Meta v Metta

Metta practices for daily life

What a month this week has been.

Ok, ok, I know I can’t start every email in 2025 with this line, but cut me some slack.

To maintain focus and not to react to triggers so I can contribute meaningfully for the long haul, I’ll focus on marketing and branding (for once) and concur with what many business owners are saying right now:

I’m not excited about the current state of social media platforms.

You may have gleaned why I feel this way by listening to the recent bro-forward interview between Mark Zuckerberg & Joe Rogan — two people who don’t align with how I live my life and treat others — but who sadly are part of the “manosphere” & rich men who run the world.

That along with the banning and unbanning of TikTok (and manipulation, censoring, and propaganda around this topic by ByteDance and our current administration), the quest for attention dominance which ultimately economically benefits the upper echelon, and the weaponization of messaging, memes, and videos through deepfakes, cheapfakes, and every other kind of fake you can think of to spread disinformation is not something that humans should be excited about.

I don’t have the answer with how to deal with it all — and I’d be wary if there was just one way suggested or one person claiming to know the answer—

But I do know this: we can all benefit from less reactionary posting and tit-for-tat responses so we can return to real life and what we are here to do with it.

In Buddhism, there's a beautiful concept called "Metta" – it means loving-kindness, benevolence, and active interest in others.

It's quite different from "Meta," the tech giant that seems more interested in controlling our attention than fostering genuine human connection.

And while a lot of age-old crappy marketing techniques can have us believe that we need the second one to succeed, what often happens is that it traps people in trying to appease algorithms to crack the code of visibility and they end up losing themselves in the process.

We don’t have to live in the Zuck’s version of reality — the one that commodifies our connections and monetizes our moments of vulnerability.

We can pause and decide to do things differently.

True marketing isn't about gaming an algorithm or becoming what AI thinks we should be.

It's about showing up authentically, leading with our values, determining custom strategies based on our strengths, and creating genuine connections that matter.

When we chase Meta’s algorithm, we're essentially letting a corporation dictate how we should express ourselves. When we choose Metta, we're choosing to lead with compassion, authenticity, and genuine value.

This isn't just philosophical – it's practical:

• Instead of obsessing over reach and engagement metrics, what if we measured success by the depth of our connections?

• Rather than crafting content to please an algorithm, what if we created from a place of genuine service and explored other ways to meaningfully connect?

• Instead of chasing viral moments, what if we focused on creating lasting impact?

I've made a conscious choice to align my marketing with Metta principles and my values. This means:

• Leading with empathy and understanding

• Creating content that serves rather than sells

• Building relationships instead of just building followers

• Showing up as my authentic self, even when it doesn't fit the "best practices" playbook

The truth is that algorithms will always change. Meta will always move the goalposts and own your presence and audience on it's platform.

But values, strategies, and genuine desire to serve remain yours alone.

This is why I help people find their authentic voices and path forward in marketing.

Not to game the system, but to transform it. Not to hack growth, but to nurture genuine connections. Not to go viral, but to create lasting value.

In a world increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence and algorithmic control, the most revolutionary thing we can do is be genuinely, unapologetically human.

Choose Metta over Meta.

Choose connection over algorithms.

Choose authenticity over optimization.

The most powerful marketing doesn't come from following a platform’s rules – it comes from following your heart and leading with your values.

Here's to creating marketing that matters,

Michelle

P.S. Many of my clients don’t use social media and still use marketing to build successful, aligned businesses. If you're tired of feeling like you're talking to an algorithm instead of to real people, let's talk. I help purpose-driven businesses create authentic marketing strategies that align with their values and connect with their ideal clients.

P.P.S. New Year, New Brand? Get the checklist and see if it’s time for a refresh, revamp, or a whole new everything.

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You are a great human. I’m thankful for you.