Kern Carter's Blog, page 30
August 24, 2022
My Experience at LinkedIn Local Lagos
Photo by RODNAE Productions: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-in-black-suit-shaking-hand-with-a-person-in-brown-leather-jacket-7414005/About two weeks ago, I came across a LinkedIn post by an Influencer I follow, which spoke about LinkedIn Local Lagos. There have been previous editions, this one being the third.
Out of curiosity, I clicked on the link and registered for a ticket to the event. I wanted to know what all the fuss was about and why so many people, particularly those on LinkedIn, get hyped up about it.
Last week, on Saturday, I attended the event. It took place at the Oriental Hotel, which is not too far from where I live. Upon getting dropped off on the premises, I followed a group of attendees into the hotel and was led to the hall.
There were a lot of people. Like loads of people. I was in awe and, at the same time, overwhelmed because that meant one thing; networking. My fellow introverts should be able to relate to this struggle.
I did not take that many photos, which is a big regret. Either way, I was directed to the hall after showing the usher my ticket. Before we started the panels, we had a one-hour networking session.
I went off to three different booths that were outside the hall just to get to know the companies, not necessarily to land a job. I know that one thing can lead to another, but I wanted to satisfy my curiosity. As they say, curiosity kills the cat.
These companies happened to be the sponsors of the event. I am talking about great startups like Shuttlers, Healthtracka, Gamp, and so on. Shuttlers even gave me a nice little goodie bag with a notepad, a pen, and a pamphlet about their business. The guys at Gamp even registered me as a new customer.
One of my LinkedIn connections and followers, Denu Bon, is one of Nigeria’s biggest LinkedIn influencers. He was so thrilled to see me and gave me a big hug. He even refers to me as “Aunty Dami.”
I made a few friends. One of them, Helen, who sent me a WhatsApp message today, checking on me.
I, unfortunately, could not spend that much time as mum and I had to attend to some private matters, so I left the building after the first panel. Overall, it was a nice experience. I just wish they had given us lunch earlier.
The one key takeaway was when one of the panelists said that it is okay for women to be anything they want to be so long as they put their mind to it and are happy. So you can be a successful wife, mother, and career woman with little to no apologies whatsoever. Society be damned.
[image error]My Experience at LinkedIn Local Lagos was originally published in CRY Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
August 23, 2022
Poem: Lady In Red
Photo by Bruno Salvadori: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-wearing-red-dress-standing-on-staircase-1755428/All move aside as she makes her entrance,
Her smile charming,
Her scent inviting,
Dressed from head to toe in red,
Men stop in their tracks,
Women roll their eyes in disgust,
Many bring forth their cards,
Wanting to hook up,
Unknown to them is a dark secret,
A dark lie waiting to twist them from the insides,
A lioness on the hunt for her prey,
Beware the devil,
Beware the Lady in red.
Poem: Lady In Red was originally published in CRY Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
I’m giving away my writing secrets — FREE
I mean, it only makes sense. I love the CRY community so much and want to do everything I can to help you be your best. And as someone with two self-published books that have sold well, a number of blog posts that have driven some real traffic, and three publishing deals in the last year and a half, I think I can offer some insight to help you out.
This is my plan: For the first session, I will choose two articles from CRY Magazine and break down what works and what we can do to make those articles better. For the second session, I’ll show examples of the queries that helped get me those publishing deals that I mentioned. Each of these workshops will be an hour long.
Still working on confirming a date, but assume some time in September, likely on a Saturday.
If this is something you’d be interested in attending, let me know. Comment or send me an email.
[image error]I’m giving away my writing secrets — FREE was originally published in CRY Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
August 22, 2022
Call For Submissions — Writing As Therapy
I got a call from a mental health organization in Toronto the other day. They want me to use my novel, Boys and Girls Screaming, to lead a workshop about how writing can help people through trauma.
We’re still working out details, but that made me think about valuable writing can be, far beyond selling books. I know writing has helped me express my thoughts far better than I could in real life, and then made expressing myself in real life much easier.
For this week’s writing prompt, talk about how writing has impacted your life. Has the craft of writing helped you through trauma? Is writing therapeutic for you?
Same rules as always:You can submit to this or ANY of our past writing prompts. Just scroll through our previous newsletters. They’ll be marked “Call for Submissions.”If you’re already a writer for CRY, go ahead and submit.Be as creative as you want in your submissions. As long as you stick to the topic, we’ll consider it.Just because you submit doesn’t mean we’ll post. If you haven’t heard back from us in three days, consider that a pass.[image error]Call For Submissions — Writing As Therapy was originally published in CRY Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
August 18, 2022
August 17, 2022
Dreams of Cats and Groceries
Everyday dreams from a quiet life — and the story of the best dream I ever had
Two Voices, One Mind: Flirting With Suicide
She died, but it’s not how you think. The horror is exposed for all to see. And ways to find the light when you feel lost and hopeless.
August 15, 2022
Confessions of a Frustrated Graduate
Photo by energepic.com: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-sitting-in-front-of-macbook-313690/In 2017, I finally achieved a huge milestone; I graduated from the University of Hertfordshire with a BSc in Computer Science. I did not go to the main campus, however. Rather, I finished online.
I was so excited and looked forward to the next chapter of my life. The following year, I applied for the National Youth Service Corps in Nigeria, also known as NYSC. I was told by the staff that although online students are exempted from serving, there were no provisions for exemption letters or certificates.
I was so gutted by this news. Regardless, I kept on applying to various jobs, both in Nigeria and abroad, in the hopes of getting something. Mostly rejections so far. I tried changing my CV. Same results. I broke down in tears and had a mental breakdown for years.
Remember that story I told about my deepest regret?
This story is connected to it. It was one of the catalysts to my eventual downward spiral. I am trying not to give up, but nothing seems to work.
I am trying to learn Tech and other important skills, but at the same time, I get angry and frustrated with the world. How did things get this way? I would ask. I am trying not to sink into depression again.
I guess I am that impatient and want things to happen quickly due to the pressure I had to deal with growing up. People often compared me unfairly to other kids my age or even younger than me, or worse, my sisters. You all know how that turned out.
I often say that writing is all that I have, but even that does not seem to be working. No. Who would want to listen to a Nigerian woman talk about her pains and frustrations? Who cares?
That was what I thought until I saw a comment a couple of days ago that made me smile. The comment read: “Dami, I am so happy to see you online. I hope you have a great day and that one day you will become successful.”
That made me emotional and thrilled. That motivates me to keep pushing even though I want to quit. I often say that the world does not need someone like me since there are many other talented individuals. If I quit, I will disappoint so many people out there but most importantly myself. There is room for me. There is room for everyone.
[image error]Confessions of a Frustrated Graduate was originally published in CRY Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
