Things We Learn Online
I find Facebook fascinating! And this is why…
We find ourselves responding to posts on Facebook quickly without much thought. We respond to posts that touch us in personal ways. If we look at our “why”, we get insight into ourselves, our motivations, our struggles, our views and more. We learn. And we learn about our “friends”.
The decision to share often happens in seconds. We share quotes that mean something to us. Maybe something we have recently learned or something we are struggling with overcoming. We share inspiration, places we travel, frustrations, political opinions, religious beliefs and on an on. Sometimes we want to teach or enlighten. Other times we preach to our like-minded friends who reward us with their likes. Other times we try to change someone else. I have shared much both personally and professionally since getting involved in Facebook. Looking at the why is an observation not a judgment. There are sharers, and there are readers. I have been a sharer. And I know many who like to browse and leave it at that. For the social media sharers amongst us, we reveal much by what we choose to share.
These days I learn through Facebook through specific groups I follow. Groups dedicated to helping relative newbies like myself to create customized websites for clients. These groups are the reason for my success. They teach, encourage, mentor, answer questions and support me in ways no one I know locally could do. I am very appreciative of their “giving” approach to encouraging others in the same business. And they encourage me to persevere.
I found the wisdom of Ira Glass of This American Life from Chicago, Illinois through Melissa Love at https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedesignspace/. I have purchased several “child themes” from The Design Space in England for client’s websites, and her style has had a strong influence on my website. She is an extraordinarily talented website designer and businesswoman whose desire is to empower others. She is an online mentor to me and I am one of thousands who she has influenced.
Since starting in business, I have created countless websites for myself. In between client’s websites, I have been drawn back to my own site to add new features or even to simplify it. This desire to improve as a “creative” is something I understand today is common.
And I found my reason why in the quote below:
“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste.
But there is this gap.
For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not.
But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you.
A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.”
~Ira Glass, host of This American Life located in Chicago, Illinois
What do you find yourself responding to on Facebook? What do you share? Sometimes we share things we want to learn. This is the why for this post. When I look at websites that I create…I think what could be better? How can this website be improved? There is great comfort in knowing I am not alone in this. There is comfort in knowing that people I admire from afar still have lists of improvements they would like to make on their websites. But the right next step is to move on and leave what is created as good enough.
What we share on Facebook shows what is important to us.
- Places we go
- Events that interest us
- Help we request
- People who we care about in our lives
Comparing ourselves on Facebook
It’s a natural response to compare. Being in these focused Facebook groups, allows me to see the work of great designers around the world. My favorites come from England and Australia. And I now recognize that as a creative, it is in my DNA to want to learn new skills and improve my ability to help my clients connect online. I work hard on the websites I create. I want them to engage the visitor.
And I will continue to think…someday; I will have the skills to create something like that! Things that I haven’t seen done here locally. The world that Facebook groups have opened up to me. But there is also the recognition that I’ve come a long way, baby!!!
When we become vulnerable, we become REAL. There is then something for people to relate, connect and respond to that is uniquely ours.
To view Melissa Love’s latest template, CLICK HERE.
Written by Nancy Johnson, owner of Nancy J Web Design. To talk to Nancy, call (586) 817-9196.
