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- #39: Find your sweet spot.
#39: Find your sweet spot.
Shem Opolot
September 29, 2023
Hi! Welcome to The Friday Fix! You’re reading this because you probably stumbled upon this post somewhere on the internet instead of where it should be—in your inbox. But no worries; we can fix that.
Who am I? I’m Shem Opolot, a health professional turned content creator, passionate about helping people be their best selves in life and work.
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I have over 10 years of work experience in healthcare, program management, and data analytics on two continents. So, I know a little about helping you work smarter
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I’ll occasionally make you laugh
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Happy Friday 🎉 It’s a good day to have a good day! While most of you enjoy the tropical weather in Uganda, the gray New Jersey clouds are winning the battle against the sun for sky real estate. And every now and then, they cry. Such moody clouds these days.
Thanks to an unprovoked (and unsolicited) plug for TLDR Weekly by my favorite social media personality, Prim Nyonyozi, a good number of you (100+ 🤯) find yourselves in The Friday Fix!
I’m glad you’re here. Sometimes we laugh, sometimes we cry, and sometimes we learn, but we always have a good time.
The seat you’re in is yours forever if you come early.
Estimated read time: 6 minutes
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💡 1 thing I’ve learned
Find your sweet spot.
The Hedgehog Concept, adapted from Jim Collins
I could give you an academic lecture on the significance of the Venn diagram above, but even I am way too triggered by it, so I’ll tell you stories instead.
My dad still has a letter from 7-year-old Shem, vowing voraciously to become the best neurosurgeon ever. And I’m sure if you put a gun to his head, he’d admit he’s a little disappointed I didn’t follow through with that.
I was damn good at school, you see. In fact, every now and then, someone slides in my DMs talking about how their parents used to ask them why they couldn’t be like ‘Opolot’ while pointing at the fine red line underlining my name at the top of the class report. You know, back when class reports were like government procurement notices.
But as the years went on, stiff competition and disinterest conspired to dethrone me. In high school, while I could’ve been good at school, there were guys who were born to do the damn thing. Guys who woke up at 3 a.m. to study. On purpose. Guys who forsook (yeah, that’s the past tense of ‘forsake’) girls for the sake of grades—I tried to do both, so I failed at both.
School, and later in life, data analytics became jobs for me—I had the skills, and the skills were marketable, but I lacked the passion.
I also excel at lying on the couch for hours watching sports and TV shows, but I don’t see anyone lining up to pay me for that. Seriously, if you know someone, hit me up.
Another thing I was good at? Sports! Basketball, badminton, table tennis, track and field, etc. Put a ball or a racket in my hand, and a little time, and I’d crush it eventually. It was a gift from God, and I believe if I were born in a more favorable environment, I might’ve turned pro.
But I was born in Uganda, and the height of achievement in sports for me remains sinking a ball of crumpled paper into a trash can on the first try while shouting “Kobe!”
But much much later in life, through trial and error and lots of introspection, I figured out how to combine my passion and skills into an economic engine that can—I hope 😅—sustain me. You see, I like to learn things—sometimes complex things. And I like to help people. So, I learn things and then teach them to other people.
That’s what I’m meant to do. Simply put.
Eric Yuan (the founder of Zoom), Vera Wang, and Colonel Sanders (the founder of KFC)—all got their big breaks well after they turned 40. Betty White exploded onto the scene in Golden Girls at 60.
I know it’s hard, and I know the drudgery of desperately running away from poverty distracts us, but when you can, make time to figure out what you’re really meant to do.
And then just do it.
🔌 Shameless plug
We’re going to start keeping people out at this point, so get in while you still can.
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🎁 My favorite things
A quote
Modern man can't see God because he doesn't look low enough.
A picture
Believe it or not, this is a Nike ad. Okay, not really.
With his new little sister and a ton of adjustments, Zion is going through it. I’ve been staring at this picture of him and I a lot recently.
🚀 Pro tip
Can your business run without you? It should.
Ever since I returned to school, I’ve been trying to ensure all my ventures can survive without me.
One of the things I consider compulsory now is creating standard operating procedures. I document entire workflows, client journeys, etc.
I use this tool to create “how-to” guides for standardizing certain procedures, onboarding new workers, and even some trainings. If you want to know how it works, I made a video about it a while back.
🧩 Where fun goes to flourish
The Friday Fix playlist
Brain teaser
From Braingle.
A poplar person
I was born in Italy then I moved to France
I am only half figured so I cannot dance
I keep my right hand snug over my left wrist
I have an enigmatic smile though I cannot kiss
If you measure my height I'm only seventy seven
I have an Oscar thanks to Livingston and Evans
I lived with Napoleon but that was not fun
Cole put me on the Billboard eight weeks number one
Who am I?
Answer below
Shem’s picks
📚 A library of food tips
😴 Can you change your sleep pattern?
🔉 A background noise generator
Brain teaser answer
Answer:
Mona Lisa
Poplar is NOT a misspelled word, it is the type of wood that she is painted on.
Have a great weekend,
— Shem
🤝🏾 How I can help you
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