There is always this awesome feeling that comes with your hard work paying off exactly or even more than you expected. Many of us can relate to seeing the fruit of our labor yield in ways we never imagined, and such experiences spark this sense of pride and accomplishment that makes your struggles worth it.
It always means so much to us because we have found ourselves in situations where our efforts didn't yield well, and we know the difference between both experiences. When things turn out pretty well, we easily forget whatever pain we have experienced, and that's how life works because it doesn't take time before we start aiming for something bigger than our previous accomplishments.
I have several testimonies to tell regarding this prompt, and one of my very favorite experiences happened about 7 years ago. It happened that getting a job wasn't as easy as I thought after the completion of my ND program.
I traveled around the streets of Lagos looking for something fair to do, and throughout that time, I was barely surviving on cooking skills, which wasn't enough. I went from one job interview to another but couldn't secure a job because of the unreasonable salary being offered, the location of the job, conditions attached, and several other reasons.
At the point of giving up, I got a job with an entry level that had to do with marketing, which was one of the things I hated most then. I have laughed and made jest of my friends who were into marketing jobs because I never thought I would do it someday.
I felt reluctant to process the job, but after thinking about my condition, I went for it and got the job. I met the company HR after I got my employment letter to ask for the company promotion structure, and it sounded like I was crazy because it doesn't feel normal for someone who just started a job to aim for a quick promotion.
The HR laughed at me for a moment but happily explained how things worked there, and I swung into action. I was sent to the field with other new staff that particular day, and at the end of the day, I surpassed the target given to me.
I reported my success that day to a senior colleague I was told to report to daily, and he advised me not to submit that figure I did just in case the next day wasn't productive, but I refused to do so.
I sent in the figure, and the area manager started asking questions that evening. The next day, I pushed harder than the previous day and was able to do twice my target in an open market, while the other guys who were just employed couldn't do half of their targets.
That week passed, and my figures keep going higher. I was called to the office by the area manager, and he started asking questions about my superb figure in just one week. I gave answers and even shared a bit of my strategy, which he found impressive.
At the end of the meeting, the area manager said I should be training people and not roaming the field. He put a call across to the HR, instructing him to enroll me for supervisors training, and that was all.
Everyone who heard my story was surprised because, according to them, it takes at least 3 months before you are being considered for promotion, but mine happened in the blink of an eye. Many of the staff said I was lucky, which I didn't dispute, but deep down, it was my hard work that paid off more than I expected.
I didn't stop giving my best and was eyeing the next spot for promotion when COVID hit the world badly. My dream to climb to the top quickly at the company was cut short, and yet, my life took a different turn positively.
It's been years now, and I never stopped working hard or giving my best at anything I do because I can't tell when my hard work will yield so I just have to keep going.
Looking back at the whole journey today, I realize that every step I took from going through the streets of Lagos with empty pockets to doubling my target in a job I never wished for taught me that hard work isn't just about the grind; it's about trusting the process even when the path looks unclear.
All images are mine.