An Intensive Week Indeed!

Lagos Business School did not mince words when they called it the intensive week. It has been the most intense week I have had in a long time. I wonder at myself for being able to blog today being the last day of the week. But then again, I have strict blogging deadlines to meet. So, before my reflections become hazy and distant memories, here are the top three things I learnt from this week. 

The first thing I learnt was the difference between passion and discipline. Although I had high expectations this week, I realized I was very low on morale. I could not get time off work, that was not even an option so I kept wondering how I was going to manage. But someone I consider very wise told me something that greatly helped me, “Discipline is more essential to success than passion.” You are more likely to succeed at something if you maintain discipline throughout the process.  My passion proved to be elusive throughout the week, yet I needed to attend classes. It took discipline to keep showing up every day despite the plethora of activities scampering for my attention. I woke up every day choosing not to internalize the stress and went to sleep each day deciding to show up the next day. I felt way over my head for the most part but if we only did the things we were passionate or excited about, we would achieve very little in life. You just need to show up for what you signed up for, your passion will catch up later. 

The second lesson had to do with my mind. I discovered that my mindset or perception had a bearing on my ability to learn, re-learn and unlearn. The simplest ideas become difficult simply because your mind believes so. If your mind tells you mathematics is impossible to learn, the best mathematics teachers couldn’t convince you otherwise. The mind is such a powerful tool, and you must steer it constantly to align with your goals. You can only aspire as high as your mind allows you to. Therefore, wake up each day stewarding the right thoughts and believing you will succeed. Impossibilities only exist in your mind. 

My final lesson would be the importance of community. I do not know how I would have managed through the classes, cases, and presentations without the help of my group members. Group 3, you guys rock! I cannot even count how many times some of my group members checked on me when my video was off to be sure I was okay and still participating or called me when I was not on the call. You really cannot succeed without the help of people who genuinely care enough to hold you accountable. They are the real MVPs, and I am truly grateful for them. They made this week bearable with intermittent jokes during classes, words of encouragement during moments of despair, and quick calls to bring me up to speed. Surround yourself with the right people, you were not created to do life alone. 

In closing, I am really grateful for all the lessons I learnt this week, but I have never been more excited to say, “TGIF!!! Thank God it’s Friday!”