Over the years, I have come to see myself as a good planner. I think up ideas, look at the latest trends and how they would fit into my plans and implement them. I am a dreamer. Hence, my ideas are always in mind a lot as I think of how to implement them. Over the years though, many of my plans have failed miserably despite writing them down and having a good start to them. That though, hasn’t deterred me from setting up new goals for myself to pursue. What I had to do was examine why my plans fail despite having good strategies in place?

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

I came to the realization that enduring through challenges has always been an issue for me. I give up when the going gets tough and that can be at 6 months to 2 years into what I am working on. When it’s at an impossible stage and the hurdles are too much, I would rather refocus my energy on a new project than build the discipline that it would require to endure until the next face of the project.

While that has worked well for me, I realized it won’t help me achieve my desired goals in life. Hence, I had to go back to the drawing board and ask myself, what I wanted out of life and how I could build the discipline needed and endurance through to the success of my goals. Reading about how I can achieve that was the ideal way to go about it but I had the challenge of finding time to sit down for an hour or more daily. I chose instead to listen to audio books and podcasts.

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

Am not sure who I got this point from. I learnt that it was important for me to understand what I wanted in my life and the motivation behind that goal. Why? In the past, my reasons would have been because I can or everyone is pursuing a similar goal; or even it would be motivated by doing it for others but not myself. Being intentional in why I want to do something in my life has helped in avoiding unnecessary pursuits.

I also came to learn that it is important to gain mastery over something. I definitely cannot be a jerk of all trades. My time, energy and skills can only be limited towards a few things. Gaining mastery over something takes longer than I had projected and constant working at it might mean many years and a lot of time invested in it. Even for those who choose the goal to work out or exercise in life. It may be strenuous in the beginning before it becomes a routine. Years later, the duration and type of exercise may change but the goal to regularly keep exercising still remains.

When you have a goal and it’s clear to you, it’s important to build the discipline and endurance and learn to pick yourself up and keep going when obstacles eventually come your way. Be practical and know when to change focus. Sometimes it maybe necessary to pivot and keep going. A flexible approach is better than a rigid one towards building a better pathway in life.

There is always light at the end of the tunnel. The challenge would be, is it visible and do we walk through it despite the obstacles you encounter or will encounter. When we plan our lives, it sometimes comes with the assumptions that our timelines will work out perfectly with little or no disruptions. The reality however, depresses a lot of people.

In my years working in the wedding industry ( I still work in this industry), I have witnessed many couples plan to the last detail how their big day should or will turn out. There are quite a number who think beyond one plan incase they meet challenges or complete failure in one aspect of the day. Sadly, their clear plans end with the wedding day. The journey of their marriage might sometimes be left to fate.

I feel the same trend with many when it comes to planning their careers. They may take awhile deciding what they want to do. For some however, it is clear what they want to do. Hence, they work out a strategy that involves learning to gain a clear understanding of what they want. This may mean many years of education or even following on social media those they may admire in their chosen careers. For some, they keep trying and pushing until they achieve their desired career.

If your career choice involves working with others as colleagues in an office, that usually brings different people together with personalities that can clash than mesh well together. In any office, there will be some who meddle in other peoples lives. The confident, proud, timid, narcissistic traits, emotional problems, those experiencing family challenges and the list goes on and on. As if this is not enough, office politics can come into play. What then changes the workplace that you dreamed about working from a happy place to a toxic environment?

Any new relationship mostly has the honeymoon period and the future looks bright and happy. Working in a new environment usually involves forming new relationships with individuals. There is joy to it and most people bring out the best representative when you first meet them. For some, it can be hidden beyond 3 months but for some this pretense doesn’t last long. The real person comes to the surface. You can easily start your career looking forward to work everyday and then it suddenly changes to the point that you even dread going to work.

The reality is, at home or even work, we will always have different personalities that can work well together or fail based on the people involved and the efforts to accommodate one another. With careers, just like wedding days there is always life after the big event. You have landed your dream job……well, congratulations. Now the journey begins and it’s hardly a series of happy ever after’s. There are challenges. One in particular is that your place of employment may end up being a toxic environment. What do you do in this case or where do you go from here?

One advise that you can hear repeatedly said is that if your job is toxic, leave it immediately. But is that always easy for everyone? NO. There are individuals who may have the courage to walk out of a bad situation at the beginning of it or even when it gets worse. There are some who all they seem to do is complain about the difficulties they keep experiencing but never are they able to do anything to change their predicament. This maybe attributed to their personality, upbringing or some sort of trauma they may be experiencing or may have experienced in the past. Another harsh reality maybe that the victim of toxic workspaces maybe the sole breadwinner with many financial obligations that rests upon their shoulder making quitting impossible or just out of the question.

When the odds are stuck against you and this has to sadly be your norm for a short while or for years to come, how then do you walk through this dark tunnel and keep your hope alive that you will reach the end of the tunnel?

A good strategy works in such situation. Think about your work situation keenly and find out what makes it toxic. Address that or if it’s a series of issues, understand how well you can navigate the situation. Keep the boundaries clear in mind that you work with your colleagues and not friends. It can help address issues from a less emotional perspective. If potential for career growth, educational advancement and better pay aren’t provided by your employer, it would be wise to start planning your exit strategy early. You can also be honest with yourself by carrying a self evaluation. We may blame others for being toxic when it is we who are difficult to work with and get along. Keep in mind that a move to a new job might not necessarily mean an end to the challenges we currently experience at work. When we clearly understand what makes our place of work toxic, then we can draw the line on what’s acceptable to work with or not.

When this year began, I had a goal in mind. To write about 50 articles and to do more online work as a freelancer. It’s about 1.5 months left to the end of the year and my performance is dismal. Am not proud to say that, not even a quarter way near my goal. It took me really longer to admit to myself (Yes, i can easily lie to myself 😌)…..that I struggle with procrastination and impostor syndrome. Alot has been written online about this two conditions and in books too. One day I’ll address this struggles. For now, I’ve accepted the big role they play in my writing setback. Hopefully, I can work with them or around them, time will tell.

Am a Digital Marketer myself and despite my best ideas I feel like its sometimes hard to get the desired outcome out of the efforts I put in. Being a creative person, i believe in learning the rules of Digital Marketing then creating my own strategy that can work best for me. What then is a Digital Strategy and why is it important?

A strategy is a plan of action. Digital strategy involves how to use technology to fit within your business plans. There is so much that is written on how to sell your products or services successfully online. Most of it may not work for you. When you understand clearly what direction your business needs to take, then it will be clear how to get there. More specifically, what resources you need to use to get you to your preferred destination.

The fact that people are doing business online is just a starting point. The question you could start by addressing would be: what kind of business are you in and are your clients found online. Many people have been making the digital transformation necessary for their business. Especially this has been important not only to retain your customers but to reach new customers that you need to continue growing your business.

I have from time to time needed services of some organizations I used to find offline alot. Due to distance of travel and time, I decide to search for them online. It is disappointing when you reach out to a number online that no longer works because the contact hasn’t been updated. Social media pages that stopped being active months ago, or even years ago. Extremely slow response to customer’s inquiries. Have you ever asked a question on a social media page on a product or service that you believe you need only to be responded to a week, month or worse still, non responsive? Does it encourage you to do business with them or even want to come back to that page?

Many may have toyed with the idea to incorporate online forms of marketing, run social media pages, grow a following with a goal to growing their business. The success that others have had can convince one that probably that’s the best way to business success.

Any form of marketing requires a clear plan in place. Otherwise, just good intentions may never get you more clients and business. There was a time many with social media pages believed that more following/followers would equal success for them but then time has proven that this can be very misleading.

Why would i think that no digital strategy would be costly for you? Keep in mind that running social media pages, websites or even sending emails as a form of marketing to your clients are all ways to continue growing your business. The plan is to know why you are doing it and what you hope to achieve from it? If measured well, a successful plan would need changes made to it to fit within your goals and the demands and needs of your users. Doing business onlines makes you incur money or time. If you are hitting the wall, instead of achieving your desired outcomes, there may be need to have a strategy, pivot or understand why you even need a digital presence.

In 48 hours time, I’ll look into why a Digital strategy is important.

I haven’t been upto writing anything for the longest while.  I’ve wanted to in my mind. Even done drafts but I think I’ve been struggling with writer’s block and the uncertainty of whether i have what it takes to successfully write engaging pieces. Despite that fear, I’ve decided to try again. To get back to my writing goals isn’t easy for me but here I am.

The 2021 Olympics in Tokyo are about a week old now. The athletes and organizers defied the pandemic fear to have the sessions continue. It’s a positive direction to any who are seeing the need to continue despite the fears of living in a worldwide pandemic that continues to kill many.

Olympics and any major Sporting Events, has always had elite athletes performing in it. They train regularly,  maintain a good balanced diet and have a good rest. There are sports personalities who have always stood out in their chosen professions. Not just for a season but they have been trailblazers. Even years later, their performance is documented and remembered.  This can be attributed to their skills or even talents, outstanding performance or even persistence despite it all to succeed.

When I think of a few sports personalities who have made history: Oscar Pistorius comes to mind. He had speed running with blades that he acquired the name the blade runner. His success had many question whether to attribute it to his artificial legs. Still, it was undeniable that despite  his lack of limps, his determination to succeed stood out.

Michael Jordan also comes to mind. He currently is successful in his business endeavors. His name though is synonymous with basketball.  His style of play being unmatched. He broke records and set standards in basketball that others strove to follow. Nike as a company had success with Jordan as a player and the products they branded with him in mind.

Alot stands out when you look at him. It took alot to be ontop of his game. Training,  sacrifice and the desire to continuously succed despite failures or even past successes. That he was talented in basketball is clearly evident.  His dedication to the game had him practice for long hours and never miss out on it despite personal challenges.  He continuously delivered beyond what was expected of him. I loved watching the NBA back when he was a player. It was an entertaining sport for me.

Usain Bolt.  Is undoubtedly someone who is associated with speed. He is a sprinter who won the Olympics medals in 2008, 2012 and 2016. For both the 100m and 200m run. Even though he retired due to an injury, he was successful and unmatched at his love for the game. Bolt was social and you could see how easily he interracted with athletes and support staff at the games. His signature sign with his arms once he completed a win is also one that I can’t forget. There is a young Indian athlete whose speed has everyone’s attention in the current Olympics but it doesn’t diminish the success stories of Bolt.

Kipchoge Keino. He remind me of what people mean when they talk about family business. His father being a runner also who encouraged his son. He took up the sport.  At one time the doctor having warned him not to participate due to abdominal pains. He defied and took on the challenge two lapse short of the finishing line, the pains became unbearable to continue. He won four Olympic gold medals.

Catherine Ndereba. Wikipedia says this about her: she is a Kenyan marathon runner. She has twice won the marathon at the World Championships in Athletics and won silver medals at the Summer Olympic Games in 2004 and 2008. She is also a four-time winner of the Boston Marathon. Ndereba broke the women’s marathon world record in 2001, running 2:18:47 at the Chicago Marathon.

Caster Semenya. 800m runner who won gold at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. She has also won three world championships. Her success story is a case of fighting against all odds. Her career might be at standstill at the moment as she fights guildelines that were passed in 2018 by world athletics that affects eligibility required to participate as a female athlete for transgender individuals. Her goal still is and remains to compete until she is 40. That’s about 10 years from now.

These and other top sports personalities  have many lessons that can be learned on:-

• Developing a schedule and sticking to it. This can either be waking up time, working out a business plan or even a career. It’s possible to be successful at it when the end goal is clear in mind.
• It takes beyond talents to succeed. Its important to practice and work at your goal. Be different in what you do. Strive to perform it well and better than your previous success. Keep at it.
• Success curve eventually ends. Before it does,  you can have an exit plan to something that you can still enjoy working at.
• I keep learning that to be a successful writer,  I need to read alot and write regularly.  I am not yet where i want to be but I will keep working at it.
• When your career takes off invest in your future, in people and the environment around you. Have an impact that will last beyond the success you currently enjoy.
• You can’t succeed without overcoming all sorts of challenges. There are ongoing hurdles that one deals with. Overcoming some at the moment doesn’t mean that others wouldn’t crop up in future.

My interest in Artificial Intelligence is growing everyday. I’ve decided to learn more about it to better try and understand how alot about our future will be affected and determined by it.

Since am a creative writer and keeping in my mind the same time interested in algorithms, my first article on it starts with this. According to Merriam Webster, It defines Algorithm as procedure for solving a mathematical problem in a finite number of steps that frequently involves repetition of an operation.

You are a creative writer when you write poetry, writing for film or scripts, songs, novels, essay writers…….

Creative  writing involves narrating a story in a way that the descriptive language used builds the image on the mind of the reader. A good story has an interest arousing beginning and keeps one engaged to the end of it. More important, the narrator never loses focus on the message they are conveying through it. Understanding creative writing is more like what a good cook does with a recipe. Understand the ingredients then alter it to make it your own flavor.

I came across this image online and its helped me change my view point as a creative person. Its a passion for me as it is for many creatives. Are you good at what you do? The answer can either be YES or NO depending on who is being asked it. I’d like to believe am good at it. The other two segments resolve two important considerations….Writing might be a passion But are your services needed and can you be paid for them?

When you’re passionate about something you can start doing it for the love of the craft but there are bills to be paid. That can stop you on your tracks. Why? If you learn that being creative and a good writer doesn’t necessarily build engagement and earn more followers who enjoy reading your work.

Its easy to want to rein free when it comes to creativity. Its good to remember thar some innovations have changed lives for the better. But a starving artist might loose his creative mojo. There are limits to creativity. They’re called algorithms. Why would i consider this as limiting?

Are machines really taking over from humans….🤔

Here is the interesting think about talents in the past. You either had it or you didn’t. But the speed at which machines are “learning” to take over creativity is alarming.

Here is what i mean.

rather than writing thousands of different descriptions for their catalogue, retail and e-commerce companies are relying on Natural Language Generation (NLG) to convert structured data like product specs into a description that is easier to consume for humans. NLG is the technology behind text content automation with its capability to convert data into words, sentences, articles and even film scripts https://research.aimultiple.com/nlg/amp/

Granted there is alot published online for people to consume on any given subject. The information overload is overwhelming. What’s difficult would be getting original idea out for people to consume. Would they enjoy it and could you in the end be paid for it?

When you are guided by researched data on what people want and need from you, fulfilling that need is one way to meet your writing goals. You are giving your audience what you are sure they need and want to read about.

With everyone following guidelines to publish articles the same way in the same structure to appeal to the same audience, creativity is lost somewhere.

Just like the cook we talked about earlier, make the ingredients your own. Know the rules, work on the ingredients and make the flavor your own.

In the end, you can still be a creative writer, enjoy thinking out of the box while using the ingredients provided. Stand out, be different, be noticed and give your audience original and reliable information that will have them coming back for more.

Can you enjoy creative writing while keeping tabs with algorithms?

YES.

1. Even when research has been done for you on what people want to see and are reading on. The onus is on you to do more research. What would make what you want to write about be appealing to others?

2. Go beyond the idea and think about your storyboard. Does it make sense to you from its start to finish?

3. What makes my story different from what’s out there? If its all copy and paste from others who have done the work, then you loose out on employing your ability as a creative writer.

4. There may be alot of information published online but good writing is still in demand. Get your ideas down and be sure about it before you publish for the sake of it.

5. The competition might be scary but your skills as a creative writer can help you out if used well.

Would you rather deal with a challenge or face stressful situation at work?

Challenging work

When work challenges you, personal and career growth can be the end result.

Winter climbing can be an example of a challenging sport that can be rewarding to those who chose to pursue it. Three similarities it shares with a challenging job:-

• Planning is essential before undertaking the task ahead.  Know what to expect so that you can prepare yourself both mentally and physically for what lies ahead.
• If you have never done a task before, at face value, it looks relatable because of your perception of what’s involved. Understand what the new role entails. Try ask what’s expected of you before you begin.
• You want to embark on your winter climbing, make sure you have the right gear and tools for it. Similarly,  have the right tools to perform the new job.

Photo by Henri Picot on Unsplash

Stressful work

Stress on the other hand, has negative influence on your health. That might mean diseases, low productivity and quality of work being impacted negatively.

Stressful situations at work can be brought about by extremely long hours with not adequate amount of rest from it. Having crazy deadlines at work that are impractical and hard to beat. Being micromanaged at work.

Challenging work requires a balance. If it is on the extreme, then the challenge might become stressful and breed negative results. Please keep in mind that doing this kind of work doesn’t need to be compared to glorifying suffering just to have a job. I will be looking at toxic work environment and colleagues. But on this, I am more interested in work being able to fulfil you.

Challenging work that leads to growth

Do you constantly set for your self goals for yourself? Or perhaps you have joined an organization that has clearly refined roles for you? You need to understand what you are up against then work towards your goals. Meeting challenges are setbacks you will have to deal with but keeping clear in mind why you set yourself up for the goal ahead is crucial. Consistency is KEY at succeeding in your goals. Too many goals lead no where. A few manageable goals are always important for an individual success.

There is someone I follow on twitter and I really liked what he once said about getting to work on a new challenging assignment. First, understand what the role entails. Then, get the tools needed to perform the job and do it best like your life depends on it.

When you rise to the challenge, you can enjoy the job at hand.

This advice from Elon Musk caught my attention:

The words on this image that stand out for me is that you need to attach yourself to a mission, a calling and a purpose only.

When I decided to venture into online work as a Digital Marketer, my goals for my blog were set as:-

1. Producing online content that have an eye for detail.
2. Deliver quality writing that appeals to my audience.
3. Attract customers that I can do Copywriting work for as I build my brand.

To achive this, my mission has been clear. To research topics both online and offline and via social media sites. By gathering both professional and first account views of those involved. This will enable me to write material that am comfortable posting on my blog.

Why would having a mission and a goal be important for my blog. The direction  I want to take remains clear in my mind and makes me be sure what I will want appearing on my blog. I keep the same view on whatever I choose to do online.

We’re living through times that many have lost jobs. The opportunity to work remotely is also what most companies have decided on to help them with the goal of social distancing and keeping the health of their workers a priority.

If for some reasons you’ve lost your job. Or just want to try looking for an opportunity online to work, it’s good to start with a goal. A sense of direction helps you to know where you are going and how to get there.

What do you need to get started working Online?

Internet connection. A laptop or a smartphone. Those are basics. Any additional requirements depends on what you choose to do.

What are the opportunities available online?

• Remote worker for companies that hire part time workers online. Sometimes the jobs can be full time. It can be charged at hourly or fixed rates. The advantage: You get stability of being employed and having a salary  or some regular form of income.
• There are websites that work as Escrow Accounts that enable you to accept work and be paid once the employer is happy with the work you have submitted. Examples of these are Upwork, Freelancer, Truelancer and the list continues.
• The previous mentioned sites would require that you bid for a job before its awarded to you. There are some like Toloka that offer you training and pay you for performing Online work assignments that are offered to you.
• You can also opt to sell goods or services online. The challenge would be how to find your niche market. That’s where a good digital marketing strategy is helpful. Ecommerce sites are also available that you can choose one that suits your needs to work with or build one for yourself.

Is it okay to do anything that can get you money online?

This is where having a goal comes in handy. Its easy to jump into anything as long as it gives you money. I have interacted with individuals who have done anything to earn money. Once they’re successful, they choose to settle for a niche. Am all for deciding what you want and growing from there.

When many are starting out doing what they love. They end up turning their passions into profit. There is usually the thorny issue being addressed on what they should charge. You might be good at what you do and haven’t gotten the chance to showcase your work. People can be skeptical when it comes to giving you a chance to prove your worth.

I personally no longer believe in working for exposure. Its usually said its good to know your worth then charge it.

How do you get to know your worth with Online work and what do you end up charging?

According to an article done by Talented Ladies Club, https://www.talentedladiesclub.com/articles/the-five-secrets-of-charging-what-youre-worth/ it list 5 secrets of charging what your worth:-

1. Don’t be the person doing it cheap.
2. Understand your value.
3. Working for the right client.  I like the point they made that there will always be those charging lower or higher than you. Make peace with this and work Online with clients who are the right fit for you.
4. Eliminate limiting beliefs. Get to know the ins and outs of your business. Understand why a Digital Marketing strategy will be important to grow your business. Address whatever might be slowing you in being successful in your business.
5. Get help. Outsource what you can and focus on your strengths. Doing it all alone has greater challenges.

It’s very important right now to charge your worth. I was watching random YouTube videos on how many freelancers are being underpaid because they will take any job at any cost just to pay their monthly bills. I must admit that the number of people willing to pay what might be considered market rates in a particular area is limited. This might require flexibility in your part on what would be acceptable payments for you.

Just like many have had to take pay cuts during the pandemic, you might be forced to accept low amounts that still help sustains your bills.

Whatever one decides, its important to remember working online would mean you are running a business that incurs costs. Overheads and taxes have to be factored and the bottomline is important. It might mean getting the help of an accountant to know if your business is making financial sense or not.

There are many jobs you can do Online. Identify what makes sense for you. Calculate the costs involved and the regulations required and then go for it. Online work, just like Offline work, does have success and failure. A good plan should ensure you can work around the challenges you’ll find along the way.