My LinkedIn Utopia

I've been a LinkedIn user for many years now and I've seen it change a lot. From the early days of LION to the pure sales pitch after sales pitch on my news feed and people furiously trying to add as many people as they could to their connections to look popular.

The change I've seen lately is definitely a new era we have coaches, Mentors, Trainers, MD's, to shop workers and everything in between.

However there is something else that really does irritate me. The selfish people. I joined LinkedIn for personal reasons and I'd like to think I'm genuinely a nice guy (unless you ask my ex wife). Yes I get the sales pitch messages to my inbox and the harassing sales reps calling me but you know what? THAT'S THEIR JOB!.

I will always give a polite thanks but no thanks to those people. I've even been known to give them advice on why their pitch won't work or told them how to improve it.

I've reached out to a few people in the past not to sell or harass but with genuine requests for help or feedback and these requests are met with a wall of silence. Even from the people who are professing to want to help people in the field. I've also got help and feedback from unexpected places. Like Keenan who I am constantly amazed by how he takes the time to respond to comments and genuinely offers help and advice.

I'd like to think of LinkedIn as a subject matter expert this is where my idea of utopia begins. If the sales pitch didn't work why not reply with a quick line saying why? If I'm starting to work in a new field I'm unfamiliar with and pop a message to one of my contacts asking for help or advice is that so wrong?

Just like in real life I'm always happy to offer help and advice if it's asked for so why accept a connection request from someone you never plan to speak to? Or even worse ignore that person's plea for help when they need you? I'm not saying I have personally messaged every single one of my connections but they are free to message me any time and if I can offer any insight or help and direction then I'll happily give some time for a chat.

So why don't we try to build a LinkedeIn utopia where we can lean on one another for support and advice when needed.

After all nobody can know everything unless your Mike Winnet or Dan Kelsall of course.