“If you don't create change, change will create you” - Anonymous
I have always been a very private person by nature. Sharing what transpires in my day-to-day life has never been something that comes easy to me. It could be that I grew up with a father who was always in the spotlight and knew that my lifestyle as well as any verbal vomit would severely impact his career. Or maybe it was the lifestyle I chose with a very consumer-facing career in radio. Both created an internal monitoring system that screamed, “Don’t do it” long before the words escaped my lips.
As you can imagine, I’m not one for small talk and certainly won’t be found in the corner of a party gossiping about my life or anyone else’s for that matter. My tendency is to listen long before I speak or react no matter what the situation. Given that my DISC profile is an off the charts D and I, I can be somewhat of an enigma. My D has been the driving force behind each success within my life. It allows me to step out in faith, but also gives me a strong sense of how I will achieve those goals. For as much as I succeed, I've failed time and again. It’s those failures and my willingness to drag myself back into the race that make me who I am. A fighter, a survivor, a champion.
Now my ‘I’ is another story. I believe it has been completely manufactured by years of entertaining. It emerged through hours of presenting, teaching, training and just plain BS’ing as we so often do in sales. But it has served me well and will continue to be the glue that makes my relationships stick.
Creating Change Before It Changed Me
Over the last several years as social media emerged as a viable marketing resource, my challenge to communicate on a very real level was put to the test. I struggled to find meaning in the trivial details that were posted by friends and colleagues. If you know me, you know that I’m more a meat and potatoes kind of gal. I want to know the why and the how before I can get to the what. Social media flips that on its head. Social media demands that we entice through the ‘what’ and then engage and grow through the how-to. As an educator and trainer this concept spoke to my heart and soul, but definitely not to my head. At least initially.
It wasn't until I began to blog that all of the dots started to connect. Blogging was and is my outlet. It allowed me to climb outside that internal monitor that kept most ‘feelings’ or “warm fuzzy’ posts as I like to call them locked deep inside. I realized how freeing blogging and social media could be. I also realized the ability we have to share and connect with like-minded individuals when we are willing to wear our emotions (somewhat) on our sleeves. I will continue to fight that imaginary line I have created, but my ability to leap over it has become easier and easier.
Work It, Tweak It, Find Your Voice
Finding my voice has been life changing, but it certainly wasn't found overnight. I have worked at it, tweaked it, played around with it and tracked it incessantly. The perfectionist in me refuses to be bested by anything and social media is not any different then the next challenge which I'm delighted to say is one that I never expected.
I find myself stepping away from a 15 year career in mortgage and into a position where I manage the social media, blog content and online presence for a company that aligns perfectly with all that I have worked on and at for the last several years. I will be working directly with real estate agents to grow their business all while growing the online presence for Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate. It’s an exciting adventure and one that I’m ready to embrace mind, body and soul.
Life truly is a journey and one that if we reflect upon will present us with the pieces to our perfect puzzle. It is amazing to see how everything works together and that where we have been or even may be isn't our final destination. Every day we have the ability to reshape and form the magical life we deserve to live.
Take at a look at your journey…what bread crumbs have you left behind? What about them is speaking to you? It is your destiny and your life; don’t let another day slip by without determining what path you should be walking and what tools you need to succeed.
The Scoop on My New Social Gig and Why I Love It!! was written by Rebekah Radice.
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