Do you remember the scene in Airplane when Leslie Nielsen as Dr Rumack asks Captain Oveur about when they can land?
Dr. Rumack:
Captain, how soon can you land?
Capt. Clarence Oveur:
I can’t tell.
Dr. Rumack:
You can tell me, I’m a doctor.
Capt. Clarence Oveur:
No, I mean, I’m just not sure.
Dr. Rumack:
Well, can’t you take a guess?
Capt. Clarence Oveur:
Well, not for another two hours.
Dr. Rumack:
You can’t take a guess “for another two hours”?
Capt. Clarence Oveur:
No, no, no, I mean we can’t land for another two hours.
This scene popped into my head as I was looking at the latest postings from the groups I belong to on LinkedIn. In the discussions section, here are a few of the titles of the folks posting, the names have been changed to protect the innocent:
Posted by Joe Momma SEO / SEM / Marketing – 24,143+ connections – LION – Xth most connected person on LinkedIn Started by Sue Jones, Marcomm, PR and Social Media professional, bringing a fresh perspective to PR & Marketing 2.0 Started by Mr X, Worldwide online Coach & Mentor, Executive Coach, Business Coach, Life Coach Started by Ms Y, President, Serial Networker, Networking Guru, People Connector, Business Catalyst at XYZ corp Started by Mr T, Creative branding and marketing entrepreneur Started by Ms B, Social Media Guru and Web 2.0 entrepreneur
Why do some many folks have have such convoluted and in my opinion worthless titles? Because you are LinkedIn to over 22k people that is supposed to mean something to me? It actually does, but not what I guess you are hoping it well. And one of the things I have never understood is WTF is a life or executive coach? If you have that skill, why not coach yourself out of the crappy gig you have and get a real job? My favorite is the Social Media Guru tag – really, you are social media guru? Here is a definition of guru according to Wikipedia
“A guru (Sanskrit: गुरु) is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others (teacher). As a principle for the development of consciousness it leads the creation from unreality to reality, from the darkness of ignorance to the light of knowledge. In its purest form this principle manifests on earth as a divine incarnation (saint), a person with supreme knowledge about God and all creation.”
That sounds like most of “gurus” I know, especially the social media ones. I am waiting for the first Social Media or Web 2.0 Swami to appear if he/she hasn’t already, or maybe I can become the first.
There are so many “experts” out there that they drown out each other. If you really want me to read or pay attention to you how about using a title that more realistically describes your skills or knowledge base. That will get my attention and make it more likely to be read. And for all of you who continue to use silly and made up titles I leave you with the words of Dr. Rumack as Ted and Elaine were trying to land the plane:
“I just want to tell you both good luck. We’re all counting on you“
Expert, Guru, Entrepreneur, Or Life Coach?
Do you remember the scene in Airplane when Leslie Nielsen as Dr Rumack asks Captain Oveur about when they can land?
This scene popped into my head as I was looking at the latest postings from the groups I belong to on LinkedIn. In the discussions section, here are a few of the titles of the folks posting, the names have been changed to protect the innocent:
Posted by Joe Momma SEO / SEM / Marketing – 24,143+ connections – LION – Xth most connected person on LinkedIn
Started by Sue Jones, Marcomm, PR and Social Media professional, bringing a fresh perspective to PR & Marketing 2.0
Started by Mr X, Worldwide online Coach & Mentor, Executive Coach, Business Coach, Life Coach
Started by Ms Y, President, Serial Networker, Networking Guru, People Connector, Business Catalyst at XYZ corp
Started by Mr T, Creative branding and marketing entrepreneur
Started by Ms B, Social Media Guru and Web 2.0 entrepreneur
Why do some many folks have have such convoluted and in my opinion worthless titles? Because you are LinkedIn to over 22k people that is supposed to mean something to me? It actually does, but not what I guess you are hoping it well. And one of the things I have never understood is WTF is a life or executive coach? If you have that skill, why not coach yourself out of the crappy gig you have and get a real job? My favorite is the Social Media Guru tag – really, you are social media guru? Here is a definition of guru according to Wikipedia
“A guru (Sanskrit: गुरु) is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others (teacher). As a principle for the development of consciousness it leads the creation from unreality to reality, from the darkness of ignorance to the light of knowledge. In its purest form this principle manifests on earth as a divine incarnation (saint), a person with supreme knowledge about God and all creation.”
That sounds like most of “gurus” I know, especially the social media ones. I am waiting for the first Social Media or Web 2.0 Swami to appear if he/she hasn’t already, or maybe I can become the first.
There are so many “experts” out there that they drown out each other. If you really want me to read or pay attention to you how about using a title that more realistically describes your skills or knowledge base. That will get my attention and make it more likely to be read. And for all of you who continue to use silly and made up titles I leave you with the words of Dr. Rumack as Ted and Elaine were trying to land the plane:
“I just want to tell you both good luck. We’re all counting on you“