Popularity Pitfalls

As the band Nada Surf once said, “I’m popular.” And I’ve noticed that my popularity is parabolic and has its pitfalls. I’ve worked for Frontier Airlines for more than a year now, and I’ve gotten enough friend requests on LinkedIn to fill all the Target restrooms in Denver County. I haven’t been this popular since I was director – corporate communications for American Airlines. Nobody wanted to be my friend when I was just trying to catch my breath in the Bolivian Andes, climbing the wall around old Jerusalem or trying to figure out how to get to the Bratislava Train Station.

I’ve learned some lessons about these popularity pitfalls that hopefully will help those of you who may be dealing with the same issue on LinkedIn or in other places. Taking a chance on becoming even more popular, I’ve outlined them for you in the following three categories:

“Bye, Bye Bangalore.” I’m really popular in Bangalore and throughout India. I’m not sure why. I’m a big fan of tikka masala, but how has word about my coolness leaked out all the way over there? The names of start-ups looking to connect with me from there would rival those in the Bay Area. Thank you, complete strangers in different countries, but no thanks. I’ll pass on popularity in faraway lands.

“The Ole’ Bait and Switch.” This might be my favorite form of popularity. I’ve found that I’m really popular with Second Degree connections on LinkedIn who just happen to be working in business development, have a complaint about the airline – or just want money in some way, shape or form. These folks will praise my one and only LinkedIn blog post (prior to this one), admire my social activism or tell me how they’ve also traveled to Managua. Then, I get hit with the business pitch. “Have I got the solutions for the problems you don’t have!” they say. I’ll pass on popularity from perfect strangers peddling goods.

“Lend a Helping Hand.” I save the actual best for last. This is truly what I enjoy about being popular. I’ve had friends and colleagues from past lives and companies reach out when their job situation changed, wanted to help a friend applying at a company or just checked on me. I would much rather pass along an email address, proof a resume, give a reference or make an introduction if it helps someone on their current path or, better yet, discover a new path. Jesus said something along the lines that we should do unto others as we would have done to us. I'll take this kind of popularity - which could take a lifetime of work.

So I can commiserate with Justin Bieber. I know what it’s like to be popular, and popularity isn’t a box of Mrs. Field’s semi-sweet chocolate chip cookies. But proper popularity can be worth the pursuit despite the pitfalls.