I have known you for many years vs. I knew you many years ago

Not long ago, I went through my LinkedIn contacts and removed several thousand.  This was not a moment of frustration and I knew that I would lose the personal recommendations from those who were deleted from my network in the process.  At some point I realized why I joined this forum in the first place and why I no longer needed certain people in my professional network.

As I transitioned from the public sector to the private security industry, LinkedIn was a great way to stay in contact with those from the past and to build my professional network in my chosen career path.  As I learned more about the private side of the business, and my roles and responsibilities increased, having a diverse network of resources helped me perform my duties better.  Taking an active role with many professional groups, I could share ideas and learn new concepts with contemporaries.  While working in the contract side of security, I became active with group sites that catered to the interest of potential clients.  This helped develop an understanding of their unique needs, making it possible to apply solutions during meetings and presentations that were relevant.

The termination of my manager suddenly enhanced my responsibilities from national to global in a corporate environment. I looked toward LinkedIn again to identify resources and products in lands far away (that I could only visit virtually).  As my expertise and reputation grew, I was humbled to find myself as a person sought to provide professional insight.  Ego talked me into accepting every connection request; even from those I had never met.  Soon I was overwhelmed with correspondence, knew it was time to reevaluate and went through my connections.  

I maintain a great respect for law enforcement and those who continue to serve the communities around the world.  Municipal law enforcement is a unique fraternity in that it is very tight while you are active but can close the door behind you once you are gone.   The last "uniform" I wore was a Judge's robe in Texas so it was time to say goodbye to most Southern CA law enforcement contacts.  I knew them many years ago but stay in contact with only a selective few.

In recent years, my private sector roles have been more regional than global and my need for resources is smaller.  People move around more frequently in the private sector and many have moved onto other companies, divisions or retired.  Company contacts I relied on have merged with other providers or closed their doors.  With my current responsibilities, it is time to say goodbye to many of these folks too.

There will still be connections whom I have know many years that I will hold close.  A well known and respected security professional was my training officer and mentor when I was a new Police Cadet working in Los Angeles County and attending college over 30 years ago.  A retired Sergeant and Lieutenant I respected during my law enforcement career over 20 years ago; a Dallas-based global security consultant who has more knowledge than I can ever expect to accumulate and so many others who continue to be valuable resources and friends.  I have known them for many years, followed their careers and proud to have them in my professional network.

I look at those who promote their "10K + connections" and wonder if LinkedIn for them is more about quantity than having a strong professional network?  For me, it is an ever-changing list of professional resources which provides a mutual benefit and I thank you for being a connection!

Charles L. Baxter