Seth Godin Has No Friends

I met Seth Godin at the National Association of REALTORS convention this last week. This was a big deal for me because I am a big fan/follower of Seth Godin and his blog. I’ve read and own all of his books and I brought the book to have him sign it.

Now Seth is an awesome speaker, he did a great and motivating presentation at this seminar that was jam-packed wall-to-wall with people (REALTORS). You know me, the girl-geek that loves the power of blogging, Web 2.0, API’s, widgets and RSS feeds, did a little research on Seth Godin before I met him. He wasn’t what I expected.

First, I am part of two different Facebook groups where Seth is not the creator of, nor is he part of them. So, I figured that I would look up Seth on Facebook, message him and add him as friend. I figured that he would be honored to have an enthusiastic follower (follower…not stalker). I did this a couple of weeks prior to meeting him in Las Vegas, but had not received any sort of response (and no “friend” confirmation either). Yes people, Seth Godin blew me off as a crazy stalker, not a follower.

During his presentation (before this photo was taken), Seth had told everyone in the room that he gets over 1,000 e-mails every day and in his own words, he responds to every one of them. Again, I would think that he would be honored to have people follow him (even on Facebook) and would respond to any messages there. Nope, he doesn’t. When I reached the table to have him sign my book, he was so rushed that he immediately came across as cold. So I quickly asked him why he hadn’t responded to my Facebook message if he claims to respond to every single one of his 1,000 e-mails everyday. In the big brush off as Seth squiggled a line meant to be autograph in the cover of my book, Seth said that he doesn’t “add Facebook friends or respond to Facebook messages”….my jaw hit the floor…WTF?!

So I got over it, but here is my WTF-thought-process of why I was so stunned by his icy comment regarding my e-mail to him. And remember, I’m a woman so I get all emotional and bent out of shape when blown off.

1. First of all Seth Godin, isn’t this your job? Don’t you make money by book buyers and fellow blog followers who link back to you? So why would you blow off one of those people who is a fellow blogger and is also part of the organization that just paid you a lot of money to come share your ideas with us?
2. No Facebook friends, no return Facebook messages? Then why have a Facebook account? Doesn’t this kind of defeat the whole social networking and power of Web 2.0 presence principle? This isn’t MySpace…if you’re worried about stalkers and strippers, then only let them see your Facebook limited profile to protect your privacy.
3. Didn’t you ever learn that when someone approaches you with a smile that you should be polite, return the smile and most of all don’t act like you’re above that person who just wants a autograph? Sign the book and say “thank you, it’s nice to meet you too” or “blog on” or “have a nice day”. If you don’t like people talking to you, or if you’re in too big of a hurry then I’m sorry Mr. Godin, you might be in the wrong business.
4. Doesn’t he [Seth Godin] see my cute, shiny, red BCBG shoes I am wearing? Those alone should make him stop for a second and actually look at me when he speaks to me, not blow me off. (I warned you…this is a woman’s emotional blow-off rant).
5. Seriously, a squiggle autograph is okay, but at least make part of it somewhat recognizable.  Not one that could easily be forged by my 4 year old son after his big brother wrestled him to the ground with the pen in his hand.  That way I might get more money for the book when I go to list it on eBay.

I know, I know.  I sound bitter.  I don’t mean to be.  In Seth Godin’s defense, I’m sure that he probably gets pestered by lots of crazy people all of the time and I’m sure that gets really old.   But I was just a little disappointed in his personality, I expected more.  You only get 3 seconds to make a good impression and I guess I didn’t do it for you Mr. Godin, but as karma has it, you didn’t do it for me either.  However, in the end this is what you talk about in your seminars.  Create a little controversy and you’ll drive more traffic to your blog.  And with all of the links back to you that I’ve provided in this one blog post, I’m sure you’ll get even more traffic.  So I may be “in the dip” of achieving an acquaintance with Seth Godin, but I’m learning when to stick it out and when to quit.

By the way…they really were cute red shoes.

Tagged as: author book signing, Facebook Friends, las vegas, National Association of REALTORS annual convention, Seth Godin, shiny red BCBG shoes, small is the new big, the dip