Waiting too long to lead

Dear Leader,

I trust my letter finds you in good health.

During my undergraduate days, I turned down the opportunity to lead because I wasn’t sure how to handle it or if it was the right time.

Let me explain.

In my 3rd year on campus, I already had some leadership experience. At that time I was the President of one of the chapters in FECA Nigeria. FECA Nigeria, also known as the Federation of Colleges Ex-students' Christian Association, is a Christian organisation in Nigeria. It was founded in 1990 by students from Federal Government Girls' College (FGGC) Calabar to address issues of integrity and devotion among students after graduation. FECA Nigeria as an organisation focuses on youth development, faith, and nation-building. FECA Nigeria has over 200 chapters nationwide and as President of one of the chapters back then, I already had my hands leading teams and projects.

Even though I had started to grow my leadership skills and building leadership experience while serving in FECA, I turned down an opportunity to lead in my department on campus because I wasn’t sure. I had good grades and few of my friends were convinced that my good academic standing and soundness in character qualified me for the office of the President at the Department of Sociology. They even went as far as promising to pay for the nomination form but I turned them down because I wasn’t sure I wanted to lead in that sphere.

I was overthinking a lot of things. I was scared about what would happen to my results. I was scared I may not be able to meet up the expectations. I wasn’t sure I would be able to translate my leadership skills and experience from one sphere to another. I wasn’t sure it was the right time. In summary, I was selfish! I was avoiding being stretched, even though I knew I had the potential. I gave excuses. I didn’t bother trying.

Today I look back at those times with regrets and lessons. I missed the opportunity to have expanded my leadership beyond my current sphere. I excused myself from the platform to make much more impact to thousands of students at the department. I gave up the opportunity to influence lives positively. You never really know until you try. The lesson is that today, I grab opportunities with both hands. I raise my hand for the opportunities to lead, to serve, to make a positive impact everywhere. I put myself forward.

Many young people today are missing opportunities to rise up and take responsibility - to lead. Many are waiting too long for permission to lead. Many are giving excuses for not having it all figured out. We deceive ourselves if we believe there will be a “more perfect time” to lead in future. The future is not a time zone. The future is not something you enter, it is something you shape. It’s being shaped by people who rise up to take responsibility.

So this letter is to you, you can be young but don’t let anyone look down on you and don’t also look down on yourself. Stop waiting to “feel” ready. You already are! Most times you don’t need more information, you only need more action.

You already have the potential locked up in you. It would be dangerous if you don’t use it. Your potential is waiting for demands to be made on it. Release it. You are the only one who can stop you. Stop running away from leadership positions. Grab it. Use it to influence people positively. Accept responsibilities.

What if you are the one carrying the solution for that organisation to move to the next level? You are waiting too long. Leadership is not given, it is taken when you accept responsibility for change, for transformation, for an issue, for a country, for a cause.

The graveyards are full of great men and women with potentials who never became because they were waiting too long for someone else. If you do not rise up to lead, it will affect this generation and the next for every generation is tied to the previous.

It is time to stop talking about your potential dreams, visions and ideas. Stop! Step out now and determine to LEAD. For “well done” is better than “well said”.

This letter is your permission. GO, LEAD!

I’m always rooting for you,
The Great Owete