Originally posted on 05/05/2009 10:44:37 PM
I am fascinated by the topic of the effective use of social media in business success. I am currently reading The Whuffie Factor by Tara Hunt http://www.thewhuffiefactor.com/
I had generally thought of my two current "information hobbies" - self development and social media use (actually - add a third - business success) - as separate. But over the last few days, I have decided that they really aren't as separate as I thought. Yes, on the face of it - they are very different. But as I read the variety of books that are "in progress" at the moment, I have decided that there are some underlying messages that are the same. For example, The Whuffie Factor (subtitle "Using the Power of Social Networks to Build Your Business") seems to be about something bigger than that - at least to me. I have just been reading the chapter called "Building Whuffie By Listening To and Integrating Feedback". Success (which we'll define at the moment for simplicity as "living the life of your dreams") comes about by deciding what you want and going after it. Going after it is something you do step by step; via goal setting. An essential part of goal setting is the need to listen to and integrate the feedback you get along the way. Continuously - not just once.
Here are a few of the "rules" that Tara posts in The Whuffie Factor for listening to and integrating feedback. "Do not take negative feedback personally; remember that when people give feedback, they are doing so because they care". That's tremendously valuable advice for all of us. It doesn't mean that you have to ACT ON all negative feedback because it isn't always in your best interest to do so. But if someone is giving you genuine feedback - they probably care and there is probably good information in it for you. Remember too that genuine feedback is very different than what "dream stealers" might say to you. That's not genuine; that's designed to derail you from your journey.
Another rule from Tara is a gem that applies to life in general "make small, continuous changes rather than waiting to implement everything at once". To me, that sums up changing your life. If you want to do something - start doing it now. If I want to start a new career, then I can start now by learning things about that career. I don't need to wait until I "have time" or until "the kids are grown". If I want to lose weight, then I can start to make changes in what I do everyday. I don't need to wait until I "have the money to join Jenny Craig" or I "have the time to eat right". There are countless examples of "I could but ...". Don’t wait – simply make small continuous changes and integrate feedback. That’s how change happens.
Wisdom for business and life!
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