WHEN IT ALL STARTED AND WHY:

So growing up, I actually wanted to be a veterinarian doctor because I love animals (people find it weird I like cats in particular) but I got a B in O'level Maths which the headmaster to the school I wanted to transfer to didn't like (I know right?)

So instead, guy decided to chuck me into the commercials class. He didn't know me or where I came from and this high school is really particular about who they let in and what they should enroll for.
I was a little disheartened but heck, I'm in the school I wanted to go to so yay

As I was introduced to the A'level class, I skimmed through all my textbooks to see what I'd like.

Economics? Seemed boring with all the figures and stats.
Accounting? Jeez, debit and credit sides NEVER balanced
Business Studies? I really looked at the the marketing part like:

And when we did that particular section, I was KILLING it. I don't know if my classmate @chengewangu remembers this

Long story short, I passed to enroll at @nustzim for an honors degree in Marketing. Things are going well, but it didn't come easy...

I was actually offered a bursary by a relative to study Finance. If I took that up, my tuition was on him. This would have been a financial relief for my single mum but then would I be happy doing something I don't want to do?
As the loving mum she is, she said she's got this

Fast forward to attachment/internship year, after much effort I landed a spot at MASCA where I worked for both branches in Bulawayo and Harare. This was my introduction to the professional world of marketing and to say I was excited is an understatement

After a successful attachment and clocking the final year of varsity, I really had to think deep about which aspect of marketing I'd like to run with.

MASCA was great but it was a little limiting in that I only got to professionally work with ONE brand. How do I diversify?

Remember the bursary guy? He kept in touch & found out I completed my degree. As a business man, he was impressed even though I didn't take up his offer
So he said he'd introduce me to a colleague who he knew dealt somewhere in marketing. And that's how I found my first mentor

He was the founder of a successful advertising agency in SA and that chat at the @RadissonBlu hotel in Sandton changed my life forever.

He spoke of his work with so many big brands as well as the perks and that's when I knew what I wanted to do. Advertising!

However, finding an agency in Bulawayo was difficult (which was weird when I look at it in hindsight because MASCA was indirectly affiliated to one) so made the executive decision to move to Harare.

I hate to admit this but there was a female motivating that decision as well

After failed attempts at various other jobs unrelated to advertising, I decided to just look up the best agency in Zim and legit walk through the door with my limited CV. Fortunately for me, the CEO of that agency I applied to liked that kind of tenacity and hired me on the spot

After a few glorious months (everyone who's worked at that agency KNOWS a few months is enough), I had gone through the crucible of advertising. I was sharpened like no other and I knew I could do anything. I had also enrolled for my MBA so I was like:

However, because I had worked for the best agency and had higher education coming through, I was over qualified for most places I applied to. I was unemployed for quite a while and that's when tragedies struck:

I lost everything, my car, my apartment, heck even my girl

2018 into 2019 was when I went through what I would call a rebirth:

I started to pursue other passions (acting), stayed with my mum for a bit and finished off my MBA. I kept in touch with marketing and that's when I discovered digital marketing.

Another light bulb moment

I would honestly consider this as opportunity meeting my preparation (or "luck") and God's grace when I got the call from one of my mentors @RMakuchete to join his agency (after an interview, of course) and also accompany him on a project in SA.

Now THIS is where it all changed

To say this was the best move of my career, again, is an understatement. Not only did I get to sit at the feet of one of my mentors and learn from him daily, but I got to also do it in SA where marketing is on steroids.

I have been sharpened before but this was something else!

To cut the long story short:

I'm currently the digital officer for @_vpcg_ and run successful campaigns for some of Zimbabwe's biggest brands.

My passion has always been the creative execution of brand stories and now I get to do it in a digital way.

Of course, there's still many challenges and obstacles as nothing worth doing is ever smooth-sailing. But with the way things are going, I can safely say that the future is hella bright and I might need me some polarized shades for all this glare. Yikes

So the points of this thread on this platform is this:

- Mentors are REALLY important for your career progression. Find one (or more) and stay close.
- Doing what you love is more important than doing what you can. It may suck & take forever to get there but be intentional

There's a lot I left out due to time so obviously follow me on my personal handle @allistarvolo on all platforms for this and more (I'm a wild one on Twitter though, you've been warned)

Stay tuned to the rest of the day for more! Consider this your ice breaker!

Good morning!