Want to connect with me? Send me a note #LinkedIn #Facebook #SocialMedia #Networking #Rant

I hate spam passionately. There are few things that piss me off more than being bombarded via email or social media about products for which I don't give two damns. These days, with the proliferation of bots and malware, spam can also represent a security issue. I suspect it's probably already happened to me, but …

A few tips for #networking

Last month, I got an email from my alma mater about a new networking forum that they developed (if you're a Syracuse University engineering or computer science alumnus or student, check it out). I signed up for it, and I've been fairly active on it, posting about some of my own activities and dispensing my …

The #Coronavirus chronicles, part 23: Learning songs in a new language #COVID19

Before I get into this article, I need to direct you to a few other articles that I wrote, all of which are directly relevant to what I'm about to write. You will likely not understand some of the references in this article unless you read these other ones first (or are friends with me …

Social media: should I stay or should I go?

I don't think I have to mention just how prevalent social media is these days. If you're reading this 'blog, most likely you're engaged in some form of social media. Terms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter are a regular part of daily life these days. It's gotten to the point that these terms have …

Putting the “professional” in professional networking

I recently saw a couple of posts that left me shaking my head. The first was a tweet from a couple of weeks ago. This came from a #SQLFamily person whom I follow on Twitter. I don't really know her well, but we do have several mutual friends, and I know her by reputation. She …

The #Coronavirus chronicles, part 6: Keeping spirits high #COVID19

When I first started posting to Facebook -- probably about twelve years ago, give or take -- I remember getting up on a gray, blustery Monday morning, and I innocuously posted a song lyric: "Rainy days and Mondays always get me down." A week later, I posted another: "Just another manic Monday." Mainly, they reflected …

When does a request for info become spam?

I recently saw a post in a Facebook group that I manage for a user group to which I belong. She was brand-new to the group, having joined just hours (maybe even minutes) before she posted. She turned out to be a recruiter. I won't say too much about her because her firm is one …

Networking: it’s all about relationships

My last article got me thinking -- what and why is networking? What's it about? How is it supposed to work? It occurred to me that the person who sent me that first LinkedIn request (to which I refer in my previous article) doesn't get it. She has no clue about what networking is, why …

I network. What’s your superpower?

I had some things happen just within the past week that reminded me about the power of networking, and just how well-connected I actually am. At my CrossFit gym last week, one member of the racquetball club (which occupies the same building as the CrossFit gym) and whom I knew from a previous job, told …

The craft of online business networking

I recently had a friend text me to say she was looking for new employment, and wanted to know if I had any ideas.  I gave her my thoughts, mentioned some resources (I even dropped a name), and told her that she should network on LinkedIn and Facebook.  She told me that she was rarely, …