If I was being 100% honest, it is because I was afraid
November Hameed's advice to November Hameed.
Hi guys,
Hope you're well. I'm doing okay, Alhamdulillah.
I write this at 5:36 am on a chilly Sunday morning. I've missed writing to you at this time, but the events of the past few weeks have made it more difficult to do some of the things I love to do. Khayr in sha Allah.
Anyhoo, let's get to it.
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A few weeks ago, I got the opportunity to join a particular project at work. It was a major project with a large team, and one of the most hands-on clients I have ever met. In an ideal scenario, this would be an excellent project to 1. learn from many people who were more experienced, and 2. demonstrate my talent x capabilities to a large group of people.
But when this opportunity came, I wasn't particularly excited and ended up passing on it. This decision probably left a few people scratching their heads.
“Why on earth would Hameed pass on this project?”
If I was being 100% honest, it is because I was afraid.
"Afraid ke?"
You see, back in February, I had done a project with the same client - a long, difficult, omg-I-cant-wait-to-get-off kind of project. It was so bad that I basically promised myself not to work with that client again. 😂
Buttt the difference between my experience + skills between February and November was massive, and both my project contributions and confidence were now wayyy up. So theoretically, November Hameed should have discounted February Hameed's negative experience since I was much more suited to handle that same client this time.
But I decided to pass anyway, especially as the structure of the project did not seem well-suited for my professional goals as well.
I thought that was the end of that but the topic never left my head.
Was I right to reject the team’s offer? Should I have joined in anyway?
And so I discussed the whole thing with C, seeking her advice. The summary of everything C said to me over our 45-minute conversation was the following.
Excellence is not team or project-dependent, it shines through.
What a powerful statement.
I had spent so much time worrying about whether the potential challenges x negative memories with that client would knock me off my perch, and displace the 'excellence' and confidence I had built up since our last interaction 9+ months ago.
But I actually had no cause to be afraid. Because whenever we evaluate others, we naturally discount the challenges of their environment to give a fair assessment. Anybody familiar with job applications in Europe might have encountered questions like "Were you eligible for free school meals at age 16?” 😅
Basically, employers (almost) always evaluate performance in light of the relative difficulty of the surrounding personal circumstances.
And so I should have known that even though the client could have been hell in the worst-case scenario, my outcome could still have been, "Hameed displayed excellence, grace, and complete ownership even while dealing with the most difficult of clients. This experience is proof of his fine Consulting skills and commitment to positive project outcomes.”
And so my chat with C was a reminder that I am in control of my personal and professional excellence. Not a terrible client, not a bad team, not a lack of resources, and not anything else.
As you begin a new week, I hope you remember that you are in control of your personal and professional excellence. Not your boss, not ASUU, not NEPA, and definitely not Buhari. Continue to put in the work and your excellence will shine through.
Amen? Amen. 🙏🏿
** Jara content:
On the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may God be well pleased with him, who reported that the Messenger of God, God’s blessings and peace be upon him said:
“There is in every single joint of a person an act of charity on every day that the sun rises: to reconcile two people is an act of charity; to help a man with his beast by putting him on its back or lifting his stuff onto it is an act of charity; a good word is an act of charity; every step you take on your way to the mosque is an act of charity; and removing a harmful thing from the road is an act of charity.”
Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim.
Have a great week. ✨
whew😅😅. okay oo.
(also, your jara reminders are charity. may Allah reward you, Osas.)
I like this a lot. Especially about the part about being limited to an already expired version of who one is, when in fact, you're past those already. Kudos, well written!