Showing posts with label media. Show all posts
Showing posts with label media. Show all posts

Saturday, April 22, 2017

Are you a guru, an innovator or the master of the universe?


This isn't exactly about writing or editing, but, then again, maybe it is.


On LinkedIn, it says "Tom Gillispie, Good writer, better editor." So "Good writer, better editor" is sort of my title. It's the truth, and I'm proud of it.

I see all of these folks on LinkedIn and other social media who claim to be an innovator, a guru, a visionary, a strategist, a facilitator or whatever. There's at least one who said she is a "Magic Worker," and another that is supposed to be an entrepreneurial wizard. (I just found a samurai.)

I just found another who says he's a "Writer, reporter, editor, publicist and all-around brilliant person." Who knows? Maybe he is.

And there's another who is an Ideator, Visionary and more. Another is a Vigilante of nuance. One is a Digital Knowmad, and another is a digital renaissance man.

Twitter has at least one queen of the edit and a copy-editing czar, among other royalty.

I just encountered the Media Empress and the Media Dominatrix on Twitter; obviously, they're in charge. Still, I wonder. Is either the next Oprah Winfrey? The Media Dominatrix makes me think of leather and chains.

I just found a guy who is a "communication evangelist." Praise the Lord, and pass the info.

I just found a Digital Marketing Ninja; watch out for that one. Don't turn your back.

There are guys who mention Superman or leaping tall buildings on their profiles. No. Sorry. Whoever you are, you're not the Man of Steel.

Frankly, there are few innovators or visionaries, gurus and wizards, and I hate it when people turn to hyperbole to promote themselves.

I don't claim to be anything I'm not. I'm not a facilitator or a visionary, a media wizard or a guru. I'm certainly not the master of the universe, and neither are you.

I AM a darned good writer, and I AM a better editor. That's it.

But, to me, it's enough.

><

EMAIL: tgilli52@gmail.com  BLUESKY: PROFILE



BLOG ENTRIES FROM THE AUTO RACING JOURNAL
(a book of great stories about the Intimidator)
(the book of great NASCAR stories)

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Wednesday, February 10, 2016

65 rings

IN THE MID-1980S, I was working one night as the sports slot guy at the Wilmington (N.C.) Star-News. I was in charge of the sports section, and was the first man in the office that day and the last man out.

 It was after midnight, and I was finishing the final edition. I was alone.

 The phone started ringing. After about four rings, I started counting. It rang and rang and rang and rang. I was still working, but, in the back of my mind, I was counting rings. On the 65th ring, I picked up the phone.

 Some guy asked a question — probably wanted me to look something up — and I told him I didn't have time; I was on deadline. He asked why I'd answered the phone in the first place!

 "Because it rang 65 times," I said calmly. "I had to put a stop to it."

 That incessant ringing was distracting me, but I didn't tell him that.

 Naturally, he slammed the phone on me. I don't know if I ever heard from him again.

 It's been 30-some years, and I still remember that as though it was yesterday. I wonder if I could have handled it better.

><

EMAIL: tgilli52@gmail.com  BLUESKY: PROFILE



BLOG ENTRIES FROM THE AUTO RACING JOURNAL
(a book of great stories about the Intimidator)
(the book of great NASCAR stories)
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