Change...Still A Scary Thing

Today I opened my Gmail Inbox and happily found that someone reputable (other than 'Hot Body67') was actually following me on Twitter and I absolutely cannot tell you how they got my name to even begin following me but they did. Wow! This was going to be the start of a great day, I could just feel it.

Well, needless to say as most of us have already figured out that once someone follows you, more than likely you'll end up following them too. It ended up being a subscription service for social media management. Well hey, thinking to myself, I'm a business consultant so this may not be too bad. Well what happened next nearly stroked me. I was sent an article from my new followers regarding an article from Payscale.com, written by Carol Tice regarding pay salaries offered by companies employing Social Networking Site Managers, Marketing Specialist, etc. I could have died right there when I saw that wopping $120K annually for these hired guns to develop and maintain their employers social networking sites via: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Blogger, and other sites accordingly.

I had just a few minutes to sit, stare and attempt to absorb this mind-blowing news before running out to an afternoon consult w/a new prospect.While driving to this prospect's home, I couldn't help but ponder this question: "If corporations are willing to pay this kind of money to have someone build and maintain their social networking sites, just how much money are they making?"  I recall reading a headline the other day that in 2009, Google helped to generate $54B for businesses and nonprofits. "The report from Google looked at the economic activity generated by the company's search engine, the ads that run next to search results, the amount the company pays to Web sites that run ads, and grants made by its nonprofit arm, Google.org" (Google.com). Wow...that dear reader is quite a bit of money!

As I arrived at my meeting I sat there listening to this prospect explain their depth of PC knowledge and was looking for finding opportunities to develop the product, which of course, heavily involved SEO (search engine optimization), platform development, advertisers, that whole myriad of developing something so extensive that this would be no easy project but doable.

I began to ask the 'normal' questions regarding what tools or methods where in place to draw attention to this product, self-promotion, you know, the history and background of the expert. Then I asked the fatal question: Are you blogging? I think I passed out because when I rejoined the conversation my partner was handing me water. And then more water. Then I needed ice.

I literally could not believe that one so knowledgeable and gifted, one with so much to share with others, including the global community and yet, here this person, needing funding and promotion, visibility and investors was not using the very tools....sigh.

What are we truly afraid of we it comes to technology? That its moving so fast? What...that it has changed the way we live, work and play forever? Are we afraid that one day we're going to wake up and poof! It's all gone away as if all this was nothing more than a bad dream? What really keeps us (society) from engaging in and embracing technology? The answer is simply, change.

It's that underlying fear that we have that the world as we knew it and for the most part, didn't know us, will all but disappear, and nothing will have any relevance. If everything is going digital then what's significant? How significant is it to try to keep up with the changing times? Or change with the times? How does one make sense of the world around him or her? How have the rules of engagement changed in the workplace? In the community? At the grocers? God forbid one should go to the bank and ask a question...please! Even health-care clinics and doctors offices look like scenes from Star Trek or Battlestar Galactica with all the digital note-taking and scanning devices we are subjected to nowadays.

Yes, the world has changed. In many ways. But the one thing that is constant is that we are still human beings with human needs that won't be going away. As with moving to another city, state, country, or even making a major appliance purchase, or auto purchase...you have to get used to it. And you do it in the simplest terms...one day at a time. Engage with the tools that are most interesting, then fun. Watch demonstrations, watch young people interact with technology, and above all, don't be afraid to touch it. The best way I find to learn new programs, widgets, applications, or online services is to first make a mess of everything and then go back and correct the problems. Who has that kind of time? You do if you want to connect and embrace technology. If you want to develop and expand your business, your web presence, and possibly even attract some of that $54B economic activity being generated by those who have taken the plunge, one must find him or herself engaging in more activities other than emailing.

Make the transition as easily as possible. Start with a Google site and develop it. And pictures, music, an Amazon product carousel, a blog, monetize it, and last but not least, show it off!

Change is essential but it is also inevitable. I do not deny that at times it is not scary, but that should not make any one become paralyzed; stagnant. Keep exploring and move on into the mainstream of change. Journal your experiences and share them with others who may be experiencing the same fears. Who knows, that journal may end up being an 'ebook!' Happy Transformations!