Don Corleone — Social Media Godfather
Posted on Friday, November 13th, 2009
When Don Corleone’s consiglieri (lawyer) harangues the aging crime boss with a list of actions to avoid, the Godfather replies: “I’m not paying you to tell me what I CAN’T do, I’m paying you to tell me what I CAN do.” Short and tweet, that may be the best social media advice on record.
Think back to the blogs or tweets you yourself like best. Are your favorite blogs the short & to-the-point ones, or the ramblers? Blog or tweet, the snarky & downbeat, or the ones that provide practical advice, inspiration or a good laugh? The answers are pretty obvious. Whether in social media or 3D life, we all prefer what helps, makes us feel good, and does it quickly.
In her new book “Bright-Sided,” author Barbara Ehrenreich notes how Americans, as a people and nation, are defined by our optimism. Ehrenreich believes we take the cult of positivism to an extreme — a point I won’t debate here. But a visit to the shelf-packed self-help section of any book store proves she’s dead right on point number one.
Some years ago I wrote a monthly motivational advice column for trade pubs. While I took every word I wrote seriously, I had no clue how much others did til I visited the publisher’s office one day. Total strangers flocked around me to say “thank you.” That moment was a real eye-opener.
So am I saying that everybody should turn into a starry-eyed optimist blathering sweet nothings on the Web? Hardly. That’d get dull in a hurry. There’s a place in this world for the Jeremiah.
Just take care not to overdo it and at length. Followers might “make you an offer you can’t refuse.”
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