However brilliant, no single person has the wit and clout to make success out of life without the help of others. There is nothing like a self-made man, what we have are visionaries whose visions need vision drivers to make them real.
The ones who shape the world are usually non-conformists. They are risk takers. Sometimes, they bring something out of nothing. They invent ideas that transform to vision and their vision to sellable product or service. Great as this sounds, not everyone can be an inventor or an entrepreneur.
If you are in paid employment, don’t be deceived by anyone who says you cannot be a man or woman of your own until you own your business. It is a common saying but not supported by facts. It is an unrealistic assumption. If all of us own our businesses, who will drive the business?
That said, don’t be lost in pursuing someone else’s dreams to forget yourself. As you diligently travel on the back of someone else’s vision, carry yourself along so you are not lost in transit. Don’t be carried away by the perks of your office to forget your own identity.
Who are you? Some people are lucky, their day jobs not only put money in their pocket but it also gives them inner joy and fulfilment. This is not so for many others. If you are not doing your present job, what else can you do that gives you fulfillment even without financial rewards? Guard it jealously, it may be your lifeline.
If anyone calls you a family in the workplace, you can take it as a compliment but don’t soak it in too much. It is exaggerated. Most of the friendships you forge at the workplace are mere acquaintances necessitated by career progression or life aspirations. True friendship knows no class or status.
The workplace is performance driven. You may be the engine room of ideas factory today but if you begin to have a dearth of ideas tomorrow, someone else whose ideas are still fresh is waiting to take your place. You are as important as the value you bring to the table, remember?
As you savour the benefits of your office, ensure you are updating your skills both on and off the job. It gives you a sense of security and removes the anxiety that comes with the reality of a voluntary or involuntary parting of ways with your day job, whenever it happens.
The work environment is not immune from politics. Don’t be an outcast, play the politics but don’t dent your image. Competition in the workplace can bring out the best in you but unhealthy competition breeds hatred. Don’t deflate someone else’s ego to inflate yours. There is life beyond the office, don’t forget.
If your goodwill depends solely on the status that your job commands, you are vulnerable because the job will not be there forever. Chances are that the privileges you enjoy today are tied to your position but not your person. This is unsafe for life after work.
Invest in your future. Cash is king. Create wealth but don’t build all your wealth around money and what money can buy. Invest in your social capital too. Nurture your relationships. Money can do many things but if you have to spend money to do everything, some of which your goodwill should do, it is either your social capital is lean or totally empty. This is too risky.
The company you find in your job today will be replaced at old age with other active engagements. Socialise, associate and develop skills outside your job that can keep your company when reality dawns. It is more difficult to learn new things at old age. Boredom and loneliness kill faster than any ailment.
The bills have to be paid but whether you are an employer or employee, don’t be totally sold out to your job to relegate your family, friends and community. Your job will take your energy in your active years in exchange for financial rewards. Soon, you will realise that money is just one of the many things that make life count.
As you set your career and financial goals, don’t forget to set your health goals. You can fail in one or many goals and still remain standing but if your health fails, all the other goals count for less.
The little things that complement our struggles for a fulfilled life are either free or inexpensive. At every step of the journey, take stock and have a balanced view of life. Don’t be immersed in the search for economic prosperity to forget your identity.
Do you really know yourself?
©️ Akin Oluwadare Jnr.
08 September 2025
