Take care,

Patrick

Thanks for your comment! I think I get disgruntled when anyone puts on a veneer to save face.

If your boyfriend just dumped you, maybe just prior to the networking event, you're going to either put on a veneer or you're going to be talking about your ex while you network.

These tools aren't purely for networking or business use; in fact, quite the opposite. They allow us the distinctly unique opportunity to present our story in a way that many more people can access it than with previously used tools. In fact, if most businesses used these tools in the way they were intended – as a social movement – rather than as a marketing platform (which is how I view most aspects of Personal Branding), we would be exiting this recession quite a bit faster.

Telling a story connects you to the teller in a way that no other medium can. Vapid and poignant share the same space – the only difference is the intent.

When you “blather”, sure, someone will get bored of your melodrama. When you relate a personal experience for the purpose of sharing the story or saving someone else the drama, and even sometimes just being “a real person” by sharing those vapid personal details sparingly (certainly not as much as 30%) you're allowing people to self-select (opt-in) to what is important to them.

Personally, I don't care about the Oscars or whatever award show just happened. But I'm not going to stop doing business with people or take business contacts less seriously if they show their human side and fill their Twitter, Facebook or Blog with the Oscars on Oscar night… in fact, I much rather they (or my employees or anyone I want to work for) show a human side whenever it strikes 'em. I don't want to be marketed to, I want to be related to.

Anyway, that's where I'm coming from. Thanks for your response!

-Nick

However, I think you misinterpreted the post. To me, splitting up your social networking 70/30 does not mean only present 30% of the real you. It means be conscious of how you are utilziing the space. Far too many people flood their social networks with vapid information about their personal lives. What they are doing, where they are going, who they are dating, etc. I bet if you think about it, last time you were on facebook you caught yourself thinking “who cares?” in regards to someones status update.

If you are using social media as a means to help your job search, than you should certainly keep the 70/30 benchmark in mind. Keep 70 percent of what you say relevant, and only 30 percent purely personal. It doesn't mean you are hiding the real you, it just means you are conscious of who you are talking to. You wouldn't go to a networking event and talk about your ex boyfriend. Same rules apply.

Good article, keep up the good work.

Patrick

Awesome to have you on the team!

-Nick

Looking forward to seeing more of your wise words.

Our offline character (Private) must be consistent with our online identity (Public), Tiger Woods doesn't have good personal code of honor to build solid base for his character even he made very good personal brand, all gone with the wind now