‘…you should first consider taking up a career you love but in the absence of finding one quickly, if you find it difficult to find a career opening where you really love to work, learn to love what you eventually get to do. Give it your all, and just like friendship, you will unconsciously become ignited to aim high, do more and achieve greater success’
I AM someone who thinks I can do many things. I actually try my hands at a lot of things but depending on the level of encouragement from people around me, I complete some and abandon some. Talk about ‘Jack of all trades, master of some’ not master of none.
I started my career in broadcasting but since I moved into advertising, it seemed that I found my lost childhood love. I realized the one thing that never makes me tired is Marcoms! I love it! The drive to finish a project, meet up with deadlines, start a campaign, launch a product, the uncertainties, disappointment, breakdowns, pitching for an account, winning a new account/client, and facing the reality of what will go down working with them, and the scary feeling of letting my team down, sends strong adrenaline through my veins and drives me to go beyond the limit. I thrive in that madness. It’s crazy!
I have tried acting, starring in the award-winning TV series Battleground, been a documentary film producer, attended fashion school and won the award for making the best dinner dress on graduation day, redesigned a website, and competed as miss NYSC in the camp when I was serving, tried to be a makeup artist but gave up and decided to work on my face ONLY, tried my hands on beading, learnt to be an interior decorator but didn’t take it up as a major job, started a lingerie store to help plus-sized women solve the problem I faced getting the right size and good quality, and still does unique handcrafting work when chanced.
However, through all of this, I realized that most of these things just stir up a sense of responsibility in me and push me not to give up. Most things can be frustrating and time-consuming which made me realize that passion drives everything. Didn’t someone say when you do something you love, it doesn’t seem like work? That is sure to be true, however, many things I have tried helped me at many stages of my agency life.
Through the years I was able to identify colleagues who really love what they do and those who do it just to keep the family together. Those who love what they do are always willing to learn new things, ready to go the extra hours with the team without being asked or forced to. They are the ones who would ask if we can work through the weekend to meet up with the deadline, and never worry about the inconvenience of going on the street to do some quick dip research. They never said a task was not part of their job description. They are always ready and willing to take one for the team, for the agency without asking for something in return.
This comes in handy when the time comes to appraise staff and decide who should be trained, promoted, let go, or retained. No superior, HR or management is blind to what you do to ensure team and organizational success, and when the time of reconning comes, it will be a matter of equity, not equality as the GCEO would say.
I am saying this just to say you should first consider taking up a career you love but in the absence of finding one quickly, if you find it difficult to find a career opening where you really love to work, learn to love what you eventually get to do. Give it your all, and just like friendship, you will unconsciously become ignited to aim high, do more and achieve greater success.
On another note, you can use it as the opportunity for learning something new until you find your desired job. Every experience is useful in a phase in your career.
While you are at it, be happy for words of encouragement, try not to be discouraged by criticism, open your mind and heart to learn, and if you still don’t like the job, keep hunting for the ‘love of your life’ job.
*Olateju Ogunyomi is a Marcoms professional and behavioral analyst. She left Ogilvy Nigeria in 2020 to start her own agency. She is an APCON member and was a member of the AAAN women in Advertising committee, and the AAAN Event committee. She is currently the CEO of Aspora Nigeria Limited, a Digital Marketing, Strategy, and Consultancy agency.
