Once you step into the world of social networking via sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, it doesn’t take long to see how connected we all are. In the course of a day, you can easily interact with people around the globe who share your values and interests — as well as others who might be completely different from you.

Since many people I talk to are trying to figure out what to do next with there lives, I’d like to show you how social networking can aid you in this process.

Quite a few people have expressed to me a variation of “I don’t want to use Facebook because so many people who I don’t even know want to be my friend. I’d rather just interact with people I know.”

That view is shortsighted. By looking at the profiles of people on Facebook and other social networking sites who want to “friend” you, you can learn what others are doing in both the corporate and entrepreneurial worlds. Learning about what those who have been drawn to you are doing can open your mind to new possibilities.

As a result of simply following the trail of friend requests and following up when I meet people with whom I seem to resonate, I’ve appeared on a number of Internet radio shows and I’ve established long-term relationships with people I call and chat with every month.

And most importantly, learning what others are doing in fields that interest me has helped my define my unique talents so I can present what I have to offer in a compelling way.

If you look at yourself in the mirror, you’ll only see what is standing there now. But if you look at others as a mirror of you, you’ll see aspects of yourself that you didn’t even know existed.

When approaching any of the social media sites, instead of thinking about how you can sell your products or services, consider what you can learn from others and how they are structuring their business and personal lives. By observing others, you’ll learn more about yourself.

Sharing with others will also help you define your true nature. I know that for some of you this means taking a risk. It’s safer to take the risk and make yourself more visibile than to stay stuck in a false persona.