Today, I’m shattering the social media lies.
You know, the lies told on social media. The lies that make you envy me (or anyone) in some way. The lies that tell you we’re better than you, prettier than you, or have more than you.
Lies, lies, lies! All lies!
The Social Media Filter
Social media not only has filters to make your pictures prettier, or brighter or to make you have fewer wrinkles, but social media itself is also a filter.
It’s a series of moments that we, as voyeurs, take and apply to all. Cut, Paste, APPLY ALL.
And it’s wrong. It’s so wrong.
Of course, we post the beautiful. The good, the celebratory, the braggadocios. We want our lives to seem like some fairytale that’s endlessly entertaining and full of fun.
Very few of us post the ugly. The bad, the failures, the frustrations, and tears.
Don’t get me wrong, I can’t stand people who air their dirty laundry on social media. So I suppose I don’t want ALL THE THINGS when it comes to reality. But in my view, reality and being a Debbie Downer are two different things.
In the end, social media lies to us.
Social Media Lies
There are so many lies told on social, both professionally and personally. I recently went on a rant about the seven-figure sales pitches all over social. GAG.
Another lie I hate is the I HAVE EVERYTHING or I’M SO RICH lie.
I know lots of people who have closets full of Louboutin heels and can’t pay their rent. And people who take six vacations a year (yes, with gobs of photos on Instagram) but are up to their eyeballs in credit card debt.
Admittedly, we should know these are social media lies. 40% of Americans can’t even cover a $400.00 emergency!
Professionally, I often see no-name or new-comers winning six-figure deals or keynoting an event I’ve been trying to speak at for years. And I copy, paste, apply all and forget that this is one small moment in their journey.
Every social media lie (or post) is one moment in time. A flash. A blip on the radar of that person’s life.
So why do we let these social media lies affect us?
Shattering My Two Biggest Social Media Lies
In a world where authenticity is fading fast, I want to put an end to any social media lies I’ve inadvertently told through my social media channels.
My Four-Day Work Week
Yes, you’ll often see me posting on Friday afternoons from the barn. Or from the bay. I do remove Fridays from my calendar and most often don’t allow any calls, meetings, or work.
Every other Friday morning, I record the Marketing Companion with Mark Schaefer. And the rest of the day I play hooky if I don’t have any work to catch up on.
Shattering The Social Media Lie: This “Fridays Off” came 7 years after being in business — two of which I worked seven days a week! I also recently made a large investment in an Operations Manager so I could take an extra day. Bottom line: the four-day workweek cost me time AND money.
Summers In Maine
I get a lot of comments on the fact that we spend our entire summer in Maine.
While I don’t think my household finances are anyone’s business, I really want to be truthful and authentic. My husband is in finance and has a great-paying job. I do not make a ton of money. We still work all summer long (duh … but people still ask, “So you don’t work all summer?!”).
Shattering The Social Media Lie: At the end of the day, my husband and I don’t have children and both work from home. This affords us certain luxuries, like summering in Maine. Bottom Line: We save more than we spend and we don’t have kids.
Professional Social Media Lies
Entrepreneurship: It’s EASY!
See above about the seven years in business and working seven days a week. See also: I work really, really hard and take my business seriously. I also love selling (most entrepreneurs struggle with this).
Shattering The Social Media Lie: I don’t know what else to tell you. I post fun pictures from events or with my team, but those are few and far between. Most of my time spent is pounding the pavement looking for new opportunities or networking.
Speaking
I’ve been speaking more and more at events. Obviously, I post about these events on my Instagram Page as a form of social proof.
Shattering The Social Media Lie: I owe nearly all of my speaking opportunities to my friend and marketing mentor, Mark Schaefer. And even with his backing (and the recommendation of other speaking giants like Christopher Penn and Jenn Herman), Social Media Marketing World still turned me down as a speaker for 2019. I went as a Track Leader this year.
Other Social Media Lies
There are plenty of other social media “lies” I tell, even if I don’t mean to.
My hope is that in being authentic and telling you the truth about some of my posts, is that you reconsider Cutting, Pasting, and APPLYING ALL when you see stuff on social.
Remember, it’s just a moment in time. You don’t know what it took to get there. And therefore, you shouldn’t APPLY ALL to your life.
What are some of your social media lies? Let me know in the comments section below!
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2 Comments. Leave new
My social media lie: I’m cute but I’m not THAT cute when I wear little to no make up. Thank you Lensa app!
I love it! (And you, for being brave and leaving a comment) Aaaand, now I have to go check out Lensa. 😉