2015 was a good year.
I had more Media mentions that year than I can remember. People would stop me on the corridors, or send me messages saying they’d seen me on this or the other publication. The admiration in their eyes, the adulation in their voices, I loved it! The culmination of it all was when I was named among the Top 30 under 30 list of Forbes Africa. What a year!
It went to my head. An idea that a friend and I had co-created in his Mom’s SQ had become a global phenomenon, placing me on global stages and magazine pages. I was killing it at my day job too. That year we won multiple Awards, including a continental one that took me to Lagos, Nigeria to pick up the prize.
Then the invites started coming through. People wanted me to speak on their conference Panels, fully sponsored. Others wanted me at their Parties, or to come hang out with them at the Bars, drinks fully paid for. Some just wanted a coffee date, not to mention the attention from ladies who were not my Wife. A certain rich acquaintance even offered me the use of his luxury SUV any time I wanted it.
Yes. It went to my head. Years later, my then boss would confess to me that I became a nightmare to work with. I attended the meetings I deemed worthy of my time, replied to the emails that made sense, and only picked calls from those of my ilk. The next year I got three job offers back to back. My boss’s boss, who thought I was a great but misguided talent, advised me to take an internal promotion, which offered less money but more long term growth than the other offers. I didn’t listen to her.
I took a job from another Organisation, and three weeks in decided they were wasting my time, so I jumped ship to another company that was willing to pay twice, and even let me to pick my own job title. I was untouchable!
As all this is happening, we won a significant grant for the idea mentioned above, and on the back of this, Investors poured in, all wanting a piece of what Forbes and other respected publications had called a significant African innovation. I was writing cheques bigger than my Salary, all the while wondering why I was still reporting to someone when I could be my own boss. You can read more about how that went here.
Time and experience has taught me about what some smart people call ‘Vanity Metrics’. These are metrics that may look good, even feel good, but are simply a smoke screen. A journalist somewhere calling you a genius does not make you one. Securing a grant does not mean you have a business. A bigger salary does not necessarily mean career growth. Winning a prestigious Award does not guarantee you success.
More often than not, the Metrics that matter don’t feel good in the moment. Like choosing a lesser paying job because it better aligns with your long term Mission. Or declining a business investment because your prefer patient, sustainable growth that keeps you true to your values. Solidifying your internal, real growth radar, guided by your values and purpose is the best defence when the World comes knocking with its perks and popuar acclaim. Those are testing moments to help you refine and deepen your roots.
But if, like me, you fall for the glitter and blinding lights, be kind to yourself. You are only but Human. Pick yourself up, and get back at it. That’s what I did.
The Applause of Men is fickle at best. Don’t seek it, don’t crave it, and by all means, don’t use it as a signal of progress.
