What It Takes

I need to lock the fuck in

My dad used to say:

“Ikoko to ba ma jata idi e agbono.”

Meaning: You have to work hard to get the life you want.

I understand that saying differently now.

When you’re younger, hard work sounds like a nice idea. Something adults say. But when you start building a life for yourself, it becomes real, you begin to understand the kind of work it takes to become who you said you wanted to be.

Recently, Bash and I had a call with a mentor about what it really takes to build a business.

And wow.

It’s not child’s play.

It made me pause for a second.

Am I a little scared? Yes.
Do I still believe in myself? Also yes.

So why am I worried?

Because sometimes belief and fear exist in the same room.

And that’s okay.

I know now that I don’t have the luxury of bed-rotting anymore.

I don’t have the luxury of endless procrastination, of only doing things when I feel like it, of delaying the life I keep saying I want. I’m fully aware of the work that has to go in, and honestly?

Shit is getting real.

Let me also let the cat out of the bag, this year, I decided I was going to work for myself. I registered my company and started putting the necessary things in place. In my six years as a designer, I’ve realized something: I’ve always enjoyed contract projects and passion projects more than working inside a company.

I earn more that way.
I grow faster that way.
And design feels more alive when I have control over the process.

Especially without a stressful founder/Tech lead trying to micromanage every creative decision 😭

Freelancing taught me boundaries, ownership, and confidence.

But I also realized I wasn’t fully stepping into that identity.

I wasn’t allowing it to become part of me.

Then Bash said something that stayed with me:

“You are in a new era. Look the part.”

That line hit me deeply.

Because sometimes the next version of your life requires the next version of you to show up first.

So that’s where I am now.

Learning.
Stretching.
Showing up differently.

There’s still a lot to figure out, but I’m ready.

And to you, reading this:

If you’re putting in the work this year, I see you.

The quiet discipline.
The sacrifices no one notices.
The consistency that doesn’t get applause yet.

I’m rooting for you 🤍

Hover recently received our partnership certificate from Camanda Graduate School Tech Training, and looking back, I’m proud we were able to make that happen.

For our pad drive, we’re partnering with Lilac Africa, a community dedicated to unlocking the potential of women through education in design and technology.

We’ll also be hosting an online discussion for women to share their experiences around menstruation and how it affects them personally.

This conversation is part of building awareness and momentum for the drive.

I’m still working on the Hover website, i know it’s overdue, I’ll share it as soon as it’s ready.

It’s a new week
Take a deep breath, and let’s fuck things up.

With love,
Ojuolape from Hover Africa 🩶