Random Thoughts About Work...

At about 8.30am today, a colleague said to me “it is too late to greet Chioma”. That struck me, and I got to thinking…random thoughts about work.

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Richard Templar wrote and I quote, “there is a vast amount of politics, gossip, games-manship, time wasting, and socializing that goes on in the name of work. It isn’t work!” I’ve only worked for five ‘real’ employers all my life – but I daresay this is true everywhere! “Hello” here, “yello” there; “how are your kids” here, “how is your dog” there – and another day is gone!

Am I saying it is wrong to socialize at work and keep tabs on Daniel’s night life? Oh no! We spend a lot of time at work and it is totally important to make great friends there and have fun doing what we do. Furthermore, I totally understand and sympathize with people who work at jobs they don’t (or no longer) like – and for whom gossip is a form of escape; but this is worth serious thought if you still enjoy what you do and want to do it better.

More focus, less gossip – and you’ll already have a big advantage.

What I Want To Do With The Rest Of My Life... :) Or Not ;)

What do you want to do with your life?
Where do you want to be in five years?
What do you want from life?

If you’ve been asked one or more of these questions at some time in the past, I wrote this for you; for us.

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This morning, I found myself in an embarrassing situation – courtesy conflicting answers I had previously given to one or more of the questions above. After blurting out several incomprehensible and contradictory explanations for why my answers kept changing, thoroughly feeling like a fool in the process, I decided to shut up and explore the matter further afterwards.

To provide some perspective, I’d like to share some of the many different things I have wanted to be through the course of my twenty-some years…

1.    Airplane Pilot.
2.    Aeronautical Engineer (when I realized it was safer to build planes than to fly them).
3.    Neurosurgeon (thanks to Gifted Hands by Ben Carson).
4.    Mechanical Engineer (when I realized no Nigerian Universities offered Aeronautical Engineering).
5.    President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (thanks to my first of three ASUU strikes).
6.    Minister of Power and Steel (thanks to Dr. Ogunleye, best Energy Lecturer ever!).
7.    Renewable Energy Engineer (same reason as 6 above).
8.    Industrial Farmer (after rudimentary analysis of opportunities posed by Nigeria’s burgeoning population).
9.    Professional Soldier (after falling in love with the order & regimented life of the Nigerian army).
10.  Marketing Professional (same as 8 above).
11.  Consumer Goods Professional (same as 8 above).
12.  Supply Chain Professional (same as 8 above).
13. And a number of others I can't remember at the moment.

*Phew!* That is a lot, right? Right. That’s what I thought too :)

Been Long You Saw Me... :)

Between September 29 when I posted my last update and today, I have started (and quit writing) at least five different posts. As is always the case, the longer I go without posting an update – the more difficult it is to complete a post… There are a lot of random things on my mind, so I’ll just share a few of them in no particular order – and hopefully I’ll get my groove back after this one.

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That's me holding the red trash-carriers :)

NYSC ended about a month ago, and I’ve had lots of time to reflect on the one year of compulsory national service. Overall, it was one great year.

I started the year with a lot of resentment stemming from the fact that I had to teach, but only a few months into service all the negative emotion was gone. My kids at Ogudu Senior Grammar School were adorable (well, mostly), and I feel proud to say that I invested my time in the future of Nigeria.

It was fun to lead the Lagos State Sanitation CDs group (Special CDs). You know, you get a different perspective to life when you stuff your Degree away and get dirty cleaning gutters at Ajegunle. By the way, those who say Ibadan is dirty absolutely need to visit Ajegunle!

Would I do it again if I had a choice? Honestly I’m not so sure. But it has come and gone, and I can move on.

These are a few of my favorite kids :) :)