This is an edited version of an internal email sent to all ID Africans on January 4, 2022, the first day of work in the new year.
On February 27, 2022, IDA will be 7 years old!
Because I love the Number 7 so much (CR7 is the GOAT), and in order to provide some high level direction for us this year, I’ll share 7 key objectives that we should keep in focus this year, collectively as an organisation and individually as professionals:
- To become more respected in our field(s): This means to be regarded as leading experts, professional influencers and thought leaders in the sectors we care about –– marketing, communications, media and technology.
- To become more ‘international’ and global in thinking and positioning: This means to be as good and capable as others who do what we do in Africa, America, Europe or anywhere in the world. This means that as IDA ventures beyond Nigeria in 2022, we must increasingly measure our work against the highest global standards.
- To make deliberate investments in knowledge and skill development: The only way to achieve 1 and 2 is to take time out for professional development by signing up for formal training, and taking time daily to consistently consume useful resources and practice guidelines that have been developed by the best minds and thinkers in the industry.
- To become better managers of Self and others: This means we must focus on optimizing our health, time, resources and skill. Focus on optimizing interpersonal relationships with our clients, audiences, bosses, peers and those who report to us.
- To become better advisers to the people we serve: We should not just be ‘errand runners’ to the clients and bosses that pay us. We must become subject matter experts who confidently give highly valued advice and rare insights to senior leadership teams internally and externally.
- To focus on doing the most impactful work: To not waste our valuable skills, time and scarce resources on things that will not matter beyond today. To focus on doing meaningful work that will make our own lives better and also improve the society around us.
- To lead a more meaningful life (See ‘Ikigai’): To be more introspective, mindful and thoughtful about life’s real meaning and what really matters to you. Love? Health? Family? Wealth? Growth? Afterlife? Society? Justice? This type of clarity will only come from regular ‘meditation’ and sober self-reflection. Taking time to pause and ponder will make life more exciting and meaningful, and ‘to do work’ might take on a refreshing new meaning!
These 7 objectives are not just fancy mantra but actual strategic thoughts that will positively impact the work we do as individuals and also on IDA as an organization.
For example, in order to achieve Objectives 1, 2 and 5, IDA will need to hire, train and inspire the best talents in the industry, serve the best and most demanding/rewarding clients (industry leading brands), while building the most impactful media products (Netng, Neusroom, and others). On a personal level, every individual ID African must measure their work against that of the best people working in similar roles in Kenya, South Africa, the UK, Germany, Canada, America, Dubai, Singapore and beyond.
In order to achieve Objectives 3, 4, 6 and 7, IDA must create a working environment that energizes ID Africans; IDA must provide guidance and resources for ID Africans to thrive, improve their professional skills, improve their quality of life, and be able to balance wellness and joy with passion, drive and healthy ambition. On a personal level, every ID African must take better care of themselves, work smarter, make themselves more valuable, be more helpful to others, and be better communicators and managers of relationships.
I don’t mean to bore you with all these ‘aspire to perspire’ lines early in the year, but I think it is important to set a tone for the new year with these objectives on our collective ‘vision board’. The work we do is tough and hard sometimes, and one can get lost in the day to day rigour, thereby losing sight of WHAT truly matters and WHY we do what we do.
Wishing you indestructible energy, wisdom, good fortune and Godspeed for 2022.
Happy New Year!
