Rock Star is a term attributed not only to Rock and Roll luminaries, but also to anyone who is an exceptional standout in a profession or a skill area. One cannot claim Rock Star status. Usually, others proclaim it, for you. One needs to be recognized by others in order to attain Rock Star status. It is more fan recognition of accomplishment than any real certified proclamation.
Recently, there have been a number of posts dealing with this pop culture adoration of educators at national and local conferences. As long as I can remember we have always had such people at conferences without the Rock Star label, but certainly with all the attention that would accompany it. I remember one statewide conference where Guy Kawasaki was to speak and the line to get in formed an hour ahead of time for a standing room only crowd. That was pure star power. Back then books, magazines, and journals determined the who’s who of the profession, leaning toward the authors, who were tagged as the conference stars. Adding fans to their readership never hurt an author’s standing.
That was then and this is now. What is different? Social Media should be blaring in your head about now. Print media has far less of an impact on our society today, while Social Media however, is having a profound effect. The education thought leaders, who use social media as their conduit to transmit their ideas and opinions to followers, have no control over who or how many followers they have. The only control they have is over the ideas and opinions they put out. If the ideas and opinions are good the following grows.
The first time I encountered my own popularity in social media was when I did a session in an Edcamp in NYC. I expressed to my session that I wished we had a few more people. A woman in the back in a sincere voice said that her friend wanted to come to my session, but I was too famous. At first I thought the woman was just making a joke, but she underscored her sincerity. Frankly, I did not get it, but that has never been my issue. I will generally talk with anyone.
I think we all have people we look up to in our profession. At one time we were limited to physical meetings but now with technology tools of collaboration we are exposed to many times more thought leaders than ever before. We can have several people to admire and look up to. Part of the fun at Education Conferences is to see these people in real life. This is just human nature. I am still impressed with most of the people I held in the highest regard when I started out in social media lo those many years ago.
Where things go awry is when followers look onto their Rock Stars as unapproachable. This is not good for anyone. Most of the rock stars are uncomfortable with that, and the followers miss an opportunity to talk and exchange ideas. Whenever I am called a Rock Star, I feel a deeper sense of responsibility. I feel I need to think more before I speak and have something meaningful to say while I am out in public at these conferences.
Of course the other extreme would be the people who want to fault the Rock Stars for having attitude problems, flawed ideas, no sense of humility, and a million other personality blemishes just to diminish their accomplishments.
This pattern of behavior is not going to go away, so let’s get it out there and deal with it. The term today is Rock Star. Next year it could be something else, but there will still be thought leaders and luminaries in the profession, and they will be called something. Some people will look up to them, and others may look for faults. I am just glad that we are in a profession where these people exist. They make us think, react, understand, collaborate, and learn.
I chose what I wanted to do as an educator, and as a user of social media. I have no choice in how people view me, or label me. I have grown to have fun with the recognition. I can also get somewhat of a feel for the social media influence on an education conference by people’s responses to me at the conference. I have several Education groups on LinkedIn, The Educator’s PLN, and #Edchat on Twitter. I also host The #Edchat Radio Show, as well as Blog on My Island View. On top of all of that I am a contributing Editor to SmartBlog on Education for SmartBrief. For this I am often recognized and thought of by some as a Rock Star. Yesterday I was introduced as the “Godfather of Twitter”. (Not my words) I am also thrilled when my wife, who is an education Tech executive, refers to me as her husband @tomwhitby. People get it. Most have a sense of humor. We can’t take ourselves too seriously, or we won’t have as much fun. It is time to get over it. I can say this because I am @tomwhitby Damn It!
Tom, you are respected because of what you have contributed, largely by social media. Thank you! : “I won’t fail you… Godfather.”
Tom you were given rock star recognition in the key note address at ISTE13.
You deserve it. 🙂
You were one of the most approachable people at ISTE a few years back when you were a rockstar and I had, I don’t know, maybe a hundred tops, readers to my blog.
You deserve your rockstar status, because of what you’ve accomplished. But you also deserve a little rockstar cred for the shirts you wear. 🙂
Tom, this is a very thoughtful post on the topic. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the topic, it’s great advice as we move forward. I’m happy to say that many of the “Rock Stars” are my friends.
Bravo, Tom! Since seeing a fellow, respected, #edusister post on this topic I planned to comment to her post and you captured my thoughts exactly when you said, “Most have a sense of humor. We can’t take ourselves too seriously, or we won’t have as much fun. It is time to get over it.” This was almost exactly what I was going to convey to her. I just think it’s fun and funny and I don’t take it any other way. I too though, want to be sure that I’m perceived as friendly, approachable and never aloof. I too like @imcguy see these Rock Stars as friends in my Twitter nest. They are important to me and I learn so much everyday from so many of them. Thanks again for your post!
Maybe it’s about time that educational thought leaders, people who truly impact the future, get rock star treatment. I have waited in long lines for concerts, sporting events, dinner tables, and yes, even at the Alamo in 100 degree heat. I also waited in a few long lines at ISTE, and I would do it again in a heartbeat because my PLN buds, like you, rock my world!
Peace out T-dub!
You need a need a shirt: “I’m not just @tomwhitby. I’m the most interesting man in the world.”
Very interesting post Tom… I’m glad there’s people like you that, in spite of having achieved so much, don’t let it go to your head. The best leaders, not only in education but everywhere else, are those who are humble and have a friendly approach over people. Thanks for your contributions and I hope I can meet you in person one day…
Tom, I’ve been following you on Twitter for quite a while now and I always check out your blog for your latest interesting blog posts. I accidentally bumped into you, Steve Dembo and Dean Shareski and was a little in awe of you all but there you were, open arms and welcoming smile, saying “Hi, it’s great to meet you!” I felt so special and then I noticed your big, fluffy slippers on your feet and just knew that you were the ‘real deal’.
This year at ISTE, there you were again in the Bloggers Cafe and we reconnected. Even though you were in a hurry, we hugged, took a pic and off we went to our sessions. I was sorry that we didn’t get to catch up for a little longer but there is always ISTE14 in Atlanta.
Rockstar or @tomwhitby or just plain Tom, thank you for making the world a better place 🙂
Great post Tom and very timely. Lots of discussion going on “the Twitters” about this lately. I 100% agree that Rock Stars should use this power for good. Make the most out of a 5-minute conversation that someone looks up to you. You never know when you might affect a district or a state with your words and ideas.
You are a rock star in my mind because you consistently articulate what I’m thinking but am too lazy or inarticulate to write down myself. For that, I am forever grateful as I then pick up your excellent points of view and use them in discussions with others. there are many who talk the talk, but not nearly as many who also walk the walk as you do. That’s why you’re a rock star. You deserve it so enjoy!!
[…] been lots of talk post-ISTE from teachers saying they’re not rock stars. Indeed, they’re not. Or at least […]
[…] Sharing Is Not Bragging. The whole condemnation of self-promotion is a little ridiculous since to a degree everyone on social media self-promotes in order to get their message out to a larger audience. Using your voice to a limited audience seems counter productive. There are some who do it too often, but it is a public platform. We can’t regulate what others tweet. Of course the irony of many bloggers writing about, or condemning self-promotion is that they often self-promote within their own blogs or tweets to drive traffic to their posts. It is the best way to share ideas with a larger audience. Yes, there are “Rock Star” educators on Twitter, but that more often comes from sharing great ideas. If I might indulge in some self-promotion here; I direct you to A Rock Star, not by choice. […]