Now a word about X, TikTok, etc. It’s extraordinary how much damage someone can do to themselves in just 140 characters. Yes, we all hear and read the celebrity horror stories on TMZ and the gossip magazines. But there’s another way to waste your time (and mine). The other day, I talked about people whom I’ve never met who approach me and ask me to give them advice, do them a favor, or make an introduction. Many of them do it via X. Of course, the messages on X or TikTok are short by design, but even if I genuinely want to help them, what kind of an answer can I give them that would be of any help in 140 characters? I’ve yet to see any career question that can be answered properly in that length…other than “Don’t quit your day job.” (Ouch.) So think not only about how you want to relate to people in this business, but you should also think about the platform you choose to ask questions on and the type of conversation that platform will best enable.
