How To Become Relevant In Life.

A young man once asked me: "how can I be relevant in life?"

Good question because, you see, our validation comes from the acknowledgement of our relevance. We all need validation. It pushes us to do more and be more, thus increasing our relevance quotient. Both relevance and validation or validation and relevance, whichever way you look at it, are interconnected and interdependent. One increases and improves the other.

Steps to Relevance:

Back to the question at hand: "how can I be relevant in life?"

I outlined 3 main ways for him, and they apply to all young men and women. They are:

1. Develop your talents and abilities (through education, apprenticeship, training, mentorship, etc.) until you are the best that you can be in your field and chosen profession. Doors open almost automatically to the best.

Dr. Sunday Adelaja - internationally-acclaimed Nigerian-born Ukrainian pastor, speaker and author - wrote on the same line. He said:

"You must add value to yourself to be relevant" - Sunday Adelaja.

Do not sit back on your potential idly, doing nothing to improve yourself and become better and stronger, and expect that the lines will automatically fall for you in relevant places. Get up and get doing. 

Learn a new word every day. Learn a new idea. Learn a new method or way of doing things. Learn a new and more efficient training model. Learn a new skill. Study for higher certification. Constantly increase and improve. Constantly add value to yourself. Work at it until you are the best that you can be. 

Even then, keep adding value to yourself, because doors open almost automatically for people and professionals that are the best. That is one important way for a young man to follow and become relevant in life.

2. Make yourself available and affordable, especially at the beginning of your career. No matter how good you are, if you are unavailable or unaffordable when you have not yet established a reputation and followership, your brand will not fly. Approachability is a very important factor in becoming relevant in life.

Speaking about this, Eraldo Banovac - professor, author and social entrepreneur - said:

"The key to successful social behaviour: be approachable and understand the needs of others" - Eraldo Banovac.

Do not fall into the trap of pride or over-bloated self-importance. Pride is a destructive social behaviour. Stay humble and available. Make your talents and skills accessible and easily obtainable. Show lots of understanding. Serve people. Serve your community. Serve humanity. Serve God.

It is this willing service to God and humanity that will open the doors to influence, success and fame for you. It will serve as the foundation upon which you can build a powerful life. It will serve as a springboard from which you can launch unto influence and relevance in life.

3. Be a problem-solver and solution-provider. People have problems and are constantly in search of solutions and, if you can provide them with practical and workable answers, within the ambit of your call and profession, you become recognized and valued. Everyone loves a solutions-provider.

This is the way American author and mental/physical challenge specialist, Jane Hart, outlines this truth:

"People will only want to engage if it is relevant to their needs or helps them solve problems" - Jane Hart.

So, build yourself up, position yourself well, provide answers to the questions people ask and solutions to the problems that individuals, families, communities, organisations and governments are faced with. The more you provide solutions, so will your relevance proportionately rise. It is that simple, yet very effective.

Conclusion:

Well, I am happy to report that this young man went away and put this steps to practice. Today he stands on the threshold of an impactful and relevant life. He is recognized as one of the most promising young men in Adamawa State, with very bright prospects for national and international impact. If he continues on his current trajectory - aided by his commitment to continuing self-improvement, better social skills and smarter solution- providing - I see his day of international relevance arriving sooner than later.

This can be your story. Step out and step up. Get going and get doing. Energize and empower your commitment to self-improvement, better social skills and solution-providing. Be the answer Nigeria, nay, the World is looking for. You can be relevant in this life.

See you at the top.

Its me, Agoso H. Bamaiyi, your friend for a greater Nigeria and the better things of life.