Secret Button.

A friend recently posted on LinkedIn about something I often wonder about: the daily declarations of career achievements. Out of all social media platforms, I’m mostly on the streets of LinkedIn. I find it props me up well for my coaching and thought leadership on transitions. Instagram is next, where I mostly showcase my photography. X and Facebook are just to pitia, and I’m yet to explore TikTok, Snapchat, and the others. Though I discovered I already have a TikTok and Snapchat account, thanks to my son, who shares my phone with me. As a result, I usually get all sorts of friend requests from his pals. At least it makes me feel young, hehe!

It’s difficult to be active on all these platforms, not to mention WhatsApp. I find the noise a bit much. There’s a thin line between showing off and genuine, positive publicity. I’m okay with telling the world about a personal achievement, especially after working hard in silence. Usually, I gravitate towards posts that bring more value to others, other than just self-aggrandisement.

My buddy had a high-flying career in tech, exiting the corner office at the onset of COVID-19 to venture into biashara. It’s been five years of a silent grind, far from the limelight—that’s what made his post on LinkedIn resonate with me. He was celebrating 5 years of running his business and sharing reflections on his journey so far. Maybe it was important because most businesses don’t get to year 5. Making it this far is quite an accomplishment. I could relate to having been in business all my adult life. He commented on how often we see the phrase “I am happy to share…” on this platform. It’s used quite a lot, yet to many entrepreneurs, it’s a journey that hardly comes with acknowledgement for our actions and sacrifices.

Folks share their new certifications, jobs, and promotions; then, once we all like and follow with congratulations, the balloons pop. But what happens when we are progressing, yet have no big accomplishments to show? Can there be a button to share that we are still alive and pushing on? Maybe they should add a feature similar to the one on Facebook, where people are asked to mark themselves safe during a flood or other natural disaster.

Could it be that progress doesn’t like being mulikwad? Is it possible that if we expose what we are working on before it is ready, we risk killing it? It might be like cracking an egg to check if it’s cooked while it’s still boiling. You mess it up. Maybe there’s a reason after all that the grind doesn’t have a ‘share’ button—success may be aborted.

Maybe the trick is for us to celebrate doors opening for others, while we remain in the corridor waiting for our own to open. Clapping while waiting doesn’t come naturally, but perhaps that’s what we are meant to do. A bit of character development there as we are being approved in private. But that may be easier said than done, so let’s not fake it for those who struggle to clap for one reason or another. We are human. Some of us are genuinely glad for others without displaying it, and that’s ok too. Reminds me of one of my readers who asked if I could have a like button for my Friday articles so they don’t have to comment to show the story resonated with them, hehe. It’s unlikely I’ll consider that because I like the comments. They make me feel that I’m not talking to myself.

Folks, what new or existing projects are you working on in this New year? Are you tempted to share with others for recognition or encouragement? While that may be harmless, it’s also risky, because we often don’t know who will derail our progress. That said, if we are to go far, we need to go with others, as the African saying goes. Therefore, we must be discerning about what we share when seeking help or recognition. Wisdom is required to know when to share and when to keep it to yourself.

I find that selecting a few people we consider vital to achieving our goals is a good middle ground. Choose folks you trust to help you based on their knowledge, influence, or simply their loyalty to you and your cause. Sometimes it could just be someone who likes you roho safi and wouldn’t mind helping you achieve your goals. I feel lucky to have a few such people in my life. That way, you get a valuable second or third opinion, and it makes the grind feel lighter kidogo.

Over time, I have come to learn that the most crucial like button to press is our own. We often need to encourage ourselves on the journey to significance because before others like and subscribe, we need to be our biggest follower. That way, even when we post an achievement, we aren’t so concerned about who will comment and like.

I say this because I feel that many of us seek attention primarily to fill a void within. While the many online reactions may make us feel good, the feeling is only momentary. We must have more gas in the tank to endure the long and often lonely road to significance. So, this year, let’s find what keeps us going long before we share our achievements on social media. And let’s be hesitant to share what others don’t need to know, or what is premature to share, lest we bungle our progress. Find your secret button and use it often to like, support, love, and celebrate your progress, however small.

May the balloons pop open for you this year in many ways, folks!