Actually,I didn’t get the “VIP” designation, I took it literally, so thanks for clarifying. I agree and I feel pretty much the same about my connections.
“Because you ask for introductions! You meet people through the people you already know.”
Great strategy – and something for me to try.

First a correction – you should say “Steve Tylock – Author of The LinkedIn Personal Trainer”, I’m not part of LinkedIn.

I completely endorse your connection strategy – it will keep you safe and help extend your network outwards.

To answer the question you’ve posed – how “can you get to know others” even though you only connect to people you know and trust? Because you ask for introductions! You meet people through the people you already know.

Once you know them well enough to trust them, then you ask to connect.

You understand my “VIP” designation, right? I’m not saying that everyone I connect to is literally a VIP, I’m saying that I treat them as such because I value them and the relationship I have with them.

And I’m not willing to put any of that in jeopardy by connecting to random people…

You can find more articles with my connection philosophy here:
http://www.linkedinpersonaltrainer.com/archives/category/connections/

steve
–
Steven Tylock
The LinkedIn Personal Trainer
http://www.linkedinpersonaltrainer.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/stevetylock