A stimulating guide to the path of self-discovery

Olushola Adeborode Kolawole’s book, Practical Approaches to Choosing A Career by Folorunsho Moshood.

IN philosophy, the truth about oneself is anchored on an injunction, ‘Know thyself,’ which has responses from psychologists. In seeking this truth, the therapist and the experimentalist acts differently. While the therapist seeks the truth that illuminates a single life, the experimentalist seeks the truth that applies to all human beings in equal measure. Human beings, however, gain insights to the truth and know themselves fully through the reading of stimulating books or seeking guidance. Even the scripture says, ‘Know the truth, and the truth shall set you free’. Knowing the truth about yourself is the process of self-discovery.

Olushola Adeborode Kolawole’s book, Practical Approaches to Choosing A Career, exposes the truth that applies to every student in the process of choosing a career. It is a book that leads the reader to the path of ‘self-discovery.’ Apart from the introductory chapter that explains its focus and target audience, the book is divided into 10 distinct but interwoven chapters. Though the setting of the narratives in this book is Nigeria, the illustrations and examples can be adapted in other settings for easy understanding.

Chapter one begins with a personal story about a career mismatch. Through the story, the author takes the reader on the journey of what he has become today – from money/peer-induced career to passion-induced one. A graduate of Economics and aspiring Chartered Accountant, the author later set himself free by heeding the call of his passion as an organiser and administrator.

For his Master’s degree and later PhD, he opted for Logistics and Supply Chain Management, which has now become the bedrock of his happiness.  This chapter defines the term, ‘Career’ and helps in dividing it into two – legitimate and illegitimate. The application of his story and four career tips conclude this chapter.

The next three chapters explore three vital checks in making career choices. These are ability check, talent check and interest check. In chapter two, two brief illustrative stories are used to explain the term, ‘Ability’. One story treats mental ability, while the other, physical ability. The message on ability check is that one must choose a career that s/he has ability to do to be able to excel.

The subsequent five chapters elucidate some basic tasks that one should undertake in consonance with the three terms. The first task is studying. The author reveals the various strategies of acquiring education as well as some limitations. Towards the end of chapter five, he uses the example of Haben Girma, the Eritrean Refugee who, though deaf and blind, pursued her law dreams and today is Harvard Law’s first deaf blind graduate, to buttress his points on education and achieving success in difficult circumstances.

In setting career goals, the author is not seeking a perfectionist, who usually sets unrealistic goals, but one who will be bold enough to set realistic ones.

The task of actualisation becomes necessary for the goal to come into fruition.

Actualisation is the process of practising what one has studied in school. In chapter seven of this book, several factors that may hinder a graduate from practising what s/he has studied are explained. The chapter is rounded off with what actualisation entails.

As brief as chapter eight is, it brings to the fore the whole essence of this book. Whatever career problem one may have, it is pertinent for the person to seek guidance from a counsellor or learned person. Reading good books on career choice will lead to ‘self-discovery.’

Chapter 10 enjoins the reader to be cognizance of our ever-changing world. One’s course of study must be relevant to today’s world of work otherwise one becomes irrelevant. This is an unusual book, possibly one of the best in the field of career choice. The author has successfully applied some aspects of lateral thinking in helping young people choose their paths to self-discovery.

The storytelling approach is effectively employed as a powerful technique in reaching out to the target audience, young people, in contextually anchored ways.

This is the strongest point of the book, which also provides adequate covers for its few inadequacies. It is a must read for every student, graduate, potential worker, career counsellor and parent.

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