If You Had To Start Again

I was having lunch with someone asking about becoming an Active Authority – someone who uses Social Media to actively engage people in a particular subject by demonstrating genuine expertise.

A comment on a recent post made me see this in a new light. Codi Spodnik, re-entering the professional world after years as a stay-at-home parent, wrote:

I am finding the same talk and catch phrases everywhere, regardless of actual experience or competence. I was really struggling to find a way to create my own genuine identity without engaging in this practice.

I totally feel this. So my question for everyone here is: if you had to start again, what would you do?

Here’s what I’d do: create content on a focused subject that provides people with very clear and practical takeaways, then engage with anyone who interacted with me or the content at any level, and do my best to help them make the content work for them.

Not build a brand. Not get a logo. Not write a manifesto.

Create useful things. Engage the people who engage with them. Help them.