She had been one of the several hardworking bread Hawkers in Lagos, but by virtue of a chance meeting with Tinie Tempah,TY Bello and her crew, her fortunes changed. And with her recent feature on the cover of ThisDay Style, arguably one of Nigeria’s foremost media fashion magazine, her rise to stardom was sealed.
And ol’boy did she look stunning in that cover?
The reactions of Nigerians on the internet over her Grass-to-Grace Story was massive.
By the reaction of the Public to her story on traditional and social Media, it is safe to say: Olajumoke broke the Internet, in a way nobody had done since the back-to-back debacle.
While her story has been nothing short of surreal. It is important that we take a moment, take it all in and ask how she ended up at that photo shoot, at that particular time.
There could have been catalysts and behind-the-scenes occurrences that had been preparing her for this photo-shoot without her knowing it.
This is not to play ‘’Sherlock Holmes’’ with the extraordinary story of an extraordinary Nigerian, but to show us all the lessons we can glean from the story of ‘’The Overnight ‘Bread Seller turned model’’ sensation.
1. Be Diligent in Your Work
Olajumoke is a native of Osun state, and she had earlier in her life, trained as a hairdresser, however after having relocated to Lagos, she started hawking bread.
One must surely wonder what might have happened, if she had been slothful at her work, and decided to not go hawking that very day because the profit was little.
Her commitment day-in-day-out was what led to her chance meeting with destiny.
We must learn to be productive in our respective fields. That moment you spend gossiping, lounging or doing anything apart from what is your primary responsibility can only be to your detriment.
Seest thou a man diligent in his/her works. He/She shall stand before Kings and not mere men.
In Olajumoke’s case, diligence opened the door to her stardom.
2. Face Your Fears/Don’t Shirk from Challenges
Olajumoke had to start hawking bread due to financial challenges. She wasn’t able to do her ‘freedom’ (which is the graduation ceremony that licenses you to start operations) from the trade of hair dressing due to lack of funds.
Anyone who has been to any academic/training institution can sure relate to the pain of completing a program and not being able to graduate. Olajumoke had that pain.
That, however, didn’t stop/break her. At the invitation of a distant relative who knew someone operating a bakery, she had relocated to Lagos with her 14 months baby, leaving behind her 5year old child with her husband in Ire, Osun state.
She was purportedly sharing a roof with 10 other hawkers, and made between 300-400 naira per day.
Yet she still remained diligent at her work. It surely wasn’t an easy experience for the Mother of 2, but her resolve to earn income to help out her family kept her going. She worked hard with dignity to better her family’s economic condition.
She must have heard a lot of tales about people who come to Lagos, and got consumed by the city.She must have ruminated on that in her head. She however took the trip.She chose the ‘’Road Less Taken’’ and this has made all the difference for her.
What are you afraid of? Are you going to even try to surmount it or not?
3.) Stay Ready - Don’t Get Ready
One of Will Smith’s favourite quote is ‘’If you stay ready, you ain’t gotta get ready, and that is how I run my life’’
You might be hoping for a change of story, a turnaround in fortunes, but are you really prepared if the opportunity comes your way.
This is not to say that Olajumoke had been consciously/unconsciously scouting for photoshoots to run into, far from it.
However, I sure can’t be the only one who noticed how gorgeous she looked in the ‘’stray picture’’.
Her dress was beautiful. Not extravagant, simple - yet neat.
She looked good. Despite her low income, she did not dress shabbily. Take a look:
The dress was so neat and beautiful, that some people online even argued about the truthfulness of the story, and that it had been stage-managed by Ty Bello.
This of course is not true. However, this shows you how dressing well aided her change of story.
I don’t know if the story might have had the same ending if she had been dressed in a tattered, seductive or a non-presentable manner.
A lesson for you and I is not to use our circumstances as an excuse for being or acting a certain way.
You can always find a way to look good with your meager salary; you can always find a way to save for more professional training from your little earnings.
Whatever our results are - it is always the effects of our actions and inactions.
Bringing It All Together
There are events in life that happens to one and that transforms the trajectory of one’s life, in Olajumoke’s case it was walking into the photoshoot of a famous Nigerian Photographer and American pop star.
And since in life, the road to success will differ for everyone; even though the guy below thinks differently:
It is important that you remain committed to whatever it is has been placed in your hands; it is important that you remain diligent; it is important that you wake up every day with the intention to do your best at that which you have been tasked with.
While not forgetting to pray to your maker: Allah or Jesus, to bless the work of your hands.
Because no matter how hard or smart you work. If you’re not blessed by the creator of the heavens and earth, your efforts may be in futility.
Live life with great hope and in daily pursuance of your dreams and goals. Never give in, never give up.
All it takes for your story to change is a minute, an hour, a week, a month or in Olajumoke’s case: A picture.
What's your perspective and take on Olajumoke's story? Let me know in the comments.
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @INFO247PLUS
