Be a “Nobody”

“Influencer”. Until last week, I didn’t even know the word existed in the land of social media. However after watching the Netflix documentary “FYRE: The Greatest Party That Never Happened,” I realized just how out of touch I was with younger generation that follows their every move.

For those of you that don’t know, an “influencer”, in marketing, is a person with the ability to influence potential buyers of a product or service by promoting or recommending the items on social media. The more trendy, outrageous, outspoken or famous you are, the greater influence you have. In today’s generation where how you look and how lavishly you live has taken precedence over who you are and who you serve, “influencers” create trends and sell boat loads of products simply by posting a picture of themselves going to an event or using a specific item. “Influencers” have so much marketing power that a single post on the social media platform Instagram, has the potential to pay the top “influencers” in the world a quarter million dollars, just for one post! Say what?!!?

The “Fyre” documentary focused in on the event’s creators, exposing one lie, false promise and exaggeration after another. Essentially, the creators used social media, specifically Instagram and Twitter, to create a “buzz” about an event touted to be the greatest party the world had ever seen. The exclusive party was to take place on a private island in the Bahamas. It was to include the opportunity to see some of the music industry’s hottest bands, sleep in luxurious ocean villas, dine on fine food, drink till your heart’s content and rub elbows with today’s top celebrities, models and other amazing looking people. (spoiler alert) In the end, it was all a scam created by a young entrepreneur who tangled top executives, investors and even a popular rap artist into his web.

The documentary is definitely worth watching, especially if you have teenagers or young adults that you care about. I say this because the documentary provides an inside look to just how easy it is for our kids to be swayed and taken advantage of in today’s world that is dominated by social media. Wow, as I write this I can’t help but to feel old! Today’s world??? Young people??? Seriously how did I go from being in the “know” to being shocked, old and out of touch? Eeeekkk, seriously.

Anyway, let’s get back on track. The verse I chose today is from Proverbs 12:Verse 9, it reads: Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant;  than pretend to be somebody and have no food.

When I read this verse I couldn’t help but think about the Fyre documentary. The documentary exposed one person after another that was more concerned about their image than they were about anything else, including other people.  Some of the kids were spending all they had or quitting a job to attend the event in hopes that the bragging rights of being at the event would boost their social status. Others posed for pictures in the perfect setting on the beach while wearing expensive sunglasses and designer clothing. The pictures that they would capture were nothing more than a blink of the eye, a brief moment in time. But that one perfect picture, posted on the right platform at the right time, had the potential to change their life and lift them to the status of a super star. THIS is what scared me most. It scared me because even though that one picture appeared to be fun or glamorous, the events before and after the “perfect” picture often times were not! In some cases, people were actually “living” this verse, albeit not in the way that it was intended. They were living the second half of the verse by pretending to BE somebody they weren’t and in the process, sacrificing that which was most important.

For me, this verse speaks to the importance that humility plays in our lives. Being humble means to be modest and lower the estimate of your own importance. In other words, unlike the beliefs of many of today’s Instagram superstars, a humble person, a “nobody,” understands that the world does NOT evolve around them.  A “nobody” works hard and serves others even when no one is looking. A “nobody,” doesn’t believe in ulterior motives. A “nobody,” puts the needs of others before their own. Though often times this person may “fly under the radar”, they are the ones that make the world go round. The true “influencers” in life aren’t the ones we find on social media, the true “influencers” are all around you. They are parents, teachers, community leaders, pastors, and those that walk in your door when everyone else decides it’s time to walk out.  Being a “nobody” may not increase your social status or bring you fame on Instagram but I for one would much rather be a “nobody” with a servant; than be a somebody and have no food.

Have a great day! Thanks for reading 🙂

Kevin