I Want To Be An American Idiot

I’m in NYC this week for the Conference Board’s ‘Social Media Meetup’.  I’ve been getting some great ideas and insight from this conference and The Conference Board did a good job pulling together real-life case studies of companies who are “getting it” when it comes to social media.  I’ll write about some of the key learning and take-aways soon.  In the meantime, I have to tell you about something else I experienced in NYC that captured what social media can mean to you.

What is social media really for?

It’s the million dollar question.  It’s for collaborating, debating, sharing, and most of all, networking and relationship building. I saw it come full cycle tonight.  Live and in person.

I met Eric Winegardner (@ewmonster on Twitter) last year.  Since then, we’ve collaborated on a social media event (HRevolution), he’s guest posted on my blog about his views on work/life balance, and he’s leading the charge with the company he represents, Monster, as the premier sponsor of the HRevolution 2010 in May.  But, as great as all those things are, there is something FAR more important.  He is my friend.  I know it may sound cliché, but it’s true.

Tonight I went to a broadway musical, American Idiot, with a true friend.  This new musical tells the story of three American teenage boys as they face the challenges of real life in the post 9/11 world.  The score is made up of all the songs from the Green Day album ‘American Idiot’ and even includes some newer Green Day songs.

Other than being completely outstanding regardless if you’re a Green Day fan or not, there are definite workplace take-aways. This group of performers gave it their all for the audience.  It was heart and soul, laughing, and crying.  It was gut wrenching, eye opening, scream-in-your-face, tender and loving.  By the end of the night I felt as if most of the cast had left all their insides right there on the stage floor.  It was THAT passionate.  And I’m certain that if I see it tomorrow or the day after, the cast will bring that passion each and every time.

Wouldn’t it be amazing to have a job you love so much that you really BRING IT each and every day? And, I don’t mean just conforming, I mean taking responsibility for your destiny.  I mean changing our attitudes about work.  Those who know me understand that I’m passionate about all things HR.  I think I bring that passion to my work, but I’m going to kick it up a notch.  I’m going to approach it with the attitude that each and every “performance” that I am fully engaged, from the inside out.  There may be laughing.  There may be crying.  But I’m IN.

How about you?