In my 20s, I was awarded about 250,000 USD (About 125 million FCFA) in grants and scholarships, visited five countries at no expense of mine, got a fully funded scholarship into one of the top 3 universities in the world, got invited to speak at the leading development organisation, the World Bank 3x and many others I cannot mention. All this was achieved as a young woman in Cameroon with no rich parents (not poor either), and no political connections.
I will not say this was entirely because of my hard work or talent. It was partly because of an aspect I recently learned about from Tony Elumelu; I increased my surface area of luck.
Increasing your surface area of luck means you deliberately increase your chances of being exposed to opportunities and people who will help you meet a need or achieve a goal.
Today I want to share 9 things I did and advice any young African like me to do to increase yours;
1. Go to school and study a relevant course
Get that degree, get that skill, get the qualification. Remember, you don’t have any connections, and you may not have an easy pass. Your qualification or degree may be the only proof of your abilities and know-how. I know this is controversial, but we know our situation is different, so go to school and study a relevant course. My parents sent me to good schools, and I studied medicine. Trust me, this will change the type of people you get exposed to and increase your chances.
2. Build a serious personal brand
Share important info in your field of speciality for people to know you are a serious person. Do not follow others to post rubbish online. Your fight is different. I started sharing health information and built a personal brand. I also shared important nuggets from books I read or lessons I learnt.
This social media space is vast, and I got into the Techwomen fellowship because a Facebook friend, who is an alumna, nominated me. She guided me through the process, and I got in. If not for COVID, I would have been in Silicon Valley to experience how health tech companies are changing healthcare delivery. People help those who are serious. Let that perception be positive.
3. Apply for global opportunities and join information sessions
My first travel scholarship to Rwanda for the AHAIC Conference was shared by a Nigerian friend whom I met during a YALI information session. Those sessions are filled with young people who are hungry for opportunities like you so they will most likely be aware of other opportunities you don’t know about. Ask, join their group and discuss growth.
I won the World Bank Blog4Dev competition (I got to know about it from someone’s timeline), travelled to DC, met people who, to date, have helped me get jobs, recommended me for consultancies, and also given me paid speaking gigs. You don’t have to remain local; play a global game and compete with your peers in other advanced countries. It strengthens your competitiveness and forces you to level up. Travelling around the world is also part of learning, plus you build your travel history as someone with a not very strong passport.
4. Join professional associations and be active
I joined our medical alumni association and volunteered as treasurer. I organised a career-building session, but time constraints disrupted this. This exposed me, and my seniors knew me as a proactive person. When I was travelling to the UK, I had seniors who were ever ready to give me advice on how to maximise the opportunity.
One of them even opted to pay for my PLAB exams if I wanted to write. Another picked me up from Heathrow and drove me to Oxford. I also joined a WhatsApp group for Cameroonian development professionals, and they will reach out to their networks to help you. Be it advice, job search, etc. These are just a few examples, and I can write a whole book on the importance of associations. All this is because I increased my visibility, and I am also always ready to help others. This attracted helpers.
5. Attend events and meet people
This enhances serendipity. I am sure you have heard people advise women to go to places where their ideal men are likely to visit, right? Good. Again, your fight is different. You can choose wisely where you go. Some people have negotiated deals in a nightclub, while others have negotiated deals in conferences. It boils down to one thing: you need to go out. I once attended a peace event at UB and met someone (now a sister).
It was at the American Corner in UB, and they were also doing a career fair to talk about how to get to American schools. I told myself, let me attend and hear what these people are saying. Some years later, she shared the Moth storytelling opportunity with me because she is an alumni. I applied, got it, was sponsored by Gates Foundation and was flown to Kenya.
The skills I gained have improved how I give health education on Healthsavi. Meet people, please, create genuine connections, you never know where your luck will come from. And when those opportunities come, grab them and give your best shot.
6. Arm yourself with the virtues you need
Patience, ability to accept and learn from rejection, consistency. A senior colleague added delayed gratification. Remember, you are most likely building from ground up, so it will take time. Keep at it. I remember when I almost gave up on the TEF entrepreneurship program. The process lasted a year and I was getting tired from the many stages. I pushed through giving my best at every stage and finally got the $5000 grant. You will approach people, and you will be rejected. Keep moving, building is not easy. In May, I decided to go on a 100 day video challenge for @Healthsavi .Some days I stumble but I keep on going. This has strengthened my consistency muscle.
7. Learn varied skills, both hard and soft
I know they told you not to be a jack of all trades, master of none. To increase your surface area of luck, you have to be a multipotentialite. Plus, in today’s world, multidimensionality is a must because problems are always overlapping. Yes, I am a doctor, but when I started sharing health tips on Healthsavi, I had to learn video editing, graphic design, copywriting, digital marketing, etc. You can watch my videos; I do the editing. I have used these skills to do explainer videos and made a side income from designing flyers, etc.
My fight is different; I can’t afford to be hyper-focused. I can’t say since I am a doctor, it’s only patients I will treat, anything else counts me out. No! These skills have set me apart in my job applications. I used to teach in medical preparatory classes to earn extra income, but that experience boosted my public speaking skills, which I use to this day. Students will challenge me in class, and I will feel frustrated, but it has shaped me into a person who can manage varied and contrasting opinions to mine.
8. Blow your trumpet
I know they told you, that those whose palm kennels were cracked by the benevolent spirit should not forget to be humble. You have heard that you should let others sing your praises. But how can others sing when they don’t even know the praises.
Communicate your worth in a way that ties to you solving problems! For example, I don’t just consult patients with malaria; I am helping to reduce malaria mortality through health education for prevention, accurate diagnosis, and providing authentic drugs at the correct dosage for proper relief, thereby saving the patient from sickness and death, which would have impacted human capital. I started this series by listing some of my achievements because I know that until I show you that it is possible, you will not believe.
Some people will think, I did that to boast, that’s your problem. I did it to tell young people like me in Cameroon that it is possible. Some people will say, don’t share your successes it will attract jealousy and witches. But I say, whom God has blessed, no man can curse. There is a level you will get to that you will not need introduction or need to communicate your value because people already know you. So, for now, focus on letting people know you and what you are capable of doing. Voice your worth confidently, speak your achievements and yes, if you are a big deal let us know. BUT do not be an imposter.
9. Invest in your physical looks
Have you heard of the Beauty Bias? Have you ever looked at 2 variants of the same thing in a shop and decided to buy the one with a beautiful packaging even though its the same thing? Or have you ever seen something so expensive and thought the price is justified just because it looks good even though the inherent value is not close to the price? That’s the beauty bias. If you are deemed more attractive, you may get favors, whether this happens consciously or unconsciously. We all are guilty of this. You patronize a vendor not necessarily because they are doing anything different from their competitors but because they have a fine face and/or body.
I kept this point last because it is just an addition to the core work and points above. You may not have rich parents but don’t look homeless. You can buy second hand clothes, wash it, iron it and look good. Eat healthy, drink water and exercise because it reflects on your skin.
There are cheap and good skin care products. Vaseline or baby oil will work wonders for you. Groom your hair, be decent, and stay good-looking. Someone can use your appearance to start a conversation. Follow influencers who teach you how to look good on a budget. I follow a Nigerian guy on Instagram who teaches how to style thrift (okrika) clothes. I am always amazed at the end. Styling is an art; it’s not about the money. Less is more.
Men don’t ask women out in the dark, do they? They look for light to see her well before making a move, right? In fact, some men will wait until morning before they decide. Put yourself in the light for people to see that you are worth their time and energy. Investors don’t invest in ideas; they invest in the founders. Customers don’t just buy; they often buy from those they know, like, and trust. Your personality counts. Go ye and shine!