A review by Dr Bolutife Oluwadele
Again, seeing another professional colleague putting his thoughts and experiences into a book is gratifying. It is something of personal joy and achievement for this wholesome development. The fact that the book was written by someone I am well acquainted with raised my excitement to power infinity.
The book is intentional and thought-provoking. The icing on the cake for me is that it draws generously from the writer’s personal experiences. He did not just propagate theories in this book; he demonstrated honestly how he lived by the many principles espoused in the book. He did not pretend to inform us of some of the unintended consequences of some of his actions. Do I agree with everything said in the book? Of course not. There are instances where I sincerely think that some actions were extreme in terms of being charitable. Nevertheless, we can hardly deny the author the power of innate conviction in all the actions that he shared in the book.
The book’s arrangement is so well done that it follows logical sequencing, making it easy to read and providing a seamless link between the last chapter and the next. The concluding chapter was a snapshot of each subject matter discussed in each chapter. When reading it, I smiled to myself that Tunde had already provided a review of the book in his concluding chapter.
The author encouraged us to be intentional at all times, especially if our primary aim in life is to achieve success in whatever we have set out to do. To the author, without intentionality, we might become victims of situations and circumstances. Worse still, we may find ourselves stuck in places where we ought to have possibly fled before the days of calamity. Hear him speaking soothingly about intentionality: “You can only find what you intentionally seek. Nobody stumbles on success.”
This seemingly simple phrase has a lot to make or mar someone’s journey through the difficult patches of life. If you are not intentional about what you want, you will only be forced to accept what you are given, even if you find it unsatisfactory.
For this reason, the author warned us to see or view employment as a situation you are conscripted to for a lifetime. He put it emphatically that,
But employment is not marriage, as we will learn in the second chapter. We must rid ourselves of unnecessary emotional attachments that cloud our judgement and hinder our progress. In a world filled with constant change, we must adapt, evolve, and remain steadfast in the pursuit of our goals.
Therefore, to move on in life, depending on your target goals and aspirations, Tunde encouraged us never to lose sight of our purpose and become unduly emotionally attached to employment or work environment that is no longer serving our purpose, or that may have become antithetical to what we set to achieve in the long term. Advocating that change is the only constant in life, and he boldly encouraged us not to lose focus of our well-defined and follow-through purpose in life.
To balance things, he emphasized that he is not by any means against employment if that is what you are most suited for, but that one should avoid at all possible costs to remain stuck in a work environment that has become toxic and derailed one from the set-out purpose.
With a transformative mindset and sharing the very hard experiences where he had ‘thrown in the towel’ on multiple occasions, he was not too concerned about temporary discomfort. So far, in the long run, his intended target is met and not truncated by succumbing to the fear of the unknown.
Not giving to delusional postulations, Tunde advised that we must ensure that we acquire the necessary skills and attitudes appropriate to the future we envisaged. He clearly demonstrated this by acquiring multiple professional certifications with the sole objective of aligning with his incremental intentions and aspirations.
Going through the book, fundamental are so many unambiguous statements by this cerebral author.
Hear him again, “Beyond Work Experience: Hidden Lessons in Employment is not just a book – it is a journey of transformation that will reshape your understanding of success, ignite your passion, and unlock your true potential.”
In unmistakable and firm language, the author advises us never to lose sight of the future, which is more important than the present. Prioritize the future above the present, he admonished.
The chapter on integrity is my best chapter of the book. At a time when the majority of people think and act as if integrity is outdated, Tunde demonstrated its importance and also with lived experiences and some unpalatable consequences. I shared the same sentiments with the author: no matter what, integrity will always give you peace of mind. Many may think and say you are foolish, but at the time of rewards for integrity, you will feel and know it. I particularly appreciate the boldness of assertion by the author in tackling this somewhat ‘unpopular’ subject matter.
He also wrote succinctly in this ‘small but mighty’ book about respecting your bosses without necessarily fearing them. To fear them is to put yourself in everlasting bondage that may hinder your present and future together with damning consequences. In the same vein, he advised employees to pause and seek to understand the burden on the shoulders of employers of labor or even managers. He let us know that doing that will make employees reasonable and empathize with the prevailing circumstances in their organization rather than grumbling and sabotaging operations at the very extreme of disaffection.
Another critical issue the author wrote about in this book is the downsides of office politics. He detested it and showed us by examples how he has avoided playing it throughout his career. Again, I can hardly agree less with him on the consequences of immersing oneself in the self-serving, eyes-service monster of office politics.
Like the biblical injunction not to despise the days of little beginning, the author admonished that no matter the size of our future contemplations, we should not be deterred from starting small and scaling up gradually. There is nothing but absolute truth in this wise counsel.
In the conclusion, the author briefly summarized each chapter in this masterpiece of a book. It is not voluminous, and with a simplistic narrative approach, this book is a great companion for experienced workers and those just entering the labor market.
Let me conclude this review by conspicuously quoting one of the book’s snippets of wisdom.
“So, let us bow our heads in reflection. Let us embark on this solemn pilgrimage within, where the whispers of our hearts guide us to the light. In our quest for clarity, we shall unravel the complexities of our existence and invoke the power to shape our destinies. The journey of a lifetime begins at this moment of profound stillness, where we honour the sacredness of knowing what we want.”
Mr. Tunde Ogunje, my professional colleague and unassuming but resourceful gentleman, has penned a book whose relevance for all seasons of life is not in contention. While we may not agree with all the ‘extreme’ decisions he has made, the fundamentals behind those decisions are incontestable. Do yourself a great deal, grab and devour this book as someone who has been starved, as devour this book rich in street wisdom and indisputable native intelligence. Thank you, Tunde, for releasing this thought-provoking book with boldness.
I look forward to reading more books from you.
Dr. Bolutife Oluwadele
©TheVillageBoy