Month: May 2023

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Career Fulfillment: The Three Big Questions to A Rewarding Career

career fulfillment

Career fulfillment should be the dream of a career person. The utmost happiness and satisfaction you derive from your career should be the motivation you need to give your best in your career or professional space. Indeed, our career is an auspicious channel through which we can derive happiness and fulfillment in life. On the other hand, a person can experience a career crisis when such an individual can no longer find happiness and satisfaction doing the job or profession he or she has been trained for and intend to do for several years.

The Three Big Questions

In this post, we shall explore three pertinent questions you must answer if must have the happiness and satisfaction that comes with career fulfillment. In dissecting the topical issue of career fulfillment, I will model my approach after Warren Buffet’s three big questions on investment. Before investing in any organization Mr. Buffet usually carries out a careful analysis of the such organization. He will try to know the people in charge of the business, the philosophy behind the business, how it is run, how they handle the welfare of their staff, and how they treat their customers and suppliers.

After the intense analysis Mr. Buffet will ask himself these three questions; “Do I like them? Do I trust them? Do I respect them?” And if he gets ‘Yes’ in all the questions he will invest in the organization, but if he gets a ‘No’ answer even in any one of the questions he will not invest. This is one of the investment secrets of one of the richest men in the world today.

Similarly, you must do a careful analysis of your job or the organization you intend to work in. You must do a background check on how the organization operates. Ask insiders; sample their opinions and the feedback you get will give you insight as to whether you will have a fulfilling and rewarding career working there.  By asking yourself these important questions you are taking the bold step to mitigate the challenge of a career crisis. In fact, any question that is negative is a red flag to your career fulfillment and must be eliminated.

Do I Really Like This Job?

Do you really like what you do? Are you happy with it? You cannot be happy when you don’t like your job. There is no career fulfillment in doing what you don’t like or in not doing what you like. This is a pure clash of values and a career crisis at its extreme. And to derive a sense of happiness and satisfaction from your job or profession you must have passion for it. What do you have a passion for? You will find happiness and satisfaction in carrying out a job description that revolves around your passion in life.

Doing what you are told and not what you want to do may result in a conflict of roles. This arises when someone does a role that is in conflict with his or her training. It may result in redundancy a situation where one falls below expectations and is unable to meet targets or achieve set goals. Another reason why people may not like their jobs is a lack of interest. It is one of the manifestations of a career crisis. You cannot derive happiness or satisfaction from a job when you don’t have an interest in such a job. There are so many reasons that can make people lose interest in a job. One of them may be the monotony of duty. This is a situation where one has to do a particular role for a long period of time to the extent that it becomes so boring. 

Underemployment Negates Career Fulfillment

Career crises may also emanate from underemployment. Underemployment is a situation where someone is overqualified for a particular job position. There is no job satisfaction in doing such a job. However, many people will still go ahead to do such jobs just to keep body and soul together. They are not doing it because they love it but because they did not find the best job befitting their qualification. Under this kind of circumstance, the employee cannot be truly dedicated nor can such a person give in his or her best. 

The truth is that there is no career fulfillment in underemployment. Many people are neck-deep in career crises because of underemployment. In this era with an alarming surge in the unemployment rate, many will easily settle for even the meanest job just to bear the ‘employment’ tag. And the craze for the highly elusive ‘white collar’ jobs is not helping matters. Many are busy pursuing the few or no existing jobs out there. I have seen a case where more than a hundred thousand applicants applied for only twenty job openings. The only remedy to this kind of career crisis comes the moment people begin to look inward to tap into the creative content and unleash the entrepreneurial spirit. You will become a job creator only by doing what you like.    

Are you in Agreement with the Business Philosophy?

Another important question you must ask yourself is whether you fit into the business philosophy of the organization. What are the values and beliefs of this organization? Are you in sync with the core values, vision, and mission statement of the organization? You cannot find career fulfillment if there is a conflict or friction between your values and that of the organization you work for. 

The business philosophy of the organization does it promote a win-win situation where everybody both the management and the staff is happy and satisfied; or does it encourage a win-loss situation where the winner takes it all? Does the management have a genuine concern for the staff that they win as well as they do? Does the management have a good welfare plan for the staff? Do they owe their staff or pay as at when due? All these things form part of the organizational philosophy.  And there is career fulfillment and job satisfaction when a good welfare plan is incorporated into the business philosophy.

Understand that you can only find fulfillment in your career when you fit into the organization’s philosophy. Another way you can fit into the business philosophy of the organization is when you can set and achieve your personal goals. Ask yourself whether you can achieve your goals and objectives in such an organization. Take a closer look at your present job or profession. Does it allow you to achieve your set goals? If it does not then a career crisis is inevitable. Achieving your personal goals is one way you can find career fulfillment in your career. Hence, any job that does not allow you to achieve your personal goals and objectives cannot give you the fulfillment you desire. Consider letting go and moving on with your life.

Culled from my book “The Threshold of Life “. Get your Copy and Learn more about Career Fulfillment.

Imagine, Believe, Dare the Impossible.

TO BE CONTINUED…

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Three (3) Powerful Ways to Maximize Your Imagination

imagination

Imagination is no doubt an instrument of success. So, for everyone who dreams of a successful and fulfilled life, you must harness and maximize your imagination. The frequency of the wavelength of your imagination must be very high. In this episode, we shall examine three ways to maximize your imagination for a life of optimal success.

Imagine the Impossible

One interesting fact about challenges is that they are seemingly daunting in their outlook. Consequently, conquest over these daunting challenges seems to be an impossible task. And because of this, we always develop a negative mindset. So many people have become victims of circumstance because of this. Many have even succumbed to the pressures of these challenges. Many are dealt the fatal blow of failure. But the good news is that even in the midst of these daunting challenges, success is still possible. Don’t fail to understand that no matter how impossible and knotty the circumstance might seem, you can still succeed.



Every impossibility is possible when we can imagine it. Hence, one sure way to maximize our imagination and make success possible is to imagine the impossible. The only thing that will make success impossible in the face of challenges is if we fail to imagine it is possible. So from now on, if we want to make a positive impact in life, we must begin to imagine it is possible even when it is seemingly impossible or unrealistic. In my previous post, I did say that our imagination carries the power to turn every picture we have captured in our minds into reality, no matter how impossible it might seem. Let us factor a handy situation, here.

And they said, go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven… And the Lord said behold the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do; and nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

This is the purest form of imagination. It clearly depicts the audacity of imagination. Building a tower whose top will reach heaven with bricks and mortar, in the Stone Age, was the most insane and impossible thing to do. It was the craziest and most impossible thing to do, yet they imagined it, and it became possible. Similarly, there was a time in human history when space travel was seemingly impossible. Today, with the breakthrough in space technology, what seemed impossible years back is now possible. It started with imagination. Someone imagined it was possible. Humans can now travel to the moon, Mars, and other outer spaces.

With imagination, we can accomplish anything, even the impossible. What is it that you want to accomplish? Does it seem impossible? Just imagine it then you will realize how possible it is. Imagining the impossible gives birth to creativity and innovation. By engaging your imagination, you can build the capacity to confidently and consistently



Believe It is Possible

Another way to maximize your imagination is to believe that your imagination is possible, no matter how unrealistic it may seem. No matter how impossible it may seem in outlook, just believe it can become a reality. Believe that the impossible imagination is feasible. This is what I termed the feasibility of imagination.

And the Lord said behold the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do; and nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do- Genesis 11:6.

In the above scripture, they were able to actualize their impossible imagination because they spoke one language. Note that imagination understands only one language. And that is the language of faith. It does not answer to the dissenting voice of fear but faith. That is to say, we cannot turn our imagination into reality when we still speak the language of fear. Imagination is driven by faith. Hence, faith is the driver of imagination. It is sustained by faith. If we cannot believe what we imagine, then it cannot become real. Faith makes our imagination feasible. When faith is involved, then we are convinced and certain beyond a reasonable doubt that the image we capture in our minds is bound to become real, no matter how impossible.

…if only you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes –Mark 9:23.

This is the secret of Abraham’s success. Remember, when God told him he could still have a son, the first thing he did was to imagine it in his mind. The image he captured was that of him becoming a father, not just a father, but the father of nations. Although medically and scientifically the odds were against him, he believed in God, and the impossible became possible. Here, I want to state that Isaac is a product of Abraham’s imagination and his strong faith in God. I know some people might want to disagree with me, but I will explain.

The human mind is very analytical in nature. Practically, we all know this, so there is no theorizing about it. When the mind receives or hears a word, it analyses, processes, and interprets the word as an image. That is imaging. It is the language the mind understands. In the human mind, words are represented by images. For instance, if I describe a house for you as a white-colored one-story building, fenced around with a red gate. Immediately you hear these descriptive words, your mind will process them and turn them into images. Right now, I know the image of this building is impressed in your mind, and you are on a mind trip to this particular house.



Such is the power of imagination, and it is a gift from God. In life, if you cannot imagine your success, then forget it. Faith says I cannot see it, but I believe it is possible. It becomes a case of what you believe is what you get or who you become. Though our imagination may be scientifically, medically, financially, materially, and emotionally impossible, it is possible when we believe. So, we can believe the impossible, but we must enlarge our minds. Enlarging our minds empowers us to believe that no imagination is impossible.

Dare the Impossible

The third way we can maximize our imagination is to dare the impossible. There is practically nothing that we cannot do, including the impossible, through the instrumentality of imagination. With our imagination, we can do tremendous things that we think are impossible. Imagination elicits action. It triggers the urge to concretize whatever we have visualized in our minds. Through action, our imaginations are turned into reality. Hence, our action is an outlet whereby we express our most impossible imagination. And people who do the impossible are people who wake up to the reality that they can do the impossible. However, our greatest undoing will be if we live below the level of our ability. The truth is that we can do the impossible or achieve more, even beyond our own imagination.

The key to doing the impossible is to dare the impossible. And to do this, we must take responsibility. In taking responsibility, we gain control over our challenges and command the impossible. Taking responsibility entails action. It entails doing something about our challenges. Taking action is one of the ways to put our ability to do the impossible. We are all responsible for every action we take in life. Come to think of it, that challenge that you think is impossible, have you dared it? We can test our ability to do the impossible. And to do this, it requires action.

 



A meaningful life is all about taking constructive risks whether you succeed or not. – Brian Souza.

Daring the impossible also entails risk-taking. Risk-taking is one of the dynamics of life. And so life becomes so boring and meaningless without risk-taking. It is a recipe that everyone who desires to do the impossible must subscribe to. We must take risks if we are willing to succeed and live a fulfilled life. Risk-taking is a choice we make in life. It is either we make this choice and rise above our impossibility or our life will be stalemated. And when we don’t take the necessary risk, we will be dangerously enmeshed in the complex web of impossibility. If you don’t try it, you won’t know it is possible.

It is now crystal clear that our capacity to do the impossible is inextricably tied to our ability to dare the impossible or take risks. The more risk we take and succeed, the more we will command the impossible. Therefore, to succeed in life, we must put away fear and confront the realities of our challenges, taking necessary risks. So what is that thing that portends grave danger or poses a threat to your success or progress in life? It may be the challenge of executing a business plan, expanding your business, securing loans, increasing sales, or surviving in a keenly competitive industry, etc. Whatever it is, remember you must dare the impossible. You must damn the consequences, take the necessary risks, and move on with life. There is no better way to dare the impossible than risk-taking.

Imagine, believe, dare the impossible

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How to Maximize your Imagination for Optimal Success

maximize your imagination

One of the greatest gifts of God to mankind is the gift of imagination. Imagination simply means forming an image about a particular thing in your mind. It is painting mental pictures about something. Imagination has with it the power or force that can transform such mental pictures or images into reality. The level of success you will enjoy in life is determined by how well you harness and maximize your imagination. In this post, I am going to explain the power of imagination, and how to maximize your imagination for optimal success.

Our imagination is an audacious asset in achieving optimal Success. Hence, we cannot underestimate its great power. Even God himself, confirms the audacity of imagination.

… And now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined, (Genesis 11:6).

What do you imagine about your life? What picture do you paint about that business, project, contract, relationship, or life circumstance? Is it a picture of conquest or defeat; success or failure? You must understand that the power of imagination can drive you to succeed or fail in life depending on the image you paint in your mind. Moreover, when a man has a positive imagination, he has everything it takes to achieve in life. Imagination helps you see vividly your success before it happens. It helps you to demystify challenging issues of life. Imagination consists of hope, optimism, and enthusiasm. And these three elements work together to turn your all dreams into reality.



He did see it, that’s why it’s here – Lillian Walt.

A man once imagined and conceived a project in his mind. Along the line, he died and could not see to the completion of the project but his legacy lived on. However, exactly five years after his demise that project was completed, and at the dedication ceremony on October 1, 1971 someone remarked, “Isn’t it a shame that Walt didn’t live to see this”. “He did see it, that’s why it’s here” the wife replied. She told him that her husband had already seen the completion of the project right from the day he imagined it. He saw it vividly because he had formed the image and painted the picture in his mind. That project is Disney World; it is still a monumental testimony to the power of imagination.

A fulfilled and rewarding life is a function of imagination. Through the power of your imagination, you can transform circumstances, and turn your dreams into realities. Despite the challenges of life it is still possible to imagine plenty in the midst of famine, conquest in adversity, and optimal success in life when defeat is imminent. But it all boils down to how well you can engage and maximize your imagination.



How to Maximize Your Imagination

Maximizing your imagination is all about increasing the wavelength of your imagination. This entails stretching and maximally engaging your vision for a life of optimal success and fulfillment. It would help if you increased the wavelength of your imagination. One thing about imagination is that it comes with a sense of urgency. It comes with a can-do attitude. Once the image is formed and impressed in our mind, there is this feeling that we can turn these images into realities.

Power of Imagination

Possibly, you might want to ask; why are some people defeated in the battle of life? Or why do some people fail in life even with the power of imagination? Whatever we do we must understand that there is positive and also negative imagination. And that failure is a creation of negative imagination. Negative imagination is a creation of any mind manipulated by fear, and doubt. With such negative imagination the person sees nothing else but failure and defeat in life. All they see is the doomsday ahead of them.

A young man once told us that he doesn’t think he can pass a JavaScript test. Why does he think so? He has imagined a failure in his mind. We tried to persuade him not to quit, and that he can do it which he did. In the end, he was not successful. Why was he not successful? His mind was riddled with fear and doubt. Such is the power of our imagination. It functions like a camera the image we capture in our imagination is what we will print in real life. We cannot capture failure and print out success. If we capture failure in our imagination we will print out failure in real life. However, to avoid failure and secure our conquest over challenges we must deal with every negative imagination.

The Key to Optimal Success

… Casting down imaginations... (2 Corinthians 10: 5).

In any space you find yourself, arm yourself with positive imagination. It is the key to optimal success. You must therefore do everything within your power to cast down every negative imagination because it breeds failure in life. You must always imagine yourself succeeding in the midst of circumstances and challenges of life. No matter what always imagine conquest, success, breakthrough, and possibilities. And it doesn’t matter the impossible outlook of your challenges. Imagine yourself doing the impossible. Positive imagination breeds ideas, creativity, innovation, insight, vision, and originality which are all qualities you need for a life of optimal success and fulfillment. We must understand that our imagination carries with it the power to turn all our dreams into reality.



You can Achieve More.

In the words of Walt Disney, “If you can dream it, you can do it”. Finally, you can succeed and achieve greatness in life if you can maximize your imagination. What do you dream or imagine? The truth is that you can turn it into reality such is the power of imagination. The point is that we can do more, achieve more, and succeed more if only we can increase the wavelength of our imagination. Stretch your imagination beyond limits. Whatever you want to achieve is possible. Just imagine it no matter the prevalent challenges. If you can imagine it you can become it. GOODLUCK.