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When I Was Your Age - We Didn't Have The Internet In Our Pants
May 14, 2013
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What a funny line from Twitter CEO Dick Costello. It's from his commencement speech last week to recent University of Michigan grads (who really don't know a life without a smartphone connected to their hip).
Anytime a founder or CEO from one of the big social arenas or applications talk – I listen. It's really the only way to truly learn their platform in order to develop fundamentals and strategic tactics for brands who are integrating social in their online presence.
For example, last year when Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg released his IPO filing – it was an extensive read but it gave me deeper insight to pass along to Jacobs Media clients than anything anyone else could have said about his product.
When you spend time with the words of the creators, visionaries, and leaders of these social sites - you get closer to the soul of their platforms (enabling you to use this space more effectively as a brand).
And while this speech Costello gives is more inspirational (and funny) than a peek behind the doors at Twitter, it's still worthy of your time. I hope his words resonate with you – not just as a radio professional, but personally, too.
Taking the time to listen when the "Costellos" of the world speak makes you realize that in some ways they are just like us -hacking their way through these platforms to find what works, for now.
You hear that loud and clear when Costello tells the graduates there's "no script."
There's actually no script for any of us working in this very different (and often weird) "open and connected world."
Technology is making our lives move faster, sometimes more complicated, and our thoughts and actions less private. At our radio stations we can get lost in the frenetic energy of each day and forget that the greater purpose socially is to serve the fans - the relationships we've built and nurtured over the years.
Social media isn't a silver bullet but what it can do for radio is to add a new layer of good to the experience. However it only works if the people speaking for your brand love serving and being social.
As Costello says, "When you're doing what you love to do – you become resilient. You create the habit of taking chances on yourself and making bold choices."
Big things can happen socially when you love doing what you do.
Have fun and #BeBold
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