Real People on LinkedIn

Even in the brand new year, I wrestle with how to develop and shape my network on LinkedIn. Sometimes it seems like an uphill struggle, a conquest of Everest.

Last year, as I approached “the wall” of 30,000 connections, I began to feel that I was on the verge of losing control of my virtual real estate. So I decided to be pro-active, to wean myself off of some of my contacts who didn’t meet certain criteria. Brutal.

But it gives me the opportunity to continue sending out Invites, to meet new people.

To keep on growing. What?! Yes, the paradox of it all. A true mystery.

At first I felt that I was sacrificing folks for no reason at all, but then I discovered the wisdom in narrowing my scope a bit to fit those guidelines most important to me. After all, shrinking to “only” 25,000 connections, for example, was still a healthy reach out into the world.

I’m not a recruiter or marketer, for instance, who relies on sheer numbers to accomplish a monthly income.

So, then, who do I endeavor to have in my network?

First of all, I’m here to learn new things. Second, I’d like to “rub elbows” with people who have been successful doing what I’d like to accomplish and, finally, I’d like to participate in the synergy of “positive vibes.”

On the flip side, eliminating “negative” or distracting vibes has become a more basic priority for me. In a world sometimes fraught with chaos and hidden agendas, tolerating chronic political diatribes, and sales and marketing assaults, has to go.

Fortunately, on LinkedIn, protecting myself from such predatory behavior is as easy as a few clicks of a button. Such an easy way to improve my mood, my day, my perceptions of the world:) And improve my productivity, too.

LinkedIn as a medium for sharing, so that we all grow, and gain, and profit, has huge upside potential. It’s a marvelous experiment in the push to eliminate scarcity thinking, on a global scale. Proof that life does not have to be a zero sum game.

When I worked with Riley Cardwell, a great business coach in California, he would frequently bring up the term “Shameless Self-Promotion.” Admittedly, most honest people need to do more of it.

But many others should pump their brakes on using it so much. Especially when it’s done awkwardly, or in excess, or so transparently that it’s not even entertaining.

Don’t get me wrong. After 35 years as a bank manager, and many other sales jobs, with miles of cold calls under my belt, I have a pretty tough skin. But , jeesh, who needs it? Let’s create a community where we can all benefit.

When we sign off, we should all feel better, and more energized, for having taken a part in the LinkedIn dialogue.

In any case, I’ve seen lists of people who are the best to be connected to, for one reason or another: thought leaders, folks recognized in their fields, authors widely published, and so forth.

My list is formulated in appreciation for some people who seemed to to be genuine. For making me feel as though there were actual humans on the other side of the connection. We had real conversations. They displayed common courtesy, which seems only too rare these days.

This list is not everyone who helped energize me by interacting; they are the primus inter pares.

I suspect that they don’t even remember me. Because how they traded emails with me is probably just who they are. That’s just what they do.

So thank you for being part of my network. Keep being yourselves. The list is alphabetically by last name. It’s my “2017 Winner’s Circle.”

Garret Adkins – Seattle, WA

Lorena Baricalla - Monaco

Anna Bocek – Gdansk, Poland

Ragnar Brigg – Oslo, Norway

Bob Burg - The Go-Giver - Jupiter, FL

Lindsay Carricarte-Jones – “Hug Your Chaos” - Long Beach, CA

Sandra Clark – San Francisco, CA

Tara Dinoski – San Diego, CA

Adriana (Andi) F. – United States

Ania Jablonowski – Chicago, IL

Munia Khan - Global Poet

Ken Marshall – Portland, OR

Cece O’Connor – Encinitas, CA

Laura Riley – Fond Du Lac, WI

Chela Rodriguez – Groningen, Netherlands

Carly Traxler – Kearney, NE

Jan Yager – NYC

Outside of LinkedIn, I dealt with some folks who were really the highlight of my business dealings. Who were, on occasion, challenged beyond the call of duty. They responded as true professionals and, on the human level, they are people who put the customer first, potentially at the price of either losing time or money.

Zat Rana of DesignLuck.com – Calgary, Canada

Tim Sheilds of TheDailyGrind.news – Tucson, AZ

Matt Nadelson of Computer Comaraderie Corporation - NYC

Stacy Johnson of Money Talks News.com – NY, NY

John Maier of Piriform Support – NY, NY

Chris Banks of Pro Writing Aid - England

As you grow into 2018, engage in nurturing your own LinkedIn network. It takes ongoing hands-on cultivation. But it can grow into a thriving environment that fosters your own excitement about what you, too, can accomplish.

Your network can provide some of the oxygen that fuels your energy, your creativity, your resilience.

On many days, it can serve as nothing short of a real life-saver.