Time for a Change - Away from LinkedIn and Other Familiar Pursuits

Every once in a while, we need to change our lives - either because we're not being challenged, we're involved in toxic relationships, or we're simply bored.

We often delay change because the status quo is more comfortable. But eventually - we become so frustrated - indeed, so tired of our situation - we make a move.

I have arrived at that moment.

Backing off from LinkedIn and other potential time killers

One of the things I need to do is spend a lot less time on social media.

I love writing articles here on LinkedIn, but in recent years - the thrill has waned.?

I've witnessed the slow and painful decline of what are called "long form articles" - like this one. These writings are meant to be thoughtful essays, designed to trigger discussion. But over the years, people have gravitated away from such intellectual time-consuming pursuits, in favor of quick "hits" of laughter and intrigue, in the form of endless polls, funny dog videos and other such mapcap postings.

We live in an age of ever shrinking attention spans.

Since 2012, I've been writing weekly articles here and in those first few years, there were a large group of us "independent" writers who loved to dig deep on a wide range of topics. We would spend days writing and editing and could develop large followings.?

My last so-called "popular" article was released on July 18, 2019, called "A Real Leader is Someone Who Gives a Damn About You" which attracted 242,000 likes and 5,000 comments. Even today, it still gets the odd comment and reaction.

But those days are long gone.?

Even the famous LinkedIn influencers have resorted to "short" postings and have abandoned their longer articles - in an attempt to achieve instant gratification.

The other writers I enjoyed sharing thoughts with, have for the most part, disappeared - making me feel like the last remaining sailor on a sinking ship.

LinkedIn is a great web site, but it can be addictive. I've spent way more time here than I ever should have. That's not LinkedIn's fault. It's mine.

I won't close my LinkedIn account - and yes, I will still post the odd article. But I ask myself what else I could be doing with my life that would provide a bigger "bang for the buck" in terms of making a difference in this world.

And on that point, it's time to make even more changes.

Backing off of mindless work

Since 1986, I have run my own business. In those days, I ran a writing and research firm that morphed into a web design and data processing company. That venture turned into a live streaming company.

Don't get me wrong.

I have loved every minute of it. And there is no greater thrill than to create something from scratch and have it support you financially.

But here's the truth.

Much of what I do is now repetitive. Customers ask me the same questions. I speak to the same people. I undertake the same or similar tasks.??

The challenge - the "thrill" and the passion has evaporated.

It's time to go after new projects, new businesses and new ways of doing things.

On that point, I shall change my current position. Not resign from it, but change it. And not because I am woefully unhappy, but because I desperately need to learn new things - and do the things I have wanted to do, but never had the time.

In 2019, I wrote 6 books on Amazon. All of them did poorly. So the challenge now confronts me to take on that task once again, but this time, to do it the right way and see if I can reach more people.

That activity will take time. To make that time, I shall eliminate pointless relationships.

Backing off of pointless relationships

We all have acquaintances, friends, contacts and other various human relationships that seem to go nowhere - or worse, get under our skin.?

Some of these people hate life and want us to hate it as much as they do. Others can be unpredictable, even abusive. Some complain about the same things day after day, never listening to our advice and feedback. Still others are so brutally lonely and needy that they contact us day and night without consideration of what we may be doing at the time.

I regard such human contact as toxic.?

Today, I have made the decision to delete the toxicity so that I may breathe and grow.

It is my right.?

It's your right to do that as well.

Life is meant to be an adventure

Stagnation, restlessness, feeling useless and trapped, living in the past, and slowly becoming irrelevant - such are the potential consequences of refusing to make changes in our lives.

We're not here to just exist.

I believe life is an adventure. That means taking chances. And never allowing ourselves to become stale.

The journey will mean saying good bye to certain people, activities and places that, while familiar, have gone way beyond their "best before" date.

Let's meet again

So while I will not disappear from our beloved LinkedIn - I will most certainly be taking many breaks from it, to pursue my new interests.

Maybe we'll meet on a different platform or bump into each other in another part of this cyberworld. I will make a point of updating you on my progress from time to time.

I end with a wish for you, my treasured LinkedIn colleague.

That you too, like me, will take the actions necessary to get your life to the point where you want and need it to be.?

Dig deep down.

You will find all the answers you need.

You know, within your heart, what you must do.

And you have a responsibility to follow your heart to live your life as you so choose.

Never sell yourself short.

Trust yourself.

And trust God to give you the means to succeed.