Deliverance From The Seven Deadly Sins Of LinkedIn

1. Thou shalt not have a bad picture (Pride).

A lot of online “experts” advise one to have a good picture or get a professional photographer to take your profile picture but whilst well intentioned the advice is meaningless because he or she hasn’t defined what is a good picture. Let’s fix that.

Your profile picture is vital because it is the first thing that people see on your LinkedIn page. It is chapter one of your unique story. The image needs to reinforce and enhance the words that follow. This is the only “rule” you need to adhere to in regards to your choice of picture. Let’s look at examples via some of my connections, and showcase a variety of ways to accomplish this objective.

Azleen Abdul Rahim is Chief Evangelist at NSE, which is a Marketing and Advertising Company based in Malaysia. His picture shows a happy man telling you to look at things differently. The picture backs up the expertise demonstrated by his posts on his subject, which in turn is reinforced by the number of endorsements by his peers of his different abilities.

In marketing and advertising, you want someone with a fresh perspective, who is not afraid to try things but who also has a firm grasp of the necessary components of a successful campaign. Azleen accomplishes that with his combination of image and words.

Bob Berkowitz is a Principal at the prestigious Dilenschneider Group in New York. He is a man of integrity, generosity, and through that potent combination of curiosity and hard work is not only at the top of his profession but continues to get even better. His picture is in color, which generally is more effective than black and white and exudes confidence and professionalism.

Note Bob's not trying to appear younger in his image. This is a man who is comfy in his own skin. His image compliments his words and accomplishments and furthers his brand. If you want to work with the best Bob is your man.

Ivy Walker is the CEO and Co-Founder at Helios Digital Learning, which is a leading E-learning company in Chicago. As you can see, this is a professional photograph and as with all good photographs it has texture. The background, and lighting all serve to enhance Ms. Walker, who wisely chose professional attire and a close up shot. One can see beauty and intelligence in the image, but the beauty does not serve to distract the viewer from Ms. Walker’s business.

Sad but true I had to disband teams before they even started because the sexual dynamics would have destroyed the efficacy of the group. Not the women’s fault it’s just that sometimes men are easily distracted. You would be astounded by how a glimpse of cleavage in the business environment subdues the ability of some men to appreciate the business acumen and immense creativity that the ladies are bringing to the project.

Picture Pitfalls To Avoid.

Hands that have no owners, selfies, bad lighting, shine on the subject’s face or bald pate as the case may be, reflection on the lenses of glasses wearers, and subjects looking off camera to such a degree that all the energy from his or her eyes is lost to the image. I will go into more detail on this as well as the rule of thirds when I publish my series on how to communicate visually.

Don’t let pride get in the way of asking questions of others, hiring a photographer and giving him or her credit on the image or garnering honest feedback on your photograph. Remember your goal is to grow your business and brand and add to your story via the picture.

How Often Do You Change Your Picture?

 a.) When it stops getting your desired results.

b.) When it no longer looks like you.

c.) When it is not furthering your story.

I have had the same two pictures for the last twelve months, and those pictures will continue for the next two years. The pictures are getting me the feedback I desire, they further my story and they tie directly into one of my new ventures that will be launching in July 2015.

My connection Michelle Mone OBE, may change her picture every week. She is in the midst of segueing from one successful career to another successful career, so losing 10lbs in weight, making a speech in Los Angeles or the launch of her new book all warrant new pictures as they all serve to enhance her story.

 2. Thou Shalt Not Envy People Or Let People Intimidate You.

God couldn’t have made it any simpler for us. We each possess a brain to think and our own unique fingerprints to make our mark on the world. All the people in the world are here to complement those individual blessings and further individual potential by collaborative triumphs.

It is easy to envy the amount of followers other writers have or the lifestyles that other LinkedIn participants enjoy but unless it inspires you to reach further in your life then it is a waste of your blessings. Even if times are hard, there is always someone worse off and every day is a rebirth of your choices and of equal importance your attitude and courage toward those choices.

On LinkedIn as in life, I connect with people who are my “betters” and frankly sometimes especially if I’m tired that can be intimidating. “I’ll never do what these people have already accomplished,” I think to myself but then I put it into its proper perspective. I have the same 24 hours a day that they do. I have choices just as they do and until my last breath, I have the opportunities to either follow in their footsteps or take what is useful, discard what is useless and create my unique contribution to the world mix.

Learn, think, adapt, set sail and fully commit to enjoying your journey. One day you will realize as you look to your side and see the millionaire, or even billionaire walking on the street beside you that we’re all on the same journey. You may dress differently, and live in a different style of home in a different part of town, but if you realize your potential, if you are kind and loving in your actions and appreciate what you have at the end of the day you are as rich and smart as any man or woman on this planet.

 3. Thou Shalt Not Consume Too Much Information (Gluttony).

It is imperative if one is to enjoy a rich, productive life that one develops a discerning palate toward media consumption. Your primary objective is to consume media that adds to your life be that on a personal or professional level. It has to be information you can use right now, either to begin something or to refine practices already in motion. If it does not fulfill those criteria, it needs to be off your plate.

 How to Eat Lean.

Discern credible sources of information and add those to your menu. Then divide that menu into meat and veggies and dessert. I have watched my connection Michael Hyatt, grow his business, and the information he provides is directly relevant to my business. I can say the same in regards to Gary Vaynerchuk. Both of these men are on the meat and veggies side of my menu.

Richard Branson, is way above the realities of today’s startups in scale, staffing and budget. His information is thought-provoking and entertaining, but he’s dessert. As you know, life without dessert would be sad but it must be consumed sparingly if one is to enjoy a healthy lifestyle and a healthy bottom line. Use your time wisely.

 4. Thou shalt practice self-control (Lust).

Just because everyone else is doing something in your industry doesn’t mean you have to do the same thing. This is a tricky one because your customers can be influenced by perception rather than reality that in turn can make one take decisions in the name of fashion that are not in the best interests of one’s business.

On LinkedIn there are Innovators who have the vision to come up with something completely new, refiners of already existing ideas, who iron out the rough spots of existing products, processes and services and sample DJ’s who take bits of existing technology, add bits that are completely original and take the finished article into entirely new genres.

Start contributing in LinkedIn groups, and conversations and you will quickly discern who is in what category as well as strengthening your intelligence and perspective on subjects. I think of my connections as my personal Mastermind group and each group discussion on LinkedIn as a Ben Franklin inspired mini Junto group.

 5. Thou Shalt Not Commit Anger.

I’m known for being patient which is a necessity being a single parent to three young rascals but it’s a quality I worked to develop and once a blue moon I still have my moments.

On LinkedIn, one commits anger with a non-productive negative comment on someone’s discussion or published post. Sometimes it’s a look at me post; sometimes it’s an agenda driven post, sometimes it’s envy or stereotyping of race, sex or culture. All times it’s unproductive and reflects poorly on one.

When you feel the urge to attack or criticize walk away from your keyboard and if you refuse to do that before you start typing ask yourself what possible experience could have led the person to say that? Ask the person why he or she thinks that way.  

Before you type one angry word, that will reverberate around the world ask what positive good will it gain you, or anyone else who either reads or participates in the discussion. If no positive can be thought of for others or yourself then spit the comment in the trash because that is where it belongs.

 6. Thou shalt not be Greedy.

People often wonder how much they should give of themselves on LinkedIn. Give everything you have got. It is the only way you will further your knowledge and understanding of a subject. It is the only way to strengthen your love of a topic and your work ethic. Always bring a 100% of you to the table.

Some people worry if they give 100% no one will need their services. This is a misconception.   The plumber charges $300 for a job, and the needed part only cost a $1. When questioned by the homeowner the plumber replied “That’s right, $1 for the part and $299 for knowing where to put the part. The knowledge you share on LinkedIn can be found in myriad places but you becoming the go-to person for that subject, and establishing yourself, as an authority will enable you to be hired. What you know and more importantly how you use that knowledge is what will make you successful.

 7. Thou shalt not be slothful.

People misinterpret this and think it means don’t be lazy. It doesn’t mean that. Sloth refers to the precursor to lazy. Don’t be apathetic. Care about your subject, your employees and doing your best at all times. When people take the time to comment or ask you a constructive question on LinkedIn, thank them for their time and effort and answer the question to the best of your abilities.

It is said that a definition of hell is dying and meeting the person you could have been. You can’t change the past, you have no idea what the future holds but the present is yours to choose. Good luck ?

Special thanks to Ivy, Bob and Azleen for allowing me to use their pictures to illustrate the importance of profile pictures.

Azleen: https://my.linkedin.com/in/azleenabdulrahim

Bob: https://www.bobberkowitz.com/

Ivy: https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/ivywalker

The top picture is three pieces of history captured on my trusty iPhone 6 to tie in with the title of this piece.

1.  An homage to the excellent John Boorman film entitled Deliverance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myhnAZFR1po

2.  President John F. Kennedy had a bad back, so Jackie bought him a rocking chair.  A Carolina rocking chair to be precise.  Michael J. Savage also gets a bad back if he doesn't do his exercises, so I bought the same chair.  Currently, it seats me and a rascal on each knee as we read Charlotte's Web together.

3.  George Formby was one of the best ukulele players that ever lived, and this is one of his uke's.  Actually it's not a ukulele or a banjo but rather a cross between the two a banjolele.

Thanks for reading. I hope these tips help you and if they do, please share this article with your friends and colleagues and add to the discussion in the comments section.

https://www.dhirubhai.net/msavage1