Step In Stupid

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Trust your gut feel. You are right 99% of the time.

These words, spoken by my boss at the time, are etched in my memory for the right reasons. It was my first review period after assuming the role of Head of HR at Deloitte Nigeria.
At the time, I knew little about imposter syndrome, but I walked in those shoes – daily. I wasn’t given the option to accept or turn down the position, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to step in stupid. Maybe I would have bulked if I had a choice.

Having to practically build a new team, I went from being unsure how we would be accepted, and how I would make the required impact to significantly improving employee engagement and revamping several people management processes, to also winning highly coveted awards like the Great Place to Work in Nigeria – First position (2017) and the CIPMN Best Practice Awards – Second Position (2017). The team made so many strides in revamping personnel management within the organization that some of our practices were acknowledged regionally.

These successes were only possible because of the following:

1. A boss and other leaders who believed in me and gave the right support. (This is crucial to professional success).
2. A capable and committed team. Nothing beats team capacity, integrity, and commitment.
3. My vulnerability – I accepted what I had going for me, acknowledged the gaps I had to close and was open about these with the team.
4. Continuous learning and improvement. The work environment at Deloitte enabled this.
5. The God factor.

There’s definitely more to add to the list but these were core factors. For the purpose of this devotional, I will focus on the God Factor.
Scripture tells us that we are created in God’s image, and we have the likeness of God. This means that you and I reflect God on earth. God’s words formed the heaven and the earth – created what we know to be the
world today. Being His reflection means that you have been endowed with the creative force!

You will not always have all that is required to start and to get that goal or aspiration going. You’ve probably heard people say all the time – Step in afraid. I say this to you: STEP IN STUPID. You’ve got to make up your
mind to step in stupid (completely and unreservedly trust God through the process), put in the work, and believe God for it.
What desires or grand plans has God laid on your heart to fulfil? Deciding to step in stupid is like walking through an unknown path. Even if you cannot see the path ahead of you, you can see your next step.

Take that step and the path will be formed.

Speak it Forth (Confession):
I am created in the image of God, and I have the nature of God! I have the creative force within me, so I call those things that be not as though they were. God enables the creative seed in me to fulfill the things I set my mind to do.
I achieve great things!

Take the Step (Action):
This week, write out your biggest 3 or 4 goals for the year on a bold sheet. Place that sheet in a visible location where you can see them daily. Speak the creative word of God over each of them. Daily