If there was one attribute I lack, that would be the ability to depend on people. I don't know if it was how I was brought up or the personality I developed along the line but I find it uncomfortable to depend on anyone for anything, no matter what it is. While I was growing up, I always try to do everything by myself without requesting for help, not because I had no one to help, it is just more reassuring when I get it done myself.
Speaking of stubbornness, well I have plenty of that, how else do you think I'm able to stick to my principles regardless of what people say? The only difference is, I channel it for what is productive most times. When has it ever paid off, a lot. One of the recent one occured this year, when I took an unexpected turn.
This year I faced something I couldn't sort out myself. It didn't actually started this year but the disappointment became more glaring this year. So two years ago I embarked on my service and one of the things I was worried about was getting a good job after my service year. I never really admired to be an employee for long but I had plans that needed more capital, so I thought if I could at least work for a year, it will add to the capital I already have on ground which might increase my chances of executing my plans.
I wasn't really interested in going back to working for any media industry, despite being experienced in the field of broadcast, I had no passion left for it. Moreover, the broadcast industry is very crowded and getting a good pay requires years of working and promotion, I wasn't ready to get myself into that. There was this uncle of mine that lived and worked in Abuja, he said I should serve in Abuja since he has more influence there. Since it was something I really needed, I decided to go with the flow.
Along the line, I wasn't able to serve in Abuja and I was posted to Oyo State. This was the first issue, around January last year, I had just 2 months left till the end of my service year, so I contacted this uncle of mine just to remind him of what we had planned before, to see what he can still do about it, he wasn't really forthcoming, at some point I just felt offended by his nonchalant attitude towards my request, so I let it be. Since I was never the type to depend on people to get things done for me, so that moment, my inner self that I have been suppressing just took the wheels.
Normally, I had some plans to register for a conversion programme but the moment I had a fall out with my uncle, I decided to do things my own way. I was never really into taking a career job, I have always admired being an entrepreneur. So I decided to do the things I can with what I have, I developed a strategy called - systematic capital building. I knew it wasn't going to be easy but I couldn't forgive myself for letting myself get disappointed by my uncle, so I decided to move forward to regain my self respect.
Which I did, I must say it wasn't easy. From someone who used to act like a scholar, a lot of things changed about me and all I could think about was developing my business, I couldn't afford to fail, I just kept pushing forward. My brother went for his Masters, I was supposed to follow the same path but I didn't, I won't forgive myself, if eventually I go for my masters and still end up hunting for a job. My family wasn't pleased about it but I just didn't care, I'm doing this for me, consequences be dammed.
I chose to pursue a different path to establish a full functioning business both online and offline, I received severe criticism from family and friends but I just kept pushing, I knew what I wanted and kept gunning for it. I had to risk falling out with family, friends just to get the things I desire in my own way.
Speaking of time when my stubbornness didn't work out, well that is something I'm still working out presently. If you remember, I mentioned that I had a uncle that failed to fulfill what he promised. Well after the fallout between me and him, everyone kept begging me to let it go and forgive whatever he did. I kind of let go but I promised not have anything to do with him. I stopped relating with him, I completely ignored him, whenever he is hosting any event, I choose not to attend despite the rest of my family attending.
To cut the long story short, I have been been in need of a piece of land to expand my farming and livestock endeavors, but I have been unable to procure any land. It turns out this uncle of mine has a vacant fenced piece of fertile land. I was aware of the land but I didn't know he wasn't making use of it. I'm in need of it but I can't approach him because whatever bridge there was between us, I have destroyed it. If only had listened and let bygones be bygones, well things might be unfolding differently right now.
This write-up was inspired by weekly featured content titled Just being stubborn in hive learners community.
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