Life, Success & Progress...

Hmmm... It has been a looooonnngggg time! The last 14 or so months have been very eventful, and thanks to the Almighty, have gotten me closer and closer to where I think I should be :). It's been an interesting journey, which is far from over.

Since my last blog post I have gone through an interesting spring internship (Jan - Apr '06), graduated with a Masters degree (Summa Cum Laude, http://tinyurl.com/2uwj4l), started a full-time relationship with the bank I interned with, as an Interest Rate Derivatives Associate (https://www.key.com/html/J-2.11.c.html), got featured as a Cleveland Brain Gain (http://tinyurl.com/3c2ky6), also featured on my alma mater's Alumni Spotlight section (http://tinyurl.com/3ys7od), got myself my first set of wheels ever (http://tinyurl.com/2olphj, mine is blue though :), passed the 1st of 3 CFA exams (http://www.cfainstitute.org/cfaprog), and worked my way to a pay raise and modest bonus at the end of my first 8 months... still waiting for the promotion :D.

Friends and family are also experiencing progress on different levels. In the same time frame, I had the good fortune of experiencing Goizueta Business School's 1-year MBA program through my fiance (http://www.goizueta.emory.edu, pronounced "Goi-zoo-eh-tah"). Through him, my international connection has grown :D. Also, he secured a job offer with Ernst & Young (www.ey.com) before the end of his second of three semesters! Hmm... talk about a high-quality candidate :). He wrote his last paper today - whew!

My Dad is now the CEO of Dunlop Nigeria, PLC (http://www.dunlopng.com) and Chairman of Pamol (Nigeria) Ltd (http://www.dunlopng.com/sub.html). My beloved mum continues to save the world (www.ilo.org). My dear step-mum has fulfilled her dream of being an employer of labor rather than be an employee - her pharmacy, called Hale & Hearty, should be open to the public by the end of the third quarter of 2007 (in the mean time, let us know if you need to have medical supplies delivered :). My favorite uncle is now the CEO of UBA Asset Management (http://www.ubaassetmanagement.com). One of my cousins was selected to go through an international rotational program with his employer (www.citigroup.com, http://tinyurl.com/2ccw6s).

Quite a number of friends and their families have experienced true progress in one form or the other - marriage, children, successful business ventures, promotions, recognition for a job well done, completion of degree programs, new jobs, recovery from illness ... I can go on and on.

Some may think I am being proud and boastful, but the truth is very from that. I am simply counting the numerous blessings the good Lord has made it possible for me and my loved ones to experience. I am also showcasing the result of hardwork, patience, perseverence, discipline, keeping true to ones self, and doing the right thing irrespective what anyone else may think or say.

The last 16 months wasn't without it's share of lessons learnt, shocks and surprises, disappointments, and episodes of outright disbelief! I'll try recount some of those experiences over the next couple of blog posts, hopefully someone will be able to identify with them, and others will learn a thing or two. Bottom line:

1. Human beings are the same wherever you go - the good and the bad, the beautiful and the ugly (both on the inside and the outside). And that hydra-headed monster called office politics is alive and well and thriving in the environments that feed it - expect a story about that.
2. You never know who is going to be the answer to your prayer(s), so make it a point to treat every one you meet with the utmost respect and regard, irrespective of status, position, or whether you think the person can be useful to you or not.
3. Life is for the living - whenever you are faced with disappointments, hurdles or obstacles, take a step back, evaluate the situation, acknowledge where you personally helped contribute to the situation, learn from your mistakes, lick your wounds, AND MOVE ON!

Now to the questions to be pondered on:

• What is the definition of success?
• Is it impossible to achieve success without doing so at the expense of others?
• Can an individual be taught how to be resilient?
• How do we help others see the light at the end of the tunnel when the tunnel appears to be pitch black, and other people who have completely abandoned attempting to make progress through the tunnel appear to be "succeeding"?
• For those of us who have been lucky enough to make some progress up the success ladder, what have we done to encourage, prod, or push the seemingly less fortunate ones around us up the ladder?

I would appreciate any comments, or even more questions... One of my life philosophies is that anyone who doesn't question life around him/her is not truly living life - hope that makes sense.

Until I ramble again...