Today I was asked

What inspired you to start the website Facebookshouldhireme?

While pondering the answer it occurred to me that I need to thank Gary Vaynerchuk and Michael Lazerow.  Gary and Laz have been the two biggest catalysts in my social media journey. This is my way of thanking them for their guidance and inspiration.

Enjoy:

About one year ago I was at the Web 2.0 conference and heard Gary Vaynerchuk Keynote.  Hearing him speak about building your personal brand via social media (to use a Gary-ism he ripped my face off). I had never heard anything like it.  During a break out session I was equally floored by the talk given by  Michael Lazerow (CEO of Buddy Media).  Hearing the two of them that day changed my life.  It was only a little over a year ago, but what a long strange trip it’s been.  At the time I was Vice President of Sales at a multi-national performance based ad network and I was miserable. I was making a ton of cash and had big title, but I wasn’t fulfilled.

A few weeks after hearing Gary and Laz speak  I was let go from my position.  While it was a shock, I was also prepared for the worst, and I had new job lined up within weeks.  Unfortunately this second role quickly turned out to be another “soul crushing” job. Again, nice salary, big title – and nothing but pain.

At this point I was really getting engaged in the social media community. I was blogging regularly, tweeting, obsessively and generally learning as much as I could. However I was still unhappy with my job.  That’s when I finally woke up; after only 5 months on the job my “new” company was acquired on a Thurs, and I was let go on Monday.  My head was spinning – 2 terminations in less than 6mos.

I saw it as an opportunity to do what I love, and follow my passion. So I started out on a mission to get involved in and gainfully employed within the social media community.  There was one minor problem  – I didn’t know where to start.  So I thought back to that Web 2.0 conference and the guy that had inspired the hell out of me – @garyvee. Somehow I was able to convince Gary Vaynerchuk (who I had seen keynote), to meet with me face to face at his WineLibrary store in New Jersey.  I asked him to hire me for his new consulting company Vayner Media. At the time he felt that he couldn’t provide the monetary compensation I needed to support my family.  So he advised me that I should engage in the community and “do social” as much as I could.

So I took his advice and purchased a ticket to the follow up Web 2.0 event out in San Fran (I’m based in New York). I began vlogging, blogging and tweeting about my experience. I even reached out to Adotas and they published my coverage. I made as many contacts as I could. During those few days I’ve never worked with such laser focus. I was learning about something I loved. I’ve also never had so much energy while “working”.  I was a sponge.

When I got home I began applying the lessons I’d learned and started DadZillaTV. I then saw an opportunity when I heard about Jamie Varan’s Twittershouldhireme.com and started Facebookshouldhireme.com.   Yes, it was a blatant rip-off. Sorry Jamie – you rock!  Jamie’s site was featured in Fortune Magazine, along with Facebookshouldhireme.com Wow.  I have copies if you want to see

I thought that if I want to get involved in Social Media, why not work for the industry leader (Facebook).  However it turns out they weren’t interested in someone with a master’s degree in direct marketing and no social media or programming experience (read: meat-head sales guy). However, what I lacked in training I made up in passion and persistence. I was reading everything I could get my hands on regarding social media, and learning at the speed of light.

As the weeks began to tick by  – I was still unemployed but persistent and learning so much about social media.  In order to stay active I had continued to interview (more big titled jobs that would pay the bills), but most likely be another “soul crusher”.  I was offered a job which brought me to a crossroads.  Was I going to take another high paying “safe” job and be miserable, or was I willing to take one step back to take 30 steps forward?  I turned down the offer.

This is when my world changed.

It was a huge burden lifted.  I was ready to move on.  Personally that moment was huge for me as a Father.  I truly see that moment as the first real “life lesson” I’ve ever taught my daughter.  I was terrified, but my wife and I knew that if I didn’t follow my passion now, I never would. The back to back terminations were a painful wake-up call.

After hunting for a job in Social Media, and engaging heavily in the community I was granted an interview with Buddy Media (remember I had seen Mike speak at Web2.0 as well).  They initially turned me down (again, lack of experience in the social media space).  I persisted and compiled a sales deck mapping out my strategy to attack sales for Buddy Media.  I believe starting Facebookshouldhireme.com, blogging, starting Dadzillatv, and generally engaging in social helped me land the dream gig with Buddy Media. The rest as they say is history.  Buddy Media made me a gracious offer to learn from and work with them.  I’m so  grateful to them for allowing me to learn social while working here. They’re paying me to immerse myself in social media daily – how lucky am I?

Following my passion taught me that you can have it all.  One percieved step back  has resulted in 30 steps forward.

Gary taught me to follow my passion, and Laz has provided a platform for me to follow my passion. Thanks guys.