LIFE RESPONDS TO RISK TAKERS

                                  

Moji: Hi dear, so what’s up?

Irene: I was thinking Folake Solanke(SAN) would be a good person to bring on the series project. I read about her earlier this morning and also discovered that baba knows her. Let's ask for her contact.

Moji: Oh dear, that’s not how things are done around here. I can’t just meet him like that. I need to meet my boss who would then get the information through to me. Am sorry but I can’t meet him.

Irene: Oh I see. Well I strongly believe you should meet him irrespective. In fact , the only reason I am not going to meet him right now is because I respect the fact you are the one heading the project and not me.

 Minutes later, I guess she had a rethink; she ran back to me with a priceless smile and said she had just met baba and he scheduled a meeting for their discussion. I really didn’t want to go any further with the conversation. My mum would always say “Why know someone who knows the president when you have the opportunity to know him personally?” I couldn’t just comprehend why she had preferred going the long route. I am very careful with the kind of discussions I engage in. Firstly, our discussions MUST spark up the genius in me. I disdain limiting discussions. Conversations that give me the slightest feeling of impossibility instead of possibility is a complete turn off for me. 

Exactly how I feel 

Am thinking to myself, why should you wait and just allow life happen to you. You need to be deliberate about your success and progress . 

http://m.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/Photo-Gallery/CU-marks-Nigeria-s-55th-Independence-Celebration-with-Student-Parley/14#.WOsKf6jTW2d

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https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=622820181154814&id=100002805123111&_rdr

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http://cucpc.com/top-14-influential-people-graduating

To my ever faithful readers, permit me to share two among several true life experiences that I have used to prove to myself that I need to be deliberate about my success story and refuse to allow life chart the course of my life. These events happened in times when my sister and I felt totally unsure of ourselves, some we had a huge feeling of fear and uncertainty but those things didn’t stop us from moving forward.

Meeting the Director General for NYSC 

It wasn’t about the end result which was a selfie but the process was what mattered a lot to me. The State coordinator of Fanisau Jigawa State camp had announced the visit of the DG and so adequate preparation was made. On the day of the DG’s visit, he came along with his entourage and some other dignitaries. Around him were fully armed soldiers with bullet proof vests , helmets and guns. With this view, it was physically impossible to see him but for me it was mentally possible. He was walking towards his convoy when I saw him after his meeting with the nysc officials . I looked around and saw fellow corpers standing afar off taking his picture.  At this sight, I whispered to myself “ I am going to take a selfie with this man” I then told my friend what I wanted to do then he(my friend) looked at me like I had just been diagnosed with the first stage of madness. His look spelled “ Are you crazy or what?” That look for me was my motivation . Guess what, I went for it. I was so scared but I paid little or no attention to the feeling of fear. Sir! Sir! I shouted as I ran towards him. At this point, all eyes were on me. You know I have mentioned in my previous post that Lady I doesn’t care much.  His security men and entourage tried to stop me which of course would have been a hilarious embarrassment. Before they could successfully stop me, the DG had taken note of the young lady who was ready to be gunned down. “How are you?” he said to me.  I then told him I wanted to take a selfie with him. Well at that point, no one could stop me anymore. I did take the unclear selfie with him but was more pleased about the process. I walked away with a deep sense of fulfillment. It was a big risk for me but I needed to remind myself that life indeed responds to risk takers.

For those of you who love inspiring gist, keep reading.

Karen Ubani the CEO  of Karen Ubani Apparel happens to be my number 1 mentor, sister and motivation to keep breaking new grounds. If there is one person I know who enjoys the act of taking risks, it has to be Karen. 

Karen graduated from Covenant University with a B.Eng in Electrical and Electonics Engineering. Although, she had always wanted to be a fashion designer in the long run and so requested for the University of the arts Londons  yearly brochure, even though she knew she didn’t have the money to fund the tuition. However she kept her dream alive. Upon graduation, she got a job in MRS Oil. She was there for about 2 years and decided to resign even though it was obvious she had a very high chance for promotion. She then got a job in one of the best consulting companies in the world Pricewaterhouse Coopers where once again she was doing amazingly well and adding value to the company, but the burning desire to go into fashion never died. It’s one thing to have passion and another to back it up with knowledge as that is what sets you apart from the crowd. She was deliberate about her professional progress and knew that PwC was a better place to prepare for her long term goal of being a fashion designer in terms of management (Running a successful clothing line goes beyond just making beautiful pieces, a lot of strategic planning needs to be incorporated as well). The opening for an entrepreneurship support came and she applied and got the grant. Now the challenges were these; Was Karen about to leave a thriving consulting company which is obviously the dream of many to start a clothing line? Was she about to take the risk and not go for her masters like her colleagues were doing? Was she about to let go of everything to start an empire which she had a next to nothing practical experience for? Karen wrote her resignation letter in fear, tears and total uncertainty as both our parents were not in support of her decision.

Honestly, her first collection was terrible(#confession). The first photo shoot was in our neighbors house and the pictures were taken with a “kpalasa” phone(cheap phone) . 

Everyone may have passion for something but what sets you apart is the knowledge and practical skills you acquire. Karen immediately enrolled for courses in fashion designing but had started her clothing line before she got the grant. So you have no excuse to wait. Remember,  they say luck is when preparation meets opportunity. 

However she knew that the only way to convince my parents and the rest of the world was to prove herself . She left PwC and started her clothing line. Currently, she has some of her female bosses from PwC come into her factory(purely made in Nigeria) to try on cloths and buy as well. She has the likes of Funke Bucknor, Tuke Morga ,Kemi Onobanjo, Ronkifella, Stephanie Coker, Heseydesigns, Kiki Osinbajo to list a few that dress in Karen Ubani Apparel (KUA) outfits.  

                  

                                        

Guys, we need not allow life just happen to us. We need  to be DELIBRATE about our success. Life indeed responds to those who take risks. These are just a few of the many instances I have. I test myself a whole lot. I intentionally seek seemingly impossible tasks and try to get them done. I observe people and listen to meaningful discussions. I make friends with the toughest bosses just because others see them as impossible. I am extremely optimistic and so I never want to settle for less. I do things

with my heart in my mouth. I ask myself “What is the worst that can happen?”

My lovelies, always remember that life truly respondes to risk takes. Don’t forget to leave a comment in the comment box below.

Lady I