Topic: Positive Impact of Mentorship

Guest: Simeon olabode

My most memorable experience in the year 2022 was when I almost lost an opportunity that changed the course of my life. The year 2021 ended with me learning different skills that will enable me to transition to a career in tech. Prior to that time, I was a college lecturer of Religious studies, and I didn’t resign from my previous job until May 2022. After I resigned, I find it difficult to cope because I couldn’t get another job immediately. So, I was working a part-time job until I got the opening at my current workplace. The application and interview processes started in July 2022, and it was a five stages interview process. By the end of July, I had passed the third stage and was proceeding to the fourth stage. So, I got a mail on the evening of Friday, 22nd July 2022 asking me to come for the fourth stage of the interview on Monday, 25th July 2022.

The first three stages had all been virtual interviews, and I didn’t have any issues with that. However, I was perplexed when I got the mail on that Friday evening because I didn’t have enough money to travel from Yola to Lagos the next morning. Apart from the transport fare, I had other concerns like; where I was going to stay during the interview period and also if the whole journey is worth it at all since it was still the fourth stage and not passing that stage means that I will have to return to Yola spending another two whole days on the road, this time with disappointment. I got wearied by my thoughts and fell asleep. So, the next day on Saturday morning, I forgot about traveling for the interview and decided to visit my mentor instead. When I got to his house, we talked about other issues apart from the interview, and most of the time he was talking while I was listening.

So at about 11:30 am, he received a package from another state and while we were talking about the package, I mentioned that I was also supposed to travel for an interview at Lagos, but I am giving it up since I didn’t have money for transport fare. However, upon hearing that, he gave me some money and asked me to leave immediately so that I won’t miss the opportunity. He didn’t even allow me to express my other concerns. So I left rushing off to the park to see if I could get a direct bus but at that time, it was already late. I had to travel to another state to get a bus going to Lagos. I arrived in Lagos on Monday and headed straight for the interview. Long story short, I got the job...

What I will do better if I am given another chance is to never give up easily and to be more proactive in taking decisions. We are usually prone to choose comfort over hard work or risk. I mean, a lot of people will rather choose to stay in their comfort zone than involve themselves in work that is hard or risky. However, the hard and risky things that we do are the things that bring significant changes to our lives. Many “what ifs” will want to stop us from doing what is needed to bring about the considerable turnaround that we desire in life. We must, therefore, learn to see beyond the “what ifs” and jolt ourselves into the necessary action that is required to transform our lives.

One piece of advice that I will love to give to our listeners for the year 2023 is to go do the hard things. Let’s leave our comfort zones (whatever they may be) and pursue those hard things that we naturally don’t like to do because those hard things (be it skill, decision, lifestyle, or mindset)  are the things that will bring about transformation in our lives.