Connections

Connections

December 20, 2013 Uncategorized 0

The deeper I get into the business of professional development/nagging/coaching, the more respect I have for people who “get” it, who are actually invested in achieving their goals, and helping themselves, as opposed to punishing themselves, and just generally thwarting themselves and their deepest desires at every step. You may think I’m exaggerating, but alas, no. The more people I coach, the more I see that many people are deeply invested in being their own worst enemy

That’s why, when recently I received an invitation to connect with someone on LinkedIn, a personalized invitation that demonstrated that this person had taken the time to check out my website, and see who I am and what I do: whoa. Mind. Blown. I was especially impressed because this person is in his late 20s.  Some of you are shrugging, like it’s no big deal, but actually, it’s a huge deal. With one simple message, this person already has demonstrated to me that he understands that the point of LinkedIn, and networking in general, isn’t solely to collect business cards and rake up high numbers on social media. It’s about making meaningful connections, connections who help you create the opportunities necessary to attain your goals.

Not to mention, this kid is in his 20s–that millennial generation that we love to hate, like we all weren’t crazy and irritating and listening to Richard Marx,when we were in our 20s–and he could teach quite a few “adults” some basic social skills.  I constantly get invites to connect from people in their 40s/50s/60s, who don’t know a thing about me, couldn’t be less interested, but maybe they think I have a hawt photo, or they want access to my friends, or really they just want to add another number to their LinkedIn count. These are the types of people who brag about their life-coaching certifications, or have 500+ connections and are unemployed, or under-employed, or have recommendations full of spelling mistakes. Since I actually take networking extremely seriously, I never ever connect with those people. If you can’t even be bothered to make the smallest effort to figure out my business…why, exactly, would I want to be associated with you? These people don’t want to make a real connection with me, they want to use me. Unfortunately for them, while they were busy getting certified as lifestyle coaches, I was reading books, and going to Wellesley, and paying attention to the world around me. #mywayisbetter

If you’re planning on spending some time during the holidays working on your LinkedIn profile, and your networking skills in general, with the intention of preparing for a successful job hunt in 2014, 1) God bless you, you’ve made me a very happy Yenta, but 2) use this period to really get to know your network. Without being asked, do some favors for other people. Introduce connections who work in the same industry. Join your alumni groups. Follow some people and businesses who interest you. Read your profile from the POV of your ideal reader and see how you come across: would you be interested to meet yourself? Would a stranger be able to understand and appreciate what you’ve accomplished? Or, are you simply on LinkedIn because um everyone else is, and Christ, Carlota, stop nagging me! Sorry, Sunshine, I can’t: not until you and everyone else on the planet have forgiven themselves and decided that well, this life is all they have, so yes, they’re going to give themselves and their goals 110%, no, the nagging shall continue. #luckyyou

Want some help tweaking that profile? I know you do! Become a fan of my Facebook business  page, “Carlotaworldwide Creativity Yenta,” and email me at carlotazee@gmail.com.

 

 

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