READER’S CHOICE AWARDS: THE TOP 5 BLOGS IN 2015

Writing, for me, closely mirrors life’s many parodoxes.

Picture this.

You think about a blog idea for a week, refine your thoughts and settle down to craft (what looks like) a beautifully-worded piece. You launch into the blogosphere.

Pin-drop silence. Barely a ripple.

Then a lazy sunday afternoon catches you on the couch with legs up against the wall, mildly tapping, swiping and scrolling. You hit ‘Publish’ and the stats break through orbit. Readers are chatting you up, leaving private comments and thanking you for sharing. You respond graciously but in your head, you’re like “I don’t gerrit”.

You guys made 2015 an interesting year for me as a writer. I learned as much as I shared; maybe even more. And for that, thank you.

With every view, like and comment, you told us what made sense and what we should never have sent out in the first place. 12 months gone and the results are in. This is how you voted for the top 5 blog posts in 2015.

Coming in at No.5

5. A LETTER TO BRO. ‘POTENTIAL’.

This hard-hitting post challenged young men everywhere to graduate from celebrating abilities to concrete action. Being punchy, written by a guy for guys, there was no basis for bias and the accusations never came. Instead, there was a flood of prayers and blessings for the writer, most likely from ladies who felt like saying “please tell them!”

Hard to recall the content of this letter? Tap the post title to see it again.

4. HARNESSING SOCIAL MEDIA FOR SOCIAL GOOD: HOW A YOUNG NIGERIAN USED TWITTER TO SAVE A LIFE.

L-R: Grow360 writer, Ik-Hide with Joseph, initiator of the #HelpThisLadyLagos twitter campaign

This post was a welcome respite from the combined flurry of bad news and accusations against young people and our ‘entitlement mentality’.

Ignited by a sub-140 tweet, Joseph showed just how much a smartphone can accomplish in the hands of a passionate tweetizen.

3. ONE IMAGE EVERY YOUNG MAN SHOULD SEE.

Seems most of the top blogs were connected with guys in some way. It really is a man’s world *dodges bullets*. Maybe the title baited in the boys and aroused feminine curiousity. However it happened, the numbers turn in this post in third position.

2. HE SAID I’M LIKE A SISTER TO HIM!

Another relationship post (you guys loved relationship matters in 2015!). If you love straight talk on managing inter-gender connections, this is for you.

*Stops to catch a breath*

And your favorite, the winner of Grow360’s Reader’s Choice Award is…

****drum roll please***

1. FROM PASTOR ‘POJU OYEMADE: LESSONS FOR SINGLES

Pastor ‘Poju Oyemade has undoubtedly had the biggest (human) spiritual influence in my life this year and you guys agreed. This post, an excerpt of thoughts from the August edition of Singles’ Summit held in Lagos, Nigeria was (sorry is) loaded with deep wisdom and clear principles for creating enviable relationships with the right chemistry, core values and crisis resolution skills. I totally recommend you read again.

THE WILDCARDS

A few posts didn’t make the list but I wish they did. These are my top 3 posts in this category.

3.  How I Sold My 50k Phone for 50 Bucks. 

If you suspend judgement long enough and hold off on labelling me crazy for settling for this deal, this true life story from June 2015 may just be one of the best things you’ve ever read here.

2. Overtaking Is Allowed.

Feeling pressured by the success stories around you? This post will realign your perspective and deflate the urge to go against your heart just because you feel the need to keep up.

1. Unfinished Business- The Series.

The riveting story of a young man finding strength to defeat his demons and start all over.

Blogging is all about interaction and community. In today’s fast-paced internet culture, you slowed down long enough to give us a priceless gift- your attention. That means a whole lot to us.

2016 rushes at us. Our boots are tightly strapped, devices fully charged and minds eager to engage with you in what promises to be an epic year.

Cheers!

Live by Design.