A lot of people say they don’t like to use social media because it is simply about “what I had for breakfast” and they really don’t care. I spend a lot of time talking to people about how it can be so much more than that. I talk about the business opportunities, relationship building, etc. Today, I am finding value in the topic of “what I had for breakfast.”
Seven months ago I started a weight loss journey. One of the first things that I did was tell my Facebook friends about it. This can be a very personal thing and many people wouldn’t want to share it, especially with professional contacts. However, what I found was that by being so public about my situation I was creating a virtual support team. A team of people that hold me accountable, keeping me going and help me celebrate my accomplishments. The other thing that I discovered was that through my personal journey, I was inspiring others to get healthy and we all started cheering each other on.
I’m not alone. Sean Schuette, a meeting professional who I have not yet met face-to-face, created Sean’s Weight Loss Journey to share his success. Sean has lost over 100 pounds and inspires people every day, including me. My friends Kiki, Jess, Laura, Jamie and Amanda are also on the journey. They post their workouts using the Lose It iPhone app. When I see that Kiki did 35 minutes on the elliptical machine, it makes me want to do 36 minutes. And when we have a good or bad day of dieting, we share that too.
Every person that I named is someone that I met through business. The fact that we are share a similar struggle helps us find commonality and has strengthened our relationships. These people are no longer just professional contacts; they are MY support team.
So yes, sometime social media is just about “what I had for breakfast.” I wouldn’t want it any other way.
To my friends on the journey, I wish you luck. To any readers that are working on a healthier life, I invite you to join us. We will be happy to cheer you on.