The world seems like it is falling apart and nothing seems to work. The job has not come. I read lines like “my career is in a mess” from members these days. I have these words today for you: do not be too hard on yourself. If you look deeper, you are making progress. To get to that next level you are dreaming, you must use the progress you have made ALREADY.
Most times, our success was past tense and always forgotten because the next level has not come! How would you move to the next level when the already achieved progress has been discarded? She made Second Class Lower (2.2) in college, and the god is now 2.2. For her, she has not achieved anything. Unless you see that 2.2 as progress, that next level would not come.
You see this man in this photo? He has a small template on how to live in our time. When ABU Zaria confirmed his degree that he made a 3rd class, the next day he wore an academic gown to the Senate, celebrating his win. Call him names, he built on that and he has a life today.
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There is no job/office someone has not resigned from. If you look deeper, most things mean nothing. But we can make ourselves something. Do not be too hard on yourself – you are making progress! But keep pushing! Be inspired by others but try to live your life.
Comment on LinkedIn Post
Comment: Thank you, Prof. Ndubuisi Ekekwe. I think another issue is the comparison between where one is and where one thinks one should be at that time. Suddenly, all other successes don’t matter because I am not even where I think I should be by now.
My Response: Absolutely. That is the issue. We can indeed get to that next level but it is key we appreciate how far we have come. I do not see how one can progress if one does not like himself or herself. Yes, people do “hate” themselves making things harder to advance. My perspective in career changed when as a young banker in Lagos, the bank hired a senior manager who lasted just 3 days. The rumour was that he did not like banking job because he could not get home early for dinner with his family. He was hired from one of the FMCGs, possibly with bigger pay. But he dropped all those for family dinner! Yet, that is the same job many would work if allowed 24/7 to keep.
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No one has everything figured out in this life, if everything works for you according to plan and expectations, then you are no longer living, you must have died some time ago.
We are always keen to measure our progress and success in relative to those we think are ahead, but are our equals. But how about measuring misfortunes and sufferings in the same way? That is when you begin to appreciate how far you have come, and even be more grateful.
Who will be willing to swap his/her present predicament with that of another person? The irony of life is that the people you might be wishing to be like could also be longing to be like you, but you are unaware, because you have convinced yourself that you have got nothing.
Many of the people you think are comfortable and successful also got a lot of crises going on in their lives, and you think life singled you out for special punishment? Wait until you are given a window to what is going on in people’s lives, then you will thank your creator.
Only the night knows those who truly sleep, it’s never about shouting goodnight here and there, nothing good about some people’s night, because they never sleep…