From B-List to A-Game: My Wild Ride to Self-Realization and Resilience
From B-List to A-Game: My Wild Ride to Self-Realization and Resilience.
Working in a multinational firm is a different ballgame compared to a more local setup. The expectations, especially on merit, are on another level, and there’s always the oversight from the parent company, often based overseas. The pressure to speed up my growth was intense, but I had no choice but to handle it alone. It was tough, no doubt, but looking back now, it’s been incredibly rewarding.
At work, we get rated twice a year. To break it down: a rating of 1 is for those who consistently exceed expectations—basically, the top performers. A 3 means you’re meeting expectations, and a 5 is for those not quite making the cut. I joined in FY 22, went through FY 23, and now I’m in FY 24. My ratings were steady at 3, 3, 3, 3. But when I lost the external help, things got rough, and I hit a low point—a rating of 4. That was a tough pill to swallow, especially with the feedback that came with it. But I stayed confident, and got back on track. (Sometimes, hitting rock bottom can actually push you to reach new heights.)
So, how did I turn things around? Turns out, the energy and people you surround yourself with play a huge role in your performance. I wanted it all—I wanted to be the social guy, the cool guy, and the top performer. But to get there, I had to put in some serious work. And I did. Now, I see myself as an A-lister in life, even though I spent over two decades as a B-lister—and I’ll be 27 in just 7 days!! It’s wild that I accepted being a B-lister for so long when I had unlimited potential. But then, I gained more knowledge and insight on how to be the best version of myself.
People, of course, warned me. They said I was overreaching, that if I didn’t hit my target, I’d drop to an even lower level than where I started. But I was confident, full of faith, and aware that I deserved more. I didn’t even realize how rich I was, not just financially, but in potential. Awareness of what you truly are can be a breakthrough. It’s good to win. I enjoy life. I love life. I am life.
Here’s the thing: if your potential is at an A, but you’re playing at a B, C, or D level, you’re wasting your energy on lower planes like E or F. That gravitational pull dims your shine. To reach your full potential, you’ve got to detach from those energies, no matter how attached you are, so you can rise. It’s hard, no doubt, but how badly do you want what you want?
For me, I was attached to E and D players, so the best I could do was fly at a B level. But then I realized that whatever enjoyment exists at D and E levels also exists at A. My background didn’t prepare me for this realization. If you’re surrounded by C players, being a B player is like being a superstar. But if you’re surrounded by A players, A is just the standard.
The fact is, all levels have their own kind of enjoyment, but the path to getting what you want might be full of pain. I walked that path. I detached myself from D and E energies while respecting those at that level. Then I joined my class of A-listers and realized that being an A-lister is just normal for them. Sure, I faked it for a while before I made it to the A-list—faking a lifestyle or social class is tough, but faking a whole new level? That’s insane!
As I developed, my earnings grew too and kept rising until they surpassed my spending. At some point, I started calling my paycheck “feeding money.” That mindset became reality, and I realized that life is largely about your mindset.
Good vibes all around.
Oh, and here’s a funny story. There was this e-ride hailing driver who used to take me to work. He used to joke that I was a “big man” because I preferred drivers who charged less for the same distance. One day, he started telling me about some guys he drove who were making around ₦1,000,000 a month, thanks to cryptocurrency and other trades. He said it was all about talent, and that kids today don’t need to work as hard as his generation to make more (really?). He even told me about his daughter, who’s killing it in computer science at high school.
I found it interesting, but I think he got so caught up in his story that he didn’t realize who he was talking to. Later that day, as I was leaving the office, I saw him driving out of the compound. I was a bit surprised (because he certainly didn't come for me or for anyone else), but I just smiled and walked out of the premises to grab my late lunch—a cheeseburger with chips as the side, and a bottle of coke.
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