The ordinary genius of the pomegranate...

Consider this scenario. You walk into your friend's kitchen and ask for a piece of fruit. What do you expect? A banana? Apple? Not likely you anticipated a pomegranate. When you select a pomegranate you have made a commitment.

A careful slice in just the right place, a cupping of the hand and a precise blow with just the right amount of pressure releases the seeds--the reward is delayed but sweeter for the ceremony. It isn't an obvious choice but there is a sense of wonder and appreciation. I have a distinct pomegranate memory. I am reminded of a lentil salad sweetened with citrus, a handful of pomegranate seeds sprinkled on top. I can't remember the context of the last apple that I ate. It may have been delectable but it would have been ordinary.

I was leading a recent conversation with a group of healthcare professionals about social media. I was speaking about the utility of creating strong networks on Linkedin for example. A publisher mentioned that the last thing she needed was "another job" reflecting on the time needed to create a professional profile and figure out how to engage. Several other professionals lamented that they didn't have the time. The coincidence is that all of them had approached me with the same complaint. They didn't know how to connect with other professionals.

​I reminded them of the age old real estate adage--location, location, location. It can make all of the difference...

It does take deliberation and focus. Networks build with multiple nodes and connections but they aren't sustained if you aren't interacting. I hear all of the excuses. I don't have time to blog, I don't want my boss to see what I am writing, or my colleagues, or my old boss--I push back. Maybe the real issues is that you don't have anything meaningful to say. That is okay too. The non-stop cacaphony of information is becoming less informative and more noise in need of a filter. But you may be leaving important relationships and engagement neglected.

 If the audio link does not display just click here --> We Didn't Think CEO Types Used LinkedIn, Until We Found This Report. Distill the narrative for the insights. The professionals you may be trying to reach are using the platform. Shouldn't you? There is an added dimension to a transmedia world--ordinary is all around us. Real connections are what we sense underneath the ordinary. Don't be ordinary.

Thoughtful discussions about content development and outcomes analytics that apply the principles and frameworks of health policy and economics to persistent and perplexing health and health care problems.