FaceBook can KILL your business, why you need to keep your life out of your business more so than ever, and how acting stoopid can cost you money for ever

 I’ve always been of the opinion that you should keep your personal opinions out of your business, for the simple reason that we only buy from people we like.

An interaction can very quickly start to plummet when your prospect discovers that you’re a die-hard fan of the football team he or she most hates. Or when it becomes evident that your taste in music is offensive to them in some way. Or that you vote for the enemy. Or that you think certain government policies are good, or bad, when they’re busy trying to convert their own friends as to the failings of those very same policies. Or that you’re religion, if you have one, gives them heartburn.

We’re humans. We build anchors and attach feelings to them. A particular piece of music may remind your client of his dog’s passing away. Don’t bring it up if you’re trying to sell something.

When I’m being payed as a consultant, they’re paying me for my knowledge and expertise, so I keep it professional. Yes, I share some stories with the right clients, but they don’t need to know I was in a rock band and got evicted from 2 houses back in the day.

That would make me seem unstable, and unstable is not good for business.

And so it is that most professionals live their work hours being professional (or trying to) and then, like Cinderella, when tools down time strikes, they let their hair down so to speak and jump into a different roll.

For many people, the Internet becomes a playground of untold possibility.

 I’m smiling already…

The net is a big social playground, if you want it to be. And here, in their normal roles, people interact with each other and they engage in social rituals such as trying to impress peers, for approval or for whatever other psychological reason you care to point to.

The point is that they peackock to an extent – they show their plumage, whether it’s real or not, to woo, impress, amuse and even educate their peers.

Take social media. Facebook and Myspace (if people still use that) and any other platform that allows you to upload and share rich media.

I’m talking about photographs and opinions.

People fill their profile with their weekend antics, their thoughts, beliefs and escapades. To woo, impress, amuse and educate. To say, hey this is me. Hey, look how cool I am. Hey look how clever, daring, stoopid, funny, beautiful I am.

And that’s fine. Whatever rocks their boat.

But the thing is… everything lives forever on the Internet.

Ah.

Funny, really.

Some social media sites won’t delete your data even after you cancel your account.

Maybe not so funny.

Employers now look for you on the big social media profiles, to check you out, to judge you, before they employ you.

They’re not judging your skill, your team work, your achievements… instead, they’re judging your character, your stupidity, your escapades, your opinions, to judge how stable you are.

Rightly or wrongly, that’s what they’re doing.

If you were going to hire somebody in your business, if you were going to pay them money from your pocket… would YOU want to know if they’re attend Nazi rallies at the weekend?

Well, now you can probably find out, and a lot more if you look.

A lot more you may not want to know.

A teacher lost her job because she’s dating a 17 year old boy and likes to drink herself to oblivion on a weekend. It said so on her profile.

Others are not even making it to the second interview, because of something they wrote on their wall.

Suddenly, technology has mixed personal life with business life.

Ah.

 Would your religion, avid support of a team, political agenda or organisation create a conflict of interests between you and your clients?