On Transparency Part 2

Yesterday I had the opportunity to have coffee with two amazing women.  One an old friend I've known since my Junior High School days, and the other a new friend I was reconnecting with after several months.  Both of whom I was connected with through social media.

We chatted about careers, social media and families.  All the normal coffee chat when you haven't seen each other in months or years even.  Both of these ladies follow me on Twitter and one on Facebook, so the topic eventually turned to my very public dismay about my seperation from my Lady.  They were both very sweet and expressed their concern for my well being.  Then the topic of transparency came up.

My friend from Junior High is a top notch branding consultant.  So much so that she can pretty much write her own ticket with regards to her career.  I am so proud of her for that!  That being said the topic of me wearing my heart on my sleeve and putting it out their for all to see gave her pause.  The question of whether I was concerned about potential clients seeing what I so openly discuss came up.

I admit it has crossed my mind from time to time, but one lesson I've learned recently is that being kind of authentic is like being kind of pregnant.  You either are or you're not.  If a potential client or what have you sees my posts and decides not to do business with me because of my openness they're probably not a client I want to work with.  It's actually kind of an unintended pre-qualifier to see if they really get social media.

There's a reason why I have a Twitter account and Stigmare has a seperate account.  I am not looking to be one of those celebrity CEO's, I am not a perfect person, no one is.  I do think that by sharing my struggles and successes with you that it may some how help you with whatever your situation is.  Whether its through inspiring you to push through your challenges because if I can you can, or saying to yourself, "crap I'm not as bad off as this guy."

I am still very much in love with my Lady.  Call me an eternal optimist, but I haven't given up hope of reconciliation.  She has had a lot of stress in her life the last couple of months, so if she needs some time to herself I must honor that.  The grace and poise she carries herself with under these trying times for her amazes me.  Everything about her amazes me, her compassion, her talent as an artist, raising three very wonderful children on her own.  I could go on for hours...