From Despair to Hope
2023 was an interesting year, I was tested to the brink of total collapse in what could be described as “near-total” annihilation. But that journey did not start in 2023, it started way before then, right from my very early years, but 2023 was that make-or-break year. You can read the full story of this experience at www.thehubuteam.com. I joked that the only reason I am still breathing is because there is no lagoon in Abuja and I was too scared to go to hell.
Thankfully, following months of deep reflection, honest introspection and humility, like a light bulb being switched on, I understood what the problem was. I could see how blind I had been all these years even though I considered myself brilliant. My errors stood before me and I could point out where and when I went wrong. That experience pushed me to curate The HUBU Journals, a book titled: The HUBU Journals_Why You Need Them, and The HUBU Monthly Planner (together called The HUBU Resource). I was determined to ensure nobody else went through an avoidable painful ordeal.
The Eureka Moment
I understood the problem was my philosophy, outlook on life, and values. I realized that I studied to make a living and not to live. I did not have a strong enough “WHY” for what I did, I moved with the times and was not in control of myself. Events dictated my path and I didn’t understand myself or my potential. A complete lack of self-awareness, a victim of fate!
I also discovered that most parents do not intentionally teach their children values and principles to live, they teach them skills to survive. Most of our life philosophies are crafted by other people’s experiences, culture and what we see, and it is worse with social media. We are so distracted that we do not have time to introspect and discover ourselves for who we are.
Danger Ahead
I see the same pattern in this generation dovetailing to social breakdown, and gradual erosion of values, principles and morals. Teenagers commit suicide because a “romantic relationship” ended, young adults on drugs, some incapable of self-expression, lack of self-control and many more vices. It was clear that the errors that almost led to my decimation are still as prevalent, but more viscous.
The HUBU Team conducted a research through questionnaires to parents, teenagers and young adults nationwide asking simple philosophical questions; the results were shocking! There is a huge misalignment between the realities of teenagers and expectation of parents. The result of this survey can be found on www.thehubuteam.com.
The HUBU Resources were developed to address these issues by giving teenagers and young adults an alternative reality, empowering them to define who they are and determine the future they wish to have. It starts with creating a vision, and setting goals, and values to protect the vision. I discovered that without a vision, you cannot have goals, without goals, you cannot have values and without values, you are a drifter enslaved by emotions. Many people are governed by emotions and have no real sense of intentionality.
Louisville Girls Secondary School Gwagwalada to the Rescue
I set out on a mission to test my theory and what better school to choose than a catholic school with no-nonsense reverend sisters as administrators?
Louisville Girls Secondary School Gwagwalada, Abuja was the anointed one. The Catholic school with a reputation for discipline and academic excellence offered to be the pilot school to put my thoughts and journals to test. Following several long and hard conversations with the principal, the management team and the guidance and counselling unit, a date was set to make a presentation to the parents at the PTA meeting. On two successive Saturdays after the PTA meeting, I will have sessions with the senior and junior students respectively.
The PTA presentation was brief and a few parents came to ask questions. They all loved the idea; one parent wondered why it’s not yet in the curriculum. A few bought the journals for their children and for personal use. They all agreed that the current social climate requires urgent intervention. Some parents acknowledged they could do better with tool kits like this. Overall, they loved the concept. I scaled the parent hurdle.
The next challenge was to meet the students who had been in school for over a month and yet to go on mid-term break!
Senior Students – Matured
I came in early the next Saturday to have a session with the senior students who were yet to have lunch. I was worried that they might not pay attention. I rearranged the chairs to give the large auditorium a more relaxed feel. They all listened to my life story and school escapades with rapt attention. They gasped when I told them how much money I had lost and the mistakes I made because I lacked certain values. I later introduced The HUBU Journals to them and they had a 30-minute break-out session to discuss the various values and principles in the journals. I was surprised at how engaged they were as they deliberated.
After the break-out session, we reconvened to discuss what we have learnt. The results are amazing; they refined generosity, love, patience, adaptability and many other principles. Many students were introduced to certain icons for the first time like Princess Diana, Anne Frank and other people of note. One student said this was the first external meeting she didn’t have to sleep and many other funny comments. I guessed they said that to make me feel good.
There was a mini-debate and the winner got a free HUBU Journal, while the runners-up got free HUBU Monthly Planners. Overall they had fun, learnt something new and were exposed to a new concept; the art of journaling for self-discovery and unleashing their potential. Almost everyone wanted a journal.
__________________ Femi Ogunleye is a seasoned investment banker, member of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers and an entrepreneur, with extensive experience in various aspects of the financial industry in Nigeria. Starting with modest capital, he successfully built a company that generated over $50,000 in revenue within three years and lost it all. Despite facing significant setbacks due to erroneous decisions and challenges, he underwent a transformative journey of self-reflection and mentorship, leading him to identify the root causes of his poor decisions. Now, he is committed to preventing others, especially young people, from encountering similar difficulties. He authored "The HUBU Journals," a series aimed at guiding teenagers through self-discovery, introspection, and self-awareness, encapsulating 12 life-changing principles. He has held seminars with students, teenager’s boot camps, events and other similar engagements. Ogunleye.o@thehubuteam.com 0808 916 9838 Thehubuteam.com @thehubuteam (all SM handles)
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