| I was recently asked what my goal would be if I | | | | happening are astronomically against you. You can |
| were to go fishing. Surely the goal would be to | | | | improve your catch by using the right bait. Join |
| CATCH fish, lots and lots of fish. Catching a lot of | | | | the groups that are related to your profession or |
| fish generates a lot of options. You can keep | | | | interests; contribute to group discussions, and |
| them, you can share them, or you can release | | | | make recommendations about your fellow |
| them for others to catch. Dreaming and planning | | | | fishermen. A well attended group is like a fishing |
| about what you will ultimately do with your fish | | | | party boat. The people on your boat are there |
| after you catch them is a nice back yard | | | | because they are usually interested in the same |
| hammock nap, but until you actually catch some it | | | | fish you are. Since they are similarly minded, odds |
| was just a nice idea. While the answer and the | | | | are that collectively you will catch a lot more fish |
| task appear to be simple many never get up | | | | than you could in a row boat by yourself, and |
| from their nap, bait a hook and drop their line into | | | | there is a good chance that the other members |
| the water. | | | | will share their experiences and catch with you. |
| While catching a lot of fish is a great idea, wouldn't | | | | Lastly make sure that you maximize your fishing |
| it be better to catch a lot of fish that you would | | | | efforts by always putting all of your available lines |
| want to catch a lot of? For example say you | | | | into the water. Building a profile, joining groups and |
| wanted to catch rainbow trout; to maximize the | | | | making recommendations are all good things, but |
| number of trout that you could catch you would | | | | did you also add an email address that can be |
| want to use the right rig and bait for catching | | | | seen by everyone to your public profile? Adding |
| trout. It might be possible to use a trout rig and | | | | an email address will make it possible for |
| bait to catch a marlin but chances are you'd have | | | | someone that you that you might not know |
| to work a lot harder and won't ultimately get the | | | | personally or have not been directly associated |
| results that you were hoping for. You'll also want | | | | with to reach out to you. While it is true that they |
| to make sure that you're fishing for trout in a | | | | probably could have had someone make an |
| place where you would expect to have a good | | | | introduction for them, introductions take time. |
| chance of finding them, like in a fresh water | | | | Why miss out on an opportunity because you |
| stream instead of a salt water ocean. So with | | | | were waiting for a formal connection to be |
| some logical planning you can increase your odds | | | | made? If necessary you can create a different |
| of having a successful fishing trip and catching the | | | | email address specifically for your LinkedIn |
| number of the fish that you really wanted. | | | | invitations on Yahoo, Google, MSN, etc. You never |
| Fishing with a basic profile, just your name and | | | | have to accept an invitation that you don't want |
| little or no content, is like dropping your line in the | | | | and you can always cut bait and let one get |
| water with a hook and no bait. You might get | | | | away. Just remember that the reason that you |
| unbelievably lucky and have a fish run into the | | | | went fishing on LinkedIn in the first place was to |
| hook with its mouth open but the odds of that | | | | catch fish, lots and lots of fish! |