Internet, I really wish I could show you a picture of my butt right now.
Last night during derby practice, I fell – a lot. At one point, I was hip checked so hard I went airborne. While I was in the air, someone canopenered me. Next thing I know, I’m flat on my back on the track, my skates under me. I’d like to show you my butt because there’s a fairly nice shiner on it.
Before I could really register what happened, though, I had gotten up and started skating again. I was halfway around the track before I realized that holy crap, I was in a world of hurt.
A few months ago, I spoke on a panel at a social media breakfast here in Memphis. Things were going pretty well – I was chatting about what I do at the day job and how I try to inject some personality and humanity into news updates.
At one point, one of the other pannelists said “I’m not going to go around advertising the fact that I’m in roller derby.” That’s totally how she said it. The “roller derby” was very much in vocal italics, and she was looking right at me.
It was a little weird. Yes, several times a week, I dress up like a super hero, lace my skates up and play a full-contact sport. Most of the time, I’m just your average social networking Girl Friday with a record and books addiction.
I don’t separate myself in my head, so why should I when I meet people? More and more frequently, work lives and personal lives are blending together. It’s not a bad thing – instead of fragmented people, we’ll have more whole ones.
What do you think? Should people keep their work lives and their personal lives separate? Do you? Would you rather do business with someone you knew on a personal level, or not?
Tags: butt bruises, personal vs. professional, roller derby, social media expedition
#1 written by dave July 22nd, 2009 at 22:53
vocal italics, common sign of jealousy. did she look like she could take a bump and keep on skating?
i’m going to guess and say probably not. what a chump.
people who are ashamed of their interests r doin it wrong
#2 written by Joe Morris July 23rd, 2009 at 07:57
Maybe SHE should try playing roller derby, so she understands what you go through.
#3 written by Martin Dinstuhl July 23rd, 2009 at 07:57
Sounds like somebody is just jealous of your desire to try something new.
Social networking has really blurred the line between personal and professional lives. Personally, I do not think that your involvement with a local non-profit has anything to do with your ability to tweet the news. It’s also nice to know that there is actually a human behind the CA tweets and not a timed script.
Keep it up!
Out of curiosity, did the snippy person on the panel claim to be a “social media expert”?
#4 written by emily July 23rd, 2009 at 07:59
I have a few points to make in vocal italics to that other panelist… but I’ll refrain, for the sake of professionalism.
In any case, I think the line between personal and professional will forever be blurred. If it’s not, how genuine are we being in either world? If I could inject none of my personality into my work, would I be doing the best job I could be, or left feeling suffocated by the man?
I would much rather work with someone I knew was being genuine. There are people out there who don’t know where to draw the line, of course, but I think it’s generally common sense where there needs to be a divide. If I spent my weekends as a prostitute, I probably wouldn’t mention it at the office on Monday. But the roller derby? My slightly obsessive love of animals? Someone else’s nagging need to read War and Peace over and over? That gives you a face, a voice, something to build a reputation and relationships on.
I spend quite a bit of my day on Twitter, not always to the obvious benefit of my company. But, really, it IS to the company’s benefit because I’m a happier person, I’m building social ties, I’m finding inroads for my professional Twitter presence. And I think the few people who know I represent my company on Twitter enjoy being able to talk with me through either avenue, to share thoughts and build bonds.
If I died in the next 5 minutes, I wouldn’t want to be remembered as a professional stiff. I’d want to be remembered as someone who found ways to to be herself AND do her job well every day. I think we can all learn to strike a balance and let the best of ourselves shine through in all the worlds we build in our lives.
Thanks for being the real you across the board, Kerry. You really are a shining example for the rest of us.
#5 written by Lindsey July 23rd, 2009 at 08:02
I think about the work/personal life question a lot. If you guys get that figured out, give a sister a holler, yeah?
Also, the internet was made for photos of ass bruises. Just sayin’!
#6 written by Craig (Angela’s husband) July 23rd, 2009 at 08:05
I agree with you on many levels that there is now a blending of personal and professional lives. This is a major concern in the legal world right now as firms realize that there worker lawyers actually are real people that have interests outside making them money. It is uncommon (becoming more common) for older generations to see people put so much of their lives on full display to the nebulous of the internet that is filled with far more strangers than friends. I try to strike a balance on this as well, and I am sorry that you were scorned by other panelists – its still a shock to many and seen as unprofessional despite the group consisting of multiple professionals and it running as a business/ self-sustaining organization itself.
I like that people are much more open with the world in general or at least show the world what they want them to see. However in a professional setting, it should be toned down, as you do not want to overshadow the product or service that you or your company/organization. There is an exemption to this rule, if you are the star power and your full personality sells that same product or service.
In short, there should be a mix, but it needs to be tempered to not overshadow the professional side.
#7 written by Smackie Chan July 23rd, 2009 at 08:06
i enjoy watching the people who apparently had no life whatsoever before they developed said interest, in this case roller derby, and are now identified solely by their roller derby persona everywhere. maybe to protect the innocent?
#8 written by Beth G. Sanders July 23rd, 2009 at 08:11
I love that you are in roller derby – think it’s cool and it adds another dimension to your persona. Makes me feel a little younger just to know someone in roller derby.
I prefer to do business with people I can connect with on some level other than the business at hand. Those who are “all work and no play” freak me out just a little.
And, since there is NO way I could do it myself, I’m going to have to settle for the tweetup someone suggested to come and watch you raise some hell on skates.
p.s. I hope your butt feels better soon.
#9 written by Justin July 23rd, 2009 at 08:18
I’m not sure I could function if work me and personal me weren’t separate.
That’s not to say that personal me is a complete mystery to the people I work with every day, but my personal life is mine. I’ll admit that this is probably a reaction to having worked for a person who felt that because I worked for them they OWNED me.
If you ask, I’ll tell you. If it’s relevant, I may volunteer it. Otherwise, I’m just here to do a job.
This is not my way of saying “you’re doing it wrong” because frankly, I don’t think for a second that you are. I just think it’s a negotiation we all have to make as to what we’re comfortable with in our work environments and how much of the real us the institutions we work for can handle.
#10 written by Kerry July 23rd, 2009 at 09:58
@Smackie Chan
I know. Like, before I started skating, it was totally fine for me to mention going to shows or what books I was reading or what I thought about something.
#11 written by Zachary July 23rd, 2009 at 11:47
….do you really think you’ll have the opportunity to use than “butt bruises” tag more than once?
#12 written by joespake July 24th, 2009 at 05:46
I believe I was supportive of you on that panel. I proudly advertise that I am a Memphis Roller Derby sponsor, never miss a match, and I give away tickets through my FB fan page.
I want my clients, and more importantly, potential clients to know what I am like IRL. It makes for a great screening process. My clients know that “what you see is what you get”, and that makes for a more compatible business and personal relationship.
#13 written by Mary Thompson July 29th, 2009 at 07:44
She must have been jealous that you do something very different and cool outside of your desk job. A lot of people who want to venture into more exciting hobbies often have that problem. Listen to Willie and shake the haters off.
And I think it takes way too much effort to keep your personal and work lives completely separate. You are wasting time and productivity if you have to spend your time censoring yourself so people don’t find out you have hobbies and a life outside your day job. Everyone won’t like or even understand your hobbies, but that doesn’t mean you should pretend they don’t exist.