When you’re thinking about how to show up on LinkedIn.
Think about whether you would want to sit next to you at dinner.
And Be More Plumber.
I like Christmas because I see old friends.
And, occasionally, friends of friends.
This Christmas, one friend of a friend – plonked aside me at dinner – was The Plumber.
The only reason I learned that The Plumber was a plumber was because (weirdly and serendipitously) I got a text from a friend – mid-dinner – with a plumby problem.
Asking if I knew a plumber.
I discovered that I did.
I was sat next to one.
A plumber that was not only a great plumber.
But also chap that (my mercurial mind later concluded) understood LinkedIn better than almost everybody on LinkedIn.
Even though The Plumber had never heard of LinkedIn.
“Here” I said to the plumber.
“Have a read of this text. My friends toilet is doing this.”
The Plumber glanced down at my phone.
Then back up at me.
Then, still chewing on a sausage, took my phone calmly began to type.
(I’ll surmise).
“Hi. Try this. And is that doesn’t fix it, try this. And if that doesn’t fix it, do this to stop the leak. Then look at this website and search this phrase. Then if you can’t, or don’t want to do it yourself, text me. Here’s my number.”
The Plumber then handed me back my phone.
And went back to his sausages.
Now, the reason I think The Plumber understands LinkedIn better than almost everybody on LinkedIn.
Even though he’d never heard of LinkedIn.
Is because he did this.
Gave something.
Gave something else.
Gave something else.
Gave something else.
Showed understanding.
Then said if you want – get in touch.
Then went back to his sausages.
If he’d been on LinkedIn and had behaved like almost everybody on LinkedIn, this is how dinner with The Plumber would have gone.
The Plumber sits down.
The Plumber: “Hi I’m a plumber.”
The Plumber: “Hey, don’t tell me. You have a house don’t you? Am I right? You do don’t you? A house. And looking at you I bet it’s a real nice house too. And I bet you haaaaave… bathrooms! You do don’t you? Bathrooms! Am I right? Am I right? And I bet you haaaaave… toilets and sinks and baths too don’t you? Well, most plumbers have a call out fee…”
Me: Sorry. My house in on fire and/or I have a disease. I have to go.
A thought for 2026…
When you’re thinking about how to show up on LinkedIn.
Think about whether you would want to sit next to you at dinner.
Then Be More Plumber.
(Then get back to your sausages).