The Biggest Lesson Social Media Taught Me
[Unlike my usual tirades, this one will be short and sweet]
I have always been the proud owner of a 500-hp twin turbo competitive nature. It’s the Balkans in the bloodstream, I guess. Add to that mix my “scream at the TV” opinionated side and you get someone that enjoys a good debate. But when I started connecting using social media, I learned a big lesson that although it went against the competitive current, gave me the most refreshing perspective:
“Approach each conversation with an open mind“
Why?
- Because there’s always more than one way to skin a cat.
- Self Righteousness is for Douches.
- Rigidity chokes creativity. Get out of your own way and learn.
- Experience always matters. And no, this time is not different.
- Successful folk are eternal students.
- If we’re all pontificating, who are the faithful?
In the past, I have written about social media giving us a window with our clients. Not too long ago it hit me that social media has granted us unique access to some brilliant people, as well.
So it’s a very simple choice: who’s going to show up, the open minded student or the obnoxious me-monster?
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This article published on Friday, August 28th, 2009 at 6:01 pm | Contact the editor
Topics: Social Media
About this Columnist (Full Profile)
Houston Real Estate Rainmaker and Uberproud Father/Husband (not necessarily in that order). When I’m not skinning cats or changing diapers you can find me on Twitter or Facebook. I blog about marketing, social media and real estate. I might not always be in agreement, but you can rest assured I’ll be honest. Oh, and I can cook a mean breakfast…
Email Erion Shehaj
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Comments (14)
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- Real Estate Feeds:
The Biggest Lesson Social Media Taught Me: Don\’t be stingy with your thoughts- stop by and comment!
[Unlike my .. http://bit.ly/zwCq4 - Erion Shehaj :
The biggest lesson social media taught me — My Newest on AgentGenius http://bit.ly/11kUtM Go ahead, make my day #fb
- RealEstate Babble:
AgentGenius: The Biggest Lesson Social Media Taught Me http://bit.ly/3gwhsu Full http://bit.ly/F0sD5
- Nelia:
The biggest lesson social media taught me — http://bit.ly/11kUtM (via @ErionHouston) open mind, sounds easy until me monster attacks!
- PopREblogs.com:
The Biggest Lesson Social Media Taught Me: Don\’t be stingy with your thoughts- stop by and comment!
[Unlike my .. http://bit.ly/zwCq4 - John Percudani:
The biggest lesson social media taught me | Real Estate Opinion … http://bit.ly/ZLyxS
- Erion Shehaj :
What’s the biggest lesson social media has taught you? Here’s mine http://bit.ly/11kUtM RT if you like it #fb
- Lisa Sanderson:
"The Biggest Lesson Social Media Taught Me" [TeeeHeeHee he said Douches!] http://bit.ly/13yuDH
Benn Rosales
Conal Campbell
Elijah May
Lani Rosales
Tara Steele
Marti Trewe
Charlene Jimenez
very true, more than one way to skin a cat, or bake a cake or do Social Media.
Who’s going to shut up, too. Great points Erion – we have two ears and one mouth for a reason….
Navy Chief, Navy Pride
It’s hard to listen. Listen. Listen. Listen. Now more than ever, we have to realize that change and new and flexibility and maneuverability and a willingness to change/morph/reinvent is key to long term success. You can’t stay the same while everything around you changes, therefore, open mind wide for new ideas.
Cheers.
Erion – Call me bold and brash and stupid, but I don’t agree that experience always matters. Of course, I agree with it how I guess you probably mean it, as in experiences are those things that we’ve learned from, built upon, and used to benefit ourselves and our knowledge.
Unfortunately, I see too many “experienced” agents who rely on one thing and one thing only – how many years they’ve been in the business (their experience). Although in many cases, these are agents with more knowledge, skills, and ideas than most. However, in many cases as well, I find years=nothing.
Perhaps I take slight offense to it as an agent who hasn’t been in the business for 50 billion years, as I know that some people see that as a disadvantage for hiring me. Of course, I know that I know enough to solve the problems and where to get the answers to those I don’t, so I know that I can be a great agent. I also know when to say “no” and “I don’t know.”
Great post as always and I think you know me – I love the debate. I also go into each one with a very open mind.
Matt — Sheer years on the job do not constitute experience in my book. Here’s how I see this: On one extreme, you have agents with “years” on the job selling 7-8 homes per year on the same 5 streets without learning anything new in decades. On the other extreme, you have young guns that think they will reinvent a new wheel every week just because they blog and have a Twitter account. As pretty much everything in life – truth lies in the middle. All other things equal, being in business longer means more fires to put out, more market cycles to ride, more strategies to use and more fine-tuned skills. While technology creates breakthroughs, opportunities and level playing fields in every business — some things are just timeless.
Clearly, I’m such a girl. Had to Google ’500-hp twin turbo’.
But, I hear you. I think that we are in the midst of so many changes, across so many industries. And if you are engaged in this forum, you feel it in a more magnified way. You have to be open. There is little that I find that is not in some form of flux.
And since I was 16 – when I was most convinced I knew it all – I’ve slowly, year by year, learned there just may be a kernel of truth in every point of view if I’m open.