The Unseen Effort Behind 70K Followers: Mariam Gogidze on Compounding Growth

In a recent LinkedIn post, Mariam Gogidze offers a candid look at the often-invisible work behind significant follower growth, challenging the notion of overnight success. Gogidze, who has grown her following from 700 to over 70,000 in three years, emphasizes the power of compounding effort rather than a singular secret.

Gogidze highlights the discrepancy between public perception of results and the private journey of consistent effort. She states:

“They see the 70K. They don’t see the 700 days of showing up when I had 700 followers.”

This stark contrast underscores Gogidze’s central theme: that visible success is the culmination of prolonged, often unacknowledged, dedication.

Deconstructing the ‘Overnight Success’ Myth

Mariam Gogidze argues that what appears as sudden success is, in reality, the product of sustained effort over time. She breaks down the typical trajectory of growth on platforms like LinkedIn, likening it to compound interest.

The Compounding Effect

According to Gogidze, the initial months on a platform can feel unproductive, a sentiment she illustrates with her own experience:

“Months 1-3: Feels like nothing’s happening
Months 4-6: Tiny green shoots
Months 7-9: Starting to see momentum
Months 10-12: “Suddenly” everything’s working”

However, Gogidze cautions against perceiving this as an abrupt shift. “But it’s not sudden. It’s compound interest,” she asserts, explaining that each piece of content serves as a ‘deposit’ into a larger strategy. This perspective is crucial, as many individuals, Gogidze points out, tend to abandon their efforts prematurely when immediate results are not apparent.

Redefining ‘Results’ in Early Stages

Gogidze challenges the common tendency to measure success solely by follower counts or engagement metrics in the early stages. She proposes a different interpretation of early-stage ‘results’.

Building Momentum and Foundation

As Gogidze notes, the true results in the initial months are not necessarily external validation but internal development and the cultivation of foundational elements. These include:

• Building trust with an audience, even if they are not actively engaging.
• Training the platform’s algorithm to understand and distribute content effectively.
• Discovering and refining one’s authentic voice.
• Creating a substantial body of work that forms a solid base for future growth.

She likens this process to consistent physical training, stating that significant transformation is not achieved after a few workouts but after hundreds. Similarly, on LinkedIn, the individuals who achieve substantial growth are often those who have consistently posted, even when facing low engagement or self-doubt.

“The people winning are just the ones who showed up 200 times when the first 199 times felt like they weren’t working.”

The Importance of Persistence

A key takeaway from Mariam Gogidze’s post is the paramount importance of persistence. She shares a piece of advice she wishes she had received earlier: that the period of perceived inactivity often lasts longer than anticipated.

Trusting the Process

Gogidze urges her audience to trust the process of compounding growth, even when it feels discouraging. She encourages those in the early stages of their journey, whether in ‘Month 2’ or ‘Month 6,’ to persevere. Her concluding message is one of unwavering commitment:

“Keep going.”

Ultimately, Gogidze argues that sustained effort and a willingness to continue despite a lack of immediate recognition are the defining factors for long-term success on professional networking platforms.