“First, say to yourself what you would be, then do what you have to do.” – Epictetus
Regarded by many as the “Father of Personal Development”, Charles F. Haanel authored a book c.1917 entitled The Master Key System. The book’s central topic was improving the human condition and it influenced many successful people including Napoleon Hill, the author of Think & Grow Rich. In it, Haanel links thought and action to realization of goals. Specifically,
“We must ‘be’ before we can ‘do,’ and we can ‘do’ only to the extent which we ‘are,’ and what we ‘are’ depends upon what we ‘think.’”
Be. Do. Have.
From this was developed the principle of Be, Do, Have. To be the person you want to be you must do what that person would do, to have what they would have. In other words, we have to act in a way that resonates with the future we desire. The only way to achieve that is through taking the actions to “be that person” by doing as that person would do.
So what does this have to do with social media?
In using social media to achieve results, whether is be personally or professionally, we have to take action all the time. We write blog posts, we post to Facebook, we Tweet, we attend MeetUps. But the results we get hinge upon the principles of Be, Do, and Have.
The Example
One of your company’s goals might be to use social media to improve customer service by listening more effectively and by giving your customers more company touch points. In an ideal world, every customer problem would be turned into a positive experience that would motivate your customers to tell everyone they know how wonderful you are. To “be” that company, you must take the necessary actions and “do” what a company that has already achieved that success would do. If you do that, you will “have” the reputation, the buzz, the occupied position in your customers minds, that you want. To have, you must be by doing.
5 Things to Think About
- Ask the hard questions – When formulating your social media strategy and in its daily implementation, ask yourself if what you are doing and how you are doing it is helping you be the company you want to be. If it isn’t, change what you are doing so it does.
- Ask the easy questions – The goal of every feedback mechanism is to answer the question, “What could we be doing better?” So ask that question directly using social media. Instant feedback from engaged customers is only 140 characters away.
- Have your own touch points – You’re probably keeping tabs on how your competitors are using social media already. But dig a little deeper and look for the takeaways. Purify the raw nuggets of gold down to pure 24 karat dust that sprinkle into your own social media activities.
- Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome – If it’s good enough to be the adopted mantra of many Marine Corps units, it’s good enough for you. To improvise requires creativity; to adapt, flexibility; to overcome obstacles, resolve. Using these principles in your social media activities ensures you will never hit a stale patch. There is always something new you can do. Small steps are just as good as big leaps.
- Test and measure – You can’t control what you can’t measure. Make sure you have metrics that will keep you on track.
Are you moving toward your social media goals using Be Do Have? How would this mindset change what you are doing?
Photo by AndYaDontStop