3 Lessons From My Mother: How It Would Shape Your Career

3 Lessons From My Mother: How It Would Shape Your Career

Growing up, I had always heard this phrase a lot from my mother “What is worth doing at all is worth doing well”. It became annoying at a point because she always used that phrase anytime she sends us an errand that is obviously inconvenient for us and we end up doing it shabbily, she would re-echo those words and send us back to do it well.

I always ponder on those words anytime I am about to start a task that is somewhat inconvenient for me and I am about to do something that would end up like what the Yorubas fondly call “Ise pemi pada” (the work you would have to call someone back to do). This is particularly common with carpenters, mechanics, plumbers etc.

I remember during my interview for my first HR Role after making a decision to transit from Chemical Engineering. My boss(the interviewer) asked me one key question. “Yewande, How would your parents feel after sending you to school for 5years (plus 1year ASUU strike), you finished with a good grade and you would now tell them that you want to move to HR”

With a deep breath, I pondered about how my parents would feel but knowing how my parents are, I smiled because it wasn’t going to be a problem. My mum would always give an analogy when growing up, “Yewande, even if it’s clapping and dancing you want to study in school, I don’t care, just ensure you do it well” (I don’t know if there is a course like clapping and dancing but she always referred to that)

So when I got home and told her that I went for an interview in HR and I think I want to try HR since no chemical engineering job is coming forth (Take note, I had put my hands in different career paths e.g Coding, Networking, HSE, Even an internship in Environmental Stuff at Benin Republic). It was like I had different career paths which I always wanted to try every 3months of my life and she was never bothered. Immediately, she just smiled and said no problem, HR is a good career path and she ensured I registered for CIPM quickly. She just always mentioned that whatever I want to do, I should ensure I succeed at it and that she and my dad were ready to support my ever-changing passions.

Here are three major lessons you can learn:

 

Early Career Starters:

You may just be finishing school and wondering what on earth you want to do with your life. Like me, you may have so many options(which are interests) but not still sure of what you have a passion for (This is because interest comes first before passion). I would like to encourage you to just try as many as you can.

I always tell people “It’s not bad for you to be confused”, it just shows you really have a genuine interest for growth but unable to navigate properly. Sometimes, trial and error can help you realize what you want and don’t want. If age is by your side and you have the luxury of time to invest in a lot of personal study and development, I would encourage you to do so.

 

Mid-Career Professionals:

For you, it may seem too late for you to trial and error. But one thing I have observed from a lot of mid-career professionals that are unsatisfied with their job is their WORK ETHICS. The fact that you’re unhappy with your job doesn’t give an excuse to work shabbily and not take things seriously because you really have no idea where the breakthrough would come from. What is the quality of your work? How can people rely on you to get the job done? What do people say about your professionalism when you’re not in the room? These are signs you need to heed to my mother’s advice.

 

For all professionals regardless of your level:

One common factor among highflyers regardless of where they are is the trait of ‘excellence’ in all they do. Ensuring personal excellence drives home the initial lesson my mother always tried to instill in us when growing up ‘What is worth doing at all is worth doing well’ 

When you don’t take things for granted as a career and you don’t settle for mediocre results, you would most likely thrive in whatever you do.

Think about it very well and see how you can apply it to all areas of your life especially your career.

I wish you the best in your career!

Yewande Jinadu

Yewande Jinadu is the Founder of CareerLife Nigeria(careerlife.com.ng) and also a Strategic HR Business Partner of a leading tech firm. She's a certified HR Professional with a mix of Generalist and Specialist Experience who supports the business to achieve it's goals through the people. Her strengths are in Talent Acquisition, Performance Management, Employee Engagement, Organization Development and Employer Branding. Her social initiative, CareerLife Foundation solving UN SDG Goal 8 is aimed at reducing unemployment by helping graduates and professionals become Employable and accelerate their career growth. With various awards won both locally and globally, her vision is to help millions of youths achieve measurable success in their career. Yewande holds the Senior Professional of Human Resources International (SPHRi) Certification from the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI), USA. She is an associate of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (ACIPM) and has a Practitioners License to practice HR in Nigeria. She's the Convener of the Employability Fitness Program, an initiative aimed at helping young graduates overcome interview Phobia and the barriers in Recruitment process through mentoring. She is a public speaker and has been featured on various media platforms including: BellaNaija, SheLeadsAfrica, GuardianWoman, Women of Rubies etc Some of her recognitions include: Top 50 Career Influencers in Africa by The Workbooth Magazine and also a the top 10 Platinum members of Career Influencers. Top 150 Global HR Influencer by Social Micole. Top 100 Career Women in Nigeria by 9to5Chick Top 30 Leading Women in HR by Worden HCD You can reach out to her by sending a mail to: info@careerlife.com.ng and follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @careerlifeng

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