500 - Why should you post your own content?

Today I am celebrating 500 consecutive days of posting original content on LinkedIn.

501 days ago, I was given a challenge, by @John Knotts, President and Founder of Crosscutter Enterprises, and human being extraordinaire.

John lives by : "Leave nothing in my wake but success!"

There is no way I can sum up in one LInkedIn post all the ways I've seen John Knotts help and encourage others.

My first meeting with him ended with him giving me a challenge to post original content for 60 days.

I accepted the challenge, then realized that I had never written my own content, ever!!

I was one of those people who only shared content.

If you want to grow your LinkedIn following and build a strong network, begin by stepping up and writing your own content.

When I first started posting, I had about 1900 followers and 3000 connections. Like most people, I connected with just about everyone who requested it.

Now, 500 days later, I have a following of over 9600 and my network is 5300 strong. I say strong because I stopped accepting every connection request.

My business covers the US and Canada. While I love connecting with everyone I meet, I've become more selective.

My (online) business has gone from primarily local to cross country. As I like to say, I 've now done business from coast to coast, from north to south.

I've learned to:

CONNECT with people to whom you can add value and will add value to you.

ENGAGE with the people in your network. They don't disappear. after connecting.

BUILD a strong network by introducing people to each other.

INTRODUCE people who may be good networking partners, not necessarily as a referral to do business.

THANK YOU, @John Knotts.

John is a living example of everything he coaches and advises others on. He is an example of success.

It's worth repeating and sharing a few of his successes.

John was selected as the United States Air Forces in Europe Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, in 2000, and went on to compete for Air Force 12 Outstanding Airmen award.

In 2012, he published his first book, One Dead Marine, a post-apocalyptic sci-fi fantasy. In 2019, he published his first business book, Overcoming Organizational Myopia.

Over the past three years, John published 28 Forbes articles as a member of the Forbes Coaching Council. He's also have over 100 Expert Panel appearances. Last year, John was selected as, "Champion of the Community," and featured by an associated recognition program.

In John's own words, "I strive, every day and in every interaction, to deliver value that helps people succeed".

He certainly helped me set up a straight path for success and I am grateful for the awakening.

Are you impacting others on LinkedIn?

If not, start by posting in your own words. Someone needs to hear you.