Loose Ties Scavenger Hunt

I really wanted the username @craftwork on Twitter in 2013.

No, I don't remember why—I'm embarrassed to even tell you I wanted this username—but I do remember this story.

I followed the guy who had @craftwork and I DMed him to see if he'd give it to me because he had basically no followers and he really wasn't using it.

He said no (kindly).

But he followed me back.

Then, one day I notice that he's now working AT Twitter. And it just so happened I was heading to Twitter HQ (RIP) for a hackathon the following month. So I DMed him again and asked if he was around.

During the hackathon, he came down to see me. Turned out he was a designer too. I had no idea. I told him I would love to work at Twitter (RIP those dreams). And he goes:

"Oh really? I'll put in a referral for you."

And then. I got an interview with Twitter Design.

I ended up not going through the whole interview process because I got other offers faster (tech interviews have always been absurdly long) but the story stuck with me about how a *very light connection* can turn into an *actually helpful relationship.*

This is called weak ties theory.

Weak ties theory was coined by Stanford sociologist Mark Granovetter in the 1970s:“Your weak ties connect you to networks that are outside of your own circle." Weak ties are loose connections you have to people, just like me and my Twitter mutual. And Granovetter's research showed that they could be much more powerful than your close relationships when it comes to getting work opportunities.

It's in this spirit of expanding your valuable network that we launch The Loose Ties Scavenger Hunt.

The Loose Ties Scavenger Hunt is an invitation to develop new loose ties with 4 other Legends in a very low stakes, low effort way.

I've got a game board for you, and of course, there's gonna be prizes :)

But first, I need your help...