Definitely not for (1) who I know. And not for (2) my powers of persuasion. Not even for (3) who I am; or for (3a) who I am not. But for (4) what I can do. And for (5) how I can add personal learning and growth for (5a) the sake of process improvement.

Unfortunately, criteria for choosing one for praise and recognition, and/or to award an opportunity for greater influence in a potentially productive regard, is typically weighted to favor #1, #2, and/or #3. Of course those who are actively seeking praise and recognition, often help this process along by working harder within #1, #2, and #3.

Yes, this is a rehash of the adage, "It's not what you know, it's who you know." And as long as this remains accepted wisdom, those who focus on #4 and #5 will become more and more discouraged, and may ultimately fade away; leaving what? A culture of pretty?

I want to argue.

I believe effort spent on networking, persuasion, and/or looking pretty, could be better spent on #4 and #5.

Specifically regarding (2) persuasion: there are those who enjoy, (and even feed off of), my struggles to seduce; and there are those who, (because of my deficiencies in #1 and/or #3), don't even want to bother. For those that want to (feed), I don't want to (overstimulate); and for those that don't want to (move past #3), I don't want to (wheedle). Essentially, I don't want to; but it is difficult to stumble across unaffected individuals, with power, who, (when looking to choose-recognize-award), live within the parameters of #4 and #5.

Specifically regarding (1) who I know: a network is defined as "an association of individuals having a common interest." I am naturally drawn to those with common interest. This instinct works against diversity and inclusion, meaning the individuals within the network must consciously work harder to accomplish diversity and inclusion, meaning the individuals within a network are consciously identifying those who are different as different, meaning those individuals who are different must work even harder to gain unadulterated entrance into (sometimes even the outer circle of) many networks, meaning that (as stated) I will have a more naturally affinity toward those like me and I will more likely think of those like me as pretty.

Specifically regarding (3) who I am: Those with power in a desired network will define pretty, which then may become who I am. If those who choose-recognize-award in a desired network pay some attention to #4 and #5, then (depending upon the degree of focus) #4 and #5 may mitigate the power of pretty, but I have had considerable recent difficulty in finding a network that willingly works to obliviate the power of pretty. Who I am, through the eyes of another---(just as who another is, through my eyes)---will always lack depth.

Of late, I have observed and I have felt that (to a large degree) it all comes to pretty. "Who I know" equates to being perceived as pretty by someone with power, and this advantage is furthered by talking pretty and by looking pretty. Yes, standards of pretty may vary, but since pretty is NOW and because pretty is pretty, how much consideration goes to FUTURE productivity and learning and growth and improvement?

Did you know that there are numerous highly-respected institutions of higher learning now offering degrees, majors, and areas of concentration in Social Media? Granted, many of these fall under a larger umbrella of Marketing, but nonetheless I have to ask how many individuals are using this knowledge to genuinely connect (and help others to connect), and how many are using it to look pretty. I find it amazing that today I can major in pretty, which can equate to a degree in getting a job; not adding expertise or value to an organization, just getting a job by looking pretty. Then I can leverage that job, (and what I learned in the process of getting that job), to get a better job.

And on and on...

On this trajectory, perhaps one day it will be possible to become President of the United States, having no qualifications other than the ability to convince enough people to vote for you...

No; that could never happen...

I am still arguing.

I have been posting weekly written thought for over six years now, and in this context some might argue that the posted content constitutes social media and an effort to persuade. I maintain that "social" requires interaction, and looking back, there is no interaction. So who am I persuading? For those who want to argue that I am working to persuade or convince myself, I ask, "of what?" I am more uncertain and skeptical now than when I began, though I suppose I have convinced myself of how little I know. It is apparent that no one perceives me as pretty; I don't talk pretty; and I don't look pretty; (unless you consider mean and surly, attractive). Yet I feel I have added a depth of personal learning and growth that would not have been possible otherwise. I am living in #4 and (especially) in #5, yet my improvement is not helping me to be chosen. Granted, I do not actively seek recognition, but my successful efforts toward process improvement have also NOT resulted in personal circumstantial improvement.

So must I spend some effort on #1, #2, and #3?

I don't want to.

I would much rather those with the power to choose-recognize-award, look beyond pretty, and into the depths of difficulty surrounding objective subjectivity. To cognitively measure non-cognitive factors and apply them to projected productivity and improvement, can be like judging a beauty contest blindfolded; but it does not have to be. By choosing important over urgent, the blindfold is loosened. To consistently follow through with important, the blindfold may transform into x-ray glasses, exposing (at least a glimpse of) the potential for future productivity and learning and growth and improvement, by allowing at least a glimpse of another individual's essence.

Urgent requires expediency. Expediency demands propriety. Propriety encourages conformity. Conformity manufactures simplicity. Simplicity promotes pretty. Pretty perpetuates pretty. Pretty is urgent.

Important requires analysis. Analysis demands creativity. Creativity encourages skepticism. Skepticism manufactures uncertainty. Uncertainty promotes thoughtfulness. Thoughtfulness perpetuates thoughtfulness. Thoughtfulness is important.

My essence will not be found in #1, #2, or #3; yet I believe that is where most people look because that is where most people are seen. My essence is more likely to be seen dashing about in #4 and #5; yet rarely do I feel observed in #4 or #5. I also believe that one's presence, or lack of presence, in #4 and/or #5 more accurately reflects one's essence than does the pageantry of #1, #2, or #3.

My personal learning and growth results in daily productive influence. I have a positive impact. And I do not believe I am, at all, under-appreciated. But because I am not pretty, and because I am not adept at pageantry, I am frequently under-utilized, and I am currently under-employed.