The Light Within: Beyond the Trophy

Oh, i am sorry once again. The book “The light within” is not out, i guess I announced a little earlier, while we are waiting for it, i wanted to share once again with you a snippet with you.

Something my friend shared with me recently has been playing on my mind. She talked about being with someone who saw her as a prize, someone to show off to the world, but behind closed doors, the connection was hollow. Parties and appearances were everything, deep conversations and shared dreams, almost non-existent after they became a "couple." Even with apologies, real change was elusive.

And it hit me how often do we do this with our careers? We build this impressive facade, the "trophy career" everyone admires, maybe even the one we boast about, yet inside, it feels…empty. We might even groan about it in private, but publicly, we play the part of someone who's living their dream. Sound familiar?

Today, I'm not just encouraging you, I'm pleading with you to take a real, hard look at what truly fuels you. Is your career a shiny trophy you dust off for show, or is it a wellspring of genuine purpose and joy? This isn’t about settling; it’s about choosing you, fiercely. It's about fighting for the kind of work that sets your soul on fire, where happiness isn't a bonus, but the very foundation. It's about finding those areas where your joy is unshakeable, where you discover an inner strength you didn't know you possessed.

Thinking about my own path of "being Light," I've realized that we're all on this relentless quest for happiness. I’ve asked around, and honestly, how many people do you know who are truly, deeply happy in their work? The number is often startlingly low. And it makes you wonder, doesn't it? What's the price of finding that genuine happiness? If it meant shaking up my entire world my community, my workplace would I have the guts to do it? I believe, deep down, we all must confront this. At the end of the day, we came into this world with nothing, and we'll leave with nothing but the quality of the life we lived.

My friend Demola, someone who is driven by such pure intentions, often says, "The ones I have been given, I guide and guard them, none missing, none lost.” For him, true success isn't about climbing the ladder alone, but about the positive ripple effect you create around you. It’s about impact, not just accolades. This echoes the powerful words of Adam Grant: "Don't chase the spotlight, chase the impact. A career driven by purpose shines brighter from the inside out." He also wisely said, "The more I help, the more successful I become. But I measure success in what it has done for the people around me. That is the real accolade."

So, right now, I want you to pause. Be brutally honest with yourself. Does your career fill you with genuine joy and a sense of meaning, or is it primarily about external validation, about what it looks like to others? It’s never too late to make a change, to pivot towards something that truly resonates with your core. Choose the path that allows your inner light to shine so brightly that it not only illuminates your own way but also inspires those around you. Personally, my heart beats for a future where I can contribute to the incredible work of organizations like UNICEF, UN, UNFPA, and WHO. Until then, every step I take is about learning and understanding the systems and structures that will allow me to make that impact.

What's that inner voice telling you today? What's one small step you can take towards a more purpose-driven life? Let's start a conversation. I truly want to hear your thoughts.

I was about to send this and i heard from someone, “We are all indispensable, and if we think we are very important, what if death takes us away”. Enough said, reflect.

Shine brightly,

Olajide