Book Review: “Free from Corporate Slavery” by Jimi Tewe

Title: Free from Corporate Slavery
Author: Jimi Tewe
ISBN: 978-978-914-784-7
Pages: 187
Publisher: Inspiro Publishing
Year of Publication: 2011
Category: Human Resources, Career Management

Earlier this year, I had an exclusive, in-depth interview with Mr. Olujimi Tewe, a multi-gifted career coach, author, speaker, radio show host, business owner and pastor here on BellaNaija. He has his third book out and I thought to weigh in on this latest offering from a man who had phenomenal career leaps within a short time, working in five companies and rising from being an Analyst with a global consulting firm to become a Senior Manager in the Nigerian banking industry within eight years. In 2010, he resigned his top level job at Bank PHB to start Inspiro Consulting, a career and human resource solution provider.

In our fast-paced twenty-first century world, many complain consistently about lack of jobs. Even as unemployment rate continues to rise at break-neck speed in our nation Nigeria, a large percentage of people who have the so-called ‘few good jobs’ soon realise how unhappy and dissatisfied they have become in their employment, regardless of the huge financial benefits and perks of office. They have become corporate slaves – they just cannot do what they want to do when they want to and how they want. Still, many remain stuck and cannot move on for fear of losing their ‘guaranteed’ source of comfort. Jimi Tewe, in his third book, “Free from Corporate Slavery” lends a helping hand and stirs the spirit of the reader to do the right thing.

Advancing from his first two books, “Where Did All My Money Go?”, and “Getting a Good Job Easily,” which were small volume publications, here he delves extensively into the various reasons why people become frustrated with their jobs. He does not cajole you to blindly send in your resignation later, but approaches the subject matter from a holistic point of view and raises several cogent questions. He urges the reader to take charge of their life and helps stagnating employees to seek proper direction for a successful career transition, whether it involves changing career path or starting their own business. “One of the greatest tragedies that can happen to anyone is to be able to say at the end of their years that ‘I could have been, I should have been, I might have been, but I was not’… You can pass on your business to your children as an inheritance, but you can never pass on your job to them, no matter how good you are at it”, he writes. He inspires the reader to become proactive and not reactive about life, whilst ensuring that one’s career is not based on what life offers but what one wants to make of life. Whilst he admits that not everybody is wired to start their own company, he strongly emphasizes the need for people to adopt a deliberate approach to adding value and solving problem. That way, “getting a job becomes a step towards fulfilling your long-term career goals.” Jimi also identifies seven potential dream killers everyone should overcome and he makes his own original contribution in what he calls the Career Success Model, explaining why everyone should adopt the model.

This book is a timely material for anyone who is committed to living a life of fulfilment and encouraging others to do so. The cover design is sure to catch your attention, but the content is also well organised and written in a simple style that blends just enough theories with copious true life experiences of the author, a handful of notable global figures and former corporate slaves who are ever willing to share their transformation story. If you want to bless and transform lives this season, this is a worthy year-end and year-round gift for staff, colleagues and loved ones. It is time to take charge of your life and this could be the best gift you would ever give. What’s more? In order to help students not to become corporate slaves, the author promises to channel 20% of all profits made on the sale of each copy into a fund that will allow a team of professionals hold a Career Success Summit in various tertiary institutions across Nigeria and beyond.

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Here’s what motivational speaker and management consultant Fela Durotoye says about the book:

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Where You Can Buy the Book:

• Silverbird Lifestyle Store, The Galleria, Ahmadu Bello Street, Victoria Island, Lagos
• Silverbird Lifestyle Store, Former Obi Wali Cultural Center, Mile 1, Diobu, Port Harcourt
• The Hub, The Palms, Lekki, Lagos
• Wisdom Bookstore, Opebi, Lagos
• Debonair Bookstore, Herbert Macaulay Road, Sabo, Yaba, Lagos
• Foodco Supermarket, Aare Avenue, Bodija, Ibadan

*The kindle edition is also available on Amazon: Free from Corporate Slavery

*For deliveries in Lagos, call Wole on 08030803499.

Read up Mr. Jimi Tewe’s exclusive interview with BN’s Editorial Assistant, Gbenga Awomodu, here: Career Leaps, Faith & Success – The Olujimi Tewe Story.

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Gbenga Awomodu is an Editorial Assistant at Bainstone Ltd./BellaNaija.com. When he is not reading or writing, Gbenga is listening to good music or playing the piano. He believes in the inspirational power of words and pictures, which he explores in helping to make the world a better place. He blogs at Gbenga’s Notebook (www.gbengaawomodu.com).