Some may argue that being famous in a field does not imply success in that field. Others may insist that the two are inextricably linked. While someone else may say that all that matters is being recognised for one’s work, even if it isn’t by a million Instagram followers. All three perspectives may be correct. If being famous/known for something meant being recognised as a champion in it, today’s piece would have an easy conclusion. Should fame, however, be regarded solely as a positive thing? Or is it sometimes the result of a scandal that may discredit one from their position of expertise? It is said that success is an outcome of hard work, while fame is a reward not necessarily given to the most deserving. When is a person truly successful? Is it like Frank Axel, whose name immediately comes to mind when one thinks of photography, or Moses of Moshions, whose name is synonymous with Rwanda’s fashion industry? Or Promesse Kamanda, whose photos are incomparable but whose name you’ve probably never heard of. Yes, the First Lady of Rwanda’s personal photographer. Social media has given people who want to put their names out there a new realm in this digital age. It gives you access to a larger pool of clients and opportunities. However, it should be noted that the higher the number of followers, the greater the number of inactive/useless followers. Which raises the question of whether it is necessary to be known by everyone or just the right consumers/investors of your product/services. You should aim for quality over quantity. It doesn’t matter if you have 500 Linkedin connections if you can’t count on any of them to advance your career. Adrian Hopkins at The Muse writes that in networking, people can be thought of as ‘contacts’ or ‘connections’. Contacts are people you reach out to when you need something, while connections are nurtured long-term relationships. Don’t spend time talking about it, instead of doing it. When you let your work and knowledge speak for themselves, you will eventually become the go to person in the specific field. For example, you will stick to your barber if you are satisfied with their services, not because everyone else goes there. Many factors may influence your choice to go to a specific barbershop at first, such as what you heard from others, but you will only return if you are satisfied. On the way, you might even pass a few other barbers. It is insufficient to be good at your job if no one knows about it. You must still carefully target your audience, but people will not buy what they do not know. Fame does not have to be a precondition, but you must establish yourself in your line of work. Connecting with like-minded professionals and sharing your experiences with those who are interested are important networking tools. These are the people who will go above and beyond to connect you with the right opportunities and promote your name. As for those who define success by the number of followers and likes, and thus fame, should hope that the numbers translate to money/clients, or, more importantly, a sense of accomplishment.
