FaceBook Social Media Isn't What It Seems At All

  You may not be new to Facebook, and my hope in writing this is that you aren't, but if you are new to Facebook, this may save you 
some "skin in the game," from experience.  The leading consultants on social media will tell you how powerful it is as an advertising tool.  The leading local groups for discussion will tell you what a powerful way to stay in touch it is (personally for local - my preference is "ring -ring" but that's just me...).  Those who have huge groups of people in their Facebook family will tell you what a great place it is to share.  Are you seeing a common theme here?

  From this brief you should take away two things:  1)  Experts when it comes to this field, are called that, because they've learned all about this new way of behaving called social media, within the last decade.  They should be noted, and listened to, but also, understood for what they are, experts- you and I, aren't- and the difference, when we understand it- can really spare us a lot of sweat when it comes to what we call success for our Facebook page.  2)  We live in a culture and world which professes to be outcome based; every time you speak with someone the subject invariably becomes, "what happened," or a flavor of that- guess what (?)- the same holds true in social media with Facebook!

  This article really begins three years ago when Joe Vitale, Mr. Fire as he is known, introduced me to a new form of communicating over the internet called Twitter.  Dr. Joe said that Twitter would

change everything, and for me, it truly was, remarkable- suddenly I found myself conversing with people from all over the planet, and enjoying it.   From Twitter my exposure to social media got into Facebook  and I truly believed that I'd found communication via the web heaven- here it was, the answer, the dream, everything.  Wow wee, was it ever a mistaken first impression, because Facebook isn't what it appears to be.

  About the time that my experience in life began to change from working hard to working smart, my training on Facebook also changed, and Mari Smith entered the picture in her seminars.  Mari is not only brilliant, she is not only a student of the craft, but she is a powerful and influential member of what Facebook is actually about- so much so, that Mari speaks now at large events that not too many years ago, weren't.  Today those events, social media training events and seminars, many of which take place via the excellent work of Michael Stelzner, of Social Media Examiner 
fame; are well attended and recognized within the community of Facebook professionals, as having tremendous value, they do; took one online two years back, it changed my Facebook.

  "Scareech..." that's the sound of fingernails on blackboard, most unpleasant, almost no one likes that sound- so it gets attention, and it's why we need to throw on the brakes one second - and stop and realize that what Facebook appears to be is a great communication center where your face and photo's and even videos, can be sent to friends, and those who choose to want to look at what you are saying or going through, that you enter.  Would that pretty much match the opening viewpoint that most of us had?  My experience was from chat rooms and online meeting rooms, suddenly there were images, and video's and sound and motion, wow, it was like an entirely new universe to me, and I'd be willing to bet, for anyone who first walks on to the Facebook page, and starts getting into what it's about, it may seem so, and that, is what sets it apart.

  But the "scareech," is to call attention to the less obvious, the less surface issues, and begin to move into the deeper and more creative areas.  What Facebook begins as in your life, is likely nothing like what it is now; that's either good or bad, some people have actually had some bad experiences on Facebook; but almost every comment that I've heard over the years has been positive.  Let's stop and consider that- here is the 5th largest nation on earth by population, which has more interested and involved members of that nation, than just about any other.  Think about all the posts and all the conversations, and the sheer weight of the value of those and you begin to see, Facebook may be, and likely is, a phenomenon that has changed history; via exposure and open communications; and one which will, into the foreseeable future, continue to be a historically relevant force.  

  A force to be reckoned with, or, a flow to move along with, there are many different ways to relate to the fact of the enormous reality of what Facebook became; that was then, this, however is now, and it may not all be good- so hang on- we're going to go some places that not everyone likes, but places where we may need to check, because Facebook may not be what it appears to be.

  "High Tech High Touch," John Naisbitt began to hint at what we're seeing today, his insight began in 1988; so computing and the social media that we have today, didn't exist, but since that time, and the hardcover publication of his work in 2001, much has changed and not all of it is for the better.  Let me ask you this, are you primarily sharing deep and insightful parts of you out there on the social site?  Likely no, because we know, for the most part, that it is seen by- well; everyone- and certainly by your Facebook friends, that's certainly true; but, we don't want them to know it all, nor would that be good, would it?

 
So what are we not saying, what, in other words, if we were in a high touch; personal, in person, meeting, might we say, that here, in this high tech realm, we won't? On the other hand, because the person isn't there, what will we let fly that were they there, we'd never let get said?  Now before you dismiss this as obvious, stay one more round, because it's going to be worth considering, that's the way that social science is, taught it for a couple of years at two year colleges, that and basic psych  so, this is an informed opinion, with some facts to back it, Facebook, isn't what it appears to be.

  Imagine standing outside a house and looking into the window of that home, what might you see?  You might see mom and dad very wildly gesticulating with their hands and arms, and you might think that they are having - A.  An argument?  Or, possibly, B. A very intense discussion.  What would cause you to deduce such?  Their gestures, right(?)- their hands and faces, and things that you could see standing outside that window- and looking in. 

  This would be things that you would know from that perspective, that they wouldn't know that you knew.  Suppose that after several hours you return to their home, knock on the door, and go into that living room with them?  Now you can talk, exchange ideas, and both of you will know the same information, they know and you know.  You wouldn't know what was inside their heads, what they were thinking, unless they told you, so those things would be secret, unless revealed; in which instance, the secrets would become shared information.  Things that you know and they know, things that they know and you don't (their inner thoughts), things you know and they don't (what you saw), and a category we seldom like to address, that neither of you know- the deep end where a lack of knowing can be very powerful.  

  This is called the JoHari window concept, it was invented by two men who studied four areas of our thinking and feelings and lives and how those four areas impact upon our lives and the lives of others...this isn't new stuff, it's well recognized in the world today, here for example, is one site of 348 thousand that come up when Googled [click]  Here comes the kicker - we're going to put some ingredients into this mix and the soup is going to start to have a flavor because Facebook isn't all that it appears to be, point in fact, it may something we aren't thinking it is capable of being?  Something that we don't want to believe, it could be.

  Step back into social media, only now, see it through the lens of this truth, it's a harsher lens, because what may be happening, as we participate in it, may not be what we'd like?  What would your ideal outcome from Facebook be- have you one in mind?  When you post something, is it just, "getting it said," or do you think before you post?  How when you comment, reply, do you just "go with it," or do you stop and analyze, then reply; or, in such instances, do you choose to just observe with no comment?  We're going to wrap this first session up with a doozy; but it's a doozy worth it to you for thought, is my hope in bringing it to the table.  

  When you have a high touch experience, a hug, a smile in person, a group where everyone has a good time playing games, a great restaurant experience, a grand time- somewhere- that's warming to the soul, we love those times, and we remember them, they are warm.  Facebook isn't warm, it's techno, yes, you see the smile, but

no, the person isn't there.  

One of the brilliant leaders from Britain, Michelle Holmes teaches us to use video, now, Michelle I believe credits that idea to Marie Forleo, who has a great show on MarieTV; and also I'd believe Amy Porterfield another astonishing leader; who also, along with Mari Smith and Michael Stelzner emphasizes the use of, and high content value of, video.  Here's the doozy; video or not, it's not the warm tech of touch, it is still high tech, cold tech, no matter how warm we try to make it- and therein, we shall on this first session, stop- with the doozy-
is Facebook a cold tech nation?

  Love to hear from you, and we will be putting this session into a video, and we will continue to explore the doozy, but we'd love to have you join in that exploration- if we can answer any questions about this, please do contact Dr.D at drd1201@gmail.com, or the cell, 318-465-2762, yes, I do answer emails, in a day or two, and yes I certainly do answer the cell, but if we're meeting with officials or clients, might have to get back to you, I try to return all calls within a day...please do leave a voicemail, although friends have been fussing at me about that being full...;-)  See a pattern here?  At any rate, thanks for taking your valuable time to consider the nature of what Facebook may actually be and what that may mean...

  

  

  

Growing The Development Culture

Growing The Development Culture

"Getting There..."  Dr. Dana Richardson,   Eco Dev

You’ve seen the movie, “Hoosiers,” starred Gene Hackman as the coach who took a small town ball team to state?  “Yeah, figures Dr. D that you’d choose a basketball movie story seein’ as how our boys are in the playoffs for football, genius!”  Yes I know, but some quotes are too good to pass up! Be they football, like Denzel Washington, talking to the team as Coach Boone, of “Remember The Titans,” at Gettysburg, “this is hallowed ground.” Or, Gene Hackman, taking his boys into a gym at state that’s huge, asking them to measure the basketball key, remember that?  They measured the net, they measured the key, and his statement was, “I’ll think you’ll find that the measurements there are the exact same ones we have back home.”  His point was; it isn’t the size the opponent, it’s the heart of the competitor, and it’s how you compete; whether we win, lose or draw (can you have a draw in football?) – If our athletes play their hearts out and play with good conduct and athletic manners of combat in football, they are winners.

THEY ARE ALREADY WINNERS- GETTING THERE!

  Economic Development carries in the program an idea that somehow we’re going to make businesses happen, education get better, the infrastructure of the community get better, the way that the community reports itself to the outside world, become enhanced.  In short, the expectations for a good economic development program need funds; and what we tend to believe is that those funds will always come from the Federal Government, State government, or some other source of grant money.  Here’s a shocker- they usually don’t.  In major cities which have huge economic development programs, the majority of the funding comes from the city leaders.  Grant money can happen, and we’ve been fortunate to have grants approved, but we’ve been unfortunate to then have the agency approving the grant, not receive enough money to fund the grant?  Interesting concept; that one is; sort of like, ordering a Cheeseburger, like everybody else, but only being able to watch other people eat it? Isn’t there a better solution, in order that, our community can continue to grow, continue getting there? 

  Did you catch that, how we report ourselves to the world sentence?  You may have thought “internet,” O.K., think “internet” as T.V.; see it?  How powerful is the impression left by the first contact with a website?  In the case of Universal Studio Orlando (http://www.universalorlando.com/) it’s pretty powerful – Harry Potter is front and center; and who, could forget Harry?  In the case of NASA a lot of really cool things are going on no matter what page you click to (http://www.nasa.gov/).   If you type in Lafayette Louisiana, you get this (http://www.lafayettela.gov/) web site that is aimed at you communicating with them, and visiting them; hmm, that’s interesting, wouldn’t you say?  So what about Springhill, what do people see if they type into the search engine Springhill Louisiana?  It is in the top three on Google as a web site, great, but it’s behind, Wikipedia and North Webster Chamber of Commerce?  Is North Webster Chamber of Commerce, Springhill?  No but we have a nice link middle of their screen; but would a person have to want to find Springhill to use this?  Here’s the point; surfing facts tell us that when an executive is looking for a new community to come to, they go to; Google, and they search for the community- the question you need to ask yourself is, are the sites that they’re finding about us influencing their choice?  Is there any possibility that we might make our site better, more attractive, more welcoming and more inviting to them to contact us?  When those executives click on your page you have 7 seconds to impress them,  or they’re gone!  We need to perhaps think about what it is that we want to show them, so that, when it comes to getting them here, we’re getting there!  

Simple Facts - Open Your Business in Springhill Louisiana...We Want'cha...

All of the clients that we handle in Springhill
Louisiana have a standard approach to the
business model which they must take.  It's
that simple, first, they have to be registered
with the Secretary of States office in Baton
Rouge, DDP Group encourages them to
pursue L.L.C. status, because that seems to
accord them the widest variety of choices to
make as to the future of their business.

Next we like our clients to tackle the fun
of the I.R.S. at IRS.gov.  What we tell them
is, "if you will call the IRS you will find a
friendly helpful human on the line."
We know, we've called them countless times,
we've never had a bad experience, but bear
in mind, people are gonna treat you like
you treat them, so if you call up irate,
do you really expect someone a thousand
miles away on a phone line, to not get
in your face in return?  Be nice...it's easy
to do...even if you're fumed, just think of
it as ...therapy, and call the IRS.gov.

Second we like them to register with the
Louisiana Economic Development Division
in Baton Rouge, this allows us to work with
the Hudson Initiative and the Small and
Emerging Business Division, as well.
If we are dealing with veterans that are
opening their business we try to affirm
such with them and have them register with the
Veterans initiative at that site as well.

This opens doors for our clients to information
that previously they might not have been
aware of.  So when they help us do our job
better we can in turn, hopefully, help them
to do theirs with a little more clarity.  It's
something to get used to, it's not easy
for small business when there are any
additional hoops to jump through, but
in the long run, it's worth it.

Story Telling For You - Chapter Three

Thinking back to those days about
the cold, the relationships that I had
today, that were formed,
some of them, back then,
seemed; solid somehow?
Jeff and I went through a frozen
sort of Hell and a hotter than hell
sort of desert, to be here.
Until I met Gene, then; oddly, her life took over
my life, it was not like anything I'd ever experienced,
but, over the years; my relationship with Jeff, who
got out of the Army after Desert Storm; where
as the Battalion Sergeant's Major, he had won
several commendations; not that they mattered to him,
Jeff was into leading men, and even today, that was
what made Jeff so important to me.  So when Gene
had blown into my life, she had completely taken
me by storm; so much so that my oldest buddy
from the Army, even, had to comment about how
much time I'd spent with her, rather than him?  But
in those days, nearly a decade ago, she had overwhelmed
me with a personality and style like nothing I'd ever
known, and her smile disarmed even my foulest moods.
Gene had appeared to be the answer to every doubt
I'd ever had about life.

We'd been thinking, together, she and I, for some time, but
her thinking and my thinking they weren't the same;
ever have that happen?  Ever think you know what
she means, and you don't?  For women, if I understand
what my friend says, it's about the same, they think
that men say one thing and mean another- is that
how men are, and women are, so there must not
be a whole lot of understanding going on?  We'd
been thinking, together, which was often not the
best of ways to handle things.

So I made a very simple statement to her; "if I
needed your help, would you give it to me."  I
didn't mean anything by it, I wasn't doing any
sexy double entendre', I only wanted to know
if we had something going down if she'd help?
"Would I give it to you?  Well of course I'd
give it to you, I've been trying to give it to you
for a while now, you act like you could care less?"

That's not true, it wasn't an act, I wasn't really
all that much into her that way; she was getting
older, the lines in her face more pronounced,
the hanging leftovers of arms which used to
be stronger and more attractive, were beginning
to sag even more.  She was still pretty, but
she'd moved from an object of desire to a
person but one with not as much desire.  I know,
it's crass; I know it sucks; I know, but it's the
truth; what do you want me to do, lie? I said;
"why do you have to turn every remark I make
into a physical deal?  Seriously, is that all
you have on your mind."
"I'm not a slut,"
"Did I say you were a slut?"
"You make it sound as if I am."
"Where you get that..."
"Because the way you say it, I'm always
bringing up physical with you and you
aren't even into that?  Which, by the way,
would make me a women who likes sex-
and sometimes, women who like sex
are called, and perceived as, sluts.  That
what you were thinking, that I must be easy?"
"You can't be serious?"  What would you
have said?  I was in a bit of a hole in this
conversation, with no easy way out, apparently?
"Yes," her eyes danced, lit up, and her smile,
oh that smile- it was like nobody else's anywhere-
"I was serious about wanting you to want me-
you used to; what happened?" She was intense.
"How about you quit caring - what was I
supposed to do?"  I could be intense too!
"How about, keep caring?"  "Yeah," I thought,
"like an idiot being fed small doses of poison?"
But I didn't dare say that did I, so I uttered;
"Look I tried, I tried to call, you told me
not to; I tried to even text you and you told
me you were too busy?  So what can I say,
when Cynthia came on to me, what was I
supposed to do; she's prettier than Laura,
you remember Laura,"
"Yes, my lord, who can forget her, the lady
who has an orgasm from a massage," Her
eyes were showing a touch of something,
was it jealousy?  I wasn't trying to make
her feel anything, so if it was, it was on her.
"Ok I was due that, but she did, and I
couldn't do a thing about that, it was
after all, just a massage, what was I
supposed to do?"
"You could give me a massage?"
See what I mean- this conversation wasn't
going the way I needed it to go.  Ever
have that happen to you?

Jeff didn't know about these conversations,
he didn't know about the feedback, but
he did know from me, where things stood.
"And somehow you figure that's going to
get her back?"  Jeff wasn't being cynical.
"Jeff you know, I'm not sure that's where
I am going, she's still someone that I'd
do anything for.  That's a huge problem
in our business."
"Do tell."
"So you think I'm being silly?"
"Would you listen if I said you were being
less than manly about this?"
"I might?"
"You ought to turn her completely and
totally loose, go with Laura, or Cynthia-
they are really turned on by you, and they
care about you, look Chuck, Gene don't
call, she don't care, apparently that hasn't
registered with you yet, you're still trying
to cut her in on a fortune, and of course,
I'd love to know why?"
"Jeff, ..., I can't stop it, this is ten years now,
and I love her- I don't want to, but there it
is, I love her."
"Figured that was it."