The Million Dollar Consultant Calls Me a "boob", or: How NOT to Manage Your Brand Online
When was the last time someone called you a "boob"? For me, it was yesterday! Here's how it went down: For months, I had a Twitter account, but had not been using it much. That was, until I read Joel Comm's book, "Twitter Power". It's a fabulous book, one that got me really excited to take a more active interest in Twitter.
So, I started following people - lots of them. Mainly, I started looking for people that had something interesting to say, both famous and not so famous. I started going through author names for books on my shelf that I liked, one of which was an author named Alan Weiss.
However, when I visited his Twitter homepage, I was immediately turned off. The guy had a professional photo taken of him in his Bentley. Now, don't get me wrong, I think Bentleys are beautiful cars - I just wouldn't hire a photographer to take my picture in one and then use that picture as my twitter background. Nor would I name my Twitter account after it. That's pretty much the domain of the late night TV "Get Rich Quick" guys, isn't it? The ones who have a fool proof method for beating the stock market, but choose to sell it on TV instead of actually... beating the stock market? It's a bit much.
The other thing I noticed was that he has almost 2,000 followers and doesn't follow a single person. I don't think you need to follow someone just because they follow you, but, seriously... no one? How is that possible? There are so many interesting and fantastic people on Twitter! I have learned so much from other people on Twitter that I would have never discovered on my own. What that says to me is that he only likes to hear himself talk and doesn't think he can learn anything from anyone else. So...I made an honest comment about it on Twitter, and that's when all the trouble started...
If I received a comment like this, my response would probably have been to say something like, "I'm sorry you feel that way" or "This is why I don't follow anyone...". This is the Twitter response I received.
But it didn't stop there. I guess I upset him enough, that he talked about me on his podcast too. I'm not really sure what he was trying to say, but he called me a "boob" and then rambled on about how I should be listening to him because he creates value (and then some other stuff about his dogs and hamburgers). Ironically, I have listened to him, in fact, I have recommended his book to dozens of people and read through his "quality" posts, like this one:
I'll let you decide what brand message that sends about the author.
There is a quote I like: "Keep the company of those who are in search of the truth, and run from those who have found it." Following others on Twitter demonstrates a willingness to continue learning from others, even while you communicate your own message. It's a medium that allows a true dialogue with others. Instead, Alan seems to have spent a little too much time in his own echo chamber and doesn't want to hear anything but praise. People have said lots of things about me, some good, some not so good, but I take it all in and figure out how I can use it to become a better human being. As a business owner, if someone has something negative to say, I want to hear it. How else can I fix something if I don't know there's a problem?
Bottom line: Networking is all about being generous, caring about others, remaining humble, and being focused on others rather than focused on yourself. When I see someone that is completely "me focused", I have to call it out...even if it gets me called a "boob".
Categories: networking, communication
Tags: social networking joelcomm alan weiss blog online consulting. consultant twitter power branding twitter podcast bentley
Even though the subject matter of this post was generated from a negative source, I found this post to be very positive and uplifting!
I am a new college graduate and just getting "re-acquainted" with the social media world. I was turned off by social media in college after seeing face book be used and abused. When I started my job post-graduation I was challenged to use social media to network and connect with individuals in my field. At first I was apprehensive to take on this challenge.
As I have been getting my feet wet in this new world of professional networking people have been offering me advice about what they feel networking is all about.
The last paragraph that states; "Networking is all about being generous, caring about others, remaining humble, and being focused on others rather than focused on yourself" is the best advice I've heard so far!
Thanks for the positive energy!
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Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts.
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In other words, One Blind Weiss attacks any and all negativity with a stubborn, harsh rebuttal that's akin to taking his ball and going home, but not before whining and doing all that renders his character unredeemable.
Erika, you are spot on to rail against his Zeus-like approach to social networking. You can almost sense Weiss telling us that the mountain top can be reached...but he's the only one up there, and he doesn't seem able to hear your cries for the rope. Social networking is not about "keeping your audience at arm's length"; the arm must be offered with an aim to assist, too.
Contrarian Consulting, indeed!
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Great post! First off, I agree completely about the following aspect. So many people today have 100's or 1000's off followers but aren't interactive. A shame really.
I love the witty comments, made me laugh..."he creates value (and then some other stuff about his dogs and hamburgers)." Loved it!
Thanks for sharing. Sorry you had to go through that.
-Robert
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It is pretty easy to fall into the bubble of a self inflated ego which usually gets over-inflated when everyone around you is telling you how awesome you are and after a while that bubble gets so big and you get so used to of the warmth of being inside that bubble that you start protecting that bubble by ignoring and in some case fighting back the ones who give you constructive feedback or opinion as those are seen as the pins that might burst that bubble.
It's sad and unfortunate that one doesn't realize that every bubble would burst one day and hence its more comfortable and safe live outside these artificial ephemeral bubbles...
I recently wrote an article for Under30CEO where I summed up 30 lessons I have learned before I turn 30 and #26 on the list fits right here. http://under30ceo.com/30-business-lessons-i-learned-before-30/
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Rest easy, Erika, anyone who feels they cannot learn from others is themself a narcissistic boob. Makes no difference who they are, how many books they've written, or how many sycophants are behind them.
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You don't hear the word "sycophant" too often. I had almost forgotten what it meant!
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I'm sorry, but I don't get this. How is it "generous" to follow someone on Twitter? What are you actually giving a person? A following? How can that be generous when nothing is required of you?
Why bother to call out someone who follows no one? I'm sure there are many people on Twitter who do not follow anyone. Are you seeking them out so you can tell the world how disappointed you are? Why do you care?
So he podcasted about his interaction with and opinion of you . . . here you are, blogging about your interaction with and opinion of him! How are his thoughts less valuable than yours? His seem to be instructive about the energy people waste over silly things, while yours seems to be . . . I don't know. "See what a bad man he is?"
Forgive me, but there's a serious lack of maturity here. I won't be back to read anything else.
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Hi Sue,
Thanks so much for sharing your comments. Sorry to lose you.
Erika
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In a related story, Sue missed your point. Skimming over the meaning she perceived, she falsely characterized your post as a "you scratch mine, I'll scratch yours."
Ummm, you openly said that it wasn't about that: it was about give and take, sharing and learning, and that Twitter is about sharing what you know, then discovering what others know while you're at it. And lest mine eyes deceive: "I don't think you need to follow someone just because they follow you, but, seriously... no one? How is that possible? There are so many interesting and fantastic people on Twitter! I have learned so much from other people on Twitter that I would have never discovered on my own. What that says to me is that he only likes to hear himself talk and doesn't think he can learn anything from anyone else. " That was your issue, not scratch yours = scratch mine.
Good riddance Erika. We're all better off without such faux implied superiority.
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While I concur with your impressions of the Bentley etc, I have a different view on Twitter numbers:
1) I'm getting old. I limit myself to following 40 people. that's all i can handle and some days it still feels like a firehose. i read much less than half (plus i have a couple of twitter hashtag searches, plus RSS feeds, plus...). I find that is still enough to give me the zeitgeist and to get enough interesting leads to ensure I waste way too much time every day.
2) Anyone who follows thousands or tens of thousands of people generally gets cut from my followers. I'm insulted. they clearly aren't following for content, they're following to promote their own presence, to seek follow-backs.
3) I'm impressed Allen got thousands of followers. I'm not impressed by anything else you showed us about him, but that is impressive. people are listening.
So there's different ways to see this.
BTW I love your people-oriented approach to things - it resonates with stuff I'm into right now. As they say on the west coast: I love your work. I'll be following, just not necessarily on Twitter
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Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts - great insight. I agree with limiting the people you follow - It can be completely overwhelming. I am up to about 800 now, and a lot of it is becoming noise. I may end up purging my list at some point.
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