I mention this because from the time I was born until now I have gone to just about any type of event imaginable. Why am I telling you this? It’s because not once did I see anyone at any of these events whip out their iPhone4 to make a Tweet. Not once did I hear the phrase, “Facebook Me.” And not once did I ever hear, “let’s connect on LinkedIn.” More importantly, I certainly never heard anyone brag about how many friends, fans, or followers they have. They simply knew each other’s wives names, backgrounds and major life events.

Being by my grandfather’s side for all these years and seeing first-hand the level of knowledge everyone possesses about one another got me thinking: What if social networking crashed? Think about it for a moment before reading on. Would you still be able to remember everyone’s birthday? What happens if you forgot your friend’s wife’s or husband’s name? Do you actually know even half of the phone numbers saved in your phone? If Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter died how in the world would you be able to stay connected or keep up with what everyone’s doing? The answer is simple – we would actually have to work harder at remembering things. For some of us that might even mean taking notes – ON PAPER! Yes generation-x, as scary as this may sound it is possible to live in a world without online social networking sites.

Can we define Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and others true social networking?

Now that I have you thinking about a world without online networking let’s explore the true intent of this post. Can we actually call sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, “social networking?” Or, are they just product tools that help us obtain the information we need for in-person interaction? Let’s use the Facebook event page as an example. An event organizer sets up an event on Facebook and invites their friends to RSVP. This provides everyone with insight on who’s attending the event. More importantly, it allows individuals to research one another before they attend the actual event.

The point I am trying to make here is that we have the luxury on calling upon Facebook when we need to obtain information – in this case people attending an event. Can we truly consider that social networking? What about the Facebook “Wall” or “Chat” features? Technically they are forms of communication, which is a core principle of “social networking.” Take a look at the posts on your wall or even your friend’s wall. Can we really consider a ‘like’ on a post or a quick comment in a ‘wall’ true social networking? Listen, I don’t have the answers to these questions. I am just tossing it out there as something for everyone to think about.
Recently, I did an in-depth analysis of my own social networking profiles. I wanted to see just how many people out of the 2,000 plus (Facebok + LinkedIn + Twitter) I actually conversed with in-person on a daily basis. When I did the math the exact calculation came to 0.010 percent (roughly 21 people). This is a pretty shocking number isn’t it? And for those of you who know me I am a pretty social guy. I hear so many people out there brag about the number of Twitter followers they have. I would hypothesize the larger the number of followers on Twitter an individual has the lower their percent of daily interaction amongst their followers will be. Kind of counter intuitive for a platform we consider to be social-networking right?

The point of this post is not to bash social networking – because I truly love it. It’s to raise an argument on how we define these so-called, “social networking” sites. Are they robust product tools that allow us to call upon information to enhance the true social experience, which is offline? Or are they platforms that foster a true enriched social networking experience in the place we call the Internet? Again, I don’t have the answers to these questions but my grandfather does. He states, “ You can’t ever replace the true value of human interaction and the importance of a handshake.”

Balance of power

Anyone who has ever started a blog knows the hardest part is building a loyal following. Bloggers generally build awareness by creating their own content, reporting news, or a mixture of both. For the purpose of this post we are going to focus on bloggers who report on fashion oriented consumer news.

Being a political science major in college, I am going to explain the blogosphere by applying a well-coined theory called, “the balance of power.” A balance of power exists when there is parity or stability between competing forces.  If one were to apply this theory to the blogosphere we would surely witness an uneven scale. What contributes to this unevenness? It’s simple; corporations that produce the content control its distribution. Again, we are talking about consumer oriented blogs here. Let’s explore the world of sneaker blogs. At the end of the day the traffic goes to the blog that produces the best content. The best content heavily depends on who’s posting the freshest news on sneakers. Sure blogs can be successful posting already reported news and adding their commentary, however, in order to become a top-notch blog you need to find a way to gather exclusive information. Thus, bloggers work there tail end off to not only build their following but to also improve their content by establishing relations with organizations and brands (in this case sneaker companies) that produce the content – i.e. they want the exclusive stuff. So where does the power eventually end up? Duh! It ends up with the organizations.

Unarguably the producers of the content are the ones who have the power to make or break a blog’s success. Every once and awhile a blog will break through the barrier and find their way to exclusive content. Maybe, it’s the nature of the beast and the way things are meant to be. It’s what separates the big blogs from the small ones.

Brands who are smart notice

Smart brands value the big blogs no differently than they value the small ones. What the heck am I talking about? Well let’s explore.  theYipster.com can’t compare in traffic to some of the larger sneaker blogs because it’s so niche. However, if a brand is looking to tap into the white sneaker market all of a sudden my blog might be more influential than the big ones. It’s niche and has already established a loyal following. More importantly, I would argue that when you give a small blog a piece of exclusive content that blog is more likely to push the content because it helps build their brand equity (aka look what I got!).

I want to be straight-forward with everyone as I am not complaining that my blog does not get exclusive content. I am happy with the relationships I have built over the last two years and have enough content coming my way. I’d like to think I broke through the barrier and established my brand as a go-to for white sneaker news. I basically worked overtime with a team of friends to build the brand’s popularity and make the connections I needed to get the content I wanted. But should it be that hard to do?

What big brands need to realize

Relationships with bloggers are not just about sending exclusive content. It’s about sending the right type of content that will match up with the blog’s audience. I can’t tell you how frustrating it is when a brand sends me information on sneakers that are not white. It’s like I am just another blogger part of a big email list and no one has taken the time to actually look at my site – or even the URL name for that matter. To be honest, I am less likely to open emails from anyone who just mass-messages me. I think any blogger (as do main stream media reporters) would likely feel the same way.

True blogger outreach does not involve creating massive email lists and blasting out information. Real blogger outreach is identifying blogs by influence, creating real interpersonal relationships, and sending information that helps not only the blog but the brand and message you’re trying to spread.

Big companies need to make themselves more accessible to bloggers. The communication process needs to go both ways. The days of sending out content and thinking bloggers will post anything are over. There’s just too much junk out there – bloggers, you know what I mean. Real relationships need to be established between brands and influencers.  It’s all about being human and believing in the fact that people like to do business with good people. It beckons back to the notion revolving around, “help me out, so I can help you out.”

Final thoughts

I want to emphasize again that I am not writing this post out of anger. I am happy with the relationships I have built with the brands I work with. What I think needs much approving is the process in which I had to take to get to where my blog is at today. It’s simple; brands who think relationships can be built behind a desk will hire public relation professionals to do blogger outreach. Brands who really care about getting genuine coverage and establishing long lasting relationships will invest in building influencer/brand relations.
It cant be, “Hey we sent you this content now post it.” It has to be more along the lines of, “How are you today? We wanted to check in to see what content you are looking for or interview you are looking to secure.” Doing the little things right will go a long way. Trust me!

The tramp debuted in Kid Auto Races at Venice (1914). Chaplin used the tramp and other characters to generate comedy out of the widening social gap of the post-WW I period. The gap between rich and poor, rural and urban, immigrant and native is evident in such films as The Tramp, The Immigrant, The Kid, The Gold Rush, and The Circus, which won him an Oscar. Mime was perhaps Chaplin’s most powerful tool: He used it to give voice to those who could not speak, illustrating their deprivation, as in the boot-eating scene in The Gold Rush. It was an important part of his subtle acting style, which eschewed the techniques of melodramatic stage acting to psychologize action, showing it as motivated by character rather than by an external force or a plot device like a gag. He helped center comedy on characters and performers, rather than on the events that befell them, paving the way for such comedians as Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd. Chaplin also favored a comedy of space, that is developing narrative and humor not through montage or editing but through mise-en-scene, or composition, building the story and jokes around the little tramp’s interactions with the objects in his world in each scene. Chaplin was one of the key figures of the first generation of Hollywood stars, joining D. W. Griffith, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks to form United Artists in 1919 to be able to compete more effectively in the big-business environment of the Hollywood studio system.

Although he was an internationally beloved celebrity, he was notorious for his penchant for beautiful teenagers and his left-wing political views. His refusal to give his comedies typically happy endings put him at odds with Hollywood. By the 1930s, the political bite of Chaplin’s social satire had become quite sharp, even if it was accompanied by sentimentality. Modern Times, released during the Depression, put the little tramp in overalls as a displaced worker abused by both the bosses and the machines of the factory. His first full-length sound film, The Great Dictator (1940), took advantage of his resemblance to Adolf Hitler, with Chaplin playing the double parts of a Nazi-like leader and a Jewish barber; it earned several Academy Award nominations.

Chaplin’s representation of the conditions of his characters’ social and economic displacement made him an increasingly controversial figure, drawing the attention of the House on UnAmerican Activities Committee during the 1950s. In 1953 Chaplin, who had never become an American citizen, took up residency in Switzerland, after being informed by the U.S. State Department that he would be investigated for political and moral turpitude. He returned to the United States briefly before his death to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Motion Picture Academy in 1972 and was knighted two years before he died (via My Autobiography).

Stay The Course And Innovate Your Craft

Chaplin was one of the most inspirational movies I have ever watched.  Charlie was a larger-than-life actor in an era when Hollywood was at is most glamorous age. He was a man who had many dreams and did everything in his power to turn them into reality. He pushed the boundaries and stomped over any obstacles that came his way. What did I really get out of his life story? In current day, we get so bogged down with innovation as it relates to technology. After watching Chaplin I was reminded that you don’t always need to rely on technology to be innovative. In fact, Chaplin refused to make a “Talkie” featured film while playing his most famous character The Tramp. Chaplain’s genius outside of acting was in his ability to protect his greatest asset – being a mime. Chaplin understood his strengths and did not let the market dictate what path he should travel down. How many times have you let the market dictate your decisions? How many company’s out there have collapsed because they lost sight of what they were good at? In my opinion, sometimes, staying the course and working to perfect and recreate your craft is innovation within itself. What do you think?
If your interested in watching the movie click here its currently playing on hulu.
Source: Charlie Chaplin  (1992). My Autobiography

1. A startup forces you to be creative

In any type of startup you will be relied on to think outside the box, whether it’s to solve a complex business problem or to create a new service or product. Unlike being in a classroom environment, your ideas really matter as they directly impact the future success of the business. For a variety of reasons, getting a good grade in class cannot and never will compare to the pressures of being relied upon to think creatively at a startup.

2. You wear multiple hats

As a student you are able to focus your curriculum around your interests. Thus, you spend most of your time in business school around that one particular topic (i.e. Finance, Marketing, Operations Management etc.). At a startup you typically don’t get the luxury of allocating your time towards your interests or particular job description. Often times, you will be asked to step into a role that you have no clue how to fill. Again, your decisions and ability to fill the void in this role will matter!

3. Witness real life experiences

As a member of a startup company you will witness what it’s like to start and manage a business. Whether it is going through a round of funding or closing a big business deal, you will gain first hand knowledge that simply cannot be replicated in any classroom environment.

4. A professional network

It would be foolish for me to say that you don’t grow a network at business school – you definitely do. However, it’s a different type of relationship, as you are still perceived as a student. Thus, it is a student-to-professional relationship rather than a professional-to-professional relationship. It’s hard to explain, but the dynamic of the relationship is intrinsically different. Working at a startup provides you with the same access to distinguished professionals, especially if you are at a venture-backed company.

5. Years of quality experience

Going to business school full-time is a huge commitment. You are giving up two years of real life business experience to go back to school.  Even the part-time MBA students sacrifice as often times they must defer new opportunities (i.e. extended work hours, mandatory relocation, and additional responsibilities), so that they can fit classes into their already rigorous schedule. Many students bank on the fact that their MBA will propel them in the business world. Guess what? While an MBA will enhance your resume, it definitely does not promise success. However, being at a startup certainly educates you and provides you with quality work experience.

6. Learn the present not the past

Business school has a funny way of getting students hooked on learning about past events. While it is unarguably beneficial to learn about past successes and failures, many of these examples do not apply to today’s global business economy. This is often a result of changes in the social, political, economical and technological landscapes. At a startup company you are undoubtedly going to be constantly looking ahead. You will be the one finding new ways to innovate your industry and pushing for change. In short, wouldn’t you want to be the one pioneering a new path instead of exploring someone else’s?  Startup companies will more than likely provide you with this opportunity. You will learn what works in today’s business!

7. More than one way to do things

Business school students often times get frustrated with certain professors who believe that solutions in the book are always right. If you are currently in business school and reading this you know what I mean. Right? The beauty of working at a startup is that there is usually no right or wrong solutions. A good CEO will want you to challenge the business and provide intelligent recommendations on how to change the current course. Moreover, the answers that your company is trying to solve are not given – that’s probably why it’s a startup. In short, a good startup will not restrain you from searching for new answers or strategies.

8. Making money is a good thing

One of the hardest realities any business school student faces is coughing up the dough. Business school is very expensive! While you probably won’t be making six figures at most startups you will be revenue positive. Making money is always better then dishing it out. Especially, for those students who have to take out loans that accrue interest. Either way, working at a startup provides you with both money and valuable work experience, neither of which is possible in business school.

9. Equity is a good thing

One thing you will surely not get in business school is equity. Most early stage startups will give their employees a decent salary and equity in the company. The idea of dishing out equity is that it makes you more invested in the venture. For those who have worked in startups you know what I mean.  Therefore, not only do you get paid to work at the startup you also get a piece of the action. I don’t think I need to explain the advantages of this one any further.

10. A startup is a sure thing

Well its true not every startup will succeed – you will learn and you will grow.  Prospective business school students ask me all the time how to measure the investment of an MBA. I simply tell them, “I have absolutely no idea. I don’t think anyone does.” Some schools may disclose how much their graduates make, but I would like to leave you with this question:  was it solely because of their MBA that they got the job? I highly doubt it.

My final thoughts

This post is not intended to tarnish business school. Experience at a business school definitely forces you to learn the fundamentals of running a business that you might not have otherwise ever learned. However, at the end of the day when I reflect back on my experiences and realize how I got to where I am today, I do question the arguments I presented above. I founded popular sneaker blog AllWhiteKicks.com, recently served as the director of social media at NBCUniversal’s USA Network, and am now off starting my new company – Gunning Point. I believe I got here because of my experiences at Going.com and other startup ventures, and not because of my MBA.