Explosive Growth: A Tale of Two Instagrams
New Instagram: 14,100 followers (up from 2,301 in 7 days, a 513% increase)
Old Instagram: 61.7 followers (no change)
This week, my new Instagram account experienced explosive growth, skyrocketing from 2,301 followers to 14,100 in just a week. That’s a 513% increase! Meanwhile, the old account remains stagnant at 61.7 followers. The key difference? Fresh content and a targeted approach. I’ve learned that sometimes, pruning the old can lead to flourishing growth, just like a well-tended tree. Starting a new page allowed me to find and engage with the right audience, those who genuinely support and appreciate my work. It’s a reminder that numbers don’t matter as much as the quality of engagement.
LinkedIn: The Subtle Climb
LinkedIn: 862 connections (up from 788, a 9.4% increase)
On LinkedIn, my network has grown steadily, reaching 862 connections from 788, marking a 9.4% increase. This platform offers a different kind of engagement, one that’s professional and often more supportive. Posting carousel posts here, rather than on Instagram, might be a better strategy moving forward. It seems that my long-form content resonates more with this audience, and I’m excited to explore this further.
Newsletter: A Burst of Subscribers
Newsletter: 295 subscribers (up from 245, a 20.4% increase)
My newsletter has seen a significant increase in subscribers this week, growing from 245 to 295, which is a 20.4% increase. This is incredibly exciting, as it means more people are interested in the in-depth content I provide. Advertising my newsletter on my cybersecurity wiki has paid off, and I’m thrilled to see this growth. I hope it continues, as I pour a lot of time and effort into crafting valuable content for my readers.
Frustrations with the “Welcoming” Hacking Community
This week, I’ve been called a “script kiddie” about 25 times. Entirely by men who have private accounts (except for one- and he looked exactly how you would expect). Then a bunch of guys tried to explain to me what the term means and that I’m ✨misunderstanding✨ it. It’s frustrating because, with my 14-year cybersecurity background and having written laws about responsible disclosure and bug bounties for the government, I know my skills are far beyond what these detractors suggest.
The so-called welcoming hacking community seems to be welcoming only to a select few. It’s strange how meritocracy-believing tech bros fail to see their own biases. They haven’t experienced the exclusion faced by those who don’t fit the stereotypical hacker image. Their immediate judgment about my skills reflects a narrow worldview clouded by a false sense of superiority.
Calling someone a “script kiddie” has the same energy as calling someone a “slut” – it’s a pathetic attempt to cling to power using unoriginal and tired regurgitated manosphere nonsense. These detractors are lashing out due to jealousy, and it’s okay. I don’t need or want their validation.
Tbh I would be more concerned if they liked me.
Because of that I’ve decided to make it an empowering term and start a clothing company with the name, then donating a portion of the profit towards helping girls in LATAM get into computer science.
I’m not getting mad, I’m getting paid (and annoying to them).
However, those guys look like women don’t talk to them and commenting is the only way they can get a morsel of attention, so it seems best to ignore their comments completely. Although it feels exhilarating to respond sharply, I’m trying to be my best self and not react to trolls. Even though it’s tempting to let out all my anger on them, I know that’s not the way to find peace inside.
Still, I have to admit, my ADHD makes these moments really exciting. When someone is (intentionally) rude to me online, it feels like a chance to really tell them off. My boyfriend even steps in at the gym—not really for me, but because I actually enjoy confronting people when they think I’ll just accept abuse/bullying from them. I get a real rush from standing up for myself, but I know I need to try to keep calm and not annihilate people who harass me.
Visual Storytelling: Show, Don’t Tell
I’ve learned the importance of visual storytelling this week. People definitely prefer to receive information visually, which is a new realization for me since I lack mental imagery. Crafting reels without planning them beforehand takes a lot of effort, but it’s a valuable skill I’m developing. Despite some tough criticism – like being told to fire my designer – I’m focused on improving and learning quickly.
Building a Community of Neurodivergent Tech Enthusiasts
I’m currently working on establishing a community of neurodivergent tech enthusiasts. Investing in branding is a priority to ensure this community thrives. Reverse engineering successful companies has shown me that even as a one-person business, following the strategies of big companies can lead to success.
The 90/10 Rule: A Strange Advice
I came across the advice to use the 90/10 rule, where 90% of your reels and TikToks should take 10 minutes or less to create. This seems really dumb to me, as each of my reels takes several hours. However, as I grow and learn, I might get faster. But 10 minutes? This person sounds more like they’re sabotaging competition than “helping” anyone.
Interactivity and Future Plans
My “Learn to Hack With Me” series has been incredibly popular, attracting both beginners and haters. I plan to create a more interactive space, possibly with a weekly Twitch or livestream session where we can all do hacking tutorials together? Although starting a YouTube channel based on my newsletters is appealing, I need to adjust to my current content schedule first and get things more streamlined.
The Secret to High Output: My Second Brain
My foundational learning system, or “second brain,” has been the secret to my high output. It allows me to produce a newsletter, several blogs, learning in public diaries, and seven reels per week. This system enables me to create content efficiently and effectively, even as a one-person business.
Final Thoughts and Gratitude
I’m overwhelmed by the positive reception of my work. The growth in my Instagram followers, newsletter subscribers, and the popularity of my cybersecurity wiki has been incredible. Two of my videos have over 200k views, with the “Learn to Hack With Me” video at 235k views and the Cybersecurity Wiki video at 281k views. This explosive growth has been the most significant I’ve ever seen, and I’m deeply grateful.
As I continue to grow and learn, I plan to hire an influencer assistant to help manage my content creation, freeing up time to focus on building digital products. I’m also considering shifting my carousel posts to LinkedIn, where they might perform better. This week has been a whirlwind of growth, learning, and gratitude.
