Writing on LinkedIn during the past year has changed my life. I believe it’s the single biggest opportunity for anyone to supercharge their career.

I started writing online in earnest after I left my corporate job. I post about fintech, leadership, three decades of working at Bloomberg and life lessons from my parents.

The surprise has been the engagement — from comments to direct messages — and the level of interest in connecting in real life or via Zoom. Many of those meetings have led to job offers or other opportunities.

Writing online is the modern CV.

Young people should write to advertise their interests and connect with mentors. Older people should write to tell the world what they accomplished and share insights.

I came up with three axioms to explain why it’s important:

–You are who the Internet says you are

–You can influence that posting online

–No one else will tell your story

The best way to start is to write about things that interest you.

The worst way is to write what you think other people want to hear.

People should recognize you in what you write.

It is best to write consistently. I recommend at least once a week.

I usually tell a story anchored by a personal anecdote and specific details i.e. I once went jogging with Mike Bloomberg in Buenos Aires! I try to say what I learned or why it matters.

The best posts are educational or entertaining, or ideally both. Something that provides value. Great posts make a contribution.

The worst posts are promotional. Avoid politics (unless you are a politician) and dunking on other people.

Re-posting articles doesn’t get you very far.

People ask me where they should post. I tell them that platforms from Facebook to Twitter come and go. Write something constructive and helpful and post it on the platform that works best for you.

I archive my writing on my own website and then post on LinkedIn. I’m in the process of setting up a newsletter on Beehiiv so people can subscribe.

People ask whether they should use AI to write social media posts. I don’t recommend it. You can convince yourself that no one knows the difference, but you would be wrong. Humans have exquisite antennae for detecting BS and phoniness.

Also, AI cannot tell stories that have never been told.

And those are the stories most worth telling.