So, why do you want to grow so bad...?

Are you a L.I.O.N.?

Do you want to grow your connections and followers today... be an "influencer" on LinkedIn?

Discover New Opportunities. Let's connect and follow @DavidAlto

Would you like to BLOW up your network and grow your connections on LinkedIn in a few simple steps?

1) Like this and share this post 2) Leave comments and Tag your friends 3) Request and Accept connections

Do these posts look familiar to you? If you have been on LinkedIn for any length of time you may be familiar with the term LION. So, I'm not talking about the lovely cat creature either.

So, what is a L.I.O.N = LinkedIn Open Networker

It originally meant that you wanted to connect with a lot of people to grow your network for a multiple of reasons. So, what does it mean now?

What it really means now is that you want to grow your connections and followers so you can humble brag to everyone "look at me I have 5,000 connections on LinkedIn" or I grew from 100 connections to 15,000 connections in 4 months and so can you.

Don't get me wrong as I sit here typing away I have over 15,000+ connections and almost 30k followers, but...I use LinkedIn differently then most. 1) I post content multiple times a day, 2) I leverage LinkedIn to search for new clients, 3) I make genuine connections on this platform, 4) I pride myself in teaching others how to improve....sometimes they pay me and sometimes I give my tips and advice away for Free.

But lately again what has changed is anyone and everyone that has a LinkedIn account is seeing these people, "L.I.O.N.s", post this and think its OK to do the same.

And it is OK, but here is what you will get if you connect with literally "EVERYONE and ANYONE"

1) You will have a ton of connections (that are not active) 2) You will have a ton of followers (that are not active) 3) You can brag to all of your friends and family "look at me, look at me, look at me" while you are sitting in your parents basement or better yet begging people on LinkedIn "please hire me, here is my resume, I need a job like now". (how are these connections truly going to help you find and land that job when they live across the globe...they are not)

All that time and energy spent posting about being an Open Networker, all that time spent connecting now with your 17k connections is not going to help you grow your business here on LinkedIn (if that is your intent or you have a business that you want to leverage LinkedIn's amazing true networking to grow).

I have learned, and will continue to learn everyday on this platform. I will continue to make amazing new connections and leave them voice messages/video introductions and engage with them. I will be someone that is not just a taker but a giver of advice and share my wisdom with others.

What is the definition of a true LION....Its most common traits are: majesty, strength, courage, justice, and military might. It can be both solar and lunar. Commonly referred to as "the KING of the bests," it is a symbol of Kingly power and might, bust as the lioness it is commonly related to the Great Mother and protection.

Please STOP believing you can find worth in having thousands and thousands of Facebook likes, LinkedIn connections, and TikTok fame.

I say lets all be Lion's on LinkedIn from this day forward.. but not L.I.O.N.s...but true Lions.

Majesty: dignity or beauty for helping others

Strength: the quality or state of being physically/mentally strong

Courage: the ability to do something that frightens one

Justice: just behavior or treatment

I say we go out and be Lion's on LinkedIn today. Motivate others - Uplift others needing help - Guide others to success.

I think we could use some true Lion's as leaders in today's world as well.

David Alto/Lion