The Best Tool for Self-Insight Ever Invented

After writing more articles on LinkedIn than almost anybody, I've come to realize that most professionals have it backwards. You don't write articles to share your "wisdom"; you write to learn about yourself and your place in the world.

This is the secret treasure of thoughtful social media. It is a path to learning and self-insight that, well, never has existed before. 

Treasure it. Use it.

As a ghostwriter, I have many potential clients approach me with the goal of expanding their business. They want help writing articles that will attract new clients. Many want to talk about Views and the best strategy for getting thousands of people to read their posts.

Meh.

Yes, you can get new clients online. But you can also get new clients by making five phone calls every morning, or being a good networker.

The last article I wrote attracted 205 comments. This means 205 professionals took the time to compose an intelligent response to an idea I had a few days ago. I read every comment, as I do with every comment on every one of my pieces.

In doing so, I learn that some of my "best ideas" aren't great ideas at all. People yawn at them, or even fail to notice them.

On the other hand, observations I make that to me seem secondary - or even inconsequential - prove to help people make progress in their own careers.

These reactions change my view of the world, and of my role in it.

People ask "Why?" in a time and manner that force me to take a superficial thought and explore it in a deeper manner. Others challenge my beliefs, or literally cite facts to demonstrate that my "wisdom" may need an overhaul.

As adults, we have a tendency to get set in our ways. We get "good" at something and lose the motivation to learn, to grow, and to gain expertise. I last attended college at age 28, because college is for young people, right?

Wrong.

Stop learning at your own peril.

I write so many articles not because I have so much to teach, but because I have so much to learn. I crave feedback. 

You should, too.

Write on LinkedIn, or your own blog, or on another site to learn about yourself. Write to grow, to test your ideas, and to gain new insights. Write to solicit feedback and to establish new relationships.

Don't write to sell. Write to grow.

And, yes, if you insist on thinking about this as an economic proposition, rest assured that you will eventually profit from this activity. The more you learn, the greater your ability to help others: colleagues, friends, family and even clients. Your career will flourish, and not just because you got 892 Views on an article. 

You will flourish because you opened your eyes, ears, heart and brain and started a conversation with people from all around the world, from many different industries, and with backgrounds extremely different from your own.

Find your voice. 

Find out what moves you.

Find out what you've learned, and what you still don't fully understand.

A new year is coming. Use it wisely.

Bruce Kasanoff is a ghostwriter and coach for a wide range of accomplished professionals.