Our Voices Do Matter…

I should have started blogging along time ago. As an elearning designer, I have been writing digital content for my profession for over a decade. But, only the eyes inside of my company have been privy to my words. I have written technical manuals, job aids, and content for elearning and instructor-led courses. It’s funny that I’m not afraid to write company jargon but it’s a different story when I have to share my own thoughts with the world. Who wants to listen to me?

I was a member of the camp that thought social media was a waste of time. But, over the past few years, I have been drawn to Youtube and Instagram and I have watched first hand as influencers have created their own community. While watching these influencers, I started to become inspired and I started learning things such as how to apply makeup and how to cook jerk chicken and my point of view towards social media started shifting.

Now, I am particularly intrigued with online learning communities and how individuals are using platforms, such as Kajabi and Teachable to sell their knowledge and personal experiences at premium prices. People are actually giving their hard-earned cash to people they have never seen before hoping they are credible. I can understand gaining knowledge from YouTubers because YouTube is free, but paying hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars for it? No way! I would have doubted it, if I had not seen it for myself. And, lo and behold, I, too, have bought an online course.

As the book, “Networked” claims we are truly living in the age of the networked individual, where people are “meeting their social, emotional and economic needs” by tapping into a diverse network. We are building our own communities online and it doesn’t seem so scary of a place. I connect with the type of person that I would likely connect with face-to-face. So, this online journey is just beginning and it’s time to start sharing… one tweet and one blog post at a time. I want to start sharing my story in hopes that I can positively influence my very own tribe.