Why LinkedIn? - A Letter to My (Slightly) Younger Self

Dear Slightly Younger Me,

It's October 2013.

You're 28 years old, but over the last six months you'd swear you felt more like 128.

Lately, life for you has been a wild ride. That being said, it's not like you weren't completely surprised by all of this - when you resigned from that cozy editing position the previous winter, you knew you were taking a big risk.

But you always believed that success never comes without taking that plunge into the great unknown. You were going to start your own business. The success you had tasted in the video and film world would obviously translate into a plethora of clients, eager to pay you for your expertise. You'd be a self-made success in no time.

2013, as far as you were concerned, was going to be your year.

For a little while, this plan works out quite nicely. You'll find yourself shooting videos for a wide variety of people and businesses. A motivational speaker at Kansas State. A business presentation at ConAgra. Promotional videos for the biggest tech conference in Omaha. You're really off to a hot start. Failure is the furthest thing from your mind.

But when failure comes, well, let's just say you were never going to be prepared for it.

By August, you haven't landed a job in two months. It's not for a lack of trying, but the few prospects you've had cancel or ask to reschedule for later dates in the Fall. As you start to rely on credit cards to make ends meet, you'll reluctantly try to reenter the workforce and get turned down again and again.

And then, you will feel a sense of desperation you have never felt in your life.

You're going broke.

As the summer starts rolling toward the fall, an old friend will have come through and saved your skin by setting you up with a contracting job for Microsoft and Bing Maps. It'll be one of the most unique experiences of your life, but living on the road and traveling for months at a time isn't the right fit for you. You'll miss home like crazy.

But on the last night of the job, life throws you one more curveball. While standing in a hotel parking lot in Tulsa, you're going to get dumped. Over the phone. It's a rough card to be dealt when things were starting to look up.

By the time you get back, you're basically homeless and jobless. You've got little more than the clothes on your back and your dog at your side. Congratulations - you're now a bad country song.

Which brings us to that cool and chilly day in October, where you'll be sitting in your car outside of LinkedIn Omaha's offices. Where you'll now be trying to wipe all of these epic defeats off of our face before the biggest interview of your life.

Just landing an onsite interview at LinkedIn is a privilege in its own right. You'll try not to let your jaw hit the floor as you walk to the conference room. The decor is colorful and each desk is unique to the individual who occupies it. Someone will fly by on a scooter. Everyone seems happy.

By the time you sit down for the interview, you'll be in total awe of the place. The two managers sitting across from you will not be surprised - they've seen this look before.

As you attempt to settle in and refocus on the task at hand, they'll open the interview with the following question:

"Why LinkedIn?"

It will seem like such a simple question, but it's actually a little more complex than you realize. Your first impulse will be to stand from your chair and point to the action going on through the window behind you. Who wouldn't want to be a part of this? And while that gesture wouldn't be a completely wrong answer, I can thankfully assure you that you manage to form a complete thought and somehow put all of that magic into words.

But I'm not writing this letter today to tell you that you'll nail that question, the interview, and get the job. I'm here today to give you a glimpse into the future - to let you know that with each passing year, this question will become much easier to answer and will mean so much more.

As a slightly older, slightly wiser, and slightly grayer version of yourself, when someone asks you "Why LinkedIn?", you'll find yourself personally learning the following over the next five years:

From Day One, Relationships Matter: After applying for a position at LinkedIn from that Tulsa hotel room, you'll find yourself back in Omaha a few days later packing your belongings and getting ready to move back in with the parents for the first time since you were a teenager.

While you're going through this super humbling moment in your adult life, the phone will ring.

The recruiter on the other end will be calling from California. She'll conduct the first interview that ultimately puts you in the office on that fateful October day. She's also the first person in months that looks at your resume and makes you feel valued. When you find out you're hired, you'll never forget the first person that opened the door for you and showed what makes this company and the people special.

Prema, if you somehow stumble upon this post - thank you!

You'll Be Proud of The Work You Do: Like all the opportunities you've had in your career, you'll come to LinkedIn ready to work hard and prove yourself. Here, this kind of thing isn't glossed over or forgotten. When you receive your first promotion (as in the first promotion you have EVER received anywhere), you'll leave the meeting misty-eyed. That moment will inspire you and your career path going forward.

We're More Than Just a Place To Work: LinkedIn isn't just one of the best places to work in Omaha and around the globe - we also reach out to our communities and do some really incredible things. We help families in need in a wide variety of ways. Our Employee Resource Groups are incredible at increasing awareness and equality for all. You'll be proud to take part in activities that have a direct impact on someone else's life.

You'll Find Friendships for Life: That might sound a bit corny, but it is absolutely true. Some of your future coworkers are about to become great friends. And not just strictly at the office. You'll be laughing, crying, traveling, attending weddings, and sharing many life experiences with the best coworkers in the world. Your team will be amongst some of the first people to meet your newborn daughter.

Speaking of your daughter - she's now more popular at work than you ever wished to be.

Paying It Forward: As you grow into your career, you'll find yourself taking a path toward leadership. The lessons you've learned - to lead by example, take intelligent risks, and empower others to find success - will be rewarding to pass on. Never forget how fortunate you've been, and remember to always pay it forward.

As you think about the future, you'll look back on what you've accomplished in your personal and professional growth. Your days as a failed video businessman seem like eons ago. You've done pretty well, kid.

Slightly Younger Me, there's so much more I could tell you, but I feel I've spoiled enough. Enjoy these first five years at LinkedIn. There are plenty of more surprises in store.

Here's to the future!

-R