The World According to Mitch Fanning

So, “what do you do?”

There is the odd time when I don’t enjoy answering this generic cocktail question.

Don’t get me wrong.

I enjoy my work, and I am genuinely interested in being ‘social’ regardless of the scene.

Mostly, it’s because what I do can depend on when you ask me or who I’m speaking with.  At any given time, I could be brainstorming ideas for a client, working on my blog, writing, starting a new business venture, or resting under a tree in a quiet vineyard with @treatqueendiva.

The “job description as self-description” society we live in can sometimes influence people to give a dull cookie-cutter response, which often leads us to view one product launch, job, or project as the end-all and be all of our existence.

Besides, if people really answered correctly most would say – “I do email.”

Passion Versus Drive

Life is too short to waste – “Do” things that engage you, you’re passionate about, and excite you.

Most importantly, don’t mistake passion for drive, which is something completely different.  Drive pushes you forward.  It’s a duty, an obligation.  Drive is the desire to achieve a quota, get that bonus, to cash out.  That’s drive.

Passion pulls you towards something you cannot resist.

It’s the sense of connection you feel when the work you do expresses who you really are.  “What you do” needs to inspire you, and others around you, in the here and now.

From my personal experience, substituting passion for drive in an effort to pursue money by itself won’t cut it.  Postponing who you are, what you care about, and jumping through hoops to reach that pot of gold is a fool’s errand.

Money alone is never the solution.

Now for the Good News

At times, following my passions hasn’t been easy.  However, I’m delighted and proud to say that doing so has recently brought me some good fortune, which I now would like to share with all of you.

As of today (July 5), I will be bringing my passions, knowledge, and experience to the Fruition Interactive family in the brand new role of VP of Strategy & Business Development.

For the official release go here.

What I Do (Now)

Including my new role at Fruition Interactive, what I do can be split into three areas I’m very passionate about:

• Digital Marketing – Fruition Interactive (details below)

• Publishing – [mitchellfanning.com], Fruition Interactive Blog (for now)

• Education – Social Media Club Niagara (see example here)

Fruition Interactive

As VP, I help Fruition Interactive create exceptional business results for its mid to large-sized enterprise clients.  Simply put, I’ll be using my talents, expertise, and passion to grow the agency by helping clients better navigate the web.

Publishing

With publishing, I tell stories and share my insights on marketing and new media.  I’ve been blogging since 2005 and currently share my ideas here at [mitchellfanning.com] and the Fruition Interactive Blog.

New Media Education

As an educator and speaker, my primary goal is to share best practices.

That said, what I “do” could be summarized as follows:

I’m a digital marketing professional, indie content producer, and speaker (when I have an audience who will listen).

I feel very blessed and once again would like to take this time to publicly thank Kent Wakely for giving me the opportunity to pursue my passions and spread my wings at Fruition Interactive.

Enough about me.

So tell me, “what do you do, what’s your passion, and how can I help?

Photo credit: larryosan