LAST week I mentioned Dr Odon as one of the brilliant minds I met on my recent trip to Africa. I mentioned to him in our conversation to contribute to my column, and he did not hesitate to do so. This content is appropriate at this time when we are reflecting and planning for a new year.

DISCOVERING YOUR ROAR
“Is it better to be a small fish in a big pond, a big fish in a small pond, a small fish in a
small pond or a big fish in a big pond?? What do you think?? For me, it doesn’t matter as long as you swim, occupy and impact lives with no restrictions!!! The important thing is understanding if you can swim in the first place and how you feel when you swim. If you feel great and it makes you happy, you better swim like your life depends on it. But actually, I didn’t want to talk about fishes and ponds, even if that is a really cool premise to start the conversation.

Have you ever wondered why you are doing a job you don’t enjoy, but you regard what you love doing as just a hobby? Do you remember why there is tension between what you do for a job and what you enjoy doing? Do you know who you are personally or are supposed to be professionally? Do you want to know how both dimensions can work together nicely?
In the wake of COVID, there has been so many disruptions in the world of work that the need to develop a personal and professional profile that is resilient to societal changes is crucial. Also, it is the responsibility of the Post-COVID Student or Professional to take advantage of these changes for career enhancement and
growth.

I always tell people that there is an opportunity to plan for their career early and for those who have lost their career track, there is also an opportunity to get back on the
path. In fact, everything you have done until now has the potential to be important as a resource for your journey to career success. This can be connections made, knowledge gathered and even skills acquired. I started with fishes and ponds but looking at the title of this write-up, which is discovering your roar, there seems to be a disconnect because fishes don’t roar.

Well, the last time I checked they don’t. So, let us get back in line, shall we? Since I studied zoology, even though I never did anything with it, I love animal references, as many of the people who listen to me know. So let me paint you a career picture using an animal you surely know well: the lion.

When I say lion, what words come to mind? Did you think ‘bold’ or ‘fierce’ or ‘roar’? I am sure you have other words or phrases to describe a lion. Now I will let you in on something you have probably not considered! Did you know a male lion sleeps and snoozes for about 20 hours a day, while a female lion does the same for 18 hours a day? (She needs the extra waking hours to take care of the cubs, bless her.) Now isn’t that the perfect description of the word ‘lazy’? Yes, I said it – a lion is lazy!

But guess what? It doesn’t matter, because in ‘boldness’ and ‘fierceness’, The lion is king – the very best. Let me tell you how good the lion is at roaring. It is incredible: the lion makes you forget that it spends 20 hours a day snoozing, which is the reason why you cannot ever associate the lion with laziness.

The truth is the lion is best at what it loves doing. So, it is important to first find out what you love doing, what you are naturally good at and what makes you happy when you do it – without any consideration of the money you will earn. That consideration is important, but it should be secondary. You are more likely to become the best at something that interests you, which you love doing and you derive joy when you do it because you are more likely to do it many times, and the more you do it, the better you get at it until you become the best.

But the most important first step is to discover your ROAR. When you discover your roar and perform it to the best of your ability, it confers on you a sense of self-confidence that you cannot explain, and the feeling is amazing. Now, when your self-confidence helps you do those things you love doing well, and there is an appreciation of what you do, which can be in the form of respect, praise, impact on the lives of people, providing solutions to a problem or just simply monetary value or remuneration, then this is when you develop self-determination to keep doing it.

It’s all connected. The big question now is, ‘What is your roar?’
You might teach a parrot to roar but it will struggle, especially if it must do it many times over to remain relevant. The vocal cords of a parrot have not been designed to roar. Many folks do a job or are in a career where they get paid a lot of money, but they are never happy because it is not what they love doing. If there is a conflict now, there would be an issue down the line but its best to start aligning yourself with what makes you happy as soon as you can no matter how little you start.

I am delighted to have found my roar. Have you found your ROAR? You can be
locked down, but you don’t need to be locked out. Engage your mind, advance your skills, refresh your ambitions, and activate your visions.
It’s crucial to know your “roar” – what you love, brings you joy and gives value to others. It’s the basis for your career sustenance and sustainability.
When you do discover your roar, how can you get better at it and for me,
Volunteering is a powerful way to do that. Have you had a passion you always wanted to express? Do you have knowledge or expertise that others can benefit from?

Volunteering provides an opportunity for expressing your passions and providing a basis for a career change or an alternate career promotion if well tapped into. Above all, it provides an environment for you to impact the lives of others through your experiences.

The world is a jungle but your roar is your differentiation and your sustenance, don’t
take it lightly. It is all you need.”

Thank you Doc for provoking many minds to discover their ROAR as we continue this journey called life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.