Be Wary of this When You Create or Consume Content on Social Media
This morning, someone asked me a few questions about a predicament they were experiencing within their relationship.
As I was getting ready to share my response, it dawned on me that I had been there before.
It goes something like this…
We see something online, something useful even, a video about business, dating, or entrepreneurship. People share their tips, tricks, and tried and true methods for doing something, and suddenly we think we’ve cracked the code, “Ahhh, this is what I’ve been missing! The truth I’ve needed to hear! If it works for them, it must work for me!"
Be wary of this.
Every piece of content you consume originates from someone else’s lived experience. It comes as a result of their upbringing, environment, education... all the things. So take what you hear with a grain of salt. You might find truth in someone else’s content, something you can readily apply to your own life, but the advice you hear will never be tailored to fit you exactly. Be cautious of blanket statements which don’t consider the nuance and complexities of your unique life and relationships.
Only you know what you need. Only you know what works best for you. So keep your wits about you as you use social media.
Now, if you’re building your personal brand, be extra mindful of what you share online. Even if you think you're not reaching people, you most certainly are. Influence comes with responsibility. So own your impact!
Bottom line: We will never know what is right or true for someone else. All we can do is share what is right and true for us. Maybe that helps somebody, and maybe it doesn’t. It’s not really up to us.
An excellent way to check yourself is to ask yourself a few questions before you hit post:
Am I using “I” statements or “you” statements?
Am I universalizing my experience? Or sharing my experience earnestly and without ulterior motives?
Am I telling people what they should do? Or am I showing them what I do and leading by example?
No one likes to be told what to do. No one wants to be preached at. So let people discover you and your process without telling them how to build theirs.
Be prepared though, this takes guts. It’s more vulnerable to speak from an “I” point of view because it’s more personal and revealing. That's why people don't do it.
If you do have the courage to speak this way, people will respect you for it. It makes you more approachable and gives your audience room to be curious and intrigued by what you do and who you are.
Anyway, I ended up sharing my personal experience with the girl who messaged me on Instagram this morning. At the end of my message, I asked her to consider what she felt was best for her, not by my standards, but by hers.
At the end of the day, that’s all we can do. Share our truth. And encourage others to find their own, whatever that looks like for them.
If you have a story you want to share, a brand you want to build, or a coaching business you want to start, I encourage you to put your name on the waitlist for my program, Personal Brand Accelerator. The 9th round starts this summer. And hey, it only takes 10 seconds to sign up. What’s the worst that can happen?
