RE-TWEET IT!
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Two young men joined the same online social network. They were very much alike, these two young men. Both had been average students, both were pleasant personalities, and both – as excited early adopters of technology are – were filled with dreams for the future.
Recently, these men reviewed their last 25 months on Twitter.
They were still very much alike. Both had engaging audiences of followers. Both had settled in to a comfortable pattern of tweeting. And both, it turned out, had posted their 10,000th tweet that week.
But there was a difference. One of the men had a tiny following of 500. The other had 5 MILLION.
What Made The Difference?
Easy.
Only one was remarkable. The other was – well – ordinary.
We all get carried away by technology giving us a platform and a megaphone. We are delirious about the world being at our fingertips, thanks to the global reach of the Internet. We have rosy dreams about holding sway over the minds of masses.
But it ultimately boils down to who you are, why you are different, and what makes you so.
Ordinary, dull and uninteresting people have always dreamed of being popular jocks and attractive studs. Not just now, but over centuries, the desire to be recognized, have acclaim and fame, be idolized and raved about, lies at the core of the ego-driven person you call “Me”.
The mistake is in assuming that having the tools will automatically guarantee the outcome!
Cranks, weirdos and mavericks always had their fringe audience of worshippers and evangelists… except today, they are mainstream.
It’s why a rash statement by Pat Robertson can become the #1 trending topic on Twitter on a sad day for Haiti, instead of being a quote that all but a few die-hard fans of his would have ever heard – or if they did, dismissed instantly as irrelevant at a such a painful time.
And yet that vast reach is perceived by the “ordinary” many as being the REASON to eagerly embrace Twitter or other social networks – and begin influencing masses.
Yet, what is influence?
The ability to impact a world-view, a mindset, a perspective, a reference frame, a considered opinion. To do it positively (desired), or negatively. And that happens only when the people who are listening really care about WHAT you say.
And in turn, this depends upon WHO YOU ARE!
Are you passionate? Serious? Consistent? Invested? Excited about what you say?
When you are, you are remarkable. Worth talking about.
If you are remarkable, then the new tools can help you reach across the world to a vast audience – and influence at least some of them. More, definitely, than you may have reached before.
But if you are NOT remarkable, the tools don’t matter. You won’t make a big enough splash in anyone’s life – until you start being remarkable… and then you can’t help doing it!
Come to think about it, you don’t even need the new tools when you are remarkable. Folks who matter will hear about you anyway.
And many who do hear about you through the “new tools” won’t care at all – no matter how remarkable you are… because they don’t care much about the same things that you do!
That distinction is what lies at the heart of “your tribe”.
About those two young men I mention at the beginning of this post. What would have made their social media success different?
Knowledge. Useful knowledge. And its application.
An Investment In Being Remarkable
I cannot promise you that you will learn how to be remarkable if you start reading this blog regularly. But I can guarantee that you will find Money.Power.Wisdom always interesting, always informative, and always useful.
P.S. – This was a spin on the famous “Billion Dollar” letter here.
{ 1 comment }
Absolutely right on, Dr Mani. Being remarkable is about being yourself fully.
Being remarkable is how you create a successful business.
Too many times we shy away from being who we really are when in fact, we have so much to offer the world and there is a marketplace just waiting for us.
Coach Iyabo
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