HOW SMALL ACTIONS CAN OPEN BIG DOORS IN YOUR CAREER

If You Decide to Show Up, Show Up Well!

Several postgraduate and graduate degree holders applied for a clerk position advertised by a merchant, even though the role only required a secondary school qualification.

It was a simple interview, and the merchant quickly made his choice. He asked his preferred candidate to wait in a room while he thanked and dismissed the others.

The interview panel was surprised—more "qualified" candidates had applied, some with impressive degrees and polished appearances (or as we say in Nigeria, better packaging).

Defending his decision, the merchant said: "For a simple clerk position, this candidate, despite wearing partially worn clothes, dressed seriously for the interview. That tells me he will take my business seriously, no matter how big or small. He was also the only one who picked up a book that had fallen on the floor, closed the door gently, and waited to be offered a seat before sitting. To me, these are signs of a considerate person—someone capable of humility and submission, qualities that make a valuable asset in any workplace."

At work yesterday, I argued that some of the poorest people in my country are graduates. Why? Compared to 100 skilled, non-graduate workers—many of whom don’t even speak English fluently—these graduates often struggle to compete financially.

The reason is simple. Many believe that obtaining a degree is the only way to prepare for life, forgetting that success is not just about aptitude (academics) but also attitude.

Sometimes, the reason we land or lose opportunities is in the small details—the way we show up, our body language, and the impression we create.

My takeaway from this story? If you decide to apply for any role—no matter how "small" it may seem—show up as if it means the world to you. Or don’t bother showing up at all.

Because sometimes, all a merchant, manager, or HR professional wants to see is how much you truly want the opportunity.

What you do with the job once you get it, That’s a story for another day. 😉

REMEMBER: IF YOU SHOW UP, SHOW UP WELL.

"Grab a book or gadget today from Jewel Multiservices—your trusted plug for Children's Storybooks, Educational Resources, Technology, and Essential Office Supplies!"

Call - 08033615992.

Comments

Beyond Tribe and Religion: Why Nigeria Must Choose Righteous Leadership

When we go to the hospital, we do not ask about the tribe or religion of the doctors, nurses, or other health practitioners before receiving the care we need. When we go to the market to buy our daily needs, we do not concern ourselves with the tribe or religion of the sellers. We simply get what we need and move on. When we rent houses or attend schools, we rarely pause to consider the tribe or religion of others. What remains stunning, however, is that during elections, politicians suddenly remind us of our differences in tribe and religion, using them as distractions from the things that collectively benefit us: healthcare, infrastructure, education, security, and good governance. Today at Mass, the Church marked Interfaith Week. The service was beautiful and deeply moving. Three Imams visited our parish and stayed through the Holy Mass. They were given the opportunity to address us as brethren, different in faith, yet united in many core beliefs: 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐆𝐨...

Bruised But Wiser: Lessons from Mistakes and Bad Decisions

I read the story about a hunter who once caught a bird in a trap, but released it on the condition that the bird would give him three wise suggestions. The bird assured him that although it looked worthless, it had something valuable to offer. After gaining its freedom, the bird kept its promise. It said, 𝟏. 𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞. 𝟐. 𝐃𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞. 𝟑. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞. On hearing this, the hunter scoffed and said, “I practise these things all the time. I knew you had nothing meaningful to offer.” The bird then flew to a higher branch and replied, “If you truly understood what I said, you would not have released me. There is a precious ruby in my heart. You could have made a fortune.” Immediately, the hunter was filled with regret . He tried to climb the tree to catch the bird, but fell and injured him...

My Learning Today – 20th August : STOP GOING TO PARTIES AND EVENTS EMPTY HANDED. E GET WHY.

Your little gifts today may be the open doors tomorrow. My friend Musa was in my office when I got an invitation to our mutual friend Paul’s birthday party. The invite clearly stated: “Access card valid for one person only.” For over an hour, Musa quietly waited for his own IV, until he finally asked: “Paul never send my own IV oh, abi him no want make I come?” Awkward moment. Weeks earlier, Paul had told me he wanted the party to be very exclusive. When I checked his guest list, Musa’s name was missing. I assumed it was a mistake, so I asked Paul. Smiling, Paul explained: “I don’t want people who never hold parties and never bring presents. They are always the first to arrive and the first to leave, with nothing in their hands.” Let me not lie, he hyped me small. He said he couldn’t remember me ever attending his house or events without a gift, even if it was something little from Jewel Publishers (like mugs, t-shirts, sports jerseys) or gadgets from Jewel Multiservices (like laptop...

Ask Chuka

Search This Blog