The Importance of 'Matterness' with Allison Fine

On this episode of Rhodes to Success I interview Allison Fine who is among the preeminent guides to the social media revolution.  She remakes organizations by the least expensive and most profitable means available; connecting with others! Allison is the author of Matterness and the award winning book Momentum as well as co-author of the best seller The Networked Non Profit.   Main Questions Asked <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       What are the key characteristics of the ‘big small town’ we live in online? <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       Do you think it’s a bad thing that we are more connected online? <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       How can entrepreneurs connect with each other in business online? <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       What made you interested in the social media revolution? <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       What was your transition like from non-profit political work into being an entrepreneur? <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       Did you have any internal struggles of making the mindset shift?   Key Lessons Learned <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       The online ecosystem means a lot of us feel guilt over online connections and lack of in person local connections. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       We are at the beginning of an entire revolution of connecting with others.  <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       There is no data suggesting people are ‘meaner’ or more narcissistic because they are online. They just have a chance to express it so we see it more. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       Being online never substitutes for being on land with people. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       How we choose to connect with people is one of the biggest choices entrepreneurs make in their business. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       You‘ll never have the marketing dollars to sell yourself to people. You need them to do some of the heavy lifting for you. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       There is a larger merging of nonprofit and for profit sector where a lot of businesses have dedication to social responsibility. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       The way we work has to match our values because we spend so much time doing it. We are now able to shape our business life much more than before. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       It’s important to think ‘how’ your business can serve the world and not just ‘be’ for you. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       Think about how you want to use your influence in the world. We are all holding our own megaphone and have connections with people. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       Leadership is about being something before doing something. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       We need to think about how to be generous and fill up our networks with good things and make other people better. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       The greatest players make the other players around them better. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       Don’t just sell a product or offer a service but rather stand for something. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       Figure out what your philosophy is and stand by it. This will attract people to you. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       Principals should win out over plans. Principals don’t change but plans do. <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops:list .5in">-       The world is moving quickly so you have to be agile. The only thing you can hold on to are your foundational principals.   Subscribe to the show in iTunes or Stitcher Radio!   The music in today's episode was written by The Danger Os and produced by Nick Palmer. Check them out at https://www.facebook.com/thedangerosmakemusic    Links to Resources Mentioned Allison Fine What’s the Big Idea (podcast) Matterness (book) Momentum (book) The Networked Nonprofit (book) Interview Connections  Entrepreneur Support Services