Being “The New Kid In Town”…

New experiencescan be stressful - regardless of what they are and where they happen; online or offline. Being new at anything can make you feel uncomfortable, questioning your knowledge and expertise, and make you feel ’singled out’…

My example - we’re hosting an exchange student. She arrived late last night, rather tired, after a 24 hour trip. Not only did she not know what to expect from us, but she was also unsure what - if anything, we expected from her. So until today - around noon-ish, she was rather quiet…waiting to see what we’d be like.

I think joining an online network is similar to that. You join the site, you might add the basics to your profile -just enough so that you can sign up mind you - and then you sort of wait and see. To find out what the site is about, to see if you fit in, what you can expect and what is expected of you.

The same is true when you take a look at other members. Should you comment on their profile? Invite them to be ‘your friends’? Should you really share your information? Or should you just ‘lurk about’ - until the whole ‘Network thing’ becomes clearer to you?

I think - that just like our exchange student today - you should just “grab the bull by its horns” and jump right in. Fill out your profile, leave comments (valuable comments - not just “great post” please), ask questions - be involved. You never know if this might be the only chance you’ll have at an experience like this….

After all, what’s the saying?

 ”Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can.” (Danny Kaye)

Are you ready to be a part of this online community? Or are you going to be a lurker?