Do you possess general knowledge?
What about specialized knowledge of social media?
KNOWLEDGE will not attract money and success, unless it is organized, and intelligently directed, through practical PLANS OF ACTION, to the DEFINITE END of accumulation of money. Lack of understanding of this fact has been the source of confusion to millions of people who falsely believe that “knowledge is power.” It is nothing of the sort! Knowledge is only potential power. It becomes power only when, and if, it is organized into definite plans of action, and directed to a definite end.
ALWAYS BE LEARNING
My father taught me that the day you die is the day you stop learning. He practiced that motto until he drew his last breath. He was an avid reader, and studied whatever he wanted to specialize in.
We live in a fast paced business world, where things are constantly changing. Sometimes daily. WE have information at one click of the mouse.
Decide what specialized knowledge do you want? There is too much information to take it all in and retain. Know where to go to get specific answers to your problems and challenges.
THERE are two kinds of knowledge. One is general, the other is specialized.
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE
It’s easy to gain access to all the knowledge you want today with the Internet. Volumes of every subject can be searched with a few words in Google, and one click. That one click serves up thousands and if not millions of information on that subject you searched for.
However, just like searching you drill down to the specialized answer to a problem, or solution. That’s where the gold resides.
You can have a general knowledge of Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, etc. However, until you spend the time and hours to learn, the how’s and why’s of it, you just have general knowledge.
The popular business writer of today is Malcolm Gladwell. He states in his book “Outlier” that you have to spend 10,000 hours to be an expert in any given field. For almost a generation, psychologists around the world have been engaged in a spirited debate over a question that most of us would consider to have been settled years ago. The question is this: Is there such a thing as innate talent? The obvious answer is yes.
ACHIEVEMENT IS TALENT + PREPARATION
The problem with this view is that the closer psychologists look at the careers of the GIFTED, the SMALLER the role of innate talent seems to play and the bigger the role preparation seems to play.
You are responsible and the only one that can PREPARE for social media success.
SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE
Many people feel inferior that have not gotten an education. Today there are many people with multiple degrees that have not applied themselves effectively in the working world to be a success. I’m sure you can think of a few. Why?
Thomas A. Edison had only three months of “schooling” during his entire life. He did not lack education, neither did he die poor.
Henry Ford had less than a sixth grade “schooling” but he has managed to do pretty well by himself, financially.
SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE is among the most plentiful, and the cheapest forms of service which may be had!
Bill Gates was a dropout in his sophomore year at Harvard University. Yet many do not realize that he had a love for programming computers that started in 8th grade in 1968. He would beg, borrow and steal to get his hands on a crude computer from the money raised by parents at the local computer club to Washington University which was in walking distance from his house. Seven days a week, at 8+ hours a day he would program on the computer.
By the time Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard he had amassed 10,000+ hours Malcolm talks about, the magical number of hours of preparation that separates your knowledge and skill from the rest of the pack.
Have you or your team spent the time to gain specialized knowledge of what Social Media Platforms are best for your business? Your audience? Each day that passes, the target gets further away, never to be caught. Start Today. Learn all you can, drill down to specifics. Go out and make a difference in providing that next product, that next service experience. Share it passionately, and create the next AH HA moment.
GET INTO THE GAME
How well motivated and prepared are you to succeed?
IT PAYS TO KNOW HOW TO PURCHASE KNOWLEDGE
Many go it alone, trying to acquire the knowledge of social media in business, until they finally realize that they have to purchase that knowledge through workshops, seminars, coaching and consulting or even hiring a person to do it for them in their business. There’s no shame it doing so, as we all have 24 hours a day to achieve our goals and dreams.
First of all, decide the sort of specialized knowledge you require, and the purpose for which it is needed. Social Media platforms are just tools, which will continue to change and evolve. Learn to be prepared and flexible to change when they do.
As knowledge is acquired it must be organized and put into use, for a definite purpose, through practical plans. Knowledge has
no value except that which can be gained from its application toward some worthy end.
Successful men and women, in all callings, never stop acquiring specialized knowledge related to their major purpose, business, or profession. Those who are not successful usually make the mistake of believing that the knowledge acquiring period ends when one finishes school.
Anything acquired without effort, and without cost is generally unappreciated, often discredited.
SCHOOL IS NEVER OUT FOR THE PRO
HOW TO ORGANIZE AND USE KNOWLEDGE AFTER THEY ACQUIRE IT.
LACK OF AMBITION
There is one weakness in people for which there is no remedy. It is the universal weakness LACK OF AMBITION!
Persons, especially salaried people, who schedule their spare time, to provide for extra learning and development, seldom remain at the bottom very long. Their action opens the way for the upward climb, removes many obstacles from their path, and gains the friendly interest of those who have the power to put them in the way of OPPORTUNITY.
The person whose business is that of marketing their companies products and services must also be an efficient social media marketer. If his or her services do not bring adequate profitable returns in one social media platform, he or she must change to another, where broader opportunities are available.
He or she must spend hours learning and applying content marketing in this new era of communication and engagement.
DOING A THING WELL NEVER IS TROUBLE!
DO NOT MISTAKE TEMPORARY DEFEAT FOR FAILURE
We rise to high positions or remain at the bottom BECAUSE OF CONDITIONS WE CAN CONTROL IF WE DESIRE TO CONTROL THEM.
IMAGINATION
They say a photo is worth a thousand words. No truer statement than that for Social Media Marketing. Photos are the #1 engagement medium at the moment, only to be taken over by video which is rapidly approaching. So what do you Imagine for you and your business?
If you have the IMAGINATION, and seek to be a more profitable for your business, this suggestion may be the stimulus for which you have been searching. The IDEA’S that you produce and share out on social media are capable of yielding you an income far greater than old traditional marketing. The reach is broader, quicker and with greater impact than anything before it’s time.
There is no fixed price for sound IDEAS!
Back of all IDEAS is specialized knowledge. Unfortunately, for those who do not find riches in abundance, specialized knowledge is more abundant and more easily acquired than IDEAS. Because of this very truth, there is a universal demand and an ever-increasing opportunity for the person capable of helping men and women to sell their personal services advantageously.
Capability means IMAGINATION, the one quality needed to combine specialized knowledge with IDEAS, in the form of ORGANIZED PLANS designed to yield success.
HARD WORK IS A PRISON SENTENCE ONLY IF IT DOES NOT HAVE MEANING!
Be sure to check out our upcoming seminars.
SOCIAL MEDIA SEMINAR SERIES
1. Google My Business – Better Search Results in Google! [Sept. 17]
2. Tools & Apps for Business – Gain more hours. [Sept. 24]
3. YouTube & Video – Business Branding [Oct. 15]
4. Blogging – Generate leads & get new customers [Oct 29]
5. Twitter for Business – The fastest way to spread content [Nov. 11]
6. Facebook Ads – How to create, implement & gain sales [Nov. 19]
About Blair
Blair Evan Ball is a Social Media Coach and founder of Prepare1, a company that works with businesses, individuals and non-profits. He is a former executive with a Fortune 50 company, and his national division did $1Billion in sales annually.
Blair has written three e-books: Facebook for Business Made Easy, Facebook Pages for Business Made Easy, and WordPress Blog Setup Made Easy.
Blair also educates, trains entrepreneurs and business professionals how to amplify their brand, SEO, increase revenues, and raise more funds.
The Race is ON! – Get into the Game and WIN!
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