Is there actually anyone in Nigeria over the age of 16 who hasn’t heard of Linda Ikeji? The ever-beautiful and seeming ageless Linda Ikeji has redefined blogging as we know it in this clime. Indeed, she’s easily the blogger who started it all and as well showed us all how passionately writing about the things you cared about could be an avenue to great fame, fortune and all the sweet goodies that go along with this inseparable duo.
Linda Ifeoma Ikeji was born on 19 September 1980. She began writing at 10, studied English at the university, worked part-time as a model, waitress and writer to make ends meet and wrote her first blogs from a dingy cyber cafe, back when most Nigerians had never seen a computer in their lives. Fast forward to the present and she’s easily the best known and paid blogger in Nigeria. Indeed, her yearly income is said to be enough for her to buy a king-sized planet or two. With enough change being left over to build a fleet of mega-sized cruise ships. She has also been featured by the likes of Forbes and BBC and is on a first name basis with all the celebrities you fawn over and rush to give your eyeteeth to take selfies with.
So, are you an aspiring blogger who look up to hard-working women like her for inspiration. Rather than striving to touch the hem of her garment at any of the numerous social functions she tirelessly attends, here are a few things you can learn from her story that well might make you bigger than she ever was.
- Never Belittle Small Beginnings
As previously stated, Linda had to make do with what was available. Rather than borrowing from everyone she knew so as to buy the latest Apple laptop then in existence and rent a swanky office in Victoria Island she was humble enough to realize her limitations. Thus, she at first worked from within the close confines of a cybercafe.
Then, when her circumstances improved, she got what she needed to make her ministry better. So, do you have a smartphone but no laptop and yet are desirous of engaging in blogging or some other online business? What’s stopping you then? Use the phone, please. And when you make it feel free to splash out the equivalent of the US defence budget on the most insane computing rig known to man in the most outrageously expensive office building ever.
- Pursue Your Dreams
What’s your dream? What do you love doing that makes you happier than a Nigerian pastor during offering time? First, identify your dreams, then work to achieve it. Sure, you might choose a boring but safe occupation that excellently pays the bills, but since it’s not what you really dreamt of doing, how happy will you be in the long term?
If you do have dreams, dreams of making it in your chosen field, never be too scared to see it come to fruition. Sure it might take years, but it will be worth it.
- Never Give Up
Now, imagine Linda Ikeji tirelessly blogging from 2006. That was so far back in history that the dinosaurs were still practically running around. With the overwhelming majority of Nigerians unexposed and unaware of the world of technology then, it would have been understandable if she’d chosen another field. Instead, she stuck it out like one possessed, persevered, and eventually conquered. How many buckets of tears do you imagine she shed when she thought no one appreciated what she devotedly spent hours typing? How many times do you think she was mocked as being too ambitious for her own good? How many times do you think she had to go unfed or work from morning till night for seven days a week in the course of moulding her empire? So, never ever give up no matter how hard it’s getting. In the end, if you are bound to make it to the top. If not, your tombstone will read “he/she really tried!”
- Be Controversial
Open your dictionary and you’re bound to see that the word “trouble,” “busybody,” “controversy” and “Linda Ikeji” are practically synonyms. During her blogging career she has had quite a few run-ins with celebrities she spilt the beans on. Some abused her, called her names your grandma would go blind were she to see and threatened her.
But controversy rather than being boring is what sells, and that’s something Linda both recognizes and takes advantage of. Unfortunately, Nigerian bloggers have taken this theme and turned it into something quite bizarre and grotesque. In your case though strive to be reasonably controversial and keep your name and what you do on everyone’s lips. Do that constantly and you’re already successful.
- Be Good. Or Better
Honestly, it would be imbecilic to dream of becoming a blogger just because you see everyone doing it and seemingly reaping money hand-over-fist. Before you start your blogging career how good is your spoken and written English? Is it the type that makes people reading it cry tears of pain? Does your diction flow like 100-year aged scotch or is it lumpy like poorly made pap?
All these questions and lots more are necessary as there’s really no point in trying to be better than Linda Ikeji when you can barely write better than a horse with an empty coconut head. So, do make sure that your grammar is nearly Nobel-prize worthy and is as eye-catching as a nearly nude Beyonce cavorting under your parent’s bed. And only then can you dream of putting Linda Ikeji in her place.
- Embrace Tech
Part of the key to Linda Ikeji’s peerless success is her eager acceptance and use of technology. Currently, she has an app that provides unfettered access to her universe and is active on a bewildering variety of social media platforms. Since most Nigerians are present on at least one social media, Linda Ikeji and whatever she might be up to is in their face anytime they log into their Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat or what have you.
So, be like her and get your message across all the social media on hand. And as well, work on being one of the first to adopt any new technology that might help you do what you do in a better and more interesting way. In short, embrace today’s ever-evolving tech in your work and success soon follows!
Been dreaming of toppling Linda Ikeji from her lofty perch? Then it’s time to stop dreaming and start doing by applying the tips stated above. Go forth and make your universe in your own image!
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