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This is a personal reflection published under Pax Trail.
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From my old article dated 27th February, 2024
Today, I learned something new that I’ve been reflecting, praying, and thinking about for the past few months. Despite my eagerness for change and finding a good fit, this specific issue persists.
I wrote a story about starting my career over a decade ago; you can read it here. Despite facing some challenges, things generally came easily for me. Grace played a part, and I also the part of me keeping things to myself until they materialized. Scaling, excelling in my career, and surviving, all happened smoothly. If something didn’t work on the first try, it usually worked on the second.
At times, I tell people I was raised like a king, and indeed I was. Even now, I still feel like a king. Lol! Recently, I’ve found myself questioning why things aren’t unfolding as expected. The details of these challenging times are chronicled in my recent articles on unexpected moments. Last week, on the very day I penned this note, I engaged in a conversation with a friend. While our discussion initially revolved around social dynamics and the art of charming a lady, my perspective took a unique turn. Despite the topic not being centred on putting more effort into work and career, I shared my belief, shaped by the upbringing that instilled in me a sense of being treated like a king.
Unlike the narrative of expending considerable effort to win a woman’s admiration, my experience has been different. Growing up with a sense of worth and dignity, I’ve never felt the need to exert excessive effort. My approach is quite straightforward. If a woman expresses disinterest initially, I will respect her choice and move forward. I’ve developed my way of garnering admiration, and the process just feels distinctly authentic.
Following the extensive conversation, I found myself drawing parallels between this scenario and my career. Surprisingly, I don’t engage in writing proposals, sending cold emails, or actively pitching my innovative thoughts and ideas to potential clients. It was at this moment that a realization dawned upon me.
Let’s consider a hypothetical scenario where, due to the organic flow of things, I currently acquire around 20 clients in a year. However, upon reflecting on the potential outcomes of putting in more effort, actively networking, and advertising my skills, coupled with the elements of luck and grace that have consistently been on my side, it occurred to me that I could potentially secure over 200 clients annually. The realization left me astounded.
Now, it’s important to clarify that when I mention things coming in easily, it doesn’t imply that my parents were affluent. In reality, they weren’t wealthy, but rather a blend of diverse talents and professions. My father, a multifaceted musical instrumentalist and an exceptional music teacher, contrasts with my mother, who serves in the Lagos State civil service. Despite not being financially affluent, they provided us with the invaluable opportunity to pursue our dreams, a gesture akin to what many Nigerian parents strive to do for their children.
I started pondering about what I could have accomplished, not in terms of relationships, though, lol! Just contemplating it, I began thinking about the volume of emails some freelancers might have written. I have a friend who, during his job search, asserted that he sent out more than 50 job applications daily. That’s impressive! I could hardly do five in a week.
Returning to our story, that extra effort goes a long way. Just picture gaining over 20 clients every week or every day; even if they aren’t currently interested in your services, they are likely to remember you and may even recommend you to others in the future. No one enjoys receiving rejection emails. In my case, a few rejection emails were one of the motivations for starting my own company. It’s proof that I prefer avoiding unnecessary trouble. Nevertheless, I still engage with recruiters and companies since it’s one of the swift methods for scaling.
I’m still in the process of cultivating the habit of putting in more effort, so if you come across this note, any advice would be greatly appreciated. Lately, I’ve been actively reaching out to people. I’ve discovered how to leverage LinkedIn effectively for job opportunities, and I might even be able to share a few tricks with you. Lol! I’ve committed the entire year to staying consistently dedicated to this newly adopted habit and aim to assess my progress at the year’s end. As I always say, every bit of knowledge matters.
Allow me to share a couple of insights based on what I’ve learned and implemented so far.
This year, my focus has been on Twitter. While LinkedIn is undoubtedly valuable, I found myself particularly intrigued by Twitter recently.
The reality is that discovering the right clients and gigs on social media can be quite challenging. Initially, you might find yourself engaging with everyone, building relationships, and more. To streamline my approach, I reviewed the profiles of all my followers, ensuring they either pursued a career or owned a business. This was a strategic move to identify potential target markets. For those who didn’t fit into these categories, I chose to unfollow, no offence, we all aim for profitability, right?
I initiated the practice of sharing pertinent information through my posts—reposting, quoting, commenting, and even direct messaging a few individuals. Remarkably, some even shared their email addresses. By actively participating in Twitter spaces, I aimed to expand my network, fostering connections and gaining insights. Now, upon opening my Twitter feed, I encounter tweets that align with my interests and professional endeavours.
I still followed few entertaining profiles. all work and no play, but jack still has to make lots of money though.
Now, why start with the bird app? LinkedIn is undoubtedly a substantial market, and I plan to approach it later with an enriched experience and a premium strategy to elevate my presence.
I’m confident that my bi-weekly articles on LinkedIn and Medium will eventually contribute to attracting a steady stream of clients.
Well, that’s a summary of what I’ve accomplished thus far.
I anticipate sharing more insights as I continue learning and refining my strategies on the bird app called, X. It’s truly a fantastic space, bustling with potential clients. I’ve come across numerous tweets advertising jobs for various gigs, and similar to LinkedIn, there are individuals generously sharing valuable resources for free.
Alright, that wraps it up for today. Remember, I’m a tech enthusiast ready to assist you in growing your business, whether by transforming your ideas into reality or helping you strategize. I’m here for you.
I am wishing you an enjoyable rest of your day!
Ire ooo