Selfie-itis
Selfie-itis
I’ve been following a business coach for a year or so. She helps you plan, gives ideas and has some reasonably good thoughts. And, today, I removed her from my contact list, unsubscribed, unfollowed, gone.As you go through the unsubscribe procedure, up comes a list of – We’re so sorry to see you go… Please tick the relevant box as to why you have decided to leave us…Too many emailsNot enough emailsYou didn’t subscribeThis no longer interests youEtc Etc Etc.The box I wanted to tick wasn’t there… You just pressed my irritation button once too often. You are irrelevant.What did she did?Well, at times she’s a little too pushy a salesperson for me, but what actually got me – the incessant selfies. Now, I already don’t get selfies at the best of times. I’m far too busy seeing, watching, learning, seeking, to stop and pose. I don’t care what I look like, or what I’m wearing, as long as its clean and comfortable. And I don’t generally look at other people’s selfies other than quickly scrolling through the feed. On a personal page – if it’s your thing, off you go. But on a professional page?I’m far more interested in what people SEE, than in what people are seen to be.This is a business coach. She is selling herself as a professional, offering a professional service. I’m only interested in her brain. Why do I want to see her posing in thirty different outfits in thirty different coffee shops? How is that going to help me do what I do? I want to know what she is thinking. Yes, thoughts are not easy to photograph and put on Instagram. But, its easy to take a photo of what she is seeing.I take loads of photos. Check out my Instagram and there are over 1,300 pictures. How many selfies? Uh, about 3, and generally when I’m trying to catch the people riding horses behind me. What are the pictures of? What I can see, what makes me happy, what makes me think, what inspires me. I post what is going on inside my brain, not what new sunglasses I have… And like-minded people are the ones who I respect and follow. Yes, trainers post pictures of themselves riding, but this is showing their expertise and training methods, their understanding of how the horse is moving and working, their appreciation of their dancing partner, it’s not a “Pose, smile, click, edit, filter, post – aren’t I gorgeous” selfie moment.
As a respect to ourselves, our clients, our instructors, we do have to keep up appearances. When I go to teach, I wear clean, tidy jeans, (or long, smart shorts in some places), a respectable shirt, closed shoes. Hair tied out the way, cap if its sunny. Practical, tidy. It’s a disrespect to myself and my clients, who are paying money for my time and knowledge, to turn up late, dirty, untidy or unprepared. I notice and appreciate if their horse is well brushed, with cleantack (as respect for their horse), and they’ve clean and tidy themselves. An old instructor of mine wouldn’t teach anyone who hadn’t polished their boots. “If you don’t care of your boots and appearance, you’ll take other short cuts and not care about the bigger picture” he would say. And, obviously, working with horses, a part of this is safety.Brains, thoughts, ideas, inspire and excite me. Tell me what you think. Tell me your interests, your ponderings. Talk to me about the universe, about science and art; culture and politics. Compassion, empathy, kindness, are beautiful things and are so valuable. The selfie you took, of you sitting drinking your fancy coffee looking as if you’re deep in thought about what business ideas you are going to pass on to me? Oh, please, go away…