I'm bailing on you

Great news for any of you struggling with “social media”!

Derek Thompson posted on his Substack some interesting thoughts on the convergence of media. His post is entitled, “Everything is television.” Here’s what caught my attention:

“...only a fraction of time spent on Meta’s services—7% on Instagram, 17% on Facebook—involves consuming content from online “friends” (“friend sharing”). A majority of time spent on both apps is watching videos, increasingly short-form videos that are “unconnected”—i.e., not from a friend or followed account—and recommended by AI-powered algorithms...”

So, most people are not paying any attention to you!!! GREAT news! Go spend time on them!

In other words, you really don’t need social media if you are clear that your success in real estate is a function of building and nurturing a database of people who know you, like you, and trust you as a real estate professional.

I loved Cal Newport’s conclusion about Thompson’s post:

“...Once we realize that these companies’ apps are essentially glorified TV, we should feel more comfortable ignoring them. There was a time when platforms like Facebook and Twitter wanted to convince you that they were part of a new social fabric; a fundamental technology that responsible citizens couldn’t ignore. Not any more. If they’re just TV, then we can respond the way we always have: by simply turning off the proverbial set.”

Stop Pretending

This week, I did my final two workshop sessions. After 80-plus of them this year, and over 250 since I published my book, I have come to the realization: most people are satisfied with their circumstances.

Said another way, people are totally okay with everything in their lives.

You might think, “No, that’s not true.”

We are both right. The answer is more nuanced. If you ask people - including you - if you are totally okay with everything in your life, you will likely say, “No.”

But most people - including you - will not do anything different to change their circumstances. Therefore, by default, you are okay with your circumstances! You are walking around pretending that you are actually going to do something different next year. The problem is that most people - including you - are not aware of this subtle distinction!

Why not just quit the pretending, and be okay with what you have - and what you don’t have? I assert that you will have a lot more peace and freedom next year. And every year thereafter.

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.” - Epictetus

“Anything you can let be, let’s you be.” - Werner Erhard

I know that many of you are squirming as you read this - and if you aren’t, please go back and read it. This makes me squirm, because, really, I have to confront for myself, “Am I committed to anything different next year?”