Do I really need to know the life that I want before I can be successful?
"I was hired right after I finished doing my internship there.Bob* A Regional Sales Manager for a Textile Company.
In fact, everything happened almost exactly how my uncle said it would, when he advised me to study business way back in senior high school.
He said it'd give me a great carreer and lots of opportunities to make money.
And it was happening right in front of my eyes.
I got the regional sales manager promotion 7yrs ago and it’s a big job.
But too big that I’m always busy.
I’m always travelling to meet clients and close deals. Sometimes, I would go away for many weeks.
I’m always tired. I can’t sleep and I’ve gained weight from eating junk food all the time.
My wife and kids rarely see me at home.
And even when I’m home, I’m still not able to spend time with them.
My wife has been complaining about it for years. But now, she’s threatening to leave if nothing changes.
On top of all that, the company just laid off people and is planning to outsource some departments – including mine.
So, I’m really desperate for a change – for anything.
That’s why I invested in that estate development project some few months ago.
Well, I thought I could change things around by making some money.
But I just found out that I’ve lost all the money I invested.
That was more than half of my savings.
And my wife doesn’t know anything about - yet."
"I was already looking after myself before I was even 18.Victoria* Dressmaker, Former Business Owner & Unemployed Radio Presenter
I worked most of my childhood and I was already an apprentice in a dressmaking shop before my 15th birthday.
I did manage to open my own dressmaking shop after my training.
I made African-styled sundresses for girls and sold it abroad – and that was even before all these online shops became popular.
And believe me, I made quite a lot of money.
But you know, nothing lasts forever.
In short, I closed the shop because business became too slow.
Luckily, I found a job few months after that, as a secretary at a small local radio station.
I even ended up in the booth as a producer and sometimes, a presenter – it was fun.
Honestly, the radio thing was a big surprise – even for me. I didn’t know I could love something that much.
But then, I had to let it go because the salary was shit.
Even with all the side hustles I was doing, I still couldn’t even pay all my bills.
2 months ago, a former work friend came to me with an idea to start a children fashion business together.
But I said no.
It was a great opportunity though…. but I don’t know.
I’m always busy.
Besides, I have lots of things on my mind.
Right now, I’m seriously thinking of moving away to another country.
I heard there are lots of better job opportunities in Abidjan."
*Names in this article have been changed.
Life, for most of us has been like this.
It one step forward and two steps back – always and almost all the time.
It’s like all the work we put in, is for nothing.
For some reason, we keep ending up right where we don’t want to be – lost, confused, insecure and scared.
And so, we work harder, pray more and hope this time, things will change for the better.
But they never do.
And we don’t give up either.
Why would we?
That’s all we know.
From the time we learn to talk, we are trained to believe with hard work we can climb any ladder to a fulfilling life.
We trust that we’ll be set for life after we climb the school ladder with good grades; and then, climb our way up the work ladder to either middle or top management.
Well, that’s a lie.
Like what Robert Kiyosaki exposed in his book Rich Dad, Poor Dad,
Education is not the path to riches; and wealth and success are not waiting for you at the top of anyone else’s ladder.
You can only live a richer or fulfilling life when you take responsibility for your own success.
“Take control of your success by climbing your own ladder“
To do that, you must first know the life you want to live.
And I don’t even need to reference any book to prove this.
Our own lives are a perfect example.
For most of us, our lives have become a game of random choices and whims.
We are always convinced that just a bit more money will make things right.
And we keep looking outside and waiting for some “new” job or anything “new” to come fulfill us.
But even when they do happen; nothing really changes.
“Always with the excuses“
We cry and pray for opportunities. But we’re always unprepared when opportunities do show up.
Worst of all, we give up easily and make excuses even when the right opportunity is staring at us.
All because we don’t really know what will make our life fulfilled.
So, YES.
You do need to know the life you want to live before you can be truly successful.
Besides, success actually begins when you prepare for the opportunities you badly want; and for the life you badly want to live.
Preparation + Opportunity = Success
So, how are you going to succeed, let alone live a richer or fulfilling life, when you don’t even know what to prepare for?
The answer is simple – You CAN’T.
Small To Sprout 