We all face adversity at several points in our lives. Heck, we probably face adversity on a daily basis even if it doesn't manifest itself as that in our brains. Whether it is personal or professional, we're constantly being tested on how we react to situations. How we bounce back from getting hit in the face, if you will. It's an important thing this bouncing back. Do we internalize it and learn from it, or do we internalize it and then do something about it? There are no hard and fast rules except that every person and situation is different. The only thing we do know is that we all must process the adversity, understand the issues and then take action however we see fit.

Last week could've been nicknamed Adversity Week 2011 for yours truly. It was compounded by a seven day roadtrip, which included three cities (four if you count a layover), four hotels, several presentations and very little sleep along the way. I'm not going to go into what caused the adversity because, frankly, it's only my business. Just know that I'm not whining about it. I'm learning. Slowly.

Anyway, as some of the events of the last week were unfolding I reached out to a few offline friends for advice. They were very helpful, of course, but I also turned to Facebook and Twitter. I didn't go into detail, but I did voice frustration about how ugly things were. I also noted that I wear my emotions on my sleeve (and I do) to which colleague David Armano noted that it shouldn't be any other way. I tend to agree, but you never know how people take frustration comments online.

Now you can probably imagine that as soon as I voiced that frustration several people reached out wishing me well, which I obviously appreciated. Several others sent me private messages, which was also cool. For the most part, people were just respectful and left it at that. However, there was the small contingent who wanted details, which I obviously despised. Look, it's not that I don't appreciate the thought, but most of the people who follow me on Twitter are contacts, not friends. On Facebook the number of actual friends is much higher, but close friends who I confide in all the time? That is a MUCH smaller number.

I suppose this is the inevitable byproduct of a society "opened up" by social media, but color me unimpressed and kind of irritated. Maybe it's my fault for posting that information in the first place? I'm at least equally complicit, I guess, but where does human decency enter the equation? If an actual friend of mine voices frustration online, chances are good I'm going to reach out with a simple note. I don't know what is happening, and I don't want to know the details unless that person cares to share them with me. This whole "friends" thing is now a pretty fine line thanks to social media and, honestly, has me seriously rethinking the entirety of my social media activities. I am who I am, and I say what I say. I'm (mostly) unfiltered. But, if everytime I do voice some frustration I am hit by people who want to know, I'm not sure that's an environment I want to participate in for the long-term.

Either way, I'm still processing all of this, and the adversity from the last week. Learning is one of my core strengths (at least according to Gallup) so I'm sure this is going to be an ongoing process. In the meantime, if you're faced with a friend who voices some frustration online please don't pry. Just offer up that you'll be there for the person and leave it at that. You never know if you're actual friends, or just online ones...

Thanks for reading...Oh, and I know I'm a terrible blogger. First post in almost two months and it's a downer. I'll try and be back with some uplifting analytics content soon. :)