The LinkedIn Success Trap

I'm concerned about my emotional relationship with LinkedIn. Is everyone really raising rounds of millions and growing at 300% quarterly?

We generally know that social media presents the pleasant, fun, entertaining, and positive side, which isn't inherently bad, but it certainly ceases to be entirely real, and the algorithm rewards this type of aspirational content by showing it more frequently. We've already read news stories about influencers who appear incredibly happy but who, deep down, are going through or have gone through a situation that leads to a tragic end.

LinkedIn, the network where we share our professional lives, also has a dark side. In the vast majority of posts, we read stories of capital raises, double-digit growth, a new major client, another award or trophy for the display case. Again, I'm not against showcasing achievements, but what's behind all that? How much does it distort reality? What's true, and how much is just one side of the story?

Perhaps it's not the responsibility of those who create the content to manage how they connect with the reader, but it is our responsibility as consumers of that content to recognize that we only have part of the picture, that it's healthy and necessary to question it, and understand it as incomplete.

This type of content, which highlights achievements, recognitions, awards, metrics, and so on, has a side effect. For entrepreneurs, it's impossible to avoid constant comparisons, leading to the "Highlight Reel Culture." The situation is exacerbated because it can unintentionally, but seriously, affect the mental health of entrepreneurs — let's not forget imposter syndrome. When 3 of 4 LinkedIn posts are about successes and achievements, we fall into the illusion that everyone is progressing faster, or we create expectations about what every self-respecting entrepreneur should achieve, leading to an exhausting mental cycle:

1. I see achievements

2. I compare myself

3. I feel behind

4. I increase self-pressure

5. I burn out

6. I experience performance anxiety

7. I lose focus

8. I fall into burnout

9. I feel trapped…

Unfortunately, this is only the beginning, as it can transform into:

• Emotional exhaustion

• Loss of clarity

• Reactive and non-strategic decisions due to pressure

• Deterioration of family and social relationships

• Feeling of loneliness

Therefore, it becomes our responsibility to:

• Limit or filter posts

• Have emotional well-being routines, such as meditating, exercising, taking breaks, eating well, and resting well

• Have real support groups: mentors, founders, friends

• Share not only the good results, but also the process we had to go through and the not-so-good results

The true indicators of success are not only financial, but also quality of life, the strategic clarity with which we make decisions, and personal and team well-being.

We must not forget to include these indicators to measure our progress, remembering that consistency is what allows us to achieve the goal, that we don't all progress at the same speed, but above all, knowing that if any of these indicators I mentioned above are not being met, perhaps it's time to let go of that venture and focus on ourselves, because in the end, the success we have as individuals will always be more important than any venture.

I hope your LinkedIn posts reflect your reality and offer support to others on a similar path. In this way, we transcend and add value to the community. And to those of us who consume, let's not forget that not everything is as it seems, that it's our responsibility to fill our minds with real and valuable information, and that we are amazing simply for existing, despite everything.

The only comparison of progress that really matters is with ourselves, and believe me, every day we are truly progressing.