Do you remember your first date, or your your first job interview? You did your best to act the way you thought you were supposed to act. Maybe you even put on a fake façade to appear more experienced than you actually were. We all do that. We want to make a good first impression. We want people to like us.

In life, we wear different "masks" to conform to the various roles we play. For instance, the mask you wear when you're with your spouse or significant other is different than the mask you wear when you're playing with your children or pets. The mask you wear to work is different than the one you wear at home when you're hanging out with your family and close friends. When meeting with a new client, your mask may be slightly different than the one you wear when visiting a long-term client. Do you get the picture?

Many people choose not to mix business and personal on Facebook, but I opted to do the complete opposite. Isn't networking about building rapport with others and discovering things you share in common? Think about it: Isn't it more fun to work and play with people you like? It sure makes life less stressful!