I’m finally getting around to doing something with my Pinterest account.

Today I “pinned” several books that I’ve just recently read or that have simply just popped into my head.

It’s far from exhaustive and mostly social media related, but all have made a difference in my life.
One of these is Aesop’s Fables.

“You can get more accomplished with a smile than with a scowl.”

The fable of The North Wind and the Sun stuck with me ever since Mrs. Dunphy read it to our grade three class at Queen Street School in Moncton. The irony that Mrs. Dunphy’s teaching style resembled more that of the north wind than the sun was lost on her.

 

(When I was very young, the CBC/Radio-Canada (the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) would run short films and musical interludes between programs. This was when the CBC was truly public – before commercials.
One of the the chief sources for these shorts was the NFB (National Film Board of Canada). where this video, The North Wind and the Sun was produced.)

As I was “pinning” these books, I noticed that there are many “gurus” who blow a bit like the north wind; who yell over YouTube or through their blogs that you have to get off your ass and be awesome, be fearless, be “weird”!

Do they motivate? Yes.

Does it stick?

Considering the success of the self-help and business advice industry, seems not. Like gym memberships, if everyone kept doing what they were told to do, they’d be out of business.

 

I love what I do, and I’m okay with the hours it takes me to do it because I’m building relationships. Who am I building relationships with?  – with people who are genuine and, yes – nice.

The support I get from people in my social media circles fuels my drive to keep improving.

I’m a pretty sensitive guy and I grew up in a very loud and dysfunctional home, so a story about kindness having power over meanness resonates with me.

You can call me a rainbow loving unicorn if you want, but the very core of social media success is person to person engagement, not marketing.

I prefer to be lead than pushed. I’m motivated by wanting to please rather than having to please.

The sun radiates energy that nurtures life. The north wind just blows.

 

Embracing the Sun

 

What’s your favourite Aesop Fable and what relevance does it have for you today?

 

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About Ray Hiltz

Ray Hiltz is a Social Media Strategist with management roots in restaurant, hotel and performing arts. A strong proponent for the power of collaborative communication and "humanized" digital networking, Ray writes about social media, social business and Google Plus. His clients include hotels, restaurants, consulting firms, entrepreneurs, writers and individuals just trying to make sense of "social". Ray is a popular speaker on Social Media, Social Business and Google+.