Adè, The Negotiator.

Got a new work laptop and @skillbox_so helped me bring all my essential skills to the new machine without reinstalling them. Skillbox can do so much and I genuinely enjoy using it. I've used it across all my devices since the MVP was ready.

we are launching a tool for managing your agent skills soon. join the waitlist: skillbox.so

we are launching a tool for managing your agent skills soon. join the waitlist: skillbox.so

No, I won’t check out your portfolio. Here’s why. Anytime you ask someone to do something, it’s a pitch. In a pitch, say what’s in it for the other person. What’s in it for me to check out your portfolio? Why would I spend my time, energy, and attention—all of which I value highly—on that as opposed to anywhere else? If there’s nothing in it for me, then you’re asking for charity. If you’re asking for charity, then ask for charity. Make it clear. I like doing favors sometimes and being charitable sometimes. But I can’t tell if that’s what you’re asking for, and I won’t assume it. Even if I agreed to it, you haven’t even given me any criteria. Is there something specific you want help with? Something to improve? Something you’re stuck on? Some job it’s not doing? General questions get general answers. Specific questions get specific answers. Since I don’t know what you want help with and there doesn’t seem to be much incentive for me, it’s a pass. Here are some examples of pitches I would consider more (even if I’d still say no): “Dan, would you be willing to do me a favor and review my portfolio to help me land a design job working on a U.S.-based team for a fintech startup?” “Dan, can you please review my portfolio to see if the UI design work feels closer to junior or senior caliber? I’ll make a donation to your favorite non-profit as a token of thanks.” “Dan, would you mind looking at my portfolio to see if I’m the kind of person you’d hire? I know you value your time, attention, and energy, so I’d gladly take any feedback you can provide after looking for even 30 seconds.” @odeniransulaimo, wanna pitch again? I’m open to you trying again if you’d like. But even better: pitch someone who’s in a closer position to help you get what you want. If you want a job at a sports betting startup, pitch a hiring manager at a sports betting startup to check out your portfolio. Even if they won’t hire you for THEIR startup, their feedback would be way more relevant to getting a job at a sports betting startup than my feedback would be, since I’ve never worked at a sport betting startup. In short, when you pitch, make it about them and make it as easy as possible for them to give you what you want.