Struggles of a Not Social — Social Media Marketer
So I resigned recently, amidst a pandemic. One would think that I might be insane, and this was an emotional decision. This job was close to my heart, I could be myself (well almost), it had its own highs and lows, some peak moments and rock bottoms, but nonetheless a challenging and fulfilling journey.
But lately, as all good things come to end, it did too. I felt like I was losing myself every day bit by bit, when a company’s vision changes, sometimes you aren't in the peripheral and that's okay. Everyone has a show to run, with or without few actors. Thus commenced my journey to find my calling again.
People tell you how relaxing it is to not worry about the deadlines, the office politics, waking up to log in on time, clients bickering, Approvals delays, etc. The day after my notice period that lasted 2 days only, I woke up with ANXIETY and continue to feel so. I have been a workaholic, working since I was 18 by choice. Waking up to work calls is my normal, so this new normal of no office is very unsettling. I do acknowledge that I might be masking my feelings with work but hey, it does work out for me.
And what I did next was the worst, not recommended at all, my fellow readers. I started applying everywhere with PANIC. you know what happens when you do that, you get REJECTION mails. It derailed from that point pretty quickly, an inbox filled with “Hiring alerts” to “Viewed your CV but not moving ahead” and most of the times “No response”.
I also have an option of freelancing, which luckily I did grab a project through a friend. It kept me a little sane. A quick fact about me, I am an introverted Digital Marketer. so naturally, I do not network a lot and in retrospect, I have missed out on some great connections. I always believed that your work speaks to the world, but we forget that there are a lot of barriers too, such as people who take away your credit or people who do not realize your worth.
Over the last few years, digital marketing is booming and with people understanding the power of WFH / Remote jobs, it has become a crowded field altogether. My forte is performance marketing for Ecommerce Brands. When I started working 5 years back performance marketing wasn't a discovered and popularised field. But today, performance marketing agencies and professionals are on the rise. I remember being the only woman in a room filled with men but now I am glad to see women talk about CPCs, CPA and ROAS too. We are heading in the right direction. But as an introverted marketer, being out there is becoming very difficult. The constant pressure of being seen by building a Personal Brand, talking and engaging in marketing posts, and finally the nightmare of “Insta Lives” and recently “clubhouse”. My social energy drains out pretty quickly, even before starting the actual work somedays.
I know you might be wondering and advising me to take it by the day and believe me, I am trying to do that. I am just clueless about how do I survive and stay afloat with a mind full of options and personal fears.
This article isn't my success story about how my anxiety about no work turned around when I got a Big job or Project(which I haven't yet). This is about the struggle of an introverted marketer who ironically does not want to be social.
If you relate to it, help your fellow introvert to sail through by providing tips.
