Leaving Linkedin To Linkedin: Voluntarily Closing 4,000 Connection Linkedin Account + 97 User Generated Groups

[Vincent Wright]

To help ease Linkedin's apparent paranoia regarding power users like me who've used their logo for the past 4 years, I've decided to delete my Linkedin account, effective today, May 27, 2008.

Current Details of My Linkedin Account (and associated social media work):
1. Member in good standing since February 23, 2004
2. Current First Level Connections: 4,042
3. Recommendations: 144 (38 co-workers, 17 clients, 89 partners)
4. User Generated Groups: 95 (See list below*)
5. Memberships in groups I've created ON Linkedin: ~50,000+
6. Associated social media groups, blogs, and forums I've created off Linkedin: ~1,000
7. Memberships in groups I've created OFF Linkedin: ~75,000+
8. Groups I support ON Linkedin: 214 (unknown number of members)
9: Groups I support OFF Linkedin: ~1,200 (well over 1 Million members)
10. Link used to close Linkedin account:
https://www.linkedin.com/secure/settings?closemyaccountstart

Though it may seem sacrilege to close a 4 year old account with so much user generated data associated with it, that data is virtually useless unless you're motivated to use it and unless you can trust the organization where you've built up that data...

Thus, I'm leaving Linkedin to Linkedin and voluntarily deleting an account which has been at the center of my attention for more than 4 years...

--
Keep STRONG!
Vincent Wright
VincentWright.com (My New Profile)
MyLinkingPowerForum.com (Ning (2,600 members))
MyLinkedinPowerForum.com (Yahoo (8,800 members))
MyLinkedinPowerForum.biz (Linkedin (8,500 members))
MyLinkedinPowerForum.net (Facebook (1,500 members))

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Attractionese: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/84342/2EE06B73AAB9
Check Out My Book!: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/96013/58D67B2C33A7
Financial Planning: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/97183/1F70303FF95F
Forum Action Day: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/38749/5F8F274058CE
Get INSURED!: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/97181/6603BC6052B2
Homes Against Homelessness: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/85067/59414D62D1EA
I LOVE My Business Plan!: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/89590/64C2C051C061
I LOVE My Profile!: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/90234/1256744EFAC0
I LOVE My Resume!: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/89591/3322821B9E7E
Invite Me!: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/72467/1E0A7B5E686C
Linking Affiliate Programs: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/76900/37F66748474D
Linking Africa: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/51670/1EAB9C7F98C6
Linking African Americans: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/38418/7125213A191A
Linking America: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/39705/43E6404383F3
Linking And The Secret: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/40149/2BB0E24F7EA6
Linking Blogs: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/72379/6317EE537EE5
Linking Boomers: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/39706/2700AB3FE8C9
Linking Boston: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/67790/316643457D08
Linking California: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/69355/1E814C0EC5D6
Linking Canada: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/74819/6E614955765D
Linking China: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/38416/6D47E55CDC12
Linking Christians: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/49997/17A96E7F96DE
Linking Connecticut: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/36237/3BD759616946
Linking Consultants: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/41040/01690775F099
Linking Democrats: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/52293/5EB57834CAC4
Linking Diversity: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/73638/175AA563D1EA
Linking Education: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/62512/24855F4F0E5E
Linking Events: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/76738/2E6F384E6DFE
Linking Executives: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/53908/563A99517BC9
Linking Eyes To Find Missing Children:
http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/98540/069EF76529B9
Linking Groups: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/68710/5B15802E2679
Linking Hartford: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/42441/290A951F0247
Linking Health Care: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/95009/2C83E13F873F
Linking Human Resources: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/67522/61393521D8E9
Linking IT: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/72611/50A2EF3A537C
Linking Independents: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/52295/5F8CC86113E0
Linking India: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/38417/4F57CB612D99
Linking Job Seekers: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/65344/34CC03647206
Linking Journalists: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/71556/628C5E3BFD63
Linking Lawyers: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/71557/300C2C40018C
Linking MBAs: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/70886/56527742EDE7
Linking Moderators: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/70880/6B0BCE4EE80F
Linking Moonlighters: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/97033/19F83718D84B
Linking Musicians: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/59175/56484078B01A
Linking Nonprofits: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/73835/7456E6152F3B
Linking On The Links: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/78322/69514D39610E
Linking Partners: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/95188/0CDEA9175EEC
Linking Pharmaceutical: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/60738/02AC4B678709
Linking Philadelphia: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/72562/3695B13F9B93
Linking Podcasters: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/79736/538E2A7AD23B
Linking Real Estate: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/72468/5B5BAF501474
Linking Recruiters: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/36234/00C00365C4C9
Linking Recruitment Process Outsourcing:
http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/96424/30F3807FD850
Linking Republicans: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/52294/38031A0773C2
Linking Sales PROS: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/81684/64CF7F10E508
Linking San Francisco: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/70882/1F0CD53B0168
Linking Security: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/80761/1CE99B36028C
Linking Six Sigma: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/96002/46532F42504E
Linking Skype Users: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/81313/0BDF3257B06C
Linking Start Ups: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/74722/32A73B64F8DC
Linking Surveys: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/100357/2EF5CF0D22AE
Linking Texas: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/83642/66C33B722568
Linking The Digital Divide: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/68561/1CC93D6565A6
Linking Venture Capital: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/36011/4D7ED31DE641
Linking Veterans: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/40330/26ADAB245377
Linking Washington, DC: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/67777/22284538D449
Linking Webmasters: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/100535/50F2AE0855F2
Linking Women: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/40557/3BBE78609F28
Linking Yogis: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/67639/5B22DF71D5D0
Linkonomics: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/67639/5B22DF71D5D0
Meet Me!: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/87706/02359C264A35
My Announcements: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/83644/6ACEAE7DD045
My Campaigns: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/93318/23A052547853
My Job TIGER: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/54537/2DDE91410C66
My Link Log: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/84256/45022F626000
My Linking Power Forum: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/1304/10BE4F71AFD0
My Success Books: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/71596/2AC31A5222F0
Proposal Writing: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/97092/153E55156819
Pursuing Relentless Optimism: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/96916/6CB705337E8B
Seeking Angels: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/87446/0614AB24706B
Social Media Optimization: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/91995/3259762128AB
Teach Us About: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/39704/3FBC56756CFF
The Apology Registry: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/94753/43BF437F36B8
The Biggest Business In The World:
http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/21043/0100102FCEC2
The Impoverished Millionaires: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/91994/4CFE172B8EAA
The Science Of Encouragement: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/40772/6C2F4336BFFD
The Writers Forum: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/77250/44A0A350B6BE
To Heal On September Eleventh: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/79950/433C6D26D53C
Twitterpated: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/72841/0A012849CDB5
Virtually Viral!: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/91254/10F9407D93C8
Who Do You Need To Meet?: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/100217/4D93051B250B
Work At Home Moms: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/97485/206168700748
Wright Hand Outsourcing: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/50537/0114F5352F81
Yearnalism: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/84341/52FC89059334
You Need TO EXERCISE!: http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/97099/48E2F657A475
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[Recruiting Animal]

Vincent, we're doing a show on LinkedIn tomorrow on The Recruiting Animal Show. If you want some time to talk you can just call in or email me in advance. < href="mailto:[e-mail]">[e-mail]

All show info is here www.recruitingshow.com

[Vincent Wright]

Thanks, Recruiting Animal,
I'm a bit exhausted at the moment and don't think I can do a show specifically on Linkedin, right now. However, I'd love to chat it up a bit with you about other - *non-Linkedin* - stuff in the not-too-distant future...

Keep STRONG!
Vincent

[Sheilah Etheridge]

Hi Vincent,

God, I hate this. I DO understand your decision, but I hate that you have invested so much in all of this and in each of us and now they have treated you this way. Please let us know if you have any groups or forums where we can still chat with you. It doesn't have to be linkedin related.

Sheilah

[stacy zapar]

Hi Vincent,

We are all so sorry to hear your decision knowing how much time and effort you've put in to the LI community. Let us know where you end up. You will certainly be missed!

Best regards,
Stacy

[Vincent Wright]

Thanks Stacy! I'm not going too far - most of my network will be able to find me - actually, I'll be right here! :-) Keep STRONG! - Vincent

[Nadine Touzet]

Vincent,

I am truly sorry to read this. Can't say more than has already been said.

Keep in touch!

Nadine

[Vincent Wright]

Thanks, Nadine. I'll be right here for the foreseeable future so, let me know if you ever need me. Keep STRONG!

[Jim - medXcentral]

Vincent, I hope you do not lose many of your fans. It will also be impressive to see how many new Ning networks develop because of your move.

I'm a bit of a novice ... but with good instincts. I'm confident that Ning is the platform to be on. The word freedom comes to mind.

I look forward to learning and sharing among the network.

[Vincent Wright]

Thanks, Jim,
I hope to continue to be of service to anyone who wants to network with me. For now, I'll continue most of my networking via MyLinkingPowerForum.com

Keep STRONG and let's talk SOON! :-)
Vincent

[Sheilah Etheridge]

Hi Vincent,

I am thrilled to know you aren't closing this group site. Thank you.

Sheilah

[Vincent Wright]

Thanks, Sheilah - not only am I not closing it, I'm BUILDING IT UP! We had more than 100 new members yesterday! We have LOTS and LOTS and LOTS to do here, Sheilah! :-) Keep STRONG! - Vincent

[Paige Dumoulin]

Vincent:
I am not sure what a "power user" is but I have noticed several "old timers" from LI choosing to close down for similar reasons. I am new to the LI site and don't know the history per say.My little family of 72 primary contacts have been a blessing to me and I wish you well in pursuing your passion of Linking professionals through this site instead.
Best Regards,
Paige