"I Made It In 1978 Therefore You Should Make It In 2025"

The hardest lesson I had to learn as a mentor? My advice wasn’t always as helpful as I thought.

We all do it. We share what worked for us, assuming it will work for others. That is how many of us mentor. But what if that approach does not fit the reality your mentee lives?

Recently, I saw a conversation that made me reflect on this deeply. Dr. Cosmas Maduka, a highly respected businessman and founder of the multi-billion dollar Coscharis Group of Companies, shared that before any young man thinks of getting married, he should have rented a 2-3 bedroom apartment (at the minimum). Because that’s what he did in 1978, at age 19, before getting married.

His success is undeniable. But it made me wonder; if the ladies were to follow that advice, many will never get married. Many promising young men will probably wait a few years to be able to get married. Many much longer. Or have the rules changed?

The world I began to succeed in no longer exists today. If I had to start again from my first job in Egbeda/Akowonjo, I will need to unlearn, adapt, and play by a completely new set of rules

I’ve come to realize that success is shaped by more than just effort. It’s also greatly impacted by context.

Atedo N A Peterside , who told me that the next generation of leaders have been "rigged out" by the system, was only 33 years old when a banking license was handed over to him (he founded Stanbic IBTC Corporate and Investment Banking , formerly IBTC). His contemporaries in Zenith Bank Plc , GT Bank and UBA Group (formerly Standard Trust Bank) were also in their 30's when they owned banks.

A very unlikely occurrence in 2025.

Here are three key mantras that have helped reshape how I think about success when speaking to those I am mentoring.

1. Effort Matters, But Context Decides Who Wins

When Dr. Maduka was starting out, Nigeria was still experiencing the oil boom of the 1970s. The government, flush with oil revenue, introduced initiatives like the Udoji Awards of 1972, which significantly increased public sector spending with a multiplier effect on the economy as a whole. At the time, nominal incomes rose, real income went higher, and purchasing power was strong. Business was booming. Many could afford housing and build wealth.

If today were 1977, young people can generally have that as a prerequisite for getting married, benefiting from the economic climate.

Today, the landscape is different. Nigeria now faces a housing deficit of 28 million units. Real estate prices are soaring. Homeownership is nearly impossible for the average worker. While nominal salaries have increased marginally, real income (what money can actually buy) has declined. Inflation has eroded purchasing power.

This is not just a Nigerian problem. A U.S. Federal Reserve study found that millennials (those born between 1980 - 1994) earn 20% less than baby boomers (Dr. Maduka's generation) did at the same stage of life, despite being more educated. In Nigeria, the same pattern exists. Younger professionals may earn higher nominal wages, but affordability has collapsed.

I used to think success was just about hard work until I realized the rules of the game don’t stay the same forever. Context matters.

Key Takeaway:

Hard work matters, but real success comes from understanding the economic realities of the time. If I had to do it all over again today, my approach will be remarkably different. I would consider today’s opportunities & constraints.

2. If You’re Not Evolving, You’re Falling Behind

Harvard’s Adaptive Leadership Framework, developed by Ronald Heifetz, emphasizes that leaders must continuously evolve to tackle complex challenges in a changing world. Adaptive challenges require new thinking, flexibility, and bold decisions.

This is the kind of thinking that separates mentees who survive from those who thrive.

Yesterday is a good reference point but If I were building success, in any area, from the ground up today, I wouldn’t be asking, “What worked for me before?” I would be asking, “What works now?”

IBM created the PC industry. However market share, revenue & profits started to decline rapidly as competition increased even as Dell, HP, Compaq entered the industry going for where IBM missed. IBM read the room & decided to exit the industry it created when revenue dropped to $90b. It sold the business to Lenovo and focused on software, AI etc. After fully pivoting the company had a turnaround with revenues immediately shooting up to over $120b. If they had stuck to the old methods, they probably would have been history by now.

Many leaders fail because they cling to past successes instead of adapting to new realities. The world doesn’t reward those who simply work harder at an outdated strategy. It rewards those who recognize when the game has changed and adjust accordingly.

Key Takeaway:

If I had to start again today as a Primary 2 teacher in Egbeda, my old strategies wouldn’t be enough. I would need to read the room, adjust my approach, and move forward with more clarity and speed.

3. Don’t Copy My Path; Rather Let Me Help You Find Yours

This is my third mantra in mentorship.

A mentor’s role isn’t to dictate his or her past. It’s to prepare mentees for their future.

As a parent, I struggle with this a lot.

? The world my children are growing up in isn’t the same one that shaped me.

? If I expect them to walk the same path I did, I might be setting them up for failure.

It is easier said than done however I have learnt that the best coaches are those that adapt to their players.

A case in mind is the popular Phil Jackson, the NBA coach who won 11 championships, who adjusted his leadership approach for Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O’Neal. He is known not to have forced them into a "winning strategy" or system. He built a strategies & systems around them.

While I was with the airlines, I handled the commercial deal set up for up to 10 stations/cities in 7 different countries but each station was different. We had to decide if it was direct sales, which was most preferred, or indirect sales or alternative channels, or a combination. For direct sales we had to decide if it was our website or city office or airport office, a call centre or a combination of these. For Indirect sales we had to decide to use the global distributors, travel agencies, aggregators, codeshare etc. What informed our final decision? What works best in that city. Success in a country is not success for the neighbouring country. I learnt a lot from that.

Key Takeaway:

If I were mentoring myself when I started my career, I wouldn’t tell myself to follow my exact steps. I would say, “Understand your environment, play the game as it is today, and build a path that works for you.”

A Better Question to Ask

Instead of saying:

? “Why can’t my mentee repeat what I did?”

Ask:

? “How can I help my mentee succeed in the world, as it is today?”

Though simple but I think it's profound.

Let’s Discuss

What’s one piece of advice you received or still hear today, that no longer works? How shoujld we use that same advice for our advantage. Drop it in the comments. I am keen to learn from you.