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I’m the Smartest Person In the Room!
There is something happening online that really bothers me. People are calling themselves experts, mavens, and gurus. With no real experience or case studies to back up their claims. This is not new – I noticed it was rampant a few years ago when I began participating online. But last night I was reading a list of the top 25 women who both tweet and blog and, in the comments, more than one person said, “Why didn’t you include me?” But, most weren’t that nice.
Imagine walking into a networking event and exclaiming, “I’m the smartest person in the room!” How many people would line up and wait for hours to get to talk with you? Imagine going to a conference and, in front, of all of the attendees, from the back of the room, standing up and asking, “Why wasn’t I included on this panel?” How many times would you be invited to speak?
Isn’t it better for someone else to tell people you’re a guru, an expert, or a maven? Isn’t it better for someone else to say you’re the smartest person in the room? Isn’t it better for someone else to recommend you for a speaking opportunity?
In the case of lists, they’re so subjective and dependent on the relationship you have with the person that wrote it. Sure, you might have been missed, but it’s likely your friends will tell that blogger or journalist you were missed. Why do you have to ask? Instead, comment on the blog, read more posts, comment on those, compliment the blogger or journalist. Develop a, gasp!, relationship. My guess is, without having to say anything, you’ll be included on the next list.
If you’re good as you think you are, they will. If they don’t, perhaps you should examine your engagement, your relationships, your content, and the way you behave, both online and off. As my friend Lisa Gerber says, “No one likes Type OO.” Output Only.
WordsDoneWrite and: http://www.spinsucks.com/social-media/im-the-smartest-person-in-the-room/
Love this! So very, very true.
There's actually someone on Twitter with nearly 100,000 followers who says in his bio that he's knowledgeable about social media. But, get this, he'll never responds to anyone. Just a few tweets with his friends, but otherwise he's what you call OO. Ridiculous.
Thanks for being on the rational side of this discussion. Down with gurus!
Amber
FYI - I was referred here by Julia Zunich
WordsDoneWrite I'm actually astounded at the people who have hundreds of thousands of followers and they NEVER tweet (and aren't real celebrities). I guess they must think we don't know they paid for their followers?
ginidietrich I'm all about honesty and integrity, so people like that who manipulate the system really irk me. But, I'm equally annoyed by the people who are impressed by the self appointed gurus. They're sheep.
If someone has 100,000 followers, say they're a leader in social media, and is actually involved in legimate social media events, and does NOT have the decency to respond to followers on occassion, well shame on the followers as much as the tweeter. It's essentially condoning bad behavior.
If my standards were lower, I'd have a lot more followers. Because I believe in a quality network, I've had to sacrafice quanity. That's ok with me, though. I know there are no rules to any of this, but it goes back to the kind of person you are and the kind of reputation you want to establish.
Glad I found your blog, Gini!
WordsDoneWrite I spoke at an event last year with two really well-known online professionals. One of the questions from the audience was about using Twitter as a communications tool. One of my fellow panelist said that she hated going to events and having people tweet her that it was nice meeting her. She said she unfollows those people if they do it. I was floored. I mean, rendered speechless. So I agree with you - those kind of people are missing the point.
And...I'm glad you found us, too! I LOVE that your bio says you won the 8th grade best English student award. HAHAHAHAHA!! I'm headed over to your blog now.
ginidietrich My mouth just fell open! She unfollowed people who were courteous and also gave her exposure? That takes the cake! Wow.
I actually have my Best English Student plaque by my desk. I've always been a lover of words and ideas and I guess that was pretty clear even when I was 13!
So nice chatting with you!
When I find myself on a list, it usually means someone messed up.
Seriously. I'm not joking.
My site, my musings, my tweets -- no matter how entertaining nor insightful nor clever -- don't fit in an easily-described bucket. If you put me on a "Awesome PR Peeps" list, then you're not reading me. If you put me on a "Mondo Marketers" list, then you've obviously missed that gaping white space on my resume, which is filled with many words that have nothing to do with marketing. If you put me on a "Social Media Rockstars" list, then you don't know Poison from Polka.
The only list I belong on is Top 60 Curmudgeons Under 60.
Now, stop talking about lists, and get off my lawn.
Ike Wouldn't it be Top 40 Curmudgeons Under 40?! I'm going to write that list.
Ike I want to be on that list too, Ike! :)
DannyBrown Ike If we add Danny, we'll have to go back to the original Top 60 Under 60 idea. So I have two for the list. Any other takers?
ginidietrich Alas, I am no longer under 40.
You are once again engaging in exclusionary behavior.
;)
ginidietrich DannyBrown Ike I am must barely under 60...59 & holding...LoL...however, I am not a "Mondo Marketer" or "Awesome PR Peeps" :=)
Ike ginidietrich Y'all are as young as you feel.
Poor Richard
Gini -- Mimi, Jay and I were having this conversation over lunch the other day. And I mentioned it in my PRSA presentation. Guru, expert - not possible yet, certainly not when we're talking social media. I agree with you, descriptors like this just don't work for me. Do what you say you're going to do and do it to the best of your ability. I'd rather people say they can trust me and count me than call me an a guru.
AbbieF Now you're just being mean! "Mimi, Jay, and I" nanny, nanny, boo, boo! Fine. I'll come visit you. Jeez.
Thank you for writing this! I have mentioned the everyone is a guru hype and it bugs me to no end - especially when it comes to social media, where the changes happen on a near daily basis. There are several over-hyped people that I do not follow/read because they seem to take their press section description a little too seriously. i don't like spin. I don't like buzz-words. And I don't like self-professed gurus.
JulesZunich Coming from my Twitter snob friend! :) And you know what else? I don't like spin either!!
JulesZunich I'm with you Jules! (like I wouldn't be!) If you have to self-profess your so-called intelligence...you're likely not that smart in the first place. So there.
"Expert" status isn't a title you can claim for yourself. It has to be bestowed upon you by someone else. You have to earn it, ya know.
Ricardo Bueno AMEN!!
Love the many great points made in your post and the comments. Although 'expert', 'maven', 'guru' are strong words, they also hint at someone who is all-knowing. If you're all-knowing though, chances are you don't see the value of continuing to learn. Failing to be open to learning new things is sad.
marianmangoubi As far as I know, there is only one being who is all-knowing...
ginidietrich lol...true, true....u00efu00bbu00bfprobably should have finished that sentence with 'all-knowing in a particular subject area' ;)
Why are we so fascinated with lists? Get over it.
Earn your reputation by building trust with those people you are lucky enough to call your friends, colleagues, partners, and customers.
jeremyvictor Note to self: Don't put Jeremy on a list. :)
ginidietrich like that.
Problem solved. My profile now accurately reflects my successful attainment of "social media dilettante."
johnheaney You really did add "social media dilettante"!! LOL!!
ginidietrich I'm a man of my word. And today's word is "dilettante"
johnheaney I think it should be the word of November.
Thanks, Gini. Now I have to edit my Twitter profile. I tossed in "social media maven" as a tongue-in-cheek exaggeration and now there are actually social media types who are using the description seriously. Crap. Back to the thesaurus.
>>But last night I was reading a list of the top 25 women who both tweet and blog and, in the comments, more than one person said, u00e2u0080u009cWhy didnu00e2u0080u0099t you include me?u00e2u0080u009d But, most werenu00e2u0080u0099t that nice.<<The lists are challenging too. Some are pretty much link bait. It worked in this instance. And they're ALL subjective as you've noted. Even the power 150 was created using a subjective element built into the rest of the data it pulls in. Ad Age may have changed this after taking it over.
And I think it's like being called cool. If you have to do it yourself, it begs the question. Not to mention the terms have been so abused that being called an expert is not even a good thing in many circles.
It's all unfortunate.
But did we start the whole unfortunate syndrome with blogs? An opinion is worth 80 IQ points. And a blog is a great way to publish your opinion and initiate more than an output only presence. This is a participation sport.
Again, I think the crowd will float to good content and expertise can become implied. But using your analogy, anyone at the conference shouting their expertise instead of showing it in practice is usually the one that comes off as more of a carnival barker than a source.
prblog Did you happen to see @hackmanj's blog last week with the Warren Buffet quotes compiled? In there is one about selling some of your IQ points, which I'm reminded of when you say an opinion is worth 80 IQ points. Maybe we could sell some of our blog points in exchange for making lists? Nahhhhhh.P.S. I used your point in today's blog post. Thanks for the addition!
There's nothing wrong with defining yourself to be an expert/guru/etc. if you have:
The proven track record
Answers for 99% of questions asked within the industry
The know-how how to uncover that 1% you DON'T know
That being said, I would agree that it's far more effective for OTHERS to deem you an expert. After all,they're the ones who then do your viral marketing for you.
Barbara_Ling I agree with you, but I think the people who label themselves that way typically aren't the experts.
Whenever somebody tells me they are an 'expert' or 'tough negotiator' - it's like exposing a weakness. And if they're so willing to expose their hand in such a way...i'd love to get them in a poker game!
Modesty - and being humble - is a lost art...especially in the PR industry. Unfortunately, I think it''s an innate skill - one that can't be taught. Sigh...
ElissaFreeman HAHAHAHA! Let's do a search for everyone who has "expert" in their bio and ask them to join us for a poker game.
For my views on this, I refer you to my Twitter bio: "Social media person who is not a maven, expert, or guru"
jelenawoehr This, my dear, is one of the many reasons I love you!
Ardath Albee once said something smart to me. "You are an expert only when someone else says you are, not when you say you are." Amen, Ardath!
Jeff Ogden
http://www.findnewcustomers.com
JeffOgden Amen, Ardath is right!
Gini, This post is made of win. All lists are subjective, it's like whining about Oscar snubs. Happens, but lists have their limits. That said, I like challenging the status quo, suggesting that the list compilers think outside the box a little, look who's done something different lately as I sometimes tire of seeing the same names when I discover new and smart people almost daily. Perhaps more engaged actions like you suggest would be a better strategy: "This is a great list of the old standards, but for some new thoughts check out.. so and so." FWIW.
3HatsComm I could not agree with you more! When I started #FollowFriday as one blog to read each week, I realized, after about five weeks, I was only recommending men. So I set out to find women bloggers. Same goes for my Top 5. Rarely will you see a blog mentioned two weeks in a row. Not to say I don't get lazy, but how can we learn if we only read/talk to the same people all the time?
ginidietrich Exactly... and when I do write a #FollowFriday post, like you I give examples and reasons why I've picked them. Because I've taken the time to get to know them, I am happy to recommend other PR and social media pros and list them as someone worth the time to read and follow.
The post speaks for itself. I too am skeptical of self-proclaimed rockstars, ninjas, sherpas, experts, etc. Add to that list those whose "networking" starts a sales pitch and remains a sales pitch. Perhaps showing basic competence and an ability to listen as a start.
I have a rule. I never eat at restaurant with the words "Good Food" on the sign or window. Good food should be a prerequisite not a selling point.
barryrsilver Which reminds me of a game my friends and I play. We go to Mexican restaurants that proclaim to have the "world's best" margarita. Once, we hit 22 bars in one night (don't ask if I was standing). But they ALL said "world's best." And guess what? They weren't. Well, they were by the end of the night, but you know what I mean.
ginidietrich barryrsilver Why doesn't this surprise me? :)
ginidietrich barryrsilver Ooh, now there's a game I'll play! Let me know when you decide to break open that game board (although tequila is my kryptonite, shhh).
KarenARocks barryrsilver Hmmm...I'll have to pay attention to other ridiculous signs. There are a lot of nail salons offering no chip manicures now. We could go to all of those and see which of our nails chips first?
trontastic You're just jealous. It's OK. You can play next time I see you.
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