Why I hang out in LinkedIn? - Social lessons from my Grandfather in India

When I was a young boy growing up in India, quite a few of my summer vacations were spent visiting my maternal grandparents in the town of Thrissur in Kerala, India. My grandfather, whom we called Achan (meaning Father in Malayalam - the language spoken in the state of Kerala), was a very popular and outgoing man, known in the neighborhood as a man of knowledge, wisdom and resources.

Every morning and evening, without fail, Achan would sit on the front porch of his home with a chai (tea) in his hand, waiting for people to come and sit with him. And they did come. Neighbors, relatives, strangers, young students seeking career and life advice, older folks seeking guidance and wisdom - they all came. And Achan would listen, share his knowledge, tell a story, make a connection and send people on their way with a smile and a sense of direction.

This is why I hang out in LinkedIn.

LinkedIn is my front porch. It is where I sit with my virtual chai and make myself available to people who want to connect, learn, share, and grow. It is where I listen to others’ journeys, offer what wisdom I can, make introductions, and celebrate the achievements of people I have come to admire and respect.

Achan never kept score of who he helped or what he received in return. His joy was in the connection itself. In being present. In being genuinely interested in the lives of the people who came to his porch.

That is the spirit I try to bring to LinkedIn. Not to broadcast. Not to sell. But to be present, engaged, and genuinely useful to the community I am part of.

My grandfather has been gone for many years now. But his front porch lives on - in how I show up here, in how I try to lead, and in how I hope to make others feel when they reach out.

Thank you for being part of my front porch community.

Raghu Raghuraman