In Pursuit of Why
It’s a great feeling, when you are at university. You are progressing year on year, engaging in sports and all things social, and then you…
It’s a great feeling, when you are at university. You are progressing year on year, engaging in sports and all things social, and then you graduate, and life hits you in the face.
The obvious next step is to find a job. Simple enough right? Think again. You apply for different jobs and you are rejected, again and again. At some point you will settle for anything. Anything that pays the bills, and helps you save face.
Eventually you’ll get a job, go to work each day, do whatever is expected from 9 to 5, come back home, and the next day, repeat. Soon, its just about the next pay check, and it hits you
Is this it?
Why am I here?
Where is this going?
In Nigeria, we treasure education and any training where we receive a certificate at the end. A certificate that can be used to secure a better opportunity in the future e.g. a job. Most of us (millennial) were encouraged to study Engineering and Law, so, one day we can return and work in a well-paid role in the thriving oil and gas industry.
Makes sense, right? So I did just that. Speedily after graduation, I returned to Nigeria to ride the wave to oil riches. Guess what?
No Jobs!
Huh?!?
Something about the global oil price being too low to justify oil production. No production meant no projects. No projects meant no jobs and no oil riches. Great!
At this point It appeared that all the studying, tutorials and ‘all nighters’ were for nothing. I needed to find my WHY, and this is how I did it.
Get back to the beginning: when you were a kid , what did you enjoy doing? What did you hate doing? In school, at home and in your free time. Reviewing past experiences to identify the patterns behind your preferences, will go a long way. For me, I enjoyed building things and working with tools: problem solving. I also enjoyed business and sales: entrepreneurship. Surprisingly, my latest roles have involved car manufacturing, jets and entrepreneurship.
Consider your career strategically: Once you have found your interest, you need to review YOU like a business: Are there many employers in your chosen role and industry ( market size) ? Is there a chance to gain transferable skills (economics of scale/scope)? How do you differentiate yourself from others(unique selling point)?
Get Money: Whilst you are applying for a new job, you still need to pay the bills. Find a side gig that you can do in the meantime, that isn’t too demanding
Meet People: This really should say networking, but I am going for both the formal and informal context. Network with friends, mentors and those in your chosen field. It begins with a smile, an introduction, and a conversation and may lead to a step in the right direction
Get out of your comfort zone and get some experience: This experience may/may not be relevant to your aspirations, but it keeps you busy and motivated.
Let go of your ego and sense of entitlement and thrive on GRUNT work — So I got this one from “Tools of Titans” by Tim Ferriss. I couldn’t have said it better
I believe school is ultimately important because we learn how to learn, and gain a social network, these are invaluable to adapt in this changing and fast paced world.
Still, it’s perfectly fine not to have a purpose, and it doesn’t make you a failure. You only fail when you give up. So never ever ever ever ever GIVE UP!
Keep calm and keep moving forward.
P.S. Since writing this, oil price has increased almost twofolds, maybe our parents were right after all.
Further Reading