Have you ever noticed that, for the most part, everything we see on Facebook paints a rosy
picture of someone’s life and/or business? We see their best work and their personal and business successes. What happens in between the posts? What is it that they’re not showing and talking about? That folks, is called real life. Not reality TV life. Real, everyday life, like the ones you and I lead.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m just as guilty as you are. With rare exceptions, I post only the good stuff, too. You’ve probably seen my “#ConferenceSelfies”, where I take a selfie, from the stage, before almost every presentation. Some of you picture me jet setting around the world, living the glamorous life. Well, I am jetting around the country, and internationally, but it’s usually in a coach seat on a commercial flight. No private jet here. Now imagine how much time I spend in TSA lines, and waiting for flights. Or how about the 133 nights I spent in hotels last year. You rarely see me posting about that – although I have been known to tweet out of frustration to an airline or two.
So, where’s the problem?
There’s nothing inherently wrong with only posting the good stuff. Where the problem comes in is when you start comparing your real life, to the perfect sunshine and butterfly world you see on social media. You compare your real business to the totally skewed view that others place of theirs online. If you get depressed thinking that everyone, but you, is living the good life, that’s when it becomes a problem. Those businesses need to make payroll, and pay their bills, and contend with traffic and weather issues. They need to balance family and work. They deal with health issues – which only seem to make it to Facebook when they’re very serious.
In other words, the space between the posts is where real life happens. It’s hard for us to see the space, because another post, from another connection, is filling it. We get sucked in to jumping from viewing one triumph to another, without seeing the space. It’s not wrong (other than it wasting hours of our time), it just is what it is.
What’s the life you live?
My point is that you need to live your life and not model it after someone else. You just don’t have the full picture of what it took for that other person, or business, to get where they are now. You didn’t get to see their failures. If they’re on version 4 of their website or logo, you didn’t get to see versions 1, 2 and 3. Choose how many weddings you want to do – because you’re going to have to actually do them. Choose how much money you want make – because you’re going to have to do the hard work to earn it. And choose how much time you want to spend with family versus business – because it doesn’t get any more personal than this. Don’t base it upon someone else’s idea of success. Don’t base it upon the filtered lens of social media. Create your own vision of success; because it’s your life and because you get to choose.
Need help deciding where to take your business? Or need a mentor or guiding voice? I work with businesses, just like yours, whether you’re the only employee, or a team of dozens – though website reviews, on-site sales training and mastermind days.
What kinds of results can you expect? Listen to wedding and event pros who’ve already worked with me:
“I truly enjoyed hearing Alan speak two times, first at a group session, then following a private session within my office. He was phenomenal and has taught me the best tricks to perfect my emails and so much more!”
Mary Klein, Breezing’ Entertainment, Tampa, FL
“I have had the pleasure of hearing Alan speak twice this year and his training is the real deal! I have started applying the suggestions he has made, and I have been booking more weddings! Alan just did a website review and I learned so much, I am looking forward to applying all of the changes we discussed.”
Tina Dannel, Serendipity Events by Tina, Dallas TX and Orlando FL
“This guy Alan Berg boosted my business by 15% in 2 days by following his easy 1.2.3. steps.”
DJ Smooth B, Dallas, TX
Want to see how I can help you? Call me, email or use the short form on this page, 732.422.6362, international 001 732 422 6362
