Gentle appeal

NYSC Story

Imole!!!

DOCUMENT YOUR KNOWLEDGE

One thing I believe everyone must do at least once in their lifetime is to document their knowledge. The black man has lost a lot of history, knowledge and virtue because we don’t document. Strodinger, Galiloe, Pascal, Tesla, Einstein and their kinds are people we study today because they documented their knowledge. But the average black man cannot say the same and this should change with you and I.

Create a course, write a book, create some YouTube videos. All these things will outlive you and your intelligence. You should contribute to a body of work, no matter who you are. You could be a police man, a baker, a referee, a cook, a plumber or a stay at home mom. There is surely something about something that you know better than others and you can share that information with the world.

Even if you are the most useless person in the world, at least you know something about being useless than most people and you can share your perspective on that.

I recorded my first course in 2013. It was a course on graphics design with CorelDraw.

Two things happened as a result of that that shocked me.

1. I stumbled on the course about 4 years ago and sat down to watch it. I was really amazed at the knowledge I shared in the course. I sincerely don’t remember about 70% of what I shared in the course, I had to learn from myself.

Creating a course is a great way to document knowledge for yourself, for others and the world at large.

2. About 5 years ago, someone called me on my phone asking me if I have a course on how to use Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop. I was quite surprised by his question because I stopped graphics design professionally in 2014. He then said he bought my course (which I gave to my students back then and strictly warned them not to share) at under-bridge in Ikeja so he called the number I watermarked on the video to know if I have other courses.

As weird as it was, I wasn’t angry, I was quite impressed and happy that a lot of people found it useful. That was my first eye opener when it comes to creating courses or documenting knowledge.

If you have never done this before, take cautious effort to document your knowledge in 2025 and you will be glad you did. The world will thank you for it.

IS CONVENIENCE MAKING US COMPLACENT?

Many years ago when it was time for my IT, I came to Lagos from Ibadan, teamed up with 5 other friends, printed about 50 copies of my CV and application letters and then walked the whole of Ogba and other areas I can’t remember now.

We went from offices to offices dropping copies of our CVs and even when they turned us back, we just laughed about it and moved on. We didn’t stop till we shared all our copies. I got a few interviews but no offers but it was fine. I finally went back to Ibadan for the IT.

Fast forward to today. Hardly does anyone walk around with CVs, all you have to do is just send an email. While I have seen some people on LinkedIn say they applied 600, 1000 or more times, it’s not common practice.

You would assume that people should be able to do hundreds if not thousands of applications easily comparing where we were coming from, but the reverse is the case. If you are a job seeker, answer for yourself, how many times have you applied for opportunities in the last 3 months? Are you really sure you are searching?

Technology is a two-edged sword. As it makes things easier, it also makes people lazier. With GenAI (ChatGPT and the like), in another 5 years most of use won’t be able to even write a letter by ourselves anymore, same way we cant do simple calculations without using calculators.

It’s evolution, it’s not Gen Z, it’s the evolution of man. We are all changing but those who don’t have any prior evidence will be completely changed, hence the Gen Z thing.

This calls for caution and a lot of retrospective thinking. As we get excited about advancements in technology, we also need to make adequate plans for the consequences of those innovation.

SMALL DECISIONS, BIG CONSEQUENCES

“Excuse me sir, can I talk to you in a few minutes?”

I turned my head to see where the voice was coming from and saw this man (in his 40s) hanging over the opened door of my car’s back seat.

I was in a public space and hurriedly responding to a work enquiry so I told him to give me a few minutes to complete what I was doing. One part of my mind was responding to the work need while the other part was debating whether the man wanted to preach to me, sell something to me or ask me for money.

Few minutes later I felt the need to quench my thirst so I called a vendor, out of courtesy I asked the man if he cared for something also and that was when he displayed his youthfulness. He order one of the most expensive drinks on the vendors tray, e shock me, but I acted as if I didn’t see it and paid.

I finally finished what I was doing and turned to attend to him, then he started to tell me how his kids are home hungry, how he won’t mind anything and just needed my help. I just told him bluntly I won’t be able to help as even me sef need help.

You may laugh about this but many of us are not very different from this man in our relationships. Little things matter to people, don’t let your selfishness or greed rob you of bigger blessings that should be yours. This is a new year, stop playing.