WTAF am I doing on Social Media?

Inviting you to join me in a new experiment and asking for your support as I intentionally embark on my social media journey.

On May 9, 2023 I clicked ‘post’ on LinkedIn, announcing that I was launching into the unknown.? That experience of putting myself “out there”? opened my eyes to my supportive and engaged community - my real life network made visible on LinkedIn.? It was the engagement and encouragement I received from that post - likes, comments and DMs - that empowered my path of writing a newsletter.?

Since then, I have embraced LinkedIn because I’ve found my ideas and content have been warmly received. LinkedIn is also familiar territory - I’ve been using LinkedIn for hiring, recruiting, and networking for a decade (yes, I had to scroll my feed for a while to figure that out!). I’ve expanded to posting long-form content and distributing this newsletter on the platform. I understand the platform, have a great network of connections, and feel comfortable expressing my point of view in a professional context.?

Recognizing when it is time to change

Part of starting and operating a business in today’s ecosystem requires a more intentional and broad social media presence. That requires creating content - different types of content - suitable for capturing attention amidst constant scrolling. This is a big step because I’ve been largely a lurker, at best, on social media. I’m trying something new and testing different ways that I can share my point of view and experiences.?

Creating shorter, engaging, bitesize content is new for me. When I started writing WTAF, it was a big change to create prose after years spent communicating in bullet points on slides. Now I’m in the flow and it’s become easier for me to generate a longer read. I’m grateful for anyone who is reading these 7-10 minute long-form posts! I want to continue writing this newsletter while also engaging with my community in new ways. This is a stretch for me for sure - a muscle I haven’t used consistently.?

Moving past fear

New can be scary, especially when it is loaded with expectation and known risk.?

I’ve built up some fears in my mind: I’m scared that it will take too much time. That I will become more attached to my devices and increase my screen time drastically. That I’ll set a poor example for my daughter. That I will act counter to popular advice being shared about the dangers of social media.

I’m not afraid of failure. I’m setting my intention to learn something new, create differently, and connect in a new medium. There’s low risk of failure to meet those expectations. But it’s easy to take your eye off the ball and stray from true intent.? I know the temptation of competition and comparison (the thief of joy!).?

The time suck and negative feelings that can stem from consuming some social media content are most daunting to me. I expressed this concern to a new friend recently. She wisely advised me that social media is like any other potential vice, and too much of anything can be harmful. You need to practice moderation and be mindful of your limits.?

I’m reminding myself to measure what matters - not necessarily the views and likes - but rather the development of new skills, expansion of my connections, impact on my readers, and exploration of a new medium to create something energizing.?

My VIEW on Social Media

I’m working through these feelings on my next chapter by applying my VIEW Framework.

V - Value(s)

?I’m understanding my values (why I’m doing this) as well as my value (what I have to offer).? I’m building a practice as an Intuition Strategist. I intend to work with leaders (I define that term very broadly) - to hone,? use and trust their intuition to make decisions and take action to get results.??

On LinkedIn, I’m in the process of transforming - moving from my old intention of being an attractive candidate and employee, toward creating a portfolio of my skills, offerings, points of view to build my practice.? I’m rebuilding the plane as it’s flying - a piece by piece renovation.? I’m learning what it takes to make this pivot from employee to entrepreneur. I’m defining what Intuition Strategy is and how I help clients act on their intuition to achieve results. I’m discovering who exactly these clients are.

On Instagram I’m starting from scratch, which is interesting in itself. My personal account is a place where I (occasionally) post pictures of my life, share when new WTAF posts are out, and post a meme or three. Now I will be sharing more of myself, my ideas and my creations and establishing a brand, Leah Intuition, which I intend to be authentic and insightful.?

I - Insight

Insight helps me to determine my next best move: do I turn left, right or continue onward. I make decisions with the help of the feedback I get from data and my community.? Data such as engagement and views, of course, but also how I feel when I post and what types of content I enjoy creating. I read and respond to comments on the platforms and the real-life feedback I get from friends and family. I consider the perspective from my community, like the encouragement I’ve received to continue to explore and create.

E - Empowerment

I am generating energy to continue to move forward. I’m building my confidence to power on by sharing my experiences and my creations. I’m using my intuition and experimenting, translating these long form posts into something else. Building the strength and fortitude to recreate and remix my ideas into different formats. Putting it out there without fear of judgment. Expanding by sharing my insight.

W - Wisdom

I’m learning from people who are more experienced. Finding mentors who I can view from afar (established social media creators) and who I know in real life who I can speak with and learn from. I’ve been learning so much - through observation, listening and my own experience - and it's been one week of focus!?

My invitation to you

My intention for sharing this with you - my readers, my stars - is to ask you to join me. This community started and has grown through questions and curiosity. I’d love your support and company on this new path that I’m exploring.?

You can follow me @LeahIntuition on Instagram and Leah Goldman on LinkedIn.? This community will be the first to hear about what I’m doing and this newsletter will continue to be the tip of my spear, a critical part of my process to explore intuition, action, and results to change the systems we work and live in.?

I’m excited to have this new channel to share with you what I’m thinking, feeling, exploring and working on next.?