Why?
The Goodnews Chat with Shola Bamidele
Dear friend,
We are excited to share this week’s good news with you. We had an intriguing chat with Shola Bamidele, a diversity and inclusion consultant and a former project manager for #WithChude.
Let's dive in!
What was the turning point for you in your career choice?
I would like to say that, I don't think it was a turning point so to speak, because if you pay attention, I think everyone shows what we want to do in life, probably at an early age or just going through life, there are things that begin to align at some point in time, but most times we are not paying attention, because probably you have to go to classes, you have to be in school. You also to have deal with many distractions around you.
However, when you finally settle down in a place of silence and calm, you realize that if you really listen to yourself, you will see that all the things you've had to go through as a child were all forming you to become this person. So you should really pay attention.
To answer the question, I would say it was in 2019 that I had the time to really sit down to think about what I wanted. At that moment, I knew my soul was yearning for something more, I met with one of my mentors and we had a discussion. We talked about a lot of things. One of them was discrimination and how to create safe spaces for people that are constantly being relegated. And that was how the whole idea of being a Diversity and Inclusion Consultant came.
What was that one piece of advice that changed your life?
Okay, (laughs) They are like a lot. First of all, Know yourself.
Know yourself, as I said earlier, The world will tell you a lot of things. As a child, you listen to your parents, when you go to school, you'll listen to your teacher and you'll listen to your peers. When you go to university, you are listening to your lecturers. Later you start trying to meet up to the standard, because you're comparing yourself with your colleagues.
But,
You're not listening to yourself. And in getting to know yourself you need to ask yourself some questions. Questions like: What do I want to become? What do I want out of this life? Why am I here? You need to ask all of these salient questions, which you can only answer when you are being true to yourself and you are in a state of Silence.
So basically 'know yourself'
The Bible says love your neighbor as yourself. And I always tell people that to love your neighbor as yourself, means you know yourself. First of all, you need to know yourself, know your insecurities, know your flaws. And if you as a person know yourself, you know all of your devices and you still love yourself, then you can also look out for that in other people.
If I'm a liar or procrastinator, If I'm all of these things and I can still make excuses for myself and I can forgive myself. Then by all means I can love other people despite their flaws.
You keep mentioning getting to a place of quiet does it mean just closing down and shutting everybody out?
It's about finding your silence, I think it's a personal thing because, for me, I don't like noise. Your friends will always want to give you advice right? And most times they mean it in the best way. However, If you do pay attention, you can take from what they're saying and still listen to yourself because, in the end, your voice says where you want to go.
I feel like there's a lot of confusion out there. The reason is that you’ve allowed too many people to say so many things and you don't even know what you want anymore. So, you're confused and you don't know what to do.
For me I go into nature, I probably go to the beach where people are not necessarily around. There's not so much noise, to be quiet, just to pay attention to my life, to probably pray.
How do you deal with setbacks?
When, I have setbacks, first, I feel bad. Then I ask myself questions like what is wrong, did I not calculate this well?
Sometimes, Setbacks might be telling you to chill, it’s not yet time, pay attention to what really matters.
For now, I embrace setbacks. Although you would notice around me that I’m sad or taken aback. Over time I’ve just learned that things might not go as you planned, and I think that's the thrill.
When I embark on a new project, I might feel like it is overwhelming, but when I’m done with the project, I realized that it’s that journey from beginning to completion that I enjoyed and not the completion. It was all the things that led to it, like the failure, the setback, the damage control that I truly enjoyed.
What are three things you have done over the years that have made a big difference?
I listen to songs with a message, no matter the language, no matter the country, as long as it connects to my soul.
I read. I believe that although I don’t have my Masters yet and other qualifications, I have my brain and I know how to read. So if I find something very important I research it. And over time by applying whatever knowledge you have learned you just realize that you can learn a lot.
I eat a lot of fruits and I drink a lot of water.
What's something that makes you feel hopeful for the future right now?
Well, personally my Mom. I remember her sacrifices and how much she gave to my journey. I also remember where I'm coming from. And although, I'm not there yet, but I’m getting closer to my dreams.
On a general note, I’m optimistic for the Nigerian youths. I am really proud of the fact that the Nigerian youths are now aware of their worth, the injustice, and the prejudice. They can now arise and demand for accountability and that's very commendable.
Since we're not there yet. It's just the beginning and that's what we need to realize. It's just the first step in the marathon. So the fact that we are aware and dealing with one issue at a time is a good start and very soon we will make it.
What is the one piece of advice you will give to someone just starting?
Know your why.
Why are you doing this?
You really need to know your why, because a lot of people just go into things because of money. You have to understand why you are going into it. Is it your passion? What defines that passion for you?
You also need to understand your background, or where you're coming from because if the foundation is very shaky, you're going nowhere. You just realize after just one month of challenges that you want to change.
So, understand why you are doing what you are doing because when the challenges come if you are not grounded in your why? You will find yourself running in circles with no direction.
What are you reading or listening to currently?
I'm reading Rebecca Lynne's Ph.D. dissertation titled: “Armed Resistance: Masculinities, Egbesu Spirits, and Violence in the Niger Delta of Nigeria.” I watch a lot “With Chude”, a tv series on mental and emotional awareness.
I also read a lot of Martin Luther King, Bob Marley, Malcolm X, Michael Jackson, Oprah Winfrey, and Fela.
Shola gave us some thoughtful lines we think will come in handy:
If you want to be great, you have to study Great
Know yourself
Work Smart
Learn to keep in touch with people, people will help you get close to your goals.
Pay attention to your journey.
When things don't work out, step back and learn from your mistake
Always have a fallback plan.
Hope for the best, and expect the worse- (Forever young by Alphaville)
Video of the week
Opportunity Desk
Here, you'll find opportunities around the world for professional development and access to funds to push you closer to the future you desire:
The EUI Policy Leader Fellowships – School of Transnational Governance (PLF-STG)
The Open Doors Fellowship Program
See you next week.
Your friends,
From AllforDevelopment.
P.S: You can post a part of this letter that connects with you, and tag us while at it: LinkedIn; Instagram;