If after 5 years of working, your salary cannot provide you with basic needs and some extra, you are experiencing career SOS❌️. If your ‘take home’ cannot take you home, something is not adding up. Let’s examine.

If your state of distress happened as a result of following your passion, drop the passion for now, go back to it later. Not every passion can earn you a decent income. Some things enjoyed should remain hobbies. Know the difference.

A career is a long term investment in an occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person’s life, and presenting opportunities for progress.

To minimise career unrest, your career should provide you with 3 things;

1.Fulfilment✅️
2.Growth ✅️
3. Financial Stability✅️

Your career should provide fulfilment through meaningful work. Providing you with a reason for being alive. Answering why you wake up every morning and what purpose or mission you contribute to in this life. Your contribution can be a role in your family, community, society or an organisation. Engaging in activities that make you feel worthy, breeds fulfilment.

Your career should provide you with progress in the form of personal growth. As time goes by, you enhance your profile and work experience. Your 5 years of work experience should be 5 solid years of building skills and not the same 1 year of experience repeated 5 times. Progressively, you develop skills and character. You are not the person you used to be.

Your career, especially after 5 years, should provide you with financial stability. Earning you the dignity that comes with paying your bills, affording life’s little luxuries and not being a financial burden to any other human being.

Your career is an investment that should pay off.

I guess the question to you now is, “Is your career serving you?

What is your score out of 3?

The good news is, it is never too late to reposition your compass to your true north.

Igbo people say, “mgbe onye ji tete ụra bụ ụtụtụ ya” which means “whenever you wake up, is your morning.”

Wake up now. Good morning.

Your thoughts?