Startup Your Life by Anna Akbari

Author:Anna Akbari
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

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SCRUM MASTER CHEAT SHEET

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Love ’em or hate ’em, our online identities are not disappearing anytime soon. And you don’t need to own a company to understand the importance of a virtual presence—just as every company is now a tech company, every person needs a technological counterpart. Whatever your platform(s) of choice, here are a few basic principles that will help you to thrive amid the digital chaos.

REAP THE DIGITAL ROI. At this point, virtual identities probably sound like a lot of work—an unnecessary headache or a landmine waiting to trap and embarrass you. But digital platforms can actually work to your advantage. Whether you strive to be an influencer or just want to stay informed, online participation is valuable for far more than rampant selfie flashing.

One study found that the one thing that distinguishes the happiest 10 percent of people is the strength of their social relationships.20 And while there’s plenty of legitimate criticism about how technology can erode social bonds, it does allow us to connect with more people, more frequently, significantly raising the ceiling for our connection-related happiness quotient. How? It’s estimated that the average American has from two to six close social contacts,21 and it is through our close, intimate connections that information, influence, and innovation are thought to be diffused. Dunbar’s number, generally estimated to be around 150, is the theoretical number of people with whom we can maintain stable relationships.22 But our larger, weaker ties are equally important, as they connect us to people we don’t know well, which offers a larger pool for networking and influence.

Your online presence allows you to maintain and build a network that stretches far beyond your physical limitations. This network can also prove useful in bypassing hierarchical gatekeepers and accessing otherwise out-of-reach people, be it a celebrity, a thought leader, or just a customer service representative. Many will respond to online social pings faster than calls, texts, or emails. In 1994, marketing guru Seth Godin wrote the book Email Addresses of the Rich & Famous, which offered the personal email addresses of everyone from Ross Perot to Billy Idol to the voice of Barney.23 While that book now seems quaint, it was revolutionary when it launched. Fortunately, you no longer need to buy a directory to reap the digital networking rewards.

CURB REPUTATION-DAMAGING RECKLESSNESS. Publicity. Most of us want it to varying degrees. But the old adage that there’s no such thing as bad publicity doesn’t quite hold up. Digital slip-ups abound. We will never forget the Anthony Weiner sexting scandal, which became known as “Weinergate” (followed by Weiner’s even more astonishing “Carlos Danger” incident). There’s also the “Cisco Fatty” story: Cisco offered 22-year-old Connor Riley a job, and while pondering the offer, she tweeted that while she’d get a “fatty paycheck,” she would hate the work. Unsurprisingly, the offer was revoked.24

So how should you behave in a world without walls, where there is no clear distinction between public and private? What does it mean to

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