With work by Shashank Sharma
I spend a lot of time listening to and reading the stories of others. I have also spent more time on the LinkedIn social media platform, writing and perusing the trends of what people post there.
There is a huge push for all of us to come across as subject matter experts, distilling information into bite-sized language, bullet points, and short sentences.
A quote from Donaldo Macedo’s introduction to the 30th-anniversary edition of the book “Pedagogy of the Oppressed” by Paulo Freire particularly resonated with me and reminds me of what I often see on social media platforms:
“For me, the mundane call for a language of “simplicity and clarity” represents yet another mechanism to dismiss the complexity of theoretical issues, particularly if these theoretical constructs interrogate the prevailing dominant ideology… The call for plain prose not only cheats, it also bleaches. (Freire, 2000, p. 23)”
This passage moved me to tears as it described my experiences in many corporate roles. In many jobs, I had spent years distilling complex issues into simplified talking points for leadership, removing nuance, depth, and urgency in the process. In doing so, I unintentionally “bleached” reality to fit corporate ideology.
This is what many of us do on social media and what society rewards.
Today, however, a man’s LinkedIn profile randomly came across my feed. His name is Shashank Sharma, and I do not know him personally. However, as this platform is about sharing stories, I will share some of his work that resonated with me in this article.
You can follow him by visiting his LinkedIn profile here – Shashank Sharma
“Middle Class Suffers from the Disease of Middlity” –
The LinkedIn post he shared that came across my feed goes against everything LinkedIn gurus tell us to do.
And that’s why it worked.
I have felt what he shared when I was a child.
I have seen this sentiment in many of the leaders and entrepreneurs I work with, who are surprisingly—and unsurprisingly—very risk-averse.
Typically, society has repeatedly put up barriers that try to tell us that we are not worthy.
“This Isn’t Relevant” –
I scrolled through Shashank’s LinkedIn profile – he has 34K+ followers – and noticed that he writes ideas on a “Substack” platform.
Which he seems to have just started 10 days ago.
I think many people have been quietly expressing this view about LinkedIn from this Substack article questioning relevance.
It also begs the question: Who decides what is relevant, and why do we allow them to decide that for us?
This is why I believe that, even with the advancement of AI, we will see a growing push for human-centered and authentic work.
“Birthdays Are Strange” –
This post about his birthday resonated with me because I have previously felt this way, in years when I was battling depression. It was family and community who pulled me through and out of it.
I emailed his article to myself – I have a “musings” folder where I bookmark interesting things and highlight daily thoughts. In the email, I put this statement out into the universe –
“I am looking forward to the next best version of myself.”
“Unemployment crisis is a sign of exploitation crisis“
I also thought this Substack article was interesting about unemployment rates and job search quests (he seems to live in India).
It reminded me of what I have been thinking and discussing with others concerning the changing future of work and the need for us all to build something.
“Why You Will Marry Wrong” –
Several other pieces on his Substack were interesting.
He has several about marriage. And this post on LinkedIn resonated with me.
Some might read this and immediately think it is pessimistic. But it had the opposite effect on me—it gave me hope that we have more choice and autonomy than we know.
Love in the modern context puts so much pressure on people—and especially women. We take on the burden of finding the “perfect person” by society’s standards. Then, we worry if we have made the wrong choice and immediately think about what’s next.
But his post and the subsequent article he highlighted were a reminder that Love is about choosing a person daily.
And it doesn’t have to be perfect. It’s the epitome of a partnership.
I took a break to put his work down and kiss and hug my husband and chosen partner.
I am thankful for the beautiful choice to love.
The Power of Writing and Showing Up
Shashank made a LinkedIn post today that I also commented on –
Here was my comment –
Some may say that he does a lot in his writings and rambles while assuming that his work probably won’t be monetized in a certain way based on what all the LinkedIn social media influencers are saying you have to do.
I don’t know. But you know what? That may be OK.
The biggest takeaway for me from reading Shashank’s work – and why I am sharing it with you all, especially those who are writers – is a reminder of the critical need for authenticity in this crazy world and just doing what is on your heart to do
To write and share without the systems, without the algorithms, and without the how-to plans.
This is difficult for me to do, particularly as a recovering perfectionist, so I am mostly speaking to myself.
But for those reading, you should be proud of the lives that you have built for yourself.
Things you have overcome, and still are working to overcome – physically, socially, and mentally.
And if you aren’t proud – it’s never too late to start to do something new.
To show up authentically. To be present.
And to connect with others.
Because now, more than ever, we need connection.
Be excited about the life that you can build.
Then go after it.
Take Action
Take a moment to reflect and ask yourself:
- What stories resonate most with you? Why?
- Are you genuinely sharing your story or editing it to fit what others want to hear?
- Where are you oversimplifying complex ideas to make them more digestible rather than impactful?
Then, try this:
Write one paragraph today that is raw, real, and authentic. No edits. Just your truth. Save it or share it. But honor your voice.
WONDER 
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