Hi BFF,
5 years ago, I thought about writing a letter to different people.
Then I remembered that I wasn't ready.
I was too young to be talking to people- though I yapped away everyday. Too humble to be sharing experiences- though I lived them anyway. Too busy to spend time on myself- though I spent it on everybody else.
The first time I read Richard Branson's story- how he went from being a dyslexic kid to the founder of Virgin Atlantic, I was puffed up with purpose. For context, the day he came up with the idea for Virgin Atlantic, Richard was in his late twenties, waiting on a flight to go visit a beautiful girl in Virgin Islands. For some reason or other, the flight was delayed- but he really wanted to see this girl. So he chartered a private plane to take him there, and charged fellow passengers in the same predicament $26 to go with him. The plane was full, he saw the girl, and then he went back home and started working on his own airline.
When I read that story, I opened up my notepad and immediately came up with a 2- page plan. I had to do something for myself, to build something meaningful. I always knew I was different, so if he could do it, why not me? Right?
With Oprah Winfrey's story it was a 5-page plan. With J.K Rowling's story- I even started the book. But I was too young. Too humble. Too busy. You know how it goes.
The writing is on the wall, but let me save you some time on your next plan:
- Step 1: Figure out what you're good at. Is it numbers? Tech? Writing? Speaking? Making people feel comfortable? If you don't know, start looking back over the past 10 years for the consistent themes in your life. We're different for a reason.
- Step 2: Take stock of how you're using that gift right now. If you're using it in a way that serves others without bringing you any fulfillment, it doesn't count.
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Step 3: Take one giant step off that cliff. Do something that means you have to follow through. It can be buying a domain, or incorporating a business, or releasing your song. It can be commercial like building a start-up, or a simple hobby like painting for pleasure. But my two conditions are:
- It must be authentically yours, and
- You have to be bold enough to allow others to experience it.
Because I promise you, that thing that crawls under your skin, and lights a fire in your belly, will not ease up. And you will always wonder what your life could have been if you just let yourself fall.
All my life, my family and friends have called me brave, for walking away from a cushy law firm job to pursue a career in communications. They said it was impressive that I took the road less travelled because I wanted to do something I loved. And my bravery paid off.
My career continued to advance. I got the opportunity to work for global companies, travel, and build pan-African relationships. Then I started thinking: 'I'm doing well', 'I'm building with incredible people', 'I'm working for incredible companies'- and I hushed the quiet voice in my head that nudged me to build for myself too, and work for myself too.
The voice is screaming now. So here I am, 5 years later, writing a letter to different people. People that I could have met, could have known, could have cared for- through a global pandemic, massive layoffs, and everything in between. I was just too young, too humble, and too busy to do it then.
You're not.
You can build for others, and still build for yourself. You can nurture others, and still nurture yourself. And you can start right now.
But if this letter doesn't do it for you today, you can wait.
See you in 5 years.
Safe landing,
Kanyinsola
