Every person you meet has an angle. Each and every one of us has friends, followers, and fans. And it’s important to know the differences between the three, because getting them mixed up can mess you up. It may seem obvious to avoid doing so, but not like you think. In the past, I made the mistake of mistaking different people I'd met, as actual friends, when really, they were people I’d either briefly been acquainted with, enjoyed my writing and blogging, or recognized me through mutual social media friends we shared. My circle consists of a small number of friends and family, and outside of that circle are some people I'm causally involved with. Let's be real, how many of us really have hundreds and hundreds of real-life friends? Don’t let social media fool you. We may have hundreds of people were friendly with but it’s important to keep perspective and keep everyone in their proper places and spaces. If you’re having trouble determining who goes where, look at the breakdown below…
· Friends – This varies depending on individual definitions of how you define friendship. But I highly recommended taking regular inventory of the kind of people you allow in your life and why. Don’t be afraid to screen people before giving them the title of friend and don’t be afraid to part ways with people you’ve outgrown or anyone who’s not good for you. There will always be all kinds of people who want to connect with you and it’s your job to figure out why. Not everyone has your best interest in mind, so choose wisely and exercise discernment.
· Followers – This category can have a wide range of people, including but not limited to, family, casual friends, peers, co-workers, old classmates from back in the day, and different networking connections. If you’re on social media, you likely have many followers. Just remember that followers may admire your lifestyle and talents but are not fully into who you are as a person. They don’t know you. They just know what you choose to share and post online.
· Fans – Whether you’re particularly talented, gifted, or creative or not, you likely have fans. These are the people that may frequent your social media page, posts, and pictures. Or feel drawn to you in some kind of magnetic way. Much like followers, they’re admirers. It’s important not to let this category of people get too close or have easy access to you. They may admire you for what you say, do, and how you look, but they don’t really know you. Think about it this way, do you think Beyoncé and Jay-Z would invite a fan completely into their life, home, or near their children? I think not. If they wouldn’t, neither should you. Be careful. Again, everyone you meet has an angle and these days, it’s important to know what someone is seeking when they want to connect with you and why.