Linda Ikeji didn't have a fancy office when she made her first blog post in 2006. Neither did she have a content team. All she had was a worn out laptop, a cyber cafe and a handful of stories. 

Her life wasn't like that in a fairytale. It was far from that. She was raised in a humble household in Nkwerre, Imo State. Being the second of seven kids, their parents tried what they could but the money wasn't coming easy. At a young age, Linda hustled through modeling, small jobs and anything that could contribute to rekindling her dream.

She thought she would make it into journalism or TV after studying English at the University of Lagos State. On the contrary, she was rejected several times, so she started out on her own. She began blogging about fashion, celebrities, and some social issues.

Each day she kept writing even when nobody noticed her. She did so sometimes at a cyber cafe; other times, she borrowed money just to stay online. Linda actually had something that very few have, and that is consistency.

From time to time, she showed up. Her blog became a mirror to the lives of Nigerian celebrities, including scandals, weddings, and almost every other thing. Gradually, people started noticing, and they started to share. Then the traffic came, and she started to have millions of visits every single month.

After that, advertisers came too. Very soon, Linda was no longer a broke blogger; she was now among Nigeria's top bloggers. She also got to become one of Africa's most influential media personalities. Gradually, Forbes recognized her, and CNN did too.

Her bank account was telling an entirely different story. Almost soon enough, she built a media empire. It included Linda TV, a social network, and even a nonprofit for women, exactly the same place she was once struggling to succeed.

As for Linda, she never pretended that it was all easy. She had been trolled online, misjudged, mocked, and sometimes misinterpreted. Yet, she kept writing and showing the world that sometimes the only platform you need could be the one you built yourself.

From typing in a cyber cafe to owning her own media house, she proved that you don't always need connections to succeed. Sometimes, all that is required is consistency, courage, and a story that is worth telling. Blogshop could be your starting point.

And just like she did, you could have a bunch of stories to tell. You just have to start.