Facebook and increased productivity are generally mutually exclusive terms.
Mention the term ‘Facebook’ to someone and it immediately conjures up thoughts of looking at photos, scanning through a sea of status updates and generally finding ways to waste time.
In fact, I can recall my initial reaction back in 2006 when a couple of my friends suggested I join Facebook: hell no.
Frankly, I considered the whole idea of Facebook to be a little silly and I refused to jump on the Facebook band wagon. Whether this stance was one borne out of principle, naïvité, or out of the belief that Facebook did not offer anything that email and instant messaging could not, my refusal to join the Facebook crowd lasted for an entire year.
Then sometime in 2007, I caved. And as anyone who uses Facebook will attest, once you get started, it’s tough to get out.
From that point in 2007 until today, I’ve gone through the entire 5 Stages of Facebook:
1. Trepidation
2. Exhilaration
3. Stabilization
4. Infuriation
5. Acceptance
Now, after having experienced all 5 stages, I can comfortably say that I’ve arrived at a place where Facebook and I understand each other.
Although I must confess to having used Facebook’s innate voyeuristic feature to look up people I once knew (“oh my God they’ve let themselves go…”) and can’t say that I don’t spend more time on Facebook than I should (one of the perks of being able to work from home quite often), I’m proud to report that I’ve refrained from becoming one of those Facebook junkies who feels the need to communicate my every thought and action through my Facebook feed (and really, isn’t that what twitter is for?).
But irrespective of my Facebook habits, I’ve come to embrace Facebook as much more than just an avenue to waste time. Facebook is a tool that allow us to reach an audience of like-minded individuals faster than ever would have been possible even 5 years ago.
Whereas I once loathed Facebook for the amount of time it occupied in my day, I now consider Facebook a nearly fundamental communication tool in today’s world.
Is Facebook for everyone? No. But just as email or cell phones would have seemed bizarre 20 years ago, learning how to Facebook properly has become integral to 21st Century communication.
For someone whose true passion in life is helping people lead healthier, more productive lives; the ability to spread the good word through the social-net that is Facebook is a truly wonderful thing.
This is why I’m launching one (potentially the first of many) e-classes to be taught through Facebook. My first class, slated to begin September 15th, 2010 on Calorie Cycling for Rapid Fat Loss, will tackle many of the short-comings of conventional diet approaches and teach you how to manipulate your caloric intake to overcome certain limitations in your innate physiology.
Click the image to join the group.
These classes are not the pass or fail type, where someone stands up and lectures at you. Rather, these classes are designed to feed off social interaction and the only course requirement is that you participate. By harnessing the power of group think, we’ll develop the best strategies to tackle the problems facing many of us in our day-to-day lives.
And the cost for this class? Free. All that I ask is that you invite anyone who might be interested in the material to join us.
Now instead of viewing the time you spend on Facebook as “time you aren’t getting back”, you’ll be able to take what you learn and apply it to dramatically improve your own situation in life.
Well, what are you waiting for? Head over to the “classroom“, join the group and leave a comment. Your comments helps shape the direction of the material, so let your voice be heard.
Till next time, train hard and eat clean!
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