I was in a hurry to leave the country. All my life, I had never been one for migration. But the stress of living in Lagos, coupled with a lack of vision of what I wanted to do with my life, had forced me to think again. The thought had landed in my head, and it now consumed me. I had what by all standards would be considered a good job, but I hated it. I had been recently moved to a new department, but it was not work that interested me. I knew I would be leaving soon. And so I did not give it my best. I gave it my minimum. And paid for it dearly.
I was under a manager who was not about to accommodate a shoddy worker. One whose was methods of bringing out the best in her subordinate were not very noble. To be fair, I started it. I was the problem. I soon realized that I could not do this job with one finger as I previously thought. I started paying attention. But it was too late. My cavalier attitude had shown itself clearly, and first impressions are everything. For the rest of my time, I was treated like a slacker. I was verbally abused and regularly threatened. Now, it was just her nature as a person and skill as a manager that was showing up. But still, I had drawn it out.
I know I disgraced myself, my family and my faith with my performance on that job. I started working hard and giving my best performance, but the wheels were already turning against me. I had made enough goofs on the job. Still, I knew I was leaving soon and my mind was not really there. Whenever I was given a jab, I would rationalize it away with ‘Soon… You shall see me no more.”
Lesson learnt. Always give any job your reasonable best. And if you know you just are unable or unwilling to, be honest with yourself and all parties involved. Which leads me to the next waste.
I resigned without telling my wards and parents — people who were very involved in my life, and had even helped me secure the job. That is a major no-no. At the time, I was filled with enough strong will — and folly — for ten men. I consulted, but it was one of those situations to which this quote speaks; They ask for advice but they want validation. In consulting the people I approached, all of whom felt I should stay, I argued why I would leave. This is a pattern of decision-making I repeated months later, at a high cost. I believe I have stopped it now. Even in praying about it, it was the same pattern. I needed to get an email before I could resign. I prayed and ‘prophesied’ to myself that I could go ahead and resign, because I would get the email I needed before my resignation notice was up. It did not happen. Was I surprised? Not really. And that decision was the door to the months of misery that followed. My parents forgave me but my ‘wards’ have not spoken to me till date.
Long story short. Do not be a waste man. Pastor Iren taught about how Joseph, who was living well and having a great life, was sold into slavery. The Bible narrates how he consistently gave his best as a houseboy at Potiphar’s. Even in prison, he was still had a good disposition. What a man. One really does have to wonder. He said, “Don’t be so focused on the future that you don’t give your best to your present — which could even be the key to the future you seek.”
