Power of a Positive Digital Footprint – A Personal Story

Posted on July 11, 2012 by Chris Wejr

Adapted From http://flic.kr/p/7uNd7J

I am one that is constantly sharing with others the importance of a positive digital footprint. This became so important to me yesterday as my Facebook account was hacked and someone acted as me and tried to get my friends to click on very inappropriate links. Now that I have had time to calm down and discuss this with a mentor of mine, I can think back and reflect upon lessons learned during this trying experience.

Lesson 1: Stay Calm. When I saw that someone had posted sketchy links on my page (saying I “liked” the links), I did not respond in the most effective manner. To be honest, I freaked out. I even commented on the posts – so basically commented on my own posts which made it seem like I completely lost my mind. All I could think about is the staff members, family, and friends that would think that I “liked” these links. I frantically removed the items (or so I thought) and then filled my page with posts begging people to understand that my account had been hacked. In times of stress, it is so important to realize that we cannot change what has happened but we can change how we respond. If I could rewind, I would be more calm and work with some of the amazing people around me to develop a strategy that would turn this negative into a positive.

Lesson 2: If you have created a positive digital footprint, trust your reputation. I have worked hard to post tweets, blogs, links, etc in a transparent (and sometimes vulnerable) manner that reveals who I am and what I stand for. People I connect with through apps like Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and Instagram know that I would never promote sites of this nature. Looking back, it is quite comical to think that I was worried that people would think that I was posting this. I should have trusted the fact that people knew me and had enough respect to understand what had happened.

Lesson 3: Rely on coaches and mentors. I received a few messages today that the links were still in their feed. People continue to look out for me and that is such a huge benefit of being part of an online community. One message I received was from a long-time friend and social media mentor (who actually got me started on Twitter and blogging). He wrote:

No doubt it is stressful and you are right to be concerned about perception as a result of the posts. At the same time this is your chance to shine and be stoic about it. Have a bit of humour about it. Fret on the inside, but stand tall on the outside… This is a reality of SM, you are a leader re SM in Edu. Act like it.

It was a virtual smack upside the head to snap out of this poor me approach and use this as an opportunity. After chatting on the phone with him, it became clear that I should have tapped into people like him from the start, someone from the outside that can offer some respectful guidance.

I can just hear some people that are on the fence of using social media saying “see, this is why I don’t get involved”. My response would be that yes, you may miss out on a day in which someone posts something negative on your page… but you are also missing out on so many opportunities to learn and connect with old and new friends, colleagues, and family. You are also missing out on the chance to share and steal ideas to not only make you better but also all those around you. Most importantly you may be missing out on the opportunity to form key relationships with people that share the good times and help you through difficult ones in a way that actually make your life that much more enjoyable.

Was yesterday difficult and stressful? Absolutely. There were, however, some moments in which I could laugh at what happened – thanks to people in my network like this:

Someone once said, “If one day you will look back and laugh, why not laugh right now?”.

I can now reflect on the day and be reminded of staying calm in times of challenge as well as the importance of having a positive digital footprint and a community of positive people around you. #lessonlearned

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. – Martin Luther King

Chris Wejr

Proud father of twin girls and a son. Currently working as the Principal of Shortreed Elementary School (K-5) in Aldergove, BC, Canada. Passionate about instruction, strengths-based education and leadership, reconciliation, assessment, and human motivation.

Chris Wejr

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