It's Time for Success To Chase Me

This month, I celebrated my 1-year anniversary at IDinsight . Is this something that you do? Celebrate your work anniversaries? It’s my first time doing it, and I did celebrate for three reasons:

1. I work with an amazing team so every day working with them feels like a blessing
2. I have conquered many ‘demons’ in the past year (a story for another day)
3. There is an unexpected shift happening in my career. No, I’m not leaving my current role, but there is a shift happening. I’ll explain why.?

Everyone who knows me well knows I am a planner. And I planned to struggle in my 20s. At the start of my career, I made a promise to myself that I will not settle, I will not be the person who wakes up hating their job. What that meant in a practical sense is that I devoted a lot of time, money and energy to figure out what kind of work I like to do and what I don’t. I spent A LOT of time learning (and still do).? I put my growth above everything else. Discovery was my goal. I started a business and failed. I shifted from high-paying jobs to lower-paying jobs. I have quit full-time jobs to take up internships without a second thought in search of the thing that makes me tick. My profile might not reflect as much, but my journey has been anything but linear.

And finally, something is starting to tick.?

Today, I’d like to share a few lessons I’ve learnt from my experience so far:

1. Your success is as much a factor of your support system as it is your own values, grit and determination. I wouldn’t be here without my support system; my family, friends and team. Who’s got your back? I don’t come from a family that knows people, but I come from a family that has my back no matter what. Because of that sense of security, I rose above my fears to explore different interests. Don’t get me wrong, I did question my sanity when I quit a few jobs, but I had a goal. Discover. Don’t settle.?This support system now extends to my team. The 24 yr old version of me would slap the cheese out of my mouth but I’ll still say it, I love my team. I reckon IDinsight has one of the best environments within which to thrive. People care, they listen, they give feedback, and they are transparent to the fullest extent possible. If you work for an organization like that, an organization that truly cares about people, consider yourself lucky. I attribute this amazing environment to any success I have achieved in the past year.?
2. Don’t be afraid to do hard things. I still hear Fred Swaniker ’s voice in my mind. Do Hard Things. This is something I constantly heard and recited during my time at ALX and The Room . A girl just wants a soft life. But I also want to make a difference in this world. That’s not easy.? A favourite quote that one of my professors, Professor Taylor, shared in one of my MBA classes at One League reads: “It Is Not up to You To Finish the Task, but You Are Not Free To Avoid It” - Pirkei Avot (Ethics of our Fathers). It means, just because you do not think you can get to the end, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t start. The step you take towards the end is a reward in itself. When I think about my goal of redefining how we run people operations and manage talent in Africa, it seems daunting, but every day, I take steps nonetheless.?I am doing hard things and will continue to do so.
3. Show up as your best self in any given context. It is a sign of self-respect. Whether someone is watching or not, do your best, submit your best work, lead your team the best way you know how and continue to better yourself, always. Oftentimes, someone is watching. As I mentioned earlier on, I wouldn’t consider myself 'someone who knows people'. Networking is an important skill I’m still working to develop. What has opened doors for me, thus far, is my work, it gets people talking, and then it gets to someone who knows someone and the rest follows. So how do you show up?

I will be bidding goodbye to my 20s in a couple of months. It is time for success to chase me now.?