“True Transparency” – Is There Any Other Kind?

I read a post by @davidspinks – discussing transparency and if people were being real or overly kind and complimentary just to appeal/conform to the community here. It inspired this post below...

People are driven by the nature thats in them... they can't help themselves, they don't know why they do the things they do, it's just the way they have always been. Some are good, some are bad, some are helpful, some aren't, some have honor, some don't, some have character, and some – you get the point. So then, at the end of the day, what you see is what you get. You can't fake to be something that you're not; at least not for very long, just give it a little time.

Overall, there is only a small number of people that consistently serve up value to the on-line communities they are part of. The majority of people are not leveraging the tools to enhance and better themselves and/or the lives of those they are connecting with. They don't know the people following them any better than they did before they got started in a social community.

Over the last year that I have been participating on Twitter, it has changed dramatically. There are a lot more spammers and numbers players vs people organically growing their mutual following. Long term value will only be created through developing relationships. The stronger the relationship, the more value that can be created. NO relationship = NO value.

Social media tools have enabled millions of people to develop a presence on the Web. Most of these folks are the consumers that drive revenues for companies across the globe. It is my belief that in the new relationship economy, people will spend money with people they know, maybe not personally, but certainly recommended by a contact, friend or community that they are part of. This by no means is a new business concept; but it is new with respect to sheer numbers of people that can be reached and influenced by ALL business owners, big or small, who are now benefiting greater than ever before from the new buying habits of consumers. Those that don't take the time to build on-line relationships won't be providing products or services to consumers in the future.

Money and wealth, for the most part, has been accumulated by greedy, self centered, self willed individuals that for the sake of the all mighty dollar, and this thinking/behavior has driven the economy, peoples savings, lives, hopes and dreams into the ground. The success stories of the future will come from people that are contributing value to others, not for the sake of making money; but because its the right thing to do. If you practice this, the financial rewards will come.

Wishful thinking? Maybe; ever heard of the old cliché “nice guys finish last?” That won't stop me from believing that good people will win in the end... cling to the good and run from the rest; they have nothing to add to your life and will take whatever they can.