If your not online, you don't exist

I'm pretty sure by now most of us have all seen the Matrix, or at the very least, knows what it is (if you don't: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133093/plotsummary). In a world that they thought to be their reality they were confronted with the fact that everything they had believed was real, was in actuality a very intricate computer designed world. This is an extreme example of the heavy use of technology in life, but when we compare it to our lives today, I don't see it being too far off. 

It has been said that if you don't exist on the internet, than you don't exist at all*, and I tend to agree. The generation after me is immensely more tech savvy than I am, my little sister just turned 7, and all of her friends are getting their first smart phones (contain yourself, I know it's nuts). Think about the fact that you haven't received a phone book in years, do you even remember a time when you had phone books? Every possible thing, except for physical human interaction, is available through an screen. The efficiency of an internet connection that instantaneously links you to millions of people and a near infinite amount of information is unparalleled by any other form of communication. My generation won't be able to get a job if there isn't adequate information about them online, or if the information is unfavourable. 

So what does all this mean for businesses and companies?

For retail giants like h&m, and corporate powerhouses like Coke and Nike, they are fully online not only in their corporately produced content, but also in media coverage. Almost all of the major magazines and newspapers are available online (mostly free of charge). If you are a small start up company, you are presented with the most accessible, hardest to infiltrate technology around. It's easy to set up a Facebook page for your company, but its not so easy to get people to read it. The internet is so extensive in it's reach, but is so diluted with a magnitude of information. 

So how can you get your company some coverage?

Now this is the hardest question. What can your company do to stand out? What can your company do to make an impression? The first thing is simple,

1. Make a corporate account

• Depending on your company, visual elements might be important so opt for platforms that allow that form of content to be prioritized (ex Instagram, Pinterest, tumblr).
• If you need a more content driven page with pictures taking the back burner, opt for sites like Facebook, and Twitter. 
• Make a profile on LinkedIn, no ifs ands or buts about it. 

2.  Reach out to your personal contacts 

• This is why making yourself a presence online is so important.
• All of your family and friends, those are the first people who can help you out and start getting you coverage and a general following.

3.  Produce some interesting or news worthy content

• Did your company sponsor a run recently? Did they make a major contribution to the community? Did you partner up with a new company?
• Any of those things make people want to read more. 

4. Share, Share, Share

• Many social media sites have pages of just content, random content that has recently been posted, or is receiving a lot of information. Though the constant production of content regular activity on your site, you can reach out to people you never knew you could.
• Always cross promote, share your twitter name on your Facebook page and share your Instagram account on your Linked in profile.

*https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/article/20140731005316-12497773-if-you-do-not-have-an-online-presence-you-don-t-exist

Public speaking for the average joe

One of the most prevalent fears among individuals is glossophobia*, or in simple terms, the fear of public speaking. I myself do not have an irrational fear, but I experience a certain nervous tingle right before the impending speech or presentation. I once had an aggressive fear, but I suppose it was my ability to think sensibly at a young age that prepared me for a career so centred in mass and individual communication.

A long time ago, back in the days I used to live with my parents, I attended church regularly and made the decision to read scripture for a week. My dad had done it countless times before, so what would the big difference be right? Along I went studying the passage, partially memorizing some parts, and others just figuring out how to pronounce the outdated words. Along came Sunday and I was dressed to the nines and excited as ever. As I filled into the pew like normal, a pit in my stomach formed, and I started to panic. I knew my information well enough, so why was I so nervous? As my turn came, and I walked up to the podium, I was in a downright internal frenzy. I organized my papers agonizingly slowly to stall, and when I finally had to speak, my voice crumbled. I stumbled through the beginning, and my voice wavered into the final word. I went home that day and nearly cried because of the embarrassment, and wracked my brain trying to figure out why I had such trouble preforming such a seemingly easy task. For weeks I was hung up on the fact that I had failed.

It began coming more clear when I was sitting in the congregation one day and another person who was reading scripture stumbled on their words. No one batted an eye. It came to me that my anxiety, gave the crowd anxiety. If I mess up a word, it isn't a big deal, but if I worry through the scripture, it is a big deal. I realized the only way I could embarrass myself, is if I  work myself up with fear. People are generally kind, and they understand that mistakes happen, they feel what you feel. So when I would work myself up on thinking what I could do wrong, I realized it wasn't a big deal if I forgot how to pronounce a word. As long as I stayed confident and comfortable, then I would be successful.

I'm generally a very dramatic and aggressive person, so believing that I had to redeem myself, I signed right back up. The following week I continually reminded myself that if I'm uncomfortable, then everyone else would be uncomfortable, so why waste the time freaking out? I ended up speaking flawlessly. I even had members of my church come up to me afterwards and congratulate me on how captivating I had made the content. So I became a regular scripture reader, and the more I did it, the better I became. 

Although the solution to my problem couldn't possibly help many individuals who have an extreme irrational fear, I urge you to take a step back and consider if it could work for you. Time spent stressing out is time wasted. Especially if you are stressing out about something you have complete control over. Relax, breath, and practice. The world would be a much less anxious place.

*http://www.speech-topics-help.com/fear-of-public-speaking-statistics.html 

I have an addiction to the houswives

One of my favorite parts of the week is the night the Real Housewives of Atlanta/Miami/Orange County/Beverly Hills/New Jersey/Vancouver comes on, and I have the chance to catch a glimpse into a world so separate and lavish from everything I have ever known. Recently I have been trying to figure why I crave this excessively superficial form of entertainment. I thought it might just be a way for me to shut off after a long day, but I realized it was something more convoluted than that.

I desire the lifestyle the housewives have. I dream of owning multiple cars and grandiose houses that require a staff of 10. This isn't just me though, I know a significant portion of my friends feel the same desire, and however mind numbingly dumb some of the housewives are, they represent something so much more to us. They are the life we want. I suppose I can't speak for everyone, but I believe it is the life I want. Growing up in an exceptionally middle class family I didn't have anything in excess, including time, yet I always make time for my housewives. I realized that all the time I spend watching and dreaming of what I could have, I'm wasting what I do have. Every second I spend watching a reality show, I'm not working efficiently and I'm not spending time with anyone in particular. Its peculiar how doing something like watching a reality show to make me feel as if I am a part of the rich and famous lifestyle, actually puts me further and further away from having it.

The sickening thing is, that this thought isn't motivating enough to make me stop. For the moment I'm appalled, and I'll do my homework more focused and determined, but then a half an hour later and I still feel the need to flick on the TV.

As addictions go I suppose this one isn't the worst I can have, but as they say, acceptance is the first step.

I included a little clip from the reunion of last seasons Real Housewives of Atlanta for those of you who don'y really know what this show is all about. 

Our addiction to social media

I, along with the majority of my generation, have many problems. These problems that I believe are all centred around the dominant inclusion of social media. 94%* of teens use Facebook and have an average of 425 friends, I myself have almost 700. How is it possible that I have friendships with this enormous amount of people? The answer is simple, I don't. My generation comes into contact with various people, the first thing we do is friend them. We get a new job, we add everyone that works there, we go to a party, we add people we meet once, and call them a friend. With all of these friends, how could any of this be a problem right? How could one person ever be lonely with so many so called 'friends'?

A friend of mine, who shall remain nameless, has had a more involved relationship with social media than I have. From a young age she was always shy around people, but the internet has made it possible for her to express herself more freely, and channel what she wishes to be without physically doing anything. She has filled her life with the connections she has made with people who share in her love of online communications platforms, and has had her fair share of pitfalls and disappointments no differently to those experienced in real life. The point I look to make with this example, is the 'friends' that she has made through the internet are not real. There may be real people on the other end of the computer, but they do not know her, or care about her. They would not come to her birthday party, they would not celebrate New years with her, they would not come to her aid if she was in need. These people that she has met online are unreliable, and I have seen, time and time again, her trust shattered when a  guy she meets online all of a sudden stops responding to her messages. Heartbreak is a thing everyone will experience in their lifetime, but the fact that she invests herself so emotionally in a person that was never there for her in the first place, has degraded her self confidence to practically nothing.

In recent times I tried to go out with this friend, go grab a coffee, or visit a bookstore, just to catch up. I was faced with her crippling fear of judgement by others and a plea to just stay at home. Her dependance on social media became her permanent crutch. It prevented her from working to better herself esteem and herself in general, and provided her with a distraction from reality. Meanwhile her selfies and constant status updates present a confident facade.

I tell this story not to diminish the use of social media, but to advocate for the responsible use of social media. I propose we take time out of our Facebook lurking and selfie taking to message an old friend and meet up for coffee. I propose we put more emphasis on the amount of friends that we can call when we need, than the number of likes on a picture.

I myself am not perfect. I wake up in the morning and without fail check my Facebook and my Instagram before I look up the weather. I challenge myself and you to spend your time out enjoying your life, not inside and constantly checking your news feed.

If you have time, check out this study:
 http://www.aaai.org/ocs/index.php/ICWSM/ICWSM13/paper/viewFile/6124/6351

*http://marketingland.com/pew-the-average-teenager-has-425-4-facebook-friends-44847