All of You Put the “Social” in “Social Media”
I have been mulling over this post for some time, but yesterday, crystallized it finally in my mind. I think there are many who believe that if you are on Twitter, Facebook or [insert social media tool here] that somehow, you live in your Mom’s basement with the curtains drawn and screech like a ferret when someone introduces light into the room. Not true. I am lucky to have integrated social media into my life. In so many ways.
So I have compiled a list below of how social media, in one form or another, has impacted my life. Sorry for the long, post, but if you get tired of reading it, you can always click here to read about SEC Interim Temporary Final Rules.
You’re back? Good. Here’s my list:
Friends Whom I Have Not Yet Met
Ike Pigott really got me thinking a couple of weeks ago when he CALLED me. How about that?Â
As usual, Ike is smart and funny, but he has this great idea. How about, once in a while, we take the online world over to Ma Bell and call each other? Ike, as usual, you are dead on, so you highlight this list.
Matthew, who, despite being a Yankee fan, you are an ok guy – and responded to a then desperate blog post from me about recurring pneumonia with sound advice about taking some herbal medication. And in that year or so, I may have had one cold. What a difference.
Thanks Jonathan, for the wonderful comment you made on my blog last year about my children. Thanks. Julia, you noticed my posts and offered immediately to donate to my little girl’s campaign to raise money for the children of Haiti. We share a lot in common on parenting, and I can’t wait to meet you one of these years. Tim, we’ve done a Media Bullseye Radio Roundtable together and tweeted, but your posts and tweets and both funny and insightful. I love reading your stuff. Neville, I feel like I already know you and am certain that in 2010, we’ll finally get to meet in person. And I am grateful for the opportunity to be whom David Wescott calls “FIR Boy.” And Shel, in my mind, you literally wrote the book on online public relations and I am so grateful to be part of the FIR community.
Kami, we too have done a Media Bullseye Radio Roundtable together, I feel like I know you and am 100% sure that you are going to kick ass in your new venture with Geoff.
And speaking of Geoff, I can’t leave out our recent Twitter conversation about the fun night you, me, Larissa, Mark and Shel had, celebrating his birthday. And Mark – it was so awesome catching up between speeches at the PRSA event yesterday.
Friends I Have Met Because of Social Media
Jason, you top this list. Not only are you smart as hell, you are funny as hell and I am lucky to call you a friend. So I’ll start with a “BlogWorldExpo 2009 list” and mention how much fun I had connecting with Shauna, Tac, Eric, Shannon, Ed, Jen and many, many others last October. I
think that it was a contact high just meeting each other. I was in the speaker ready room with Guy Kawasaki, for Christ’s sake. And as I was doing the Garth and Wayne “I’m Not Worthy,” Brian Solis took a few moments to chat – and was funny and down to earth. And Dave – I’ll be getting that speaker proposal in soon. 2009 was one hell of a good time.
Kate, you too are special, not only for the “Keep Austin Weird” person you are, but als
o for the kindness you displayed when you responded to my daughter’s Haiti drive -and emailed her.
And special shout-out to Doug, who is not only funny and smart, but did the Pan Mass Bike Challenge to raise money for the Dana Farber Institute – and mailed me (old school) a handwritten thank you for my little donation.
Eric – meeting you last week was a blast. And I am beyond psyched to be working on stuff in the future.
You are a real friend. Shonali, although we are geographically close, we don’t get together enough. That needs to change in 2010 as well. You are smart, funny and one hell of a networker.
Academic Mentions
Robert, you have set the academic social media standard for others to follow. But what is so clear is that you care enough about your students to push them to have REAL LIFE experience with it. To dare to try while they learn. PROpenMic is brilliant and I constantly see you pushing for job opportunities for your students. As an instructor myself, I can tell you that that particular part of teaching is not in your job description; it’s in your character. Barbara, I am dying to meet you via Skype video or however I can learn more about what you teach. And (Robert, too) count me in for a guest appearance at computer screen near you.
Really Special Academic Mentions
This is for my Georgetown peeps. Not only was teaching seriously one of the greatest joys in my life, the fact that so many of you have kept in touch me with me, asking advice (educational of life
advice) is just plain flattering – and humbling. And as we have transitioned from professor/student to friends, I am so grateful to know you, Lill, Megan, Anne, Kristen, Shannon, Jessica, Claudia, Mike, Sunaina, Georgi, Raquel, Laura, Sherice, Jolie, Joe, Shilpika, Alma, Tarun, Anca, Aimee, Becky, Catherine, and Josie (please move back – mid term elections are soon – heh). A couple of you have moved out of the country since you finished, but still keep in touch, It means a lot. And what was even more meaningful was watching several of you walk across that stage and get your diplomas. I was like a proud pappa. And I know that I suck because I know that I have left someone out completely by mistake, but that’s why they have the “edit” button on blog posts. And yes, I could have died a happy man after that picture.
People From the Past
Most of this comes from former employers (I have a lot of them). I firmly believe that if you are real friends, the friendship transcends the term of employment. So David, I have watched you go from an agency newbie to someone who has completely mastered the art of social media – and regularly kicks my ass in the stuff you write. Hillary, I will never forget that you were there for me when my mom was dying. Never. Same for you, Maura, Jess and Layle. Spencer, it’s great that I still get to see you from time to time.  I love reading about your life, too, Oona. Jaselle – I miss our completely off-colour (with a nod to the British spelling) jokes and still remember our pub night out in London (BC for you; Before Children).  All of you remind me of the times when APCO was a FAMILY – not a soulless corporation.
Cheryl, you and I are polar opposites in just about everything in life, but still good friends. And that is so awesome. Monica, I so love that we can still keep in touch – and now that you have climbed the corporate ladder of success, you have not forgotten this little person. And since it’s just the two of us reading this, how about getting me a corporate gig in Miami? Winter sucks.
And Tom – we pretty much started in the whole “Internet thing” together in the late 90’s. Fun times, those. And yes, it was randomly generated.
What Got Me Hooked
Chip, the friendship that we developed over the years and has grown was the spark that helped ignite my passion for social media. And Jen, it’s been zillion years since I last saw you, but I have
loved working with you on articles or podcasts and you always have smart and funny things to say either on my blog or my Facebook page. And you are real friend – a Prince says “ruff” to Ralph. Sarah, we both suck for never meeting face-to-face now that we live 10 miles apart. I would really like to correct that in 2010 as well.
And thank you to Lourdes and Laurie for finding me after all those years.
This post is too long, but, for a long time, I have been thinking that when I tweet something like “I’m sick,” or “at the vet,” or “today blows,” I will, at some point hear from one of my social media/online/offline friends. And I have never really said “thank you,” because when I get that little Facebook message back, or that tweet saying “What’s going on?” it makes all of the difference in the world.
Thanks, social media.
Mark
P.S. – As a demonstration of my thankfulness and devotion, I got carpal tunnel syndrome inserting all of these links.
P.P.S. – For those of you who know my, um “irascible” personality, NO this post does not mean that I am dying and this is my epitaph.
P.P.P.S. – There are so many outbound links in this post that I fear that I will disappear from Google all together, bleeding links. Linkey love, anyone?







