I was checking out stuff on facebook yesterday and I saw that one of my colleagues—another local real estate agent—had let it all hang out. What do I mean by that? Well, on her facebook page, she shared her candid thoughts about Tuesday’s election. I know that I am going to get comments from both sides on this post, but (to me—since this is my blog and I share my feelings) this is a big no no.
If you have any friends at all on facebook, then they see your posts. Frequently your posts can also be viewed by friends of friends: hence, the social network experience. What if an individual who is a prospective client sees that this agent voted for the incumbent and the prospective client disagrees with her choice? Wouldn’t the agent be alienating a prospective future client with her candor
I brought up the need for caution in public forums at a recent office meeting. I shared the following example (which may, in its own right, cause me to lose a few prospective clients—but let’s hope not). I exercise regularly, and am a big fan of hot yoga (a.k.a. Bikram). One of the gentlemen who works in my office said that when he hears that I do yoga, in his mind, he immediately thinks that I chant and meditate. Other people may think that I must be a vegan, a liberal, or perhaps even a Communist. Now, here’s the rub—this is all because of one little piece of information that I have shared. Maybe as a result of sharing that I like to participate in this form of exercise, I have now alienated all meat eaters as well as others who have strong feelings about certain aspects of yoga. All of this goes on even though I am known to eat hamburgers and I don’t chant.
That being said, the point that I am trying to make in this post is about being cautious and deliberate in the information that you present online because it is out there for all to see and judge.
I know that there are two sides to this coin. In the media, many individuals use the drama and their strong opinions in order to create a following. Take Lady Gaga, for example, with her meat dress—or Rush Limbaugh or Bill Maher. Frequently these individuals in the public eye say and do things in order to capture our attention through our disagreement.
I don’t know. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe I need to buy a meat dress.
What say you?
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Thank you for enlightening and compelling posts. In the words of Popeye “I yam what I yam”. Its sad that we have to watch our steps so closely everywhere and put a game face on for fear of alienating anyone and thus compromising our income potential or friendships. Unfortunately this is the way of the world and if you are in business this rings true…but it is also good manners. Watch what ya say, watch what you do because the world is watching. Maybe it makes us and the world kinder and better by thinking twice before making that comment. …measure twice- cut once.
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