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You have a choice!

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I feel very sad at times when I get reports of what people pass through in some organizations. Is it people who cry almost everyday at work, or people who wake up with a headache every morning? People pass through a lot! Of what use is waking up early, sleeping late doing what gives you no fulfillment or sense of value? To make matters worse, it’s not likely you’ll see these people and be able to discern their problems, they have decided, that no matter how lightly dressed they are, they must wear their smiles. In the words of legendry Fela, “Suffering and Smiling” -“Everyday na the same thing”. Why do people pass themselves through this much? I posed the question, and the answer that seemed to keep coming back to me was different forms of, “I have no other choice for now!” What??!!

Wow! You have a choice! That state of mind that makes you think you don’t have a choice is the most powerless state a human being can ever have. Your power is dependent on the number of options of choices you can make and your freedom is dependent on your ability to make the most of whatever options you have. Who told you, you don’t have a choice? When you are stripped of everything you have, friends, clothes, self worth, e.t.c, the only thing no mortal can strip you of, is your ability to choose your response, it’s called the last of the human freedoms, you my friend, have a choice.

Let’s get a little practical, what you really mean is that you don’t have any job to go to, right? Will your life come to an end if you loose your job? A friend who tells me from time to time that I gave him the courage to drop his job told me that for a long time he thought he had no choice. He’ll go to work as early as 5.45am and leave around 11pm, he could not bring himself to think of what he’ll be doing if he didn’t have a job. He told me he wondered, would he just be staying at home? Would he be dodging people? Would he be reading newspapers? What would his average day be like? These thoughts made him think he had no option…until he met me 🙂 Today he’s been out of that big company for over 3 months. He is much happier, uses his brains more, has learnt more in those 3 months than in all his working years, and has just now gotten another job that pays him much better than the one he dropped. The most interesting part is that he has overcome his fears for life and has told me that if this job doesn’t make him happy, he’ll resign with speed. (If I get his permission i’ll provide his name and webaddress :))

Who says you don’t have a choice? You do! Most of the time many of us are clouded from our choices by our fears, by the people in our environment – poor souls who collectively tell themselves they have no choice. I am yet to see a human being who has any skill die of hunger. Tell me when you see one! And when I say skill don’t think too far…driving is a skill, talking sense is a skill, encouragement requires skill, hairdressing, administration, organizing, e.t.c. these are all skills. If I was a driver today, who do you think i’ll be driving? If I was a mechanic, what kind of people will feel more comfortable using me? If I learnt how to make peoples hair, wouldn’t you think you couldn’t afford me? If I was a mathematics teacher, wouldn’t you rather preferr I trained your son? Stop kidding yourself, you have a choice!

There are many good things you can do during your transition.

1. You can develop yourself – Olumide Alabi, aka Luminus, said it right when he said, “won’t it be great if my employer asks what happened during this 3 months gap in your career?”, and he answered, “those were the best days in my life in personal development!” Won’t that be a better answer than, slaving it away in a field completely different from where you want to be? Many people don’t read, don’t even interract with people that can help them think differently and better. They are working at dead end jobs! If you don’t need to learn anything new to continue to deliver excellence at your job, you might need to promote yourself.

2. Volounteer – Some of the best experiences of my life were ones I wasn’t paid for doing! I did them with joy then, believing that when my reward was not tangible it was permanent. You don’t need to stay home and read newspapers. Suit up nicely and go to a company of choice, one that has opportunities you are interested in, package yourself well and tell them you want to come and work for them for free! I once counselled a new acquaintance on a move like this, she not only got the volounteer opportunity, she got the Job. The MD was tripped and said she was the kind of person they needed permanently. And don’t be discouraged if the company says they don’t want volounteers now, keep trying. Success usually comes one hour later 🙂

3. Maintain a positive attitude – Nobody wants to increase their company stock of negative people. There are many people complaining inside the company already, why should they add you? Enjoy yourself, see the bright side. Nobody moves forward for long looking back (except you are being chaffeur driven in a limo and you are a guest, not the owner:)) Your world is not about to come to an end until you believe it! The moment you think you made a mistake, you just did!

4. Belong! – Find something or somewhere to belong to. Develop a sense of worth from making contributions, adding value. Associations, clubs, religious bodies, mentors…whatever, don’t be alone! Your chances alone are slimmer than if you are in good company.

You do have a choice! And it’s not only about a job it’s also about relationships! Even if you are the owner of your business you have choices. The paradox of it all however is that when you run your own venture, the will for persistence only wakes when you tell yourself that the only choice you have, is to succeed! You have a choice!

Adeolu Akinyemi

Adeolu Akinyemi

18 thoughts on “You have a choice!”

  1. Angela
    November 29, 2006 at 8:28 am

    Absolutely nothing to add to this pieces than to say BRILLIANT!!!

    You aced again Deolu.

    Reply
  2. Luminus
    November 29, 2006 at 11:35 am

    Word Brother, hmm… just got an idea for a book… Choice: The Last Human Freedom or Choice: The Final Frontier. If anybody steals this idea they’re in for a rude awakening…lol.

    Thanks for the link love, now my head is swelling…lol

    I guess when your back is against the wall, it’s up to you to decide whether you’re gonna fight back or dig deeper in the wall so you can keep backing away from your issues.

    I’m feeling that Volunteering thing, it shows you off as a person of true value, whose focus is on value delivery rather than the cheddars, believe me… the cheddars’ll follow soon enuff.

    It’s much like Solomon asking for wisdom instead of all the gold in the land… see what he got in the end.

    Have you got any leads for me on that angle, hmm… how about I do some volunteering for Generis Solutions.

    Reply
  3. wisdomseun
    November 29, 2006 at 11:50 am

    Great article, I believe the fear of tomorrow is what is driving many to stick to their job, not knowing that what they carry on the inside is enough to their desire end. As stated above, that any man with skill has no limitation except himself.
    You can learn more about the available skills and which type you possess on my site.

    Reply
  4. Adeolu Akinyemi
    November 29, 2006 at 11:56 am

    @Luminus – When do you want to start?
    @Angela – Thanks!

    Reply
  5. Luminus
    November 29, 2006 at 12:08 pm

    Hmm… there’s no time like the present. I’ll do you an email so we can work it out. How does that sound?

    Reply
  6. Akinyemi Abiola
    November 29, 2006 at 2:30 pm

    I’ve often said whether we fail or we succeed we do not have any excuses. Alive or dead, it’s our hands. what we make of life in any of it’s facet is a product of our choices and it will always be our fault if things are not right. Pls hush… shh…. NO MORE EXCUSES
    This the gist on my blog

    urs
    @biola.com

    Reply
  7. Rotimi
    November 30, 2006 at 7:51 am

    Brilliant write-up!!!
    I was once caught in a job where I felt I had no choice but to continue even in the face of a massive persecution. I was trapped by the fear of stepping out into “the dark abyss of unemployment”.
    I look back and rue those times “cos I still bear unneccessary scars and treat deeper wounds than the “abyss” could have inflicted.
    Volunteering, superb idea. Maybe that can be the a topic someday.
    Great work!!!

    Reply
  8. Olaito
    November 30, 2006 at 9:44 am

    The fact remains that many are afraid and wouldnt want to accept. The fair of unknown has held them like a lion holding a prey.

    Another reason like someone said is working in a big corporation. This is often a kiss of death to many career development and idea fulfilment.

    But we must add a caveat, not everyone will be an Entreprenuer even though we all have a chance to be. Many will also be a good support cast instead of standing alone.

    This is where wisdom is now important.

    Reply
  9. Pingback: Deoluakinyemi » Daily Motivation and Development for People and Organizations - ASE » Blog Archive » Give yourself NO other Choice!

  10. Stephen
    November 30, 2006 at 2:58 pm

    Knowing that you have a choice continually empowers you to live above limits.
    It releases confidence in you to venture without fear of failure towards your passion.

    Deolu Many Thanks……

    Reply
  11. Bayuze
    November 30, 2006 at 10:50 pm

    Choice! Single most important human factor. God gave Adam the power of choice but he used it wrongly. We all have the power of choice in our hands and we have the power to change our lives with it. Fear of the future is one thing that could hamper the freedom of choice.
    Volunteering! Deolu, please could u help shed more light by doing a write up on it? Thanks!

    Reply
  12. Tope Akinyemi
    December 1, 2006 at 3:50 pm

    Constantly reminding oneself that one has a choice is a liberating truth. Thanks

    Reply
  13. bukola
    December 4, 2006 at 12:00 pm

    in this part of the world we keep hearing the same story that life is not easy and that we dont have a choice but it;s all fallacy,nice wrteup ,good work,you are an example of a young and dynamin Nigeria,who is well focused and future oriented ,God will continue to give you more insight and knowledge as you bless others,

    Reply
  14. uju
    December 6, 2006 at 3:45 pm

    Truely a lot of us want to make a move but we are afraid.Thanks for reminding us(those that already knew)and for teaching us (those that dont know)that we all have a choice…

    Reply
  15. Adeolu Akinyemi
    December 7, 2006 at 10:31 am

    Rotimi…I’ll take up that tip on volounteering article 🙂

    Uju…where have you been?
    Luminus? Maybe we can coauthor the book 🙂

    Reply
  16. Luminus
    December 7, 2006 at 10:39 am

    Hmm… that sounds like a plan. I foresee many a brain-storming session on that one. I’m pretty sure it’d be worth it though

    Reply
  17. Freelance
    March 14, 2007 at 3:53 pm

    Nice one again. I have a choice. I am in charge, i am really happy. Relationships too are very important. Nobody or Nothing can hold me down.I have a choice and i am going to choose greatness, i would choose to see the brighter side of life,good health, prosperity Happiness, and the good things of life.

    Thanks again for this only God can fully repay you

    Godspeed111

    Reply
  18. OMOZELE
    May 8, 2009 at 2:38 pm

    the truth is that very few are aware that the have choices. others are so afraid of making choices. the fear and risk involved in choices is what makes people afraid of making choics. i was onece like that. i was in a job i didnt like but was afraid to leave because of what people will say if i leave. but thank God i was able to put that behind me and i made a good choice that i am proud of today. thaks so much sir.

    Reply

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Meet Deolu

Many hold their audience spell bound with motivational speeches but few care to hold the audience by the hand and help them walk their way to financial freedom like he does. Many have failed at everything they have tried to do but everything he does turns to gold. Read more…

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