This struck a chord. I realized I had been in both places at one time or another but am now a committed Twitterite. What happened for me to end up "with them"? How did I get from denying it's importance to accepting the value and enjoyment associated with this strange phenomenon? In other words, how is it I joined the Margaret Atwoods of the world?
Then I realized I had traversed through the five stages of change (DANDA) described by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross in her 1969 book, On Death and Dying. The agents I overheard were immersed in this process, fraught with guilt and only time will tell if they proceed to the finish line. Most do not make it to the acceptance stage.
I began by DENYING the importance of Social Networking. I have a good friend who is a salesman and he's so stuck at this stage he'll never escape. His business is suffering because of it. Deep down, I knew it was necessary if I wanted to continue being a full service Realtor to my clients and customers.
I knew I was at the ANGER stage when I used to feel resentment towards those who had progressed beyond me and were actually profiting from this modern way of communicating. I would lash out at the Twitter logo every time I saw it. The smug Twitter users had this holier than thou attitude, or at lease I thought they did. I can be a very small person when the circumstances are right.
I knew I had entered the NEGOTIATING stage when I hired a young Twitterite to try and teach me how to do it. I didn't quite get what she was talking about but I figured if I had an account, I would at least be able to communicate to my clients that I was hip and living in the modern age. That's not to say I was Twittering because I wasn't. However, in my little Twitter mind, I didn't feel I had to if I wanted to make my point.
I woke up one day and read that sales people were soliciting business and solidifying relationships through Twitter. I didn't want to get out of bed. I was sad and Twitter DEPRESSION had set in. I didn't know it at the time but I was on the verge of a break through.
Then one day, I started sending my blog entries to my Twitter and Facebook accounts. I figured, what the hell? What's the worst that could happen? As it turns out, nothing bad happened. Now I've ACCEPTED my life as a Twitter user and actually have benefited from it. My bank picked up on my recent complaint and their Twitter Guy (Nate is his name) fixed it for me in short order.
Now, I must click the Publish icon to the right of this cursor and all will be published everywhere. It feels good to be on the other side.
