How to Create Platforms that Choose You | Precious Adedeji | TEDxMcPherson U

Quick Overview

The speaker argues that creating platforms that choose you, rather than constantly seeking opportunities, involves focusing on developing strong content and character that naturally attracts attention and opportunities, citing his own experience of being offered a high-paying job after developing skills in content creation and character building.

Key Points: The speaker emphasizes shifting focus from actively seeking platforms to developing qualities that make platforms seek you out. He recounts graduating in 2016 from McPherson University's Mathematics department, specifically not taking the expected path of pure academics. He initially worked for a boss in 2017 who paid him 150,000 Naira, but he left because he felt there was nothing more to learn, despite the good pay. He learned how to write business plans and develop content skills through online resources and YouTube tutorials. The speaker emphasizes that the key is developing content and character that is so good, it becomes a 'gateway' to opportunities. He successfully built his capacity to deliver on platforms, which eventually led to being offered a high-paying consulting job in 2018.

Context: This TEDx talk, delivered by Precious Adedeji at TEDxMcPherson U., centers on the concept of self-development as a strategy for attracting opportunities. The speaker uses his personal journey after graduating from university to illustrate how prioritizing skill acquisition (content creation, character development) over aggressively chasing jobs leads to platforms and employers seeking him out.

Detailed Analysis

The speaker recounts his post-graduation experience, starting after graduating from McPherson University in 2016 with a degree in Mathematics. He immediately rejected the expected academic path, choosing instead to pursue skills he valued. He shares an anecdote about working for a boss who paid him 150,000 Naira monthly but offered little growth, leading him to leave. He then devoted himself to self-development, learning to write business plans and develop content skills via online resources like YouTube. The central thesis is that people should focus on building 'solid content and character' that makes opportunities come to them, rather than chasing them. He points out that many people are skilled in content creation but lack the character to deliver, or vice versa. He contrasts this with his own experience where his mentor, who was working on a Google project, offered him a job because the speaker had developed both content and character. He stresses that if you develop capacity, opportunities will find you, citing his successful navigation of social media and business plans as examples of building skills that attract people. He concludes by emphasizing that the content and character developed is what truly matters, not just the initial salary offered.