Christopher S. Penn – Marketing AI Keynote Speaker

The war against despair is up to you, new media

—

by

Christopher S Penn
in ,
Warning: this content is older than 365 days. It may be out of date and no longer relevant.

It has become depressingly apparent that no leadership, no guidance, no inspiration will be forthcoming from any of the traditional sources in our society. Our politicians are locked in partisan bickering with each other, fighting like junkyard dogs over scraps. Our financial leaders are in a tailspin. Our heroes are largely fictional now at best.

The war against despair is up to you, new media 1This creates a void and sets our society adrift. There is, however, a new source of leadership, of wisdom, of inspiration.

How many of you have blogs?

Podcasts?

MySpace & Facebook accounts and groups?

Twitter accounts?

How many of you have at least 10 listeners/followers/fans?

100?

1,000?

If you have reach that exceeds 10 people, then you can step up to lead. If you have reach that exceeds 100 people, then you may be asked to lead. If you have thousands who follow you and call you a leader whether or not you feel like one, then you must, here and now, accept that mantle of leadership. You must don the cape and boots even if you feel as though they were made for someone else.

You have been called.

Here is what your followers need of you. They need not only to be pushed away, but to be pulled towards.

It’s not enough to say what to avoid; you have to provide your followers with something to do. A mission. A calling. A focus that will let them in their passion and intensity drown out the voices of panic around them so that they can generate momentum with you. Pick your cause, pick your battle, and engage your followers.

Direct them towards a mission, towards a goal, towards something that provides tangible benefit so that they can get the ball rolling in their homes, neighborhoods, and communities. Give your followers missions and tasks towards the goal you are united for, and you will help them to realign themselves away from chaos and panic towards growth, progress, and even prosperity. Ask them to give and give double what they do. Lead through example.

Despair thrives in confusion and inaction.
Despair withers under the heat and light of passion.
Despair dies in the face of confident leadership.

You have the following. You have the crowd. Your community and the people who respect you need you now more than ever.

Step up.

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The war against despair is up to you, new media 2 The war against despair is up to you, new media 3 The war against despair is up to you, new media 4

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Comments

28 responses to “The war against despair is up to you, new media”

  1. amachina Avatar
    amachina

    Great Post Chris.

    It's so easy to join the pity party, but wallowing in despair does no one any good. We need to step up to demonstrate confident leadership. Be the change we wish to see in the world so to speak. We all need to do our part to help our clients, neighbors, friends and colleagues see that we can create the light at the end of the tunnel. The time to take action is now.

    Reply
  2. chelpixie Avatar
    chelpixie

    I just got off the phone with my mom not two minutes ago. I can't fix what's going on for them, but I did give her a goal. A clear cut goal toward making money.

    It's not good news but now she has something to focus on other than the worry. Now is the time to direct these type of helpful moves to your family, friends, and your network. Help them, because it's important to help others instead of investing in panic that breeds more panic.

    Reply
  3. deb kolaras Avatar
    deb kolaras

    good inspiration and I am a major advocate of doing instead of watching. Thanks for the post.

    Reply
  4. paul merrill Avatar
    paul merrill

    Great post!

    Let's spread some positive and helpful messages.

    Reply
  5. Dayngr Avatar
    Dayngr

    You got it commander!

    Reply
  6. Carla Lynne Hall Avatar
    Carla Lynne Hall

    Oh man, how can anyone resist a powerful call to action like this?

    I refuse to participate in the recession, and I'm grateful to hear a voice in the wilderness that speaks of growth and prosperity.

    Thank you for the nudge. I accept the mantle.

    Reply
  7. Candice Avatar
    Candice

    Great post! I've been feeling the same way for a few days and finally blogged it in regards to the great opportunity before us. http://fashionethic.blogspot.com/ Why despair?

    Reply
  8. Adrianne Machina Avatar
    Adrianne Machina

    Great Post Chris.

    It's so easy to join the pity party, but wallowing in despair does no one any good. We need to step up to demonstrate confident leadership. Be the change we wish to see in the world so to speak. We all need to do our part to help our clients, neighbors, friends and colleagues see that we can create the light at the end of the tunnel. The time to take action is now.

    Reply
  9. Chel Wolverton Avatar
    Chel Wolverton

    I just got off the phone with my mom not two minutes ago. I can't fix what's going on for them, but I did give her a goal. A clear cut goal toward making money.

    It's not good news but now she has something to focus on other than the worry. Now is the time to direct these type of helpful moves to your family, friends, and your network. Help them, because it's important to help others instead of investing in panic that breeds more panic.

    Reply
  10. deb kolaras Avatar
    deb kolaras

    good inspiration and I am a major advocate of doing instead of watching. Thanks for the post.

    Reply
  11. paul merrill Avatar
    paul merrill

    Great post!

    Let's spread some positive and helpful messages.

    Reply
  12. Dayngr Avatar
    Dayngr

    You got it commander!

    Reply
  13. carlalynnehall Avatar
    carlalynnehall

    Oh man, how can anyone resist a powerful call to action like this?

    I refuse to participate in the recession, and I'm grateful to hear a voice in the wilderness that speaks of growth and prosperity.

    Thank you for the nudge. I accept the mantle.

    Reply
  14. Candice Avatar
    Candice

    Great post! I've been feeling the same way for a few days and finally blogged it in regards to the great opportunity before us. http://fashionethic.blogspot.com/ Why despair?

    Reply
  15. Albert Willis Avatar
    Albert Willis

    Thanks for the kick in the pants/reminder Chris. Even with all of the bad stuff going on, there are also going to be once-in-a lifetime opportunities—we need to be prepared.

    Reply
  16. zackbrandit Avatar
    zackbrandit

    I'm a Hero, though I'm partially fictional.
    I'm a blogger with an increasing network ( though I recently started).
    I certainly have a mission, a calling!

    But am I a leader?
    Time will tell and my next post will hopefully help.

    Reply
  17. Albert Willis Avatar
    Albert Willis

    Thanks for the kick in the pants/reminder Chris. Even with all of the bad stuff going on, there are also going to be once-in-a lifetime opportunities—we need to be prepared.

    Reply
  18. stevegarfield Avatar
    stevegarfield

    I'm starting a new weekday radio show about HOPE on blogtalkradio. Starting Monday, October 13th at 3:00 PM EST.

    All the details are over here:
    http://offonatangent.blogspot.com/2008/10/steve…

    I'm tired of hearing all the negative talk.

    Join in.

    http://www.blogtalkradio.com/stevegarfield

    Guest call-in number: (347) 215-8647

    This show will broadcast daily at 3:00, starting Monday October 13th and end on Monday November 3rd.

    Thanks,
    –Steve

    Reply
  19. zackbrandit Avatar
    zackbrandit

    I'm a Hero, though I'm partially fictional.
    I'm a blogger with an increasing network ( though I recently started).
    I certainly have a mission, a calling!

    But am I a leader?
    Time will tell and my next post will hopefully help.

    Reply
  20. stevegarfield Avatar
    stevegarfield

    I'm starting a new weekday radio show about HOPE on blogtalkradio. Starting Monday, October 13th at 3:00 PM EST.

    All the details are over here:
    http://offonatangent.blogspot.com/2008/10/steve…

    I'm tired of hearing all the negative talk.

    Join in.

    http://www.blogtalkradio.com/stevegarfield

    Guest call-in number: (347) 215-8647

    This show will broadcast daily at 3:00, starting Monday October 13th and end on Monday November 3rd.

    Thanks,
    –Steve

    Reply
  21. jeffmcneill Avatar
    jeffmcneill

    Hi Chris,

    Leadership also needs a vision. Somewhere to go. We got where we are because of a leadership that had bankrupt ideas. I don't think we need more leadership like that. We need better ideas first.

    Reply
  22. jeffmcneill Avatar
    jeffmcneill

    Hi Chris,

    Leadership also needs a vision. Somewhere to go. We got where we are because of a leadership that had bankrupt ideas. I don't think we need more leadership like that. We need better ideas first.

    Reply
  23. CCGAL Avatar
    CCGAL

    Well said. I've blogged about this and twittered it. I hope many others will do the same.

    Reply
  24. Barb Avatar
    Barb

    Found you via Chris Brogan.

    You clearly have a very positive spirit, and I commend you for that.

    I only take issue with your headline. It is not somehow “up to” new media to do something about our national malaise and “someone ELSE will fix it” attitude. Any forms of media are the means, not the end.

    Just one small example–I'm on the board of Friends of the Falls, which works to engage people with the Spokane River so they will learn to love it and keep it clean, safe and accessible for generations to come.

    Last Saturday we held our sixth annual Spokane River Clean-up. Over 800 people showed up to haul trash out of the woods. These people may or may not have high-speed Internet connections. But they lead.

    –barb
    http://www.friendsofthefalls.org

    Reply
  25. CCGAL Avatar
    CCGAL

    Well said. I've blogged about this and twittered it. I hope many others will do the same.

    Reply
  26. CCGAL Avatar
    CCGAL

    Well said. I've blogged about this and twittered it. I hope many others will do the same.

    Reply
  27. Barb Avatar
    Barb

    Found you via Chris Brogan.

    You clearly have a very positive spirit, and I commend you for that.

    I only take issue with your headline. It is not somehow “up to” new media to do something about our national malaise and “someone ELSE will fix it” attitude. Any forms of media are the means, not the end.

    Just one small example–I'm on the board of Friends of the Falls, which works to engage people with the Spokane River so they will learn to love it and keep it clean, safe and accessible for generations to come.

    Last Saturday we held our sixth annual Spokane River Clean-up. Over 800 people showed up to haul trash out of the woods. These people may or may not have high-speed Internet connections. But they lead.

    –barb
    http://www.friendsofthefalls.org

    Reply
  28. Barb Avatar
    Barb

    Found you via Chris Brogan.

    You clearly have a very positive spirit, and I commend you for that.

    I only take issue with your headline. It is not somehow “up to” new media to do something about our national malaise and “someone ELSE will fix it” attitude. Any forms of media are the means, not the end.

    Just one small example–I'm on the board of Friends of the Falls, which works to engage people with the Spokane River so they will learn to love it and keep it clean, safe and accessible for generations to come.

    Last Saturday we held our sixth annual Spokane River Clean-up. Over 800 people showed up to haul trash out of the woods. These people may or may not have high-speed Internet connections. But they lead.

    –barb
    http://www.friendsofthefalls.org

    Reply

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