Femi Ogunleye is an investment banker, a chartered stockbroker, and an entrepreneur who had, in the past 15+ years, made so many mistakes, fell a zillion times, been through dark and harsh patches but has been able to overcome these challenges without resentment or bitterness. He is on a mission to ensure people, especially teenagers and young adults avoid repeating the same mistakes.
My many failures in life, the current social trajectory and the need to enlighten people inspired me to write the journals. I realized that many challenges we face as adults are errors ignored as children. If not addressed, we will continue in cycles, blaming everything else but our ignorance. Sadly, many parents and schools teach students how to make a living and not how to live purposefully. What we lack as a people is not the skill set to make a living but values, self-awareness and identity to live intentionally. If we do not adequately define or discover who we are, we will likely run into challenges in life no matter how “successful” we appear to be.
Although our target is teenagers and young adults because they are yet to make catastrophic life decisions, many fully grown adults have shown interest and purchased journals for personal development and re-alignment.
3. Can you give us an overview of the 12 principles included in your journal?
I narrowed these values/principles into twelve across four broad sub-categories forming the sets; Definition, Discovery, Development and Dependable.
Definition helps address the question “WHY”. It questions motives, intents, helps sets goals and encourages you to pursue them. Principles covered are Vision, Discipline and Courage.
Discovery helps you understand your environment and how to engage it positively. It talks about unity and brings into consciousness our humanity. It advocates collaboration instead unhealthy competition. The principles covered are Generosity, Ubuntu and Adaptability.
Development helps develop a personal character that helps sustain an individual irrespective of the environment or challenges faced. The principles covered are Love, Patience and Humility.
Dependable highlights equity, justice and leadership. It helps elevate our thinking to a governmental level by advocating a balanced society. The principles covered are Justice, Leadership and Integrity.
Many journals in the market have helped people achieve their goals; however, The HUBU Journals, in addition to helping you achieve your goals, addresses the issue of self-identity or self-awareness. They encourage you to continuously introspect and consider uncomfortable questions you might want to avoid. The journals forces you to examine yourself, your actions and your motives. It is very flexible to use, and if used as a group, it helps healthily converge concepts and enlighten divergent views. The HUBU Journals address not just what you are but also who you are.
5. How can your journal help high-achieving individuals further enhance their personal and professional lives?
The act of reflection is the core of The HUBU Journals. Without proper self-analysis, we risk curating a poor vision and goals for ourselves. Each journal has a daily goal, a weekly summary of the goals achieved and not, and lessons learnt. It is a continuous cycle of self-evaluation, self-discovery, goal resetting and refining vision. The HUBU Journals help reveal weaknesses, strengths and opportunities for growth while providing exercises to help adjust. This continuous cycle of learning and development keeps high-achieving individuals on top of their game.
My advice is to have an open mind for growth and development; many people are afraid to look inwards and see themselves for who they are. It will be helpful to find a companion, friend, spouse, family member or colleague who wishes to embark on this transformational journey of self discovery. A companion will help sharpen your mind through constructive conversations, encourage when uncomfortable and provide healing when hurt. It is an adventure worth pursuing. There is a proverb that says “If you want to go fast, walk alone; if you want to go far, walk with a friend”. The HUBU Journals can be used in groups, schools, churches, offices, and families to help create, define, and refine culture based on understanding.
History has shown that most successful people in the world keep journals. President Barack Obama, Jim Rohn, Oprah Winfrey, Winston Churchill, Maya Angelou, Thomas Jefferson and Anne Frank (the teenager who died in World War II), to mention a few. Maintaining a journal is extremely important; it is like a guardian angel that shines in dark moments, encourages when in doubt, refines ideas and tells you why you cannot give up, more importantly, tracks and celebrates your progress, and reveals you to you.
Unfortunately, the art and act of journaling is not a widespread culture in Nigeria, and we have lost invaluable lessons and wisdom from the people before us. Imagine a father passing the journal of his life to his children just before passing; what treasure it would be.
8. Where can our readers purchase your journal, and are there any exclusive offers available for our magazine’s subscribers?
You can purchase The HUBU Journals by sending an email to [email protected], or Whatsapp at +234 808 916 9838 or @thehubuteam. There is a discount for group purchases of over five sets using the code LVHUBU. It is a good time to get The HUBU Journals for yourself and your children during the long holiday. It is also a fantastic graduation gift and birthday present (The HUBU Journals are 100% Made in Nigeria, leatherback and hand-made).
