2022; A Review.
Honestly, I have been too lazy to write this, so I thought: What is the essence of following Ali Abdal’s channel and reading productivity threads on Twitter if I can’t pull myself to write the year’s summary? It’s going to be the 4th consecutive year, I have a reputation to protect, so I convinced myself. The challenge has always been finding the inertia to start, I eventually summoned one, and here we are.
So, if you are reading this, this is as much as my lazy ass can write about my 0b11111100110.
The year started on a high note. I resumed a new one at a company that is part of the Publicis Groupé(Perhaps the largest media agency in the world), where I had the privilege to manage some of Nestle’s brands in the beverage category. I liaised with the regional team and deployed the digital launch of Nescafé Multi. Oh my goodness, I enjoyed working with Chisom! It was indeed a mixed feeling when I had to leave after staying for just a quarter.
Transitioning to Tech
I finally found my way into tech. I have always wanted to transition to tech — to use my skills to help drive the adoption and growth of tech products. Working in some of the Crème de la crème agencies in Nigeria meant you manage industry-leading brands; they are the ones with the budget, after all. The flip side is that most of these brands often promote to sustain TOMA and recall. The impact of your efforts is mostly convoluted, and it’s harder to measure and claim success. I believe success should go beyond you meeting the KPI.
I joined SeamlessHR, a B2B HR-Tech SaaS company as a Growth Manager in April. It’s been a journey of learning about the products, the landscape, the consumer and, more importantly, driving demand for our fantastic suite across Africa. See this video to have a glimpse of what the role entails.
7,130 Kilometers away from home
Okay, so I relocated to the UK with my wife. Hold the thought! Like my friend used to say, “I didn’t japa. I came to study”. So yeah, my wife got admission to study for her master’s, so we relocated as a family.
It’s hard to leave behind your family, your loved ones and relationship, the comfort of your home, the support your clan guarantees, and the homeland that birth some of your most cherished memories, to start afresh in a new land whose values are mainly at a tangent to your creed.
Settling down has been challenging, but Alhamdulillah it could easily have been worse.
I am currently looking for Growth Manager/Product Marketing role in the UK. Please do well to share opportunities and recommend me.
QWERTY-ing
I started journalling in the last quarter of the year. I recorded some of my life’s activities that will hold meaning in the long-term, ripped off the mundane daily occurrence. Clarity comes with journalling, no doubt. One can quickly re-evaluate scenarios and incidents retrospectively, appreciate the process and underscore essential lessons.
It’s a way to preserve our sojourn here on earth, open a window into our thought process, and give people a glimpse of our emotional battles and victory if/when they access it. While we strive to create a desired future, I believe it’s essential that we preserve our past too.
Sebi you know Frank Anne’s Diary? More than 30 million copies of the book have been sold!
Yes, I dropped some balls.
I read far less than I have read in the last couple of years. Settling into my new role required extra effort, and it highjacked most of my reading time. I read seven-ish books this year, including the Biography of Segun Akinlolu, regarded as Nigeria’s foremost contemporary folk and roots musician. The dude is absolutely brilliant, and I am a big fan of his message.
I also dropped out of my french classes on Duolingo after hitting a 770-day streak. I lost the drive and dedication along the way, and it seemed like I wasn’t progressing, so I struggled with each passing lesson. The straw that broke the camel’s back was the loss of the streak. I picked it up a few times afterwards, but I have never found the desire and consistency again.
My daily push-up routine also became haphazard. I have been committed to an average of a hundred push-ups daily for a couple of years now, but I fell short of that this year, barely keeping it at eighty a few times a week.
My social life has always suffered, but playing tennis has sprinkled some glitter into that part of my life. I haven’t held a racket for almost four months now. In 2023, I will attempt to rekindle the experience once again without breaking the bank, and I hope it comes with the fun and companionship Ogudu Tennis Club offers. (Meanwhile, I finished the year ranking 14, coming from being an unranked player last year. I also shared the court with my padi when she came around)
I intend to document more aspects of my life going forward, the movies I see, the blogs I religiously follow, the podcasts I discover, the Youtube channels whose notification I have on and, of course, the books I read. I will find time to curate all of these on Notion.
In 2023, I want to drive impact, especially from a professional point of view. Share more knowledge and mentor youngsters. Join some communities, drive conversations, share resources and genuinely participate.
So if you are a start-up building something great, please reach out, and let’s brainstorm.
If you are just starting in the industry and need some guidance, please reach out, and let’s have a chat.
Please reach out if you have a speaking opportunity (event/podcast/youtube etc.) or need my contribution to a book you are writing.
I wish you and your loved ones a great year!