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Why you should have an opinion and say what you think with conviction

Because if you don't, some "expert" will and you'll be kicking yourself for not saying it when you first thought of it.

A while back I was ranting to some friends about how some people use facebook.com in such ridiculous ways that it's not only bothersome (as I wrote in Facebooking IS NOT Networking), but it could also become dangerous for their own lives and careers. For example, if thefacebook had been around when George W. Bush was a college student, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't be President now because so much stuff that's been "covered up" would be archived and made public for all to see. My friends said I was the one being ridiculous.

A couple days later, my friend Ramit sent me this.

Boston Globe: "When Students Open Up A Little Too Much"

Two passages to note...

Meanwhile, Brandeis held an hour-long seminar last week on Facebook savvy -- recommending safety tips, but also telling students to consider future employers, professors, or family members who might read Facebook entries. Indeed, some Brandeis administrators said at the meeting -- to open-mouthed reactions of students attending -- that they have begun reading Facebook entries before hiring a student for campus positions.

"I would put money on a political candidate -- probably 20 years from now -- getting in hot water on account of something posted on Facebook," said Steve Jones, a communications professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

In another case, I fared much better.

Last May I wrote this.

IWillTeachYouToBeRich.com: Hybrid Cars Don't Save You Money. Do The Math

And four months later, the major news outlets are catching up.
NPR: Do Hybrid Cars Save Money?

CNN.com: Hybrids: Don't Buy The Hype

The lesson: If you have a good idea, if you know you're right, have the guts to tell people before CNN validates your belief. You'll save yourself regret when they do, and it's great for your personal brand.

Posted by Ian Ybarra on 14 October 2005