The average Nigerian wants to “blow” and be successful in life. To “blow” in Nigeria means to be publicly successful. For every feat, there is an underlying growth process that people don’t see and an untold story about the struggles people don’t see.
The truth that people are not willing to admit to is the fact that before you get to that point where one can tag something as successful, there were records of failures and wins behind the scenes. It is a lie that someone becomes a success at anything overnight. There is a growth process involved.
We’ll be using seeds as a case study in this piece. Even if you’re not a farmer, it’s basic knowledge that fruits were once seeds, vegetables were once seeds, some foods that we eat now were once seeds.
The growth process of seeds is peculiar to the kind of seed and the crop it is designed to germinate into. In other words, every crop has its peculiarities and they grow on their own terms – according to their features. And this growth process can also be likened to that of ours as human beings.
Life is a journey, and everyone has their own path. Crossing into another person’s lane will leave you confused and headed nowhere that is relevant to your career and life in general, even if the paths appear similar. As an individual, it is true that critical thinking skills and problem-solving skills are crucial to your brand.
However, the growth process and paying attention to it should not be ignored.
Seeds are buried so that they germinate. They first sit in the soil, and are covered to grow, some in a short period, and others over a long period; depending on their features. The period the vegetables have to grow is shorter compared to that of the coconut tree because the roots of the coconut tree must be firmly rooted and grounded in the soil; and that’s a good thing.
Things to note about an individual’s growth process
There are many things to note when it comes to the growth process of an individual. It’s a lifelong event that cannot be boxed up into a few points. However, we’ll look at five essential things to bear in mind as an individual in your growth process.
1. Timing
As an individual who wants to get to that point in life where you can be affluent and impact people, there should be a frequent reminder that like seeds, things will not add up in one day. Bit by bit, the process will add up.
You must understand that your timing can not and will not be the same as another person. Spend time on learning, and growing and getting better at what you do. Using orange seeds as an illustration, the time you spend sitting and learning in your soil (training space) is a time to strengthen your roots so that when storms come, and winds blow, you’ll remain resilient. Sometimes, it could look like you’re being sentenced to a lonely life and no one seems to notice or appreciate what you do. However, “Give it time; time will tell.”
2. Focus
Focus is an element that will help you keep your eyes on the prize even during the seemingly uneasy and never-ending process. The truth is, for an individual, being in the process is a lifelong exercise.
The growth process of an individual is not exactly a comfortable one. However, you should stay and grow depths even when you think you’ve arrived. When you don’t focus on getting better at what you do, you’ll end up paying attention to every other person’s style of doing things and lose the bond between you and your own style of creativity. Your style is unique and no one can deliver value uniquely the way you do it. No one! So, preserve yourself by keeping your eyes on your lane.
3. Teachability
A quote by John Wooden on being teachable says, “It’s all you learn after you know it’s all that counts”.
As an individual in a growth process, you should develop the ability to learn by instructions. Make learning a part of you. Build capacity, but never neglect the place of being a student. Jim Rohn once said if you want to get better on the job, work on yourself. Equip yourself with knowledge. Embrace knowledge. Ask questions. Learn from people directly or indirectly.
A wise man once said, “You can learn from anybody. Just identify what it is that you’re being taught and how you’re being taught.”
Look at this, a baby who’s trying to walk for the first time falls seven times and stands up seven times. This teaches you to not give up when it looks like it’s not working. A mentor, who keeps attending seminars, taking courses, and learning, teaches you that no matter the height you think you’ve attained, never take a break from learning. Don’t stop learning. Ever heard the saying by Albert Einstein? “When you stop learning, you start dying.”
4. Comparison
As an individual, you are prone to comparing yourself with another person and trying to size yourself up beside that person that appears to have it all figured out. Truth is, nobody has it all figured out. Well, some have probably figured out some things you haven’t figured out. That’s why there’s room to learn and it’s your choice to either use that room or not.
Imagine the coconut tree feeling less powerful and angry because of how fast vegetables grow and are ready for consumption. Looks silly right?
The growth process of vegetables is not the same as that of the coconut tree. If you force your way out of the growth process, you will not last. Imagine the coconut tree that has within 15 years to 20 years to grow and bear sweet fruits that could serve generations after generations, comparing itself to the vegetables that has within 40 to 100 days to grow depending on its type and variety .
That the vegetable leaves are blooming and the coconut is still forming its roots does not mean that it is useless. It’s just following the due growth process.
Ignore the process and you’ll miss out on what the process could make of you.
5. Resilience
This means staying through till the end no matter what. The seeds need rain, the sun, and other elements to grow. They beat on the soil or the plant but they make it grow. You don’t see them hiding from the rain or the sun because it beats them. The same thing goes for you. You may try to avoid situations that are seemingly harsh and uneasy, in fact, uncomfortable, but they are the things you need to grow. So, in the growth process, stay resilient. Find solace in the fact that “The seemingly hard times won’t last forever.”
Above all, “To thyself be true”. Remain true to your core even as you give yourself to growth and evolve.
and then