25/06/2024
Today, I will be gentle with this post.
Not like yesterday.
If you do not get the gist, leave this post and go look for my earlier post to read before coming back to continue.
I have a quiz: Who was the most powerful person in the TV Series Bridgerton. It was not the queen. Read further to find out. (The answer will shock you.)
Let me start with a story.
As a young chap, I remember how we excitedly waited for 4pm to watch the NTA programme. Whether it was Sesame Street, Terrahawk, Voltron, Danger Mouse, or Tele March. These programmes made our childhood.
We all had our local content, like Speak Out, Tales by Moonlight, and the other one that kids debate and solve mathematics with their minds or on a sheet of paper. (I have forgotten the name.)
And then there was Check-Mate and After the Storm, The Rich also Cry, and I remember Cyril Stober’s Sunday Newsline on Sundays.
Now, everything is online.
Radio FM has been replaced with Apple Music and Spotify and all forms of podcasts.
Television has been replaced with Amazon Prime, Netflix, YouTube and the likes.
Slum books and casual conversations are now replaced with Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Sorry, I mean X.
Then COVID-19 came to accelerate the adoption of technology. It is probably the most drastic disruption the world has ever seen in a while.
It was a storm. But with every storm comes rainbow at the end. The rainbow signifies new opportunities.
On a side note, global disruptions are phenomena that occur every 40 years. In the past, it took the form of war, technological advancements, the discovery of automobiles, and the discovery of energy. A man is being sent to the moon.
Guess what?
There will be another major in another generation to come. It may not be a disease. These disruptions come to take away the old and bring the new.
Before COVID-19, most people worked in offices. It was like being in a box.
Then the pandemic hit, and suddenly, everyone was working from home.
It was a big change, but it showed us that work can be done anywhere. You don’t need to be in a big city to find a good job anymore.
The pandemic was the storm, and now we see a rainbow of new opportunities.
Technology is a rainbow after the storm. Before, we used technology every day, but now it's become our lifeline.
AI, automation, and new digital tools have made our lives easier. If you love tech, now is your time to shine. There are so many chances to create new apps, software, and cool gadgets.
Think of education as another rainbow. Schools and colleges had to close their doors, but learning didn’t stop. It just moved online. Now, you can learn anything you want from the comfort of your home.
Websites like Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning offer courses on everything, from cooking to coding.
The gig economy is like a treasure chest waiting to be opened. More people are freelancing or starting their businesses.
Platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Etsy are perfect places to offer your skills or sell handmade products. If you have a talent, there’s a place for you.
Social media has become the new stage for performers. With everyone spending more time online, the demand for fresh content grew.
If you like making videos, writing stories, or designing graphics, now is the time to share your talent with the world.
So, how can you ride this rainbow to success? Here are some new tips:
- Find your passion: Think about what you love to do and find a way to make it your job.
- Stay curious: Always look for new things to learn and ways to improve.
- Build your brand: Use social media to show off your skills and connect with people who can help you.
- Be brave: Don’t be afraid to try new things, even if they seem scary at first.
As Earl Nightingale said, the opposite of Courage is not fear. It is conformity. Behaving like most people without knowing why.
The most important currency that makes people stand out in the new economy is the courage to initiate. Many are afraid to take the first step but are looking for those who will lead the way. Will you be among the first to take a stand, or will you be afraid and wait?
Your brain says to you, Play it safe; no one has tried it before. What if it fails?
Like the words of Eminem, I am not afraid to take the stand.
In addition to courage, do not forget to develop skills that are in demand and can be traded in this new economy. The skills will help you not just stand but become a standard.
These skills are:
Writing: Many people thrive on social media channels because of their ability to write either for X, email, or to write a book or a movie. Writing is key to communicating and creating experiences.
You are reading this because of my ability to write.
The most powerful person in the TV series Bridgerton is not the queen. It was lady whistle-down. She had a newsletter. She was a writer.
It’s kind of like Linda Ikeji and Bella Naija of our time. If I were you, I would take writing seriously.
Speaking: Be it a podcast or song. Teaching a skill or knowledge thrives on your ability to speak in a way that holds attention. Learn to speak so the world listens.
Content Creation (Videos): Yes, loads of content are consumed through videos. We are in a video-consuming world.
It existed in the past as dreams. Now you do not need to sleep to see motion pictures. They exist through movies, virtual reality, or simply recording yourself on your mobile phone and posting on a YouTube channel, which you can create for free.
There are millionaires on YouTube who started by creating videos online. See Nas Daily, for example.
All you need to do is be yourself and tell stories. It is simple. Jesus was a storyteller. You already tell stories that people want to listen to.
Just do it in front of the camera. You might just be the next Oprah or Steve Harvey. (It must not be funny like these skit makers.)
Just tell stories about something that interests you.
Marketing: Learn to write in ways that hold attention and make people want to buy.
You need marketing skills to toast a girl, get a company to employ you, or even sell an idea so people can pay you.
Marketing is a life skill and can save your life. But most people take these skills for granted.
Do to be like most people. Learn these skills like your life depends on them. Because, to be honest, it does.
The pandemic was tough, like a storm, but it also brought new opportunities, like a rainbow. We’re in a modern renaissance, a new economy with abundant opportunities, and it’s time to seize the moment.
Like the Chinese proverb, instead of cursing the darkness, light a candle.
The next time I hear you complain about the government and you are not doing anything from your small corner, you deserve flogging.
Please share this post.
Please share this so that other people can enjoy what you are also enjoying.
PS: Should I stop the series or continue to post more?
Talks soon,
- E.E.