“The Best Time to Plant a Tree was 20 Years Ago. The Second Best Time is Now”
I remember hearing this Chinese Proverb a few months ago, if you ask me, I truly do not remember where. Let me tell you why this struck me again on this early Monday morning. I was scrolling through LinkedIn at exactly 8:00 am with a slice of peanut butter toast in my left hand while trying to plan a very much productive day, I mean the thing is you have to start your Monday right.
With a lot of things stuck on my mind like the assessment I set out to do later, I already started to brace myself for a hectic day. It was then I randomly thought about this new position I was applying to and what my best chances were putting a solid foot forward.
I remembered there were three contacts handling this hiring process and I had only connected with two of them. I tried to search for the third one on LinkedIn and after finding her (thanks to my incredible investigative skills), I connected and you wouldn’t believe what I came across on her profile banner.
It was those exact Chinese quote — The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is now. Seeing it again, I could call it a coincidence but in that moment, I felt this quote was meant for me.
I am Chichi
That was long — I really tried to articulate my thoughts, I promise I’ll get better at this. So before we get back to the quote and the reason I took it personally, I’ll like to introduce myself first.
My name is Asiegbu Chinyere, everyone calls me Chichi, which I actually prefer to avoid the butchery of what I call my name. I am a Product Designer. Since the beginning of my design journey, I have worked for Startups, wearing different hats so technically I am not a very niched designer but in a few years I might be. Right now, however, I just enjoy what I do. I enjoy being the go-to design guy on the team, and the creative freedom it brings.
Reminiscing and Taking Inventory
I want this to be as light-hearted as possible, so why don’t we talk about this quote and what it has got to do with posting my first medium article. I opened this account about a year ago and I can tell you after thoroughly reminiscing and taking inventory on what I will call my not-so-linear design career journey, the different distractions in between, growth in my workplace, ending my role in one startup as well as the beginning of another. Stillness and sort of figuring out how to reposition myself strategically again in this current job market.
Watching Stephanie Orkuma speak at the Medium event was when I asked myself, ‘Why exactly have I been putting this thing off?’ This thing — Medium Publications. Is it because I honestly do not enjoy investing time in EXTRA activities that offer delayed gratification? I mean I have planted seeds in transitioning into tech, eventually landing my first gig and first role, so what else could there be? I had increased my income over time by more than I could’ve ever imagined. Or is my procrastination merely because of my fear of the spotlight and the comforting solemnity of just making an impact within my workplace. I mean that is okay too but I’ve always known deep down that something is missing. Could it as well be the fear of not being able to sustain a new commitment?
One Day at a Time on my Unofficial Days.
Seeing that quote again today, it just suddenly tied everything together for me and I said to myself, How about you just do it and not overthink as always? I mean we’re all just winging life and your ability to over-analyze a situation is crippling your ability to act. Acting gives you that 1% growth everyday to get to the bigger picture of everything.
Now this is important to me — The Bigger Picture. Because it’s the reason I’m doing this now. So here I am, in the now like that quote said, embracing everything, crossing over to the other side, sharing what I have to give, my experiences in my design journey so far.
One day at a time, on my Unofficial days. Stay with me.
