Today I was going to write about “If, Then” statements as I currently believe they are the simplest form of brilliance ever. If this happens, then this happens. If I do this, then the outcome will be this. If I code this, then that will happen. Therefore, one of my favorite new websites is IFTTT.com
If, Then works because…
It’s simple. It’s focused. It’s brilliant. But when I woke up today, someone else had beat me to the punch and covered why:
The Power of Implementation Intentions
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So here’s what you get instead…
Over the weekend, I thought I’d finally sign up for Pinterest and check it out. I knew what it was before signing up, just had never seen any real value in it. Given it’s popularity and the fact that I am sort of in the technology business with RETSO and all, I figured I should at least sign up and see for myself what I was missing.
My impression so far…
It is really possible to be too social in life. And this coming from a guy who has been on social networks since day one. I’ve tried hundreds of new social technologies and yet the last 2 I’ve tried have really left a sour taste. Spotify and Pinterest are both way too social. Before I could even set up my first Pinterest board, I had autofollowed dozens of people, received countless followers myself, plus recieved a text message and several facebook messages about my joining of Pinterest. I had not even posted a single entry yet, geesh.
This concept of making every single experience in life as social as possible is ridiculous.
I’m not saying social is a bad idea, heck it’s actually essential for both personal and business growth today. But I’d much prefer to earn my social credibility than gain gobs of attention and interest for just showing up. This is probably the reason I prefer corners in a room crowded with people. It’s why I’d rather find one or two quality people per party, networking event, conference, etc… you can have the masses.
In conclusion…
I will keep my Pinterest account for a bit longer, because most of the damage is done for now. But I did delete my Spotify account last week. Yes, I know I could go in and change all the settings to make it a more private experience, but that puts work on me to craft an experience which seems counter to the software’s aim in life. I’m not interested in swimming against the stream just to listen to music on my own terms. There are just too many other options.
Pinterest better become amazing, else I’ll be deleting it soon as well.
Another point of view:
I am the stalker FaceBook user; which means I don’t tell you what I’m doing, rarely comment on posts, and only share something that is extremely relevant to me (the only one I have done is the MissRepresentation uTube in the last 6 months.)
Social credibility I believe as you do that it comes from the daily interaction with people face to face. Only then can you read the non verbal as well as the verbal and get a true understanding of what someone is saying. I recently taught my 13 year old son the difference between saying the word no and writing the word no. We can whisper it, we can yell it, we can be funny…. You get the picture. In how you say something out loud you define your credibility.
So my point of writing was actually about Pinterest…. I’m an artist and see Pinterest as a visual inspiration board. Do I comment with everything I pin? No the mere fact that I’m pinning should say I like what you did. I’m finding inspiration, ideas that yes come from complete strangers. So far I’ve learned and seen more then all my time on FB – not once has any one told me where they are eating dinner. Instead I have found tasty recipes, clever how to projects and a wealth of inspiring images.
As you have taught me 🙂 my suggestion is to view Pinterest not as a social networking site, view it as a visual inspiration board. Just a thought….
Thanks Shawn for your comments. It means a lot to me to get a ‘stalker’ to comment publicly.
We are on the same page for social credibility. Although I believe some can be earned online. I’m just not interested in a bunch of ‘followers’ without first having earned some credibility.
Pinterest may prove to be an awesome sight that I love and use all the time. It just sucks that my first experience with them was one of mass explosion without me ever earning anything by my actions on the network.
In the future, software designers should wait to blast everyone until you’ve at least posted ‘board, status, or something’. or even better, they should design a very simple work flow for the user to go thru to establish sharing guidelines up front.
I look forward to some inspiration from your boards.
I have a Pinterest account, but I don’t get it. Every person I know who “gets” Pinterest is a girl.
Try Path.
🙂
Oh I have Jim and LOVE Path. See my thoughts on why here: http://www.bradnix.com/when-the-world-zigs-zag/