Kaakaki
Hi, Goal-getters. It’s Duke again.
But guess what? We’re doing things differently today.
For those who are new to this page, let me re-introduce myself;
I’m Fikayomi Duke, your friendly neighborhood content writer, a charming, young, handsome African man, and a dreamer with an insatiable drive for growth and new experiences.
Case in point >>>>
Fikayomi Duke Famakinwa
Gather ’round as I share my career experiences, especially regarding my salary path.
As I dig into this part of my career journey, I’ll share the adventures that molded me in different stages. This’ll also contain the issues I faced and the useful wisdom I garnered along the way.
Hopefully, you can learn a thing or three from my story.
Let’s get on with it.
The Beginning: The First Step in the Salary Path and my career journey
Picture this: a wide-eyed university graduate with a degree and drive to conquer freelancing.
Oh, the dreams I had and the mansions in the air I built! I couldn’t wait to put my acquired
certificate and skill to use, ready to make an impact with my innovative ideas.
But reality hit harder than Mohammed Ali’s power punch. The job market was somewhat of a
maze, and I faced everything possible.
Pennies!!
My first salary? 😂😭 Let’s not even call that a salary. I’d like to call it a low-level quest
reward. (Ugh, flashbacks😭😭)
Okay, but I carried on, working like an elephant. Every hero has to start somewhere, yeah?
Early Lessons: Challenges and Opportunities
I remember facing several other issues back then. I got used to rejections so much that I
expected them on every job application I sent.
Tragic Tragic!!!
It took a while, but I saw the need for a growth mindset. I learned to focus on learning from
my mistakes rather than sulking.
I started networking with colleagues and searching for my Sensei. Oh dear, you’d be so
surprised by the many hidden treasures in effective networking. Imagine being pitched for
high-level opportunities in your absence simply because you connected with the right
person.
A wise person once said; the 9th wonder of the world after “Compound interest” is “Networking”.
(Yes, it’s me… I’m very wise, thank you).😂🤣
In the end, what’s an adventure without allies?
Climbing the Ladder: Moving Up in My Career
With time and more experience, I realized my purpose was greater. To be more impactful, I
found better opportunities with better stacks. 💸🤑
Around this time, I’d just completed a negotiation course at the University of Michigan. I put
the newly acquired skills to good use and negotiated my worth. At every career milestone,
my value increased, and so did my negotiation power.
Salary Negotiations
Hills and Valleys: The Daunting Salary Fluctuations
Don’t be deceived! It’s never all highs. There are the highs, lows, and the in-betweens.
Besides the jubilations after a successful salary increase, I also recall salary stagnation.
Sigh, I remember leaving an organization due to restructuring and working for another
company that offered less remuneration. I took it anyway cause I needed the job.
The Turning Point: Seeking Career Growth Beyond Money
As I got deeper into my career journey, I reached a turning point. I realized that the quest for gold
wasn’t my only motivation. I wanted more – the savory taste of job satisfaction and personal
growth. My eyes opened to a world beyond finance figures, and I began gaining wisdom.
I realized that continuous learning is a powerful asset. With this, I treated every experience as a stepping stone to becoming part of the top 1% in the writing industry.
Paying It Forward
Lesson Learned
As my story unfolds, I find joy in inspiring others to chase their dreams. I now enjoy sharing my story and advising others to embark on their own salary path with confidence and grit.
Today, I stand at the present and future crossroads, grateful for every step of the journey.
But I’m not done yet! I’m focusing my sights on new horizons, fueled by the passion to
grow and learn without bounds. A true adventurer never settles for mediocrity.
My final thoughts
As my mini adventure ends temporarily, I hope you snatched the big balls of inspiration in
your mind. Embrace the journey of growth, my dear friends, for every challenge and triumph
will shape you into the pro you want to be.
Remember, it’s not always about the salary involved. (Well, yes, we do need to sort many
bills). Yet, you should focus more on learning, overcoming obstacles, and finding your true
potential. But if money is still your paramount motivator, learn how to negotiate to get what you’re worth… and more.
If you want more beautiful content like this, feel free to follow our blog post. You can also
subscribe to our email to be among the first to see my next post.🤭
Fair winds and happy trails, fellow goal-getters! Until we meet again.💎
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Fikayomi Duke Famakinwa
Meet Duke, a creative and results-driven copywriter and content writer passionate about bringing brands to life through words. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for storytelling, Duke has been helping businesses of all sizes reach their target audiences and achieve their marketing goals for over half a decade.
