Adopt Adapt Achieve: An Amazing Triple A Guide for Successful Relocation, Change and Integration

Adopt Adapt Achieve

An Amazing Triple A Guide for  Successful Relocation, Change and Integration

Ephraim Osaghae MBL, PMP, MBA

Author of A Handbook for Migrants and Voices from Home

Copyright @2020 by Ephraim Osaghae

Published by Tri-W Pty Ltd

Disclaimer: The information provided within this publication including observations made and lessons learned, are of the nature of general comments only. While we try to keep the information up-to-date and correct, there are no representations or warranties, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the information, products, services, or related graphics contained in this publication for any purpose. Any use of this information is at your own risk. It is recommended that the reader obtain their own independent information and advice, where applicable. 

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

ISBN (Paperback): 978-0-6484799-5-6

ISBN (eBook): 978-0-6484799-6-3

DEDICATION

To immigrants, locals and the multicultural world…

and all that makes the change more worthwhile

Acknowledgement

I want to thank Monica Martin, Malcolm and Jill Innes, Cornelius Itotoh, and Lakshmi Kanchi for kindly using part of their precious time and efforts to read the manuscripts, or parts thereof, of this book. Their critique and feedback have contributed to enriching the final version.

My special acknowledgement goes to friends, colleagues and members in various organisations in the community, business and governmental sectors. The valuable interactions with them and other stakeholders have contributed to the information, experiences and inspiration for writing this book.

Finally, I would like to appreciate my family for the ongoing partnership and support in this educating, challenging and rewarding adventure of relocation, change and integration. 

Table of Contents

1. The Need For A Guide

2. Some Background Information

3 Change Is About The Only Certainty In Life

3.1 Prepare, Prepare, Prepare; But Expect Changes

3.2 SMART goals are smart indeed

4 Adopt Adapt Achieve

4.1 Family

4.1.1 Family Life: How to Adopt your New Country

4.1.2 Adapt or you could become extinct!

4.1.3 Achieve your family goals!

4.2 Career

4.2.1 Are your Career Goals SMART?

4.2.2 Do you need SWOT Analysis for your Career?

4.2.3 Career: How to Adopt your new country

4.2.4 How to Adapt in sustaining your Career

4.2.5 Achieve your professional & career goals!

4.3 Ageing

5 Concluding Remarks

1. The Need For A Guide

Everyone regularly needs guidance in life. It could be in the form of being shown the way, especially by others that have navigated the same path thereby avoiding pitfalls and pains while maximizing gains along the way. Guidance could also be provided as valuable information or advice which will help in the formation of opinions or in making decisions. Finally, it could be presented as signposts to direct motion and positioning to help maintain and keep within the set pathway. What if all these are packaged and delivered in a book that can be simple, reusable and transferable?

Immigration is an important endeavour that warrants guidance in many respects to achieve a successful outcome. The Immigration Department of the host country will typically own the entire immigration process, including the specific categories, countries of origin, frequency of visa programs, and the number of intakes. They will also determine the eligibility and the ultimate approval for those who they are accepting as immigrants. Even they are guided.

There are other parties involved in the immigration value chain. They include nominating employers (where applicable), immigration agents, service providers that support immigrants on arrival for their settlement, etc.

All these stakeholders are guided, using government and private sector legislation, regulations, guidelines and protocols in their work within this space of immigration. Whilst they will definitely enjoy some benefits from reading this book, the focus and target audience are immigrants themselves – the intending, new, and established immigrants. They need guidance. They need to hear and read the stories of others that have gone ahead of them – the good, the challenges and the lessons. They will also be gainfully guided by information, direction, and leadership – the type of information and anecdotal experiences that will not necessarily duplicate those received from relevant government agencies, immigration agents and service providers.

Rather they need intelligence that will come from lived experiences of immigrants that have walked the path that they are currently anticipating to get on sooner or later. This is what this book delivers. It provides the immigrant with guidance especially in the following key aspects:

How to prepare for the relocation including the need to articulate and cherish their ‘Whys’ for the big move, and anticipated changes ahead.

How to adopt the new country and residence because of the need to achieve and sustain the right balance between the prevailing sociocultural norms and the immigrants’ own cultural background and uniqueness.

How to adapt and remain relevant in the new domain while maintaining their competitive edge in dealing with change.

How to achieve their set goals while integrating and contributing to national growth in their new country.

How to undertake the steps above in the context of three key and interrelated aspects of life – family, career and ageing.

The importance of the work of specialists in the areas of family therapy, career counselling, and ageing is fully recognised. However, these services cannot replace the benefits of guidance based on lived experiences. The combined use of theory and experience will ultimately be more robustly practical and effective.

Remarkably though, the growing evidence of ongoing challenges in these aspects of life for most immigrants, have warranted further guidance and actions. There is an increasing need to shift more of the immigrant‘s frustrating experiences to more rewarding and sustainable successes. The incentives for efforts towards this goal should not rest with just the immigrants themselves but all