Bullshit Baffles Brains!

The truth is there is plenty of bullshit out there. It’s everywhere, everyone appears to be peddling it with the freedom of a field full of prime heifers high on magic mushrooms (apparently very popular BS production food).

Just look at the world of social media. I mean who isn’t tearing it up and doing “fantastic”. Yes, everyone who’s anyone is doing well, and business is “booming marvelous” isn’t it. ?

Well, that’s what THEY want you to believe, don’t they, you know the bullshitters. I’ve never seen so many “expert” coaches and social media “marketeers” and “trainers”. The smell has ?become so overwhelming, I felt the need to write this to warn you that your brain should still be able to make decisions based on facts without the fantasy influence.

Yes, trust me you do NOT need to take notice of those who peddle their wares on social media faster than a velodrome pursuer. ?Give them an inch and they’ll be taking a mile and some, all in the pursuit of pouring their vast expertise onto your hoodwinked head.

Ask yourself this question –

If you were successful in business, had wealth, and were happy & content with everything in your world, how much time would you really spend trolling the digital streets of desire looking for new victims, or perhaps in search of finding new friends?

The truth is you’d be too busy doing what you do, doing what you enjoy, rather than waste your time luring people into the bullshit world and a false sense of security. ?

Really successful people, at least the ones I know, rarely ever brag about it or flaunt their material possessions. More importantly, if they feel the desire to provide guidance and insight to the right individuals who they feel deserve a helping hand, it’ll be a rare event that they charge for it. After all, how can you put a price on providing wisdom if you care about those on the receiving end.

However, the bullshitters, well this is their magical playground isn’t it. They want to show and tell, don’t they. They love the attention, and the false admiration gained as a result of their stunningly disguised facade.

Real experts are few and far between. It takes huge effort and years of experience to be able to be seen as a true expert. If you wanted a railway built, a bridge, or an aqueduct, designed and built back in the 1850’s, you’d most likely seek and employ one Isambard Kingdom Brunel, without doubt the most expert Civil Engineer of that generation (or any).

Imagine walking into a crowded auditorium (just like LinkedIn is today) and once inside you seek help from an expert civil engineer. Well, you’d be overrun by dozens, or even thousands of experts, all claiming to be the latest and greatest and best at what they do. Yes, tricky one isn’t it; I mean who do you choose??“Would the real Mr Isambard Kingdom Brunel please step forward?” I hear you ask.

Problem is they all look much the same, and in response several dozen people take a step forward. “I am he” says one, “I’m Mr Brunel” says another. “No, they’re not him, I am the real Isambard” says another.?

You see this is the real dilemma we are all faced with today; who is real and who’s faking it? If the bullshit is high quality enough, then the smell given off might just appeal enough to warrant serious investigation. An investigation that is likely to cost you, so be warned!

If you seek to improve, to be whatever it is you want to be, my advice is go speak to someone who can give you sound and free advice. Start by seeking out members of local Chamber of Commerce. These people are typically very experienced business leaders who yield vast amounts of experience to help guide those who they will see as a worthwhile investment of their time. Chamber members are there to help people who are striving to achieve more. They are your friend, not foe, and can be trusted to tell you straight, especially if they feel your path to glory needs adjustment or simply demands a reality check.

You can also do some research to uncover the leaders of industry who will most likely already have shared their knowledge and experience – either in written form (books and journals) or via social post and the media channels. I often read or listen to many of the worlds leading figures, the likes of Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Richard Branson, etc., who provide great insight and offer priceless advice to those who take notice. They don’t charge for this, even though I’m sure people like me would pay if asked.

So, given the genuine free sources of expert help, why bother with the risk of bullshitters. Is it perhaps because ploughing through social media sites is easier than attempting to speak to people in person.

Let’s take LinkedIn; well, you can connect to so many people so quickly, can’t you. Just post something that is asking for help, and you’ll be bombarded by offers to help you quicker than rats running out of a burning barn. I’m not saying people are rats on LinkedIn, although perhaps some of the “expert coaches” are indeed just waiting for their next unsuspecting prey.

Now, before everyone thinks I’m against anyone on LinkedIn who offers services, I’m not. I realise that some people do offer things that are of value. I could name a few Social Media coaches who I genuinely believe know what they are talking about. There’s Chris W, and Jem B, and a certain Mark G, who if they read this, will recognise that I believe they understand their stuff. They are not quite at Mr I.K. Brunel’s level, but they are very competent and completely free of bullshit.

I’m not going to name those that I’ve seen are the fake and pretenders. To be honest the list would be very long, too long for this newsletter for sure! These people know who they are, however, they’ll go to great lengths to keep their fake identities in prime focus.

Watch out for the new car collection photos and videos, the holiday locations, home relocation, the sunshine glamour and glitz, perfectly airbrushed selfies, and claims of raking in ￡￡￡￡s now, against the comparison to their once poverty-stricken previous lifestyles.

Remember, genuinely successful people will not brag about it. The Rolex won’t feature in any photos and their car will remain garaged and unknown. If they take a holiday, any reference to it is likely to be very low key. Not, look at me in my exclusive 5-star suite in the most expensive hotel in Monaco, or lazing in LA or Dubai, etc. whilst being seen to by my own personal masseuse!

At 58 I’m still striving to be better and achieve more, although my effort is less focused on money now, thankfully. That’s not to say I don’t want money, it’s just that health and happiness doesn’t revolve around wealth in the same way it did when I was in my thirties. I made my worst mistakes in my thirties btw.

I’m not an expert in anything, although I know plenty of serious stuff. I never want to stop learning, and I’m always keen to listen to new ideas and learn from people whose opinion matters and is proven.

If you are selling something (yes, we all are), and you want to pitch it to me, go ahead, and if what your offer is compelling to me, I’ll likely buy it.

If on the other hand you are a fake “Expert”, “Trainer”, or self-proclaimed “Social Media God Coach”, I can assure you I will smell it a mile off and I’ll be very sure to let everyone I know of your bullshit value proposition.

Remember, bullshit should never baffle your brain!

See you next month.

Best, Mike.