Last year, I realised that I was not as knowledgeable as I thought I was in navigating the waters of personal finance, (online) business strategy and relationships. I needed a compass for each. This led me to work with coaches and to buy books. Doing these and following through have been liberating, I must say.
In this day and age, everyone is an ‘expert’ at one thing or the other. While that is a good way to kick-start personal branding, the idea must be handled with care such that we avoid the trap of overestimation.
Away from that, one of my coaches says something along these lines, ‘You are an expert at being you because the combination of your experiences is unique to you.’ That can not be taken away or debated. I agree with her.
Be not deceived by the title of this article. It is a rat race, to spend an entire lifetime trying to catch up with, or measure up to, other people or what seems to be trendy. For one, we hardly ever set out at the same place, at the same pace and for the same destination, in life.
Next, it is tiring to try to keep up with others or their expectations of you. You may never know when you ‘catch up’ because there are no benchmarks or the benchmarks keep shifting.
This article is not to celebrate mediocrity, complacency or unwillingness to accept correction. It is to encourage you to reflect on your person.
Consider how to catch up with YOU. It’s a never-ending journey but it is exciting.
You may be surprised at what you find, as you begin and continue. You change, in more ways than you can imagine. All that your mind has consumed and every situation you have been in have shaped the person you see in the mirror.
Dear student, will you spend time catching up with yourself in 2024? Will you search the depths of your soul for that core that is sitting quietly and is waiting to be stirred?
What do you want to learn about, each month? What if you make a list of your learning points and desired lessons, so you can commit to getting the insights you need? What if there are more gaps in your life than you realise or admit?
What underlying beliefs have shaped your life? Have they served you well? What kind of a person have you been?
Have your priorities changed? Your passions? Your goals? What is your view of education and is this view wholesome?
You can not answer these if you do not spend time to know you!
I have heard people talk about, and experienced, the beauty of learning in a sequence. That is why every subject or course has a syllabus! List those knowledge gaps you want to fill in your life. Then, draw up a plan to access and use the resources that will help you.
Keep in mind that others’ goals can not suddenly become yours, no matter how attractive they seem. I bet you don’t have similar objectives, resources and priorities.
Here is a great way to catch up!
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.