When the Story Is Bigger Than the Platform: Day 46
Today, Nextdoor Communications shared a LinkedIn post highlighting the inspiring story of a young Oakland singer and her family's fight against a rare cancer.
The news story is here:
First and foremost, my thoughts are with this young woman and her family. As someone who has faced significant health challenges myself—and continues to do so—I wouldn't wish that journey on anyone. I sincerely hope she receives the treatment, support, and strength she needs.
What caught my attention, however, was how Nextdoor framed the story.
Reading the article, Nextdoor plays a relatively small role. This is the section where the platform is mentioned:
Last week, days after learning her daughter had cancer, she took to the neighborhood social media site Nextdoor.
She admitted that she's not one to easily share about her personal life on such public platforms, but she told people about her daughter, Suede's bravery, her music, and a beautiful thing called hope.
The second paragraph also stood out because it describes Nextdoor as one of the family's "public platforms."
To me, that's the key point.
The heart of this story isn't Nextdoor.
It's a courageous young woman.
It's a family navigating an unimaginable diagnosis.
It's a community responding with compassion.
Nextdoor was simply one of several public platforms the family used to share their story. It wasn't the story itself.
That distinction matters.
Companies naturally want to highlight positive examples of their products in action. There's nothing wrong with that. But I think it's important to ensure the spotlight remains on the people whose stories are being told rather than on the platform that happened to be part of the journey.
As for Nextdoor itself, my concerns remain unchanged.
It's still Day 46.
I'm still seeking communication from Jacob Chavis regarding the study I requested.
I'm still asking questions about leadership, moderation, communication, and corporate culture.
Those questions haven't changed simply because the company shares inspiring stories.
From an investor's perspective, I also continue to watch the market closely.
Yesterday I mentioned my bearish outlook in my blog. Today, NXDR is down roughly 3.3% (about $0.075) as I'm writing this.
Markets move for many reasons, and one trading day doesn't define a company. But I continue to believe that stronger communication, greater accountability, and meaningful leadership changes would better position the company for long-term success.
Join the discussion at NielFlamm.com/blog. I'd love to hear your perspective.
#Nextdoor #NXDR #Leadership #CorporateCulture #Communication #InvestorRelations #Community #CustomerExperience #Storytelling #Shareholders
Back on Tinder... Pray for Me
Against my better judgment, I downloaded Tinder.
It's free.
My expectations? Somewhere between "maybe I'll meet someone nice" and "I'll probably be talking to a guy named Igor pretending to be Jennifer."
I matched with someone who gave me the standard:
"I'm looking for honesty, loyalty, emotional maturity..."
Sounds promising.
Then came the question:
"What is your profession?"
I decided to run a little quality assurance test.
My answer?
"I sell heroin. Not on a corner... I'm a cartel leader."
It was obviously a joke.
I figured one of three things would happen:
She'd unmatch me immediately.
She'd laugh.
She'd call the DEA.
Instead...
Nothing.
No "Seriously?"
No "That's not funny."
No "You're weird."
Just... nothing.
I'm beginning to think the bots don't have a sense of humor.
At this rate, I'll probably delete Tinder before it figures out whether I'm Pablo Escobar or just a bald guy with a prosthetic leg who likes Coke Zero and movie theaters.
So, serious question...
How do people over 50 actually meet now?
Asking for a friend.
The friend is me.
Recruiters or Resume Sellers? Ask the Question.
If you're actively looking for a new opportunity on LinkedIn, stay alert.
Today I was contacted by two different "recruiters." I'll share the second conversation when I receive it, but I'm posting this one because it's a fair and straightforward question.
"Is this an opportunity, or are you going to offer me a resume writing service?"
As of writing this post, I haven't received a response.
That doesn't automatically mean this isn't a legitimate recruiter. It may be. I don't know.
My point is this: don't be afraid to ask direct questions.
As job seekers, we're sharing our resumes, employment history, and sometimes personal information. Taking a few moments to verify whom you're speaking with is time well spent.
Suppose this turns out to be a legitimate opportunity; great. If not, asking the question may save someone time, money, or frustration.
I'll also share the second conversation once I receive it so everyone can compare the interactions.
I've been documenting my job search, recruiting experiences, and other career observations on my blog at NielFlamm.com/blog. I hope some of those experiences help others navigate today's job market.
Have you received messages like this on LinkedIn? What questions do you ask before engaging?
Day 47: Leadership Means Knowing When to Pivot
If you're not familiar with how I got here, I'm Nirav Tolia, Jacob Chavis, Investor Relations, and Communications. The story began 46 days ago. You can catch up at NielFlamm.com/blog.
Earlier today, I was talking with a friend about this journey.
In recovery, we're taught to be mindful of trying to impose our will on others. That conversation made me stop and think.
Am I trying to force my will on this situation?
I hope not.
I'm holding the leaders and representatives of a company I'm invested in accountable for how they communicate and engage with shareholders.
That thought led me to two videos the algorithm served my way.
The first was from Michael Girdley discussing leadership lessons from Vito Corleone in The Godfather.
🎥 https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1dAAxxNtjr/
The takeaway:
Leaders have to know when to pivot.
That immediately made me think about Nextdoor.
I'm seeing the same messaging repeated, and users and shareholders continue raising the same questions about communication, moderation, and engagement.
The second video was about the Amazon Fire Phone.
🎥 https://www.facebook.com/reel/1025069253212790
Amazon tried to enter a market outside its core strengths. The lesson wasn't about phones—it was about staying focused on what you do best.
Again, this is my opinion as a shareholder.
I believe Nextdoor risks trying to become something it isn't instead of excelling at what made it unique.
A platform built to connect neighbors should make communication easy, moderation consistent, and feedback welcome.
Instead, I continue to question a moderation model built around unpaid volunteers, an appeals process many users question, and communication channels where feedback often goes unanswered.
Those concerns are among the reasons I remain bearish on NXDR.
As of this writing, NXDR is down approximately 1.56% ($0.04) to about $2.22 per share. Markets move for many reasons, but I believe investors are watching leadership, execution, and whether the company is willing to adapt.
For full transparency, I have not shorted NXDR. I own shares of the company. I have no financial incentive to see the stock decline. I want Nextdoor to succeed because I believe it still has tremendous potential.
I believe realizing that potential requires leadership willing to pivot.
Join the discussion at NielFlamm.com/blog. Leave some feedback—I'd love to hear from you.
From Flushing to Westbury: When Home Makes the Wrong List
Every once in a while, something pops up on social media that makes you stop scrolling.
I recently watched this Facebook Reel:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/861451983514866
As I watched it, one thing immediately caught my attention—and not in a good way.
The first city mentioned in the reel was Westbury, New York.
That one hit a little differently.
I was born in Flushing, Queens, but I grew up in Westbury. That wasn't just a place on a map—it was home.
I attended the Westbury Public Schools.
I worked on Post Avenue.
I delivered newspapers through the neighborhoods.
I spent countless hours walking those streets, making friends, growing up, and creating memories that still stick with me today.
No town is perfect. Every community has challenges, and every place changes over time. But when the very first thing people hear about a town is something negative, it's disappointing for those of us who remember so many good moments there.
When I think of Westbury, I don't immediately think about headlines.
I think about riding my bike.
I think about neighbors.
I think about school.
I think about my first jobs.
I think about learning responsibility by delivering newspapers, long before GPS and smartphones existed.
Those experiences helped shape who I am today.
Maybe that's why this reel struck a nerve. It's a reminder that a city is much more than whatever story happens to be trending online at the moment.
To everyone who grew up in Westbury, I'd love to hear what you remember most. What was your favorite place? What do you miss? What memories still make you smile?
Take a look at the reel and let me know your thoughts: