"Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results."
~Willie Nelson
This blog was originally written about Business, Sales, Leadership, Social Media optioneerJM since May 2010. As I was critiquing myself, I recognized that I strayed from its main purposes with reflections on matters that are unbusiness-related.
I have since branched out to Meanderings because there are many issues I want to write about that don't fall under business. I hope you will visit, follow, share and help me there. It is your support that inspires me to write. If you have an idea or question you would like me to write about on optioneerJM or Meanderings, drop me a line and let me know optioneerJM@gmail.com.
It is far easier to write about one's personal experiences than based on others. We all face situations that tick us off, perplex, astound, shock, disgust us. However, we all need to dig deeper to look for the positives we encounter.
I was flying in a particular Canadian airline this past week, whom I was disappointed in their service last year. Unfortunately, I did use my social media skills to bring it to their attention. And, attend to it they did. It reminded me of one of the greatest advice ever received in my career: "people don't always judge you on the mistakes you make, but they will judge you based upon how you fix them." How true that is!
Seriously, though. You would think that most brands have a look out peeled towards negative social media posts. They react so quickly. Some call it damage control. However, disappointing as it sounds, if you pay them a compliment, you will hardly, if ever, be acknowledged. For example, I did tweet what a marvelous experience I had, without a peep.... What does that say about the force of social media? Shouldn't it be a force to be reckoned with in its ability to spread good news? Why not simply focus on what is good?
Scan through the feed on Twitter or trending topics and it will likely be about scandal, shock, sadness. Heck, I thought I strayed away from media for that very reason. I used to think that if I wanted to be disappointed, shocked, saddened, all I had to do was turn on the news or pull out a newspaper. It all amounts to the biggest scoop or the loudest headline rather than anyone or anything helping others.
It doesn't say much about us as a humanity that we swoop in and glue ourselves to stories about those fallen from grace, accidents, horror, beautiful babes, controversy, terror and beyond .... first. Then there are the broadcasts cloaked as wisdom that scream "pick me, click me". We are all guilty of being rubber-neckers: slowing down to view the scene of others' accidents, blunders, misery, mayhem, catastrophe, power plays.
There is a lot to be celebrated about in our world: births, bravery, beauty, cuteness, poetry, wisdom, knowledge, We do celebrate our sports teams, heroes, events, cities, countries, or communities. Sadly, in much lower dosage.
I do try, as many of us do, to be someone associated with positive vibes, celebratory congratulation, admiring wisdom, bravery, courage, and the little guys and gals who make a difference in our world. I adore the discovery of someone or some company who is doing some thing that is making a difference in making our world a better place.
Certainly, I would love to have earned the fame and wealth of Oprah who for the most part does incredible things for young girls and education. Or, be the world's wealthiest billionaire, Bill Gates, who will always remain the found of Microsoft and not of the philanthropy those riches have empowered him and his wife to bestow to make the world a better place.
"If you don't get out of the box you've been raised in, you won't understand how much bigger the world is."
~Angelina Jollie Pitt
What about Angelina Jollie Pitt, wouldn't it be easier to label her as a femme fatale or marriage wrecker than to acknowledge her as an accomplished actress first, married to Brad Pitt second? You will find further down the line a humanitarian (and in my opinion, should be at the forefront) an even greater example for women's health: putting health before beauty or what society expects.
I believe it within each of us to encourage one another, champion causes that are for the good and shun anything negative. We have the ability to stop ourselves from pulling the thread to prevent unraveling. We can control what we seek, promote, share and pronounce on social media.
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