Don’t Shake My Hand Holding a Business Card

By Bob Deakin

Don’t shake my hand holding a business card, please. Let’s connect and make friends, but with restraint. Lately the connection requests are soaring like reconnaissance missions followed by the attack of a business pitch. 

The heartwarming terms “pitch slap” or “connect and pitch” are alive and well.

I enjoy reading posts from people I don’t know every day. If I’ve reached out to you it’s because I have a good idea of what you do and want to keep in touch. As a result, I don’t have thousands of connections but many I do are worth the effort. 

I may want to use your services but, call me old fashioned, IT’S THE INTERNET. Suspicion is judicious. Not long ago, at a weekly writers’ group meeting, a new face shook my hand with a business card snuck in between stating her editing and publishing services.

“That’s a bit forward,” I thought, especially since her eyes looked at my forehead, not my eyes. The same situation repeats itself daily on LinkedIn.

As with the card, I gladly accept most connection requests. I check the profile but I don’t have the time to judge if you’re legit. You will show me with your actions.

I speak mainly of LinkedIn though it applies to emails and other platforms. On Facebook or Instagram they shake my hand holding a fishing hook but at least they’re openly dishonest about it. 

Rest assured, if I want a legit source to find work or legit agencies there’s the LinkedIn Jobs page. Now those are real.

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