History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.
~ Sir Winston Churchill ~
Photo Credit The Telegraph
Winston Churchill is one of my all time favourite people in history and sits at the top of my, “Who would you like to dine with if you could have the opportunity” list.
History is not something that is easily written by anyone, let alone in the manner that Churchill was able to write his. We all have the opportunity to do what Churchill did, write our own history, but very few of us will ever have the notoriety that he did in doing so.
One advantage that we have that Churchill, or any other person of significance from any time prior to the 21st Century, is the ability to truly write our own history. We have the ability to influence an incredible audience without being world leaders, great orators, captains of industry or peace and rights activists that changed the world.
We have the internet and social media to not only create our own voice, but to create our own history which our children will forever be able to see.
Everything you do has the potential to be seen, recorded, documented and stored virtually forever. Every tweet, post, pin, like, picture will be available.
It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.
~ Warren Buffet ~
AP Photo/Seth Wenig
Add Mr. Buffet’s view on reputation to Sir Churchill’s view on writing history and you can have a great guide for your online presence.
It takes a thousand social interactions to create the online reputation for which you will want to be remembered; but only one to re-write it.
Your online reputation is what you make it through every interaction you have. It doesn’t matter which platform you are using, the medium you are interacting in or the profile you are using, (personal or professional).
Trolls, haters, critics can tempt you to lose your cool, say things you in the heat of the moment or just drop to a level that isn’t acceptable by any good standard. (Yup, I know this because I’ve been there, done that, regretted it.)
Caution
4 Reputation Killers
- Mistakes – Everyone makes them (you’ve probably figured out my Achilles heel is grammar and spelling). Mistakes happen. Repetition of the same mistakes can show lack of caring or lack of ability in the use of the tools you choose. Most mistakes will be overlooked, some will be overblown, a few can destroy you. Incompetence is the manifestation of mistakes that have reached puberty.
- Ignorance – Ignorance in both meanings. Not understanding a subject that you comment/interact on and being ignorant in attitude and or words.
- Hypocrisy – Do as I say, not as I do. I’m open to your opinion, unless it conflicts with mine. I’m here to interact and engage, but I’ll ignore all your attempts. These are reputation killers because they completely fly in the face of your words and your actions. (This is also the biggest killer that you can’t control. In a professional manner, you continually preach obey the law and then one of your officers breaks the law. See what I mean?
- Dishonesty – The internet is the place where secrets go to be shared faster, discovered quicker and to multiply uncontrollably. The internet also has an incredible memory. You say something one day and then flip on that a few years later, it will be brought up. The greatest demands of the social space today are transparency, openness and honesty. Go against those and there is a really good chance you will be beaten down into submission.
