This is a guest post from John Haydon. John is a guy of many talents. He’s a teacher, a learner, a singer, a comedian with a very dry wit and one of the nicest guys you could meet.
He’s also a damn fine blogger and the Blogger Outreach partner for 12for12k. I’m delighted to have John here today.
An ancient Buddhist parable involves a young Zen monk asking his teacher about the difference between Heaven and Hell.
His teacher replies, “Both Heaven and Hell have an expansive dining hall with a steamy vat of noodle soup at the center of the hall. The soup smells delicious and everyone has equal access to the soup. The strange thing is that each diner has to eat this soup with chopsticks that are 4-feet long.”
Puzzled, the young monk asks, “So, if both Heaven and Hell have this huge dining hall with this great soup and these strangely long chopsticks, then aren’t they the same?”
The teacher replies, “Yes, they appear to be the same. But how the diners eat is the critical difference.”
“How’s that?” asks the student.
“In Hell, everyone starves because no matter how hard they try, they can’t get the noodles into their mouths. The chopsticks are too long.
“In Heaven, each diner feeds the person sitting across from them at the dinning room table. Everyone is happy and eats to their hearts content.”
How does this relate to social media?
- Understanding technology is important. Twitter’s potential is lost if all you do is post what’s new with you, just like long chopsticks aren’t placed at tables for one.
- Giving to others nourishes our souls, just like feeding each other brings joy and full bellies. Supporting other people’s agendas with social media has surprising and immeasurable business value.
- Everything works better if you put them together, like the two pairs of chopsticks work by feeding each other. There is no “Twitter or Facebook?”, only “Twitter and Facebook.”
- Are you ready for another bite? There is a very good reason that Listening is the very first step in most social media strategies. Why boil more Spaghetti when all along they wanted Soba?
And finally:
There is enough noodle soup for everyone.
- John Haydon does social media strategy and training for non-profits and small businesses. He is also a songwriter and a father to a 5-year old boy. You can find out more by subscribing to his blog or connecting with John on Twitter.
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There are many ways that social media can be looked at. It appeals to both personal and professional use. Did you know it can also appeal to noodle soup lovers?
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There are many ways that social media can be looked at. It appeals to both personal and professional use. Did you know it can also appeal to noodle soup lovers?
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That goes along with what I always tell my customers. In the web environment, collaboration works a whole lot better than competition. It is hard for people of an older age demographic to understand, since we grew up with the idea of competition, but there you have it.
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@bookmarc – Great comment: Collaboration is the new way to compete!
@Frank – I recently read an article in the Boston Globe written by a psychologist who said that what folks in their later years value and remember is not what they “got out of life”, but how much they gave to others.
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Hi John!
What a great story this is! Thank you!
You and Danny are examples of great givers and we should have more like you!
“Giving is truly the glue for success!” ~Henie~ :~)
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There are many ways that social media can be looked at. It appeals to both personal and professional use. Did you know it can also appeal to noodle soup lovers?
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Danny Brown invited me to write a guest post on his blog, which I love.
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That goes along with what I always tell my customers. In the web environment, collaboration works a whole lot better than competition. It is hard for people of an older age demographic to understand, since we grew up with the idea of competition, but there you have it.
It’s like the whole Pay It Forward philosophy, or the “better to give than receive” mindset around gifts.
Imagine how much more connected we’d all be if we encouraged each other to greatness as opposed to blocked the route?
John,
Thanks for the perspective.
I am finding that life is a lot more simple than I have made it over the years. All I need to do is keep giving. For too long I have been a consumer, a taker. Simply doesn’t work. It can wear you out and it exacts a toll that can’t be measured.
I just need to love and leave the results to God. Takes the pressure off for sure and I have many. many more good days now regardless of the circumstances.
Take care.
Twitter: johnhaydon
@bookmarc – Great comment: Collaboration is the new way to compete!
@Frank – I recently read an article in the Boston Globe written by a psychologist who said that what folks in their later years value and remember is not what they “got out of life”, but how much they gave to others.
Hey John,
I really love the way you tied these two ideas together! It’s such a simple idea but really helps to emphasize what you’re saying about the importance of give and take in social media. Nicely done!
Love it: “There is enough noodle soup for everyone.”
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Twitter: HennArtOnline
Hi John!
What a great story this is! Thank you!
You and Danny are examples of great givers and we should have more like you!
“Giving is truly the glue for success!” ~Henie~ :~)
Great story!
What if companies and customers were sitting at the table together and the food is the solutions to the cause they want to fight or the opportunity they see to improve their world (of course they wouldn’t be one table but zillion of tables because they all have different taste of course). And so companies would feed their customers with good products, good service, good knowledge, good thoughts…and customers would feed companies with good feedback, good referrals…
That’s a great point you make there, Laurent. Thankfully companies are coming round to the fact that if they actively engage and listen to their customers’ orders, they’ll be better placed to serve them properly at the dining table.
And of course, the tip at the end of the meal is the new orders these customers place with the business, and the word-of-mouth referrals afterward.
John, you have triggered an emotional reaction for me.
I think that the ‘giving’ message is a strong one. It can be applied in business, as we work together to achieve a better end for all parties involved…and also in day-to-day life, in our personal relationships.
I often refer to the fact that: ‘by holding the door for someone else, I am infact holding it for myself’. It is the greatest enrichment to any relationship if we can be less ’self-serving’ and offer help or much needed service to others – the actual ‘payback’ occurs in our conscience, and can be rather ‘addictive’.
It is such a rewarding feeling to give help where it is needed.
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Great post, as always, John!
Absolutely right: Twitter AND Facebook….working together is important, esp in social media!
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Twitter: johnhaydon
Henie – Thanks for the kudos. In some ways, I’m just as selfish as the next guy. But in ways that matter I try and think about others.
laurent – Great point! Zappos, iPod, Threadless are all solid examples of this.
Twitter: johnhaydon
fendergurl – The Buddha said that when you bow with deep respect to another, they bow in return – almost as if you are looking in a mirror.
For me, the payback of which you speak is simultaneously created with the cause. That’s why is feels awesome to give when you are giving.
Heart! It’s all about heart.
Thanks for the insight @John. I love simple ideas, thoughts, concepts that have deep meaning and simple application.
My take away: “Supporting other people’s agendas with social media has surprising and immeasurable business value”. It takes time to get to know people and learn you can help them with, but it always feels good and pays off in the long run.
@Danny thanks for allowing others to post here. It’s always nice to keep things fresh!
http://twitter.com/franswaa
I’m always happy to hand over my real estate to cool properties, Frank, and John is one of the coolest I know.
It definitely makes relevant the “social” part of “social media”, Mark – and all the better for it.
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Yet another Gem by John Haydon.
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Twitter: timjahn
Those helping others with their chopsticks are the ones that truly shine and are truly successful in what they do.
The people trying to stuff their own faces all day are the ones who wonder why everyone hates them and they still don’t have what they want.
John, great to meet ya. Danny, thanks for the introduction.
Great post, as always, John!
Absolutely right: Twitter AND Facebook….working together is important, esp in social media!
Twitter: johnhaydon
@Frank – Thanks! If it’s one thing I’m good at, it’s keeping things simple.
Tim – Plus they usually get indigestion.
Twitter: GlobalPatriot
“Giving to others nourishes our souls” says so much about social media – and life in general. The more you give out the more that comes back in. I’m constantly amazed at how much people give of themselves, especially on Twitter. The shout outs, retweets, links to articles and blogs, offers of help and suggestions. Some days it seems as though the main reason people are there is to give!
It definitely makes relevant the “social” part of “social media”, Mark – and all the better for it.
“There is always enough noodle soup for everyone”
Pretty awesome way to sum up a lot of SM’s basic tenets. Mainly because it’s completely true. The opportunities that exist currently are almost unfathomable. It’s like finding TV before everyone else knows about it and how to use it as a marketing platform…only this market is dynamic and interactive and can inform you. Who wouldn’t enjoy getting a piece of that?