The last month has been most interesting in many ways not just because of viral pandemic, racism matters and the Trump US shenanigans which are rather amusing. We all wait to see what this new normal will be and while that has all been bubbling in the background I have been knee deep in ……. The ins and outs of social media and starting businesses.
First of all – yes I am blogging to in part plug and ask for help getting my business out there but that really is secondary to sharing the insights I have had on the slippery slope of social media insecurity..
Starting something new, getting followers, asking (begging) for subscribes and likes, thinking what to post, who to follow, what to comment and what people want and like is hard work!!! It really is, how they guys get millions of followers I can only guess is by organic real traffic…. I take my hat off to those who have made a success out of it all, you gotta love doing it else it can drag you down! And that’s what I realised has happened over the last week!
Social media is one big yet small network and a little bit of a clique – this person likes this, so they like that and if you comment these people you might get seen and here’s the rules you follow….!! Then as you start playing this rather intertwined dance you see the same names and go “a-ha” – how real it is all I will not comment on, but I see better how it all works now.!
Will I play the game a while ? – yeah, why not! But I know I need to stay true to who I am and not get caught up in some possible negative feelings.
To explain..
I am a little innocent about some stuff I know and I like being that way… but when I looked into some things and looked deeper I found a few bits and pieces that I really didn’t like - for example a company who set your business name up offer you a free bank account which is free anyway and by then referring you they get 60 euros for it and if you are a non-resident they charge 100 euro MORE when it makes no difference whatsoever….!! Clever and for me not honest – but I guess that is how business can work…
Then the freebies – I’ll give you this, join this blah blah and then BAM they’ll hit you with their sales – again I get it but it’s not me, hence why I started with my why behind the blog… I blog as it helps me make sense of things as well as maybe others who read it. But then nothing is really for free I suppose and even I put up videos with the hope of gaining followers so I can maybe sell my course to them so I am part of it… mmmmmm…. It’s how it’s done is the thing for me – don’t know it’s an interesting ponderance…
Anyway to 'work' social media it is suggested you find others to follow, make comments, like and so on. So I did and that’s when I saw everyone else does this! Lol…and I saw some very cool moves and it made me look outside my box so great…
BUT then I started to compare… and I know better than to do that and I started worrying and “how am I going to do this” and OMG I don’t have a six pack or look that good, why would someone follow 'little me'.
At this point in hindsight I would like to take a huge baseball bat and hit myself with it for being stupid and going against all that I know about the subject …. F*&K Wit comes to mind. I hadn’t realised it was happening until I was getting more sensitive and feeling insecure and as I walked earlier the baseball bat did hit me and I got it…
Looking at soooo many IG accounts of fitness people really woke my insecurities up…all the yoga, Pilates and fitness people are typically half naked, with toned torsos and 6 packs waving at me. PANIC am I meant to have and do that to get followers!!???.... As she pours more wine to calm down and add to the non 6-pack stomach..
So there’s the thing, I don’t have one and unlikely I ever will, and nor do I really care. I care about how I feel and I feel great without one until I looked at lots of people with one!! Why does this sell? “Making” people insecure so follow me and you’ll get one is shit. It is…. If you say “it’s all about how you feel about yourself, don’t train for aesthetics…” then don’t look so bloody good….. I don’t get it. Well I do, it sells..
The little voice goes “that means you won’t do well in business Lisa”… The real Lisa goes thank you little voice, now kindly take a very long walk so I can recover and stop worrying “.. Luckily it did take that walk and I pulled myself out of ‘I’m not good enough, what am I doing, this won’t work….”
What it does mean is that I can have fun with it, post what I feel is meaningful and if it appeals to you, awesome, if it doesn’t also awesome… Maybe you stopped reading this already – also awesome, because it’s not about me…. I am okay with who I am..!! Jeez this self work really is on-going work, the fact I had these doubts though was somewhat surprising to me and until I started writing this I hadn’t twigged on the root cause. If this is what social media is generally doing to those who are not so aware of it, then no wonder we are a world full of stress and insecurity…..
My take away learnings for the world of social media –
not to take it too seriously…
not to compare…
to be me
be my honest self ……
and to enjoy the process, play the game with a light heart and see what happens.
It is fascinating, it really is and I will keep going because I have some good shit to share, it’s my livelihood, and apart from this wee hiccup I do enjoy it..
Oh by the way please do subscribe to our YouTube channel it’s really cool stuff…. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7O3wdppzajnKiY189tHLTQ
Erm find Infinity Movement on IG at @infinitymovement.fit
My colouring book comes out soon I hope on Amazon so look out for JoliArtes…
And if you want or anyone you know would like Pilates/movement training, life coaching or a combination – send them my way!!!
I’m awesome…
My truth – I’m a cool, slightly funky chick, who has embarked on multiple projects, none of which she knows where they will go, and who at times is scared shitless that she has NO clue what she is doing and maybe she shouldn’t have left the luxury resort she worked on before!!!. And who is also so excited about the possibilities ahead….I do truly believe in what I am doing - good movement and sort your head out for a happier life, how can I not believe in that, as well as my wee art book that is my bliss. The fears come and go, the learnings never stop, I take it too seriously then have to pull back and remember to enjoy the process and heck just have fun with it!!!... There is MASSES yet for me to learn, which is exciting, time consuming, frustrating and wonderful – it’s like having 4 seasons in one day. I need help for some things with others am more that capable. I don’t have a 6-pack, eat dark chocolate most days and drink a glass or 2 of alcohol daily, I work out so I maintain my fitness which is miles away from where it was and yes so I feel good and feel I look, I weigh myself most mornings to help me keep on track and I work hard to not let the doubts and negativity talk louder than the positive ones which I much prefer…. I don’t have all things sussed and I doubt and hope I never will because the doubts and fears keep me on my toes and awake…
Thank you..