Riding the Tide or Building a Wave?

A couple weeks ago we had Lorie Tesny from the Sailing through Life podcast on Speaking of Impact episode 41.  She’s a sailor and we talked about how there’s some sort of peace about the wind and nature pushing you along.  I’ve never experienced this in a boat but I feel like I have in other ways.

Last night (I normally write E-Impact on Saturday mornings), my wife and I and attended a small gathering with some friends of mine from Toastmasters.  It wasn’t the big party with people in close quarters and loud music for which you might be yearning.  It was more of a roundtable discussion about life and the world over the past 15 months.  There was some food, some drinks, some laughs, and a lot of insight.  I was reminded about how much differently people have experienced the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Humans normally follow other humans. We learn by watching other people and then repeating what they do.  This is why YouTube is such a big hit.  When you want to learn something, you search for it on the second most used search engine in the world (YouTube) and you find a video of someone already doing it.  The most popular things have an incredible amount of views.  See this video about how to buy Bitcoin.  It has over 1.1 million views.  Granted, it’s a great quality video.  But, the Bitcoin wave is certainly gaining momentum.  People want know how to get involved so they watch a tutorial.  

Here’s the ten most popular non-music YouTube videos of all time.  Not only is this list funny, it also provides some insight as to the amount of time we spend on YouTube.  These are the tides that we have ridden the most.  I wouldn’t say the messages are bad.  Yet, I would say that they’re not making an impact. 

I think search engines and the internet in general are a net positive for society.  They help find information quickly and the human race can be more educated as a whole.  We must however, be careful not to minimize the importance of our decision making.  We have to exercise the brain (our decision making muscle) to make wise decisions.  Otherwise, we are at the whim of whoever’s video we watch.  And one of the drawbacks of the internet is that just about anyone can make a video.  With good timing, a little support, and maybe a little luck, any post or other form of information can start a “wave”.  

When I was in middle school, there were some strange trends.  The one that sticks out the most is slap bracelets.  They didn’t last very long but they sure were a hit; literally and figuratively.  In fact, they were such a hit literally that they were banned from school.  I never witnessed serious injury but I do remember a few instances when a “slap-fight” broke you.  You had to slap the bracelet on your opponents arm or leg (or anywhere else if it fit, I guess).  This led to some pretty bruised and red arms; maybe even a little blood.  Needless to say, there was good reason for the school to eliminate them from the campus. 

I never bought a slap bracelet.  But, I did obtain a few in some giveaway bags or freebies from some events.  It was exciting to get my own.  I felt like I was part of the popular club.  However, after about two minutes of slapping it over my forearm, I realized how underwhelming the process was - not to mention I wasn’t, and am still not, a fan of jewelry.   

I learned different things from different trends growing up.  One thing though was reinforced by all of them.  Humans just like to do what other humans are doing.  We get excited about other people’s approval and understanding of what we do.  We feel accepted, justified, and part of something.  We’ll go to great lengths for those feelings.  

What are some of the trends that you have joined in your life?

Did you join them because you found them interesting or the people around you found them interesting?  Or, the people around the people around you?  It’s really a never ending loop.

I am not discrediting the power and intelligence of the masses.  In a free market, the most useful things tend to gather and keep attention.  They advance the world and make our lives better.  The problem is that it’s harder than ever to identify these things in a short period of time these days.  The “speed’ of information has slowed down clarity.

We are impactmakers.  This means we have to rise above the clutter.  We need to stand out in an impactful way.   I have thought a lot about how to do that.  But, I’ve concluded that the first step is knowing why.  Identifying the purpose of your “trend” is vital.  I am sure that Quinn Tempest from episode 22 of Speaking of Impact would agree.

A good “why” can be one of the most powerful forces in your life.   In identifying your “why” it’s important to avoid the trends.  Disconnect from what’s poplar.  Avoid “riding the tide”.  This is easier said than done.  Even when trying to create new movement we can look towards what the masses are doing.  This not innovative.  It’s very hard to make an impact without something changing.   

“A Change Would Do You Good” - Sheryl Crow

Of course, I searched for this on YouTube.  

I know I’m issuing challenge.   I feel that as we move towards what is hopefully the end of this pandemic that we should be inspired to make our purpose known. 

Now is your chance to start something great.  We have this amazing collision of technology, forward thought, and freedom.  More people than ever are comfortable using modern technology for information.  We’ve been forced to think about how to do things differently.  And finally, the world is going to “open up” again.

Think about what means the most to you.  What has the last fifteen months taught you?  Yes, fifteen months.  What was it like right before we went into lock down?  What was it like during the lock down?  And, what is it like with the end on of the pandemic on the horizon?  These questions will help you get to your “why”.  

With your defined “why”, you can move to how.  Your “how” is simply the way you are going to execute your “why”.  Outside of illegal or immoral activity, it really doesn’t matter how.  It’s just the means that you do.  

We now get to apply the positive side of technology.  We can use its merits to our advantage and reach endless amount of people.  It will just take some consistency and your “why” will ensure that you are consistent.  If it doesn’t, you’ll need to circle back and redefine it.  

Technology will help you educate yourself.  But more importantly, it will help you educate others.  You will find information and share it freely.  You will use Facebook as a positive communication tool and not a crowd inciting medium.   You will use Twitter as an idea incubator and not a set of digital boxing gloves.  Instagram is your encouraging visualizer and not your vanity wall.  

Take a look at the tools that you have available to you.  List them out.  I’ve done this.  It’s overwhelming.  Yet, it’s good to know that you have so many options.  Then, you need to identify the ones you think would be the most helpful or the ones that you are best at.  It could be any of the social media sites out there, it could be your phone, it could even be, dare I say, e-mail!  Actually, it could also be snail mail.  My point is that this more an exercise of comfortably than necessity.   

It doesn’t matter what message you want to share or positive impact you want to make.  There are enough people on all the channels on which you can share your message.  The one thing that you DO NOT want to do is over commit.  Pick your top three at most.  You can even start with less.  I currently use the Speaking of Impact podcast, this blog, and the Impact Insights weekly e-mail to spread my message. 

After you’ve identified your top three (or less) tools, you need to do your research on how to use them most effectively.  There are numerous resources.  My number one tip is to consult a resource on the medium itself to find out the best way to do it.  If you want to write a great newsletter, sign up for the one that explains how to do it well.  If you want to use Tik-tok effectively, follow someone who’s doing it really well and “building in public”.  You’ll get on demand tutorials and real examples of it being done.  Again, this is what makes the digital information age so powerful.

The Rising Tide

I’m loving the YouTube theme here.  Check out this video with 1.3 million views about how tides work.  It’s a complicated process and it doesn’t happen immediately.  A lot of things have to align.  I mentioned early in this entry about needing some luck to get some recognition.  It may be true, but either way, there is a great level of complexity.  A level that will not allow us to measure our success well in the early stages.  We have to let our “why” continue to motivate as we work through the “how”.  We know what means the most, but we have to “practice” expressing it.  The November 3, 2020 E-Impact Blog entry explains the importance of consistency.  That’s how you practice and execute all at the same time.  It’s the same process that the social media stars “building in public” use.  They are gaining traction while honestly presenting their experiences.  Not a bad way to build a tide of positive impact, huh?

Riding the tide can be an easy choice to make.  Building a wave is different.  My greatest “sailing” experiences have always revolved around a strong purpose.  I may not ever get out on the sailboat with Lorie, but I am determined to build some great waves of impact.  

We can build great tides together.  We can learn and build at the same time.  A great way to start is to ask yourself the questions from above anytime you find yourself riding the popularity tide. 

Next time you do go down the YouTube rabbit hole, stop.  Consult your “why” and substitute the highly viewed videos for your “how” and tell me about it, @bdepa. See you on the socials!