My AR Friend Richard Weisser wrote a great blog today: Some thoughts on the new ActiveRain, the importance of points, and how it affects the old-timers! I had to chime in, and as those of you who know me, I tend to get a little long winded at times. But I was touched, I care, and I happened to be in one of 'those' moods because it was 'one' of those days when I came upon it, so there you go... Richard, and a few others in the Active Rainiverse messaged me and asked, "Rene', dude, why don't you simply post this?" Well like 'duh'... today was just one of those complicated days, and that was just too obvious and I overlooked it. So here you go... Richard: Nice post... I still consider myself a newbie around here, still staggering around in the dark. I do understand AR points I think, at least sometimes. I equate them to certificates of completion and approval. When the game is played fair, it's kinda like your community of peers giving you approval and rewarding you with a glass google juice. But, if it were all just about points (I do a little quick math) I could blog and comment everyday to the max for years to even touch most of you guys. That would defeat me, so why even try. Fortunately for me, that's not what I'm up to. I'm a busy guy who puts in a lot of hours and am engaged in all kinds of really interesting things. One of them happens to be ActiveRain. I have a blast here and the points aren't what motivate me. I'm one of those weird guys I guess that don't need motivation. I'm always running around in awe with my hair on fire and need to remember to chill out once in a while and relax. I only know one speed, full tilt! There's just so many things to do, so many cool ideas to follow. Scammers don't bother me (most of the time). Occassionally they're just kind of like a petty tyrant. That's what I love about the whole internet online thing. If you are a scammer, inauthentic, trying to 'work' the system... You really show up bright on the old radar screen. I find joy and meaning here at AR and it's fulfilling to simply participate and contribute as I can. I've learned much. But, most of all, it's getting to know people like yourself. That would most likely never have happened if I wouldn't have stepped into the world of AR that one fateful day. So many of you have been very warm and thoughtful, engaged me, helped me, included me, and simply communicate. I love following several bloggers here including your own. Many of you delight my sense of curiosity, contribute meaningful conversation, but more than that... a few of you really have some depth and take on some pretty heavy issues from time to time with a great attitude and openness. I think as a society today we're in a kind of mass cultural shock and stunned. The world changed profoundly over the past few years and no one actually comprehends the magnitude of it. We're to 'in it' and to close to see it. I don't mean that in the negative, it's just a fact. We woke up one day so globally intertwined it's baffling for most. So what do we do now? I say it's simple... We need to be masters of the obvious. Back to the basics! Let the world be what it is. Build new meaningful relationships authentically and one at a time. Reinvent old ones and continue to build trust. Explore, seek to ask the right questions (they're way more important than the answers), contemplate, relax, enjoy each other... share, share, share, and keep communicating. Mentoring is a huge factor. There is no greater gift than talking with someone who has found their own voice. As John Lennon said, "Think globally, act locally." We just have a different local than we use to! Again, thanks... you've given me a few things to think about.
I'm with Rene. Over the last couple years the point system has created lots of conversations on all side. I see a person can obviously register in more than one category, I didn't know that. I do my best in handling one. I question the motivation but in the who cares. Points don't impress me, content does. As a mater of fact. I read through a list of my posts and I can see my own growth and that is what matters to me. To continue to improve and grow as a person. There are some really skilled techies here and many skilled practitioners. The blend f all the different aspects of our career kep it interesting and help to create some amazing information and resources.
OK, if you look at me and my points... I do have a lot. But, if you look at my posts, I post twice a day, once in the morning, once at night 90% in the name of GOOGLE and relationship building. I talk about my family and make jokes, so people get to know the real Todd. I write a couple to help other Activerain members stay in the business of real estate and the rest are all about attracting people looking for something to do with Real Estate in Beaverton and Tigard Oregon.
The points just came as a result of that. Some people think that I just do it for the points, I promise that isn't it. I do it to try to build my business. A year ago, I was having the best year of my career, but I saw a shift changing and I wrote a new business plan and that involved new niches which left me with a big lull in my business. Now, that lull seems to be over and my new posts are starting to bring me the business with my new niche that my old posts did with my old niche, it just took some time. It wasn't about points, it was about people being able to find me and now it seems they have.
What every they change the system to, I will continue to do the same thing I'm doing now, 2 posts a day, 20-40 comments a day, depending on time. But, I try to answer everyone back and then I also try to meet a few new people that hopefully one day will be able to send me business or help me in my career in some way.
Thank you Rene' for the kind e-mail it meant a lot.
I enjoyed the post and the comments. Active Rain is a great networking site.
Rene...
I'm glad you decided to share this!
Featured in the Group "Whacked!!!"
Rene, ....I like contributing and adding value to my community. AR is great place meet people with similar goals and passions. I enjoy taking photographs so Wordless Wednesday and Speechless Sunday are favorites. The points just show me who is committed to AR and who is growing and adding value!
Thanks, Jess Graves
Well Rene, I know you to be the master of the obvious and master of the subliminal. Your sermon on authenticity and being transparent is particularly relevant in the social media realm. Enjoying the written platform will by nature give you more "points" as you continue to pump the google juice through your web 2.0 veins!
Happy Friday,
William: Agreed... And ever more important is to discover the new blend of apects of what we do not do yet that will come into play as we grow into this new age. To me that is so exciting. Two years ago even, I could not have imagined the daily routine I now have. By the way William, you were one of the very first people on AR to welcome me and draw me into the conversation. Thankyou.
Todd: You are awesome and I love your blog. You so get it and I love your style. You brought your conversation online and I appreciate the fact you are 'transparent', talk about your family, your causes, and share information about your community. You are in my territory, and I thank you for educating me on Beaverton. Thanks to you I know more about west and southwest of Portland than I ever did before.
Gita: Thankyou for stopping by. You are so correct. AR is a very special and great networking site.
Richard: Thanks for the nudge. You, like William and Todd, have been a real boost for me and it's very much appreciated. You've been very generous. I appreciate you checking in on me, seeing what I'm up to, giving me encouragement, and featuring me in whacked. The sermon I preach often to realtors as I travel around talking about internet marketing... (and I use you, William, and Todd as examples) is authenticity. You bring the real you to the front. You share, you communicate, and you're real. Much appreciated because that's the crux of it all. When you think of it from the consumers point of view, what's real, what's not... who's authentic, who's not...
Jess: Thankyou... I am such a fan of 'good karma in, begets good karma back' school of marketing. Share the real and you will be rewarded. People love to engage real people with passion about what they do.
Janet: What can I say? You know me well... You're one of the most authentic humans I've ever known.
Renee: Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Tell me, how is your online marketing going?
Mike & Sheryl: Thanks. What are you up to online?
Thanks everyone... I had an action packed day today. A wonderful roundtable (as we call them) at a John L Scott here in the area. A lively and wonderful conversation about having a presence online, why, and how. Then off to a website meeting with my guys. We're implementing some really cool new services. We're also splitting up our regional site into multiple local focused sites. Then we've been invited for an interview with a national media coach. All of which I'll talk about soon. No brag, just another amazing day that would not have happened if it weren't for the internet, sites like Active Rain, and people like you. So, in short... I'm just getting back to my PC to respond to y'all... Enjoy the weekend!
Hi Rene, I so love your posts! I always find them enlightening and stimulating and very well written. Thank you for hanging out in Active Rain. We appreciate it - all of us. ;-)
'Just found your blog through one written by Todd Clark, and I'm happy to meet you. I subscribed and look forward to reading more of your thoughts in the coming weeks and months.
Margaret: Thanks so much for coming by and for subscribing. This has been an amazing week and I was so happy to meet Todd in person. I look forward to your blogs also, and further conversation in the rain...
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