Take the Tools and Run With Them

Couldn't agree more, Chris.

As an efficiency consultant, I run into a lot of people who expect me to use and recommend the latest new productivity apps/tools. In reality, I use pen, paper, and spreadsheets, because most productivity/CRM apps suck.

New-app-makers (not to discount their hard work) expect me to adapt my process to how their tool works, when what we really need is process FIRST and then to find tools to complement our process.

Semi-Jinx. I posted this earlier about the importance of a good tool in reaching the outside world.

Great post Chris. Meshing Social Media into real-world situations and communities is where the real test is.

Don't run too fast until you understand where you are.

Remember Sid Meier's Pirates?

There's apprentice, journeyman, master, and swashbuckler.

At the apprentice stage, you should absolutely be learning, growing, developing, talking, sharing, and standing by a mentor's side learning your trade.

Once your mentor "graduates" you from apprenticeship into being a journeyman in your own right, only then should you strike out on your own and apply the lessons learned.

Leave too soon, and at best you'll be reinventing the wheel.

I live the life of a technology developer, albeit not computer technology. I work every day in a laboratory where we develop neat new alternative medicine technology. Well, actually, we re-introduce *old* medicine technology. My company is specialized in adapting traditional medicines for modern use.

If you spend enough time in this field (and I have) it becomes a small world, with the same group of friends discussing the same issues over and over. Sometimes, it can become a bit redundant - recursive, even.

I think that this is what you are talking about here, too. There are getting to be so many tech evangelists in the social media scene that as consumers of what you folks produce, we begin to wonder if anyone is doing anything else except evangelizing. Sort of like Amway. :)

Trying real hard to not use the terms echo chamber and fishbowl in the rest of this response.

There will always be a need for reporters and teachers to help show the way. Normally, these folks keep up with trends and allows others to focus on producing content and pushing the boundaries of the tools at hand.

What has happened in tech recently has defied this trend. A lot of people have mistaken the tech and the reporting as the destination rather than the path. Thus, we have tons of talking heads saying the same things, often just repetitiously, yet not producing or expanding the usefulness of the tools at hand.

Another point is the "sequel" aspect. Remember how amazing the Matrix was, before the sequels that is. Go back a bit with Stallone. Both First Blood and Rocky were very well received, but have been very much diluted in people's minds by the sequels.

This sort of thing is happening in the social media world. The true reporters, insiders, and teachers are now being lumped in with the--it had to happen--echo chamber due to so many doing nothing but talking about tech, trends, and social media rather than using these tools to build or produce.

For every Arrington, Godin, and not to stroke the ego, Brogan, there are so many that just talk and repeat what the insiders say, over and over.

How can you tell if you are legitimate or part of the problem? Do you add value to conversations or just repeat over and over? Do you work for or write for any companies in the tech world? Are you actually in PR or just a socnet user? Do you have any of the tech insiders in your phone list and will they take your calls if you do?

Feldman sleeps at Arrington's house when in Cali. Paisano now writes for Mashable. Pepper has become a major trend buster. Person X has a blog with 25 readers and says everyone else is full of crap, but will consult with your company for $75.00 an hour to show how Facebook works and handle your online PR. Spot the fraud.

At least there is a reduction recently in the number of people that list themselves as social media experts or consultants, just because they use Twitter and have a Facebook profile.

And hey, not to be hypocritical, I was an idiot for a while myself. I toyed with this road before coming to my senses and realizing I am a podcaster, not any kind of guru. A damned good podcaster, yes, but still a podcaster. A web media producer and user of the tools.

But, and there is always a but, one could argue that my outspokenness on this issue actually makes me a talking head as much as those I rail against. That irony is not lost on me.

So, keep talking, I guess.

Great post! It's very easy to get stuck in the trap of needing to "keep up to date" and "learn more" rather than actually doing things, trying things, possibly making a couple mistakes along the way but learning through experience rather than reading. Thanks for this reminder that we should be out there doing rather than observing!

@Marina, imagine that. They hear 1/2 of what you say and run off? Maybe this ties to Chris Penn's comment.

@Stu, I owe you a Coke.

@Chris, that's a great point. If you learn a few things and run off, you're Luke Skywalkering. Is that always bad? I dunno. How much do you like both hands? : )

@Shannon, you said it, not me.

@ Eban, very very interesting perspective. I really appreciate your point of view. I've been mulling over thoughts like this since attending Gnomedex, and I was going at it a different way in this post. I was saying that once you get your skills, go bring them to YOUR passions and communities. But to your point, the me-too-ism could really do to run away.

I love this post - because I find I spend so much time lately reading about best ways to promote your blog, how to get unstuck, how to use Facebook to promote blog. Which are all great and useful reads but it sometimes is an excuse for me not getting my work done. I have to remember that reading about promoting/writing my blog and is only part of the process - the other is to like you said use the tools and make it happen. Thanks.

"But make the CONTENT of what you build with these tools such that it focuses on your universe and the relationships and stories you want to build."

I should embroider this on the pillow I use to sleep on every night.

My focus for the past 5 months has been to learn as much as I can about social media & Web 2.0. But, I'm not in technology or PR, I'm in education and so this knowledge can't be an end in itself, as exciting and different as it is.

I'm not a player, I'm a visitor and I still have to figure out how to utilize what I've learned (and am still learning) towards accomplishing projects in MY universe.

@Liz - and these tools can do GREAT things for education. Watch this space. I have a post about that soon (tommorrow?)

Yes we don't need more social media about social media-ing anymore than we need blogs about blogging!