HOW I WENT FROM WORKING A FINANCE JOB IN 'THIS LAGOS' TO ENTERING TECH part 2.
The never ending question.
The five whys.
An interrogative technique commonly applauded and frequently spoken about in management, personal development, and entrepreneurial spheres. While I don’t find it ingenuous that every speaker or orator seems to mention this, I can’t deny the simplicity of the approach.
Thinking about it, there is nothing wrong with the widespread popularity of this concept, leading to its frequent mention and reference at most public speaking events. If everyone seems to talk about it, it is because it’s either a buzzword having a tremendous bull run on the trends chart or a truth that is too good to be ignored. I prefer to believe the latter because whether or not you view the concept as cliche, I think it to be highly effective.
The five whys simply involve questioning your answers repeatedly. For instance, consider an investment opportunity promising a quite ridiculous return, the type associated with Ponzi schemes. In this hypothetical scenario, our mutual friend who goes by the name “N”, is about to practice the Five Whys, not out of curiosity but for necessity's sake because N is about to invest all he has hoping for a return that will in turn help him deal with the never-ending pressing expenses, and there lies the answer to the first why and the second why.
An ‘expected’ answer, most will say. Just to clarify, the first question revolves around why N wishes to invest, and the subsequent question delves into why he seeks a return, profit, dividend, gain, or whatever he perceives it as. In response, N self introspecting asks “Why do I want to be free from the pressure of not being able to meet my needs with ease?” ,
I can’t speak for N, but I can certainly attest that this feeling is far from pleasant. In fact, I consider it demoralizing and dangerous because being in such a phase rarely leaves you level-headed. And when you are not level-headed, you don’t make sound decisions. So, if I were to answer N's question personally, it would be something like, “omo, I just want to be free.”
It’s barely a minute since N started practicing the five whys. He is on the fourth “Why” and he poses the question again, “Why do I want to be free?”. It is important to recognize that with each subsequent question, the answer tends to become more deeply personal. We all might have answered the same way when the first “why” was asked but as we keep probing our own answers, we find that our responses begin to diverge, and this is fine.
So while Mr. N’s answer to the fourth might be “so that I can do everything I want and have everything I want”, another person might answer this way “So that I can stop being worried and focus on the things that matter to me”.
Interesting is how I qualify the outcome; evidently, distinct answers to previous questions lead to subsequent questions being different. Do not be misled and by this I mean do not misinterpret my intent. My purpose is not to suggest that one answer is superior to another or that because you answered in a socially acceptable way, then you are a better individual. My point is simply this: the answers we give to each subsequent question guide us toward what I like to call the ‘true why’.
The ‘true why’ is the ultimate gain from this 'experiment’. It’s the point where we gain clarity; where the initial gut response (typically the first one that comes to mind) sheds its skin and becomes the true answer. Clarity is a good thing, and the most important thing about clarity is that it makes sense to you. This, in my view, is the root of conviction.
Conviction is such a powerful thing. I believe that it is a perplexing concept, intriguing is a better word. Yeah, more often than not, it leaves heads scratching and tongues wagging because of how misunderstood it can be. You may see it as faith (the determination to persist), but others might view it as foolishness. You might see it as faith (the willingness to pivot), but others perceive it as risk (going against popular judgment). You might regard it as faith (the belief in your vision), yet some may dismiss it as mere delusion or fanaticism.
Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. - Jesus Christ
I do not plan to digress; rather, I hope you realize this now more than ever. It’s your life to live; you have to want the best for yourself, but first, you must believe that you deserve the best. And you better believe it like a man possessed.
My dear friend, my reason for wanting to be a software engineer made sense to me. If you read the first part of this article, you could make a calculated guess as to why I wanted to be a software engineer. I wanted a career that gave me flexibility with my time. I wanted something that didn’t leave me drained. Having enough time is important to me because I want to follow up on several ambitious pursuits I have set for myself. I mean I wanted to build a business, say a product or a technology that gave me rewards. I know why I so badly want to build something; it’s because I want to leave something for my kids and their kids and everyone who bears my name. LEGACY, that’s the word that resonates with me. Nothing sounds so challenging yet irresistibly appealing, and above all, it feels genuine.
Thinking rationally, I concluded that the tech ecosystem offered a career path that encompassed a great deal of flexibility (eventually), creativity, entrepreneurial prospects, and substantial rewards, all in one package. I was convinced that a career in software engineering could give me all of this and more, and I was intent on being one.
Over twenty-three months, my conviction was put to the test on numerous occasions. There were days when I felt stupid for trying to learn how to code while I was having heartburn from the pressure of my pension payment work. It was my conviction being tried when I went a few days without coding and in response, I tried to tell myself to not bother stressing myself with this “programming thing”. It was conviction being tried when I was too tired from the day’s work and wanted just to rest (lol, I am a hard worker).
It was my conviction standing the test when I chose to not let thoughts of failure get to me. It was this conviction that fueled me to become more strategic about seeking opportunities to facilitate my learning. It was this conviction, a profound sense of clarity that propelled me forward when negative and conflicting thoughts sought to derail me.
I will tell you a quite perplexing story. Considering that I was already in finance, the prevailing advice I got from colleagues was to pursue a professional qualification (such as ICAN, ACCA, or CFA) or embark on an MBA. Of course, that’s solid advice that helps not just with climbing the work ladder but with career growth and development. You see, I gave it a good deal of thought and I was close to registering for ICAN especially since I had upcoming partner interviews with two of the Big Four accounting firms.
Well, as part of my grand plan of being a tech bro, I applied for technology consulting positions at Deloitte and EY. Having gone through grueling tests and multiple rounds of interviews, the ‘green dot’ offered me a more accounting-inclined position, Financial advisory. An offer I declined, not even for the accounting-based role but for what I consider a demeaning ‘contract staff’ offer, considering that I applied as an associate (a proper staff position).
Interestingly, two days later, I was at EY having my case study and partner interview. Safe to say, I kept hope alive till I got a rejection.
Both experiences, especially the first one, left me feeling a kind of way. That feeling of being burnt even when you were trying to play it safe. You see, I was trying to be safe. To speak plainly, technology consulting in the context of providing management service is not the same as being a software engineer but I ‘reasoned’ that it was still a form of progress - good pay and I still identify as a technology guy lol.
"The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus." - Bruce Lee
I guess all of these happened from September through October. But when it was all done with, I promised myself that I would never play it safe again, also I was done contemplating the ICAN thing. I was going to focus on what I ought to have been focused on. I wanted to be a software engineer and I was going to be one.
This singular moment is pivotal and it will remain etched in my memory for years to come. I learned that when you fix your gaze on something and chase after it intensely, to the point where you endlessly deliberate and ponder on it, it literally opens up to you. By this, I mean you begin to discern strategies and hints to help you find your way and achieve it. Remember, help doesn’t come in a vacuum. You will find help from the people who surround you and I did. These strategies and practical actions are what I will be sharing in the next read.
LifeLines: Why do you want it. How much do you want it. Answer these questions satisfactorily. For how long can you play it safe. Go big or go home.
to be continued …