I help mid-career job seekers feel seen and in control | Former $4M full-desk NYC agency recruiter | Founder @ Pathfinder Coaching
Folks posting boat selfies think they're inspiring. But it's offputting and is way out of touch. Authenticity builds trust—not fugazie. Look, I'm going to be blunt here: This LinkedIn "success porn" is getting out of control, and it's time we talked about it. You know what I'm talking about: — The "crushing it" posts — Those damn boat selfies in Ibiza — The humble brags thinly disguised as inspo It's everywhere, and it's toxic as hell. Let me tell you something—real success doesn't look anything like that. It's messy, it's complicated, and it sure as shit doesn't always photograph well. Some of you are probably thinking: — "Chill out man, it's just social media" — "If you don't like it, you don't have to look" — "Let the dimfluencers post whatever they want" Yeah, yeah, I get it. But here's the thing—this fake success crap is doing real damage. It makes hardworking people feel like failures because they don't have yachts or wads of cash. And you know what—that's f*cked up. I've been in this game a long time, and I'll tell you what real success looks like: — It's admitting when you've screwed up — It's showing up even when you don't want to — It's helping without expecting anything in return That's the stuff that builds trust. That's what creates real connections. — Not your filtered photos — Not your "look at me" narcissism — Not your bullsh*t "rise and grind" mantras So here's my challenge to you: Cut the crap ➝ be real. Share your struggles along with your victories. Show the work, not just the reward. Because in a world full of growth gurus and branding bros, authenticity is your superpower. Use it. ——— ✍️ How do you share success without all the fluff? ♻️ Share to help others embrace real connections.
📌 FYI—I'm taking the rest of the week off and enjoying the July 4th break with family: — No new content — No new comments — See you all next week Later taters! PS) Saturday's newsletter is already drafted and ready to go (you can up here ➝ https://www.pathfinder.coach/newsletter)
If I could hit the like button a bajillion times, I would! Equally toxic? The posts that imply that true success is measured by the number of digits in your revenue statement. It isn't.
It's tough. I prefer the straight forward advice in my posts and in the conversations I've had. The boats and the images of success are .01% of the journey if anything - building a brand and a business isn't easy (similar to how the job search isn't) I've been fortunate to get around people who have shared the behind the scenes for their business. It's not always pretty. I also try to ask myself, does someone leave my post better off? An idea? An action step? Whatever it is, are they better?
The yacht and lambo posts offer nothing for anyone to learn. They are a less-than-humble brag with zero value added. LinkedIn is about building your brand and, more importantly, what you have to offer others. If all you have to offer is a boat and champagne, maybe you should just become another influencer.
You forgot the occasional picture next to a Lamborgini David Hannan. 100% on this, one of the biggest eye-openers is realizing that a lot of these people are lying through their teeth. It also fails to resonate, I rather hear about the challenges and how they made it through.
For me, this is about reading the room. So many folks are struggling right now - the vacation selfies are just obnoxious in this market.
While I always appreciate a scenic pic that includes crystal blue waters -- I've long taken these "I'm thin, beautiful, rich and happy" posts with a grain of salt. But I'm 56 -- and have some wisdom that comes with age. Younger folks may not -- and I saw my teens struggle with these sorts of comparisons at times on other platforms. I second the call to keep it real.
I wish I could like this like a million times, David Hannan. A whole lot of the people who are showing those "killing it!" boat and lambo and other pics are actually not killing it at all. They are posing on social media instead of actually building their business.
I don't share wins on social media to inspire others. I show my history of hustle. All the side work I did. - I got my own software package published. - I was a part of PC Week Lab Partner program. - I ran a PC Backup business. - I went to most every Comdex in Las Vegas ... I did not just work 8-5 and complain that I wasn't getting anywhere.
I help mid-career job seekers feel seen and in control | Former $4M full-desk NYC agency recruiter | Founder @ Pathfinder Coaching
1w📌 Here's 1 thing I wish all creators knew: Authenticity matters. People often think: — "Highlight the wins." — "Post more shiny content." — "Show off the luxury lifestyle." — "Success means looking perfect." You think flaunting success builds your brand. — "Look at my yacht!" — And then people disconnect... — "Why am I losing engagement?" — Now you feel out of touch with your audience This superficial approach rarely works.