Oprah On Facebook and Twitter: Bring On More Global Leaders
I’ve been eager for Oprah to join the Twitterverse for some time. As you can see by this fun comic strip I made back on September 24, 2008, my cartoon self was enthusiastically encouraging cartoon Oprah to join Facebook and Twitter!!
Yesterday on the Oprah and Friends show, even with celeb guest Ashton Kutcher (@aplusk on Twitter) and Twitter’s CEO Evan Williams (@ev), Oprah seemed to be getting to grips with what exactly Twitter is, how to use it, why anyone would want such a large following (one million plus) and what to say! But, I do believe she’s starting to catch the vision.
Here’s the thing: can you imagine the even bigger difference we can make on the planet individually and collectively when more and more visionaries, enlightened leaders and luminaries fully integrate the power of social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter?!
On Monday, I had the absolute privilege of leading a social media webinar for the Transformational Leadership Council (TLC), with cofounders and members including Jack Canfield, Marie Diamond, DC Cordova, John Assaraf, Raymond Aaron, Hale Dwoskin, Ivan Misner, Donna Steinhorn, Jim Bunch, and many more. I am deeply moved at the power of what I’m starting to call Conscious Social Media and Mindful Tweeting.
See, everything matters. Everything counts. It’s all energy. It’s the ripple effect, or the BUTTERFLY EFFECT.
“The flapping wing represents a small change in the initial condition of the system, which causes a chain of events leading to large-scale alterations of events. Had the butterfly not flapped its wings, the trajectory of the system might have been vastly different.” [From Wikipedia]
What if more people on Twitter and Facebook really stopped to think about their messages and how much impact even one tweet or Facebook wall post, for example, can make to a person’s life?
I actually believe having a large following — online or offline, but particularly through social media due to the rapid uptake — is a big responsibility. But not responsibility from a point of burden, but of joy and purpose. Surely we can use these mediums to create more good.
I’d love to hear your thoughts below: do you think social media is helping to transform the world? To raise the consciousness of the planet? Do you think those who are already global leaders and have large followings outside of social media have a greater responsibility when joining sites like Twitter? Do you have any wonderful stories to share of how something has touched your life through social media?
I am so glad that you mentioned the point “how much impact even one tweet or Facebook wall post, for example, can make to a person’s life?”
A single tweet can put a huge smile on my face and set my mood for the day.
A single tweet can provide me with an invaluable resource to transform my business.
A single tweet can encourage me that the path I am following is the right one and that I should continue with great passion and enthusiasm.
A single tweet can get me to up my game and provide even better service to my customers.
A single tweet can get me to realize that I was creating a product based on what I would want and not what my customers would want.
A single tweet can hold me accountable to a big ambitious goal that I’ve been putting off.
The benefits to Twitter seem limitless. I for one am grateful for the service and grateful that Oprah is no using Twitter and encouraging others to use it as well.
Thanks for the great post Mari.
Scott Tousignant
Nice post, Mari. I agree with you completely, but I’m afraid you are shouting at the deaf. Those who are responsible will behave responsibly and those who unethically exploit opportunities will continue to do so.
The important thing is that the social mediascape must provide the tools that ethical people need to protect themselves from the unethical. At that point, we all take responsibility for voting our conscience. Those who continue to buy from spammers are voting for spam. Those who block the unethical are voting them out of the system.
Done right, the system levels itself to reflect the ethics of the majority. Whether you as an individual agree with that level is another matter!
James Byrds last blog post..Do What You Say You’re Going to Do
I had to pinch myself when I saw Oprah doing her first “tweet”, and then the realization of the global impact for “the greatest good”, hit me like a thunderbolt.
I love that you continue to evolve from Joy and Purpose (not burden) and your thought-provoking questions are mindfully geared to transparent answers and profound thoughts.
There’s a sense of “inner-wellness and balance” when we understand how to properly use and cultivate our friends and followers through Social Media and it helps expand our minds and souls to higher levels of self-expression.
Thanks Mari, for this “much anticipated” blog. ?
Alis last blog post..Stop Email waste!
Hi Mari,
What a thought provoking article you have written and also received a variety of responses. Is this not the power of Social Networking – Freedom of Speech for the ordinary individual?
I guess that maybe those with “influence!!!” can help validate and improve the credibiltiy of Twitter and Facebook. However, are we not all responsible for our own actions with or without their imput?
Social Media has the power for incredible world change for the good if we cherish what we have and how we use it and not aiuse it. At the moment maybe it is still new and we are playing with it like a child with a new toy. But everytday now it is evolving and changing and we must all be part of the power for that good.
I live in Spain but am English and as yet there are so few Europeans onboard – I hope to help change that as they don’t know what they are missing. I now communicate daily with Americans and other nationalitesi and am gaining new, real people as friends. It has helped me open up and understand other peoples principles and cultures. This really is a great power for good. The Law of Attraction in Action.
I say let’s all work together for the greater good and learn how to use this incredible technology FREELY for the benefit of all.
I hope we do mee t Mari in Europe when I have organised my tutorials.
thanks for all you are doing on the Internet.
Visit My Twitter Page
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Hi Mari,
I kind of agree with one of the comments about being “just celebs”. All of us a social responsibility, but the celebs often sponsor one thought and act another. The celebs get huge coverage and a much greater response – but can we be a little choosy about our celebs?
How about we all make a commitment to be socially responsible in our sharing, and share courageously and wisely our convictions to act in Truth?
Great questions Mari.
do you think social media is helping to transform the world?
I do, look at the fundraising you were involved in in Africa, lots of potential here, can think of how celbrities could use for the greater goood
To raise the consciousness of the planet? Potential is great, my question how do we empower the spammers and MLMers, hard core marketers, etc to use social media for the greater good
Do you think those who are already global leaders and have large followings outside of social media have a greater responsibility when joining sites like Twitter? Yes I think they do- challenge is it them or an underling twittering?How do people make the distinction
Do you have any wonderful stories to share of how something has touched your life through social media? I have a wonderful friend @spiritcoach I met through making a spelling mistake ass instead of as! Met in real life too. I recently got to be in a book through twitter
I love that through just a small tweet you can feed a child etc
Love all you new blog gadgets
Suzie
Suzie Cheels last blog post..45 Days To Achieve Your Dream?
Thanks for this post Mari!
Here is something interesting to consider. Each human body consists of approximately 50 trillion cells and the hallmark of a healthy vibrant body is the ability that all 50 trillion cells have to communicate vital life supporting information with each other. Communication in nature is similar and just as advanced.
Imagine each of us being an individual cell in the larger body of humankind. Each individual alive has enormous value to bring to the whole. I see what is happening at present with social media as an incredible advance in our ability to share and gain from each other for the purpose of making the whole better and more healthy. There is no questions that the consciousness of our planet will shift as we move from isolation to connectedness. I believe we all have a responsibility (just as each individual cell in the body has) to participate in a manner that supports life. These tools are moving us back to remembering that we live in a interconnected universe and that whatever we do to serve life (with our thoughts, words & actions) automatically benefits all of us.
Here is to Conscious Social Media and Mindful Tweeting!
What a powerful force in the world we have with Twitter…and Facebook!
I feel grateful to you, Mari, for expanding the consciousness of these platforms. It is difficult to ever measure the powerful effect you are having on mankind!
Thank you for all your dedication and passion!
I’m not surprised that you were looking ahead way back in September…seeing the trend of celebrities joining in.
Suzanne Holmans last blog post..You mean crossword puzzles aren’t enough?
I am very pleasantly surprised by how positive the Twitterverse is. Maybe I have chosen only to follow positive people or maybe 140 characters isn’t enough to interest the whiners. I usually find myself boosted several times a day on Twitter.
Looks like it’s a race between oprah, CNN, and Ashton Kutcher to see who can control the hive mind that is twitter. I for one welcome our new celebrity overlords.