Have you ever had a foolproof blueprint of a function or project and it turned out that things didn't just go as you have well thought them out. I remembered my first exposure to leadership back then in 2002. Leading
your elder brother's (4years gap) peers wasn't an easy way to start your leadership journey. It was a VYO (Voluntary Youth Organisation) running also like a CBO (Community Based Organisation).
I was a fresh secondary school (2001) graduate aspiring to gain admission. Some of these my brother's friends were already in polytechnics & universities then but they somehow respect me. The organisation does programmes from time to time to enlighten the society especially teenagers & youths all geared towards mitigating the strongholds of illiteracy in the community. It happens that when we do our planning & perhaps participants don't show up as we anticipated, I would take it very personal; lambasting whoever tries to ask me any unharmful question esp from my team members, I would go to the back of the hall and weep uncontrollably even while the programme continued when I was actually supposed to be on the front seat. Emotions of defeat would overwhelmed me bringing to the fore all of my sleepless night to ensure the day was a success but all turning the wrong way right in my very eyes. My choleric attributes was getting a stronger hold of my entire personality. My anger was flaming hot; tongues sharp...ready to discharge at the slightest provocation. The best my team members would do to me then was to leave their leader alone. It wasn't a good scene I tell you even as the memory returns.
I learned staying in charge the hard way. I learned manning my emotions despite seeming defeat. I learnt keeping hopes high even when it seems the roadblock is steering hard at you. I learnt to remain tough and strong à midst thick & thin. I learnt to obey & counter Murphy's Law. I learnt to hold opposition by the horn facing it headlong. I learnt to celebrate my victories and the small small wins even if the celebration is always transient as my adrenalin flows are always questioning WHAT NEXT?! WHICH MOUNTAIN IS NEXT TO CLIMB? WHICH FACE IS NEXT TO PUT A SMILE ON? WHICH LIFE IS NEXT TO BE IMPACTED?
I want to encourage you to stand tall amidst your oppositions. One of the ways to guarantee that is to FORTIFY YOURSELF...cos inner fortitude has to be built to compensate for external crumblings. EQUIP YOURSELF. LEARN FROM OTHERS. STOCK YOURSELF to brim.
You could also make that commitment like I did some years back. I told me, using the usefulness of every part of a palm tree, that I want that when a part of me is sliced, it oozes out VALUES!!! You sniff in VALUE, you snuff out IMPACT!
Keep raising the edge!
@femitiamiyu
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