Twitter. Inane chatter or unbelievable source of content? Both, I guess, but I know that the last 18 months as a Twitter user have exposed my brain to a raft of intelligent thinkers, doers and then some. Everybody complains about the noise on social, but just like being in a crowded room at a party, if you listen for a while, you soon get to the decent conversations. So here I revisit just a few of my favourite posts found on Twitter.
There is no particular order to these, none I favour more over the other. The content here that has inspired me in my personal and professional life covering social media, innovation, leadership, connectivity and more.
Read them, share them, favourite for later, but I hope you find something useful:
Ten Principles To Live By In Fiercely Complex Times
Fast Company blogger, Tony Schwartz, defines his top ten ways to keep reminding ourselves if we are on track during busy, challenging times. This resonates with me strongly. I believe the one thing we often miss when leading others (as I do in my small business) is the ability to refer back to ourselves and really question our thinking and decision making. A great post that has bite size chunks of wisdom.
Collaborate To Grow The Pie, Not Just Split It
Harvard Business Review blogs are bursting with fabulous writing and inspiring knowledge. I must have favourited hundreds. I chose to feature this one by Vicki Gardner, Dennis Moore and Eddie Yoon because it explores the current relationship between retailers and manufacturers. You don’t need to be a business analyst to spot where collaboration, and change of process could improve trade and benefit across the board. It requires leaders and innovators in these sectors to lead the way with courage and conviction.
Calling Bullshit On Social Media
No guesses as to why this is on my list of great reading. But the title is more than just link-bait and has real substance. Brass Tack Thinking is full of real, honest and in your face commentary; my kind of content. In this post Tamsen McMahon tells it like it really is. Those of us immersed in social media on a day to day basis will be nodding furiously. A great read if you want to also understand if the agency you are using (if you are client side) for social media services really does know what it’s talking about.
Point 1. kicks it off nicely: “There are tools. There are people who use the tools. And then there are people who are tools. Know the difference.”
White Paper from The RSA: Power Lines
I have been following the RSA for some time now. For the uninitiated, here is how The RSA define who they are:
“The RSA (Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce): an enlightenment organisation committed to finding innovative practical solutions to today’s social challenges. Through its ideas, research and 27,000-strong Fellowship it seeks to understand and enhance human capability so we can close the gap between today’s reality and people’s hopes for a better world.”
I could personally sit and read their content all day long. To say it inspires me is an understatement. Alongside great thinkers, you will find free white papers that are packed with intelligent and real game changing concepts. One of my favourites just happens to be Power Lines. Kicking off with the Coalition Government’s statement, it gives an in depth exploration of just how connected communities can be sustained.
The Human Cost Of Social Connectivity
Solis is of course not a new name to anyone in the social sphere, and some are critical of over-sharing content that is just so well known, it really doesn’t need a mention. I would disagree. The reason this stuff gets shared so often is because it is worth sharing! I have read all of Solis’s work, but love this post as I’m so interested in the human connections we forge through social media, and the resulting change to not just business, but the world at large. Agree or disagree, but one thing you cannot argue, is that we are now living in revolutionary times.
Don’t Sell Your Soul, Market It
Dan Pallotta explores the value of humanitarian organisations, and philanthropy in today’s society. He argues that if humanitarian organisations are to have the impact and success required to really make a difference, they need to be marketed just like any other major brand. This is an area I’m personally exploring more professionally and found his insights invaluable.
Take a look at the full-service brand agency he has launched for the humanitarian sector, Advertising For Humanity www.advertisingforhumanity.com
“Our purpose is to begin marketing benevolence as brilliantly as Budweiser markets beer.”
Envisioning The Omnipresent, Benevolent Internet Of The Future
Fast Company interview Lynn St. Amour, President and CEO of The Internet Society: www.isoc.org
Decentralisation, Governments and “Tubes” – just some of the serious and frankly, Dickensian and funny quotes from old school politicians and what they really think is going on with the Internet today. She also touches on the what the Internet will look like 10 years from today and her hopes for greater personal control of privacy and trust online.
Google Chrome: It Get’s Better Video
A colleague of mine sent this to me earlier this year, at a time when I was personally needing some guidance and inspiration for a member of my own family. If I was being cynical, I could argue this is nothing more than selective editing, emotive music and celebrity endorsement. If I was being true to myself, I would say this project from Google Chrome lifts my heart. It is why I love what I do in my industry today. How technology has given us the tools to connect and how from that community and hope are borne. This touched me, as I know it did millions of others.
Evolving From Consumers To Co-Creators
I can’t quite remember how I came across Fearless and their revolutionary take on how collaboration should be the driver for businesses of the future. Probably amidst one of my hundreds of searches on Twitter for this type of content. However, I am so glad I did find them. I am buoyed and enthused by collectives like this, and all because they again, remind me of why the connected society is the way forward.
I love their quote on their home page:
“Fear is the mortal enemy of innovation, creativity and happiness”
The Value In Vulnerability
Thomas J. DeLong asks if we are really motivated to improve and change, are we ready to take the risks necessary to facilitate. I guess the above quote from FearLess Revolution could come into play here too. I’ve tried to push myself hard personally with making myself vulnerable in order to grow, and to find my unique path.
Every day I find and consume content that pushes me to think, to keep changing and moving forward. Twitter is more than a communications tool. Aside from the content, I have connected and since worked with some amazing people, often out of discussions around exactly the type of subject matter I have highlighted here. What about you? What have you found via Twitter that makes you think?