A LinkedIn Journey...

Being fairly new to LinkedIn, actually it’s worse than that, I’m a LinkedIn virgin! I figured it’s just like skiing, absolutely everyone starts with the same experience. 

When you create your profile, it asks why are you using LinkedIn (why, such a great word)? My finger hovered over the scratch pad before committing to ‘get a new job’, “why” I thought does getting a new job feel like it should be a secret? 

I’m off-grid when it comes to any social media (except for business), I take my personal social gratification by interacting vicariously through other people’s profiles, “show me that, say this, post that, like that, LOVE THAT! Friend them and so on” or is that just me? Although someone’s just messaged to say LinkedIn is Facebook for grown ups, brilliant!

So LinkedIn now makes me personally visible, thisisvirgin territory and I’m embracing it, so why am I so guarded when it comes to connecting with people? Totally not like me in the human world, I can’t be the only one who’s having to overcome the virtual reticence associated with ‘ignore’, ‘accept’ and ‘connect' or is it just novice behavior?

Can it be that it goes against the familiar childhood parental message to which I’m subconsciously conditioned of don’t talk to strangers! Rejection, what happens if no one wants to accept or connect? Not the case, first foray suggests it feels friendly, people want to connect for all the right reasons, it’s healthy and professional, and whilst I love the people-watching element of screening who it recommends I should connected with, my instinctive self whispers, be selective. 

I’d told a colleague that I’d created a profile, he said “connect with everyone”! I thought about the first person that popped up, did I connect? Not a chance! 

By being selective, I mean only connecting with like-minded people or companies that I’m interested in, people that have inspired or influenced me in some way, connections that have synergy and possibility. 

I had a barrier breakthrough this morning someone connected and my eyes nearly fell out, our paths would never have crossed if I hadn’t reached out and who knows where that could lead? Maybe to the new adventure I’m searching for?

So my question is… 

To connect or be selective or at least loosely selective, what are your thoughts?