Tag: Ideas

This is a personal story. But I have also spoken to a lot of people enough to know I’m not alone in the boat. That’s why I’m sharing my personal story. To help at least one person out there.

When I joined PwC a few years ago, it was only a matter of time before I started wondering about what the future holds for me. I worried a lot that it affected my mental health and ability to focus at work.

My worry was about where I will work when I leave PwC? What role will I have? How much will I earn? What skills do I need to develop ahead of time for that role? And many more of sorts.

When I finally left, not one of the ideas I had in mind played out. I grossly underrated the universe of possibility before me. What mattered in the end and what made the difference was doing a great job where I was then and then. Focusing on doing the best job possible. That was what got me an offer in the UK from Nigeria, not all the worries I had leading up to that time.

I used to worry about how to have a great network in the future. All the worry also didn’t matter and I doubt they would ever matter. So far, what has mattered has been focusing on the moment. Being as helpful to as many as I could.

I used to think about how I would get a beautiful wife. The one with whom I will be aligned with and we can journey this world together. On that as well, not one of those worries of the future mattered. Being in the moment and making the most of it was more important.

I used to worry about finances. About events that are even yet to arrive. But a time came when I needed to finance a project. One way or another I crossed the bridge.

It’s incredibly tough to let go of the future. But we have to let go of it. Just as yesterday took care of itself. Tomorrow will take care of itself as well. Today is our only responsibility. Take care of today. Make the most of it. That’s what can ensure that the dreams of the future will come true. Not one inch of the worries for the future counts.

My steps have been ordered to discover some secrets of the universe. I have applied them, watched others apply them and I have seen them always work. Well, they aren’t much of a secret because they all lie in plain sight.

A lot of people struggle with the question of what they should do. I found my answer in this verse. Do all things. Yes, all. There is no magic to finding it out. If you are searching, do all that interests you. You who are young, make the most of your youth. Relish your youthful vigour. Follow the impulses of your heart. If something looks good to you, pursue it. – Ecclesiastes 11:9 MSG

Life should start out saying a lot of yeses… then with the passage of time, more clarity, and focus, you have to grow your number of nos. I used to say yes to everything that comes my way. I still say a lot of yeses today because I’m yet to arrive. Now my list of nos has been growing as well. The way that tends to work out is beautiful to behold. Start with a lot of yeses and then increase the nos with time. Don’t reverse the equation. You won’t be young forever.

Curiosity is not rated enough. It kills the cat but it liberates and gives life to the human mind. Curiosity is the fuel for growth and the oil of sustainability. It allows you to discover new territories and empowers you to gain dominion in those territories.

Embrace failure. A common question I like to ask anyone who wants to have an interesting life is how many times have they failed in the past and on how many things have they failed? I don’t know how you can have an interesting life without a lot of failed attempts. Remember what I shared on optimising your life for interesting stories. Failure is a feature then and not a bug, I concluded. I want to fail more.

Note, your failure should not come out of a bad work ethic. That’s not for us. It should come because you are too early, you tried all you can, you went to all lengths possible… Simply put, failure should be an inevitable one.

Take responsibility. It is so easy to shift responsibility especially if you are someone who has or knows a lot of “village people”. But come off it, my friend. It’s time you look beyond all those and start seeing yourself as being responsible for everything in your life. And even if it’s crystal clear that you are not responsible, still take responsibility. You will be amazed at how much that will accelerate your life to the desired destination.

God’s delight is hiding things. Human glory lies in searching things out. This was a revelation that I am still grateful until today for discovering. I doubled down on searching for knowledge and insights since I learnt this fact and the more things I search out the more the universe unveils itself to me. Crowned with glory. Learn to go down the rabbit hole.

How the world works. All attempts to build an aeroplane failed until some people understood better how the world works. And we wouldn’t even be where we are today until we learnt the laws of nature in physics, biology, and all else. The knowledge of how the world works will give anyone who has it an unfair advantage.

Be in haste to work to put food on your table. After that, put on the garment of patience towards the work of your hands. Because haste is not good for this business of life. Compounding is the rule of the world. And my friend, it takes time for results to show. You can’t hurry the sunrise no matter how hard you try.

Humans have all sorts of problems. But the most unsettling one is their inability to predict the future. Nearly all humans will withstand all forms of adversity. If they knew with certainty that at the end of the adversity, they will have the kind of end they desire. Faith is what gives that “certain knowledge”. I don’t dismiss faith, I live by it. It is nearly impossible to live without faith.

Before we talk about how you can become the kind of person people are glad to know, let’s talk about something else.

Do you know anyone right now and you consider it a blessing to know that person? Why would you consider it so?

Probably because the person is helpful to you.
Probably because the person is resourceful.
Probably because the person is kind.
Probably because the person always comes through for you.
Probably because the person is useful.

Whatever it is, we can summarise it as the person is valuable to you and others that you are aware of.

So how can you be the person people are glad to know? Be a valuable person to them.

The first time I heard about this idea was from a Ted talk titled “the paradox of choice“. Over the years, I’ve observed the idea to be not only true but also permeating.

I’ve been meaning to work on a project now but not even started it let alone complete it. Why? Because I have different options as to which direction to take. 

And guess what? Instead of picking a direction, I am evaluating which direction will offer a perfect result. And one month is gone, yet, not a start nor a completion. 

On the contrary, if my choice was one, as a minimum, I would have started. That is even if it is not completed yet.

We all go through this. And the only way around it is to build the restrictions in our life and plans. Even if they are not there by default. Restrictions are good. Unlimited choice leads to no commitment.