10th Human - Page 3 of 10 - It's all about adding value

The time Facebook blocked me from posting and lessons learned

So, I’ve returned from an 8 day posting hiatus imposed upon me by the goliath that is Facebook. What follows are my thoughts, not necessarily cohesive, on these last eight days.

About 8 days ago, I shared a previously recorded live video (via the URL) to two forums I maintain on Facebook. Ironically (IMHO), the video was about How to Download A Copy of Your Facebook Profile. (Somebody tell me that isn’t ironic.) Seconds after sharing this video, I went to respond to someone in one of the forums on an unrelated post and was told something to the effect of “Sorry, you can’t do that.” Further investigation revealed I had been restricted from posting to or joining FB groups due to “using the system in a way that was suspicious, even if you didn’t intend to.”

Was it the FB live video I shared?

Was it the number of posts I’d made during the day?

I am still not sure.

I also received a notification that the post(s) I’d just made were potential spam (again, the irony given the nature of the video). I was offered an opportunity to dispute this and did. The system agreed: they were not spam. However, this did not lift the restriction.

I was presented with the option to appeal the restriction, which I did, asking for human assistance, as well. No such assistance was forthcoming (I know, I am but one of 1 BILLION users). However, the part that galled me (equal to the system agreeing I didn’t spam but still restricting me) was that when I appealed the decision (and apparently lost), the restriction was extended.

I experimented with this and there seemed to be a direct correlation to the “appeal”, followed by an extension of several hours for the ban. This was, as I may have mentioned, quite galling. Offer me the opportunity to appeal a bad decision, then penalize me for doing so? Bad form, Facebook. Bad form.

Overall, there are a couple of lessons I learned from this:

Be extremely careful with your posts. There is no appeal to the Gods of Facebook. I tried. I was penalized for it. Research into this issue showed the appeals are entirely based on algorithms with no human intervention. I think Facebook has something of an obligation given their power to make this process less…clinical.
Appealing to the same Gods results in extensions of the ban. This is perhaps the most galling part of this 8 days. That they penalize you for appealing is just…aggravating.
No humans apparently work for Facebook. See above.
We are the product, not the consumer. This experience showed me we are data, not people, to this platform. I don’t believe myself to be special but I have given Facebook a lot of my time and attention. I am going to work on lessening this.
My business is more reliant on this platform than I am comfortable with. I interact with people on Facebook; it’s what I do and a large part of how I generate new business and maintain my existing business. I have to work on that.
It was kind of nice not being able to post as I was then not compelled to.

More to follow, I just wanted and needed to get this out there. For fear of the Gods of Facebook, I shall not be sharing this to their platform.

10thHuman: Complex systems evolve and change

Complex systems evolve and change. People are complex systems.
– Rob Thompson

I am big on frameworks and systems. These help people build and scale their businesses and personal lives.

However, people are complex systems and our frameworks need to build in the flexibility and space to accommodate this and themselves evolve.

Is knowledge power?

Not without a framework and execution, Napoleon Hill would likely argue.

We control what external events mean to us personally…

There is a mantra out ‘there’ that says we alone control our responses to events, that the universe is thusly ours to command.

I’ve never quite subscribed to the totality of this mantra. Random stuff happens; in fact, change and random stuff seems to be the only constant.

I read something today that stretched my comprehension of the first part of this sentiment. Specifically, “you control what every external event means to you personally.” (The Daily Stoic, Holiday)

This I can agree with in totality. Therein lies an ultimate control, internally.

Leisure without study is death – a tomb for the living person.

“Leisure without study is death – a tomb for the living person.” – Seneca

This is the lesson in The Daily Stoic today.

What does leisure look like to you?

To me, it’s a good book, a book that either transports or informs.

10thHuman: Multiple Businesses as a means of defense against changing market conditions

I am currently in discussions with another entrepreneur about starting up another business idea, unique in our market. The idea is a niche one and the first business to implement will likely enjoy a first mover advantage.

I was asked by another individual why I am always on the lookout for new ideas. My reasons are several:

If I can, I want to help other entrepreneurs.
What got you there won’t keep you there.
Market and job conditions change.

Focus in your primary profession is important but so is being constantly on the lookout for new ideas, as a defense against changing market conditions.

Talking and doing consume the same resources

Talking and doing consume the same resources.

I’m listening to “Ego is the Enemy” today on Audible and this nugget jumped out at me (amongst others).

What does this mean?

In the context of the book, the author isn’t saying we should go about our day in silence and just work.

What he’s aiming and elaborates on is that we often fool ourselves into substituting talk for action. If we talk about a thing, our brains are somewhat fooled into thinking we did that thing in part, because the two consume similar resources.

This speaks to me quite profoundly as it mirrors or underscores a question I often ask myself, “Am I doing the busy things or the important things?“

What do we owe a toxic leader?

The question I’d ask today is, “When in a followership role, what do we as followers owe a toxic leader?”

Let’s first discuss the definition of leadership. My definition of leadership is the thoughtful and methodical application of a continually studied framework that becomes a mindset which promotes positive culture and ethics.

I subscribe to a school of thought that believes leadership is a positive trait and should be defined as such. Of course, there exist “leaders” who embrace negative traits to achieve their goals. We tend to refer to these folks as ‘bad’ or ‘toxic’ leaders. I don’t believe they should be honored with the title of “leader” at all. One who is embued with the authority to direct others, but whom lacks the traits to be a good leader (or sees no need to implement the same) is, at best, a manager with the legal authority to direct action by subordinates. All that said, I will keep with the naming convention for the purpose of answering the asked question, “What do we as followers owe a toxic leader?”

What is a toxic leader? I suspect we can all name the traits that make an individual leader toxic. Such people are often arbitrary, negative, insulting, intimidating (or use intimidation), narcissistic and tend to rely on authority in lieu of actual leadership to achieve a goal, which is likely personally driven vs in service to an ideal.

What do we owe such ‘leaders’?

Nothing.

Such individuals are in violation of the social contract, the glue that holds us together in a society.

We do not owe such toxic individuals allegiance or deference.

I would go so far as to suggest we owe one another a duty to speak out against such individuals, as we are able.

What say you?

5 Questions to Ask in a Changing Job Market

The world is changing. Emerging technologies in automation and virtual and augmented reality are just a tip of the iceberg. I was reading this morning about a new field of study regarding artificial intelligence; particularly, there’s a new discipline being created as we speak in the study of AI.

I believe the next 5-10 years will usher in many fantastic changes.

However, this comes with a cost. Namely, our jobs are going to be impacted. How can you prepare for the pivot you’ll need to stay employed?

I’m reading “A More Beautiful Question” by Warren Berger and he’s proposed several questions you can/should ask yourself in looking ahead:

How is my field/industry changing?

What trends are having the most impact on my field, and how is that likely to play out over the next few years?

Which of my existing skills are the most useful and adaptable in this new environment – and what new ones do I need to add?

Should I diversify more – or focus on specializing in one area?

Should I be thinking more in terms of finding a job – or creating one?

Change is coming.

Be ready. Be a step ahead.

Act.