Stallone-Obaraemi Samuel: What lies Ahead for the Nigerian Graduate? (Pt 3)

Part 2 of this series mentioned some ways the Nigerian graduate could carve a pleasant path for him/herself

1.      Learn to Earn as Entrepreneurs

Some of you may decide to become entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs naturally dream big, but start small. Unfortunately for most youngsters, they want to start big, sometimes, ironically, even without dreaming. The “visionlessness” of our youths today is just not annoying. It is saddening!  Aliko Dangote, who built a conglomerate and emerged the richest black man in the world in 2008, said in his words “but it didn’t happen overnight. Youth of today aspire to be like me, but they want to achieve it overnight. It’s not going to work. To build a successful business, you must start small and dream big. In the journey of entrepreneurship, tenacity of purpose is supreme”.  

Apprenticeship is not for the unschooled or semi-educated. At various points in my life, I have had the privilege of actively teaching in Primary and secondary schools, led tutorial classes in the higher institution and in the process I reckoned, I love teaching, which prompted me to obtained a post graduate qualification in education/teaching (if you like). Today, I have led the opening of 2 private schools. I have also been privileged to work with several senior facilitators, coaches and public speakers, most times for free. Today, I write and speak on various platforms. According to Aruosa mentioned in the earlier parts, young people don’t understand how they can deliberately work with someone or in an organisation for some years just to gain access to their knowledge, methodologies, and networks. To young people today I agree with the school of thought that if you want to be an entrepreneur, you should be prepared to learn in order to earn. You obviously can delay gratification. Remember, success requires HARD WORK, and smartness does not necessarily take hardness associated with work, absolutely away. Do not be disillusioned.

2.      Make use of professional institutions:

You must learn to make effective use of every professional tool at your disposal. There is enormous power in the right network and you need to learn how to leverage on such networks. For you to benefit immensely from any professional institution and the network it provides, you need to be very active. My advice to you here if you want to benefit from any networking relationship is;

              a.      Give

              b.      Give

              c.      Give

Without expecting absolutely anything in return. Aim to make everyone you meet happy. Think of solving a problem each time. Well the irony is that you cannot give what you do not have. Therefore, you need to develop yourself so that you will have something to give when you meet someone in professional institution or any networking platform. I give you an example. Most of the senior consultants and professionals, have very little internet and graphic and audio-visual skills. Who wants to heavily pay professional graphics designer or blogger to promote his/her online presence, when same person can get a fresh, smart and technically savvy  graduate to do same?  Now you may not be earning some fat salaries, but you will be learning the skills and principles of that senior person’s business while also tapping into his network. Money, probably cannot buy you that.

3.      Get a Coach/ Mentor:

Everybody needs a coach, and/or mentor, no matter how high or you may be today. When you are guided properly, you make fewer mistakes in life. Without a coach and/or a mentor, you most probably will learn from loads of mistakes. This is not bad in itself, as I encourage people to embrace mistakes, but the fact is, it could be very costly.

4.      Network & Baggage:

When I say network, for most of you, the thinking most likely is about meeting well-meaning people, get connected to people that can give to you. The question is; what are you willing to give first, not in return? You must realise that in most cases for you to meet and retain positive people, you must have the fortitude to let some of your friends today go. As T. D Jakes puts it:

“There are people who can walk away from you.

 When they do, please let them walk.

Do not try to talk them into staying with you’.

In reverse, I say to you today,

There are people you need to walk away from

When you do, do not let them try to talk you into staying with them

When they refuse to let you go, let them drop

I mean hang up the phone, and delete them from your contact list

‘Sometimes, you may need to let even good people go

When their part in your life script appears to be over

And it doesn’t mean that they are bad people,

It just means that their part in the story is over.

You need a discerning mind to know when people’s part in your story is over

You’ve got to know when it’s over.

Goodbye is a gift that you must learn to embrace and appreciate.”

If it is difficult to run the bolt through the knot

You most likely are not following the thread.

You do not need some of your friends you have today

They constitute a baggage

As you walk out that door let them go!

Let them drop!!

On all that's been said above, I need you to reflect and let your reflection lead you to action.

 

Stallone-Obaraemi Samuel is the lead consultant and CEO of DellonVille Global Associates, a personal effectiveness and business support consulting firm. Stallone is an executive coach, keynote( public) speaker, facilitator, and management consultant focused on personal effectiveness and organisational performance programmes.