When Helen Keller said, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all”, she did not know that she was defining the entire existence of a boy who seriously played through many facets of life to become a man who still plays. From being a rapper who performed on stages in Lagos to a published performance poet, I drifted across multiple fields in my youth. I should not mention that I worked as a barman in several nightclubs and as an estate valuer in a real estate firm. What intriguing contradictions, you may think!
This life of inextricable but adventurous contradictions took me through books, work in various fields, stage performances, professional sports, tears, laughter, and then studies to the point of becoming a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in 2022. My life in 2022 was adorned with the regalia of many colours, the most prominent of which was my full throttle into the world of Public Relations.
There were many lessons in the year 2022. The first was that the drive for success in Nigeria must be accompanied by a double portion of resilience and smiles. The first day I met my thesis supervisor during my doctoral study, she told me sternly that she suffered for ten years to earn her doctoral degree.
As one who understood the communications style within the Nigerian university system, I knew I was in real trouble. It didn’t take long for me to start seeing the manifestations of that statement. It got so tough that I should have considered dropping out of the programme. But no, my determination to get decorated as a scholar was stronger. So I reclined and made a strategic decision on how to win her to my side; humility and smiles.
I smiled through all she threw at me until she began to like me. She later took me as a son and gave me her unfettered cooperation. In my set, I was the first to complete my thesis. How sweet!
My second lesson is that it is possible to be deliberate about the place of work. After I obtained my PhD, I told a friend that I needed work in the foremost PR firm in Lagos. He mentioned two firms, and Black House Media (BHM) was one of them. I had worked in the PR sector before and knew it would be the most fulfilling sector for me. So I sent an email to BHM.
Even though I was not confident that BHM would respond to my email, I did not apply anywhere else. However, to my amazement, I was contacted. My employment process took about two months, during which some opportunities came up at some universities for me, but I turned them down. I resolutely believed BHM would send me an offer letter, and they did. I did not read it before sending my acceptance response. Crazy, right?
What I learnt from that is that if you want something hard enough, the stars will align in your favour to give it to you, just as they worked for Lionel Messi to win the World Cup.
Finally, 2022 was a fantastic year of dreams coming true for me. I reached my educational aspiration and got my ideal job. Sydney Sheldon couldn’t have scripted a better scenario. The same can happen to you. Whatever you yearn for this year, script your plans now, put in the work, try to smile through the challenges that must come and hope that the stars align in your favour.
It’s not too late to say ‘Happy New Year!’
