BOOK REVIEW: Take stock of who you have become on the journey to becoming

AUTHOR: Funmilola Asa

Have you ever found yourself on life’s journey with the nagging feeling of “I have not done enough?” I know I have, until recently. Reading ‘Take Stock’ took me on a journey I had long avoided, one buried deep within. It is a powerful read that leaves a bittersweet, yet deeply realistic, taste in your mouth.

Funmilola, with her remarkable storytelling, brings the book’s messages to life in a way that resonates deeply and connects with the core of the reader. The timeless nature of this book makes it clear that it is far from mere entertainment. It is a call to purpose, inviting you to pause, reflect, and engage in the practice of self-stock taking.

This book challenges you to take a step back and reflect on your life, offering not just a moment of self-reflection but an invitation to embark on a lifelong journey of self-inquiry. And that, in its essence, is the true beauty of Take Stock.

Welcome to your stock-taking journey to becoming!

Mosopefoluwa Akinrinmade

Legal Advisory (corporate and financial services) LLM in International Tax Law | BL | LLB

I found the book, ‘Take Stock of who you have become on the journey to becoming’, to be a powerful read that resonated deeply with me and my journey. What stood out to me the most is the idea of stabiliSing your core. For me, this encompasses everything: your mental state, your physical health, your emotional well-being, and your spiritual standing. I realise that you really have to be whole for you to be able to fulfill your God-given assignment. If you are not whole, it becomes difficult, if not impossible.

The book showed me how critical emotional well-being is. It also showed me how to take stock. Life events can cause a massive, long-lasting change if you’re not being observant or intentional about taking stock of where you are emotionally. If you’re not emotionally healthy, you’ll find yourself stuck or unable to move forward. Even as a doctor, you have to be in a place where everything is aligned, or you can’t help someone else who isn’t stable. If I’m not emotionally healthy, how do I help someone who is physically or emotionally unhealthy? That realisation hit me hard, and it’s something I’ve held on to ever since.

This book isn’t something you read once and leave on the shelf. It’s a resource you return to again and again because life gets busy, and it’s so easy to pick up baggage without realising it. The book serves as a reminder to stop, take stock, and recalibrate so you don’t end up back in places you’ve worked hard to leave behind. For me, it’s more than just a book; it’s a guide that helps me realign whenever life tries to throw me off balance.

Reading this book has been a transformational experience for me. It’s helped me stay grounded, aligned, and emotionally whole. I’ve learned how to take stock of where I’ve been and what life has done to me emotionally. This is the kind of resource that every home should have, something you turn to again and again as life unfolds.

Temilola Akintunde MD CCFP

Clinical Preceptor and Competency Coach

Department of Family Medicine, University of Calgary

The book ‘Take Stock of Who You Have Become on the Journey to Becoming’ by Funmilola Asa can be beautifully summarised by this Bible reference: “Help us to remember that our days are numbered and help us interpret our lives correctly.”- Psalm 90 vs 12 (The Passion Translation).

I came across this book in December 2023. What better time than the end of the year to take stock and plan for the next? The book was such a value add that I couldn’t put it down until I read every page.

I highly recommend this book to everyone. It’s more than a tool for planning ahead, it helps you appreciate your journey, celebrate your achievements, and prepare for greater impact. As a faith-based and practical guide to purposeful and impactful living, it reminds us that navigating life’s complexities requires a higher power and that faith plays a pivotal role in achieving true excellence.

The book is divided into two parts: The first focuses on key dimensions to take stock: well-being, assignment, opportunities and gifting, journey and resources. The second addresses the build-up: why take stock, how to take stock, and post-examination.

It’s practical, reflective, and continuous – a must-read and a great gift for anyone seeking to maximise their potential.

I leave you with my favorite quotes to inspire you to get your copy:

“Life’s opportunities must be filtered with the lenses of who you are, where you are going, and where you are, relative to your destination.”

“Being in the same direction as others doesn’t always translate to the same destinations. Chart your own course intentionally.”

“When you do not take stock, people will do it for you, and it may not always be aligned to where you need to be.”

Taking stock is a personal journey, one that cannot be outsourced. Funmilola Asa expertly teaches how to take stock. So, if you’re looking to gain clarity, live purposefully, and embrace your potential, “Take Stock of Who You Have Become on Your Journey to Becoming” is the perfect companion. I wholeheartedly recommend this for every home!

Aderonke Oluwafunmilayo Adeyinka

Senior management staff of a leading bank in Nigeria

I first read ‘Take Stock of Who You Have Become on the Journey to Becoming’ three years ago as a manuscript but rereading it recently has been a deeply personal experience. Last year was a particularly challenging time for me, and opening the book again was amazing. It felt so relevant to my life right now. I’ve been working for 15 years, and I’m at a point where I’m asking myself questions: What do I want to do for the next phase of my career? What path do I want to take in my personal life? The book has been like a guide, helping me reflect on my past and intentionally shape my future.

The chapter on purpose especially stood out to me. I’ve never been one of those people who think they have some grand purpose in life, I’ve always had many interests and wasn’t sure about my purpose. But the book offered a new perspective, showing that purpose isn’t just passion. It’s also your opportunities, the challenges you’ve faced, and the people around you. This perspective was eye-opening. It made me reflect on my own difficulties and realize they’re not just wasted experiences. They hold lessons that can help me live intentionally and leave value in the world.

For me, this book is a guidebook for anyone at a critical point in life. It gives you the tools to sit down, reflect, and plot the next steps in your journey. As someone in my 40s, this resonates deeply, whether it’s reviewing the past 15 years or planning the next. It’s practical and full of insight.

Taking stock isn’t easy, but this book makes it achievable. “When you do not take stock, people will do it for you, and it may not always be aligned to where you need to be.” That’s a lesson I’ll carry forward. This book has helped me navigate my now and has shown me how to approach the future with clarity and intention.

Amaka Momah-Haruna

International Development Expert & Global Health Specialist

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Funmilola Asa is a transformational catalyst on a mission to drive transformation for individuals and organisations by decoding insights that enable them to make the step change in performance towards becoming better version of themselves. She is a mother, wife, author, public speaker and lover of God. Funmilola is a thought leader on key topics in strategy, system thinking, personal development and her Christian faith. She is passionate about sharing insights from her life story, experiences and learnings to help others grow and evolve. Funmilola is a seasoned influential leader and strategy expert with close of two decades experience in the energy industry.

The book can be purchased at Roving Heights Book store, The BookSellers Jericho Ibadan and at Bookville World PortHarcourt. It is also available on Amazon and on author’s website https://www.funmilolaasa.com/shop.