Breaking Up the Social Networking Way

Grow Up and Move On Card by Claire & Me Designs

Breaking up is hard to do.

Yes, those very lyrics crooned by Neil Sedaka decades ago tell a tale of breaking away from someone you were close to. That friend you could laugh with and the shoulder you could cry upon are becoming a relic of the past. You grew apart, had differences in opinion, and didn’t communicate openly anymore. Sometimes there was more taking than giving. Whatever the reason, your paths are going different directions and you have needs that can’t be fulfilled by your current relationship.

In case you’re wondering, mom, my marriage is fine.

I logged into my Blogger account tonight and mulled over the nearly 200 blogs that I followed at some point. Many of them were “I follow you, you follow me” deals. I didn’t remember most of them and I certainly wasn’t reading any of them with any regularity. Heck, a lot of them weren’t updated with any regularity. But there was still this little part of me felt guilty about unsubscribing. I know many people try so hard to build a following in their business and social media networks that losing a connection with another person is disappointing at best. They counted on me to be a supporter, a cheerleader, and active participant.

I didn’t want to be the buzz kill at the social network party, but I was a dead weight in their communities. I was also growing tired of making promises to read that blog post or participate in that meme that I never got around to. It’s not fair to the blogger who’s building a community.

Breaking up happens in business and professional networks just like it does in social circles.

It’s also not fair to neglect the needs of my business that I have dreamed about having for so very long. My path is winding toward completely different direction than it was a year ago. It is dependent upon me for growth, nurturing, and development. Without my ongoing active participation, my shop goes dark and buyers move on.

I now have to deal with a lot of tough choices. Tonight I whittled my Blogger blogroll from 176 blogs down to 37, with more cuts to be made. I even have other tough choices to still make. There are networks that I will either have to take a less active role in or leave altogether. It’s not personal and it never was. My needs in these relationships have changed and it is time to reassess what brought me here in the first place – my handmade business.

Where one door closes, another one opens.

I certainly believe that in order for any entity to thrive – not just survive – an occasional pruning is necessary. I have been on the receiving end of business and social pruning before and, yes, the aftermath was always quite difficult. But surely enough, I found my feet again and continued forging my path forward. I came across new opportunities and experiences that I never would have had otherwise. I learned more about myself, my personal strength, and my abilities. I also learned what I could live with and without.

It’s not you. It’s me.

I have aspirations and, as I bring them to fruition, I need to devote my time and resources to making them happen. I really would love old contacts and I remain in touch. I am anxious to see how many of them carve out their own paths and make their indie business dreams blossom. I hope the fire and passion that was with them the day they open shop remains with them throughout their handmade career. I would also love to cross paths again so we can share stories, experiences and ideas as seasoned business owners.

Breaking up is hard to do, but that doesn’t mean it’s the end of the road.