Back when I was a young sales executive, I had one goal: get as many followers as possible.
Facebook, LinkedIn, if it had a “connect” or “follow” button, I was clicking it. I was creating multiple pages, joining endless groups, and sending friend requests to people whose only connection to me was that we both had a pulse.
In my mind, followers equaled leads, and leads were gold. I treated my follower count like a KPI, you know, a scoreboard for my success.
The irony? I’m an introvert. In real life, I’ve always craved deeper connections. I’d rather skip the small talk at networking events and go straight to the good stuff: big ideas, shared passions, meaningful conversations.
But online? I was playing a different game; one built on superficial “hellos” and hollow likes. I was essentially window-shopping for people, hoping some would wander into my funnel.