Advertising or Sharing?
You attend a networking event and ‘share’ you are going and were there! Are you truly sharing or are you advertising the fact that you are out there being a mover and a shaker?
You fundraised for a local charity! Are you sharing you love this charity and want to help or are you advertising your giving moment and trying to look good?
You level up and attain accreditation for taking a course that is for your business and business growth! You share this across social media – or do you advertise it to boast and feel important?
Everything can be taken multiple ways!
My thought process is this – your intention is what matters.
My thought process is this – whether it is sharing or advertising, does that label make a difference? Both must be done!
We need to share who we are, things that matter to us, show moments and glimpses into our world.
We need to advertise where to find us, what matters to us, show moments and glimpses into our world.
Are you afraid of sharing or advertising?
Here we are living in a world where some are ‘afraid’ to put themselves out there. They don’t want to come across as being boastful, prideful, egotistical. Are they truly afraid of that or is it more a matter of – they fear the perception others will have? I think it’s the latter.
Just as the examples above share how one post can be viewed as advertising versus sharing, each of these words pride, egotistical, boastful, have individual meaning to everyone who reads them based on their perceptions and path life has taken them on.
Example: A lady who has achieved diploma after diploma, had multiple viral moments, has achieved attention from those with huge social influence, drives a fancy car, lives in a fancy home, is seen traveling to exotic places – shares on social media all the above.
Some will view this and say with a tone ‘look at her, who does she think she is, she is rubbing this in our faces’. Others will say with a tone ‘Wow, good for her, she inspires me, I want to partake in the world like she does.’
Do we know why others are sharing what they share?
She may be sharing because as a child she did without, put others before her, never had friends, never found anyone to believe in her so she is excited to share all she has attained.
She may be sharing because her family and those she loves depends on her income and she needs to put herself out there to continue to bring in fame and fortune.
She may be sharing because she has been given a terminal diagnosis and wants to live her last bit of life out loud and unplugged and unfiltered and uncensored.
Has anyone with the perception she is egotistical asked her why she shares? I bet not.
Has anyone inspired by her asked her why she shares? I bet not.
Has anyone asked? I bet not.
Just do it! *Famous Nike Line*
Your job is to do YOU.
Your job is NOT to wonder what I am thinking or perceiving or how I am interpreting what you are posting. Your job is to share, be seen, be transparent, be open, be found! Your job is to be approachable! Your job is to share and advertise. Your job is to do YOU.
Show up for yourself.
Show up for your business.
Show up.
Written by Cheryl Clark – Clark Strategies | A Strategic Partner of Amazingly Virtual