Managing Oneself

So i went on a book date and i was challenged to write and submit an essay three hours to submission time-up. Funny what i came up with having just heard the song MELO MELO by Nigerian rapper/fuji singer OLAMIDE. I can not tell what he does now but this is what i came up with and i had to share my dear diary.

Managing Oneself

As an undergraduate my first distinction in the university was in my religious studies class. I had an impressive (A) that did not require so much stress in reading, as I was accustomed to in my foundation year. I could boast of reading for over eight hours but it was difficult understanding what I read. However, my encounter with a new mode of learning and studying changed me. Seems cliche to me but that is my reality.

WHY? – I was changed not because the course was so easy or the lecturer was exceptional (although he is). It was because I found a new approach that entailed a combination of easy access to a buffet of information, hard work, reading, and understanding and in all sincerity a new approach to learning that we were introduced into.  Most of us read to pass but in this case, we read words conceptualized in pictures, listened and related with what we were learning. It is one thing to read and another to relate properly with what is taught. Technology made the difference for me but positively and yeah negatively.

How?-  On that faithful day, I was late to class and I found no one in our regular venue and so I sent a message to my friend to find out where the class was to hold and he replied “WE ARE AT THE CONFERENCE ROOM WATCHING VIDEOS AND YOU ARE MISSING.” I rushed to the venue and opened the door, all eyes on me for about two seconds and back to the screen. I quickly sat down on the nearest seat I could sight. Once sited, I was joined the company of starring sights. Screenshots of half-naked celebrities with the caption NUDITY and PROFESSIONALISM was what caught our attention and we were disrupted by the voice of our lecturer who said “can someone relate this picture to morality in our society” Of course we had a lot to say, both reasonable and unreasonable.

 At that moment  I was able to visualize, create a better mental picture, critically think of what I  was going  to say, how and take a stand on my view point. To cut the story short, when exam came I recalled almost all sessions at the conference room easily and with regular surfing after that day, I earned my marks and I will recollect that memory for a long time, that is my own testimony but in the same class people failed and the have their own story.

What is the point I am trying to make? - As a student, the introduction of electronic media made me a better reader and ultimately I did not have to spend long hours to understand what I read. I planned my studying in line with online activities and it was easier for me . Studying became fun and I had time to do other activities like: sing and even start a blog. That happened because I found out what could work for me and worked around it.

Once I asked my dad how he is able to manage 24 hours (his job, our family, finance, religion and all). He smiled at me in response and said “ It is all about planning your time,  understanding life and yourself… luckily for me it is not easy…” At least that is the summary of all he said. I would be a liar if I say I can fully manage myself now, but I would not be far from the truth if I say I am getting there.

Planning and understanding are key elements in all that we do in life. It is common knowledge that he who fails to plan, plans to fail. Likewise, a man of no understanding is bound to fail. One word is easily associated with the lack of both planning and understanding and that is FAILURE. However, one could have the understanding and plan but still fail due to laziness. It is easier to fail than it is to succeed because most of us find it easier doing nothing or rather talking than taking action. A man claims to be an expert on FOREX but instead of constant study, planning, understanding of trends, he gets a robot to do his work for him and it saves time but at that moment he does not spend his time wisely doing other relevant activities. It is easy yes, and it could be effective sometimes but what if there was no technology. How does he recreate wealth when there are no robots again? Life is difficult and no doubt innovation and new inventions are making activities easier but this is done at the expense of our personal growth and development. Without a mobile phone it would take me days to communicate with my Mother from South- West Nigeria, to North. It could take months who knows, but the mobile phone gives me faster access to my mama yet we are more distant in this time of technological development that in the early days. In the 80s, my parents and grandparents had a better understanding, value of time and life and so despite the hardship of slave trade they were able to appreciate life and mange whatever time they had. Divorce was not widespread at it is today because they made out time to spend with their family than we have today. Romance and poetry that could sweep one off his/her feet was realistic that it is today. They had the same 24 hours we have and even less but they were able to make better use of it than us.

Times and seasons would pass, there would be birth and deaths but what matters most at the end is how we spent days. It would be a shame if in this time of technological development, we as human beings do not live fulfilling purpose, dreams, academics, relationships etc. All in the name of mismanagement.

Technology would make interaction easier but it is up to us to keep that relationship, e-books would be easier to read but it is left for us to choose what to read, at the right time and at the right place. Internship opportunities, conferences, information seminars that would improve our communication, leadership skills etc., would gain wider outreach because of the social media but it is left to us to make the best use of what is at our disposal. Technology would help us find purpose but we alone can use technology to fulfill purpose. Online schools would give us the degree we need but out labor and skills is what will make our career.

In conclusion, managing oneself is all about planning based on understand of oneself, time and the environment. Technology is a blessing to mankind but without a proper understanding and use it is just some new invention.