One of the beautiful and totally unexpected side effects I have gotten from joining the BizCatalyst 360° writing community has been exactly that: The community.
In a comment on LinkedIn, Jeff Ikler wrote:
I decided a long time ago that I couldn’t possibly read everything on BC360° even if I did nothing else. So I have to pick and choose, and I choose to go deep instead of broad. The same is true on LinkedIn. I can skim endlessly or I can dive into a few posts that appear to have meaning for me.
Amen. My day also has just 24 hours. (And I have 10 years of BC360° articles to catch up on…)
I have been thinking about what I decide to read when I open LinkedIn or get the BC360° Today email and why, because, like Jeff, I can’t read it all.
My choice is primarily based on authors. Some, because they are always entertaining. Some, because they challenge my thinking. And some, because I just love these people.
The interesting part is that writers can belong to more than one category. Some challenge me every d### time – and I still love them. I wouldn’t say the same for some columnists in my morning paper.
I think The Friendship Bench has something to do with this. By spending time together regularly around some subject of substance, people can show different sides of themselves. A big heart here, listening skills there, a story shared in a small group that takes your breath away, a sense of humor, a well-reasoned argument – even if I find the core completely misguided – is still a well-reasoned argument. And who says we can’t both be right?
All other things equal, I am probably more likely to read something written by a “Bench buddy” than by someone I don’t know at all. That may be unfair to a lot of excellent writers; so be it.
And then there is the rest of LinkedIn. Like in BC360°, some connections are true In Real Life connections you have had dinner with. Or done business with. Or attended conferences with. And some you only know from LinkedIn where they share excellent content.
Until they are in your town and you arrange to have coffee/dinner with them or attend a conference with them because you want to get to know if they have a big heart, a sense of humor, can listen, or perhaps have stories that will take your breath away.
You know a funny thing I have noticed? I don’t know if it is the same for you, but I would love to hear your reaction: When I hang in there just a little longer than I had planned because I want to support somebody, I feel a much stronger connection. I invest a little time in the relationship even if it is not that convenient and I really should be working on my own writing. The economist in me cries “sunk cost fallacy”. Somehow, for relationships, that is a risk I am willing to run.
Dear Charlotte,
You have written what many of us feel. I guess we’d be busy 24/7 should be read and react to the volume of essays and posts.
It is a dilemma.
I must admit to engaging mostly with my Bizcatalyst360 and LinkedIn friends; especially where is a distinct level is synergy. And you, Charlotte are one of those special friends. You have out into words what many of us feel, but find challenging to articulate.
The next time I walk along the banks of the River. Itchen; the poet John Keats’ favorite walk, I’ll keep an eye out for you.
Thank you, Charlotte.
I am so happy this resonated, Simon.
I have taken to heart whet Lard AP shares of kindness science: when somebody gets up for an old man on a bus, the old man gets happier, the person who gets up gets happier, and the people watching the interaction gets happier.
That is what the old story of the Warm Fuzzies are about https://www.houstonisd.org/cms/lib2/TX01001591/Centricity/Domain/3465/Awesomeness%20-%20Warm%20Fuzzy%20Story.pdf
If you read a book you may have found it interesting, you can even talk about it with some acquaintance, but it all ends there.
Being part of the BZC community means relating, sharing, learning, opening one’s mind with quality people, whose articles, comments, observations are always worthy of attention and interest.
Of course, for those with professional commitments it is more difficult to follow everything and it is perhaps also necessary to select.
Personally I am happy that some are expressing their point of view, simply because their perspective enriches me and can give impetus to the discussion. It is inspiring to engage with minded individuals and professionals who think outside the box, are willing to explore and eager to share their knowledge, giveng others the opportunity to grow and expand their knowledge base.
But I even appreciate all those who took the time to read my post and maybe even showed interest. I am sure that only for lack of time, in this world where everything is accelerated, they have not left their comment. Their support is very important to me to continue sharing experiences and points of view.
Thanks to Dennis and his staff who made all this possible.
Thank you, Aldo, for opening my mind and heart a little more to the “like” – in all it’s forms.
“I am sure that only for lack of time, in this world where everything is accelerated, they have not left their comment.” I realize that the time constraint is much more relevant for other’s than it is for me – my own use of likes should not be the standard by which I interpret others’.
I think what I miss from that interaction is not knowing what resonated or what left these readers curious. Thinking about it writing this, Gottman’s “bids” comes up – a post is a bid and a comment is a reply that rounds off that bid or starts a dialogue, but a “like” is… I don’t really know.
Reading your comment, I will rephrase my inner dialogue from ? to “I see you” (although not said in a Sauron like voice.) Thank you for me showing a different option.
Charlotte,
Your essay has caused me to pause and reflect on the idea here of community and connection.
We recently moved to Portugal (during a pandemic lockdown) and our social interaction has been minimal at best.
I find myself every morning now dipping in to see how my BizCat Community is doing. I am hungry to see how they are feeling and what heart felt, humorous or thought provoking article will inspire me to check in for connection with others and with myself.
This platform has become a safe and sacred ‘home base’ for me as I navigate all the other beautiful details of my life.
Thank you for sharing your words and your heart – consistently.
I feel you, Carolyn Lebanowski, it must be so hard to have moved to a new place during lock down.
I remember how intensely aware I became about relationships – something that I until that time had almost taken for granted; I have a big, tight-knit family. Moving, one has to learn to form new friendships, a task many have not spent much time doing since they went to college.
I discussed relocation with my now retired pastor and he reminded me how different roles churches in USA play compared to “the old world”: “The second function of the US churches is to build communities from people of whom many have moved from another state or country. Making new friends is not easy and if your original social support system is far away, you need to build a new one. A congregation serves the purpose of providing people who – supposedly – have values similar to your own. For people who live where they grew up, life usually ‘comes with’ a social network of family and friends from way back.”
I hope you find a tribe in Portugal, Carolyn, and meanwhile I am happy to be part of your extended online support network.
I read your articles all the time, Charlotte. You are a seeker of knowledge and I really like that about you. In a way, you remind me of me. 🙂
Every night before going to bed I open the BC360° Today email, and I choose articles for reading. I decide what to read based on authors but also ‘catchy’ headlines.
As much as I want to be an engaged reader, I fail. I constantly struggle with a lack of time to show my fellow writers that I care about them.
In this stage of my life, doing other things, and taking care of the family members in need, take up all my remaining time. Still, I try my best to interact with the authors I read the most. I am writing this comment at 5 a.m.
I would like my Bizatalyst community to know that I am a thoughtful reader and read their articles as much as I can. Simply, I miss the time to write meaningful and supportive comments, and I’m not a “Great post!” type of commenter.
I agree with Denis, “it all begins and ends with the masterpieces delivered by you and so many others.” I would only add that this community inspired me not only to write but, as a reader, to believe in the power of words. Between thoughtful reading and not commenting on articles, and commenting without reading them first, I will always choose the former. I hope my articles are read that way. 🙂
A very “cheap” reaction, Lada, as I copied from LI what I wrote there, knowing that it will live a little longer here:
Between commenting without reading them and not commenting, I also prefer both me and you to not comment, Lada Prkic, so we are completely on the same side. I will add that I have never read a comment from you that didn’t show you had put thoughts and care into it.
I may toss a like without listening to a long podcast if the text is good, and I like when pod/video casters take out a good 2min short share to put in their post and will see/listen and go from there.
I absolutely believe we should take care of our family’s needs over those of our network – life has phases with more or less time for this or that.
I feel very privileged that I now have time and energy to look outside my immediate family and find such a diverse bunch of wonderful people vibrating on the same wavelengths as me.
You know, Charlotte, you always bring me back to what I love most in the writer-reader relationship – it’s the deep connection that can come out of the exchange that follows. For instance, I feel like we’ve met. That we’ve had a long, meaningful conversation over coffee. That you see me. While we’ve never actually been face-to-face, I feel known. Yet, every bit of our relationship has unfolded over our conversations that have followed a piece. I go back and forth and struggle mightily with the sheer overwhelm of content. I find I lose the sound of my own voice in the fray. But, without fail, ever time I “see” you, I’m reminded of why it matters to poke my head back in and savor a few pieces once in awhile. Thank you for giving so much of yourself. I hope you know how much it matters. You make this writer feel less alone.
Beautiful! Just like you as a person.
Reaching through this keyboard and giving you a big hug! I’m grateful for you!
If I made you feel less alone, Kimberly, this is a good day. I guess we all wonder when we send three words into the void what impact they will have, if any. I think it is a testament to BC360 that I feel safe to share. I feel that compared to some of the stories I have picked up here along the way, I am just reciprocating with dimes to the dollar.
You sell yourself short, Charlotte. You think more deeply about things than most people do and it shows in your writing. That is contagious. We all benefit from it. So, if it’s my job to keep reminding you, so be it.
Thank you (on behalf of the entire BIZCAT Team) for the eloquent way you’ve “connected all the dots” when it comes to the foundation of our “conscious community, Charlotte. It all begins and ends with the masterpieces delivered by you and so many others. And for that, we are eternally grateful.
Thank you, Dennis, this means a lot.
Charlotte — Nice essay, well-reasoned. Heartfelt.
In terms of what guides my current reading choices, I try to focus on people’s personal stories rather than on essays that provide overt advice, guidance or philosophizing. I find that stories trigger my own memories and help me build connections with others. Those stories may contain advice, guidance, or philosophy, but the lessons are embedded in the narrative, so there’s context to them. For purposes of illustration only, see the writings of JoAnna Bennett, Tammy Hader, and Laura Mikolaitis.
There’s usually nothing wrong with the advice, guidance, and philosophy columns – although some can cross the line into being preachy or proselytizing – it’s just that life stories resonate more with me at this stage of my life.
And I agree with Ali that there is a reciprocal aspect to writing and reflecting here. For me, the site is about building relationships, so if I repeatedly comment on someone’s writing, and I never hear from them either in a direct response to my comment or in a comment on my writing, well, that says something.
Thank you for the inspiration, Jeff.
Your point about including the personal context was so foreign to me until I reflected on why I kept smiling when I had read something by Karthik Rajan. And I love your examples from this platform.
I, too, think it is something that comes with experience; we have removed ourselves from trusting the black and white authority of the school book to asking for the nuances.
I must confess that I am not very good with podcasts. Not because I don’t enjoy them when I have time. But 30 min there and 1 hr 5 min there and the day is gone. I never was able to listen while doing something else (except perhaps ironing, but the piles have been pretty low these past 16 months…)
Charlotte – You’re not alone in your reaction to podcasts, but as a rule, I never just sit down and listen to one. I’ll put one on when I’m exercising – stationary bike – walking, cooking, or driving. I see the few that I routinely listen to as tremendous sources of information, inspiration, stories and opinion. (I hope mine is to listeners!) My favorite is “This American Life,” which may just have been the very first podcast. So well produced.
I like the way you styled and presented your ideas Charlotte Wittenkamp. You suggest guiding rules on how to select what we read.
I share your thoughts and find them applicable to me as well
Familiarity with authors and our impressions about them coupled with authors with whom I brainstorm by exchanging comments top my list. However, I must say to avoid familiarity I do select some posts that are not of direct interest to me such as poetry. I need to expose my mind to varieties and so expand it.
I may add also a reason for NOT reading posts by some authors. In one case I commented on almost all the posts of one author. I messaged him once to one of my posts that was relevant to his posts. He never acknowledged the message and yet he kept tagging me to his posts. I refrained from reading his posts.
The title and cover of some posts attract me to read them as well.
I want to congratulate Dennis Pitocco for hosting on BIZCATALYST 360° high quality posts such as this one.
Thank you, Ali, I hear you. I also smile inside remembering how many years we go back exchanging posts and comments across many platforms and in different contexts.
You voiced very clearly why I look at people’s LI activities before accepting to connect: Are they a “connecter” or just spewing content.