You've been given one tongue, but two ears.
All three are involved in the role of communication.
The fact that you have two ears should suggest something to us about the importance of listening over speaking.
It is of course important to get your message out into the market place.
But it is only powerful if it is truly your message.
If it's just someone else's thoughts and inspiration, back up and think of something for yourself.
My great discouragement in social media has been (particularly Myspace) the air is full of everyone's business or opportunities.
There is a way to promote your business or opportunity, but it is not putting it in front of someone's face every time you come into contact with them.
We've got to learn certain rules of etiquette on Facebook, Twitter etc.
For me, I like to catch myself being "real" or "genuine".
It makes me proud of myself.
I'm a marketer too, but there's a time and place for everything.
Engaging people is the only way to get to know them.
You can't really appreciate or enjoy other people unless you get to know them.
The gurus (internet marketing "experts") use giving to "turn on the magnet" (attraction marketing) and that works.
But the goal of giving from the perspective of a guru is for the most part to hook you to the point where you almost feel obligated to purchase their next product from them.
The gurus may have an advantage in their marketing expertise, but they are not "thought leaders".
They are not actually smarter than the rest of us.
Most of them have gained their knowledge through study, expense and experience.
But engaging is a step beyond giving.
Engaging someone is taking a moment and interacting with them on a very human level.
This is an act of giving of course.
When you focus on relationship with another human some very interesting things happen.
Things like friendship, bonds, loyalty and trust.
That is a form of currency for some.
That should be the basis for business and hopefully will be the outcome of businesses that focus on engaging people.