"On the flip side, I’ll often say yes to things that are somewhat “random” and won’t bring external validation, but I think would be fun to do (e.g., I agreed to do a brief interview with an effort organized by a small Indian publication for Engineer’s Day (I didn’t know that was a thing :)) or where I think I bring value (e.g., I often agree to chat with folks I don’t know who reach out to me looking for advice or perspectives on something). A lot of community-building activities pass this “minimize drag” threshold (with flying colors!) -- because I get joy from bringing value."