FEMI TAIWO: WHERE ARE YOU?

STRATEGY WITH FEMI TAIWO ON MONDAY

Oluwafemi Michael Taiwo, PhD

Michael is a first class chemical engineering graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria, and a PhD holder in same discipline from the University of Arkansas, United States.

One of my favorite stories is the oldest story ever recorded: the Fall of Man. Adam, the first man, screwed up and hid himself. God appeared on the scene and asked “Where are you?” That question has stayed with me ever since. It perplexes me that the first question posed to humanity is not “Who are you?” – a question of self-identity – or “Whose are you?” – a question of group identity – or “What can you do?” – a question of talent and skill – or “What have you done?” – a question of past (mis)deeds or a host of other really important questions to assess the condition of man. No, the all-wise God didn’t ask these. He simply queried “Where are you?”

Why is “Where are you?” the supreme question? Where-are-you asks about our current state. Everything we are, everything we think, everything we believe, everything we do is reflected in our current position. My life, right now, is the sum total of all my thoughts, talents and deeds. One glance at where I am and you know what’s going on. Where-are-you is a bottom line question. If whatever we do is not positively affecting the end result, then it’s time to re-assess our use of time, talent and money.

Where are you in relation to where you need to be? You, alone, know where you need to be. Are you on track? Why or why not? Is a course correction necessary? If something doesn’t lead you to where you need to be, it doesn’t matter. If you are always ashamed or defensive about where you are, then a few things probably require fixing.

For instance, if I set a goal of getting a professional certification by the end of the year, the only question worth asking is where-are-you. Have I registered for the exam? Have I studied well enough? Am I studying at all? What else is required besides the exam? Where are you tells me if I am serious or joking about my goal. Where are you is like the indicator on the dashboard that tells the state of the car. One look at the dashboard and you know whether or not the car is healthy.

Steve Jobs is an example of a person that constantly asked where-are-you. He once said: “For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: ‘If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?’ And whenever the answer has been ‘No’ for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.”

The best way I know of to get better is a frank examination of my current state. I relentlessly take stock of where I am and if I don’t like where I am finding myself – be it in my job, relationships, family or what have you – I know a course correction is due. This is why Socrates declared: “A life unexamined is not worth living.”