My Uncle Robbie gave me some great advice many years ago which has never been more relevant: “If you need help, tell as many people as you can. You never know who will know someone who can help you.”
As we are living in the Communication Age, it has never been easier to ask everyone you know for help. At the same time it makes many people nervous. Living out loud has some privacy wonks crying doom and gloom. “Be careful what you post on Facebook, it will come back to haunt you;” or “Don’t checkin at the beach on Foursquare if you’ve called in sick to work.”
Yes, social media can be hazardous to our professional lives. Like any powerful tool, it must be used wisely. But the upside is tremendous.
For a long time I have been reluctant to mix my private life (Facebook) with my professional life (Twitter, LinkedIn). I have made only a handful of exceptions. Today, one of the few professional colleagues I have “friended” on Facebook posted that he needed some help on a project. It turns out it’s a perfect opportunity for InfoManage Corporation, my technology services business.
Wow! That’s a game changer. It certainly gives me pause to rethink my social media strategy. What other opportunities am I missing?
As the boundaries between work and play continue to blur, so do the boundaries between personal and professional relationships. Proceed with caution, for sure, but that’s what social media is all about. And thanks again, Uncle Robbie.
P.S. A shout out to Ellen Feaheny whose response to my tweet inspired me to write this post.
