Do the Work. Social Media is Work.
Social media is work. Lots of work. Let’s not confuse work and play. Work is work.
Success is in the detail, the strategy, the execution. There’s no denying the work.
But we often forget.
We think social is social, chit chat. We can think social is fun, and often it is. We forget that social is work. We forget that social can be hard.
We forget and ignore that others are working hard. Perhaps they make it look easy, but they are working.
Perhaps they are established. They have already done their work. Perhaps they are already reaping their rewards, but don’t be fooled, they’ve put in their time and done their work.
Others have mastered the art, for them, their way.
They have built their audience, connections and community.
Do what it takes. There are no shortcuts.
Other people have written blog posts, created slidedecks, videos and podcasts.
You don’t create miracles and move mountains without work.
If you want miracles, you’d better get on with your work.
Oddly, sometimes you have to just have to stop talking.
Is that blog live yet? Do you have your next post written? Do you have a plan?
Social Media is lots of work. Lots of small actions. Lots of small miracles.
Social media is repetition. Building. Layering. Finessing. Connection by connection. Act by act. Event by event.
It’s all work. Work with people is still work. Conversation is still work.
Nothing has to be perfect.
You do have to hit send or publish.
You do have to let go. Move on.
You have to risk seeing your posts get ignored.
You have to risk getting no comments and no engagement.
That is the work, or part of it.
Social media is trust building. That is work.
Social media is faith. Blind faith in your plan.
Failing is work just as much as succeeding.
Work is work. You can’t shirk the work. Do it.
Do the work, not the talk.
You don’t need more advice.
It’s time to get off the sidelines.
Say no to needing more opinions or more data. You need your own data, you need your own 1st hand experience in the trenches. You need your own bruises and scars.
No more spectating.
No more lurking.
Comment on your experiences, not your expectations.
Stop imagining.
Comment because you know, not because you’ve heard.
Live it.
Work it. Work it, for all you have.
Dedicate yourself to the work.
Begin your journey.
Mastery takes work.
There is no denying. Enjoy the journey, but begin it.
Begin your journey. Put your people and your content crafting and your storytelling skills to work.
That’s how it works.
Then work becomes play. Are you ready? Ready to play?
Image Credit: chachijones via Flickr.com and Creative Commons
Nick is co-founder the social curation platform Listly, that combines crowdsourcing, content curation and embedable lists to drive high-level community engagement, live inside your blog posts. Connect with Nick on Twitter · Linkedin, Facebook and G+ and follow his writing via his other guest posts and on his blogs at NickKellet.com and blog.list.ly
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