Thursday, March 28, 2024

What would you Do if you were not Afraid?

What would you Do if you were not Afraid?

After reading Dr. Spencer’s book, “Who Moved My Cheese?” I could not help to examine my skills and determine what I would do if I were not afraid. The book is about two mice, Sniff and Scurry; and two little people (the size of mice), Hem and Haw. The four characters enjoyed the plenty cheese that they had found at Station C. Hence; they built their camps around the station since they had reached their destiny (comfort zone).

As days and months passed, the four characters woke up daily to feed on the cheese which was getting less daily. Scurry and Sniff recognized this every day as Sniff could sniff and tell the cheese was getting old while scurry could run ahead to examine the size of the cheese. Unfortunately, the little people with complex brains did not recognize the changes that were taking place. Also, they did not realize that mold was building up and the cheese was losing its freshness.

However, one morning the two mice arrived earlier than the little people only to realize there was no cheese. They were not shocked. After all, they had seen it coming. The mice did not analyze things so much due to the simplicity of their brains.  Fortunately, they had tied their running shoes around their necks in case they needed to continue running around the maze. Thus, they put on their shoes and started searching in the maze in the hope of finding a new cheese station.

Contrariwise, the little people, Hem and Ham, knew that there was no need of waking up too early. After all, they would definitely find their cheese. Despite the fact that they did not know who had placed the cheese there, they were confident that it belonged to them. Therefore, they woke up at their usual time and lazily went to their ‘cheese mine’ at Station C. Unfortunately, there was no cheese. They were very shocked and started grudging while wondering who had moved their cheese. Why did he do it? After all, it belonged to the four characters.

After hours of complaining, they started wondering where the mice could be. They felt some inner pride since they were more refined than the two mice. They thought that they had probably gone back to their homes to sleep and die of hunger.  Therefore, they resolved to go back to their homes too. Remember, they had misplaced their running shoes when they realized that they had reached their “goldmine.”

On the following, Hem and Haw woke up at their usual time and went to Station C. It was still empty. Hem screamed at the top of his voice asking who had moved their cheese. Haw closed this eyes and ears not to hear or see what was happening in reality.  After spending hours at the cheese station, they still went back to their home feeling frustrated. Haw started convincing Hem that they should look for their shoes and begin searching in the maze again to find a better station.

Unfortunately, Hem was not ready. He saw the journey too complicated. What if you get lost in the maze? What if there is no other cheese. In some way, Haw felt convinced it was a journey of futility. However, ‘should I die here just because there is no other cheese station?’ Therefore, Hem was ready to search for his running shoes until he found them. After this, he told Hem that he was going out to search in the maze, regardless of his fate.

Days passed and months as well, Haw found so many cheese stations along the way, but they were empty. However, he had to eat old cheese he could find just to survive. He kept on asking himself every time he found an empty cheese, ‘What if I came here earlier?’ The question served as a motivation to keep him going.

Along the way, he thought that Hem would be moved and get on his way around the maze. So, he decided to start writing on the walls to help Haw reconnect with him. Every thought that came to his mind he wrote on the wall. For instance: “Old beliefs do not lead to new cheese.” He tirelessly searched through the maze and again wrote: “What would you do if you were not afraid?” At long last, he came to Station N. It was full of new cheese. He found his old friends Scurry and Sniff there, looking healthy and happy. They welcomed him and asked about Hem. Haw narrated the entire story, and the best they could do is to feel sorry for him.

The cheese is used metaphorically to represent a good job, car, family, possessions, health and all things that we desire on the face of the earth. The maze is the world, which is full of uncertainties, but even then, great fortunes lie beneath.

How poverty landed me on my current goldmine

 It was two years after reading the book that I resolved to deal with the question, ‘What would you do if you were not afraid?’ I had completed my 8-4-4 system and had done the usual thing (Gone to the cyber, printed out 15 letters and C.Vs, dropped them in various institutions and had been employed). What else did I want? My job was secure, and I was sure that I could enjoy my salary.

Unfortunately, after the first week, I realized I was not employed permanently. I was sitting in for an employee who was on her maternity leave. Fortunately, nothing could bring me down. I have a strong belief that the same way I had gotten the job, I could still get another one after three months (Remember, old beliefs will not take you to new cheese). At the end of three months, I was preparing my students for their end of term examinations while I saw an advert for a vacancy that suited my qualifications.

Without delay, I called the phone number, we agreed to meet during the holiday and sooner than later; I had the job. It is like life was so easy for me (not really, “I do tithe- caterpillars must never feed on my sweat” – Haha, I thought so). Note that the salary was now better than that of my previous job, so I thought it was a promotion: isn’t it? After all, am never afraid of trying something new, I could beat my chest boastfully!!!

During the first month, I worked myself out due to the motivation of a better working environment with added benefits. At the end of the first month; no, to be precise, on 28th of that particular month: I received part of the salary, the rest I could wait. I was so happy, a boss who pays even before end month, the remaining amount would be paid by 5th (I thought to myself).

In brief, the remaining amount of the salary was paid after the end of the third month. Unfortunately, the fourth month was not paid at all. Due to the fear of losing it, I went back to work. At the end of the eighth month, I had lost the salary of two more months. No payment at all! My question was still perturbing me now incessantly. ‘What would you do if you were not afraid?’ You also know the answer- to leave the job.

I had a side hustle, but that was not a profession that was highly recognized socially. It never feels cool to leave a job even though you experience hell every day. Being jobless? No, it is never safe. Generally, people advise you to still hold on to your job until you are sure that the side hustle could be a sufficient source of income. Whatever, I just couldn’t stand it!!!!

Due to a nagging thought that kept telling me not to resign, I informed the boss early enough concerning my resignation so that he could do some replacement. Isn’t it polite too?  Funny enough, we were living in the same neighborhood with my colleagues. After the school reopened, I decided to remain there for a while. I wanted to prove to myself that I was not sorry for making the decision.

Seeing my colleagues go to work made develop a sense of competition. I knew what they were making in a day on average, so I could work harder to beat them. See, you are just like my colleagues. You also think I was penniless! I could only appear lazy in their eyes due to the long hours of work which I did both during the day and at night. Do you want to know what I was doing? Be patient!

In my earlier years in the university, I had trained on online writing. I was then writing for various clients while also training other people for a fee. Unfortunately, the desire to belong to the working class where I could wake up and enjoy the reputation of my field of specialization could not allow me to get into it completely. Therefore, having resigned, I had the audacity to hit the bull by the horns.

From the moment I began competing with my colleagues, (not really positive but it motivated me anyway) I always made few hundreds on top of what they were earning. After one month, I was not even making a few dollars on top but at least twice their salary. With confidence, I relocated to another area. I have now grown in all aspects, not only do I write for my accounts and website but also, I train other people confidently for a fee.

In a nutshell: Do not scrutinize things too much. Sniff the depleting cheese and move on early enough like Sniff and Scurry. Stop being so analytic before taking significant steps in life.What you do if you were not afraid? Do you know what exactly you would do with your life to have a better lifestyle? Do you struggle in carrying out projects in your life just because you hold on to your unproductive job so dearly? It is still early, let’s wake up and do the necessary.

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