EX — noun, a has been…
SPRIT — noun, a drop of water under pressure…

Not sure if I would want to be a has been pressurized drop of water… smiles…

Biggest attraction anyone can create is putting a smile on a face… There are tools that can be cultivated for use with LinkedIn that are not necessarily in linked in that will help become an ‘expert’…

— groups, are you a bench warmer or are you seen by the members as someone to provide valuable viewpoints that are contributory to the focus of the group?

— answers, be succint — or hare your own experience in the first person…

— mentoring, we all have skills and experiences that got us to where we are at… others are on the same road, give ‘em a hand up!

— be humorous where you can (CLEAN humor!), save the starch for the laundry…

— communicate, communicate, communicate… otherwise the rest of us will forget who you…

— be a giver, takers do not last long and receive less than what they would have received if they were givers in the first place…

— balance everything, there is more to life than the computer, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn…. You will find more to contribute and talk about after taking some time away from e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g…

— take step of faith, nothing occurs with a thought until some action is taken…

— this is the scary part: after a while, people will like you, they will seek your advise (keep your opinions to yourself unless asked), they will look up to you… you have become an ‘expert’…

and not a wet drip under pressure..

Make it a great day!

I would only add that providing recommendations to other people on LinkedIn is also helpful. If done appropriately and specifically, this demonstrates that you understand the reciprocal nature of social networking and increases the possibility that the other person will also submit a recommendation for you.

I am NOT talking about “You’re great” and “So are you” type endorsements, but rather honest statements about the value someone has provided to you. Best done simply because you appreciated the value they brought to you, with no conscious thought of reciprocity or benefit back.

John

i thank you again for a great insight and opening of my potentials which has been quiet all this while.

shalom and think africans can gain from this network

You bring up a very good point.
Few thoughts: When I have answered questions and really spent significant time on it, I always send a private message once its been answered asking if this answers benefits them to rate mine as the best answer. In addition if they have not “closed” and “rated” the question, I along with others I have chosen to send reminders on weekly or daily basis until they do.
If those people post more questions without “closing” and “rating” then they are fair game in the “social media” space. Social Media and Linkedin (one in the same) is a democracy and “we the people” should speak our mind when others abuse the very system they are benefiting from. An example would be to take the question they have and post a notice in the answer form that this person does not close or rate their answers.

All the best

~Randy