If you are still young on the corporate ladder, you have all the time to explore and make your mistakes. Social scientists call it the forming or early stage. At the forming stage, don’t be afraid to fail that you fail to act. Inaction is not an option but if you fail, make sure you are failing forward.
Young or old on the corporate ladder, anticipation can be a dangerous limitation to your courage to take tough decisions in your career progression. Resist the temptation to reduce your life aspirations to short term wins because of immediate comfort and fear of the unknown. The real threat you should dread is the fear of stagnation.
Sometimes life veers you off your intended career path for reasons that turn out to be good. At other times, safety and economic survival may be the overriding decider, even against your wish. On either occasion, make up your mind early if the new path is worth treading and equip yourself to avoid identity confusion when your choices become fewer.
If given the choice, few people would choose again and again their present day jobs that pay their bills. If you are one of those few, you are privileged. Many are stuck with their present day jobs not because they enjoy it but because the bills must be paid. You know what? No time is late to invest in a future that your heart truly desires but it takes courage, it takes sacrifice.
Life is wired around hope. Without hope, life will be meaningless. From the cradle, there is always something to anticipate. It is no coincidence that employers of labour tailor the work setting around performance so they can buy your time in exchange for a reward system that leaves you to keep anticipating to no end.
The Normal Distribution Curve teaches us about the early stage, performing stage and diminishing or dying stage. At every step of the journey, think long term. A time will come when the few options you have left are the ones you created at the early and performing stages, else your career will start dying while you are still alive.
Anticipate in your state of comfort but don’t forget to recreate. Discover and rediscover yourself in your heydays when your options are many. Just like the game of scrabble, sometimes you may have to scatter before you can gather. There are times you may have to step down from your high horse so you can climb again on a solid ground.
In all, think long term, plan long term but measure your progress short term. Don’t reduce your dreams to short term wins. Beware of the fellow who talks only about your present needs. The one who professes love for you asks about the future.
Now I ask, are you still committed to your future plans or you are interested in your future plans? The first calls to action, the second is a mere wish. Your answer is not for public consumption. Ponder, just ponder.
Monday births opportunities. Let’s go win.
©️Akin Oluwadare Jnr.
27 October 2025
