Your Most Powerful Search Engine is Your Personal Learning Network (PLN)

The use of search engines like Google, Yahoo, or Bing for research is commonplace in today's online world. In fact, many of us go to these sites instantly when the need to find something first arises, be it something as trivial as finding out when a movie is playing, or as part of a multi-million dollar workplace project.  These search engines have redefined how we find information, and quickly become the primary way in which many people perform research.

But not for me.

I still use these search engines for low-impact searches.  However, when there is more consequence to my research, I am increasingly calling upon a different type of search engine for my research: my Personal Learning Network, or PLN.  This is a network of individuals consisting of family, friends, coworkers, and professionals that I have built relationships with over a number of years.  We interact and share through many mediums, with social media usually being the primary vehicle through which we connect.

In a world of ever-increasing search engine optimization, my personal learning network still delivers in ways that Google, Yahoo, Bing, or any other search engine never can. 

Google and search engines like it are very powerful.  They can search millions of resources in the blink of an eye and deliver a list of resources that match the terms you search on.  What they usually can’t do is frame that search around the deeper data of my personality, my career, my family, and my passions.  There’s no search option available labeled “Tailor this search to” in which I can enter my name.  If John Smith and I both search using the terms “Bank elearning”, we’re going to get the exact same response. 

My Personal Learning Network enables me to get to information that is more tailored to my preferences, because they have a better understanding of the lens through which I am viewing the world.  In addition, the interaction with my network enables me to provide one additional ingredient that is often lost in an online search: context.  Search terms are just that, terms; context tells the story behind those terms, which makes the search much more powerful.

I have lost count of the amount of times I have reached out to my network with a question that I could have also researched via a Google search.  In almost all of those cases, I have attained more useful information and references from my network than from the associated internet search.  In many of those cases, the most valuable resources I was pointed to from my network never appeared in the results of my search engine query.

There is a direct correlation between the importance or weight assigned to the research I am doing, and the likelihood that I would reach out to my personal learning network first.  The more weight I assign to the research, the more I will count on my PLN.  They are the most reliable search engine I have.

In short, my network often provides the ‘big rocks’ of my research.  They help my build the map and framework for the journey, and usually enable me to jump-start my research.  From there I will likely use additional research through Google to fill in the additional gaps.

Of course, the quality of response you get from reaching out to your personal learning network depends on the quality of the network itself.  In my case, my network has grown more powerful than I could ever have conceived years ago, and grown into something incredibly valuable to me.  I nurture my network by participating in it.  I suggest you do the same - you'll be glad you did.

Blogging: Why did I wait so long?

It was October 7^th 2010.  I was sitting at home, in front of my computer, about to click the ‘CREATE ACCOUNT’ button on Blogger.com, and found myself hesitating.

Earlier in the week, during a discussion about blogging in the weekly #lrnchat chat on Twitter, I had publicly stated “That’s it, I’m going to start my blog”, which added a level of accountability to an internal debate I’ve had about blogging for upwards of about three years.

I’m generally an early adopter when it comes to technology, but it wasn’t until I discovered the power of a Personal Learning Network via Twitter that I truly embraced Social Media.  A few months ago my opinion about blogging was very different, and like Twitter before it, was largely based on ignorance.

Here are some of the main reasons (or as I now see them to be – excuses) for procrastinating on starting my blog. 

The Excuse: I’ve got too much to do already without adding ‘blogging’ to my list.
The Reality: You're never too busy to do something you love and find important.

We're all busy, but we should always leave time in our schedules for the important things that have no urgency attached to them.  Personal development is definitely something we should be placing some of our focus on, and blogging is an excellent resource for that. In addition, blogging should be something you do because you enjoy it, not because you have to.  It's like the old joke...

Patient: "Doctor, it hurts when I move my arm like this"
Doctor: "Then don't do that."

If blogging feels like a chore, guess what?  You can stop blogging.

The Excuse: Nobody is going to read it!
The Reality: What if somebody reads it? Wait... What if Nobody reads it!?!?!?

The core of this excuse comes down to one word: Insecurity.  I had this idea in my head that a blog is something that I'm delivering to the world, and it is.  What I forgot in that equation though, is that I'm at the core of that particular world.  I needed to blog for myself first, and give back to myself and my personal development.  If it turns out that someone wanted to join me for parts of the journey, that would be a welcome bonus. If no one besides me found it of value, that would be OK too.

I found that once I let go of the baggage of "Who will or will not read it?” the pressure disappeared. 

The Excuse: I've got nothing to say.
The Reality: We all have something to say.

In today's collaborative world, we all have something to contribute.  A blog can have a theme, or it can be random thoughts. There's really only one rule in my mind: Write what you feel like writing about.

Special thanks goes out to my wife for helping me overcome this hurdle.  I recall discussing this with her and when I said "I really don't have a lot to say..." her subsequent involuntary twitching reminded me that in the right context, I often have a great deal to say.

Once I made the leap of faith – which is the best way I can describe how it felt – I was fairly quickly asking myself “Why have I been denying myself this resource for so long?”

Blogging has provided me with more benefits than I ever expected.. Here are just a few examples:

Personal growth via reflective writing

Reflection is a great tool for learning.  I incorporate it into the programs I design and practice it myself. A blog is an outstanding resource for this.

I regularly write posts that reflect on the weekly #lrnchat discussions taking place on Twitter.  These chats among peers in the Learning and Development field are excellent and a great source of professional development. The posts I write reflecting on the chats reinforce and add tremendously to those learnings. 

Expands my network in a valued community

Networking is becoming more and more important every day.  For both knowledge and professional growth, who-you-know is often more important than what-you-know. A blog is a great tool to expand your network.

One of the great features of blogs is the ability to add comments.  It adds a collaborative edge to the learning, and helps incorporate you and your writing into a new or existing community.  I've enjoyed meeting and interacting with new people via comments they left on my blog.

Provides the satisfaction of contributing

While I admittedly blog primarily for myself, I also take satisfaction in knowing others have read and found value in some of what I write.  When my blog is referenced by a colleague, it is a tremendous compliment.  It is also a privilege to be able to contribute to the ever-expanding pool of resources that I pull from every day.

As I think back to October 7^th, with my cursor hovering over the CREATE ACCOUNT button like two magnets resisting a connection, I realize a few key things:

1.      I fell into the trap of the unknown, in which we create an illogical fear based on our ignorance.

2.      I completely underestimated the value blogging would provide me.

3.      While I blog for me, I cherish the connections my blog has enabled me to build with others.

4.      Though I did not realize it at the time, I did not have reasons for not starting a blog; I had excuses.

I recall taking my daughter to the pool this past Labor Day. It was cold, but it was the last day the pool was open, so my daughter insisted.  As kids do, she jumped right in without so much as a pause.  I walked to the edge, stuck my big toe in the water and lovingly said to my daughter “OK then… Have fun!”

We debated for few minutes; her repeatedly telling me the water was not cold and me pointing out the ice cubes floating by behind her. She won the debate by using my own words against me…

“Daaadddyyyy. You always tell me I should try things and not just decide I don’t like them”

If you’re considering starting a blog, jump off the edge and into the deep end of the pool.  In a best case scenario, you’ll find a similar love and satisfaction for it that I have.  And in a worst case scenario?  You jump back out of the pool, towel yourself off, and move on. 

Which, for the record, is EXACTLY what I did that cold Labor Day afternoon.

What's your Personal Social Media Strategy?

Last week I participated in a webcast featuring Jay Cross (@jaycross).  During the chat, Jay told the story of two Army Generals who got together for drinks daily and discussed the stories of their day.  At one point, they realized that others would benefit from hearing their stories as well, and a blog was born.  Many of the simple stories shared, like the fact that it's quicker to open a wax-paper-wrapped Tootsie Roll than a plastic-wrapped Jolly Rancher in 120 degree heat (an thus reduce the amount of time you could be standing still in a potential sniper's sights), saved lives.

What I personally do as a Learning Professional is by no means a life and death scenario, no matter what my stakeholders may sometimes think.  However, I was reminded of Jay's story during a conversation I had with my friend Mark Britz (@britz) later in the week.  He was asking me what my personal strategy was related to social media, as the story might be useful for a project he is working on (details below)*.  As I typed up the story for Mark, I was reminded of Jay's story of the Army Generals.  It's for that reason that I ended my email to Mark by asking if he would mind me using the story as a blog post, which if you're reading this, he obviously agreed to.

So, if you find this post of value, I'm glad.  If you don't, well... blame Mark. ;-)

My Social Media Strategy

To be completely honest, I didn't start with a strategy.  I played with Facebook a bit personally, but didn't really fully embrace social media until about two years ago.

I avoided Twitter under the common banner of ignorance labelled "I have no interest in what Ashton Kutcher had for breakfast".  Still, something compelled me to try Twitter to see what all the fuss was about.  It was there that I discovered #LRNCHAT and learned about PLNs (Personal Learning Networks).

The concept of networking has always been there, but looking at it as a community that I could both add value to and pull value from was a structure I had not considered before.  As I became more comfortable contributing, interacting with peers, and developing relationships through Twitter, I started to subconsciously plan my social media and PLN strategy.

There wasn't a specific "What's my strategy?" decision moment at first.  It started with more of an awareness, and a concern around image or brand. I remember seeing a tweet that was incredibly hilarious, yet in truth, completely filthy.  I was about to hit the retweet button thinking that this was too funny not to share, and paused with a thought..."Does this joke match the image I've been forging?"

I think that's the moment when my social media strategy was born.  That moment of pause made me reflect on my interactions on Twitter.  I realized that the vast majority of my tweeting was based on my profession.  Likewise, most of the people who had chosen to follow me seemed to share the interest in the Learning and Performance field.  Through my activity, I had unintentionally created an image, or possibly, a brand.  With that realization came focus, and an important connection.

I hope to one day work exclusively as an independent consultant.  Right now though, being a family man with two young kids and a mortgage mandates the steady income and health benefits of an organizational role.  I've been dipping my feet in consulting and speaking professionally, but my opportunities have been limited, usually to one or two events per year. I was well known in the local ASTD community, but not too much outside of that.  I knew that if I wanted to increase my opportunities, I needed to extend my reach.  I saw Twitter, and my PLN, as a major resource to further develop my skills and extend my outreach.

I started participating more, and decided to finally make the leap to blogging.  That move to blogging too, wasn't strategic at first.  I'd been interested in blogging, but hesitated under the insecurity of "Who would want to read it?"  I remember Dave Ferguson (@Dave_Ferguson) telling me "Blog for yourself, not others" and that inspired me to finally make the leap.  Starting this blog was a major milestone in my social media strategy. 

The blog very quickly became a labor of love, and something that is deeply meaningful and beneficial to me personally.  Somewhere along the way, it dawned on me that people were interested in what I had to say.  It was genuinely surprising to see people talking about my blog, posting comments, and asking me if they could repurpose posts.  That's when my strategic plan really kicked into high gear.  I wanted to leverage this momentum to create a brand for me, with the ultimate goal of creating an awareness of what I bring to the table, and in turn, hopefully having doors and opportunities open up to me.  So far, it's been working.

The 'brand' and reputation I've built were directly involved in me booking my first paid speaking engagement, which was much less about the money and much more about the "Holy $#!+, someone paid me to speak" experience.  I've currently got three additional speaking engagements booked through April, all of which came from doors that were opened by the brand I've forged via this idea of social media strategy.

I'm growing personally and professionally, plus - and this is the most important part of the equation - I'm loving every minute of it.

Keep in mind, my strategy is still in it's infancy.  I only started blogging in October.  Social media moves fast; the best description I've heard has it described as "moving at the speed of Jane"**.  The tools change quickly, and it's likely that today's Twitter will probably be tomorrow's MySpace.  Any social media strategy would need to keep pace with that.  My strategy will evolve and expand over time with the tools and through my successes and failures.  It's likely though that my primary three-prong approach will remain the same: Participate, add value, and create an awareness of what I bring to the table. 

For me, the most important moment of my social media strategy was it's birth.  Looking back, it's kind of humorous to realize that my strategy was born of a 'dirty tweet' that I decided not to re-tweet because it didn't match the image I hadn't even been aware I was creating. 

Want to create your own personal social media strategy?  I bet you, like me, already have and may not even realize it.  Take a look at your tweets.  Take a look at who follows you.  Recognize the pattern that likely exists and ask yourself if that's the image you want to be creating.

Regardless of what the answer is, you probably have the birth of your personal social media strategy.  From there it's just a matter of nurturing it to maturity.

Good Luck, and I'll see you in the network.


*If you're in the Central NY area, on March 30th Mark Britz will be speaking at the Career Connections Conference in Syracuse.  This is more than a job fair; it's a comprehensive day of workshops, job-seeking services, employee recruitment, and more. For details, visit http://www.cnyworks.com/ or reach out to Mark via Twitter (@britz).

**If you don't know what this phrase means, follow @JaneBozarth and you quickly will. ;-)