From a Newsfeed of Junk to 'Eurekas!'
| 22 | Nov |
| 2013 |
By Keith Ferrazzi
Recently, at one of my dinners, my friend went on a rant about social media. “I’m drowning, Keith! I have a newsfeed full of junk when I don’t even have time for the people in my real life!” he said. “Why do I need all these fake online friends when I have real ones?” People at the table were nodding their heads.
I get it. We want technology to connect us closer to people we want to meet, things we want to learn, and opportunities we want to have. Instead, we get flooded with people’s useless personal output — one friend’s sudden desire for a hot pastrami sandwich, endless selfies and close-ups of beloved pets, Zagat-rated meals and leaky sinks.
When my new revision of Never Eat Alone comes out next year, I’ll tell you more about a work in progress: how you can get a handle on just the social media posts and tweets that matter. Take a look at a handful of the tweets that have come through my newsfeed in the past days:
@michaelhyatt Very cool: “An iPhone Voice Memo App That Just Works” by@StuMcLaren http://mhyatt.us/18rRoIz
@Hummel_Chris RIP to the greatest teacher in my life. MARGARET METZGER's Obituary by The Boston Globe
@TonyRobbins Teenager invents flashlight powered by the warmth of your hand: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/teenager-invents-flashlight-powered-warmth-your-hand-6C10485762 …
@CiscoCollab Senior executives weigh in on how#cloud #collaboration helps grow business in this #infographic http://cs.co/6017ZHJh
@Accenture Telenor selects Accenture to implement global shared services vision http://bit.ly/19WQpkV
Now, you might look at all that and decide it’s not a particularly interesting set of information. But to me it is — and that’s just the point! I’ve structured and curated my online network to deliver people, information and opportunities that are completely specific to me and what I’m working on. In just that stretch of tweets, I found:
Looking at all this seemingly disparate information in aggregate, I see patterns, make connections, and from it all, generate my own little “eurekas!” about myself and the world.
It’s a stream of data representing the work of real people, so that every bit and byte I read and respond to is also sewing new threads of social capital through my network. In those same moments that I’m getting smarter, I’m also getting better connected.
Recently, at one of my dinners, my friend went on a rant about social media. “I’m drowning, Keith! I have a newsfeed full of junk when I don’t even have time for the people in my real life!” he said. “Why do I need all these fake online friends when I have real ones?” People at the table were nodding their heads.
I get it. We want technology to connect us closer to people we want to meet, things we want to learn, and opportunities we want to have. Instead, we get flooded with people’s useless personal output — one friend’s sudden desire for a hot pastrami sandwich, endless selfies and close-ups of beloved pets, Zagat-rated meals and leaky sinks.
When my new revision of Never Eat Alone comes out next year, I’ll tell you more about a work in progress: how you can get a handle on just the social media posts and tweets that matter. Take a look at a handful of the tweets that have come through my newsfeed in the past days:
@michaelhyatt Very cool: “An iPhone Voice Memo App That Just Works” by
@Hummel_Chris RIP to the greatest teacher in my life. MARGARET METZGER's Obituary by The Boston Globe
@TonyRobbins Teenager invents flashlight powered by the warmth of your hand: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/teenager-invents-flashlight-powered-warmth-your-hand-6C10485762 …
@CiscoCollab Senior executives weigh in on how
@Accenture Telenor selects Accenture to implement global shared services vision http://bit.ly/19WQpkV
Now, you might look at all that and decide it’s not a particularly interesting set of information. But to me it is — and that’s just the point! I’ve structured and curated my online network to deliver people, information and opportunities that are completely specific to me and what I’m working on. In just that stretch of tweets, I found:
- A USEFUL TOOL … Exactly the app I’ve been looking for to organize the notes I dictate to myself in line at airports, in cabs, etc.
- PERSONAL NEWS AFFECTING A CLIENT … An important client was having a sad day; I made a note to "ping" him for a personal chat to share stories — I felt the same way when Pat Loconto died.
- CLIENT NEWS … A client won new business; I’ll note this to congratulate their team in our next meeting.
- A HELPFUL AIRPORT TIP … I don’t even know this tweeter, but you can bet I’m going to try out his tip next time I’m doing an airport breakfast fly-by with extremely limited options. Something little like that can really make a difference in my day.
- SOMETHING TO SHARE AT HOME … I love inspiring stories for when we sit down to dinner, and Tony’s story about a teenage inventor will impress my son, even if he rolls his eyes (inevitable).
- AN INFOGRAPHIC OF INTEREST … Virtual teamwork and collaboration is front and center for me now and I have a potential client that I’ll forward this to; it riffs perfectly off a conversation we had at our last meeting and gives me a great reason to check in.
Looking at all this seemingly disparate information in aggregate, I see patterns, make connections, and from it all, generate my own little “eurekas!” about myself and the world.
It’s a stream of data representing the work of real people, so that every bit and byte I read and respond to is also sewing new threads of social capital through my network. In those same moments that I’m getting smarter, I’m also getting better connected.
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Comments
Social media and social network connectivity increase the likelihood of serendipity. For me, social media is like going grocery shopping in my corner of California while wearing my Pittsburgh Steelers hat. The chances of meeting someone else that likes the Steelers, likes to diss the Steelers or is from Pittsburgh all increase exponentially. I like it when it happens, online or in the grocery store, it's my own little "Eureka."
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