I had a most interesting day today, it is indeed a wonder that well after midnight on a saturday I’m still awake. Do you have days like this, when you feel you are being obsessive in the short term, but actually investing for the long term? Let me make it a bit clearer. For the past 12hrs, I have rarely spoken much to anybody, I have immersed myself in reading, listening to audio books, watching developmental videos…generally upgrading myself. In the process I’ve felt tired at times and wanted to stop, but I have been stumbling on one more interesting thing or the other and been obsessively trudging on. I feel as though my internal vessels need to be stretched in order to be able to contain some imminent experiences and opportunities.
I woke up after 5am this morning and couldn’t go back to sleep. I had been invited for a seminar today by the youths of New Heritage Baptist Church. I had to put finishing touches to the powerpoint presentation, and also wait for the person who was coming to pick me. The topic was securing your dream job, and for me it always is a pleasure. I understood also, that I was the first of 3 speakers.
On getting their, I met one of my customers who I call “My Oga”, HR Manager for MTN, Bimpe Ayo-Elias. She was also an invited speaker. She was the second speaker and spoke on empowering yourself to get your dream job. It was delightsome to behold her, and sitting on the high table together was a great opportunity to further network. She spoke extensively about what she called the CAR – Capability, Attitude and Relationships. She also talked about interviews and preparing for them. Very straight to the point, natural and effective. It’s a good thing when you get invited to seminars like this, you get to hear these things over and over again from different perspectives that it gives you tremendous insights.
The third speaker, I was meeting for the first time, but after the seminar, it was as though we had met all our lives. His name – Femi Oke, Industrial Relations Manger Unilever. If I didn’t hear his name, I’ll swear he was Ibo, he’s used to hearing that though. Says he wants to be able to compete for Ibo president. His presentation was very educating and entertaining. He talked about the importance of making a good career choice, the parental influences, interests, abilities, values and skills. He also spoke about the recruitment process and what interviewers are looking for. It was fun, sitting back and listening.
Speakers -Bimpe Ayo-Elias (MTN), Femi Oke (Unilever) and Adeolu Akinyemi (Generis Solutions). Time : 8am – Noon ( I hear putting 12Noon is tautology :)) Venue -Bariga Shomolu. Act 1 Scene 1.
I left the venue and came back home, it was a good morning. I have had a project I have been working on now for about almost a week. I have been literally taken over by the thought of this project, so much so, that the first day it was concieved in my mind, I almost hit a bike rider out of thinking (day-dreaming) and driving. I came back home to further put my thoughts together and further develop myself for a few minuites to hours, and believe me, I’ve not left this laptop for more than 30 cummulative minuites in the last 12+ hours. My head is full and it’s leaking into my diary đŸ™‚
Did I hear you say no wonder? Yes, no wonder! The right to open your mouth in public, is the result of the price you paid when your mouth was shut. When I talk and people say “hmmm”, it’s not because I’m exceptional, it’s because I’ve earned it. If you don’t have days like this, you need days like this. Where it shows if you have been faithful to your self development is when opportunities demand it, don’t wait till then. Excellence is in doing the little things extremely well, extraordinary is ordinary things with a little extra. You will not attract new things into your life at this current level. Albert Einstein is quoted as saying that you cannot solve a problem at the same level of thinking that created it. Your life will externally manifest change only when from inside you have changed. Are you investing in yourself? Don’t just read this and say “hmmm”, make a commitment to your personal development today. You can start by coming here everyday and telling someone else.
Excellence is not an act, it’s a habit – Aristotle