The Power in Potential

Amber, I agree with everything you’re saying. However, I don’t like the word potential. Potential is often times associated with those people or those ideas that failed. When you think of people or things with potential, it’s usually after they’ve attempted and failed.

I prefer to think of it as building. I’m building my network, building my outreach, building my knowledge.

But, overall, you’re spot on. It’s creating something that’s a two-way benefit. A lot of people don’t understand that’s it’s not a “right now” and that it’s “down the road” or “in time”.

Good post.

Amber, I agree with you here. In fact I was asked why I friended someone on twitter recently by the person i friended. I told them that their profile was intriguing and that it’s the only way to get to know someone.

The power really is in potential. I often say that opportunity is right there as long as your eyes are open to it. Many folks including myself would be surprised by the amount of opportunity that passes you by each and every day.

Keep spreading the love.
Keith

I really am at a loss for words at this point: I pretty much always agree with your posts and love that you can pluck these ideas out of the ether, formulate them into a coherent narrative and post them in such a digestible format. So once again, all I can really say about this is…

Right on, sista.

I feel so lame for not having anything to add other than a nod.

I think what people have a hard time grasping is the power in potential vs. an efficient network. The difference I see is being able to manage your network and making it work for you, while understanding the potential side of things that you’ve posted here.

There is definitely a benefit in building up your network with potential relationships that could flourish at a moments notice. But managing such a strategy comes with issues including elevated amounts of spam/’unwanted’ messages and the difficulty of scaling a much larger community than you would have to otherwise. This really goes back to understanding what you’re there for on your platform of choice, and the goals you’ve set out for yourself and the community you’re connecting with.

Power in potential doesn’t go without further work in managing that community. Might be harder, and you might miss certain opportunities from time to time – but the chance to connect with amazing people you wouldn’t have otherwise, brings much benefit to that added work.

Nice thoughts here, Amber.

Hello Amber,

I am in total agreement!

For me it is about “potential” and reciprocity, manners and good will.

If someone is interested in me, my work or my opinion, the least I can do is afford them the same respect and interest. We can always learn from others

(I draw the line though at porn, vulgarity and sales people)

Warm wishes

Michele

I suspect 150 is the upper limit, and the number of relationships we can actively manage under normal circumstances is probably much smaller. That said, I marvel at the way you and others I follow are able to stay at least peripherally connected with large social networks.

Amber,
I do like the word potential. It’s very close to possible. Every person we connect with has possibility. They could possibly help us out or know someone who can.

I say, why close the door on people. Unless of course they are spamming you and being a complete idiot, then boundaries are good. It seems like a good long-term investment to see potential in each individual person. Because that’s what all of these numbers, followers, and contacts are. People.

Hi Amber,

Its gratifying to see your belief in the ‘potential’ of social networks at a time when many social media ‘gurus’ are stuck with the ‘unfollow movement’.

While I agree that beyond a certain number doesn’t work, my question is: what example are you setting?

My other observation is that many ‘social media types’ seem to be stuck in a giant echo chamber and deny themselves the potential of networks that would extend their influence – ironic isn’t it!

I’m glad you believe in being open to extending your influence.

Cheers,

@Anita_Lobo

I appreciate your writing and sharing what I’m thinking. Too often, people get caught up in #s, statistics, ROI, etc. All those things are important at some level but what really matters is having integrity, caring about others, and reaching self-defined goals.

I learn so much from you and others that have expertise in areas I am now just exploring. Getting back to the question, I share the same philosophy; new introductions are great, how quickly those relationship may develop will vary. There’s no need to force a connection, letting it develop naturally seems to yield the strongest bonds.

Thanks for always sharing.

@davebenjamin

Amber –

My first comment is to say “ditto” to what Olivier said.

Your statement, “…I’m not the hub. I’m a touchpoint on the network…” jumped out at me. So freaking true. This is a point that is often forgotten, I think. “Touchpoint” reminds me of “Connector” from The Tipping Point. Love it.

Also, I really like this paragraph:

I believe in Dunbars number to an individual extent – the idea that any human can only actively connect with about 150 people at a time – but I believe the fabric that group of 150 is dynamic. In other words, people move in and out of that circle over time. It’s an ebb and flow.

This ebb and flow concept is what makes it so much fun. Short story. I have been following @rickgalan for about 6 months now. He lives in the Salt Lake City area. I just moved here and was looking to connect up with some locals. He sent this tweet yesterday AM. I was at BetaLoft by the afternoon. We said across from each other and got talking. As it turns out, we met almost 2 years ago at a conference in Vegas. One of his co-workers is a guy who lives in NC who I interviewed while at my last company. Small world, right?

Point being, Rick was has been “out” of my circle for the past 24 months. Now he is back in. Ebb and flow. Ebb and flow.

Thanks for getting me fired up on a Thursday.

DJ Waldow
Director of Community at Blue Sky Factory
@djwaldow

I think once you can rest easy with the ‘fear’ that you might have missed an important connection with a potential customer (customer refers to everyone from a reader of your articles to a buyer of your product), then you can relax slightly and enjoy making new connections and seeing where they take you.

I just blogged my 401st post – crikey! Where did I find time to do all that? Never mind, its also great fun reaching out and not a little altruistic to ‘assume’ that someone, somewhere found what you had to write useful or even interesting.

The more the merrier – contacts will come and go but I’d hate to be still writing this stuff in 5 years time and no-one reading it because i concentrated on the few contacts i already had.

Thanks for provoking the thought though.
Jonathan.
http://purple13.blogspot.com

Amber,

I think if that system works for you. That’s great. I chuckle anytime someone tries to define how social media should work. We shouldn’t tell other people “how” their relationship with their friends should work or how they should be introduced in the outside world so why do it with social media. I met my teriffic wife of 11 years at a bar and I don’t know how many times I have heard that meaningful relationships don’t start at a bar.

As for our capacity to connect. I think it has increased due to the technology that is available. Facebook gives me the ability to connect with people much easier than was ever possible before and maintain good relationships.

I don’t actively connect with people I don’t know well on Facebook and LinkedIn. Although that doesn’t mean I haven’t connecting with strangers. As for Twitter, I am also a tad selective about who I follow there as well but not nearly as selective as it is less intrusive.

Enjoyed the post.

Hiya, Amber! This issue seems to be on everyone’s mind of late. Whom do you follow? How do you decide? It can certainly be tricky. I handle different networks in different ways.

On Twitter, I don’t feel at all compelled to follow back *everyone* who follows me. If, however, there doesn’t seem to be a reason NOT to follow, I usually do (Seesmic makes this process easier by allowing lists of people, which I break down into those whom I follow intently, or those that I check in on with less frequency).

On Facebook, however, my standards are quite different. While I certainly use it for networking, the relationships that I hone there are those that I am developing on a more personal level. Relationships that can be fostered past the point of just business associates.

It can be difficult to manage, at times, but like you say, you can only do what works best for you. This is what works for me. So far, so good.

Amber,

Love your train of thought on this one … and the fact that you’re not setting any hard and fast rules, but simply sharing what works for you. I agree heartily that each person needs to develop their own rules of and systems for engagement according to what they hope to accomplish within their networks.

For me, these are the primary drivers behind my thought process:
* Follow the golden rule
* Reciprocate attempts to connect as much as possible, but not with people who have obvious ulterior motives (spammers, MLM’s, and the like)
* Figure out which tools and systems best help you manage the influx of information and correspondence (For instance – for twitter – I was originally on Tweetdeck, but am in the process of migrating to Seesmic.)
* Trust in the power of intention combined with serendipity … like you, I believe in the power of potential. Although I may not interact with every person in each of my networks on a daily basis, I can keep those doors open by allowing for tw-way dialog. Many wonderful things have happened in my life that seemed to come out of random or chance events … but they never would have taken place if I hadn’t kept an open mind and an open door.

Thanks for sharing your method to the madness.

Amber,

Like the post and the subsequent comments!

The one thing I want to add is something that jumped out at me. When you wrote “…my approach will undoubtedly fail me now and again when I miss a connection that I should be making much better. I’ll own that”, it reminded me of discussions I’ve been having with people about “big list building.”

I am not in favour of building a huge follower list for the sake of having a huge follower list. Neither do I subscribe, however, to the opposite strategy of micromanaging followers within a rigid “strategic” framework.

I know (and argue with) a number of people whose strategy is to connect only with people who they “know” can really help them, can really provide them with insight and assistance. Subsequently, they have a small, tightly controlled network. But, I say, how do you know that none of those people you chose to exclude in a heartbeat don’t have value and potential? The micromanagers are limiting themselves through their rigidity. (Or they are spending too much bandwidth on the [over]analysis).

I appreciate (and subscribe to) your approach that says you are not going to over-analyze the people you choose to connect with. It’s not willy-nilly but neither is it a closed membership; it falls somewhere inbetween where (I feel) social networks are at their most powerful.

I very much agree with you Amber.

Do not miss any chances to create relationship with visitors. “Potentials” does exist especially is someone finds you valuable.

Yes! a relationship which both parties are getting something. Dialogue should be emphasized to strengthen such bond. More than this, one should establish trust through invaluable contributions and shares. This will build a strong connection that will not only be limited to two parties but to dozens, as the link of worthful shares have been provided.ss

Hi Amber-
Great post! I love the idea of thinking of your contacts (however you choose to determine them) as potential – because they are potential resources, contacts, friends and colleagues. You’ve coined a beautiful terminology.

I want to extend Jeremy’s comments: one thinks differently about “potential” depending on how one will utilize each a network. I, too, use Linkedin connections to connect with personal and professional friends that I’ve done business with or will do business with. I want my Linkedin connections to offer a quality lead or introduction. However, there are many “open networkers” on Linkedin who view everyone as a potential source of business and will connect unjudiciously with anyone they meet, online or offline. Deciding how one will use a social network (as an open call for contacts/potential contacts, a closely linked circle of contacts, or a mix of these) gives one the frame of reference needed to determine who to follow/connect/friend/add to network. It also informs how you view “potential” and how you will manage your connections.

Exactly! Amber, love this post. Short but to the point. Everyone you meet has potential. Potential to be a friend, business partner, maybe even employer one day. Thing is, at the moment you first connect, you can’t know that potential but if you believe that everyone has potential to be something interesting or important to you — then a whole new world of opportunities exist.
@TomMartin

Amber

This post is great. You just never know who you might meet who can become a lifelong friend, a business associate or someone who is just fun to interact with. As we go through our daily activities and pass people along the way and so many times never even acknowledge them (or for that matter greet them with a friendly “hello” we are potentillay missing out on an opportunity. Tom Martin is dead on with “…has potential to be something interesting or important to you.”

Connecting on social media is not too dissimilar to meetings in person – you do not know the extent of the relationship until you delve in further and see where they fit into your network, if at all.

Suzanne Vara/@Lvadgal

I agree. On Twitter in particular I think that there are those who forget about the “networking” in social networking. What works for me is to approach Twitter as I would as if I was in the room with a few hundred or so people – some who may be potential friends, some who may be potential customers, some who I might just be able to make a suggestion to, share a laugh and move on.

If Twitter was a live networking function there would be those walking around the room saying: Let me tell you about me. Let me tell you about me. Others would be saying: Did you hear what she said? Did you hear what she said? And my least favorite group – the ones who walk up to you and say: Guess what nice things people are saying about me.

We wouldn’t do it at a function. We shouldn’t behave that way with social media.

And just like a function there are those who you feel comfortable walking up to straight away and saying Hi. And others who after a minute or two you try and politely move away from. We can only hope not to be the latter one to too many people!