Life is so unique. We all have different backgrounds and histories, yet there are myriad similarities between our lives and the lives of those around us. The beauty of it is clear: we can use these similarities to better connect with one another, and the differences to learn about each other. Sometimes when others tell their stories, we can use them to help ease our own journey. I want to use this story to inspire anyone that is close to graduation without a clear sense of direction because that was me one year ago.
My name is Daniel Omuto; I am a computer science graduate from Kennesaw State University, Accenture Software Engineer, and Georgia Tech Data Analytics master’s student. After hearing my background it might sound like a picture perfect story ; however in every story the protagonist endures adversity and mine is not exempt . One year before my college graduation, I was fired from my first internship after spending only two weeks with the company. This left me with very little real-world work experience and absolutely no confidence in myself regarding my future. I was lost. I spent countless days scouring the internet for IT related books to help inspire me and my plans for the future. These days steadily turned into weeks of increasing anxiety and frustration as I desperately searched for a catalyst that would reignite my passion. Eventually, I stumbled upon the book, “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz, and it changed my life forever.
“The Four Agreements” is a wisdom novel that explains the spiritual beliefs of the ancient Toltec people. When used correctly, these spiritual beliefs allow the reader to significantly alter their lives by reinforcing concepts like more genuine freedom, true happiness, and love within themselves. The four agreements are:
1.Be impeccable with your word.
2.Don’t take anything personally.
3.Don’t make assumptions.
4.Always do your best.
Don Miguel Ruiz harps on the idea that, if one follows these four agreements, they will find peace within themselves.
Agreement 1: Be Impeccable with Your Word.
“A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything.”
– Malcolm X
The first agreement is to be impeccable with your word. Ruiz states this as the most important agreement because it embodies taking responsibility for one’s actions. As an African American man taking the leap into corporate America, I have always felt as though there were certain things I could not speak on. I chose to change this sentiment within myself because being impeccable with your word does not mean to shy away from awkward conversation, but to express your true beliefs in an upstanding way. I love Ruiz’s message that our words are magic, and we must use them in the highest of regards. After implementing this concept into my everyday life, I saw a change in the way I carried out my interviews. My mindset shifted from “trying to sell myself and meet the expectations of interviewers” to “realizing I am also the item in demand and vocalizing my desires and expectations”. Being impeccable with your word will help strengthen your core values which will help you make decisions that align with your true-life goals.
Agreement 2: Don’t Take Anything Personally.
“It’s fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.”
– Bill Gates
Like any other Georgia teenager with aspirations of pursuing a career in technology, attending Georgia Institute of Technology was my dream. Thus, my last semester before graduation when I was accepted for a co-op position at the Georgia Tech Research Institute CIPHER lab, I was elated. My goal was to use this co-op in order to strengthen my graduate application to Georgia Tech the following fall. Once in the program, my passion for Tech continued to grow from the exposure to the countless learning opportunities I was presented there. I was surrounded by extraordinarily energetic peers and talented mentors who gave me meaningful projects to sharpen my skills. I was honored to be part of Georgia Tech, but unfortunately, this feeling was short lived. Without thinking, I posted a picture of myself holding my Georgia Tech ID card on LinkedIn in celebration of receiving the job, accidentally exposing my ID number . For this security mistake, I was dismissed two weeks into the co-op. It was a painful lesson, but one that I have taken to heart and learned from. At the time my world was over, but this failure taught me an amazing lesson to never take anything personal. Your failures never define you!
Agreement 3: Don’t Make Assumptions.
“The road to success and the road to failure are almost exactly the same.”
– Colin R. Davis
Don Miguel Ruiz states at the beginning of this chapter making assumptions is a leading factor in causing humans suffering, and even though that is an assumption we can still see the truth in the statement . We try to use assumptions to fill what we do not know which only leads us to more confusion and stress. After being fired from my co-op at Georgia Tech, I was back in school with no classes for the semester and no idea what my future entailed. I assumed that pushing my Graduation time would affect my career negatively. After remembering agreement three, “don’t make assumptions”, I decided only I could help improve my future. I began applying to many companies and attending every career fair I could. That summer, I ended up receiving a job as a Video Engineer. This was a job I didn’t even remember applying for and that was not in line with my major,however I did not make assumptions and took the job which I worked at for a year. Pushing back my graduation allowed me to receive a co-op opportunity that provided me with real life work experience and helped strengthen my resume . When looking for a co-op or internship, always think about yourself first regardless of the title or pay. If you feel like you will be comfortable taking the chance take it and don’t make assumptions, because any experiences can help shape your future.
Agreement 4: Always Do Your Best.
“ When you try your best, but you don’t succeed.”
– Cold play
No one wants you to succeed more than yourself. When you live everyday like it is your last you will always force yourself to be at your best. One thing a lot of us do not realize is it takes a lot of courage to be our best selves. This is because humans are afraid to fail. Doing my best allowed me to reach heights I never thought possible. To think a year ago I got fired and had no sense of direction, giving up would have been the easiest way out. Your best will never be the same as it was yesterday, your best will sometimes be better than other times. When you wake up on vacation , your best will be better than when you wake up before work. Your best won’t be the same when you’re sick vs healthy,however you always owe it to yourself to do your best at whatever you do.
“Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are tired as opposed to well-rested. Under any circumstance, simply do your best and you will avoid self-judgments-abuse, and regret”
– Don Miguel Ruiz
The Four Agreements has helped thousands of readers transform their lives . When I think back to the day when I stumbled on this book , I never would have expected for it to touch me and change my life the way it did. The knowledge is there; it’s just waiting for you to use it.
The idea to share my story was inspired by Mara Harts’ “How I went from no coding experience to a Microsoft offer in one year” https://medium.com/swlh/how-i-went-from-no-coding-experience-to-a-microsoft-offer-in-1-year-91d7b8c8b464
Daniel Omuto 