Social Networking To Achieve – It's NOT A Time Waster
by Stanley Bronstein on May 17, 2008The idea for this posting was suggested through Twitter from @vaxen_var
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Nothing is a waste of time, if you use the experience wisely. (Auguste Rodin)
Time Is Of The Essence
Since time is so important, today’s post is going to be short and sweet.
What Constitutes A Waste Of Time?
The reason I chose today’s quote is that it PERFECT reflects my opinion on the subject. NOTHING, and I mean absolutely NOTHING is a waste of time, IF, IF, IF, you use the EXPERIENCE wisely.
What Are The Key Words Here?
Experience – a particular instance of personally encountering or undergoing something. the process or fact of personally observing, encountering, or undergoing something.
Wisely / Wisdom – having the power of discerning and judging properly as to what is true or right; possessing discernment, judgment, or discretion.
Short And Sweet
If you gain experience through doing, AND if you ultimately use the knowledge you have gained through your experiences to help you increase your power to judge property, IN THE FUTURE, as to what is true or right, THEN, whatever it was that you did was probably NOT a waste of time.
What Does This Have To Do With Social Networking?
Many people perceive social networking as nothing more than people getting together and chatting. INSTEAD, I perceive online social networking as merely the latest extension of a principal that has worked for thousands of years.
As my friend and mentor Charlie “Tremendous” Jones says, you will be the same person 5 years from now except for 2 things: the people you have met and the books you have read.
Social networking (or in this case, ONLINE social networking) is merely a new ways to meet people. IF you meet the right people and IF you work together through the relationships you forge to make good things happen, THEN, social networking will prove to have been a valuable experience.
What Am I Suggesting?
I am suggesting that social networking is good IF you use it for good reasons.
If you use it for bad reasons, THEN it is a waste of time (it might be fun, but you won’t gain anything from it other than the fun you felt while you were wasting your time.
I believe it is possible to have fun, WHILE doing things that also help you gain.
So, Is Social Networking Bad?
Personally, I think it is excellent. Social networking has allowed me to connect with readers and listeners throughout our entire world. I believe anytime we can make the world smaller and more connected, it is probably a good thing. BUT, BUT, BUT, if social networking is merely an outlet to sit around on our duffs and waste time and if it is NOT used to meet GOOD people and to gain knowledge, wisdom and experience, then it is probably a bad thing.
That’s why, IF you look at my graphic at the top of this post, I highlighted the words “FOR ACHIEVEMENT”.
If you are using social networking to achieve, then it is great. That’s is the point I wanted to make with today’s post.
Popularity: 6% [?]
Until next time, take care.
Stanley F. BronsteinHave you checked out my website that profiles the benefits of walking? iWarriorWalk.com
May 17th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Great article. Guess how I found it? Twitter, another great example of social media. If you look at the ‘big picture,” so few people really “get it.”
Kudos to you.
Sheree “The Social Media Butterfly” Motiska
May 17th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Great post, Mr. Achievement. I think we’re only beginning to discover ways social networking can be used for goal achievement. While there is a substantial amount of achievement-oriented literature in the behavioral sciences, I’m finding that little has been uncovered about the specific ways in which online collaboration and friending can help people live better lives. I’m glad to see that you’ve embraced a variety of SN tools to bring hope and ideas to your readers.
Great stuff!
KAED!
May 17th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Sheree:
Twitter is an interesting phenomenon that I’m just beginning to understand and embrace. The key was to start communicating DIRECTLY with the Twitter community and have the lines of communication work BOTH ways, from me and to me.
May 17th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Matt:
I am embracing Twitter because it has embraced me. I LOVE interacting with the community.
May 18th, 2008 at 1:36 am
Good one Stanley, only I would like to see more developement of the core idea. http://oss.net/ is about ‘open source intelligence’ as a means to ending conflict. Social networking can be utilised towards the same ends. Belive me CIA, NSA, FBI, etc., ad infinitum, know this.
Beyond polarity is the central issue of communication. Most of our worlds problems have to do with a serious lack of communication. Whether that be induced by other determined venues, extraneous to ones own self determination, or induced via fear of getting out of womb flash forest into the greater universe of self discovery … it is communication, social networking, which enables true communication thus solutions to our ‘need.’
Thanks, Stanley, for this article. Glad you’re here and glad you’re aware…
http://twitter.com/vaxen_var
May 18th, 2008 at 6:17 am
vaxen_var
I’ll try to expand upon this in future posts, BUT one key point I would like to make is that Social Networking is just the latest “method” of communication. Communication (or the lack thereof) has been going on for thousands of years.
Communication is a means to end conflict. It always has been and it always will be. The problem is whether or not people want to communicate.
An interesting theory is that, the easier it is for people to communicate; the more likely they are to communicate; the more likely they are to communicate; the more likely they are to use that communication wisely; the more wisely they use their communication opportunities, the more likely they are to resolve conflicts.
I’m not sure whether I agree to not, BUT perhaps that might be a good topic for today’s post.
Stay tuned.