Facebook's Facelift

So, I understand that some folks are upset about the new changes on Facebook?

There’s a social media diatribe ranging from layout, privacy issues, newsfeeds and a host of other concerns that have been touted on airwaves, blogs and ranted about in coffee shops and text messages.

My take on it is this: So what?!?!

Change is constant. And the only constant is change. The reality is it’s always been about change and the top priority will always be about the The Benjamins.  [The Benjamins is a term used to describe several $100 bills. And Benjamin Franklin picture is on the U.S. bill.]

Businessman Peter Drucker once stated, “The entrepreneur always searches for change, responds to it, and exploits it as an opportunity.”

Mark Zuckerberg is the founder and creator of Facebook which is the most popular and global social media platform with 800 million active users from every socioeconomic background, political affiliation and religious denomination.

Essentially Facebook is an email and weblog platform on steroids! According to Facebook’s Facebook page, 75 percent of the users reside outside of the United States. Now how’s that for social media swag?!

I believe Zuckerberg is a hard-working social media genius. He took an idea and expanded upon it exponentially. The results? Cha-ching!! Facebook!  

Zuckerberg is a big baller and shot-caller which are urban-savvy terms. A big baller is one who lives in lavish abundance. A shot caller is one who dictates what needs to be accomplished and then has a team of people to execute the plans.

Mark is 27 years old and was born in New York. He has power, influence and a net worth of $17.5 billion—and plans are in action to increase that figure significantly. He was named Person of the Year in 2010 by Time Magazine. He is constantly thinking about change and the Benjamins.   

You are probably asking, "Hey Ruth, are you saying Zuckerberg reinvented the wheel?" BINGO! Yes, he reinvented the wheel and bumped it up a notch.

Remember Sprewells? Sprewells are spinning rims that keeping moving after the vehicle has stopped. The high-end rims were and still are the rave. That concept is essentially the wheel reinvented! [Although James (J.D.) Gragg invented the free spinning rims, Sprewell’s name is associated with them.]

Now, let’s mentally digest that for a moment. The email and the wheel were both reinvented!

Zuckerberg, Gragg and Sprewell transformed an idea into a very lucrative product. Why not you or me? The next time someone asks the rhetorical question, “Why reinvent the wheel?” Respond with, “Why not reinvent the wheel?!”

Here are three things you can share with someone who is complaining about the new Facebook changes:

1.     You can ask: "So, when are you launching your social media platform?"

2.     Say this: "Mark Zuckerberg made it in top 20 on Forbes 400 list, where do you rank?" 

3.     You can also say: "Hey, let's create the next big thing!"

Are you planning and working on your next big thing? We’d like to hear about it.

It doesn’t have to be as large as Facebook but as long as you’re making progress is the most important thing. Write your own goals, set your own benchmarks and then grow incrementally. We must take baby-steps before we can climb mountains.

Until then ... let's keep it moving! Embrace change. Think BIG. And reinvent the wheel!