I see it all the time whether it be in an online discussion or tweet on Twitter.
People even tell it to me several times a week . . .
“Facebook is for friends and family” or “I keep Facebook private”
My question (and title for today’s blog) is . . .
“Why does Facebook have to be that way?”
I mean, I have no drunken pictures I need to worry about or “Castain Groupies” that will suddenly emerge on Facebook and tell sordid tales of the “Real Uncle Paul”!
For those of you who want to keep Facebook private . . . you’re online dude . . . how private is that?
Instead, what if we were to allow our activities on Facebook to show yet another side of us . . .
Perhaps our “Business Casual” side?
That’s what I did back in January.
I decided I would put my humor out there a little bit more.
Whenever I find myself knee deep in digging my life . . . I let people know it.
Tonight when I watch my daughter compete in a singing competition . . . you better believe I will have a status update about that!
As many of you know, I play guitar so guess what?
I put up a video of my guitar playing.
So please allow me to say it for you because I know what you’re thinking . . .
“What the hell does this have to do with business?”
It doesn’t!
But if this process I teach is truly a courtship . . .
Then I have a wonderful opportunity to let you get to know Paul Castain and more importantly . . .
I get to experience a more “Business Casual” side of you as well.
Oh, just in case you feel this is a tad “warm and fuzzy” . . .
Do you remember that guitar video I told you about?
It sparked a conversation with a bass player who happens to be a Vice President of Sales for a large company . . .
One thing led to another and they booked a $15,000.00 engagement with Castain Training Systems.
And a mandatory jam session with two Facebook friends!
So where do you stand on Facebook and the opportunity to show yet another side of YOU?
I love this, Paul. As we become more and more digitized, we become less and less human. I see no reason why we should not allow others to see us as real people and not as business “bots” whose behavior is determined by unrealistic expectations the community may have.
Like it or not. This is me. I am not the proverbial corporate stuffed shirt. If that is what is required in order to achieve success in my career, then I guess I can live with less.
Pretending to be someone or something that I am not is akin to lying. People who know me, business or personal, always get the real experience.
Cheers, bud.
Marc
Once again you are spot on Marc and besides, sooner or later people are going to the “Real Me” . . . let’s just get it over with.
Thanks and have a great weekend Marc!
Only one comment here – before allowing anyone you met through business to connect to you on facebook etc, you may need to be aware of your company’s policies on this. Very easy to wind up in a situation where your employer feels they “own” your contacts. This is a subject that is now beginning to go to litigation. Just something to be aware of.
Facebook is just totally incompatible with my Government Witness Protection program. LOL
Ha! That’s why I wear these dark sunglasses . . . to hide my true identity.
I’m really a mid western housewife 🙂
Right on Uncle Paul! I had an estate planning first meeting with a new client last evening, she saw a post about my fervor for estate planning on my personal Facebook page and reached out. Facebook does show us as more fully rounded humans (and not just my gut!)
By the way, I attended the webinar you helped provide your loyal minions last Friday and just wanted to say thank you, it was wonderful!
Linked In is awesome in many ways, the last time I got an e-mail from them with network updates, they reported 120 millions users world wide, Facebook is reputedly closer to 800 million. That’s a lotta millions to keep in the dark if you want to cloister yourself by keeping Facebook in the privvy.
Cool story about the guitar pickin landing a new gig, you rock Mister Bojangles! And as soon as I can get a few personal minutes today, I will register for your upcoming Personal Branding seminar with the Jedi hisself. I’m betting you might touch on FB too.
Interesting point . . . I’d gladly fight that battle.
Its no one’s business who I connect with as Paul Castain . . .
Bring it 🙂
Meanwhile . . . Thank you for taking the time to comment and have a great weekend!
Way to go Kevin!
As someone who is one of your “Facebook Friends” I can honestly say that people are missing out if they haven’t connected with Mr Keane on Facebook!
Thanks for stopping by and have a stellar weekend my lawerly brother from another mother 🙂
Uncle Paul – your timing is impecable! I’ve had a personal FB page for a while. When my company created a “page”, I created a “professional” FB profile so I could use that to administer the page and connect professionally. I agree with what you are saying, but how do I backtrack now and comibne both my selves?
If you are the owner of the company, put a message up every now and again inviting people to feel free to connect with you personally.
Other ways to expand . . .
Send an email out to everyone you are connected to on Linkedin advising them of all the other places they can connect with you
Whenever you accept an invite on Linkedin . . . do the same thing.
Tweet it
Put something out there on your blog from time to time.
Put a “PS” in your email auto signature that says something like “PS Let’s connect on Facebook”
or simply hyperlink the facebook logo and put that in your auto signature.
I hope this helps or at the very least inspires some way cooler ideas of your own.
Thanks Laura!
WOW! That’s great Paul – congrats on landing such an awesome gig (both business-wise and music-wise)…
(((Good luck))) to Miss Castain with tonite’s competition – and kudos to her for having the courage to do it!! Though I’m not surprised, she IS the daughter of a rock star after all! 😉
Wishing you a stellar weekend!!
Virtually Yours,
Anne-Marie
Very kind of you to say that Anne-Marie . . . Thank you!
Enjoy your weekend as well!
Hi Paul,
Nice post, and subsequent discussion.
I’m emerging from the FB is for Family and Friends mindset.
It’s one thing to share ‘business casual’ with ‘professional’ contacts.
Switch it around, and would I want to share all my business activities with Family and Friends?
I guess that’s where understanding the recently launched LISTS facility and Custom Privacy comes in, and the discipline to manage and apply them.
Have a great weekend.
Mark
Another great point Mark and I totally agree with regard to utilizing those lists and . . .
I might owe my family and friends a huge apology 🙂
Thanks for taking the time to stop by and comment!
Paul, in my opinion, employees are viewed differently than business owners. For instance, your guitar playing may have been interpreted in a different light if viewed by a potential employer. As a sales training company owner, your hobbies and interests are perceived as a testament to your depth and talent. As a potential employee, interests outside of your profession can be perceived as distractions from your work. As a business owner, I am less concerned with what is deduced about me from social networking. But as a potential employee, I only want things that cannot be misinterpretted by an employer. Last but not least, updates of those in your network can be damaging to your personal brand as well. Employers will make assumptions about you based on those connected to you, no matter how close or distant they actually are.
You raise some fantastic points Brian!
I wonder if the answer for job seekers is NOT to connect with potential employers on Facebook?
Is that where the proverbial line should be drawn?
You really have me thinking and for that I say thank you!
Wishing you a great weekend Brian!
If a potential employer is bothered by my blog or Google Plus profile, I’m happy to learn that before I end up working for him or her. It saves me the trouble of quitting when it becomes apparent that I’m not a cultural fit for the organization. If I was hiring, I’d be more concerned if the potential employee looked boring based on his or her web presence. IMHO, people that can be passionate about photography, or guitar, or whatever; are more likely to bring that level of passion to work, versus somebody who is sleepwalking through life with no passions at all.
I keep Facebook as a strictly no work zone. If a co-worker wants to connect on Facebook, I accept, but place the coworker in a “work” group that gives them access to the bare minimum, basically just my profile. They can’t see wall posts, photos, etc.
Great points Chris!
As always . . . Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by and share your thoughts!
For me Twitter has one function – Promoting my business and sharing great content.
LinkedIn – My online resume.
Facebook on the other hand two, first it helps me promote my business and share great content and second of all it is a great way to bond with my friends.
That’s the beauty of all of these platforms Daniel . . . its up to us to define it!
Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!
Thanks Uncle Paul . . . I love your blog. Always positive and connects the dots with the things we might forget.
Thanks Kristine!