I want to share a story. If you keep an open mind, you will get my message faster. Please look beyond me and focus on the intrinsic message in my story.

Let me say before I continue that as much as I crave affirmation like any other mortal, I don’t write on social media to get likes, comments and shares. I write because it is my calling. I get my greatest gratification when my readers send me private messages to tell me how much my write ups have helped them to take some life changing decisions.

I wrote an article on 12 July 2021, titled “Certificate My Foot”. Since I started writing for public consumption in September 2016, that article has attracted the highest reactions from my readers than any other article I have ever written in my life.

As at date, “Certificate My Foot” has had 56,925 views, 1608 likes, 393 comments and 167 shares on LinkedIn. On my Facebook handles, the article has attracted 248 likes, 102 comments and 66 shares.

Some bloggers took my permission to publish the article on their blogs. On account of “Certificate My Foot”, I have had over 600 connection invites on LinkedIn and a good number of friend requests on Facebook that I cannot remember. Here is the link to the article for reference purpose:

Now to my message. Focus on growth before development. Growth is inward and only noticeable to you but development is outward and visible to others. If you crave development before growth you stand the risk of a confused identity and your development may not have a leg to stand on.

One of the challenges I had when I started writing for public consumption was balancing my style with what my readers want. I remember my coach warned me that if I want to have a large followership on social media, I had to learn to avoid long pieces because most readers don’t have the patience for long reads.

Between my readers’ preference and creating an identity for myself, I struggled because my aim was not to impress my readers, I was just expressing myself. It was a difficult moment for me but I chose growth before development. I remember telling my coach that if it was only one reader who stuck to me, I would have achieved something. I opted for carving a niche for myself before I began to find followers.

Here is the secret of my story. I wrote “Certificate My Foot” in a very unserious mood. In fact, I remember that it was another topic I started to write on that night but halfway, I started struggling for words. The moment I begin to look for words when I’m writing, I move to other things. That was my mood that night but I decided to change topic to “Certificate My Foot” just to put something on my page for my readers the following morning.

I wrote “Certificate My Foot” in less than 30mins. To me, that article is not my best but it scored my readers’ best so far. Life can be funny sometimes. Your reward may not be a function of your efforts. I have spent over 6 hours writing an article before and it wouldn’t get up to 20 likes on social media. That does not take away the quality, it is just a matter of buyers’ preference. You cannot afford to despise your own efforts because it didn’t match your buyers’ expectations. Keep moving, you never can tell which of your efforts will yield the greatest rewards.

This is my core message. If you get this, I would have achieved my purpose for writing this piece. Life changing decisions are not made only when you are serious. Some decisions you take casually may unlock the door to your breakthrough. Focus on growth first, carve a niche, define your identity. Keep doing the right things consistently because it is not left to you to decide which of the steps you take that will announce you.

Please do not take life too seriously. Respect your mood. Your casual moments count too.

©️ Akin Oluwadare Jnr
23 August 2021