Unvarnished Self

I decided earlier this year (or maybe it was late last year) that I'm just going to be myself on LinkedIn.  I used to keep up a professional fa?ade here, but I haven't noticed any significant difference between now and then in terms of being contacted concerning jobs or gigs.

I think it's better this way.  It's more honest.  After all, if you hire me, you hire all of me, not just the most "professional", "well-behaved" parts.  No matter how much I try to fit the mold you want me to, sooner or later the rest of me will find ways to express itself.  And trying to fit into those cramped, boring boxes is uncomfortable for me anyway, and usually incredibly limiting, stifling vast amounts of my potential that your business could otherwise be benefitting from if you just gave me a chance to grow and evolve. I have most deeply appreciated those employers who have invested in me as a person and given me a chance to rise to the challenges of unfamiliar territory.

On some level you know you're hiring all of me, even if you'd rather just get the bits that fit your job/role description.  If you didn't, you wouldn't insist on a contingent background check.  So I think it's better if I just don't even try to play down the parts you may be less comfortable with.  I can't actually be anything but myself anyway.  So hire all of me, or don't hire me at all.  And when you do hire me, trust that I will do the job with integrity no matter where I'm working from (in other words, trust me to work as diligently remotely as I would having to schlep to an office all the time; if anything, I'll probably work more diligently out of appreciation for the fact that you didn't force me to deal with the burdens of commuting and being in an office all day).  Anything else will just end in disappointment for both of us.

I don't do any of this to embarrass, offend, disappoint, or otherwise alienate anyone.  Of course, I have no control over what anyone else chooses to be embarrassed, offended, disappointed or alienated by anyway, and since nobody else has any real control over what I say or do, the belief that my behaviors reflect on them is not really logical.  While it usually takes being deliberately and noxiously offensive (e.g. consistent, recalcitrant racism or sexism) to inspire me to disconnect from someone, I will be understanding if someone chooses to disconnect from me because they feel embarrassed by me or dislike the way my actions "reflect" on them (I won't, however, choose to take it personally, even if that's how it's intended, because I simply don't want to).

Ultimately, I think it all sorts itself out in the best possible way, even if it's only really possible to see that clearly in hindsight.

P.S. I would have just written this as a post if LinkedIn's post size limit wasn't so frustratingly small (I understand it for comments, but to me it seems excessive for original posts).