Creating Jobs from Work

'There are no jobs joo!'

'Ah ah, I've filled hundreds of applications and haven't heard anything. Again I say there are no jobs!'

This is the major line being used in the ever popular conversation on job hunting in Nigeria and many other countries I would imagine. On the one hand we have those who say, 'The economy is doomed.' 'Young people are coming out of school faster than the government can generate jobs for them.' 'It's not fair.' 'What are the poor children supposed to do?' 

Then you have the equally important group who say work and jobs are not too far apart. 'There might be no jobs but we are overrun by work being left undone!!'

My take is - Its a catch 22......

School teaches you to follow orders, do as you are told and pass without stress. You are wired to deal with things in stages, open each box as you get to that stage. Follow these steps and your life will be perfect. Life really doesn't have a curriculum. It can hand you the equivalent of an SS3 Further Math exam while you're still struggling in diapers trying hard to distinguish between letters E and F. The obedient student would usually make a very good worker. The one who always explores the fringes of the rules and relishes walking on the edge is more often than not, the job creator. 

Image courtesy of [Master isolated images] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

On one hand while it is true that jobs will be created by those who are great at 'packaging' work into nice, fancy boxes, not everyone is cut out for that. So this is a shout out of encouragement to those who are wired to 'create opportunities'. People who can push to see Facebook when we had Hi5 and Yahoo Messenger. People who were crazy enough to see truck pushers own mobile phones when there were land lines. The e-commerce entrepreneurs who dared to build Africa's version of Amazon when people were peddling stories of how using your credit card in Nigerian airspace was a life threatening exercise. The future belongs to those who step up and grab it!! (No, you're not crazy..... Everyone else is just happy sitting on the sidelines. That's not your problem, its theirs....)

Let me explain. I once heard someone say, if it bothers you badly enough, you would do something about it. Really. Most of the greatest employers of labour were not all very popular, and really weren't all magnetic, charismatic personalities. They just felt really strongly about solving a problem and decided to go the extra mile; chip it off the huge chunk called 'work' and chisel it into smaller nicer looking pieces called 'jobs'. 

Image courtesy of [arztsamui] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The next time someone disturbs the peace incessantly with any of these statements or asks any questions repeatedly. you can help them out with some ideas. Some are more original than others but we really shouldn't despise the days of small beginnings....

1. The streets are dirty - Refuse Management Company
2. My children can't speak Igbo - Native language Tutor/Playgroup
3. I wish I knew if Third Mainland is traffic-free - Traffic Tracking and Info sharing app developer
4. Meeen! I wish I had a chef on call - Home cooked meal /delivery service
5. I don't have time to clarify my books and I hate numbers - Book keeping/Virtual Assistant/Back Office Services
6. Why is it so difficult to start a business? - Start Up Center (incorporation, legal, tax all in one package)
7. Why cant we find good second hand cars? - Vehicle road worthiness vetting/assessment service
8. Kinky hair is just impossible to handle - Natural hair specialist
9. Ooooh, I don't have time to shop for souvenirs o!- Souvenir Sourcing Service
10. Ahn ahn the sound in this movie/music video is appalling. Sound technician/engineering consulting
11. I can't afford an office but I need one- Shared office Space
12. There's no way you can eat healthy in Nigeria- Organic or healthy foods market/ Delivery Service
13. Abeg where are we supposed to find fat free low calorie 'everything'. Its not possible to lose weight with Nigerian food.- Weight loss program/recipe book using modified Nigerian meals.  

How many more questions have you heard or can you think with a possible job function or business attached? Please share by dropping comments below....