So, that’s how I studied law and finished as a lawyer.
Legal practice was another matter though. Joining my dad’s law firm after law school was an error. Don’t you wonder why? I will tell you.
Please note that I always worked in my dad’s law firm as a word processor on and off since I left Wokkman Computer College, Akure in 1996. Acquiring a law degree didn’t make a difference. I was just a learned typist.
The head of chambers refused to place me on a salary because I lived in my dad’s house and drove his car. According to him, I didn’t need money.
My learned seniors just could not see me as anything but the last born and they didn’t expect any intellectual contributions from me. My self esteem was battered. I had to exit the environment.
To help their ego, I didn’t go to another firm. I sought and got a job in a bank (UBA) instead. I did that for 3weeks before going to Nokia, a job I held for 1year
Looking back, I must have amused my colleagues. I sat at Kola’s feet and soaked it all up; his knowledge, his aspirations, his paradigms (I left his religion for him sha, he is a Muslim).
I regurgitated everything Kola taught verbatim. I could reproduce Kola. This unusual skill was acknowledged when I was interviewed for the position of second training manager less than 3 months after I was employed, before my appointment as retail consultant was even confirmed!
In Nokia I discovered many things, the most important of which was that law was not the most lucrative discipline that uses the talents of speaking and writing!
I was a retail consultant. I managed relationships excellently and won every award they dared to conceive. I was an over-performer!
I also discovered the training manager, Kola Osinowo, aka Sugar Sugar. He was everything I wanted to be – a 26year old millionaire who was paid to teach what everyone should know. I fell in love with hsuccess.
Now, what do I do now?
I speak – I always have.
I write – I always have.
I teach – let’s blame Kola.
I practice law – let’s blame schooling.
So, let me ask you, dear reader, how did I discover purpose?
I didn’t get the job as training manager in Nokia but that didn’t mean anything to Kola.
He told me the courses to take. He directed me to the professional bodies to join. He exposed me to the books to read. Though younger, he gave my career as a trainer direction.
Kola is my mentor; has been since I met him.
In finding purpose, you might need people who have gone before you to hold your hand.
I left Nokia to pursue a masters in International Trade and Investment Law in Africa from the University of Western Cape, SA. I came back, got married, had Sapphire and subsequently got a job with Skye Bank as a Legal Officer.
Guess what, before my appointment with Skye Bank was confirmed, I became the official trainer of Legal Aspects of Banking to new recruits.
Your core/calling/purpose will always rise to the top no matter where you find yourself.
So, back in UI, I joined a fellowship. I was head of drama. Then I became a PCF leader. Then I was asked to work in the Fellowship Secretariat. While there, the pastor got an idea that he wanted to write letters to all members (over 1000) on a weekly basis. Guess who was put in charge of that? Yours truly.
I wrote letters effortlessly! I wrote at every opportunity. I started writing our members weekly charges, though the pastor signed the letters.
On the other hand, this series is titled My Journey to Discovering Purpose. The journey isn’t over yet! I am still discovering what I am supposed to do…
All I have spoken about, is that all that I do? No. I do philanthropy. How did that come about? Let me share.
In little time, the members started responding to the love in the letters. They would visit the fellowship secretariat. They soon discovered that I was the one who remembered their names, room numbers, birthdays and challenges. Without a title, I started mothering people from all walks of life and varied background. It became my business to meet their needs and those of the leaders too. I became a walking administrator and care giver. This I still do till date.
Let me finish up this story by saying:
Pay attention to the things you like to do.
How do you find what you like to do? By doing what you can when you get the chance to.
What needs around you get to you?
Who would you love to be like?
No matter where I find myself, I am the welfare person. I am the person who hears about the needs and the difficulties. I am the one who raises help for those who need it. I am the one who gives emotional support to those who feel lost. I became the link between them and their desires and it naturally involved a lot of counseling.
Many concluded I would be a pastor’s wife from watching my handle these things on autopilot.
So I hope that with these few words of mine, I have been able to help somebody understand better that purpose is a journey and many of the things we do are merely assignments on our way to discovering purpose
Till I come back with my next assignment, which is serenading you with a romance story to set the tone for the New Year, here I am saying:
Your life is a story that would teach others how to do well! Share it!
JUMOKE CAXTON 