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Use the Tool, Don’t Be a Tool
Today’s guest post is written by Shad Boots.
Unpopular wars, untrusted government, and unemployment levels are high due to recession. Then there’s the increased gas prices, the “me” mindset, terrorist attacks, and governments in foreign lands being usurped.
A lot to be negative, uncertain, or otherwise overwhelmed over, but there are some positives. Technology has advanced: A supercomputer, e-commerce, and email have all been invented to better our lives and make business easier.
Oh, wait. That was the ’70s. Sounds familiar though, doesn’t it?
See? Nothing has changed. It is hard not to feel overwhelmed and flummoxed by it all. What with the socialization of everything, the never-ending release of applications and sites and… well, you get the point. World affairs only contribute further to these feelings. But, it is manageable and you can prevail. After all, it has been done before.
There has been a lot of discussion about social media fatigue or not having time to incorporate the social tools into our lives. So how do we do it while maintaining our sanity?
Here is the secret: You don’t need to.
It’s important to remember that these are accessories for getting things done. They are tools that can be used however you see fit to achieve a self-determined goal.
Don’t feel like you need to use every tool available. You don’t even need to be familiar with them. That would be a lot like buying every saw available to cut a piece of wood, or learning how to use and becoming an expert on every type of saw.
It isn’t necessary and it complicates life. Don’t do that to yourself.
Take a step back, a deep breath, simplify, and follow these three steps.
- Define your goals
How important is this? Well, that would depend. Do you value your sanity? Sit down and determine what you are trying to achieve with your online communications. Is it personal branding and awareness? Thought leadership? Sales growth? If you don’t have any goals, you can’t use any of the social tools effectively and you’re just wasting time.
Remember: Goals, plural. We all have more than one goal. List them all. - Browse the tool section
Assess your situation. Take stock of where you are engaged now. What is working and what is not? Modify your plan accordingly, and use the right tool for the job. Don’t try to find a tool that does it all. It doesn’t exist. Unfortunate, I know.
Remember: Different tools, different goals. - Organize and execute
Once you have in mind how you’ll use each tool, write that down in a document. Create your mission. Read it frequently to remind yourself and base all your decisions on it. Don’t lose sight of your strategy. Now, get to work mastering those tools.
Remember: No shortcuts. You have to work to get your act together.
You have control over these accessories; they do not control you. By choosing your priorities, and freeing yourself to not be a jack of all trades, you become a master at a few.
Remember, use the tool, don’t be a tool and you’ll find yourself feeling a lot better.
What do you think? Have you limited the social tools in your kit?
Shad Boots is a recent graduate aspiring to be everything and nothing. He (haphazardly) authors the newly formed blog An Image Journey and can be stalked on Twitter.
Your post is really very useful and bookmark able so i am decide to bookmark it for my further use and also want to share i with my friends so that they will take benefit from it.
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LikeBMW Parts Or you could just write: Spammy, spammy, spam, spam, crappy back link strategy, spammy spam.
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LikeVery interesting post you have there. I think many have somehow succumbed under the lie of being productive on social media to the extend that they lose themselves. What was initially a tool eventually became a necessity and people began to think that they NEED to be on every other tool out there so much so they become the tools themselves.
It's time to break free and take control of the tools (and your life) again! Great stuff!
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LikeShad, great points here! I think as communications pro's we feel the NEED to have to buy every saw and cut every piece of wood -- sometimes we just have to remember be familiar and use what provides us the best value. That value certainly needs to include the balance of sanity and time. That extra 30 mins at the gym, with friends, with family or reading a good book will pay off huge down the road!
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LikeThis is exactly the kind of stuff that I care about, write about and love so thanks for your thoughts. I'm with ginidietrich and love the buying every saw comment. I tend to look at it more as a chef and their knives. I may be wrong (Gini, help here as you are the chef of the group), but I tend to imagine that as a chef wants to learn a new technique, they learn and acquire the tools needed to accomplish them. Overtime, you build up your bag of knives and then one day Padma tells you to pack them up and go (but I digress).
The one place where I think I disagree is with starting from your goals. I get that approach when you are talking about tools and tactics on a blog, but I've always found productivity to be different. It's better to start with your problems. Where are your pain points, what are the things that keep you from doing. Once you've solved those, move onto the goals, but first, you need to make sure the foundation is solid. It also gives you more of an appreciation for the ability of tools and more of a willingness to use them in achieving your goals. You feel the difference in the power of the right tool when you start from a point of pain rather than one of aspiration.
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LikeMSchechterginidietrich When I wrote this, I was thinking that productivity would be an overall goal for a person and then you would look at how to address your obstacles (or problems) in achieving that goal with those tools that are available to you.
Does that make sense?
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LikeShad Bootsginidietrich That makes sense. My concern is that I've seen so many people (read: me) try to jump to the goals without really addressing the problems and when that happens you're building your dream house on a cracked foundation.
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Like"That would be a lot like buying every saw available to cut a piece of wood, or learning how to use and becoming an expert on every type of saw."
I am stealing that. And, because you wrote it here, I own it and do not have to pay you royalties. Thank you.
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Likeginidietrich remember how earlier today you wouldn't let me go outside and scream because everyone would think I'm nuts? Well, now I'm on Michigan Ave laughing out loud.
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Likeginidietrich That's fine with me. I'm all about the ego-stroke anyway. You could turn it into a proverb and really go all out about it. ha.
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LikeReally good point, Al Smith , where does the name come from? It is a very. cool. name. :)
Thanks for the guest post, Shad. Today is one of those days where my social networks were very much ignored by me. Not that they care, necessarily, but it does start to exhaust a person just thinking about all the things we need to keep up with. and I do my best not to be a tool. some days I'm more successful than others.
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LikeLisa GerberAl Smith My first name is actually based on a biblical name; Shadrak. The last name is from my father. So, yes. This is my real name (which I've been asked before).
But, thanks for the compliments. I have to say that it's been both a blessing and a curse to have a memorable name.
Some days you need to ignore the tools. I actually prefer to sit down, surrounded by books, and simply work that way (then again, I'm largely a thinker and academic, so that may have something to do with it).
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LikeShad Boots Is that how that works? You get your last name from your dad?
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Likeginidietrich Apparently. I don't know where the book is on this stuff, but it would be useful to have.
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Likeginidietrich This comment alone illustrates why I adore you, Gini ;-)
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LikeThanks Shad. Shad Boots ? One of THE coolest names ..... Ever. Awesome, Dude. Great post. So glad this wasn't from Gini, I thought she was talking to me directly on twitter; Don't Be A Tool !Ouch, babe. Actually, kinda hurt my feelings. NOT ! Anyway, Shad (again, luv the name) really appreciate this post and your 3 great suggestions. So much to learn and this helps a lot.
Thanks again and take CARE, Shad and you too, Gini. Luv ya !
Al
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LikeAl Smith I WAS talking to you.
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Likeginidietrich Aha ! I knew it. You really don't CARE, do you ?
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