10 years ago I decided that I wanted to be famous. I didn't know how I will become that person I saw in the mirror every morning but I was
determined. Seven years later, I just wanted to be the best at what I did and I
worked very hard and tried to always go the extra mile. Three years afterwards
and all I think about is the impact my work is making on individuals,
organisations and the nation.
I started with curiosity!
I wanted to know more about everything and I was
competitive. I desperately needed to be the best but I found out as I grew
older that it was impossible to always top every interest I had and so I
decided to choose a few things I knew how to do very well and excel in them. I
didn’t want to try what I wasn’t good at so I don’t flunk it or come out at
average and this made my options limited. I was good with English, Literature
and History and I focused on this subjects in secondary school more than I did
for other subjects and I topped the class all the time.
Don’t be a jack of all trades,
your name will get lost in the
long list of experts.
You will be seen as a side dish
and not the main meal
Be the only option for that one
thing that is needed.
During my teens, I discovered I could dance and act but
singing wasn't my forte so I danced and acted and only sang in groups. I also
noticed I had a flare for writing and I poured myself into that.
Overtime, I noticed my curiosity had pushed me into learning
business principles and development and I read every book and article I could
find on the subject. I attended meetings and tried to get opportunities to
share my ideas and with time I became known to have opinions.
Let your voice be heard for what
you know about
and you will become the go-to person on that
issue.
Don’t just think it, say it;
you won’t be paid for your
private thoughts.
Fast forward 10 years and I have worked my mind into a
constant state of curiosity which is needed for strategy, creative thinking and
business development which are the 3 main areas of my current expertise.
A few weeks ago I heard Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa say, “It’s
not a man’s world, it’s our world” and I agree with her.
It is how you choose to play the
game of chess that determines how you win
Do you want to win? Learn the
tricks of your business
Men natural tend to be go-getters and hustlers. Women are
more nurturers and receivers. But with our natural disposition as nurturers and
inert intuition it is easy to build keen expertise in an area of interest.
That’s all I did! I pushed my energies into my natural abilities, turned them
into skills and was not afraid to be assertive.
It is important that what you say should count for something
and your presence should be added value to everyone around you. This implies
diligence and consistency in acquiring and retaining knowledge for whatever
industry you find yourself and life in general.
Yes I failed a few times but I learnt my lessons and tried
again. You may fail but know there is always a way to success, and the fastest
route there is adding value and being a solution provider to a recognisable
need.
Go the extra mile.
Do more than you think you can.
Push yourself to be the best in
your own unique way.
It is quite common now to find intimidation a constant in
business but those who try to intimidate are those who are threatened by your
knowledge.
If you can learn right and act
right then you can do right and you will be alright
from: "Young Voices" featured on Olatunji.com.
