Social media is something, let me tell you! I didn't have social media in high school and only started to get into that world in college. You know, posting my daily selfie before class and looking to see what people were tweeting while I was procrastinating to study. Now, it's a whole different ball game. Social media is great if you're running a business or a blog, and actively use it to support your brand. It's also great tool to keep in contact with people, but there's a flip side too. It's an energy sucker. At one point in time it was a relief, then it seemed to turn into a competition. How many followers you have, how many comments you have, who does this better or just people putting up the front like they never have bad days and everything is perfect.
My life is probably the furthest from perfect, and I try to reflect that imperfection through my online content to a certain extent. It's not uncommon for me to unplug from social media around this time of the year. Usually, Mother's Day and Father's Day and other holidays, I take a few days away from those apps to have peace of mind. If you have read my previous blog articles, you might have seen me mention that both of my parents have passed away. So, seeing everyone post on those days isn't the healthiest for me and since I know that I give myself grace.
At one point prior to my social media detox, I noticed that my Instagram usage hit 5 hours in one day. There are so many things that could be done in 5 hours, you know?! When I first started the detox, I thought I'd be good to just tell myself I wouldn't get on the apps. Then, before I knew it my finger innately clicked the Instagram button as soon as my phone unlocked. That was the end of that and I deleted Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn from my phone.
Towards the end of the week, I did log on LinkedIn to update my profile and draw inspiration from other professionals who are thriving in a career field that's currently piquing my interest. However, this week has been so peaceful! To be honest, I don't really care what half the people on my social media pages are doing, but there I am still scrolling each day to see what's new. It's so easy to get caught in a cycle of worrying about what other people are doing and somehow subconsciously starting to feel like you aren't doing enough. Comparison is whack. It honestly doesn't make sense for me to compare my journey to anyone my age, because I don't know anyone my age who has gone through what I've gone through because my journey is my own. It's incomparable.
Knowledge is power as they say, and I'm now experimenting with how to spend my down time that doesn't include scrolling through social. As I wrote about in my Don't Let Up . . . Apply Pressure blog article, I want to evolve into a businesswoman. In order for me to do that I need to be a student of the game and train my brain to think differently. I majored in humanities in college (Communication & Political Science) and making a shift to learn more about business takes effort.
As I continue to grow this So MoTiFFated brand, I must lead with strategy. I don't just want to post to post. My work should be intentional and it should resonate with people. I want folks to be excited to see my work and my posts and not think, oh goodness there she is again. As such, I've been taking a deeper dive into the marketing and public relations field to learn from those professionals as well as established business owners through YouTube instead of my usual listening to music or watching movies.
Quality content is on the way for this blog and all social media channels, and I've been using my calendar and notebook to plan and write down my ideas before they get lost. As I continue strategic planning for my brand, it's been inspiring to learn tips from other black professionals. Unfortunately, black people are underrepresented in so many professions and even when we are represented, those stories of thriving professionals don't get publicized nearly as much as they should to allow young black folks to know that path is possible.
So, I'm sharing with you quality stories through interviews and features that I saw on YouTube to allow for you to soak in some knowledge as well. EARVIN "MAGIC" JOHNSON
Earvin "Magic" Johnson is truly an inspiration. What interested me the most was learning how he made the transition from a professional basketball player to a renowned businessman. He strongly credits his success to mentors who showed him the ropes, but also let it be known that this too was his dream. From the time he entered the league, he already had the goal of being a businessman after retirement and took advantage of the access he had while he played in the National Basketball League (NBA).
VANESSA ANDERSON
Vanessa Anderson owns AM PR Group and serves as a publicist in the entertainment industry. One of her clients is Issa Rae, and it was eye opening to see her explain more about public relations and marketing, and what an average day could entail. At one point in the video, she mentions that she stays in the field because there isn't enough of us represented through this career in that industry. If you think this is an interesting career field for you, start practicing your writing and communication skills now!
TIFFANY SMITH-ANOA'I
Tiffany Smith-Anoa'i nailed this interview. To be honest, I never heard of her before I watched this video and was so glad that this interview popped up on the suggestions page. She started her career with CBS as a publicist and has worked her way up to the executive level. Not only does she detail her journey, but she drops multiple gems for how people can take steps toward a similar career field. She even dropped her email at the end of the interview and offered to be a resource. Wow!
*The initial video that was posted is no longer on YouTube, however the video above gives a glimpse of Tiffany Smith-Anoa'i*
YVETTE NOEL-SCHURE
Almost everyone knows Beyoncé, but do you know about her publicist? Yvette Noel-Schure has represented the Queen Bey since she was a teenager of Destiny's Child. Noel-Schure shares her journey to America and how she was convinced to start a career in public relations, although she originally wanted to be a journalist. Keep in mind, a love of writing seems to be the common denominator for those who thrive as a publicist.
If you know of more inspiring videos, interviews, or podcasts that strengthen your mindset regarding business, communications, and marketing drop the links in the comments below!
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