Dynamic Leader. People-First Strategist. Industry Disruptor. (AKA: Relentless Purveyor of Bullshit.)

Boy howdy, do I hate LinkedIn. It really bothers me. More than it should, frankly.

Some might say that’s because I’m an antisocial, crotchety, stick-in-the-mud. They’re not wrong. But there’s more to it than that. And a relevant marketing lesson is involved, I promise.

Advertising is my job. And because I want to do it well, I study ads. I brood over words in headlines. I’m hyper aware (and annoyingly opinionated) about what makes advertising work—and what makes it fail.

Therein lies my real problem with LinkedIn. It’s just a bunch of classified ads, and everyone is selling the same thing: themselves. Problem is, the ads don’t work.

That’s because self-aggrandizing pablum is more-often-than-not counterproductive.

Remember the part where I said I study ads? Well, here’s something I’ve learned, and it’s true whether you’re selling a product—or yourself: You don’t get to tell people how to feel. They’re allowed to come to their own conclusions.

If you’re a dynamic leader, don’t worry about shouting it from the mountaintops. Word will get around.

If you’re a strategist, strategize.

If you’re a disruptor, disrupt.

Keep it up. In due time, you’ll earn the reputation you desire.

Same is true when you’re tasked with building a great brand. It’s important to understand that what you say is different from what people end up hearing. And though it might seem counterintuitive, the key to being held in high regard often comes from resisting the urge to overstate your case.

…Just some passing thoughts from a high-performing leader with a proven track record of building multi-million-dollar brands and driving dynamic teams toward greater success. With great hair.