Jan 31 in Social Media
Written by: Heather Rast
Mitch Joel wrote this line in a recent post on the Six Pixels of Separation blog: “You have to believe in yourself and what you’re doing.” The premise is that it’s OK to project an air of confidence while gaining the real-life skills and experience required to produce good work, provided the assignment is a stretch and not a leap. The road to success doesn’t offer up shortcuts.
Stretching is about being familiar with basic concepts, reading articles, and maybe even picking up some pieces from team members here and there. Absorbing the bits. Your skills are a 4.5 on a scale of 10.
Image courtesy Geoff Livingston
Stretching is when you respond to an RFP knowing that yes, you really could deliver if selected for the job. You might not sleep much and you’ll definitely overshoot your hours (and owe some friends some pizza), but you’ll gladly drink three gallons of Red Bull and eat the overage for the chance to get something like that in your portfolio. Because that’s the direction you want to go, if only given a chance. You want to take what you’ll learn and build on it. You want that project to shine.
Leaping is different. Leaping is when you think “I’m just gonna go for it. It can’t be that complicated.” You use charm, personal relationships, called-in favors or voodoo to get a project in a service area that’s too big for you. It’s not really in your sphere of experience; you’re not there to learn. Your eye is on the bottom line (big budget!) or the big fish you know you’ll be exposed to. You want that project to get you somewhere: a seat at the table; an introduction; a stage. Leaping is a disingenuous shortcut to the spotlight.
It’s OK to see yourself one step ahead. Even two. But you can’t legitimately get there from here without some solid ground under your feet. For the love of Mike, don’t use a Twitter background that says you want to “help people” if what you really want is for sycophants to help you.
Stretching is good. Leaping is lame.
Have the courage to stretch yourself a little every day. You’ll grow and become stronger (gain experience) because you were driven enough to test yourself every step along the way. Your success can look and feel very different than what others have in their minds.
Leave the leaping for the losers and posers. One day the canyon will prove to be much bigger than they bargained for.
But you will have already built your bridge. <waves from other side>
Related posts:
- I’ll Have A Plate of Social Media Success. Hold The Planning and Purpose.
- 2 Nuggets of social media gold
- 5 Social Media Lies
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