From Zero Friends to 74k In Two Weeks

Two weeks ago I mentioned that I wasn't sure about these social networking opportunities. In my post To Link or Not To Link I expressed some cynicism over the value of sites like linked in to my business.
Grudgingly I applied. Fellow colleague and blogger, Chris Brown commented on the value of social networking and I trust her opinion.
Two weeks later I now have 20 connections with 12 outstanding invitations that I sent Friday and fully expect at least half to agree to be part of my network.
Because of the 20 connections – I'm linked into their connections for a total of over 74,000 people!
I can search through the connections for industry leaders, decision makers, job openings, and just the names of people I've lost touch with over the years. It has been a blast emailing people I used to work with and getting reconnected.
Gone is my cynicism.
Who has a success story to share? Someone they've reconnected with on a personal level, doors opened professionally?
Who is a fan and why?
Who is not and why?
Deborah Chaddock Brown
Writer, Linked IN
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