SOCIAL OTTAWA

I enjoy organisms.  I enjoy talking about them.  I find organisms sexy.  Why?  Should be obvious.  Anyway, organisms….”a form of life composed of mutually interdependent parts that maintain various vital processes.”  OH, how I love organisms.  But do not get excited.  I am excited enough for both of us. 

Anyway,….. 

“Social” and “Organism” get along like John and Jane.  Social Organisms are great.  They thrive.  They are needed.  They drive success. 

Yesterday, a good ol’ chap of mine tweeted me a Mashable article (http://mashable.com/2011/11/30/drop-social/).  I read it because he told me it was meant for a progressive entrepreneur (these are Beasts, by the way.  See here http://thechameleonlife.tumblr.com/).  I read it, and now I will offer my opinion. 

The Mashable post – in my pristinely defined, well educated, and therefore irrefutable opinion – is aiming to be provocative.  Great.  Provocative gets attention.  It made me read the damn thing.  I slurped it up like Daniel Plainview.  And on came my thought: interruption is participation.  We all need to participate. 

Enjoy McLuhan?  You should.  If you do not know who he was, go read – at best, go watch his dialogue with Tom Wolfe on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkflL6PTmo8).  Anyway, in an ode to McLuhan, allow me to repeat myself: interruption is participation.  Our culture (because we need a different word so you will not be confused) has become accustomed to social media.  Parents, ripe off the typewriter, use Facebook.  Creeperbook is no longer the prime, free dating site.  It is both Creeper and Curfewbook (figure that out).  It is all social.  Interrupt it.  Participate. 

Be eminent (http://talentbridge.ca/ibm-and-smb-ottawa/) 

Foster growth. 

Do not be afraid.  Too often I hear the statement, “but what if I put it out there and no one reads it, or they do and they hate it?”  And I think: why not give it a go?  Why not toss it out there to be crushed, criticised, hated, and praised?  What is there to lose, except the complacency that sprung you to act?  Try it and feel better.  

The Social Organism is fertile soil.  Water will come by.  But it will be scarce, and you will need to draw its attention.  So go to work.  We all want to work.  Work, for us, will drive success, riches, and…do not say complacency. 

Be the 70 year-old in the next, next social organism.  Be the futuristic character I want to write about.