What Are You Doing To Add Value To Yourself This New Week?

As soon as I returned home after graduating from the university, my biggest concern was to go learn how to drive a car. But my father wouldn't hear of it. He advised (I should quickly mention that my dad's best advise hardly comes off as one. It feels like meddlesome opinion and dictatorship because of his strong personality... Almost bossy) that I go to a "computer school" and get trained to be computer literate. 

I didn't take him seriously at all. Was he expecting me to go learn how to type A-S-D-F-column-L-K-J-H, or learn how to use MS-Word and Excel, with my level of exposure, and after owning a laptop and typing my entire undergraduate project by myself? 

That's how I scoffed until three months passed inbetween my convocation and NYSC mobilization. Wasted. 

I have noticed that we the younger generation often assume that the best thing to acquire during our youth is wealth, or "financial security." Financial security is in quote because we forget that the worth of those figures in our bank accounts that seem so high, sufficient enough to make up for forgone opportunities to add knowledge to our hustling will come down to nothing when real life responsibilities hit us in advanced adulthood. 

During my service year, I started a small business. I had intended it to be a petty business but surprisingly, it took another trajectory and soon, I garnered an impressive reputation among my fellow corp members as Madam Businesswoman, Cash Madam. In all honesty, my turnover wasn't THAT much, but my social media publicity already gave me some clout.

I soon got high on the feeling of financial security, so high that more than one opportunity to take career-building courses with certification passed me by. I felt I was okay as long as I could afford to buy clothes and shoes and give petty monetary gifts without asking a dime from anyone.

What was wrong with my learning to be financially independent? Absolutely nothing. Nothing except my approach to it.

Hear what the bible says in Proverbs 4:7 (KJV):

"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding."

With all thy getting. That is, as you acquire material possessions, as you acquire new relationships and connections, as you acquire money, do well to also acquire understanding. But you can't understand what you haven't known in the first place. Seek knowledge. Chase after it. Thirst for it.

The beauty of knowledge is this: You can never know too much. No one ever lost a job opportunity for knowing more than is required for the job.

I still have a few months before I commence my postgraduate program. Dad is back again badgering me to go to a computer institute. But honestly, the thought of going out there to get a job or start a business appeals to me, so I can do sisi and earn the right to damn anyone because they aren't paying my bills. But I also know that I need to take things slow. 😁

I understand that in a few years, the petty change that dazzles me now will not be enough to give me a respectable life, and I need to calm down and allow myself to be fully groomed, especially as I am lucky-extremely lucky- to have a father who is willing to spend as much as I need to get my brain loaded and my mind broadened. 

Life-changing counsels often come from people with whom we are so familiar, so much that we take it for granted. And for many youths like me, oversabi and grammar will be our undoing.

I limited my interpretation to MS Word and Excel just because dad said "computer school/ centre". Maybe I would have paid more attention had he said "ICT training institute" or used some bigger vocab. Whoever said youths can be impressionable to a fault didn't lie against us. Lol

I can't wait to be enrolled at my "computer school" to learn how to do stuff that people use to bamboozle us these days. Coding, web designing and developing, and so on. 😎✌🏽

You, what new knowledge/skill will you be trying your hands on? 

Remember, You Are Not What You Own. You Are What You Know.

Have a knowledgeable 2019.

Have a productive week. 🖤

14.01.19