This post will not help you define your social media strategy.
This post is hard to write, and it may be hard to read. Sorry in advance.
Here goes.
I’m scared.
I’m scared that because I’m a smart guy and my particular combination of skills and interests tend to put me about a year and a half in front of the general population’s thinking on some things. I’m scared that this means that I’m always going to be “out of phase”. This is not ego. I’m not happy about it, I’m not bragging, this isn’t a ploy or a personal branding exercise.
I’m scared that I’m always going to have to go into a room full of skeptics, at a disadvantage, and have to prove myself and why what I’m talking about is important. Some people geek out on this. I don’t. At all.
I’m scared that I’m never going to have an experience where I say something and a person who can make it happen says “Of course. Obviously. I’m right there with you. Let’s go do something great.” I want that so much it hurts. I am capable of great things. I’ve already done some. I want to do more.
I’m scared that this is going to continually be an isolating force in my life, that its always going to separate me from other people, that I will look back on my life and wonder where the opportunities went for me to be creative in a way that fulfills me, with a group of people who are similarly fulfilled.
I’m scared of where this came from, and I’m scared of what it means about me and what my life is, and I’m scared I’m the only one around like this.
So here I am, shouting into the void, hoping it’s not just me.
It’s not just me
Is it?
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- There’s nothing inherently useful about being an early adopter. (jeremymeyers.com)
- Image credit: Alone by Josh
Updated: Apparently it’s not just me.
Hi Jeremy!
Found you through an insightful comment you wrote on Julien Smith’s blog and then stumbled upon this post.
It seems all of your fears are based on a core fear of being alone in your ideas, of not having support for them, of not having someone patting you on the back saying, ‘that’s a great idea!’
The thing is, a lot of people feel this way.
My group of friends has a diverse array of interests and talents. They know me more than anyone and are a great support system to tell me when I am full of crap, but they may not always be the best people to understand ideas I want to execute around the internet, social media etc.
So, I started attending events and meetups, searching for people who think the way I do, or are interested in what I am interested in. And I found a lot of them. I got on Twitter and started following people whose work I responded to. I started to find a little community of people I felt I could say an idea to, and they would be totally down with it. I found people who were doing what I’m doing, and believe me, there is always someone doing what you are doing.
Regarding going to a room of skeptics – um, yes. I can pretty much guarantee that there will be many times you will go into a room and have to prove to people that your idea will work. Not everyone is going to be behind you and on your side. But if you are confident and passionate about whatever it is you are presenting, people will listen, people will start to get behind you.
Don’t let this fear prevent you from doing what is inside you. It seems like sometimes people need someone behind them telling them, good job, you are on the right path. But once you are confident in your ‘self’ and the power of your ideas, this fear will disappear.
Lauren
Jeremy,
You are hardly out of phase, but I understand where you are coming from. The first step, often the hardest, of course, is not to be afraid.
If you enjoy what you are doing, then the journey is the destination. There are no other opportunities that could do anything but distract you. Personally, you strike me as wildly successful.
Of course, most of us have to balance between what we see one and half years out and what people can relate to now. So, we work to reach people somewhere half way. (Sometimes, of course, we don’t.)
The trick is, if I can call it a trick, is to be less afraid of it and more amused by it. And in the meantime, keep doing great things.
Best,
Rich
.-= Rich Becker´s last blog ..Finding Purpose: The Trouble With Labels =-.
I don’t feel out of phase, but I do feel out of… hmm… peer group? Because I specialize in areas that make most people’s eyes glaze over, I have learned all about integrating social with client needs… but can’t talk very well about how I’m using social without, well, making people’s eyes glaze over. So I totally get the isolation, even if it’s for different reasons.
As for convincing skeptics… you read Liz Strauss’ blog, right? Her perspective on approaching people from the same side of the table, showing how their jobs/lives will be made better, is something I am still trying to achieve… because I am inherently impatient. ;)
Very much luck to you. I miss talking to you on #pr20chat!
.-= Christa M. Miller´s last blog ..Reputation management is not about dishonesty =-.
Nice post Jeremy – and it’s not just you. I’ve felt out of phase for close to my whole life. I’m not sure there’s any way around it. However, it’s easier now to find and connect with people that have similar thoughts & ideas – for me that’s by far the best thing to come from the internet.
One thing I’ve learned is that there’s not much point in wanting to have someone instantly accept ideas. That hardly ever happens. We’ve got to fight for them all the time. But that’s part of what makes it worthwhile when you actually do great things.
Thanks for the thought-provoking post, and good luck!
.-= Tim Kastelle´s last blog ..Five Forms of Filtering =-.
Great post @jeremymeyers, i relate, imagine most of your readers and tweeps relate. For me the lesson that eases the pain is…one day at a time approach. Trying to integrate and help shift thinking is like laying out breadcrumbs. Spill the whole bag and they seem to run away scared.
Moving mountains and “dinosaurs” seems to take more time than my typical patience allows. It’s not just you.
Best Wishes you futurist, thought leader, earth mover :)
@shea_park
Hi Jeremy!
Found you through an insightful comment you wrote on Julien Smith’s blog and then stumbled upon this post.
It seems all of your fears are based on a core fear of being alone in your ideas, of not having support for them, of not having someone patting you on the back saying, ‘that’s a great idea!’
The thing is, a lot of people feel this way.
My group of friends has a diverse array of interests and talents. They know me more than anyone and are a great support system to tell me when I am full of crap, but they may not always be the best people to understand ideas I want to execute around the internet, social media etc.
So, I started attending events and meetups, searching for people who think the way I do, or are interested in what I am interested in. And I found a lot of them. I got on Twitter and started following people whose work I responded to. I started to find a little community of people I felt I could say an idea to, and they would be totally down with it. I found people who were doing what I’m doing, and believe me, there is always someone doing what you are doing.
Regarding going to a room of skeptics – um, yes. I can pretty much guarantee that there will be many times you will go into a room and have to prove to people that your idea will work. Not everyone is going to be behind you and on your side. But if you are confident and passionate about whatever it is you are presenting, people will listen, people will start to get behind you.
Don’t let this fear prevent you from doing what is inside you. It seems like sometimes people need someone behind them telling them, good job, you are on the right path. But once you are confident in your ‘self’ and the power of your ideas, this fear will disappear.
Lauren
Jeremy,
You are hardly out of phase, but I understand where you are coming from. The first step, often the hardest, of course, is not to be afraid.
If you enjoy what you are doing, then the journey is the destination. There are no other opportunities that could do anything but distract you. Personally, you strike me as wildly successful.
Of course, most of us have to balance between what we see one and half years out and what people can relate to now. So, we work to reach people somewhere half way. (Sometimes, of course, we don’t.)
The trick is, if I can call it a trick, is to be less afraid of it and more amused by it. And in the meantime, keep doing great things.
Best,
Rich
.-= Rich Becker´s last blog ..Finding Purpose: The Trouble With Labels =-.
I don’t feel out of phase, but I do feel out of… hmm… peer group? Because I specialize in areas that make most people’s eyes glaze over, I have learned all about integrating social with client needs… but can’t talk very well about how I’m using social without, well, making people’s eyes glaze over. So I totally get the isolation, even if it’s for different reasons.
As for convincing skeptics… you read Liz Strauss’ blog, right? Her perspective on approaching people from the same side of the table, showing how their jobs/lives will be made better, is something I am still trying to achieve… because I am inherently impatient. ;)
Very much luck to you. I miss talking to you on #pr20chat!
.-= Christa M. Miller´s last blog ..Reputation management is not about dishonesty =-.
Nice post Jeremy – and it’s not just you. I’ve felt out of phase for close to my whole life. I’m not sure there’s any way around it. However, it’s easier now to find and connect with people that have similar thoughts & ideas – for me that’s by far the best thing to come from the internet.
One thing I’ve learned is that there’s not much point in wanting to have someone instantly accept ideas. That hardly ever happens. We’ve got to fight for them all the time. But that’s part of what makes it worthwhile when you actually do great things.
Thanks for the thought-provoking post, and good luck!
.-= Tim Kastelle´s last blog ..Five Forms of Filtering =-.
Great post @jeremymeyers, i relate, imagine most of your readers and tweeps relate. For me the lesson that eases the pain is…one day at a time approach. Trying to integrate and help shift thinking is like laying out breadcrumbs. Spill the whole bag and they seem to run away scared.
Moving mountains and “dinosaurs” seems to take more time than my typical patience allows. It’s not just you.
Best Wishes you futurist, thought leader, earth mover :)
@shea_park