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Using social media in your business is not something that a person just finishes in an afternoon. A journey to adopt policies, protocols, select platforms and training your employees can take months and years to establish and grow.

You may feel like you are running a race to keep up; however, it is not a short sprint. Indeed, transforming the way that you communicate and collaborate on projects requires the spirit of a marathon runner. A marathon is not only an extreme physical challenge, but also a test of a person’s mind and will.

Jacqueline Gareau, who won the 1980 Boston Marathon, once said “The body does not want you to do this. As you run, it tells you to stop but the mind must be strong. You always go too far for your body. You must handle the pain with strategy…It is not age; it is not diet. It is the will to succeed.”

Likewise, communication changes within an agency can result in much resistance. Using social media can be seen as foreign, risky or uncharted territory. And while painful at times, a clear mission and will power will be required of anyone in their journey to implement new methods and tools.

Regular and consistent training is important for any runner. Setting small targets and advancing your practical knowledge is critical to achieving success in the marathon of social media.  Encountering set backs can be tough, but you must have a strong spirit to work your way through each hurdle.

This coming week, you have the opportunity to participate in several workshops that will help you in this journey:

• Wednesday, June 20th, you can join Kevin Sur (@rusnivek) in “I’m Too Old For Social Media”
• Next Tuesday, June 26th, Aaron Hockley (@ahockley) will facilitate a course on “Google+”
• The following Thursday, June 28th, Cheryl Bledsoe (@cherylble) will offer a workshop on “Twitter Basics”
• Also on Thursday, June 28th, Matt Wastradowski (@wastro) will discuss “The Importance of Facebook Timline”

By using a promo code CANDY, you may take any of the top 3 courses for free.  We encourage you to join, participate, share and learn from each other.  Show us your “marathon spirit” and stay committed to the long road ahead towards implementing and enhancing your social engagement.  You can do this!

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