Every year, I ask myself questions on what I want to be known for, my aspirations, and the work that I had to do. As value system is becoming redefined on the altar of perception and personal branding. What it takes to position as a thought leader and create imaginary perceptions of me is a series of Twitter threads. It's 2 years of pivoting into product management. More often, my age, previous experience and work make it seems like 'I've arrived' to many folks. Hence, I am very conscious of not wearing a cloak that is not meant for me yet by staying grounded. Me too I want to tweet a 20x salary bump now.
While setting out to do product management, I was very mindful of where I was coming from. I switched from brand design as I no longer enjoy opening my tools of trade. It is very easy to feel big and decide to stay put in this known territory because what if this doesn't work. This phenomenon is very relatable as it proves to be a stumbling block for most people. Sometime last year, I wrote a personal mail to complain to someone as I am not feeling proud of my work. I am beginning to feel complacent because other things pay my bills and couldn't find a suitable space as I had thought.
In Cal Newport's book titled Deep Work, I resonated with a lot of things. It is how many of us continue to work from our reserve without adding new knowledge and challenge. We are cool with the bearest minimum because we earn decent than our contemporary today. Only a few can go undistracted to do work that matters or prioritize the quality of the work they do daily. I remembered working at one of my last places of employment. I went into the office daily to design different flyers and communication materials. There was no significant new knowledge gained as I continue to use from my reserve. I saw frustrated folks that are scared to leave because they have used their better years doing the same boring repetitive tasks that no other place would find valuable.
Deep work is the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task. It’s a skill that allows you to quickly master complicated information and produce better results in less time. Deep work will make you better at what you do and provide the sense of true fulfillment that comes from craftsmanship. While advising one of my younger ones last week, I made a point (which I have heard many times from older folks about peaking early):
Sometimes, some people work averagely to earn large fat cheques. In a country like Nigeria, earning in dollars is a big flex to those living in Naira and if one is not careful, brings a feeling of “I don arrive”.
What does it mean to peak too early? This is to hit what is regarded as the hallmark of aspiration in terms of money at a very young age. How do I mean? Instead of developing core values and important skillset that make money a by-product. One possessed only money (because you are fortunate to work where the pay is really good). To make this clearer, many people discovered freelancing work quite early and in popular parlance cashed out doing gigs. With years passing by, many would later realize that they don’t have any management or deep relevant skills to keep increasing their value to be attractive for another (top-level) role.
Oftentimes, this happens at a cost as they face the fear of being average at best and sometimes out of relevance. As people reach this point, they either seek office politics to protect their ego or fall behind their contemporaries who probably started out together with them with less pay. It’s a delicate space to be in as a Nigerian who finds themselves battling real and imaginary socio-economic crises. Everyone wants to hit it big. I have seen this affecting a lot of young people in understanding the risk-reward mechanisms. Instead of developing important skillsets and being valuable, everyone is either placing themselves on an imaginary earning bracket or racing to find the next 1000x coins. I marvel at what people think they will do or become if they have all the riches today.
I have no message for the fraud boys and their illicit wealth. My newsletter is addressing young folks who are pressured to tie their value to money. There is a saying which I hold dear as it resonates with me; income should not grow disproportionately to productivity.
To be productive is to increase the depth and breadth of your work. If your work is repetitive on a daily basis; and you earn a big salary on it. It is only a matter of time before the salary becomes worthless as those whose work challenges them daily have a better chance at increasing their net value with a few years under their belt. It’s a lot easier to choose the easy road and earn well today. But what is more important; Your worth today or your continuous relevance tomorrow?
As we embrace the new year; in the words of Josh2Funny; think about it.
This is massive. Exactly what has been lingering in my cranium for a while now. Thanks for this piece
This was great and insightful. Needed this!