I heard a discussion on the radio the other day about the “marketability” of many of the top Olympic athletes. Some of the top medal winners (or earners as I prefer to call them) stand to make millions off their accomplishments.
I think that’s just fantastic, contrary to what some say, I think that people should be rewarded for their sacrifices and efforts.
What surprised me was a comment from a “media expert” about how much certain statements made on social media from some of the athletes would “cost” them.
They (or their mothers) posted stuff about their personal lives, their feelings and thoughts about their teammates or competitors or just said stupid stuff in general.
It’s as if they thought they were writing in their personal journal. It’s as if they thought their words didn’t matter. It’s as if they thought that no one would notice, even though they were in the middle of the worldwide athletic stage.
As a result of their tweets and Facebook posts they could potentially lose millions in endorsements and various product deals. But hey, they got to tell the world about their sex lives so they have that going for them.
Most people don’t have to be concerned about what they post on social media. It not like anyone who matters reads that stuff. Right?
Wrong!
Mark Twain said a lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes. Well a tweet or a post is a whole lot faster than that. Once posted, you lose control of the images of the “one fun of night.” Once posted, your words can float around the web forever.
Think before you post!
People that matter DO read what you write. They also look at the pictures you post. Most HR people at least glance at your social footprint before or during the interview process. Do you really want them seeing and reading stuff you would never tell a prospective employer? Remember, your credibility is affected, good or bad, with every single post or tweet.
Think before you post!
Is your mom on Twitter or Facebook? You would be wise to post as if she were and to assume she sees every word and every picture. If you would be embarrassed if your mom saw it then don’t post it cause she just might. A thoughtless, mean spirited or embarrassing post might not cost you millions but it just could cost you something much more valuable. Once gone, regaining your credibility is awfully hard to do.
Think before you post!
Social Media in the context of shameless self promotion and marketing. Sure. However, I think millennial’s favor people who are real, true and authentic. Those that are making those tweets may prefer to be themselves than make the million dollar endorsement deal of a company who can’t handle who they are. While I think your points are valid, why are we encouraging people to be something they are not?
your missing the point though. Some of these people wanted to project the image that they are available. They wanted their name to be seen. Good or bad, they have their names established now. Look at Dennis Rodman. he did a pretty good job of being terrible, and got paid good money for it
Dennis Rodman? Really? This is a guy who, while he made good money, made a faction of what he could have. This is a guy who now says he is broke, says he is an embarrassment to himself and his family. A guy who says he would do a million things different if he could.
Dennis Rodman is a guy who says he has lived a life full of regrets, then goes back to being the bad boy. Only difference is, he doesn’t make good money for doing it anymore.
So how come when they realize they spoke, or tweeted or posted something inappropriate, they first thing they say is, “that’s not what I meant” or “I wasn’t serious” –
After all the tweets and posts we don’t know who they really are but that’s understandable since they don’t seem to know who they are either.
Maybe some better advice would be to decide who you want to be and what image you want to project BEFORE you post.
Thus much is certain, their personal brand has been damaged and that certainly isn’t what they were hoping for…
He is still a great example of someone who got everything he has for being what he was. He certainly didn’t have any talent (or very little). He got there because he was controversial. He got all the girls, got the money, and got famous. He even had his own shoes.
He just blew it all because he didn’t have the character needed to turn around and make that count. He was too caught up in the whole idea of himself.
So, these athletes will get money, they will get famous, and they could easily cash in on their bad image. What they do from there is their own choice.
Please don’t confuse my statement as support though. I am saying that they have not thrown it all away, and some of these guys are so short sighted that they measure success on a different stick than you or I.
I would take a lot of money over being famous any day. I bet some of these guys would take fame over money. if they didn’t, then they would have watched their tongue a little closer.
Hopefully that makes sense.
I agree! Everyone has their own thoughts on what success is… it just seems that so many of the US athletes have already expressed regret for what they posted and are now in damage control.
Even Mr. Rodman has said he would do almost all of “it” differently. He doesn’t seem proud of how he got what he got.
You are dead right in your second question. Everyone (including you and me, and these athletes) need to sit down before hand. Create a business plan. They need to decide what kind of image they want to project. then go and project it. I respect someone very very little for saying something that they meant to say, then back peddling after they realize that they lost focus. I would rather they admit that they said it, maybe explain the passions that drove them to the statements, and apologize if its not in line with the image they wish to project.
Eminem is a great example of someone that planned out their image, and owned it. I do not believe that he is a ruthless careless mouthy person at the heart. He is a guy that knew controversy sells, and capitalized on that.
As for Rodman, if we are honest for a minute, he would not have gotten anywhere close to where he got if he was not how he was. He would be just another guy that can play basketball. Regret or not, that got him where he was, and to play that differently would have meant he also would not be a household name either. Ask Kim Kardashian where she would be if she didn’t put out her own sex tape. She admits that was what got her career going. These athletes need to own their decisions. or stay off the computer when they are so amped up.
There are so many different scenarios a guy could run off all this. If nothing else it is a lesson to you and I about being a lot more organized when you are planning your marketing for YOU.INC
Yes, yes, and more yes! I wish I could remember the athletes name that was asked about a post they made, their reply was “that was probably a stupid thing to put out there for everyone to see” – an honest answer!
Your examples are very accurate – what is possible with a plan and what happens when we don’t have one. People need to realize that they have a personal brand and they are either building it or tearing it down with every post.
Step one is deciding what you want that brand to be. It surely doesn’t have to be the same as mine to be successful.
Deadly accurate my friend.
Besides, who doesn’t like a good controversy to get people talking about you?
Its been working for the music, movie, and entertainment industry for decades. Why not move that to sports, politics and the like!?
Indeed, wouldn’t we be surprised to find out that even one of these athletes (that we think messed up) is simply working their plan to perfection 🙂
Hopefully they are reading this and reconsidering their approach.
If you are reading this, For 30% of your annual endorsements I am avail as a personal branding coach. I will get you on track to maximum marketability. LOL
Hope you don’t mind a shameless plug?
I love shameless plugs… It would make my day if you got something out of this 🙂
It seems to boil down to core values. If a person values ‘Fame-Fortune-Fun’ over other things like honor, integrity, respect, setting a good example to who will be watching and following you….
Well, you get what you ‘see’ for the most part when it comes to the sports and entertainment industry. Many people willing to sell the latter values (if they existed at all) in favor of what does not have lasting value.
Perhaps the question we need to ask is this: Why do so many people today value fame, fortune, and fun at the expense of more ‘honorable’ values? And what can we do to help bring some of those values back? (In addition to being a model to those values ourselves)
Oh boy…I feel an ‘associative thinking’ tangent coming on… (bear with me Steve) grins
I’m just recalling a decision I made about 20 yrs ago. Like many, I could easily get caught up on wanting to hear or read about the latest ‘gossip’ that was being spewed all over the magazines. One day, I had an epiphany. I tried to place myself in the famous persons shoes and asked myself how I would be able to hold up to such chronic scrutiny and invasion of privacy. And having my life twisted, distorted, and lied about by the masses who pay big money to receive such stories.
From that moment on, I swore I would never support it by purchasing another magazine of that kind again.
Bottom line of my message is this: WE have created our own monster. If you will. Industries put out what people are so WILLING to pay for. When the masses are willing to spend the cash on gossip, entertainment, etc,…well, it’s a supply and demand thing. So since BIG money can be made in sports and entertainment, more people have become willing to sell their souls and their own integrity to get ‘fame-fortune-fun’.
Change comes from within. One person at a time. I may not be able to stop anyone else from buying a gossip magazine (this is JUST an example), however, I can choose to align with my conscience and not support the magazine. And that’s what I’ve continued to do.
/of associative thinking ramble. At least for this moment. (grins)