The question of influence…

It’s inevitable that the information we digest will influence our lives.  It’s also inevitable that the information we do not gain access to, because it was kept from us or filtered out, will also influence our lives.  Regardless of our political position concerning the current wars America is fighting, our government has spent a great deal of resources filtering information out of our view.  It’s not a secret.  It’s probably smart politics.  It clearly has an effect. 

The atomization of influence seems to be underway, with millions recognizing that not unlike the land grabs across the American continent during the 19th century, there exists now the possibility of gaining a foothold in the great public marketplace of data exchange.  Generating content increases one’s real estate, improves one’s position, builds one’s potential for influence.  Social influence is not a new subject, look here.

Liz Strauss asked the biting question this week: you want more influence, tell me why? It’s a subtle challenge, because everyone taking up the reigns in social media and blogging may not be playing the game to win, but they are playing.  And regardless if you are selling pet treats or transmigration of souls, you are attempting to get others to process information that you are delivering. 

I spent some time as a district manager in circulation for pretty large newspaper some twenty years ago, and it took a great deal of physical effort to deliver the news each day. Millions of pounds of paper and ink lifted and hauled and dropped and placed in cars and trucks and dropped off at mailboxes in the strangest of places. The breakup of that system so clearly underway that it’s national news now.  That system is being supplanted by a different kind of data exchange.  Individuals are the new content distributors along side of the billion dollar corporations, and though the field isn’t exactly level, we are clearly on the same field.

The circulation of data, news, ideas, and product leads is vital to society.  Just as circulation of the blood in the body is crucial, I believe the circulation of information will only grow in importance in the coming decades. My sense is that’s what we are seeing but only in the early stages yet with social media.  A new circulation paradigm.

To the point you truly believe in what you are pumping out there, its possible to consider your desire for influence as analogous to the desire to circulate oxygen rich blood to the body. 

Yes Liz, I think that’s my answer.