Thank you for your continued support!

Those elephants mean a lot to me because they remind me of my trip to Kenya last summer and my desire to return. I learned many lessons in my short time in Kenya related to community. I often say it’s the trip that keeps on giving.

What you are about to watch is video I was able to capture as we were stopped for lunch. You see, we are stopped by the side of the road taking a break, on the road from Amboseli National Park to Nairobi and its treacherous road. While stopped for lunch, up over the hill coming towards us are some Masaii shepherds  moving their cattle.  The Maasai live a very primitive life and it centers around their cattle. Cattle are a primary source of food and a symbol of wealth for them.

The video doesn’t do this moment justice. So what’s my point? For a very brief moment we took our eye off the shepherd, and missed that he needed assistance. We took for granted that he knew that a bottle of water has a plastic wrap and it has to be removed before he could open it. We were caught up in the moment not noticing that someone in arms length needed just a little assistance. The good news is that we looked back, and saw he needed assistance and were able to help.

So my question to you today is have you taken your eye off your community? Is there someone in arms length that you could help?

I’m interrupting my regularly scheduled topic to share an experience I think you’ll enjoy. So without any further ado…

Saturday, I had the privilege of attending the Pam Slim Workshop and it was incredible.  For me, just  getting there was quite a challenge as I had to fight unbelievable traffic and road construction, making my commute well over an hour! (and that was well before 9am)  By the time I arrived, I was a little cranky, but after checking in and running into some friendly faces, I found myself ready to see how the day would unfold.

From the minute I entered the auditorium, I found Pam to be warm, energetic and engaging. Her transparent, I’m here to help you style was refreshing and energizing.  She took the time to get to know each one of us in the room and what we were working on and to provide constructive feedback.  The day was packed full of conversations, real-life examples of success, and interactive sessions where the attendees would come forward and discuss challenges – then, we’d work together through suggestions/solutions.

However, as I think back on the day, there were a couple of things that really stood out for me in relation to some of the conversations we’ve been having here:

- Learn to authentically communicate – this is the touchstone to the success of all your online activities,whether you are posting in a forum, blogging, updating your Facebook or representing your brand. People want to know the real you and that’s what makes them want to connect.  One thing Pam said that I just loved was “your personal brand should amplify who you really are.”

Pam is a great example of this, as she’s just who you would expect her to be in person.  She’s sincere, genuine and most importantly real – the kind of person I would want to just hang out with anytime.

- Find your people – while she was referring to this in the context of your support network, it’s still great advice, even as you are trying to determine what social networks to join.  She said it best: “When you find your people, you can relax and enjoy yourself.”  Can I get an amen?

Believe me, I could go on and on about my day but I will spare you…for now.  However, if any of this resonates with you, or you find yourself feeling like a “corporate prisoner” –  or you are just thinking about what the next step in your career should be – pick up a copy of Escape from Cubicle Nation or subscribe to Pam’s blog or follow her Twitter.  I can assure you, you will be glad you did!

Campbell

Another high point of my week was the Atlanta Chicks Tweet Up or as we refer to it on Twitter #AtlChix. This was the inaugural tweet up of this group held at the St Regis in Buckhead and quite an evening. It was really nice to meet so many of the great women I follow on twitter in person. From the minute I arrived to the minute I departed, I felt welcomed and engaged. Although many of us had never met, there was a tie that binds that is critical to building and maintaining community.  And while Twitter is what brings us together, it is authenticity and a real motivation to connect deeper that holds things together.  I enjoyed every minute of it – as a matter of fact I cannot wait for the next one.  So for all of my non Twitter friends reason # …hmm oh wait I have lost count now – let’s just say yet another good reason to be on Twitter.

Now that brings me to my final point. I am asked constantly about why I tweet, what is the value, do you really care that someone you know is about to get a pizza? Over the last weeks and months I have responded in various ways:

1. You can’t deny the power of Twitter – the US government intervened and asked them to hold off on maintenance during the Iran elections.
2. China, acknowledging the power of such a vehicle, shut down Twitter as the anniversary of Tiananmen approached.
3. More often than not, the community on Twitter scoops the media with breaking news.

These are just a few tangible examples not only of the power of such a vehicle, but the power of community as well. You see without a tie that binds, engagement dissipates as well as the power.  Twitter is a communication vehicle that many choose to deploy in a variety of ways – just like the telephone or email. At the end of the day, it’s all pretty straightforward – Twitter is what you make it. Now that may sound cliché, but that’s the simple truth. It’s only a vehicle; the people, message, engagement and authenticity make the community. So next time your inclination it to question or knock it, take a minute and engage – you might be pleasantly surprised.

I am amazed and excited about the community of support building globally. As a social media evangelist (my friends say twitter addict) daily I come into contact with someone who has nothing but negative things to say about Twitter, Facebook or the social web. Many times these are people who are not engaged in the social community at all and they have gathered their information from some naysayer.

The facts are that the US government recognizes the power of the social web -they reached out and asked twitter to hold off on maintenance. And I was thrilled to see Twitter agree to wait on their maintenance. The Iranian Regime sees the power of the social web or they wouldn’t have fought so hard to suppress and censor it.

But at the end of the day it’s not Twitter, or Facebook, or even MySpace that’s so powerful. It’s really community! It’s the masses that are willing to stand in support and willing to put the word out. It’s the message and there’s a large audience that not only hears and identifies with the message but is also willing to act. All in all, I think it’s the 1,2,3 punch that makes the social web so powerful: 1)community, 2)the message, and 3)the medium. In just a matter of seconds, you can mobilize a community or a country for support.

Can you imagine how much swifter things might have moved if our forefathers had such a powerful communication tool? They had the community, the message, and the medium. However, it took years to get the message out and rally the support.

It dawned on me yesterday that Keely and Rainier are a great example of how so many companies are marketing their products and services today. They don’t have any idea of the best way to reach their “bunnies” and so they do the best they can every day. Their message is consistent but it doesn’t resonate with their target audience.

I know in times like this that budgets are tight but knowing your audience is priceless.  Additionally social media outlets help brands move from broadcast to 1:1. But Social Media is more than a messaging tool – it’s also a powerful listening tool. So as you think about creative ways to reach your target audience these days have you considered listening? If not give it a try, you might be surprised at the results.