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Almost Timely News, 6 March 2022: Power, Intro to Web3, Helping Ukraine (3/6) :: View in Browser

Almost Timely News

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What’s On My Mind: Power

One of the most common sentiments during the Russian invasion of Ukraine for the people on the outside goes a bit like this:

Feeling powerless

Is this accurate? Are we really powerless? In one sense, perhaps. Very few people have the ability to mobilize a nation’s military beyond national leaders, so our ability to directly intervene is low. A few folks with prior military experience are headed over to Ukraine to fight against the Russian military.

So, is that it? Are we really so powerless?

Of course not. But we’re led to believe so, in part because we’ve forgotten what power is. Power is like energy. It comes in two flavors – potential and kinetic. Potential energy is energy stored up. It’s potential not yet realized. Kinetic is energy in motion, unleashed, put to work. The same is true of our power as individuals. Most of the time, we’re not using ours. We’re not expressing ourselves, sharing our voice, doing, creating. Most of the time we’re more passive. We’re receiving, listening, consuming.

Think about your relationship with content. How much content do you create versus how much content you consume? We spend the vast majority of time consuming, of giving our attention – which is power itself – to someone else, instead of focusing our power on our own creations and inspiring other people with our creations. The act of creation is an act of expressing your power, of turning potential into action. Even just writing a single tweet is an act of expression, putting your power to work.

If you were suffering, and someone posted a message in support of you, how would that make you feel? Even if you didn’t know the person, even if you didn’t have a relationship with that person, just being seen, feeling seen can help. Don’t believe that? Imagine the same suffering, but feeling alone and abandoned.

The irony is that as marketers, we need people to express their power and yet we do such a poor job of encouraging it. What does every social media newsfeed algorithm weight heavily? Engagement. Likes. Shares. COMMENTS. When someone comments, they express themselves, they express their power at least a tiny little bit. We need that for our social media channels to work. We need people to switch from being passive consumers to active creators, even if the act of creation is little more than “LOL OK” on a post.

When you feel powerless in a situation – any situation – and you want that feeling to go away, create. Create something. Create anything. Write a song. Paint a canvas. Sing. Write a paragraph. Draw. Dance. Speak. Express yourself. Bring what’s inside your head out into the world in a tangible form so that other people can benefit from it, be it 5 people or 5 billion people. For people who are suffering, showing them that you see them, that you acknowledge them, that you fight for them in the best way you know how will help them at least a little. And as you become a better creator, you’ll attract an audience. Your self-expression will earn you the power of attention, of awareness, perhaps even some fans. And then you use that power to do even more good in the world.

All power begins with creation and self-expression. Take the time while you can to sharpen your skills and unleash that power within you.

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ICYMI: In Case You Missed it

If I had to pick one thing for you to review this week, it would be the reminder that you can play an active role in the fight for Ukraine’s freedom.

Skill Up With Free Classes

These are just a few of the free classes I have available over at the Trust Insights website that you can take.

Get Back to Work!

Folks who post jobs in the free Analytics for Marketers Slack community may have those jobs shared here, too. If you’re looking for work, check out these five most recent open positions, and check out the Slack group for the comprehensive list.

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What I’m Reading: Your Stuff

Let’s look at the most interesting content from around the web on topics you care about, some of which you might have even written.

Social Media Marketing

Media and Content

SEO, Google, and Paid Media

Advertisement: Ukraine Humanitarian Fund

If you’d like to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, the National Bank of Ukraine has set up a fund specifically for relief efforts. You can donate using a Visa/Mastercard or Google Pay.

Donate today to the Ukraine Humanitarian Relief Fund »

Tools, Machine Learning, and AI

Analytics, Stats, and Data Science

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Events I’ll Be At

Here’s where I’m speaking and attending. Say hi if you’re at an event also:

  • MarketingProfs B2B Forum, April 2022, virtual
  • MAICON, August 2022, Cleveland, OH
  • MarketingProfs B2B Forum, October 2022, Boston Events marked with a physical location may become virtual if conditions and safety warrant it.

If you’re an event organizer, let me help your event shine. Visit my speaking page for more details.

Can’t be at an event? Stop by my private Slack group instead, Analytics for Marketers.

How to Stay in Touch

Let’s make sure we’re connected in the places it suits you best. Here’s where you can find different content:

Required Disclosures

Events with links have purchased sponsorships in this newsletter and as a result, I receive direct financial compensation for promoting them.

Advertisements in this newsletter have paid to be promoted, and as a result, I receive direct financial compensation for promoting them.

My company, Trust Insights, maintains business partnerships with companies including, but not limited to, IBM, Cisco Systems, Amazon, Talkwalker, MarketingProfs, MarketMuse, Agorapulse, Hubspot, Informa, Demandbase, The Marketing AI Institute, and others. While links shared from partners are not explicit endorsements, nor do they directly financially benefit Trust Insights, a commercial relationship exists for which Trust Insights may receive indirect financial benefit, and thus I may receive indirect financial benefit from them as well.

Thank You!

Thanks for subscribing and reading this far. I appreciate it. As always, thank you for your support, your attention, and your kindness.

See you next week,

Christopher S. Penn


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