Robby McCullough | Page 4 | Ramblings on family, business, & life.

I love reading and learning. I am a voracious reader, but I very rarely read books. My reading material almost entirely consisted of web articles and blog posts. I was turned on to a book called Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion and I really wanted to read it. Although, this has happened several times before. I buy the kindle version of the book, then sits there and sits there collecting digital dust.

Here's a trick that worked for me. I moved all of the social media apps on my phone to a folder hidden on the back page of my phone. I moved the Kindle app front and center and started popping it open and reading a few pages when I otherwise would have popped open my RSS reader, Reddit, Hacker News, Facebook, or Instagram.

Then, I dug up my old Kindle reader and threw it in my car. I have dual USB car charger, so I grabbed a mini-USB cable and started plugging it in and storing it in the car full time. Now, when I am going out anywhere with a wait, or to a restaurant or bar where I normally knock out a lot of my reading (yeah, yeah, I am the guy that reads at the bar..only sometimes), I bring the Kindle along.

So far, it's working! I've read more pages from actual books than I have in years!

There is a really powerful commentary on social media making rounds recently. The rumblings go deeper than this one man and this one video. As an avid social media user, I think it's important to realize and understand this idea of “dopamine driven feedback loops” and both their power and their danger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78oMjNCAayQ

I might be breaking my own rule here by posting this, but my hope is that if you dig around a bit there's a positive message in here despite the negative subject matter.

“My solution” to the ideas brought up in this video—which I think many of us have felt without being able to articulate as well—is to post positivity.

When you share things on social media, you're putting energy out into the world that people are going to have a reaction to. I try to avoid airing grievances on Facebook. I try to avoid polarizing political and social commentary. I try to avoid sharing things that make me feel good at the expense of someone else.

Let's go back to the good ‘ole days when we shared cat pictures and smiling faces. Post positivity. Bring the Golden Rule back to social media.

Share things that will make others feel good. Make people laugh. Rekindle old connections. Share your vulnerabilities.

It's up to us, the power users, the influencers, the millennials that championed these platforms and digital lifestyles, to make a difference.

My new year's resolution is to share more, share positivity, and share deeper than just the picture-perfect moments. Life is full of peaks and valleys and only sharing at the top paints an unrealistic picture. I want to share the challenges and imperfections too. I want to use social media as a platform to help and improve other's lives as opposed to being a crutch for my insecurities and imperfections.

We'll see how that goes. Happy New Year and much love to all of you now, in 2018, and forever. 🙂 ❤️