Do You Know Who I Am? By Yomi Badejo-Okusanya
This is a rhetorical question often asked by we Nigerians especially when faced with potentially contentious situations . We use the question to inadvertently warn our adversary not to mistakenly underestimate our very lethal hidden arsenal especially by way of means and ‘connections’. It is expected to make them think twice before taking us on.
But really who are you? Many of us do not even know who we really are. We have not done enough study on ourselves to adequately equip us for the journey of life. We are not courageous enough to do a thorough and hard self examination to discover our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
Most of us, know who we will like to be but just do not have the strength of character and purposefulness to aggressively chase our dreams to conclusion. Rather, we indulge in fancies of ‘building castles in the air’, pretending to be what we are not. Yet we want to be treated with utmost respect. Unfortunately, respect is best earned, not demanded.
For example, by the time you ask your subordinate ‘do you know I am your boss?’ You have already lost the plot.
The journey to self success and actual self actualisation starts with self discovery and a simple way to self discover is what is known as a Personal Statement.
What is a personal statement?
It is a self authored write up often required to secure a place or role in an establishment. It is meant to tell the story of your life, purpose, aspirations and achievements powerfully rendered in a few paragraphs but strong enough to paint a vivid and very imaginative picture of who you are. It is different from a straight-jacketed resume or CV.
If you have never written one before, then now is a good time. If you have, how compelling and truthful is it? This week, purpose to write or update your personal statement.
So when next you have the need to ask the question ‘do you know who I am?’ At least you will have the benefit of answering yourself first.
If public relations is the art of telling compelling stories, then the stories must begin with you!
Yomi Badejo-Okusanya (YBO) is the Lead Partner at CMC Connect LLP (Perception Consulting) and he writes from Lagos.
