I believe it is still okay to say Happy New Year (That is if the year is still new…it is day 29 already, Wow!)
My pastor once told a story about someone that just recently got a job, the way he told the story made I and the people around me laugh so hard, Infact we laughed so hard I was afraid my stomach will speak out to complain about it. But after the bouts of laughter, it got thinking about all the decisions we make and will make on life issues.
Paraphrasing the words of my pastor that day, he said, “when you walk up to me and mention that you just got a job in Lekki and before I jump and thank God for answered prayers, I will ask you how much the salary would be and you tell me 20,000, all excited and about to scream for joy again thinking you are going to be paid in foreign currency (DOLLARS OR POUNDS), I ask once more to be sure, if it is in either of this currency and you say no sir it is NAIRA!!!!!; I'll Pause and do a quick mental calculation of your transportation and feeding cost and you will probably be receiving from your employer a little over 6,000 NAIRA as you would have exceeded your salary based on different expenses before the end of the month.”
Laughter filled the air and I thought to myself, what was he/she thinking? The truth is, the individual in question did not think the whole thing through before taking the offer or was probably caught up in the euphoria of “getting a job” or maybe this person has been out of job for a very long time and just needed to be out of the house. “Now, if you do not reside in Lagos, Nigeria let me enlighten you a little; working in Lekki which is situated on the Island especially when you live on the mainland would entail, waking up and leaving home very early, long hours in traffic and returning home late at night, high feeding cost (except you make your own meals from home which I do) and other associated inconveniences. So if you are getting a job in a location that drains you emotionally, psychologically, financially and practically reduces your life span ( now this is a joke i have made to express Intensity), PLEASE HAVE A RE THINK ; it has to be “worth it”.
In breezing through life, we are either caught up with trying to impress people we don’t even like or in competition with people who are not even aware of our existence. The gospel truth as expressed in a popular quote, is that, the only person you should strive to be better than is the person you were yesterday. Stop and think today on every area of your life as you make resolutions, decisions and set goals for the year; ask yourself one very critical question and answer it sincerely; WHAT DO I WANT TO DO?? WHAT DO I THINK I AM DOING?? Your everyday activity has to mean something; they have to contribute to your ultimate goal irrespective of your status as an entrepreneur, artisan or an employee. Some people are of the notion that you cannot chase your own dream by being an employee. (I disagree here, because I have learnt skills and do a lot of by the side stuff for extra income) but a person’s ultimate goal may be to climb up the ranks of a well-structured organization that leaves a healthy pension when they eventually retire, another may desire to enjoy the stability of paid employment while making several investments to cater for the future and all unforeseen circumstances. These achievements give as much joy and fulfillment as a person whose yearning and ambition is to grow an empire and is able to achieve it.
Other reasons why most people engage in jobs is for the experience and sustainability while working towards finding better opportunities , for exposure, to get into the desired industry, to save up for projects and to invest, to better themselves, to challenge themselves and many other reasons that serves to improve their lot in life...
One should not get stuck in a job, career or business venture for the wrong reasons or no reason at all. Respect yourself enough to walk away from anything that no longer SERVES YOU, GROWS YOU OR MAKE YOU HAPPY or TRY TO IMPROVE AND CHANGE THE SITUATION.
So in conclusion dear readers, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING? DO YOU FIND FUFILLMENT IN IT? DOES IT CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR OVERALL AIM IN LIFE? DO YOU EVEN HAVE AN AIM? ARE YOU LIVING OR JUST EXISTING? HAVE YOU EVEN GIVEN IT A THOUGHT BEFORE?
The Year is still new, you still have time to think through and make amends.
Ogem is a guest writer from Nigeria... And a first time contributor to the blog.
My pastor once told a story about someone that just recently got a job, the way he told the story made I and the people around me laugh so hard, Infact we laughed so hard I was afraid my stomach will speak out to complain about it. But after the bouts of laughter, it got thinking about all the decisions we make and will make on life issues.
Paraphrasing the words of my pastor that day, he said, “when you walk up to me and mention that you just got a job in Lekki and before I jump and thank God for answered prayers, I will ask you how much the salary would be and you tell me 20,000, all excited and about to scream for joy again thinking you are going to be paid in foreign currency (DOLLARS OR POUNDS), I ask once more to be sure, if it is in either of this currency and you say no sir it is NAIRA!!!!!; I'll Pause and do a quick mental calculation of your transportation and feeding cost and you will probably be receiving from your employer a little over 6,000 NAIRA as you would have exceeded your salary based on different expenses before the end of the month.”
Laughter filled the air and I thought to myself, what was he/she thinking? The truth is, the individual in question did not think the whole thing through before taking the offer or was probably caught up in the euphoria of “getting a job” or maybe this person has been out of job for a very long time and just needed to be out of the house. “Now, if you do not reside in Lagos, Nigeria let me enlighten you a little; working in Lekki which is situated on the Island especially when you live on the mainland would entail, waking up and leaving home very early, long hours in traffic and returning home late at night, high feeding cost (except you make your own meals from home which I do) and other associated inconveniences. So if you are getting a job in a location that drains you emotionally, psychologically, financially and practically reduces your life span ( now this is a joke i have made to express Intensity), PLEASE HAVE A RE THINK ; it has to be “worth it”.
In breezing through life, we are either caught up with trying to impress people we don’t even like or in competition with people who are not even aware of our existence. The gospel truth as expressed in a popular quote, is that, the only person you should strive to be better than is the person you were yesterday. Stop and think today on every area of your life as you make resolutions, decisions and set goals for the year; ask yourself one very critical question and answer it sincerely; WHAT DO I WANT TO DO?? WHAT DO I THINK I AM DOING?? Your everyday activity has to mean something; they have to contribute to your ultimate goal irrespective of your status as an entrepreneur, artisan or an employee. Some people are of the notion that you cannot chase your own dream by being an employee. (I disagree here, because I have learnt skills and do a lot of by the side stuff for extra income) but a person’s ultimate goal may be to climb up the ranks of a well-structured organization that leaves a healthy pension when they eventually retire, another may desire to enjoy the stability of paid employment while making several investments to cater for the future and all unforeseen circumstances. These achievements give as much joy and fulfillment as a person whose yearning and ambition is to grow an empire and is able to achieve it.
Other reasons why most people engage in jobs is for the experience and sustainability while working towards finding better opportunities , for exposure, to get into the desired industry, to save up for projects and to invest, to better themselves, to challenge themselves and many other reasons that serves to improve their lot in life...
One should not get stuck in a job, career or business venture for the wrong reasons or no reason at all. Respect yourself enough to walk away from anything that no longer SERVES YOU, GROWS YOU OR MAKE YOU HAPPY or TRY TO IMPROVE AND CHANGE THE SITUATION.
So in conclusion dear readers, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING? DO YOU FIND FUFILLMENT IN IT? DOES IT CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR OVERALL AIM IN LIFE? DO YOU EVEN HAVE AN AIM? ARE YOU LIVING OR JUST EXISTING? HAVE YOU EVEN GIVEN IT A THOUGHT BEFORE?
The Year is still new, you still have time to think through and make amends.
Ogem is a guest writer from Nigeria... And a first time contributor to the blog.