I wanted to post a blog for the Sunday Coffee segment, but my Sunday was spent for responding, thanking, and following amazing people who congratulated me for appearing on my second offline press. The online version of the article is available if you feel like reading about it. The article was published by The Star, one of the biggest newspapers in Malaysia, and I have to thank Hariati, the reporter who conducted the interview with me, for making it published on Mother’s Day. It is a great present for my mom.
It was an amazing experience; I woke up to text messages from friends congratulating me on making it into the press as well as having a full page all for myself (I didn’t know it was going to be a full page). Of course, there is a need for balance, and every sweetness comes with a bitterness to balance nature. Just like Clark Kent has Lex Luther.
So, after receiving amazing support from my Twitter family, came some people who probably don’t know me, or have never heard of me before today, and their “angry tweets”. Of course I don’t take it seriously as we all have the freedom of speech, or in this case the freedom of tweet. Some tweets was pretty normal, asking who am I, or saying that I wasn’t influential because I follow 130k out of the 170k followers on my account, and it was normal to me because these tweets are nothing that I’ve not seen or responded to before. Furthermore, I have never claimed to be an expert in any field or to be influential. Some tweets include branding me a social whore, and even includes threats saying that if they were my University, they would kick me out because I spend more time on Twitter than on classes. (Whaat??)
Some said that I shouldn’t follow back people because it wasn’t a natural thing to do on Twitter. Natural? I don’t think that the Internet is nature at all. We all have different twitter strategies and what may work for me, may not work for you. I have no doubt about that. I could pretend and unfollow the 130k people on my account and only following a few like what most Twitter users do, but I am not that person. I don’t think I am influential, but hey, who am I to stop what my followers and readers think of me?
Having heard all of the above, I have never let any of them get to me. I grew up not letting negativity dictate me. Criticism has always been there and will continue to be there no matter what we do, it is what you do with it that helps you to continually grow as a person. As long as you don’t let it get in your head, you’re alright. My best Twitter tip is to be yourself and as long as you are yourself, you’re alright. Why should you change yourself to impress others when you’re not comfortable? Your friends, followers, fans all love you for who you are. If someone doesn’t like who you are, they can unfollow you of course.
Twitter to me is a communication medium, it is used for me to connect with other people, and that is why I love following back. There is a story in every twitter avatar is what I always tell myself. Twitter is like a huge conference where I am able to meet new people every day. Following back to me is like exchanging a business card, it goes two ways. If you were given a business card from someone you have just met, would you keep it and walk away? If you were given a hand to shake and a smile to return, would you shrug your shoulders and turn around? Whether I connect with them again in the future is different, because we don’t know what the future holds for us, who knows I might start a business with someone I met on Twitter? (Wait, I actually did.. more on this later!) Twitter to me is not a popularity contest nor do is my account the contestant. Twitter has connected me with amazing celebrities, successful CEOs of huge companies, founders of innovative startups, and even with amazing mothers all around the world. (Happy Mother’s Day to all of you!)
How you use Twitter or any social networking sites is entirely up to you, you can use it to post what you eat, share what others blog about, or basically anything that you think connects you with other people. It’s your medium. Just like your mobile phone, you can use it to connect with your friends, find clients, keep in touch with your parents, or maybe you just want to have an iPhone to play games. Social networking sites has always been created with the purpose of mirroring some part of you into the internet, and therefore it is alright for you to use it however you prefer it to be.
Oh man, my caffeine is all gone! Time for a refill. Any thoughts?
Good for you, Aaron!
Congrats on the publication. You deserve it!
And respect, for your attitude towards negative feedback! Time spent on such issues is time wasted (like the Buddha would say: don’t let negative thoughts cloud your mind).
And very well stated, your attitude as for twitter. I totally agree!
Good luck to you!
Rijk
Hi Aaron you have made some good points.. Twitter can be used exactly how everyone wants to use it. There is no right or wrong. But perhaps some better ways for those that want to explore them.
Twitter allows each of us to ‘step up to the plate’ as I call it. become a leader, have opinions, if we want to and demonstrate our knowledge and expertise.
To ‘lead the orchestra, you have to turn your back on the crowd’… Not sure who said that, but it is very true. As peeps move into a new space, others may not like it and attack that person. but heh, it comes with the territory.. you cannot please everyone so stop trying..
As you say, be authentic, be consistent, have fun, be social, engaging and enjoy what Twitter has to offer..
great news with the article… well done
Mark
Hello Rijk,
Thank you for taking the time to comment and sharing your quote from buddah, love it and will always keep in mind. I don’t really mind about negative feedback since most of them are from people who have not taken the time to know me yet 🙂
Cheers
Aaron
Hey Aaron, you’re doing a great job by ignoring those comments. For all we know, those people aren’t using Twitter for anything better except for personal updates and whereabouts (foursquare check-ins, anyone?).
I think there are many others out there that is absolutely in love in what you’re doing AND contributing to the social media network. I for sure am one of them.
Continue to be yourself! That’s what make AskAaronLee, AskAaronLee 😉
Congrats again, bro!
Hi Mark!
We’ve connected before a few times, thank you for dropping by and leaving your thoughtful comment. For sure some ways are better and people should of course explore them without a doubt.
Love the “‘step up to the plate”, I have seen many CEO’s stepping up to the plate for sure demonstrating how it should and could be done, social media is giving everyone a voice, 3 years ago I couldn’t do what I can today. Its amazing how things shift.
Indeed we can’t please everyone, I stop trying a while ago because its just based on opinions
Again, thank you so much for dropping by! 🙂
Aaron
Hi Jan,
Thank you so much for the comment, you’ve been an amazing supporter and amazing friend. Next time LUNCH or DINNER is on me! okay! we can talk about any plans you have in mind for sure.
Big thanks for the support, btw, you’ve been doing an amazing job everywhere on the media, i’ve been seeing you on numerous blogs leaving your well put thoughts, cheers on that!
Aaron
Aaron, very touching post.
First off, congrats to the press buddy.
Absolutely, I think you are hitting the nail on the head here. After all, it is about us feeling comfortable and enjoying ourselves. Whether we reciprocate and follow back or not – really, I think we are all intelligent enough to make our own decisions.
My experience is that you are one of the finest thinkers in the area of Social Media and I have tweeted and blogged so many times. After all it is just like you said in the interview: “The PM is busy managing his country – I am busy managing my following”. The point is: You give a damn about the people on there and that is what counts in the end.
Thanks for making my Sunday more enjoyable with a great post Aaron, Buffered for sure.
Aaron, just stay cool and dont let that kinda criticism get you.
It’s funny how people react on other people’s success, which makes me really sad btw.
And yeah we can make this official, because you have some haters out there (haha congrats man),it means that you are doing something good. 😀
Peace
Hi Leo,
Thank you for dropping by, for some reason your avatar cheers me up! Indeed we are all intelligent enough to make our own decisions.
Thank you for the compliment Leo, big praises there for sure from you. I appreciate it, I am just doing and sharing what i’ve learned from people like you, like your emails to me when we met, as well as how you and Joel are able to build buffer in a short period of time. For sure one day buffer will be huge! I can feel that, that is because the people behind that is passionate. Don’t lose that man! Otherwise I will have to kick your butt and get you to feel the love again.
Big thanks for sharing all my blog post and taking the time to share your thoughts. Appreciate it from the bottom of my heart my dear friend.
Aaron
Totally agree with ya! Very impressed with your thoughts =D
Hi Ivana, thank you so much for the comment, i never let criticism get to me for sure, we’re all in a learning path and that is how we grow. Thank you so much for that.
HAHA! yeah! i think someone mention that if nobody hates you means you’re not doing something right haha.
Hi Leo,
Thank you for dropping by, for some reason your avatar cheers me up! Indeed we are all intelligent enough to make our own decisions.
Thank you for the compliment Leo, big praises there for sure from you. I appreciate it, I am just doing and sharing what i’ve learned from people like you, like your emails to me when we met, as well as how you and Joel are able to build buffer in a short period of time. For sure one day buffer will be huge! I can feel that, that is because the people behind that is passionate. Don’t lose that man! Otherwise I will have to kick your butt and get you to feel the love again.
Big thanks for sharing all my blog post and taking the time to share your thoughts. Appreciate it from the bottom of my heart my dear friend.
Aaron
Hello Lynn, thank you, was just sharing my thoughts and emotions before the caffeine wore off. Thanks for dropping by 🙂
Hi Aaron…congrats. I read the write up on you in the Star today…so touching esp during mother’s day. I admire your attitude towards negative feedback..thumb up to you Aaron. I am pretty new to twitter and today you have another new follower…ME…lol.
Congrat again
“Why should you change yourself to impress others when you’re not comfortable?”
This is so true and the only thing that changes about me is that I’m more ‘outgoing’ and chatty on Twitter than I would be IRL (I’m quite introverted and shy). If we spent our lives spinning around trying to get everyone to like us, we’d get really dizzy really fast and fall down.
You’re so right – not everyone is going to like you (although why they wouldn’t, Aaron, baffles this brain :-)) and some people live to criticize. <- those folks we're better off without.
Thanks, once again, for sharing your wonderful insight! – peace 🙂
Hello Daphnepy,
Thanks, yeah mom was very proud, and since I am in University having my finals now, I couldn’t go back in time to celebrate mothers day, so this was a great gift. Thank you, I am not gonna deny some of the comments were over the limits, but I don’t really allow it to get to me.
YAY! thanks for the follow, btw, what is your username? can’t seem to find you, will make sure I follow you back..
Thanks for the comment
Hi Aaron,
Congratulations on the offline article!
Great post. I really loved the business card analogy-I had never thought of it that way.
Don’t let the haters get to you.
Tracy
Hi Tobey,
Thanks for stopping by to comment, you’ve made my day on twitter and now you’ve made my day by commenting, thank you so much for being an amazing friend on twitter. You’ve been wonderful. You got the “tao” tee hee!!
Would you like to know something funny? I am quite introvert and shy towards the people that I don’t know or new people lol!! now i know why i feel so comfortable around ya on twitter. Who would have known you’re introvert too! lol! Mark and Danny Brown knows that I am a little shy haha! I’ve told them numerous times on their blog before.
Thank you again for commenting and your thoughtful comment, you just made my day. and its 12am Monday! 🙂
Hello Tracy!
Glad to see you on my blog dear, thanks for commenting, with comments like this and so many great comments above how can i let it get to me? You guys have been amazing to me. Won’t forget that for sure.
Yeah i thought of the business card analogy a while back since that is how I treat twitter tee hee!
Thanks again!
Aaron
Thanks for making Steph & I famous now 😡
Does that mean you and Step buying me dinner any time soon? 🙂
dude..congrats…that picture is awesome 🙂 you look like a playa 🙂
LoL! yeah! i look like a PIMP!
HELLO! Okay, I feel like a stalker clicking on every link you post on Twitter! lol.
Really like this post. 🙂 Twitter can be so versatile! Hmm. Not really sure if I can point this across but, you showed in this post that Twitter relates to us more than just a medium for business, even reaching deep into the personality and attitude of a person. Greaaaat post.
By the way, congrats on appearing in the newspaper for the SECOND time. Shall take my leave now! Have many many pleasant days ahead!!
I always like to say (tweet), “It might say Twitter, but this is MY SPACE” Congratulations on being YOU and finding success at it!
Hi Aaron,
I enjoyed reading your latest post. It reminds me of this quote from Eleanor Roosevelt, “Do what you feel in your heart to be right, for you’ll be criticized anyway. You’ll be damned if you do and damned if you don’t.”
Keep up your good work. Cheering for you from Toronto!
Cherry
Aaron, you have a great attitude and wisdom especially for someone your age and I know where it comes from: focusing on substance instead of appearances.
Only someone who wants to ‘appear’ to be a celebrity would think ignoring your Twitter followers is a good idea. I respectfully disagreed with that advice which many other social media experts give, writing that I don’t want to be anyone’s Buckle Bunny so I follow everyone and Use Twitter Lists to see more tweets. (Buckle Bunny explained in that post.)
The only way to avoid criticism is to never do anything, the more you change yourself to please someone the more they will want you to change – and they will still NEVER be satisfied. As the lyrics go, “you can’t please everyone so you’ve got to please yourself”.
You ARE famous on Twitter AND influential so congratulations on the huge spread in the newspaper. I hope you’ll use your influence to create a better world – actually I know you will.
I hope you’ll forgive my offering another link. (Both of these posts are too old to use CommentLuv and I don’t have default links set up for either of them yet.) Many bloggers collaborate pro-actively and I would love it if you would join us. There is a list of Twitter and BizSugar accounts for many great bloggers in this Small Business Advice post. I would love to add you to it if you’re interested.
Congratulations! I decided to write a comment when you said that you did not beleive the internet was nature. Neither do I beleive in the ‘organic’ internet. Glad to know I’m not the only one. You’ve come a long way, congratulations again! 🙂
Congratulations dear friend. The interview was interesting.
Hello!!
LoL! you don’t have to click every link you know, now i feel like I’ve spammed you LoL! Thanks for the support nonetheless.
Yes, in my personal opinion, twitter isn’t just another medium to sell, its a medium to connect with people and like you said reaching deep into a personality, its giving brands personalities these days that they couldn’t do 5 years ago.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment.
Have a wonderful week 🙂
Wow, I have certainly not heard that before! Certainly a great tweet. Am sure people agree with you. Thanks for taking the time reading and leaving your comment 🙂
Congrats! I so get why some argue about the following/follower counts (I have some questions for you on that, BTW), but one need only watch you a short time to see that you actually ENGAGE people, and have great INFLUENCE as a result. People need to look beyond the numbers, of course…
Hi Cherry,
I love that quote, and its a lovely reminder too. Now I have to find a way to print that out and paste it somewhere so that I can see it everyday!
Thank you so much for taking time to post a comment. Have a wonderful day 🙂
Hi Pamela,
I’ve always say that the number is just a number, I’ve not claimed to be influential in any sorts of way. People claimed that I claimed to be. I don’t really mind though.
The secret of influence lies in the “ties” of the connection, not the number. Anyway you’ve been amazing, taking the time and sharing your thoughts here. Just want to let you know that I appreciate it a lot.
Thank you sir! glad you liked it 🙂
Thanks Carmon, the journey is still long for sure. Looks like we’re both on the same page 🙂
Hi Gail,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wisdom and thought, I appreciate it a lot. You’re right, i focus more on substance because I believe everyone is interesting in every way, it just depends on whether someone takes the time to find that out or if they have similar interest.
We both use twitter list at the time, I go on to use tools like research.ly as well to find out what my followers are talking so that i can respond back or jump into the conversation.
Love the quote and lyrics, Cherry Kam shared someone similar too ““Do what you feel in your heart to be right, for you’ll be criticized anyway. You’ll be damned if you do and damned if you don’t.” -Eleanor Roosevelt ” I’ll always remember quote like this because it will keep me going from all the naysayers.
Anyway thanks for the compliments and tweets, you’ve been an amazing friend. who knows what is held in the future, but without a doubt, I will never let negative thoughts like a few influence me, neither should anyone. If we give up in our-self, no one can help us
Looking at both your links shared after this.
Thank you Aaron. You used your experience to describe a coping strategy for rejection that is excellent. I had an hour long talk with a disabled friend who is trying so hard to figure out if it is a spiritual or behavioral problem. I adore this person but I clearly see them experience rejection in almost all areas of their life.
Even the professionals paid to help them figure out why.
I wonder though if they looked at life as you do if they would not expect therefore invite rejection.
Oh and btw you are influential according to a list I have from the person who taught me this addicting habit.
I know what is in your future: you’re going to be even more popular over time because you haven’t let having 176,398 followers go to your head. Many in your position would not be nearly so gracious to those bloggers like me who only have a fraction of that. Now I know how you ended up with so many so quickly. 🙂
I do hope you will consider collaborating with us because through collaboration we can do much more and create a better world faster.
I have heard about this.. Online article is very easy and informative post.. Also we can share easily from one to another..
Aaron – I’m SO glad that you do follow back so many people or you and I would have never become online friends! And that would be a bummer 😉
Cheers!! hope you like the post
Hello,
Thanks for taking the time to read this, sorry about your friend, i am sure it is very tough for your friend as I have not felt it, I can’t imagine what would I feel if i have to face it. Its not easy to look at the bright side all the time I have to admit, I have those moments where I feel so down, when I do, I always make sure I listen to tapes by Anthony Robbins which helps me out a lot. He usually gets me on my feet again when I am down.
Aaron
Hi Gail,
Of course, will never let the number get over me, after its just a number. I love learning and that is why I love twitter so much as it gets me connected with so many people and so easy too. Facebook can’t help me at all in that sense.
Anyway I would love to collaborate with you, would love to help in any ways that I can for sure! Where do I sign up?
Aaron
What can I say Kathy? Its fated 🙂
Aaron, First let me say congratulations! I read the online version of the article, but I’m sure it was much more exciting to read it in the actual newspaper.
The only thing I can say about the people making the negative comments is that they haven’t interacted with you on Twitter, and quite probably, they don’t even understand Twitter themselves. If they had they would know that the numbers don’t matter: It’s about the connections and conversations.
You have helped me since I started on Twitter. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your advice. I’ve alway been impressed with your determination, and even though we only “know” each other through Twitter, I am certain that you will be equally successful when you finish school.
-Marianne
Congratulations,Aaron. Some well deserved ink.
You are absolutely right here. Do your thing. It’s really all you can do and no one else can do it.
Great post! I was just thinking of changing my “Twitter Avatar” by uploading a new picture of me wearing a pearl necklace and a suit jacket while sitting at my office desk, but then I said you know what people seem to like the picture of me at the park as a “Twitter Avatar” so I will just go with the flow! Thanks Aaron you’re very business brainy and advanced, and I look up to you!
Aaron,
To those who doubt you as a person or connector or question your lack of expertise – then they don’t know you the way your Twitter friends do – those you’ve taken the time to connect with and get to know!
You bring a great attitude to the table my friend and whether you have 5 followers or a million – it shouldn’t change who you are and how you behave.
As for this – “My best Twitter tip is to be yourself and as long as you are yourself, you’re alright.” – I would say if only more people would just follow this simple, easy and common sense rule – then they might actually go further in the online world!
A big phat congrats to you Petronas for being featured in the paper – well-deserved indeed :)!
Now go and enjoy your weekend and keep smiling and being yourself – cause that’s who we like and respect – the Aaron WE know!
Cheers