I believe in ‘guerilla learning’ or informal education. Or let me say, that idea of ditching the conventional and learning just on your own. But I also do not discount the place of “learning under guided tutelage, hence the idea of apprenticeship, student-teacher relationship” (Osagie Alex).
There’s more to learning than just the direct information gained. There’s impart of the environment and the attitude it cultivates in the learner. The major resource in independent or solo learning is information, but with apprenticeship there’s culture, instruction, correction, leverage, fraternity etc.
There’s more to learning than just the information gained. When you play the “one-man squad”, you so likely to see the world from your virgin and unblended eyes and lose the blessing of having a contrast of other people’s perspective to give you a balanced vantage position. We learnt more things in class beyond the scheme of work or academic curriculum; we learnt from the teacher (mentor /boss), we also learnt from our classmates (colleagues).
That’s why no matter how sophisticated we evolve as humans, solo learning like online courses, trainings, programs and certifications can never discount the place of conventional classroom setting.
Not as though any is better than the other, but a good blend of both is very sacrosanct.
Remember, owing your own business does not mean you’re an entrepreneur, neither does being on a firm’s payroll mean you are not an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship is a culture, not a mode of earning. I’ve seen many folks dive into owning a start-up with big chunk of motivation, relative knowledge and zero experience. Same start out against giant competitors battling for same spot in same industry, little wonder they barely survive 5 years. They arm themselves with ‘knowledge’ and the promise of more knowledge which they can independently access via Google, books, YouTube, online courses etc.
This is not entirely wrong, but…
When you dwell on solo learning you might have a huge junk of knowledge, yet no single line of valid thought and wisdom. It’s one thing to have knowledge, another to have clarity.
Moreover, starting out in a supervised environment drills into your pocket the discipline of accountability and consistency which arguably is much higher a luxury for a green horn.
Solo learning can afford you information, but supervised environment (invariably mentor-ship) earns you secrets. Those things you read on the pages of books and websites are no secrets. If they were, you wouldn’t have found them ‘there.’
The difference between INGREDIENTS and RECIPE is that one is a piece of information, and the other a trade secret!
Not even a fool is tempted enough to spill it. Information is when you’re taught how to write a CV, secret is when you’re told of a firm’s job offering.
Now, I’m not against starting out all fresh and alone. It’s not an impossibility to make a hit that way. But if you have the privilege of first being employed before you employ, don’t see it as a taboo.
It’s not about the salary, it’s about the earning. You earn the option of simulating your future before greeting the reality.
You can be an employee with your big dreams and pursuit still intact!
It's a phase of the process, not it's entirety.
If you can’t ‘work for anybody’, then don’t forget to at least sit under somebody (mentor-ship). Whichever you choose, don’t play the one man squad.
Part II
Do not be under pressure to have achieved those major milestones everyone is talking about.
I know it seems like everyone is getting cool jobs, starting awesome businesses, getting married and having kids, traveling the world or getting recognized for something.
Don't feel like your life is on standby or in regress if you haven't done all those things. Worrying does nothing positive for you. You just find you spend your life focusing on the wrong thing, rather than living life by design.
¤All your friends are getting married but you've not yet had a decent relationship in years? No problem.
¤Can't seem to "blow" in your business yet? No problem.
¤Everyone looks like they know what they're doing but you have no clue where your life is headed yet? No problem.
¤Stuck at your job and you have no alternative yet if you decide to quit? No problem.
¤Don't even know what the inside of an aircraft looks like yet, but your friends have renewed their passports several times? No problem.
¤Don't have your life figured out yet? No problem.
Notice I used the word YET in each instance. Yet means, "It hasn't happened but it will surely happen".
¤Don't be sad and go into depression, measuring your progress by other people's timelines.
¤Don't degenerate into hate, envy and jealousy because your friends are already up the ladder and your own ladder is missing. You'll get an ulcer from those negative emotions.
¤Don't give up on yourself and on God just because the ones who started before you, have gone ahead of you.
¤Trust in God.
¤Trust in His timing for your life.
¤Those who got it easy have no stories to tell.
¤Those who make it out of the pit with scars to show, leave an indelible mark in the annals of history.
¤Keep your head down and keep working on yourself.
¤Take one day at a time and be intentional about everything.
¤Commit to growing yourself on a daily basis.
¤Associate with people who will inspire, motivate and lift you up.
¤Spend your time wisely. You have the same 24 hours as everybody else.
¤Risk it all for the dream only you can see; Not the one you get when you close your eyes to sleep, but the one that keeps you wide awake at night.
¤Prepare yourself mentally, psychologically, physically, intellectually, emotionally and spiritually so that when your time comes (and it will come), it finds you ready.
¤Commit your ways into the hands of God and He will make your path straight.
