Social tools – and the internet at large – give us unprecedented insight into the world around us in a way we’ve never had before.
They also give us unlimited ability to pay far too much attention to what other people are doing, and formulate opinions, conjecture, assumptions and judgments about it. And waste a crapload of time analyzing others’ shortcomings instead of plowing that energy into doing it different or better for ourselves, our companies, our customers or our clients.
Today, I had an interesting conversation on Twitter about job titles, and abused words like “consultant” (still functional, but overused), “strategist”, “evangelist”, “visionary”, and any number of other catchy words used to try and spice up the mundane. It of course led to the topic of “experts” and “gurus” and how much people loathe those words, most especially when they’re self appointed.
And I guess my final answer is this: who the hell cares?
Let people call themselves whatever they want. Let them abuse Twitter and create fan pages for themselves and market their get rich quick schemes. Unfollow their asses, quit giving them your valuable attention, and go back to work.
The only thing that will ever really highlight the GOOD potential in the social media world is if the people who “get it” spend their time doing solid, progressive work instead of peering over their shoulder at the people “doing it wrong”.
I know it’s frustrating. I know it’s tiresome when someone offends our sense of propriety or appropriateness or even just basic intelligence. And I do believe there is value in constructive analysis if a solid alternative is presented.
But as much as we have to move past the “oh, wow” part of social web stuff and into the “how this applies to real business”, we need to get past the “I hate this, that and the next thing about social media” and instead move toward “I did this, I didn’t do this, here’s why, and here’s how it impacted the world around me.” Think of what you could accomplish, plowing all of that energy into something of substance and sharing your learnings with everyone else.
So, now I’m going to take my own advice (yes, I understand the slight hipocrisy in this very post), stop writing about what I don’t like, and get the hell back to work building stuff – tangible stuff – to share with you.
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Amber,
Far too often we worry about the competition or those around us when as you state, just need to get to work. The reason is quite simple though, much easier to shoot daggers than put the nose to the grindstone.
I’m as guilty as the next guy but try to keep your message in the back of my head. There is no way we can accomplish the lofty goals that many of us set unless we are 100% dedicated to our own business.
Thanks for sharing!
Amber,
Far too often we worry about the competition or those around us when as you state, just need to get to work. The reason is quite simple though, much easier to shoot daggers than put the nose to the grindstone.
I’m as guilty as the next guy but try to keep your message in the back of my head. There is no way we can accomplish the lofty goals that many of us set unless we are 100% dedicated to our own business.
Thanks for sharing!
I have a new term: Social Media Sheriff.
That is all. ;D
Did nobody tell you, Olivier, that the sheriff is always outlived by the deputy? Be the deputy.
Cue Eric Clapton’s “I Shot the Sherriff (But I Did Not Shoot the Deputy). Now I’ll have that running through my mind all day…
I have a new term: Social Media Sheriff.
That is all. ;D
I have a new term: Social Media Sheriff.
That is all. ;D
For whom? Me? Do I get a badge? I need a stinkin’ badge.
Yes but do you need a badger?
Did nobody tell you, Olivier, that the sheriff is always outlived by the deputy? Be the deputy.
Cue Eric Clapton’s “I Shot the Sherriff (But I Did Not Shoot the Deputy). Now I’ll have that running through my mind all day…
I agree conceptually with what you’re saying, but in business there’s a very real need for companies to have “a name” for a person who provides a particular service.
The very real affect of what all the talk of “social media strategist” and “digital content advisor” etc is that it very much contributes to the confusion many more conservative companies have about “who should we trust to tell us what we should be doing in this space, if we should be doing anything” and leads to adding even more resistance to a decision already fraught with emotion and defensiveness.
That said, we’re very very early days with this toolset (even though you know and I know that calling Social Media new is a joke) and I trust that as awareness and education increases, the definition words will come into better focus.
My issue with “guru” and “expert” is that they contribute to the divide that people on the other side of the digital proficiency spectrum feel, and there’s a tendency to default to “well, i dont know what theyre doing, but they call themselves a guru so i guess they know what’s going on”, and that is a toxic relationship both in terms of professional interaction and the ability to affect any real change and get people on board with changing how their company communicates, which is the real goal of all this, shiny object syndrome aside.
I agree conceptually with what you’re saying, but in business there’s a very real need for companies to have “a name” for a person who provides a particular service.
The very real affect of what all the talk of “social media strategist” and “digital content advisor” etc is that it very much contributes to the confusion many more conservative companies have about “who should we trust to tell us what we should be doing in this space, if we should be doing anything” and leads to adding even more resistance to a decision already fraught with emotion and defensiveness.
That said, we’re very very early days with this toolset (even though you know and I know that calling Social Media new is a joke) and I trust that as awareness and education increases, the definition words will come into better focus.
My issue with “guru” and “expert” is that they contribute to the divide that people on the other side of the digital proficiency spectrum feel, and there’s a tendency to default to “well, i dont know what theyre doing, but they call themselves a guru so i guess they know what’s going on”, and that is a toxic relationship both in terms of professional interaction and the ability to affect any real change and get people on board with changing how their company communicates, which is the real goal of all this, shiny object syndrome aside.
I agree with the need for functional role titles, and said as much today in our discussion on Twitter. Because the title is as much for OTHER people to understand what you do as anyone. I get that.
I’m just saying that for the dingbats that are going to call *themselves* gurus and experts: we aren’t going to change their minds by ranting at them. And if someone has poor enough judgment that they go ahead and just accept someone’s self appointed “guru” title, the fault is as much theirs for not doing due diligence.
We cannot save them all, Jeremy. Idealism is great but it’s not realistic, and some companies and people will indeed make mistakes, and fail. My point is that there is *plenty* of great information out there now to help people make sound decisions. Research, education, and accountability are not optional.
So rather than keep pointing out what’s broken and stopping there, I say use the opportunity (and the effort) to instead demonstrate sound practices and lead by example. Be the case studies for what works and doesn’t, or find them and share them, broadly. Show, don’t just tell. Then and *only* then can criticism be backed with constructive, tangible alternatives to the missteps, which is what businesses who are still learning REALLY need.
I agree, you know i do. And I’m not idealistic enough to think that we can ‘save’ every company, or even that every company needs to be ‘saved’ or deserves not to fail, or even that social media tools are the right solution for every company’s problems.
However, not all of us have the luxury of walking away from a company that isn’t listening to us or the evidence. Many people work for organizations that need the business, or for which the digital section is one part of a larger program, so it’s not really feasible to say “ok well we tried…”
This is really two different discussions. I agree that the #fail crowd is not helping, but neither would ignoring the challenges that we create for ourselves. There are always those two camps, be it online, in business, in politics (see Obama’s unwillingness to hold the Bush administration accountable), and each has its weak points.
OK, I’m not even really sure what i’m replying to anymore.
A-Men. I’ve had this thought before when reading tweets and numerous blog posts complaining about the same minuscule issues, over and over. I never see the point.
Swift reminder that many of us needed, Amber.
A-Men. I’ve had this thought before when reading tweets and numerous blog posts complaining about the same minuscule issues, over and over. I never see the point.
Swift reminder that many of us needed, Amber.
A-Men. I’ve had this thought before when reading tweets and numerous blog posts complaining about the same minuscule issues, over and over. I never see the point.
Swift reminder that many of us needed, Amber.
Amber– I knew I liked you for a reason. You provide the insight needed to cut to the chase on social media. Social media is not the next big thing. Instead, it’s simply an extension of what we’ve always been doing on the offline space, except now it’s amplified for all to see.
Amber– I knew I liked you for a reason. You provide the insight needed to cut to the chase on social media. Social media is not the next big thing. Instead, it’s simply an extension of what we’ve always been doing on the offline space, except now it’s amplified for all to see.
Amber– I knew I liked you for a reason. You provide the insight needed to cut to the chase on social media. Social media is not the next big thing. Instead, it’s simply an extension of what we’ve always been doing on the offline space, except now it’s amplified for all to see.
Amber, I agree with your view about too many titles, too many self-appointed gurus. Like you, I couldn’t give a rats ass what someone’s title is and how they got it. It’s what they say and do that matters. The cool thing about social media is that you can see that in plain 140 character English (more or less) and there’s nowhere to hide. But I think this will all work itself out in the wash. Anyone who makes the mistake of trusting a charlatan will run away crying and the rest of us will be left standing as Chris Brogan’s trust agents.
Amber, I agree with your view about too many titles, too many self-appointed gurus. Like you, I couldn’t give a rats ass what someone’s title is and how they got it. It’s what they say and do that matters. The cool thing about social media is that you can see that in plain 140 character English (more or less) and there’s nowhere to hide. But I think this will all work itself out in the wash. Anyone who makes the mistake of trusting a charlatan will run away crying and the rest of us will be left standing as Chris Brogan’s trust agents.
I agree, you know i do. And I’m not idealistic enough to think that we can ‘save’ every company, or even that every company needs to be ‘saved’ or deserves not to fail, or even that social media tools are the right solution for every company’s problems.
However, not all of us have the luxury of walking away from a company that isn’t listening to us or the evidence. Many people work for organizations that need the business, or for which the digital section is one part of a larger program, so it’s not really feasible to say “ok well we tried…”
This is really two different discussions. I agree that the #fail crowd is not helping, but neither would ignoring the challenges that we create for ourselves. There are always those two camps, be it online, in business, in politics (see Obama’s unwillingness to hold the Bush administration accountable), and each has its weak points.
OK, I’m not even really sure what i’m replying to anymore.
I agree, you know i do. And I’m not idealistic enough to think that we can ‘save’ every company, or even that every company needs to be ‘saved’ or deserves not to fail, or even that social media tools are the right solution for every company’s problems.
However, not all of us have the luxury of walking away from a company that isn’t listening to us or the evidence. Many people work for organizations that need the business, or for which the digital section is one part of a larger program, so it’s not really feasible to say “ok well we tried…”
This is really two different discussions. I agree that the #fail crowd is not helping, but neither would ignoring the challenges that we create for ourselves. There are always those two camps, be it online, in business, in politics (see Obama’s unwillingness to hold the Bush administration accountable), and each has its weak points.
OK, I’m not even really sure what i’m replying to anymore.
Yes but do you need a badger?
Yes but do you need a badger?
A quick test on this I use: who assigned the title?
Expertise is never something one can determine for oneself–it’s not subjective. A self-declared expert (to paraphrase Robert Heinlein, poorly), likely has other nasty habits.
T-
At my last gig, and in my personal life, I’ve frequently been called an “internet guru”. I am not happy about this, I don’t think it fits, but I didn’t choose it either.
Just because you’re not the one calling yourself an expert doesn’t mean you’re happy with the word.
By why the discomfort with a sobriquet applied by others? It’s a mark of respect. You didn’t seek it out, though the discomfort speaks volumes about your humility.
I long ago learned that the only expectations I can live up to are my own, so I set aside what I think others’ might be. People can think what they want (good or bad); this is one of the few instances where our own opinions and expectations are the only ones that matter.
It’s not so much humility as calling me an expert is a distancing phrase that sets me apart from them, and I really don’t like my passion being used against me in that way.
A quick test on this I use: who assigned the title?
Expertise is never something one can determine for oneself–it’s not subjective. A self-declared expert (to paraphrase Robert Heinlein, poorly), likely has other nasty habits.
T-
At my last gig, and in my personal life, I’ve frequently been called an “internet guru”. I am not happy about this, I don’t think it fits, but I didn’t choose it either.
Just because you’re not the one calling yourself an expert doesn’t mean you’re happy with the word.
By why the discomfort with a sobriquet applied by others? It’s a mark of respect. You didn’t seek it out, though the discomfort speaks volumes about your humility.
I long ago learned that the only expectations I can live up to are my own, so I set aside what I think others’ might be. People can think what they want (good or bad); this is one of the few instances where our own opinions and expectations are the only ones that matter.
It’s not so much humility as calling me an expert is a distancing phrase that sets me apart from them, and I really don’t like my passion being used against me in that way.
My initial reaction was “Amber did it again. Another great post/reminder. However I then reread…& read through the comments. I agree for the most part. However, working on “converting” others is still important. It’s a pain in the ass. It’s frustrating. It’s often a big old FAIL. But sometimes it will pay off. Sometimes you will get that “expert” to think just a bit differently. I think that is worth the effort? You agree?
Not an expert,
dj
My initial reaction was “Amber did it again. Another great post/reminder. However I then reread…& read through the comments. I agree for the most part. However, working on “converting” others is still important. It’s a pain in the ass. It’s frustrating. It’s often a big old FAIL. But sometimes it will pay off. Sometimes you will get that “expert” to think just a bit differently. I think that is worth the effort? You agree?
Not an expert,
dj
My initial reaction was “Amber did it again. Another great post/reminder. However I then reread…& read through the comments. I agree for the most part. However, working on “converting” others is still important. It’s a pain in the ass. It’s frustrating. It’s often a big old FAIL. But sometimes it will pay off. Sometimes you will get that “expert” to think just a bit differently. I think that is worth the effort? You agree?
Not an expert,
dj
YES!! That’s why I said this:
“…move toward “I did this, I didn’t do this, here’s why, and here’s how it impacted the world around me.” Think of what you could accomplish, plowing all of that energy into something of substance and sharing your learnings with everyone else.”
Share. Teach. Learn. Do the good stuff and spread it far and wide. I’m in the BUSINESS of hopefully teaching more and more people and organizations how to do this well. After all, if we can’t ever change people’s minds, it’s going to be a lonely little world we live in.
My point is simply that whining about what’s broken isn’t good enough. We need to know how to ACT and FIX IT. We need alternatives. We need indicators of what TO do, not just what NOT to do. Dig? 🙂
I dig
Hi Amber,
Indeed you highlighted the waste of time about arguing on somebody’s title. If somebody wants to be called a guru or an evangelist, it is fine with me.
Like other people said, title is important though to define who you are (more or less). Hopefully people will then be curious enough to get to know you better and understand what you can offer.
Fiorenza
Hi Amber,
Indeed you highlighted the waste of time about arguing on somebody’s title. If somebody wants to be called a guru or an evangelist, it is fine with me.
Like other people said, title is important though to define who you are (more or less). Hopefully people will then be curious enough to get to know you better and understand what you can offer.
Fiorenza
Hi Amber,
Indeed you highlighted the waste of time about arguing on somebody’s title. If somebody wants to be called a guru or an evangelist, it is fine with me.
Like other people said, title is important though to define who you are (more or less). Hopefully people will then be curious enough to get to know you better and understand what you can offer.
Fiorenza
In a somewhat related post, Mitch Joel reminds us all that an expert really is someone who has done it – whatever “it” happens to be. You might enjoy it.. here’s the link. http://bit.ly/RP7Gs
In a somewhat related post, Mitch Joel reminds us all that an expert really is someone who has done it – whatever “it” happens to be. You might enjoy it.. here’s the link. http://bit.ly/RP7Gs
Amber,
Great post! I just started subscribing to your blog. I completely agree that by focusing on what is beneficial, one can really create a positive impact versus pointing out flaws in others approach/method (i’m definitely guilty of this). Thanks for the wake up call…
Amber,
Great post! I just started subscribing to your blog. I completely agree that by focusing on what is beneficial, one can really create a positive impact versus pointing out flaws in others approach/method (i’m definitely guilty of this). Thanks for the wake up call…
Amber, appreciate the upbeat view of accountability but I don’t find it so easy to put the blinders on. One of the downsides of social media is the pervasive intrusion of the unwanted. To immerse yourself in social media is to also expose yourself to the persistent swarm of hacks, spammers and agents of porn. It’s just going to get worse as the spam-borg assimilate the best practices and latest technology faster than we can ward them off.
Sorry to be a bummer but my blog got ripped off, I was the target of a Twitter phishing scam and I learned that my competitors are using my slideshare presentation. And that was only today.
Amber, appreciate the upbeat view of accountability but I don’t find it so easy to put the blinders on. One of the downsides of social media is the pervasive intrusion of the unwanted. To immerse yourself in social media is to also expose yourself to the persistent swarm of hacks, spammers and agents of porn. It’s just going to get worse as the spam-borg assimilate the best practices and latest technology faster than we can ward them off.
Sorry to be a bummer but my blog got ripped off, I was the target of a Twitter phishing scam and I learned that my competitors are using my slideshare presentation. And that was only today.
Amber, appreciate the upbeat view of accountability but I don’t find it so easy to put the blinders on. One of the downsides of social media is the pervasive intrusion of the unwanted. To immerse yourself in social media is to also expose yourself to the persistent swarm of hacks, spammers and agents of porn. It’s just going to get worse as the spam-borg assimilate the best practices and latest technology faster than we can ward them off.
Sorry to be a bummer but my blog got ripped off, I was the target of a Twitter phishing scam and I learned that my competitors are using my slideshare presentation. And that was only today.
Okay whoa, let me clarify something.
Ignoring a negative, time sucking asshat is one thing.
Ignoring *real* threats to information and personal security, professional sabotage, and other stuff like that is decidedly another. In no way am I *condoning* those activities, nor am I suggesting we don’t take the serious threats, well, seriously.
And to DJ’s point, we ALWAYS need to keep trying to educate and make a difference. In fact, that’s what I do every day. And part of making that difference is addressing the very real issues you’re raising. Please don’t take my viewpoint flippantly. I’m much more referring to the folks that whine about frivolous things when I’d much rather they were taking ACTION to make them better.
I’m really sorry for your day. Can I buy you a beer?
I went to a seminar the other day where a bloke had “Master Twitterer” as his title …
I went to a seminar the other day where a bloke had “Master Twitterer” as his title …
I went to a seminar the other day where a bloke had “Master Twitterer” as his title …
I’m snickering. Because I’m a grown-up. No, really. “Master” anything … well, nevermind. 😛
I dig
There’s a saying that goes something like, what you talk about you attract. If we want to complain and moan about the people who are doing it “wrong” then guess what is coming our way… I’ll choose the opposite.
There’s a saying that goes something like, what you talk about you attract. If we want to complain and moan about the people who are doing it “wrong” then guess what is coming our way… I’ll choose the opposite.
There’s a saying that goes something like, what you talk about you attract. If we want to complain and moan about the people who are doing it “wrong” then guess what is coming our way… I’ll choose the opposite.
Amber,
A vent is good every now and then. It shows us all that you’re human and have the ‘chutzpah’ to post content like this.
I think ‘guru’ or ‘expert’ is simply the name with which people associate their social media title because people don’t know what to call themselves in order to stay ahead of the competition. The fact is, and you pointed this out, we’re all learning the space together, so no one is an expert.
Furthermore, I think as these platforms become even more noisy than they already are, alliances and collaborative efforts must happen– which I see in some cases already happening. Everyone at some point or another is going to have to work together because overpopulation in the space will force them to, and those social media gurus, well, they’ll either learn or be last one picked for kickball.
Play nice in the sandbox everyone.
Amber,
A vent is good every now and then. It shows us all that you’re human and have the ‘chutzpah’ to post content like this.
I think ‘guru’ or ‘expert’ is simply the name with which people associate their social media title because people don’t know what to call themselves in order to stay ahead of the competition. The fact is, and you pointed this out, we’re all learning the space together, so no one is an expert.
Furthermore, I think as these platforms become even more noisy than they already are, alliances and collaborative efforts must happen– which I see in some cases already happening. Everyone at some point or another is going to have to work together because overpopulation in the space will force them to, and those social media gurus, well, they’ll either learn or be last one picked for kickball.
Play nice in the sandbox everyone.
Amber,
A vent is good every now and then. It shows us all that you’re human and have the ‘chutzpah’ to post content like this.
I think ‘guru’ or ‘expert’ is simply the name with which people associate their social media title because people don’t know what to call themselves in order to stay ahead of the competition. The fact is, and you pointed this out, we’re all learning the space together, so no one is an expert.
Furthermore, I think as these platforms become even more noisy than they already are, alliances and collaborative efforts must happen– which I see in some cases already happening. Everyone at some point or another is going to have to work together because overpopulation in the space will force them to, and those social media gurus, well, they’ll either learn or be last one picked for kickball.
Play nice in the sandbox everyone.
Amber, you have won yourself my vote. I just wrote a comment to that effect (especially regarding the MLM mumbo-jumbo propaganda happening all over Social Media) in a Group discussion thread on LinkedIn. I call it Social Noise, or totally uninteresting Content.
And for the record, I, for one, and I know for sure not to be the only one, would never seek nor trust the advice of anyone self-proclaiming her/himself a Social Media Guru. What a pity???
Amber, you have won yourself my vote. I just wrote a comment to that effect (especially regarding the MLM mumbo-jumbo propaganda happening all over Social Media) in a Group discussion thread on LinkedIn. I call it Social Noise, or totally uninteresting Content.
And for the record, I, for one, and I know for sure not to be the only one, would never seek nor trust the advice of anyone self-proclaiming her/himself a Social Media Guru. What a pity???
Dear Amber,
Having come to this discussion via the LinkedIn group discussion referred to earlier and noticed your comment about ‘badges’ and job titles.
There si an expression in England regarding employment “Givethem money, if you can’t give them money – give them a uniform, fi you can’t give them a title” Looks like ‘deputy’ is it for you!
Regards
Neil
Dear Amber,
Having come to this discussion via the LinkedIn group discussion referred to earlier and noticed your comment about ‘badges’ and job titles.
There si an expression in England regarding employment “Givethem money, if you can’t give them money – give them a uniform, fi you can’t give them a title” Looks like ‘deputy’ is it for you!
Regards
Neil
Dear Amber,
Having come to this discussion via the LinkedIn group discussion referred to earlier and noticed your comment about ‘badges’ and job titles.
There si an expression in England regarding employment “Givethem money, if you can’t give them money – give them a uniform, fi you can’t give them a title” Looks like ‘deputy’ is it for you!
Regards
Neil