That’s why I’m inclined to separate the two aspects of myself just like Robin. People who are interested in me from the business point of view should not be burdened by details of my private life. It’s a bit like going to a business meeting and listening to people going on and on about their children, dogs, holidays, restaurant experiences, the performance of their favourite football team last weekend or whatever, thereby wasting the time of those who’d like to get on with the business. The same, of course, works for my private life. If I started inserting business messages into my personal interaction forums, the yawns and unfollows would be quick to manifest themselves. The parallel here being a casual cocktail party where you bore the heck out of everybody by only talking about your business.

The first was a concept called Declarative Living which I was introduced to by James Governer over a pint a good few years ago now. His point was that you are the sum of your business and personal life and so why should y divorce one from the other. The decision to work with you can be as much a question of chemistry as anything and so including your hobbies and interests might be the key decider. He also argued that if you are diametrically opposed as people then that may not be a good thing for your business relationship. I had to admit he had a point.

The next point I took into consideration was that I am kidding myself if people would not look me up as a person as well as a professional. With a name like mine it’s easier to do this but it is surely the same for everybody to a greater or lesser extent. I know I haven’t hired anyone in the last four or five years without Googling them and checking out what I can about them. I do the same for clients and business partners. Its generally not difficult to find stuff and I assume that everyone else does the same thing.

So therefore given that it would be impossible to hide things about myself and stop people finding out about it then it is my responsibility to live as good a life as I am able and to actually declare it.

A group or fan page for business is another story. Contemplating that myself at the moment. It will be interesting to see what kinds of decisions you’ll make!