The Tough Part of Transparency
Phew! We just closed out Underground 6 this past weekend with 460+ attendees from all corners of the globe. I truly believe it was THE best event we’ve done yet. Especially if my car loaded up with thank you gifts, wine and food was any indication from the attendees. (Note: If you missed it we’re holding a “biggest takeaways” call this Monday)
One of the trends I’ve been seeing and paying attention to is ‘transparency’. It’s certainly one of the Web 2.0 buzzwords but something I believe is actually shifting the playing field. I asked Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com, once during a Maverick adventure if he was ever worried about going out and having so many digital cameras, video, etc. around him as CEO of a $1B company. He replied that he wasn’t since he wouldn’t do anything out that he’d be worried would come back. Zappos is a big believer in transparency since they have an always-on stream of public mentions, employee tweets, etc right here.
Having transparency means you cannot simply broadcast your message anymore but anyone can have their own voice and ‘interact’ with your brand. That’s the good, bad and sometimes ugly.
This year we added even more transparency to our event with a live tweetstream of the hashtag #UG6. Mari Smith, one of our speakers from last year, gave me the idea and I thought it was great until about 15 minutes into the conference we had a heckler. This anonymous guy or gal decided he would harass, belittle and spout inappropriate tweets using our hashtag. I hate to admit, it really bothered me at first. In fact, I asked our tech guy if there was a way to simply remove this one person from our stream but they said no. I asked Derek Johnson, one of our Young Mogul speakers and a big social media power user, for any tips and he said the community will take care of it.
So I let it go and actually journaled about it at night.
I came to the simple realization that I could only control one thing – and that’s how great of a “product” I put out there. That’s it. It always comes down to personal responsibility and what we can and cannot control. I had dozens and dozens of attendees gushing to me about the event and I decided I’d let the community police itself as Derek suggested. And that’s exactly what happened with a few people deciding to interact with our nameless friend. It just amazes me the kind of energy someone like this would expend to simply bring others down but that’s their own situation.
The next morning, I told the entire audience exactly what happened and my feelings on the matter. In fact, it turned out to be a great lesson in transparency and where things are headed (or have already arrived). Because frankly anyone with a gripe gets a voice and if there is a legitimate reason for his gripe others will band together.
In fact, you might remember the recent situation with a band called ‘Sons of Maxwell’ and lead singer Dave Carroll who had his guitar broken by United. He didn’t get any help or compensation and decided to create a YouTube video about it. Well this attracted major PR coverage and United looked pretty bad. United probably would have loved to be able to put a lid on this story and their own spin on it but not in 2010.
Hi Yanik,
Great post!
It is amazing not only that someone would go to such great lengths to bring down an audience, but also the amount of energy we give back to such energy draining people.
The only thing that keeps people like that going is the energy they get back from the hatred they spew.
Keep up the great work!
Here’s to Your LifetoSuccess,
John Clark
http://www.lifetosuccess.com
IlluminatedDude, the heckler, was an ironic testament to how amazing the content and delivery was at UG6. Disinterest = failure. But this guy was *devoted* (lol)
When you announced your decision to let it ride, I was so impressed with the confidence and trust (in the community) it took to do that, Yanik. Very ego-free and evolved
“I came to the simple realization that I could only control one thing – and that’s how great of a “product” I put out there.”
UG6 was epic. Deepest thanks for your vision.
Yanik, this is spot on – and transparency will only grow from a groundswell into a tidal wave in the coming year(s). Transparency not only with customers, but also with employees. It’s really healthy for companies and people because it is a powerful incentive to practice integrity in what you are creating for others…whether it’s a corporate culture or product for a market.
Keep the great posts coming!
Hi, Yanik. I wanted to tweet your article. But it was not permitted by your blog. I think your plugin is not set up properly. I could give you a hand with this problem for FREE. Otherwise, send the copy of what I posted to your software people.
That’s what your blog produced when I entered my Twitter parameters.
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Please verify post entry at http://twitter.com/1galla
Ahoy Yanik,
Glad you had the best event ever! Congrat’s.
As to transparency, it is vital today you accept it and deal with it. Good or bad, right or wrong, ugly or un-ugly, transparency is a part of our life today and people expect to hear BOTH sides of the story.
Social Media; Twitter, FaceBook, YouTube for example – have leveled the playing field by giving “small” individuals a “BIG” voice. The challenge for business is to use the same tools to their advantage. Today you must walk-the-walk…
CaptRobLee
Shalom Yanik,
UG6 has been a great scenario for networking… that was my main goal and I can tell my expectations were 200% fulfilled!
Cheers,
Daniel
Aaron – absolutely! I like the notion about adding it in all parts of your organization. Very powerful implications now and in the future
Alla – thanks! I’m having our tech team look into this.
Yanik- Thanks for sharing and sounds like Underground was great… Unless you have something to hide, transparancy is going to help us all cut the BS and noise and get down to adding ROI/Value… ALL GREEN LIGHTS in TWENTY TEN! Blessings, Brian-
Excellent post. I’m glad to hear the community take care of the heckler for you. Sorry to have missed such a great event.
Love that you journaled about it….so many amazing benefits! Check out my new book, Journaling Through and utubes about journaling on my website http://www.angelacaughlin.com
What an astonishing piece you have there Yanik, keep it up. I have not been following you lately but I am glad I came across the article.
It is an eye opener, all the best buddy.
Macclean
Hey Yanik,
Just thought I’d let you know that the takeaways webinar link isn’t Woking. Looks like everyone had a good time and would be interested to hear what went on!
Best Wishes,
Daniel
Oops – I had the wrong link. Fixed now
Yanik,
This was my very first Underground Event. I was so excited to go to the event and get involved in the twitter fun. I was really affected by the negative crap that way put out. He or she completely hijacked the twitter thread.
I was amazed at how much it negatively affected me and the enjoyment of the weekend. I wanted to lash out at him but resisted knowing that it is easier to destroy than build.
Ultimately I came to the conclusion that he should be ignored. He was just one person and why should he or she get more attention then those that were positive on the event.
Yanik, as a student of Dan Sullivan I really appreciated your event and what you accomplished.
Thank you and may the negative naysayers be damned and ignored for what they are.
Thanks,
Rob
Do you think that transparency might solve spamming somehow?
I’m speaking of the idiots who when one connects on FB , Twitter or YouTube that many of these folks simply come right at me with their product or service or affiliate program or even worse sometimes some soft porn which my 10 year old daughter happened to see because the kids computer is next to ours. That was some woman with her stuff hanging out on twitter
I ask this because I am years behind guys like Yanik in my knowledge and I work very hard at DOING THINGS RIGHT.
I MAKE$ online. Enough to stay home for sure but I have much to learn to get to my goal ..which is to retire my wife.
That needs 6 figures.
I will stay professional since I’m doing this long term.
As you say the only thing we can control is to be our best and offer the best product we can.
Thanks for leading Yanik.
People are so conditioned to trash on the internet that they are totally blown away by the true value of a great product!!! (What a concept!)
Thanks for the information Yanik. Very helpful indeed. Hope this is the 3,000th comment for something cool from you!
ooo is this 3000 do I get an ipad?? Hear is to that.
Mark – you’re commenter #3000 – look for something in the mail from us!