Make the most of Opportunity: My NIM Experience

Opportunity is said to come only but once. It came again to me another time, in another setting but in the semblance of what would still be known to as ‘Opportunity’. This is a recap of all that transpired while I was privileged to be part of the Nigerian Institute of Management Young Managers Competition 2018. I had come to know about it late in 2017 during induction as a graduate member. Though, with a little information, I saw again ‘Opportunity’ and I jumped right in. The same day I got home, sat in the front of my laptop, logged in to the Institute website and registered for the 2018 edition with the hope of been invited, a stitch in time saves nine. I reasoned delay would be dangerous perhaps I might forget I might lose interest.

Fast forward to Mid 2018, plenty of waters they say passed under the bridge. I had forgotten about the competition. On that fateful day, a message dropped in my mail notifying me of acceptance of my YMC application and later was a mail inviting me for an online test. The test hurdle was crossed successfully. Here was I, to be featured as one of the nine finalists out of over 200 applicants. Excited by this, I said to myself ‘you seized this opportunity this time around…so what’s next? Of course, nothing else than to make the most of it. C’mon the prize money, a whopping sum of NGN 1.5 million. Thoughts of winning the prize already running through my mind, using the money to meet my immediate needs. After all, success starts from the inside but I was sure I would never be desperate. I learnt before this time, in the state of desperation values easily are compromised so the only option was to sacrifice and work hard very hard I mean, it will be demanding but the eventual success is worth it to put in the extra effort I thought.

It was a Sunday evening, invitation letter required we lodged in a hotel somewhere in Ikota, Lekki by 5 pm. Had finished service in the church, so decided I took a nap before leaving for the hotel. I had not slept well the night before. Headed for Lekki, took me hours to get there and was already few minutes to 5 pm and was not anywhere close to the hotel. That bad feeling came over me, Not this time around Dare, the letter says clearly be there by 5 pm… that is not the same thing as 5.05pm. I like to honour time agreement and show up early. It’s a secret of successful and efficient people. Disturbed by the late coming…I was not going to make it until 5.30pm.Seems that was going to the beginning of the confidence, complacent problem. Though it did not seem to be at that moment.

Day 1 Competition – Day finally came, welcomed warmly the night before by the wonderful NIM officials. We drove to the NIM building in Victoria Island. First task ‘Introduction of who you are and declaration of purpose to the Judges and members of NIM board’ We had been hinted the night before so I had prepared towards this…Already prepared! I thought. I was to do this for less than 5 minutes. So, I had perused my profile to know what to say. I mean it sounded simple, like an override. I mean I’ll dazzle my audience, I’ll start with my bio, qualifications, my vision for life and career, mention my interest and hobbies then I’ll go to speak about my intent for the competition , why I chose to participate, how I will spend the prize money and what I intend to achieve for the next few days. I would engage the audience and speak articulately, I thought. Sadly, a dangerous assumption it was, I had only scribbled a few lines in my jotter. I was going to speak like an ‘Obama’ from my head. No, I did not sound anything like the first US Black president. I was invited to speak, only about 2 and half minutes was exhausted and that terrible moment of appearing like a fool from Kilimanjaro was all over me, the moment you begin to stutter and stammer as if you were Moses in the Bible. The eyes of the audience were like ‘is that all you have for us…C’mon you should have said more to convince us to score you high. I left the place knowing I did not do well, I did not ‘’nail’ it. I did not seize the opportunity. I mean, it was the first individual task.

Fast forward, our first team task – a case study to be analysed along with two others. We were to comprehend a twelve-page document and make a presentation along with two other teams compromising of the finalists. The ball was set rolling, One hour gone; all were racking their brains to come up with something tangible. Here was I working with my team, hoping to make the best out of the case study, adrenaline rushing…tension building…time up! We could not prepare a good presentation to prove our efforts, the strategy did not work, we had decided to do a division of labour strategy to the questions, we wasted time preparing the slides, and presentation was done. Of course, we did not give our best game and it was obvious. It was a team effort, don’t feel bad about yourself like the earlier task you messed up I said. Sports taught me. When the team loses, everyone is to be blamed, no blame game. When the team wins, everyone is to be commended. Oh my gosh! Two task in a roll, below expectation!

Day 2 – I had summoned my confidence from previous day dismal performance to get my best game on. Not just individually, team-wise also because everything mattered to the final outcome of making it to the five slots for the final presentation. I had come up with a strategy the night before when I got to my room looking away from the several mishaps. The first task for the day was a documentary video case study. This time around, as a team we somewhat nailed it. Next was an individual presentation, I had prepared well and presented articulately…another ‘nailing it’ again. Now, I had begun to show my confidence and coherence while speaking. Last for the day was a drama to be presented by the team, we did well again.

The deciding moment came, the five persons who will give the final presentation on the grand finale day was to be announced. Here was the director in NIM mentioning the names from number 1,2,3…still did not hear my name…Awww…4…Awwwww and finally 5…it wasn’t me. My heart sank. I knew I had a poor start but I knew I had come up better and by my calculations and observations, I would make it to the final five. I had to be positive and give no room for doubts. But the die had already been cast, lost to another contestant by a close shave. Dare you did not make the best use of this opportunity. I mean it is a one-lifetime opportunity, the prize money is attractive, you came top in the online test, your speech making and presentation before this competition was sound…Why? Why? Why this? Questions like this and many others rushed through my head in a matter of seconds. My nerves chilled, troubled I was a loser on this. I could not believe my eyes. I was greatly disappointed in myself in a word. I had this ‘Opportunity’ in my hand and let it slip away from my fingers.

In conclusion, came over it while I slept. It dawned on me I had been complacent at the start of the competition, careless with arrival time, over-confident with Task 1, I should have rehearsed in front of a mirror and timed my Introduction speech. Perhaps, I should have written all I needed to say on paper and present instead of jotting down summary points. I should have ensured I had a good start, it’s a big one, no room for slacks. So, I did not make the finals I thought I’ll be in. Hmmnn, accept the outcome, build your emotional strength with this one, learn from the disappointment and mistakes, seek feedback and remain a good person. Another opportunity will come but not this same one though..It comes once!

**Life has no ‘Control-Z’**

**Success is what happens when preparedness meets opportunity**

**Be serious about what you do, don’t be too seriously serious either**

**First impression last**

**No matter the condition, put a smile on your face**