My side hustle

What is a side-hustle?

It’s really anything that you can do on the side to make money while pursuing higher education or employment. It may be a hobby you are trying to monetize for a little bit of extra cash, it may be a serious venture you are working to pursue but unable to generate an income from just yet, or it may be something you’ve already started that is producing some extra income for you.
Some qualified engineers take it a step further. Many understand that the traditional trajectory of getting qualified, finding a big company to fit into and staying there for 40 years is a thing of the past.
Some engineers are becoming part of the gig economy. The gig economy is a ‘labor market characterized by the prevalence of short-term contracts or freelance work as opposed to permanent jobs.’ And some people have side-gigs to supplement their income while they continue to search for a more permanent position elsewhere. Prospective engineers are learning to become resilient.
Engineers are noticing that they can also create several side-hustles that generate money they can use to achieve even bigger things later on in life.
In the engineering world, the side-hustle usually culminates in a startup idea that requires the input of some like-minded team members. Nonetheless, when you pursue a side-hustle, it’s important to make sure you still have the backup plan.
Previously, the backup plan might include a ginormous time investment of going to a brick-and-mortar tertiary institution and putting the side-hustle on pause. Starting a side-hustle while sticking to a strict schedule of classes and examinations is a tall order.
Early on, some engineers fail to realize that their engineering course may be teaching them the business principles they need to become an entrepreneur. Albert van Wykc is a South African industrial engineer. At the age of 22, he was already investing in property and building side-businesses that began generating an income. He became one of South Africa’s youngest millionaires.
Albert went on to write a book titled: ‘How to become a Millionaire at 22.’
But it was the skills he was learning in his engineering degree that improved the business-side of his side-hustles. He has started a podcast named ‘Millionaire Insights with Albert van Wyk,’ where he inspires like-minded engineers and entrepreneurs in South Africa, to become better business people whilst upskilling and acquiring formal qualifications.
In the latest episode of his podcast, he said:
“I studied Industrial Engineering. I actually completed my degree in four years and became an industrial engineer. And then, I worked for one year in the industry as an engineer before I quit my job to become a full-time entrepreneur. One of the key terms that we learned in industrial engineering is called a value chain analysis. You take each process, each activity, in your chain of events that creates value for your business, and you analyze each of them.”
Industrial automation engineering can teach that, even in business, a person can produce an efficient chain of procedures that leads to the creation of a valuable outcome. But even mechanical engineers are obtaining their qualifications, then swimming against the tide.
Inaam Khan is a mechanical engineer from Manchester, Connecticut in the United States of America. His motto, and advice to prospective entrepreneurial engineers is: ‘Aim high, don’t be shy.’ He founded his own sock company after graduating. Hex aptly named the company I-Khanic. In an interview, he said:
“My parents have been very supportive, first of all. They never cared that their son had an engineering degree and was out there selling socks.”
Turning the side-hustle into the main-hustle takes grit and determination. It is recommended that students and graduates continue to upskill themselves — so they are job-ready and educated — while trying to be as entrepreneurialt as possible.

Works Cited
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UNSAID WORDS

  Some words are better left unsaid cos they might have negative lasting effects on others. They might rob them of their joy and happiness, change their moods and send them into depression and mental sickness.

Why deprive others of their happiness when there are a thousand and one reasons to make them smile? A kind word to your brother is an act of charity- Nabiyy (SAW). Our words have pierced deep into hearts without our knowledge cos we just don’t care and hence say it as it comes.

Just like the editor edits the news before transmission and a medical doctor examines a patient before transmission, we need to edit our words and examine them before saying them out. Cos words once said can’t be recalled, our feet’s can regain balance after slipping but our tongue cant and that is simply because words dig deeper graves than guns, they pierce deep into the heart and leave the one they are said to shattered and in pieces.

Wounds and scars heal with time, but words that pierce the heart don’t, they leave one broken, shattered, depressed, sick mentally. Our words have sent fears into the hearts of many, shattered a lot of dreams, discouraged a lot of talents either knowingly or unknowingly.

Some unedited words have caused a lot of havoc in the society, they have broken a lot of homes and hearts and has sent a lot of people to their graves unexpectedly and unprepared. Our words in some rare instances have deprived a lot of innocent souls of their freedom hence keeping them in bondage.

Fine! We are humans and are not perfect, we err, we make mistakes but the best among us are those who seek for forgiveness from the ones they’ve hurt and from their Creator.

There is no big deal in apologizing to the one you’ve wronged. But there are times we don’t realize our words have caused  pain to others probably we are too annoyed at the moment to think of what comes to our minds hence say whatever that comes our way.

If you feel you’ve been bruised internally, you should walk up to that person and tell him or her what his or her words have caused you. He or she has told you what you’ve done, you’ve realized your mistake, be strong enough to say “I’m sorry” cos it costs nothing!

People don’t apologize because they are weak, rather they do so cos they are strong, they do cos they want peace instead of violence, they do cos they’ve realized their mistakes, they do cos they are a bigger person, they do cos they decided to skip the “E” and let ”go”.

UNEXPRESSED FEELINGS !

By: Khadijat Kuburat Lawal

DO THEY? (a young passionate writers storyline)

Asabi got married to the love of his life and every day is a blessing waking up to Ademidiwurah by his side. He loved her like his whole life depends on her. One cold morning in the winter, they sat close to the fire in their hut to get warmth and Asabi looked at Ademi in the eyes, he clenched his fists to hers and said to her “Ademidiwurah, my life without you is like a tree without a branch, you rock and make my world sparkle and I will continue loving you till my last breathe” Ademidiwurah was kind of shy, she bowed her head looking at how he clenched her fists unto his and smiled saying “Asabi mi, Olowoorimi, ayo mi I can’t imagine my life without you, you are a blessing to me and I will love you eternally”

After some months, Ademidiwurah started noticing some changes in her body, she feels sick every morning, always tired and just feels like sleeping which makes Asabi tease “Ademi don’t be a lazy woman” and she will just nod her head in affirmation. This changes dint stop at the early morning sickness, Ademi noticed her breasts became tender and swollen, her appetite changed totally, she began turning her nose at certain foods and crave for some, her moods swings she gets emotional easily and weeps at times, this change in behavior got Asabi confused. He asked her countless times what the problem is but he got no response. He decided to share his headache with his friend Adeolu, when Asabi finished narrating his wife’s recent behavior to his friend, Adeolu could not help himself, he laughed to the extent he feel from the wooden chair he was sitting on under the palm tree. Adeolu’s action annoyed Asabi and he got more confused “Adeolu, I thought I can confide in you, and you are here laughing at me to the extent you are rolling on the floor” Adeolu rose from the ground, removed his cap from his head and used it to dust his body, then he stretched his hand to shake the confused Asabi “Oremi, iyawo re ti loyun” and Asabi could not believe his ears, his mouth was open agape and hands akimbo.

Asabi ran home as fast as he could to meet Ademi throwing up in front of the hut. He held her tight by the shoulder, poured water on her head and took her in and before she could open her mouth, Asabi hugged her, his love for her increased the more and this is evident in his eyes, he uttered “Ademi will soon be a mother”. And she asked “I thought I wanted to surprise you”. Then Asabi said “I surprised you first!” they all laughed. Then Asabi continued, we will call our boy Olamide, Ademi interrupted “What if it’s a girl?’. Asabi turned his face away, he is not interested in having a girl, Ademi was confused and she decided to calm herself with her voice shaking so she said if it’s a girl “We” will call her Omowunmi, just then, Asabi said “You!” leaving the hut and Ademi got more confused.

After nine months, Ademi was heavy, weak and tired; she decided to go to the farm to get some vegetables for lunch. As she got to the farm, she felt a sharp pain in her and her water broke, as a young lady who has never given birth before, she taught it was normal until blood started dripping from under her. Then she called out to Asabi who was busy wetting his crops “OlowoOrimi” and he answered “Kilode Ademi?” she replied “Eje” and he ran as fast as he could. He took her home and with the help of the women in the community, Ademi was delivered of a beautiful baby girl safely.

Asabi heard the cry of a new born and was so excited, his excitement was cut short when Darasimi, Adeolu’s wife came out of the hut and Asabi ran to her, she smiled and said “Congratulations Asabi, it’s a beautiful…”  before she could say Jack Robbinson, Asabi’s voice was filled with anger and he said “I need a boy, who will take after me, not a girl who will leave me someday to her husband’s house”

Ademi named her daughter Omowunmi but Asabi decided to change her name to “Olokodana” which means “Go to farm and cook”. Ademi was not happy with the change of name and she continued calling her daughter Omowunmi. After the birth of Omowunmi, Asabi’s love for Ademi became sour, he no longer loved her the way he used to, he calls her names and nags at every little mistake she does without even listening to her own side of the story.

Omowunmi’s birth made Asabi take in a second wife called Lara, he treated Lara like a queen and Ademi like a slave all because she gave birth to a girl. After nine months, Lara was blessed with twins and they are all boys. Asabi could not hide his excitement, it was all over his face likewise Ademi and her daughter, they were all happy. Omowunmi said to her mum “Maami, now that I have two handsome brothers, I’m going to cuddle and play with them”, then her father interrupted “Gbenu soun”. His reaction changed Ademi and her daughter’s mood. Omowunmi leaned onto her mother’s chest and stared crying, Ademi felt bad but there was nothing she could do than console and clean her daughter’s tears.

The glamour in Ademi has died, she is no longer the woman she used to be, she taught of opting out since she is no longer loved but anytime the thought of leaving strikes her mind, she remembers Omowunmi and what will become of her when she leaves. Ademi sat under the tree in front of her hut when one of her co-wife’s children, Taiwo splashed sand on her and ran away, Ademi taught he was just a kid and was playing until he came the second time and called her “Omo ale” meaning bastard, Ademi was shocked and decided to whip the child even though she is not his mother. She gave him two strokes of the cane and he ran to his mother crying.

His father asked him why he was crying and he said “Mummy Omowunmi flogged me”, without any inquiry, Asabi picked a long stick and came to Ademi, he held her old Ankara shirt and was about landing the stick on her back when she looked deep into his eyes with hers watery and she asked him…. Asabi, do men still beat their wives?” Do they?

Story by Khadija Lawal

PROPER CHILD SCHOOLING

    I remember when I was in Primary school. There was this girl that sat for the First School Leaving Certificate (Primary 6) exam while at Primary 4. She passed, so she “jumped” two years and went from Primary 4 to JSS 1.

Even though I performed better and was academically smarter than this girl, my parents insisted that none of their children will skip an academic class.

Some of my classmates also went from Primary 5. Well, I did my Primary 6.

So, many of my Primary school classmates were 1,2,3 years ahead of me because my parents insisted that none of their children will “jump” a class.

When I was in SSS-1, the girl who skipped a class started writing WAEC in SSS-3. She failed twice, so I caught up and we did the WAEC same year again; my first attempt, her third attempt. She passed enough to merge results. I got all my papers in one sitting, and in flying colours, with my head, not from any special centre.

So, what exactly was the point of running only to wait to pass out with a “let-my-people-go” O’Level result?

Well, we went into University same year, and I graduated a year before her, in a more highly ranked University.

Again, where was she running to? To what end?

My parents are both academics. They aren’t just teachers, they both have experience in Academic and Career Guidance and Counseling.
But at the point when they made some decisions about our education (our: My siblings and I), I wasn’t happy. To me, it was all about competing with my friends about who will finish Secondary school first and gain admission first. But I now know better.

A system of education is in place for a reason. The Nigerian system is 6-3-3-4. Why the rush to beat the system?

Listen!
I know some children are smarter and have the intellectual capacity to go faster than others.
What other developed countries with more regulated systems of education do is NOT make the children skip some curriculum. They make the gifted children cover the curriculum faster.

For instance; regular students might need 6 regular academic years to cover the high school curriculum. The talented ones are put in a separate class where the cover the whole 6-year curriculum in 5 or 4 years, or even less. They don’t usually skip these curricula.

I know the UK and US have some of such schools and classes for gifted children.

The thing I noticed in Nigeria is that it’s usually even the parents of AVERAGE or BELOW AVERAGE students that want their children to “jump” classes.

The prestige is in telling everyone that your child finished secondary school at 12. It doesn’t matter whether your child’s brain is completely empty, or whether your child wrote his or her WAEC and JAMB exams at special centres. You are just in a competition.

I was just having a random thought a few minutes ago, and I realized that NONE of those my Primary or secondary school classmates who tried to skip classes were better or ended up more academically grounded and privileged than I am. So, what exactly was the hurry all about?

It’s not just about your child finishing Primary school at 7 and Secondary at 12. The question is “Is he/she well academically grounded”? Can they defend those pieces of paper certificate (they were so in a rush to acquire) anywhere in the world?

What is the point producing an air-headed graduates at 18?

I would rather my children spend more years in school and graduate well-grounded academically, than to graduate and still be too dumb to write application letters or simple essays.

Besides, I want my children to have a fun childhood.

Except any of my children demonstrates obvious signs of being academically gifted and smart (In which case I would find them a good school for gifted children), they will all finish secondary school NOT before 16, and they will all graduate NOT before the age of 20.

We are not running anywhere. We are not in a hurry to be mediocre. Anything worth doing is worth devoting sufficient time to do it well.

I agree totally to the above post. The writer is 100% right. I am a teacher and I can tell you what we face with underage students. Most of them are not emotionally stable at times. It is not about academics alone, a child needs stability on all sides.

USE YOUR HEAD NOT ONLY YOUR HEART

I have discovered that love doesn't guarantee the success of a relationship. Love cannot help you stick to one person all years round, and on the other hand, cheating isn't always a product of not loving your partner.

In fact, loving someone doesn't guarantee not falling in love with someone else.
Relationships work out mostly because of our head not our heart.
It works out because of our emotional maturity, empathetic intelligence and self discipline because, time will come when you'll see more beautiful, handsome, romantic, intelligent, sexy, rich, curvy and God fearing people than the one you're in a relationship with.
In those times, love will not help you; self control will help you, emotional intelligence will come to your rescue and commitment will keep you going.
With those characteristics, no matter how you feel for someone else, the person you're committed to will rank first in your life.
You think happily married people don't see better people than the ones they married? You think they dont feel funny sometimes? You think they don't catch feelings? They do!
But understanding that commitment is greater than feelings is the great arsenal that do destroy that impulse.
You can fall in love with anyone, but building a relationship takes absolutely more than what attracted you to them and takes more than love.
We are too fond of loving when it's convenient and sweet. We are too fond of loving when love is there but that can only last for just the first 3-6 months of the relationship.
After then, you'll realize that the feelings have dropped, it's now your responsibility to make it work, not love's responsibility.
Relationships cannot be ready-made. You have to build it and it's never always about love, it requires commitment and intelligence.
On the long run in marriages, it's not just love that keeps them together forever, it's determination and commitment.
Everyone falls in love; it takes little or no effort to do that. But staying in love? Building a relationship? Only the strong and committed ones do that.
That's why we must find that one person and commit to that one, discipline yourself bridle your emotions.
Building a relationship is hard work, it's like building a career, It's like pursuing a dream.
It's always tough, at some point it will be so bitter but you can make it work by putting your heads together, you can scale through the trying time by being focus and committed.
The kind of love that attracts two people together is not the kind of love that will keep them together. Be emotionally strong and be self disciplined.