Paying It Forward

 I've spent a lot of time watching, reading and participating on several key social sites in the past couple of years.  Why? Because in the beginning I had absolutely no idea what to do. Armed with several pages of notes I took during a conference call with @KendraRamirez before getting started, I felt like I was back in college cramming for a final exam. Kendra had all kinds of suggestions and I probably tried most of them. I loved Kendra though when I started seeing results. She was my first social hero!

 I laugh now thinking about my "first time"...the virgin tweet. As much an awkward composition of thought and action as the first time someone french kissed me in high school.  Believe me, whether a well crafted 120 character (leave room for comment) tweet hangs unanswered in the air or someone sticks an unexpected probing tongue in your mouth, your reaction is the same...WTF!!??? 

I have many social media heroes. Personal ones such as the folks I'm about to mention and heroes who use their klout or position or tools to effect positive change in the lives of thousands. What's the use of having all of that cool stuff going for you (even if you worked hard to earn it) if you fail to use it to help prepare the way for others?

@nateriggs was the first person to write a blog post not just mentioning me but it was actually about me! Think Nate is a social hero to me? Actually Nate really is a hero period. Family guy, well educated, buff, friendly, spiritual and brought dinner to my house on the way to a speaking engagement the day after my husband passed away. @thenakedredhead (Sarah Storer) did as well the day after that. Not sure I ever properly thanked either of them for their kindness. So let me fix that here.

I could go on and on. @jasonpinto and @JPlovesCOTTON (Janice Person) and @jacobstoops and @MatthewLiberty and @fondalo and @Brainzooming and  @biebert and @sandyhubbard and @jasoneng_   All of these folks are social heroes. If you don't know them you should. All awesome folks who are generous with their time and resources.

I have my iconic list of heroes as well. I'm thrilled that someone with a gazillion followers would take the time to greet me, chat with me, mention me or think something I had to say meant something to them (a R/T is so affirming). @2cre8 @adamsconsulting @bluecollard @tweetsmarter @makarovskij @arkathick @gupshupblog and more. The other day Sean Gardner ( @2morrowknight) RTed a link I posted. Actually I believe he was R/Ting @2cre8's R/T of the link from the day before but so what. It was my tweeted link! Sean was my social hero for the day! 

Don't get me started on those wonderful people who read my blog posts. Like you. So see, you are someone's social hero. Go back out there and make someone else's day. You sure made mine.