Bamigbaiye, in Imperfectly Awesome…, reinforces tenacity of hope, resilience

Title: Imperfectly Awesome: Embracing And Becoming A Wholesome You
Author: Omotola Bamigbaiye
Year of Publication: 2024
Pages: 201
Genre: Non-Fiction

De javu. Restless. Nervous. Pensive. Such terse words are often used after going through well-written books, especially memoirs, biographies and non-fiction.

Dr. Omotola Bamigbaiye’s inspiring and thought-provoking memoir, Imperfectly Awesome: Embracing And Becoming A Wholesome You, is one of such books that echo the feeling of deep classification.

A memoir is a personal account of a specific part of the author’s life, written from their perspective. It is different from (auto)biography, which is a detailed account of someone else’s entire life, usually with extensive research involved. Essentially, a memoir focuses on personal experiences and emotions, while a biography aims for a more objective portrayal of facts about a person’s life. A memoir typically focuses on a specific period or theme within the author’s life, whereas a biography covers a person’s entire life story.

The book is an elegant and poignant coming of age account that considers intense experiences. It details both the ordinary and extraordinary. It is a bracing memoir about growing up, and about moving through the world in search of meaning and belonging: A search for self, and the solace that can be found in logic personal narratives.

Divided into eight chapters, a foreword, introduction and conclusion, written in an honest, relatable tone, the author shares her life’s journey in a way that is both honest and inspiring. Through stories of resilience, self-acceptance, and growth, she shares her stories of becoming to help people love, reinvent themselves and bloom — just the way they were designed to do.

Written in the first-person narrative, she captivates readers with her simple yet elegant writing style, weaving vivid imagery of her experiences that will undoubtedly inspire.

Bamigbaiye opens up herself to scrutiny of hawks as she budges through the pages, sometimes, with tears from broken trust, as events cobble her heart, and burying the words in a lair.

Each chapter opens with a compelling encounter, ranging from humorous to daring. For example, in the Introduction, she recounted attending a job interview while heavily pregnant, leaving the interviewers in a perplexed state as they wondered if she could endure the interview or if the baby would arrive before its conclusion.

The memoir, a gripping tale of travails and triumphs, and moments of introspection, takes the reader through 201 pages of emotional catharsis.

“Every chapter of this book is about an experience that had happened to me, and how I overcame it, a bit of advice to people who might also be in the same situation and how they can stand strong for themselves,” she says.

Through stories of resilience, perseverance, self-acceptance and growth, Bamigbaiye shares her experiences of facing life’s challenges head-on and finding strength through self-love. She suggests that imperfection can be a launchpad, a force that pushes people toward becoming their best selves. Each chapter in the memoir is complemented by a profound life lesson, inspiring readers to navigate their own challenges with resilience and perseverance.

Imperfectly Awesome transcends being just a book. It is a rallying cry for anyone who has ever felt inadequate, struggled with imposter syndrome, or lost in the corporate world. With its relatable narrative and practical advice, it promises to be a source of inspiration, hope, and comfort for readers on their journey towards self-love and fulfillment.

One of the highlights of the book is page 104, where the author describes her short-lived romance with a man named Kabir.

Also, in chapter six, titled, “ Good Enough,” Bamigbaiye reflects on how society’s standards makes her to doubt herself. She reveals the pressures of trying to meet those expectations, especially as a Black woman, and shares how she learned to start each day by reminding herself of her worth. With her head raised high and a glance in the mirror she reminded herself of who she is: “When I began to know to recognise my worth, I woke up each morning with a sense of purpose knowing that I was the captain of my life. ‘I can’t’ only fuels my desire to subdue limitations and surpass expectations.”

Most readers of the book would be enthralled by the author’s vivid descriptions and concrete imageries. As you read through some of the pages and chapters of the book, every sentence is soaked with emotion, drawing listeners into her world.

It’s as if the room becomes a shared space of memory, where the line between the writer’s experiences and the audience’s empathy blurs. The memoir also includes stories of balancing motherhood and work life. In one chapter, she compares her daily juggling act to a music conductor, using one hand to rock her baby and the other to manage her office tasks.

Bamigbaiye’s career journey has been anything but smooth. At her first job, she was the youngest employee, a role that earned her a reputation for being overzealous.

When the company restructured, she was one of the first to be laid off. Yet, instead of giving up, she found a new career as a university lecturer. Through this journey, she finds a renewed sense of purpose and the courage to overcome limitations.

Bamigbaiye, PhD, is a seasoned marketing professional with a go-to-market mindset, in the crafting and implementation of consumer-centric and resonant marketing strategies in global FMCG companies.

She is known to be a visionary leader and strong influencer, with an impressive track record in portfolio management. Dr T, as she is fondly called, is passionate about seeing commercial plans come alive, hence, as an adjunct lecturer, she shares learnings from actual execution to create a fusion for theory thought in classrooms to deliver a holistic view.

In the book, she emphasises the need to always ask for help when the needs arises, “is okay to break down sometimes, love yourself, reinvent and bloom just the way you were designed to.”