If Hundreds of People Are Following You, Would You Turn Back?

My blog is all I own on this Obasanjo's internet.

Why do I tell this story?

Because this singular event affected me more than I thought it would.

This week’s guest writer is Bibi Njoku. Bibi is brilliant, and when she’s not studying, loving God, or reading, she volunteers for causes such as reading and medicine. She also runs a blog. Find her here on Instagram, X, and WordPress.

Photo: Bibi Njoku

A couple of months ago, I applied to volunteer at an organization.

Here's what you need to know:

1. I did not have a full understanding of the role.

2. I had no prior experience and made it clear in my application.

3. I applied because they said, "Don't worry, there'll be a training process."

4. I applied because the founder is dear to me. I saw the vision and her passion and wanted to support her.

During the application process, there was a section that required me to provide a link to my portfolio. Given my lack of prior experience, I didn't have a portfolio to share.

If my memory serves, the section was mandatory, and I couldn't proceed to the next page without filling it in. So, I did what seemed like the best thing to do. I put the link to my blog. Link is link and my blog is all I own on this Obasanjo's internet.

In retrospect, I wish I had written something like "the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog" or the numbers 0-9 because I would still have been able to proceed with the application and probably averted something that came in the future.

Next came the interview. A memorable one I must confess—just not the good kind.

The experience can be summarized into two parts:

1. The lead interviewer spent considerable time trying to emphasize my lack of experience.

It seemed like she was trying to prove a point and I wasn't sure what it was because I had already used my mouth to say that I had zero experience.

It's like when you tell someone that you don't know how to make any rice dish at all and they try to shame you for not knowing how to make coconut fried rice, firewood jollof, or egg Chinese rice.

I was pissed then but now I'm very amused because when I told her I had no prior experience, I did not stutter.

2. She also seemed offended that I had put a link to my blog and was determined to prove to me that my blogging experience was irrelevant.

Again, I found this very unnecessary but I held my peace and counted the minutes till it all ended.

Why do I tell this story?

Because this singular event affected me more than I thought it would.

I wrote my next blog post and I couldn't post it. No technical issues or problems whatsoever but I just couldn't post it.

I was not willing to admit it at first but I knew that the interview had something to do with it.

I spoke to someone about what had happened and was happening and by the time I finished, I was crying.

That was when I calmly accepted that even though I had labeled her as one of the people God put on earth so we can learn love and patience, I was still very hurt.

That experience was an eye-opener for me. Until then, I had never faced any negative feedback or criticism about my blog. I was accustomed to receiving kind words and encouragement from readers.

People walk up to me and say, "Are you XYZ? Oh, I'm such a fan." So, when I encountered negativity for the first time, it caught me off guard, and I faced emotions that were foreign to me in this context.

During that time when I couldn't post, I lost sight of what truly mattered. I forgot about the joy that writing brought me, the fulfillment of creating something meaningful, and the happiness of connecting with others through my words.

I neglected to think about my loyal readers, who eagerly await my posts and often reach out to ask, "Bibi, where have you been?" when I take a break. I did not think of the people who have been inspired to start writing themselves because of my blog.

I did not even think of God who has blessed me with such a wonderful, wonderful gift.

I chose to dwell on this person and other imaginary people who probably hated me and my blog, and I almost stopped moving.

I ask you, If hundreds of people are following you, would you turn back?

From me to you, please don't.

I might have overreacted to this entire situation (I didn't, I'm just trying to be humble) but one lesson is solid here.

If you're doing something you love and think is worth doing, don't stop because someone else thinks it's not all that.

Even when the boos outnumber the cheers, even if there's only one boo, or if there are no boos at all, think of yourself and the zero, ten, hundred, or, a thousand people that see you and don't stop.

I ask again. If hundreds of people are following you, would you turn back?