Yesterday I was having a conversation with a good friend @slayerkun about how celebrities are able to connect with the audience instantly and I was inspired to write this post.

I have always been a big fan of @ricky_martin and had the opportunity the last few days to read Me (<–Affiliate Link)

There was a huge gap where I disconnected from @ricky_martin from the moment he left Menudo until he launched his album Vuelve(<–Affiliate Link), after Vuelve can say I have been a fully engaged @ricky_martin Fan.

Ricky Martin’s music has been with me at good and bad moments.

Not only have I enjoyed the energy and passion he puts into his music I see him as a mentor to many of us. Having been in the spotlight for so long it is amazing how much he has accomplished while keeping a clean image and helping others.

Reading Me increase my admiration for him on his approach of not violating the privacy of others who might have hurt him in the past (it takes a great human being to be at this level).

By @ricky_martin sharing his approach on life and obstacles along the way, help me see his human side.
After reading the book I concluded that I can apply most of his lessons into my personal life but more importantly link the lessons to my overall presence including online.

10 Social Media Lessons from @ricky_martin’s ME

1. Clicking Send Can Release The Real You

Sometimes we hesitate when we have to send a message or publish something. Go with your gut feeling, as long as you are seeking your well being and the well being of others everything will be fine

2. What you tweet and what you are might not always be the same.

Some people hold multiple online accounts on the same platform some for private and others for public use. Others secure their twitter as if they had something to hide. Transparency is key online. If you post it online I don’t care what people say it becomes public. Just keep in mind that what you share publicly not necessarily has to be completely how you are. Make sure you keep sensitive topics private and off the web.

3. Plant Seeds now so You can Reap the Benefits Later

@ricky_martin has been building a community since he was a 12 years old. It all started in Menudo and he has continue to build his fan base.

So if you want to reap the huge rewards in life you have to continuously build and maintain your community online and offline. So don’t expect to have everyone engage in a few weeks or even months. Building Community takes time. I read a good line at my friend @mark_hayward’s blog yesterday by @hdbbstephen:Question: “When is the best time to plant a tree?”

Answer: 20 years ago

Photo By conbon33

4. Keeping your feet on the ground will creating awareness

He is able to reach out to his fans via twitter give him great reach without violating his privacy. Since he was a kid he has always been in contact with individuals who have not been as lucky as he has been. There are some great stories on how “Kiki” does very humble acts of kindness with the only purpose of helping. He gives a great explanation on why he created the @rm_foundation and how attaching his name to the effort is for the benefit of those he helps. (Learn more Donate to this great organization at http://rickymartinfoundation.org/)

5. Stay away from Religious Topics but help other be more spiritual.

He mentions various religions from the point of being spiritual and not the specific doctrines. Different to others he finds a very curious similarity in a few traditions amongst the biggest religions. Always steer people towards understanding their own spirituality.

6. Always being grateful for the gifts of life we have been granted.

He is very grateful of the people who have supported him. He also takes the time to thank one of my clients @doralbank for their support and join effort with the @rm_foundation.

7. Three Keys of Life Serenity, Simplicity, and Spirituality

No need to explain. Just find Serenity, Simplicity, and Spirituality the rest will fall into place.

8. Tune out the Trolls

@ricky_martin decided not to mention the people who have hurt him or tried too. I think this is a great move. Doing the opposite might have put the spotlight on those who don’t deserve the attention. Online we should do the same when people become trolls we should tune out and search for more positive frequencies.

9. Focus on things you can change and learn how accept the ones you can’t.

Personally I try to change and give my opinion on more issues than I should. On more occasions than I would like I end up wasting my energy on trying to help someone who did not want the advice in the first place. I need to focus more on differentiating what can be changed and what cannot be changed.

10. “A little sincerity is a dangerous thing; a great deal of it is absolutely fatal”~Oscar Wilde

We live in 2010 & thankfully we are a bit more advanced than when Oscar Wilde was alive but being sincere can take you for a spin.

The other day I was at a conference and it was funny how people did not like a presentation and criticized it. When the speaker approached them they told the speaker his presentation was great. I thought about this quick reaction on praising what they thought was wrong but in reality if they would have told the speaker his presentation was of no interest to the group, the situation could have gotten very ugly.

To stay away from similar situations I will focus on establishing relationships and community with those who have similar interests and stay away from those who don’t. That way I can keep my integrity and be as sincere as possible with those who can really value it.
Overall I recommend reading @ricky_martin’s book. I think if we can follow @ricky_martin’s lessons on how not too label people and simply stay away from negative people we can focus on the bigger and important things in life Serenity, Simplicity, Spirituality, Pursuit of Happiness, and in my case becoming a New Father.
What other social media lessons can we learn from @ricky_martin based on his online activity and years in the spotlight? Did I miss any?

Please Feel Free To Share Your Thoughts!