The Social Media Leech
I am sure you can conjure up what I mean when I say a social media leech. But just in case the image doesn’t help (that was a joke, BTW), I’ll let you know what I mean, share my issue with it and then turn it over to you.
What I mean by social media leeches are those people that latch onto social networks, absorb all the FREE information that is shared, use it for their own benefit and then complain when the free information that they are continually exposed to is no longer new, earth shattering or insightful. This is a social media leech.
Social media leeches are the ones that spout off that in social networks that people and companies must ‘give before they take,’ or ‘listen before they engage,’ and my favorite ‘share, share, share!’ and yet, they give nothing of substance or value in return to the communities in which they participate. Another word here might be freeloader.
I am not going to point fingers here, but twice it’s happened that something I have shared from a conference (Online Media Boot Camp and BlogPotomac) was greeted with a comment that it was nothing new or earth shattering. And I’ve seen comments like this thrown at other people who are sharing tidbits from the conferences that they PAY and/or TAKE TIME to attend. Well, guess what? We aren’t talking to you, social media leech. We are sharing information with all the different people in our networks. They come from all different backgrounds, educations, experiences and businesses and, more importantly, they might not even be in your network.
I have a few things to say to the social media leech. First, the minute that you stop learning and stop analyzing the situation or context in which information is shared or how a community is interacting around the information shared is the minute you stop being a thought leader or expert. Second, how about you shell out some money (or time) to attend conferences and share information like the rest of us? Third, if you think it’s nothing earth shattering or new, then I challenge you to be the one to raise the bar. Finally, next time you want to complain about getting something for free, consider the impression you leave about yourself versus the impression you think you are making against the person or community you are complaining about. Up for the challenge?
I have no time for leeches because I am involved with social networks to learn from others, contribute my thoughts or opinions, and engage with others who are as interested as I am in advancing the marketing profession. If the social media leech doesn’t like that, I invite them to unfollow, unfriend and unsubscribe because I am not going to lower my standards.
One last thought. Think of the social media leech from a business perspective. Can you imagine a business allowing a leech to keep picking their brain, utilizing what they learned (perhaps to even become competition) and never pay for it or return it in kind? Not for long, I can assure you.
Kneale Mann said it best in his comment on Amber Naslund’s recent post, Our Responsibility To Our Communities:
“We all share in the responsibility of the collective good. You don’t get to come over to my place, sleep in my bed, eat my food, wear my clothes and complain about everything.”
I don’t know about you, but I am tired of social media leeches. I am not interested in connecting with people who leech without contributing anything back to the marketing community.
Your thoughts?
[Image: www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5319129]
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55 Responses to “The Social Media Leech”
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Well said, Beth! Some people keep giving and giving while others seem to just take and take and never reciprocate. Communities are TWO-WAY streets.
Connie Reece’s last blog post..Site Downtime Expected
Bravo Beth! I know a few of these people as well.
I ignore them for the most part. I’ve also asked them what they’ve attended, what they’ve contributed. You can guess the response.
I know you push yourself constantly, and I appreciate that about you. For every leech, there are many that recognize the contributions of people like yourself.
Thank you for all that you do!
You tell them Beth! I agree completely. If I am willing to spend the time, money and effort to attend a conference and am also willing to be generous enough to share what I am experiencing with my network, no one has the right to complain. If you don’t want to hear, it, turn me off (unfollow me). More often than not, people are saying thank you for sharing. Also, to continue your rant, So What if it is not anything new and earth-shaking?? Hearing solid, relevant messages again is not going to hurt us, it will only help. It is the way we learn, through repetition and exposure.
To the social media leeches out there, your attitude is part of what turns the inexperienced off to the value of the medium. Your careless words tossed into the social media sphere damage what we are all trying to build – the spirit of sharing, caring, learning and relationships that are the power behind social media. Please think about that before you complain next time.
It’s usually these same people who have too big of an ego to realize that they aren’t as “smart” or “advanced” as they think. I agree with your challenge of stepping up and bringing something to the table. It’s your responsibility to continually challenge yourself. Practice what you preach – you are complaining about not learning, yet you fail to add anything of significant value. In order to be thought of as an innovator or thought leader, you need to branch out and separate yourself amongst the masses.
Great topic, I appreciate your blog and the insight it provides.
As usual, great post.
Having just shelled out the money (like you) for Blog Potomac and having gone to similar conferences in our industry I actually don’t try to find the great big new thing, but the small nugget of info that I can share.
Sometimes the leeches can’t see the forest from the trees and are spending so much time waiting to get blown away that they miss the small point that really makes the difference.
Blood suckers!!!
Jon Newman’s last blog post..Richmond Social Media Club post mortum
Nice post. Thoughtful, well-stated, bulls-eye! (But no surprise there.)
Beth,
Thank you for your post. Beautiful.
It’s indeed frustrating when you just want to contribute to your community, but someone just put you off by being rude or rather selfish.
I am, as you, tired of social media leeches.
Cheers from Brazil,
Gabriel
I believe the social web is getting to a point where recipriocal sharing is being wasted on the most “influential social media” clan which is “broadcast this, broadcast that” Twitter.
Josh Chandler’s last blog post..If the Twitpocalypse happens, so what?
I think jealousy plays a large part: “I should be up there”. The difference is, you are up there, sharing what you know. They are sitting, arms crossed, complaining.
Here is the thing – Leeches (like Trolls) are a natural hazard in this more open, social space. They are a fact – they happen. They happen like flooded basements and traffic accidents and being trapped in the Detroit airport for three days due to weather.
You are reaching out, sharing every day, paying forward. They sit back and complain and then steal a quote or graphic for the slide deck their owe their boss or client. Complaining (to them) makes them seem more important and superior and (hopefully to them) look better in the eyes of those they are chatting with.
I disagree with your point about the business perspective. Companies dont pay it forward (in general), they dont share without some form of ROI or payback. I would never spend my time and effort (strat, creative, code) on a leech because I get paid for every hour I work. Even a very large company’s Social Responsibility group gets press for their efforts. Your ideas are your currency, and you share them freely (or sometimes at some cost as part of an event). Paying it forward as you do changes that dynamic. There will always be people who take.
In a perverse way, its kind of a compliment. If your work wasnt great they wouldnt be leeching.
Like most things, you get out of it what you put into it. If you go to a conference with the right mindset and expectations (meet cool people, learn some new things, get to engage and interact with the speakers, spend quality time with your peers) then you will get a LOT out of an event and actually improve on EVERYONEs time.
If you go there looking for a reason to complain… you are a leech and you suck
Sean Bohan’s last blog post..Community Community Community
Ho hum. I’m tired of reading about social media leeches. Can’t you come up with some original content to feed me, Beth?
Just kidding, of course. Thanks for calling a spade a spade.
Greg Matthews’s last blog post..Consumer Innovations hits the road
Hey Beth, Interesting post, Hope all your travel isn’t getting to you! (Just kidding) Enjoy NYC!
Although not exactly the same as your point, I liken this to the naysayers in our little apartment world who continue to barrage me about why Social Media works for Urbane Apartments, but will not work for them and or will not scale.
Although I enjoy the conversation and the venue, it too seems that there is a lot of talk and opinions with a wide range of thought, but mostly from folks who have not done much if any Practicing of Social Media.
Too many opinions from folks who haven’t tried anything new creates a lot of noise. That’s one problem w/ this new world – everyone’s opinion gets heard, no matter how off base or misguided.
Eric Brown’s last blog post..NO FAIR NO FEES Marketing Campaign Urbane Lab Project #061309
Thanks for calling these folks out, Beth. It was frustrating to see some people poo-pooing BlogPotomac from afar. It’s one thing to be critical of a conference that you’re actually participating in (and usually paying to do so), but another entirely to sit in a glass house and toss stones when you’re not even on the front lines of what’s being said. The importance of context can’t be underestimated, and the leeches don’t seem to understand that.
@amymengel
amymengel’s last blog post..Communications transparency: Seeing through the Brown
Hey Beth, good post. There is no question that for social media to come close to working it really depends on sharing and the sharing must be two way. If we all depend on just a few people to dispense information the whole thing will grind to a screeching halt at some point.
While a lot of people certainly meet your leeching description, I think there are many more to whom sharing is still a bit of an alien concept and they have difficulty taking the first step. There is hope for these, not too much for leeches.
Let’s face it, they have always been there whatever the type of media.
David’s last blog post..Blog of the Week – Kids are Heroes
A term I heard…”The All Knowing Critic” They’ve heard it all before, been there done that, so brilliant that actually they were just sitting there waiting for a million bucks to fall out of the sky.
One thing I think this attitude type forgets is that at most meetings ideas are being cross-pollinated across industry groups, department functions, you name it. Something that was started years ago across town in the meat packing industry may be revolutionary for the tech support group — Cattle prods anybody? And when you’re really frustrated just remember that a ‘salty’ response may be just the thing for a leech.
Fred H Schlegel’s last blog post..Abandon Logic, Create Then Verify!
I’ve learned a LOT over the past 8 months.
#1. “Think of the social media leech from a business perspective. Can you imagine a business allowing a leech to keep picking their brain, utilizing what they learned (perhaps to even become competition) and never pay for it or return it in kind? Not for long, I can assure you.”
(I did this…I was stupid. I’ve learned my lesson.)
It’s not an easy transition for someone to make from doing SM for a company to going out and responding to RFPs on your own. The learning curve is brutal, the hours long, and the pay minimal (due to infrequency of work).
I also have to get over the hurdle of believing that everything should be quantified monetarily (when I love teaching people and sharing information). Needless to say this Gen Y sense of unity thing is getting destroyed very very quickly.
Solutions? Have someone (or a lot of people) watch your blind spots. (A 30% retainer up front doesn’t hurt either) I know I have them. Just use the advice of others to crowdsource your way to decisions and victory.
Other things to keep in mind: Just because someone gets a lot of work doesn’t necessarily mean that they are the best at what they do. They are just better at marketing themselves then you are.
Stuart Foster’s last blog post..Remove the Chains: Upwardly Mobile
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Well…leech is a strong word and it allows me to conjure, as you suggest. In the old days (and still today), leeches did provide a service, so my conjure was “Maybe a little sucking isn’t a bad thing.” I know, there are leaders; there are followers and there are critics, but who in this triune is new? Hath always been thus. As to the theme struck by many commenters – must go to a conference to be legit – not sure that’s the case. The tools allow us to interact in so many new ways that I’m not so sure the best practices will evolve from the various meetings of the college of cardinals. Wouldn’t it be cool, though, to have an annual leech conference?
Wow! Great post. I followed a link from @markgr to find this post, and I’m glad I followed.
It seems that often those that mooch off of everyone or everything are the first to complain when something doesn’t seem to be up to their standards. I agree: get off your hieney and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!
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There are and always have been leeches in all disciplines, so this is nothing new (sorry, couldn’t resist). But here’s a question for you: What do you call someone whose participation in social media is heavily one-sided? I’m thinking of the many social media evangelists who build large followings on Twitter but follow few back. Where’s the conversation in that? Where’s the community? Feels an awful like someone building a pulpit from which to broadcast. Feels pretty old school to me.
Personally, I’d like to build a network of people in communications and the nonprofit community who want to share their thoughts on how best to use social media and other communication tools to effect real change. Anyone who shares this interest and approaches me, I’m going to follow. I have no interest in glomming onto thousands of followers (there’s a loaded descriptor) while minimizing my own follows.
OK, done rambling. I’d really like to know your thoughts on the subject.
Dan Hutson’s last blog post..Their Right. Its True. Your Stupid.
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It is really dumb for people to take and take. I thought that they are very much concern on contributing something to the community. And let’s expect that they will still be here and beyond to do something as usual.
jay social media’s last blog post..How to get a Facebook Vanity URL
Ya. These folks are quite common–and the mouths often (by not always) are at least a full arm’s distance from their brains. It’s the old “give and take” relationship. You give, they take. As you say, it doesn’t last for long…but it can be annoying.
Scott McMurren’s last blog post..Big Gray Line discounts !
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Great insight! I coudn’t agree more!
Love this clip as well.
http://soloprpro.com/a-humorous-look-at-client-maneuvering/
Enjoyed the post, Beth. I’ve only observed what you have seen, and see how annoying it would be. Looking forward to attending one of your conferences one of these days soon. Hopefully this year…
Cheers,
Matt
Hi Beth!
My two cents;
I would say there will always be good people and idiots; no matter what.
Focus on the good people, continue to add value, passion, insight and good manners to the communities you’re part of; that alone can consume every ounce of energy you have to give and that focus will carry you to your desired destination in business and life.
The rest are just a distractions that don’t deserve your attention, your energy, or even a reply. Leeches are worms with no direction, no hope and are really quite harmless at the end of the day.
Mark Harai’s last blog post..Social Media Misteps
I agree Beth that there are many leeches out there. I’m a newbie to the social network scene but am soon realizing there is a shortage of creators on the networks and too many repeaters and stealers of information. With out the creators this exercise in society of sharing information will soon die and we will be stuck again with a homogeneous collection of information circling the internet.
I see the creators on blogs as the gold of the new information age. Not to be mined but to be valued.
Hey Beth,
Wow, thanks for the quote – that’s cool!
It’s interesting how so many feel social media is a new thing. It has been around since humans were able to communicate on cave walls and around campfires.
Let’s not forget that we are human beings all trying to find our way. A blog or tweet or connection or friend or follower does not appear from the vapor, each are attached to humans who are trying to connect and share.
We all need to make a living, we all need to provide for ourselves and our families and we all want to be safe.
Beyond that, Maslow taught us that we all want to realize self-actualization and enhanced experiences. These are not to be achieved at others’ expense.
@knealemann
Gah… the picture you used make me want to jump into a bathtub full of salt…. creepy!
I’ve been leaching off all the free content I’ve been able to get hands on since I started this crazy adventure called social media.
And you know what? I’ll continue to do it until the day I die. The good information that is available out there is priceless, and the value can not be quantified. Why wouldn’t you want to continue to learn from it?
So when I go to a conference and spend X amount of buckage to see, hear, and learn from the people I’ve grown to respect from their free content.. the last thing you are going to hear from me is that there isn’t anything worth paying for. Or that its just regurgitated content.
Maybe when one is exposed to “free”, one grows complacent and feels that it doesn’t “pay” to learn anything new.
DaveMurr’s last blog post..The Ford Lincoln MKS vs. the Garage Door
I have to agree with Dave on this one. I am new to this and I still haven’t landed that full time position yet. SO I can’t afford to pay for the conferences which I would LOVE to be attending.
At the same time I would never complain about what is out there. I leave my comment and find new avenues of learning! PR2.0 example!
Plus, I have volunteered at a local conference because I could never afford to go. Module 09 was local and this was the reason I went and my networking had paid off for this great experience.
We are all learning. Leeches happen all the time even in Direct Marketing. Do you know how many people complain on a given night about a give away at a sporting event??? Let me tell you, there is a ton!
People are never satisfied.
Jamie Favreau’s last blog post..NHL, NBC and the FINALS
Wow — very well said Beth. I’m so glad Lauren linked me to this (@CubanaLAF), I found it a really great read.
But you know what? I think leeches are everywhere. Not just online. I mean just look at the entertainment industry, or the sports industry they are pestered with them.
The thing is not to let them bother you. Be polite, and continue to share with others who share your same view of two-way communication — because that’s what PR is.
If they only want it one-sided, let them be…alone.
Some people are just never contented enough of really satisfied.
To each their own, you know?
Sasha H. Muradali’s last blog post..{Tickled Pink} Freedom is…
Hey Beth,
I finally had time to comment – and your post is spot on with thoughts I was having the past week as BlogPotomac was going on. I was extremely grateful for those that went and were willing to share what they learned – because, let’s be honest – no one is an expert and we can all learn from what you are willing to share.
People are more than willing to complain that it’s not earth-shattering, but never share their own ideas or thoughts. Sure, they might expound on this not “earth-shattering” information and claim it to be their own, but how is that innovative? Leech is right.
[...] and being a stenographer in rooms full of people also being stenographers (especially if you complain about people getting information for free that you paid for), then maybe you shouldn’t be a Social Media rockstar in the first [...]
@DuncanAlney, thanks for the kind words!
@GloriaBell, you hit the nail on the head…most people are grateful because they have common sense and class and recognize when they are getting insights/education that otherwise they would have had to pay for or ask their company to pay for, which is usually something that doesn’t happen very often.
@KaseySkala, some people are just incapable of giving and getting nothing in return that’s of immediate value.
@JonNewman, that’s a great point. Personally, I like to see/hear what I heard through someone else’s filter (in this case a tweet) so that I can recognize if my experience changed the context of the information.
@JoshChandler, I disagree. For the most part, my tweets are never shared within those perceived as “influential.” A lot of folks are new to Twitter and they appreciate the information that is shared by anyone who shares it.
@SeanBohan, Bingo! As for companies, what I meant was the case where a potential client or customer picks a company’s brain (or vice versa) and holds out the carrot of a potential business deal and then never actually buys anything. Eventually the company or the agency shuts of the hose and the leech goes elsewhere…I’ve seen it happen quite a bit.
@GregMatthews, thanks for the humor, it’s appreciated!
@Eric_Brown, thanks for the grounded insight!
@AmyMengel, Agreed. What’s interesting is that Marc Meyer (@marc_meyer) made a similar comment about BlogPotomac but asked for tweets to be put into context or perhaps an opinion to be added, now that type of feedback I appreciate because it makes sense.
@David, agreed…this isn’t about people who haven’t share because they still haven’t found their sea legs (social media can be rough seas at times, no?). This is about people who complain but do nothing to change their social environment. And that’s what people still don’t seem to get about the social media culture…you aren’t tied to the people you don’t like or don’t find value in, it’s your choice to move on or not.
@FredHSchlegel, hope I wasn’t too salty!
@StuartFoster, thanks for being upfront and honest about your experiences. Yes, if you are going to be in business quantifying your time spent sharing in relation to money coming through the front door is very important. Perhaps that’s why the social media leech ticked me off just a wee bit.
@Michael, I don’t think anyone was implying that you need to attend a conference to be legit. There are a lot of people who are brilliant & share their insights and yet never go to conferences…and people still complain about the perceived lack of value. You hit on part of my issue here…there are no best practices and there are SO many people who are new to using these tools that are grateful for any spec of insight they can gain to do a better job, use the tools better, or even just interact with people better. And those are the people that I want to share information with and get to know on these sites. Why? Because they are experiencing the “culture” for the first time and sharing their experiences, I find value in that because it allows me to re-learn. As well, I can share new insights with them and maybe they’ll find value in that…in any case, it’s always a two-way street.
@DanHutson, that’s a very good question! I once asked why so many people follow me but they never talk to me…the answer that came up most often was “we are just listening.” I have to respect that response and in doing so I try to follow all the people that make sense for me to follow. That said, there are a lot of people that follow people just to get a follow back. It’s really silly the games that are played. But, I agree with you, there isn’t a community when the following:follower ratio is so skewed, but that’s just my opinion. Honestly, I had no interest in tons of followers either nor did I think anyone would read my blog…but am grateful for both. I think if we go into social media with preconceived notions, that’s when we fail. Just my $.02.
@MatthewRay, thanks Matt! Perhaps we’ll meet at a conference this year or next.
@MarkHarai, wisdom to live by, thank you!
@ArmandoMartinez, you’re the second person to mention this current trend. I am really hopeful that people stop worrying about competing for that “social media” top seat and just focus on sharing value content…no matter who they are. There is always gold in someone’s experience and insights…I just wish more people understood that.
@KnealeMann, I should be thanking you for the brilliance you share!
@DaveMurr, sorry for the gross photo…but it makes a point, no?
Dave, you aren’t a leech by any stretch! You contribute all the time…with your blog, tweets and comments. By sharing you have become a valuable part of the social media community.
@JamieFavreau, are you kidding me?! People complain about free giveaways? Hmmm, I guess my mama raised me differently.
@SashaMuradali, yep, you are right. In hindsight, perhaps I should have written this post…but I felt that it was something that needed to be said.
@LaurenFernandez, yep…there are no experts here!
If u all need leech please enter to our website. Plz do not hesitate to contact me. TQ
Joeharry’s last blog post..Krew Agrotek RTM 1 Telah Datang Untuk Buat Rakaman di Kolam Al Hafiz ( RTM1 Agrotech Crew had came for shooting at Al Hafiz Pond)
Beth,
In my previous comment, i perhaps worded my opinion a little incorrectly, i simply meant to refer to the influential as the social media expert types, hope that puts it in clearer contezt
Josh Chandler’s last blog post..What Stage is the Viral Web at right now?
@JoshChandler, “the social web is getting to a point where recipriocal sharing is being wasted on the most “social media expert types” clan which is “broadcast this, broadcast that” Twitter.”
As a matter of fact, it’s almost a given that “influential” (your word, not mine) people don’t share the same information on any social network because they know everyone is tapping into them with the same information to have it shared.
Hi Beth,
Once again, I’m a little late to the party — and clearly everyone’s been quite chatty. I’m so sorry that you’re getting snarky requests from people about what content they want from your conference tweets. I’d probably call that a good definition of chutzpah.
Leeches have always existed in the business world. What social media, by its openness, has done is make it easier for those people to fake it for a few minutes while still managing never to have an original thought. I’ve never worried about them, because it’s easy to take the first idea–it’s with the second one, and the third one, and the execution that those of us who are thinking for ourselves leave the leeches behind in our wake.
Best,
Daria
Daria Steigman’s last blog post..What Twitter Tells Us about Innovation in America
Beth: AMEN. It also underscores how much more learning there is with all of these tools. Sounds like BlogPotomac was interested in unexpected ways! CB
C.B. Whittemore’s last blog post..Kristin Golliher, OtterBox on Bridging New & Old – Social Media Series
@DariaSteigman, one small voice of unappreciation is always drowned out by hundreds of voices that are appreciative. I am looking at this from a business perspective…and yes, there have always been leeches in business (i.e. the co-worker that wants to know how you handled a project, etc.). Most marketing, PR, comms, social media folks blog, tweet, Facebook etc. to share their opinions, experience, etc. and to highlight their business. I do that too, but I also want to help people to learn and I think people like that (I hope!). If other people don’t like that, then unfollow me. It’s a pretty simple process.
@CBWhittemore, everyday we learn something new, that’s for sure! Geoff and his team of volunteers put on a terrific event with Blog Potomac!
I have been shocked at some of the comments I have read on blog posts. I do not always agree with what has been written, but I appreciate the time and thought that goes into them and never leave a negative comment. Even if I’ve read so many other posts about the same topic, every blogger has a different opinion and view point on it. You can learn something from everyone. I think these social leeches aren’t actually there to learn and share like most of us but they’re there to simply bring down the rest of us.
At the least, old information coming from a different voice means different, and probably new perspective.
Anyone who craps on the reinterpretation of a method/theory/concept because they feel it isn’t “new” or “up-to-date” isn’t using their brain enough to look past the “old.”
Awesome, awesome post, Beth.
.-= Teresa Basich´s last blog ..Twitter is Weeding, Not Killing, the Blogosphere =-.
Hi Beth,
Sean said it “Leeches (like Trolls) are a natural hazard in this more open, social space.” We have to deal with all types. If they think what you’ve said or shared is nothing new, it is they who are missing a valuable lesson (and therefore really don’t know it all). The uniqueness is in the approach to a particular topic. To learn something new, be observant and see how the author sees the world. You will be amazed at how many times you find yourself saying, “I never thought of it that way.”
Cheers.
.-= Debra Murphy´s last blog ..6 Twitter Types to Avoid =-.
As someone who grew up on the web, I learned that snarkiness is a byproduct of anonymity, but anonymity is of infinite value and snarky comments still mean someone cared enough about a problem to comment.
@DebraMurphy, “I never thought of it that way” has a permanent place in my learning process. Seeing a problem, solution, etc. through someone else’s perception always adds new insights. The minute we think “we are right” is the minute we stop learning.
Thanks for the reminder!!
Love the imagery.
You are giving voice to the shift in consciousness as social media grows up.
Competitive advantage used to be positioning through one-up-man-ship. We used to compete for knowledge and gain advantage over others by putting them down. Collaboration was frowned upon least your ideas stolen and used against you. You took what you could from others and held your cards close to your chest.
The leach.
We are shifting towards an information age where the new competitive advantage is access to real-time knowledge. We are shifting the way we work/structure organisations so we can use that real-time knowledge effectively.
Part of this is through collaboration, through growing our organisational IP and through engaging with the people that matter to our organisations.
As you point out this is not free and it is based upon and underwritten by a code of conduct. Those who are part of this shift live and work by that code. Those who are out for themselves find it easy to abuse the openness and good faith of social media, but find it difficult to realise its value.
Thank you for putting a voice to this and for allowing it to rise to the surface.
@AlasdairMunn, I always knew you were brilliant…this comment just confirms it even more. You hit at the core of the issue in a thoughtful manner. Thanks for adding a level of intelligence and business acumen to my rant.
I think we worry about these ppl too much.
People like this existed before the internet, social media etc came along and they will continue to do so when the next thing comes along, it’s human nature (perhaps its more obvious to spot them now?)
I wouldn’t dream of comparing myself to any of the amazing thought leaders whom I listen and learn from however if someone finds any of my thoughts, insights etc useful then that’s cool, no matter what they do with then.
I often use the reservoir scenario. All of us take from the reservoir, in whatever context, however as long as ppl continue to fill the reservoir up there will always be plenty to go around.
I feel that when we give of ourselves with no expectations from others that is when the magic happens.
I often hear people use the term sponge as well, is that the same do you think?
@mikeashworth