coachable hire? #GenYChat

Q9. Who challenged you to conquer your weaknesses (be as vague as you’d like)? #GenYChat

Q10. How can you motivate a person who is afraid of anything that doesn’t come easily to them? #GenYChat

How to Participate in #GenYChat on Twitter

If you haven’t participated in the chat before, but have insights to share, please do the following to participate:

If using Twitter.com:

1. Type “#genychat” into the search field
2. Click “All” on the search results page
3. Reply and ReTweet but add “#genychat” onto your tweets in order for everyone participating to see your tweets

If using TweetChat:

1. Sign in through OAuth. (note: Please read this information about using  OAuth to give third party applications access to your account)
2. Type “genychat” into the search field (The “#” is already provided)
3. Click Go
4. Reply and ReTweet. TweetChat puts the hashtag in for you so you don’t have to

If using TweetDeck:

1. Click the + symbol to add a column
2. Type “#genychat” into the search field. A column will appear as the last column in your TweetDeck
3. Using the left arrow button, move it next to your Mentions column to better see and respond to your replies while in the chat
4. Click the Settings button
5. Click on the Twitter tab
6. Click on Auto include hashtags when replying
7. Click Save settings
8. Reply and ReTweet. TweetDeck puts the hashtag in for you so you don’t have to. (Note: You still have to add “#genychat” onto your own tweets in order for everyone participating to see your tweets)

#GenYChat begins at 9pm ET! Get in early for introductions and mingling. See you there!

A word related to your business is trending on Twitter. You have two choices: employ a tactic you’ve already developed for cases such as this, or insert your business, opportunistically, into the Trending Topic. What would a leader do?

 
Your capability as a leader is a measure of your clout, your ability to influence others. If (big if, I know) your Klout score is a measure of your social influence, then a high score should reflect your capability. You have two choices: opportunistically game the system to achieve a high score or allow it to accurately reflect your engagement and influence. What would a leader do?

 
You’re a generational expert; you’re in Human Resources; you’re trying to get a job. A Twitter chat exists that is perfectly suited for your business or personal goals. You have two choices: spam the chat with your pitch or thoughtfully invest time into the chat by building relationships and adding value to the conversation over time. What would a leader do?
 
An article is written suggesting only one generation is qualified for a specific job. You have two choices: be part of the problem or be part of the solution. What would a leader do?

What Do Leaders Do?

Saying things such as, “That’s the way it’s always been done. I hope it changes. I doubt it will” is the equivalent of saying someone else needs to take the responsibility for creating the change I’d like to see. Does that sound asinine to you? Now, don’t run to the comments or stop reading here because you think I’ve called you asinine. I haven’t. That statement is asinine; and, we all say foolish things every once in a while, including me. What do leaders do?

Be a Leader

The best thing about leaders is that they’re not always looking for ways to embed themselves into conversations that propel their business or personal goals in obvious ways. Leaders see the benefits of long-term engagement.

For more than two years #GenYChat has been leading the discussion that seeks to solve the problem of the generation gap every Wednesday at 9pm ET. Do you care enough to be part of the solution even if you aren’t the guest host leading the conversation? Would you rather write a one-off post in response to one person; or, would you rather be part of shaping and adding value to the weekly discussions with many people that seek to better generational ties? It’s true that Millennials can tell when we’re being used to propel business goals. Guess who gave us this insight.

Be a leader.

A8: Leaders should realize that investing in #GenY and turning them into Leaders too will help orgs, people and the world#PoCchat

— Bobby Umar (@raehanbobby) July 23, 2012

Do you have questions or comments on leadership versus opportunism? You can answer in the comments below or start a conversation with me @WriterChanelle on Twitter.

Questions

Q1. What is the greatest challenge for young people entering the workforce? #GenYChat
Q2. If you could give career advice to a college freshman, what would you say? #GenYChat
Q3. Name one or more person(s) on Twitter who work to inspire young careerists. #GenYChat
Q4. Is it naive to think that entrepreneurship is a solution to traditional employment options? Why or why not? #GenYChat
Q5. Programs that aid startups exist. What are reasons for not starting your own? What are excuses? #GenYChat
Q6. What can entrepreneurship classes do to solve the problem of youth unemployment? #GenYChat
Q7. What do you know now about career development that you wish higher ed classes taught? #GenYChat
Q8. What do established workers feel young people don’t understand about the workplace? #GenYChat
Q9. What problems do young people entering the workforce face that older generations don’t understand? #GenYChat
Q10. What can the government do to aid young professionals entering the workforce? #GenYChat

Guest Host

Jennifer Edwards, Community Manager for theYEC, will serve as guest host on a special #GenYChat dedicated to the cause of finding solutions to Youth Unemployment. The YEC has begun a campaign to #FixYoungAmerica.

• The only way to 100% job security is to create your own job
• Student loan forgiveness for entrepreneurs
• Multiple entrepreneurship hubs around the US
• Students need to graduate with skills
• Crowd-funding bill
• Offer entrepreneurship training to all (including at-risk youth)

How to Participate in #GenYChat on Twitter

If you haven’t participated in the chat before, but have insights to share, please do the following to participate:

If using Twitter.com:

1. Type “#genychat” into the search field
2. Click “All” on the search results page
3. Reply and ReTweet but add “#genychat” onto your tweets in order for everyone participating to see your tweets

If using TweetChat:

1. Sign in through OAuth. (note: Please read this information about using  OAuth to give third party applications access to your account)
2. Type “genychat” into the search field (The “#” is already provided)
3. Click Go
4. Reply and ReTweet. TweetChat puts the hashtag in for you so you don’t have to

If using TweetDeck:

1. Click the + symbol to add a column
2. Type “#genychat” into the search field. A column will appear as the last column in your TweetDeck
3. Using the left arrow button, move it next to your Mentions column to better see and respond to your replies while in the chat
4. Click the Settings button
5. Click on the Twitter tab
6. Click on Auto include hashtags when replying
7. Click Save settings
8. Reply and ReTweet. TweetDeck puts the hashtag in for you so you don’t have to. (Note: You still have to add “#genychat” onto your own tweets in order for everyone participating to see your tweets)

#GenYChat begins at 9pm ET! Get in early for introductions and mingling. See you there!

The Path to Sustainable Business Growth

 Questions

Q1. Is passion enough to create a sustainable business model? What other pieces need to be in place?

Q2. What are the key components of a unique selling proposition?

Q3. What advice has helped you keep a (or your client’s) “pipeline” full of customers?

Q4. How can we balance benefiting society while maintaining/driving profit?

Q5. How do you identify revenue bearing business opportunities?

Q6.  You’re asked to identify a strategy to drive new leads while maintaining existing quality of work. What do you include?

Q7. In this economy, virtual teams of solopreneurs is becoming a viable biz model. How do you find team members?

Q8. How do you build relationships with trusted advisors who redflag business issues/encourage growth in different areas?

Q9. You notice that one strategy works well for your competition. Do you follow their model or remain aligned to current strategy?

Q10. How can social media enhance your ability to “show” rather than “tell” what your business is about?

Guest Host

Cathy Larkin is the founder of Web Savvy PR, and adds social media tools to the traditional Public Relations (PR) toolkit to help small businesses and entrepreneurs; non-profits; and speakers, bloggers, and authors build their businesses, and expand the reach of their brand.

I started my boutique PR firm in 2005, and in 2007 I attended several conferences and let my inner “Geek Girl” out of the closet and have not looked back. I’ve  steeped myself in social networking, social media, web 2.0, organic search optimization (SEO), blog design, social bookmarking, and I am always learning new things. With 20 plus years of Public Relations (PR) experience behind me, an avid curiosity about technology, and love of connecting people to cool things, I’m having a blast as a social media guide, consultant and speaker. – Cathy Larkin 

How to Participate in #GenYChat on Twitter

If you haven’t participated in the chat before, but have insights to share, please do the following to participate:

If using Twitter.com:

1. Type “#genychat” into the search field
2. Reply and ReTweet but add “#genychat” onto your tweets in order for everyone participating to see your tweets

If using TweetChat:

1. Sign in through OAuth. (note: Please read this information about using  OAuth to give third party applications access to your account)
2. Type “genychat” into the search field (The “#” is already provided)
3. Click Go
4. Reply and ReTweet. TweetChat puts the hashtag in for you so you don’t have to

If using TweetDeck:

1. Click the + symbol to add a column
2. Type “#genychat” into the search field. A column will appear as the last column in your TweetDeck
3. Using the left arrow button, move it next to your Mentions column to better see and respond to your replies while in the chat
4. Click the Settings button
5. Click on the Twitter tab
6. Click on Auto include hashtags when replying
7. Click Save settings
8. Reply and ReTweet. TweetDeck puts the hashtag in for you so you don’t have to. (Note: You still have to add “#genychat” onto your own tweets in order for everyone participating to see your tweets)

#GenYChat begins at 9pm ET! Get in early for introductions and mingling. See you there!

Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Four years ago Tanisha Christie and Ellie Walton started on the path to creating a documentary fraught with inspiring tales of thoughtful, committed citizens who believed in their power to create change.

On Thursday, February 2, 2012 the completed project, “Walk With Me”, will have its first screening at the Arena Stage in Washington, DC at 8pm.

Against the backdrop of historical moments of social change, “Walk With Me” is an expressionistic documentary that follows three women who use theater to inspire, stir and animate our democracy. Journeying with them while they work in prisons, community centers and schools, we see how theater can ask and answer critical questions: How do we fight injustice? How do we reclaim our personal and collective history? And, how do we inspire positive change in each other? “Walk With Me” shares that the personal creative act is a political one revealing that one person – one artist – can make a difference.

This may be the first screening of this film, but these two ladies are not newcomers to this world. Ellie Walton recently received the Mayor’s Arts Award for Outstanding Achievement in Arts within the Washington, DC community. Tanisha Christie spent many years in the Washington, DC community as an actor-educator-director. She was formerly the Assistant Director at DC’s Living Stage Theater Company/Arena Stage.  She now lives in New York. Both were inspired to make this film by their mentor, the late Rebecca Rice who is featured in the film.

Check out the “Walk With Me” trailer

Walk With Me Teaser from Ellie Walton on Vimeo.

Suggested ticket price is $20 but no one will be turned away. Please pay what you can.
Seats are limited, so please RSVP here to reserve a seat: ayaartsandmedia@gmail.com

Q & A will follow the screening.

The Mead Center for American Theater (Arena Stage) is located at 1101 6th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024 or the Waterfront-SEU Station on the Green Line.