Part 2. It's About Impact, Not Numbers

Who Would Read This?

As a film enthusiast who’s watched some movies ten times over, I poured that passion into writing posts inspired by startup biopics. To my surprise, they started gaining traction.

What began with a handful of views soon turned into hundreds—then thousands.

“Love what you’re sharing!”

“I totally relate!”

The comments and likes rolled in, and with them, a quiet hope: maybe I was building something real.

Then one day, I met a marketing rep from a business media outlet pitching PR services for startups. After we wrapped the formal talk, we lingered over coffee. Buoyed by all the positive feedback I’d received, I showed him a few of my posts.

His reaction shifted almost instantly—from curiosity to condescension.

“It’s neither complex nor unique. Honestly, who’s going to bother reading this?”

My cheeks flushed. The sting was real—but I didn’t fold.

Because no matter what he said, one thing remained true:

People were reading.

They were following.

They were telling me to keep going.

And that was enough.

A Fantasy, Really?

As an avid reader of business and economics books, I often shared reviews of new releases on social media. One day, a publisher called, offering to send me a book—hoping I’d post a review. He was warm and upbeat at first. But the moment I casually mentioned my idea of writing a book, his tone shifted.

“You’re not a celebrity. Thinking you could publish a book and sell even a thousand copies? That’s pure fantasy.”

Once again, I was at a crossroads. But this time, I didn’t hesitate.

I chose to self-publish. If no one else believed in my story, I would. With just a dream and a few online courses, I dove in.

My sister—a gifted writer—helped edit the manuscript.

For the English version, I teamed up with Jeremy On, a college consultant from Emory University, for translation and editing.

Every evening after work, I burned the midnight oil, determined to bring this book to life.

By December—just four months after I started—the Korean version was complete.

I’ll never forget the day I announced its release. 

My feed was filled with congratulations, photos of people holding their copies, and heartfelt messages. Readers who had followed my journey were genuinely inspired.

On Christmas Day, I received an unexpected gift—Singapore’s leading tech media outlet, e27, named me one of their Top 10 Female Contributors.

It was a signal—not to stop, but to keep building what I had only just begun.

The Call I Didn't Expect

It was an ordinary day—until my phone rang and everything stopped.

On the other end was a journalist from one of South Korea’s major newspapers.

“I’m writing a story on LinkedIn’s rise in Korea, would you be open to an interview?”

Caught off guard, I asked,

“How did you find me?”

Her answer stunned me.

“I contacted LinkedIn’s U.S. headquarters and asked them to recommend a Korean LinkedIn influencer. They gave me one name: yours.”

For a moment, I couldn’t breathe.

My name—spoken at LinkedIn’s global headquarters?

It felt unreal.

Later, seeing my name in print, featured as a LinkedIn influencer with AI-powered branding tips I’d shared—it wasn’t just validation.

It was a moment I’ll carry with me forever.

More Than a Subject Line

One morning, I opened my inbox—and froze.

The subject line read:

“Congratulations!!! You are the Winner of The Global Women of Influence Awards 2024.”

I stared at the screen in disbelief. Soon, I was on a plane to Singapore, headed to my first-ever international awards ceremony.

When I stepped onto that stage—flooded with lights, surrounded by extraordinary women from across the world—my heart raced.

I took a slow breath, faced the audience, and spoke.

"When I first started posting on social media, my only readers were a few friends and my sister. Now, my posts are viewed over a million times a year.

But what I’ve truly learned is this—

it's not the number that matters, but the impact of the message."

The applause that followed wasn’t just noise—it was energy.

It rippled across the room, and far beyond—to the community on social media who had been there since day one, quietly cheering me on.

That moment made one thing clear:

I’ve come farther than I ever imagined.

The Book on the Shelf

After publishing my book, I kept hearing the same question:

“So… how many copies have you sold?”

To many, success meant numbers. Sales figures. Rankings. As if that was the only story worth telling.

But the responses that truly stayed with me came from a different kind of reader—seasoned professionals, some of them bestselling authors themselves. Their questions were different:

“Publishing a book is impressive!”

“Why did you choose to write it in English?”

They weren’t counting. They were noticing.

They recognized what it takes to put your voice into the world.

As expected, my book didn’t become a bestseller.

But it quietly found its way into more than 40 libraries—including the National Sejong Library, where it sits in the “Marketing” section, alongside titles by renowned authors.

When I shared that small milestone online, I didn’t expect much. But one name caught my eye: a leading macroeconomics expert—someone I had only known from TV and books—had liked my post. I sent him a quick thank-you message.

His reply?

“Congratulations once again! Keep pushing forward, and I wish you continued success.”

That moment meant more than any sales report ever could.

And I had already stepped beyond ordinary.

Homo Dongmicus: Far Beyond Ordinary

When I first set out, my goal was simple:

to become a trusted figure in the startup world.

But over time, people began to see me differently.

Not just as a writer or startup expert—

but as “Dongmicus, the Icon of Challenge and Action.”

Yes, the journey was tough.

I faced countless rejections, and each step required recalibration.

Yet slowly, I built credibility in digital personal branding and storytelling.

Invitations followed—seminars, radio, TV, YouTube. Platforms I never imagined I’d reach.

Eventually, I understood what made the difference.

It wasn’t polish—it was authenticity.

The courage to show up exactly as I am.

Recently, through a global mentorship program, I met Richard Tran—a former California mayor turned founder. During his visit to Korea, he said:

“This is just your first book. Keep sharing your voice—go further, in more ways.”

That stayed with me.

So I asked myself:

Am I ready to take the next step?

Absolutely.

And I’ve already stepped beyond ordinary.

📘 This story is part of my journey featured in Shaken Stirred But Not Deterred Vol. 3: Celebrating the Power of Human Spirit, alongside 17 global leaders who turned adversity into power. 👉 Read the book on Amazon

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