Today is not 8th March (International Women’s Day), but I want to do a piece to all the young girls on their way to being young adults and finally graduating to womanhood. I speak to all the girls with an African dream of excelling at their studies because education does open your eyes to the infinite world of opportunities. Be it in arts, finance, sports, engineering, you name it. Like one of my favorite girl band Little Mix says it, “we got the power”. The moment you realize that you alone are responsible for your own decisions, then you don’t give up your power to anyone, not to your folks, your boss or even your life partner.
I remember growing up as a teenage girl. I attended Pangani Girls’ High school Nairobi, Kenya. I was interested in business studies. At the back of my mind, I knew one day I wanted to be my own C.E.O. I did not know how but I admired the iconic female entrepreneurs and those in leadership positions, especially those who looked like nerds in glasses and those with a gap in their tooth like mine, lol. I could also watch the likes of Oprah Winfrey on the television and their stories of owning a wide closet of shoe collection would be my measure of success back then. I still have a goal of being on the Forbes African Woman one day.
I want to tell you that’s it’s possible to be your own woman and liberate yourself. In whatever field you aspire, as a career woman or not, pregnant or not, housewife or not, employed or unemployed, single, dating, in a complicated relationship or married. In your Afro hair or straight, it really doesn’t matter and who really cares? Heck, even your age doesn’t really count. The only thing you need to do is to identify your passion and have the guts to follow through it, work your ass off and eventually get what you want.
Imagine a possibility of waking up one day, not having to deal with traffic or commute. Working at the comfort of your home or at the beach, wherever you are as long as you have access to internet, sort of like a digital nomad. Not having to deal with bossy attitudes at your place of work or waiting for a monthly salary. Do you know your worth? Giving yourself an opportunity to write your own paycheck from the Financial Markets. If this sounds like something you’d be interested to learn, Sylvia’s Traders Lounge has got you covered. Just reach out to us using the contact information, I’ll be glad to get back to you.
But that’s not where the fulfillment comes from. True joy is derived from doing what you’re passionate in, not having to take a vacation from your work at the same time leaving you with enough time to spend with the people that matter in your life, your family, your kids, your close circle of friends. Being able to give your resources and time to those who owe you nothing in return. The freedom and independence you get cannot be compared to any amount of monetary reward or benefits in the work place. Yes you can, believe in yourself and be willing to do what it takes to get to your liberation.
