Leading an Extraordinary Life: A Guide for Personal Transformation

By Kojo Kwarteng

In the generation of our time of information overload, a piece of self-guide, self-improvement, and easy-to-read material that shapes life is more than a necessity and nuggets of gold and diamond.

In this book, Kojo goes beyond the event and dives into what it means to discover yourself, prospects, and deeply explains exactly how this can be done. Your desire to live more authentically could allow you to have a greater impact on others, or you cannot afford not to read and share with others.

For the past decades, Kojo Kwarteng, a journalist, media, corporate communications, and public relations practitioner, has carved for himself a niche for insightful articles on business, human development, environmental protection, customer-centricity, and investor relations guru. Even his exodus from journalism practice into corporate communications practice has not limited him. As a blogger and social media activist, Kojo publishes a series of short articles on motivation and personal development through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and others for the benefit of his followers. His book, “Leading an Extraordinary Life - A Guide for Personal Transformation” is his second after authoring the Oil Cocoa Mines novel in 2013.

With a solid social and academic background in business administration, management, branding, law, and journalism/communications combined with over two decades of practical experience, the book helps to equip readers with the right principles and steps to extricate ourselves from unconscious personal and environmental limitations to become more independent towards personal transformation and sustainable growth.

Make no mistake because the greatest gift of our time is information. It grabs you from the cover and compels you to read the rest.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Vike Springs Publishing Ltd
• Release date: Apr 9, 2022
• ISBN: 9781838071875

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

As a communications and marketing specialist, coach and mentor, I always perceive that one can always go beyond their limit to achieve more for themselves and society.

A cardinal principle in attaining sustained success and greatness in life is to excel in whatever you do and enjoy most. Success is not a title that may be bestowed on anyone. There are challenges and opportunities around the globe. We have the choice and responsibilities to achieve beyond the limits or remain below standards.

After attaining higher education and acquiring vast experience through successful careers, some of us are equipped to add to the provisions for societal solutions. We do not apply more than 20 per cent of the knowledge and experiences acquired in our professional life. We have encountered all the crises, solutions, changes, transformations, relationships and met people in high places. Placing our knowledge and skills at the disposal of society either through philanthropic work, pro bono service, and consultancy work will help transform society.

Unfortunately, we spend between 20 to 40 years in formal and informal jobs and whittle away through pension, retirement, and other means of exiting and waiting to depart from the earth’s surface with joy or regret depending on what you measure yourself; success or failure or disappointment.

We do not mostly explore beyond the formal career jobs or even relearn the subject treated throughout our education for value for ourselves or society. The restrictions in most corporate organizations regarding the dos or donts limit us from thinking outside the box.

But there is more we can do to give back to society without infringing on anyone’s rules and ethics. This book, Leading an Extraordinary Life – A Guide for Personal Transformation, attempted to encourage experienced working and retired experts to publish or add to literature various subjects that transform society.

Topics such as making yourself employable, protecting the environment, communications – master of all, Christian and politics, managing SMEs, effective events management, becoming entrepreneur, credit administration, law and society, project management, building confidence, media – a tool for development, protecting your reputation against damage, the need for prophets/men of God in your life, fitting in the corporate environment, among others, have been expertly treated in this book for all categories of readers; lecturers, students, entrepreneurs, working-class, retirees, consultant, speakers as a source of inspiration to adding or making an indelible mark in society. We are not just passing through this world. They cut across everyday activities needed for great impact in society. Literary work of this nature with deep insight adds value to the readers’ knowledge.

It serves as a reference manual for transforming life. If not an authoritative book, it is an instrument for self-improvement, self-employment, management, and asserting oneself in society. It could be a source of teaching material for business schools and non-formal education courses.

Most of the topics were compiled through speaking appointments and presentations at meetings, conferences, church preaching, lectures, youth organizations, associations, women groups, NGOs, community, and other fora at which I was a resource person.

CHAPTER ONE

MAKING YOURSELF MARKETABLE

Background

Competition in the job market today is very keen or hyper. With the unemployment levels increasing year on year, many people are looking and applying for many of the same.

Recent responses to job recruitment advertisements by the Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana National Fire Service, and others are clear examples.

What is making the job situation more challenging is that almost all applicants/job seekers have the same Diplomas, Degree, Masters’ certificates from numerous universities, colleges, and institutions all over the country or abroad.

WHAT ELSE CAN JOB SEEKERS DO TO GET NOTICED IN TODAY’S JOB MARKET?

What does it mean to be Marketable (Employable)

Becoming (and staying) marketable is about making yourself indispensable to your current employer or irresistible to a prospective one.

It is a commitment to continually expanding your skills and knowledge to stay current, competitive, and in a strong position to compete for jobs in different market contexts.

Differentiation:

How can we stand out as young adults or youth in the job market?

What can we do differently to help us land the interview and ultimately be employed? This is what we are looking for.

Is it final? I am working in the insurance industry, ministries, bank, oil and gas, media, communication, mining, supermarket, aviation, court, legal firm, multinational, university, construction, consultancy, presidency, parliament, education service, Cocoa, hotel, and hospitality etc. Emotional satisfaction or ultimate dream achieved?

What is the difference between job and business?

Points to Consider in Our Employment Options Through Stages of the Economic Cycle:

Someone will say I do not have the option; I simply want a job. You may be justifiable if you’re going to relegate yourself to the background. There is always an option.

1. Upgrade Skills

Keeping your skills fresh, current, and relevant is the best way to stay marketable. This also applies to those who are new to the job market. Your research, education, internships, presentations, and other constitute skills. Align your skillset with the company’s (industry) plans and those of potential employers, and keep up-to-date by attending workshops and conferences to expand and improve our skillset.

Identify any gaps that need addressing to position ourselves as highly valuable employees (and potential employers). Focusing on developing our transferable skills (in leadership, communication, or technology, for example) is a smart investment in diversifying and upgrading our careers. Some of these informal training, seminars, and workshops do not cost much in monetary terms.

2. Expansion of Learning

Continual learning illustrates your commitment to improvement. Remember that you need to be up-to-date with industry best practices and technology, even if this knowledge isn’t used within your current position. Strengthening our knowledge and qualifications is important to increase the value you represent to a current or potential employer.

We can gain new skills and knowledge through in-house training, distance learning, and online courses. Online seminars and industry publications are also a great way to keep up with our industry, making it easier to transfer into a new career in the future.

3. Review Your Resume/CV

Refresh your resume/CV with recent achievements and current skills so that we can act on opportunities as they present themselves. Update your resume with tangible examples of your accomplishments, such as improving business processes, contributing to the bottom line, or any important conferences or workshops you were invited to. Keeping a record of your achievements is also a good reminder of the value you add to your current role.

Make sure that you have the most up-to-date resume available at all times. It must be clean and easy to follow resume/CV that focuses on what makes us relevant for every job. Focusing our resume/CV will help us stand out from others, making it easy for recruiters to know that we are a good fit.

4. Be flexible

In the constantly evolving job market, keeping an open mind and remaining flexible about your employment preferences will open a world of additional career opportunities. To keep your options open and avoid limiting your employability, you may need to reconsider your expectations regarding the industry, salary, and/or job type (permanent, contract, or temporary). Some of us are fixated and will quickly and snobbishly rubbish a particular job, Savings and Microfinance, Susu, Cleaning job. All we want is to land white-collar jobs whether we are well paid or not.

5. Expand your network (Connecting with Connectors)

Apart from our church groups, how many of us join any club or association? Whenever we get the chance to meet people in the industry we want to work in, jump at it! Our network of contacts is one of the most useful job search and career development tools we may have. Attend professional association meetings, events, and conferences. Build a reputation as a well-connected and valued professional. Networking helps keep us on top of mind when opportunities arise within or outside our company, industry, and job market. Meeting new people in our industry and making meaningful connections can help you get your foot in the door at dream companies. Thirty-four per cent of jobs filled in today’s market are by employee referrals. So remember to network, network, network.

6. Stay informed

It is critical to anticipate what skills employers will need now and into the future. Keep up-to-date with relevant trade journals, industry research, and job advertisements. Staying abreast of developments and opportunities in your industry gives you a strong indicator of the type of skills currently in demand, as well as those likely to be valuable in the future, allowing you to anticipate future career opportunities.

7. Establish a personal brand

Remember that you are essentially selling yourself to a future employer, so make sure your personal brand is consistent. Anything you update in your resume should also be updated in your LinkedIn profile, and consider having a professional headshot taken to include in the profile.

8. Show your work

Keep samples of your best work – as long as they are your personal work and not the intellectual property of your current employer – and establish an online portfolio. This is an easy way to show that you value your work, and its quality. Make sure you attach the portfolio to your LinkedIn profile to make it easier for potential employers to see what you can offer. For example, your project work, your work as a choir member, youth executive, usher, Sunday School Teacher, Class Prefect, School Prefect, etc.

9. Get a mentor

Talk to your manager or someone in a role or career you might be interested in down the track about getting a mentor. Find out what helped them get to where they want to be or what they might be looking for in hiring for a similar position. If you need a particular skill set or achievement, you can work on it ahead of time and present yourself as a more desirable candidate for a new position. Open up and stop being on our shelf.

10. Social media

Clean up your social media presence. In a world where everyone is connected to technology, you can often forget that employers are now using social media to screen employees before hiring or interviewing them. Make sure you clean up your profiles and take advantage of privacy settings to be sure that you are not your own biggest enemy on the job

11. Follow-up

The importance of following up after an interview cannot be emphasized enough. Showing your interest and expressing thanks to that person taking time out of their day is the professional thing to do. Someone else may land the opportunity by neglecting this step because they did follow-up. Moreover, in an age where everything is done digitally, you might be surprised at how far a handwritten thank you note can go. Don’t be afraid to still use snail mail when following up on interviews to thank an employer for their time.

12. Cover letter

Writing a great cover letter can be the key to landing an interview with a great company. A cover letter filled with mistakes and poor grammar will not impress the recruiter or hiring manager. Make sure that your cover letter is concise and shares your story, and conveys passion for the position at hand. Your cover letter is a great way to entice a recruiter to give you a call, so don’t give away everything about yourself – leave some mystery for them to want to find out more about you.

Summary: 

Staying marketable is an active process. 

Commit to continually expanding your skills and knowledge to compete in different market contexts

Keep a strong competitive edge in your current organisation through upgrading your skills in line with internal demands and the evolving job market

 Nurture professional relationships and spend time to refresh your resume every few months to be ready when new opportunities arise

 Stay up to date with current industry trends and technology with conferences and seminars

Summary

Go Back to School. Furthering your education is a great way of improving your employment prospects. ...

Complete a Certification Program. Let’s assume you would like to work in a company’s IT department. ...

Improve Your Skills. ...

Work for Free. ...

Practice Your Interview Skills.

References

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