My Thought Today: Take a Stand, Make a Difference

Hi,


I would always remember an analogy a friend used in a discussion in our hostel room in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. A guy who obviously stayed in that room the last semester wrote on the wall, something like - James Peter stayed here, 1998-1999. Truth is that we don't know who James Peter (fictitious name) is but we met his name on the wall of our room. For a person like myself that tries to think deeply, this generated loads of question in my mind. While discussing with my friend, he gave me this analogy. For every bed space in that room, different people have stayed there. Some of them are well known and most of them are forgotten. Which category which you choose to be?

For every nation, millions of people die without a story or an accomplishment to their credit. I have learnt in life that some people would come and carve their names on the sands of history while most would not. It is a decision one has to make in his/her lifetime. As for me, I choose not to be ignored. I chose to live a meaningful life that will be talked about years after my demise. I choose to take my stand in d annals of history and make a difference. I choose not to be so traditional or fixed to an idea that is not productive. I choose to live my live as a role model for others.

My challenge to us all to get our name so meaningful to friends and family is to TAKE A STAND so as to MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

The question in most people's mind is why should they take their stand or of what significance is their contribution? Some even see more of the problem and had never seen themselves trying to solve it. These statements are my answers to their questions.

1. Salt does not have to be the same quality as any soup or food before it makes a difference.
No matter your level, size, status, age, religion or tradition, YOU alone can make a huge difference. Just take your stand.

2. No matter how big the fire is, it starts with a little spark.
Yes, a little spark. I wish we would just go ahead doing good no matter how little we see them to be. When we take time to look back, we would see what awesome thing we have done. Always remember, just a little spark.

3. No matter how long the night may be, the dawn cometh soon.
When dawn comes, its signifies joy. You might have been having this experience of a long night. It seems your night time is never ending. You know what, hold on because its almost dawn. You have been taking your stand and it seems no progress, just keep at it because our time of celebration is here.

Lets spread this gospel. Lets challenge ourselves to TAKE A STAND. Only when we take our stand, then we can MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Your Friend and Brother,
Albert Afolabi
"Born to Impact, Never to Impress"
www.daalberto.blogspot.com

My Thought Today:Take a Stand, MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Hi,

Let me use this opportunity to apologize for not having posted any note for a while. I had some issues with my facebook page. I was unable to change my status or upload any note. I just got it sorted our through a meaningful advise I got from one of my I.T friend.

I would always remember an analogy a friend used in a discussion in our hostel room in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. A guy who obviously stayed in that room the last semester wrote on the wall, something like - James Peter stayed here, 1998-1999. Truth is that we don't know who James Peter (fictitious name) is but we met his name on the wall of our room. For a person like myself that tries to think deeply, this generated loads of question in my mind. While discussing with my friend, he gave me this analogy. For every bed space in that room, different people have stayed there. Some of them are well known and most of them are forgotten. Which category which you choose to be?

For every nation, millions of people die without a story or an accomplishment to their credit. I have learnt in life that some people would come and carve their names on the sands of history while most would not. It is a decision one has to make in his/her lifetime. As for me, I choose not to be ignored. I chose to live a meaningful life that will be talked about years after my demise. I choose to take my stand in d annals of history and make a difference. I choose not to be so traditional or fixed to an idea that is not productive. I choose to live my live as a role model for others.

My challenge to us all to get our name so meaningful to friends and family is to TAKE A STAND so as to MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

The question in most people's mind is why should they take their stand or of what significance is their contribution? Some even see more of the problem and had never seen themselves trying to solve it. These statements are my answers to their questions.

1. Salt does not have to be the same quality as any soup or food before it makes a difference.
No matter your level, size, status, age, religion or tradition, YOU alone can make a huge difference. Just take your stand.

2. No matter how big the fire is, it starts with a little spark.
Yes, a little spark. I wish we would just go ahead doing good no matter how little we see them to be. When we take time to look back, we would see what awesome thing we have done. Always remember, just a little spark.

3. No matter how long the night may be, the dawn cometh soon.
When dawn comes, its signifies joy. You might have been having this experience of a long night. It seems your night time is never ending. You know what, hold on because its almost dawn. You have been taking your stand and it seems no progress, just keep at it because our time of celebration is here.

Lets spread this gospel. Lets challenge ourselves to TAKE A STAND. Only when we take our stand, then we can MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

Your Friend and Brother,
Albert Afolabi
"Born to Impact, Never to Impress"
www.daalberto.blogspot.com

My Thought Today: Friends are Great

Hi All,

Just a quick thought for today.

Take your time to invest in every relationship you are involved in. Never jam the door on any relationship. Try to be at peace with everyone you come across. The person you meet today might be your saving grace tomorrow.

Value people and most importantly respect friends. I keep saying this that your friends are people who can point to you when it matters. Look at this for example, do you know how many people have gotten their jobs because their friends was there to mention their names? I have had different situations when I get a specific requirement for someone with a job and I would have to first look inwards to see if any of my friends meets the requirement before I look outside.

Give your best to your friends, be there for them always, help them as much as you can. By doing this, you are making life better for yourself.

Cheers

Your Friend and Brother,
Albert Afolabi
"Born to Impact, Never to Impress"
www.daalberto.blogspot.com

My Thought Today: Work Life Principles

Hi All,

How was the weekend? Hope great?. Let me use this opportunity to welcome you all to the month of November. I know many of us are challenged by the arrival of this new month. For some people, it's been funny because they are far from all they have planned to achieve this year. My challenge for you is not to loose hope. It's never to late. Like for me, I wrote in my goal to have my accommodation by June this year and it looked so impossible. To the glory of God, I got it so easily in October. I did not have to sweat for it. All things will surely work together for you good. Just believe.

Like I said on friday, I want to share with you some quotes I came across when I made my mind to start working while in the university. They are from Zig Ziglar's book - Breaking through to the next level. Do go along with me.

1. The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor - Zig Ziglar

2. I have studied the lives of great men and famous women and I found out that the men and women who got to the top were those who did the jobs they had in hand with everything they had of energy, enthusiasm, and hard work. – Harry S. Truman

3. Our business in life is not to get ahead of others, but to get ahead of ourselves, to break our own records, to outstrip our yesterday by our today. – Stuart B. Johnson

4. Reality tells us that your biggest task, your biggest objective, should be not to get ahead of others but to use your own ability to increase your own performance.

5. A big man is not one who makes no mistakes, but one who is bigger than any mistakes he makes. – Zig Ziglar

6. We are told that talents creates it ow opportunities, but it sometimes seems that intense desires creates not only its own opportunities, but its own talents. – Eric Hoffer

7. He who has done his best for his own time has lived for all times. – Johann Von Schiller

8. The only difference between a big shot and a little shot is that a big shot is just a little shot that kept shooting.

9. We all get two gifts we should use as much as possible – imagination and humour. Imagination compensates us for what we are; a sense of humour compensates us for what we are.

10. You are only one – but you are one, and one person can make a difference.

11. Time flies. It’s up to you to be the navigator. – Robert Orben

12. I never knew a man who was good at making excuses who was good at anything else. – Benjamin Franklin

13. Little things make big differences in evry facet of life, so to get the most out of life, give life the little extra that makes the difference between winning and losing.

14. The three great essentials to achieve anything worthwhile are first, hard work, second,
stick-to-itiveness, third, common sense. – Thomas Edison

These quotes has helped me a lot and i have been able to carve out my core values from them.

My challenge to you is that what principles are you living your life based on? In times of uncertainties or pressure, can you stand by these principles and are these principles strong enough to see you through?

Keep shining and be ready to break through to your next level.

Your Friend and Brother,
Albert Afolabi
"Born to Impact, Never to Impress"
www.daalberto.blogspot.com

My Thought Today: Just Do It

Hi All,

So great to be talking to you again. My initial thought today was to share some quotes I got from Zig Ziglar's book (Breaking through to the next level) with you. My desire is just to share the principle I have been holding onto for a while with respect to my work life. Principles don't change and they are very effective. I will still share the principles just that an issue came up and I would love to share it with you.

I met a wonderful colleague on the way and she looks kind of concerned. She saw a lady with her 10-12 year old boy on the way coming to the office. They were both naked and they don't look mad. She felt so much concerned for them and she took to action immediately. She called many of her friends who ran different NGO' s or work in some radio stations to see if any could help to cloth the woman and her kid or sort whatever issue they may be having. I felt for them and just like many other people, just prayed that God would send help their way.

After settling in to start my day's business, I met my colleague with another colleague going to look for the woman. I was touched.She was just not ready to get help for this people, she was willing to go any length to make sure they get it. I learnt another lesson in life. Yesterday I wrote about many of us still in the planning phase of our lives and all we ever do is to plan. I challenged us to just do whatever it is God has laid on our mind. I could see the resolve to help this people and I gave up all my activities to go with them.

We first drove to Tinubu Square to buy a pair of new clothes for the mother and child. We then drove to Anthony side of Ilupeju to look for them. When we got there, we could not find the woman and her kid. We asked around and someone told us they had gone through town planning.We quickly walked down to learn they had moved on. We asked the bike men who told us they had moved on towards Oshodi. We had to go pick our car and drove towards PZ. Still we did not see her. We met a friend who told us that since Fountain of life church is around that area, its possible that they have been taken there.

We drove into Fountain of life and inquired about them from the security. A security guy said he saw them and they should be around the PZ office. He took us there and asked a guy who pointed the woman and her kid to us. They were both looking calm and well dressed. We were still wondering what could have happened. We asked from one of the guy there and he identified himself as the in law to the woman.We spoke to the woman to know what happen. She only said she knows what happen but God has saved her because she is God's battle axe.

We were so happy to see her and now well clothed. W explained our journey to the guys around and dropped the clothes we brought for them. What a way to start a lovely day with a lovely experience. I have learnt from this experience that not every body you see on the road is mad or has an issue. Just do it, help the ones you can help. If you don't do it, maybe no one else would do it.

I imagine how my friend would feel now. She was just not able to do anything in the office till she got help for this people. I am challenged by her large heart and am grateful to God for her kind of person. Am also challenged by my other friend and colleague who also dropped his work and drove us there. It brings to mind the new slogan used in rebranding Nigeria'; Nigeria, Good People Great Nation.

My challenge for you today is that for so long you have seen so many things wrong with out nation or society. Hold your peace till you have at least provided a solution to one of them. Stop planning to do it, Just do it.

Let me close with my famous quote from Etienne De Grellet

" I expect to pass this way but once, any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or Neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."

Your Friend and Brother
Albert Afolabi
"Born to Impact, Never to Impress"
www.daalberto.blogspot.com

My Thought's Today: The Blessings of Restlessness

Hi All,

How are you all doing today? So great of course. Some people asked me why there was no article from for 2 days, some even asked if I have stopped thinking. Pardon me for that. It's just that writing comes so easily for me and I don't bother to stress myself when I don't feel like writing.

Restlessness is a term used most times for people we think can't just stay in a place. I remember many times that I have personally been labelled a restless person. My thought today is about the blessings from being restless.

Sometimes, we find ourself in certain situations that we are not okay with but most times because of the fear of the unknown, we tend to stay put and carry on though we lament about it every day. We long for change but our feet is stuck where we are. For every time we get a boost of energy to move on, we slow down thinking of how we are going to survive. I remember reading the book "Who moved my cheese" where the story of 4 characters who found themselves in a maze and they had to look around for cheese. Two of them that felt so wise got to a cheese station and they built their house round it. They did not notice the fact that the cheese was diminishing and when they came face to face with reality, they did what most of us are doing now - still stay there, it will soon get better. They console themselves with the thought that you don't know what is on the other side of the fence. They were very active but never productive.

For some of us, in our bid to play save, we have stayed too long in certain places. For others, we have stayed too long in out planning phases of life. Our life story is just that I want to do this or I want to do that. The question is when are you going to ever do it. We have become gurus in having grand ideas that have never seen the face of reality.

My challenge today is that you have stayed on this mountain of regret and planning too long. Get restless and just do it. Let me pick two characters in the bible, Esau and Jabez

1. Esau Genesis 27:37- 40
Esau traded his birthright for a meal and Jacob got his father's blessing because of that. Esau asked Isaac to blessed him too. In verse 40, Isaac said,'and by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion( or when you become restless), that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck".

Esau was meant to always serve Jacob and the only time he can break that yoke of his neck is when he becomes restless. The key to Esau's freedom is just to become restless. To be tired of the way it has always been and to eagerly desire a change.

2. Jabez - I Chronicles 4:9-10
Jabez is a spectacular man in the bible. He was not a traditional man. His name was not mentioned along with his other family members, they had to pause the genealogy to talk about Jabez. Its a great thing to look forward to that whenever your name is mentioned, people would have to pause to say something great about you. Jabez had been a poor and sorrowful person till the day he got restless.He had been in that situation for so long and one day, he decided that this is the end, there must be a change for him. He called on to God and he prayed that simple but effective prayer. Did you notice the difference, He has always been in that situation till the day he chose not to be any more.

My challenge to you today is to become restless. When you become restless, then you can break the yoke of poverty, sickness, unproductive lifestyle and situation around you.

Just like Jabez, take the move, you never know what you can achieve until you start. Get restless. The person who tried and fail is closer to the answer than the person who did not try at all.

We will get there.

Your Friend and Brother,
Albert Afolabi
"Born to Impact, Never to Impress"
www.daalberto.blogspot.com

My Thought Today: Don't Worry, Be Happy

Hey guys,

How are you all doing? Its been a very busy weekend for me. My eldest brother finally gave the ring to the only Calabar chick that has been knocking our door. Thank God for their lives. Ok, straight to business.

What is my thought today? While I was on my way to the office, still feeling very tired, I decided to take some little nap. Not too long into the journey, I heard the next guy beside me complaining just because of the little traffic ahead. His complaint was did the driver not take another route. I would have not made this an issue but I remembered that it was the same scenario on friday in another BRT bus. I took my time to rest and when I got into my office, I replayed the scenario again and came out with the following thoughts.

1. Why do we complain about things we don't have the capacity to change. This guy is just getting angry and there is no way the driver can change his route. I have learnt from the bible that ALL THINGS WILL WORK TOGETHER FOR MY GOOD. So I made it a habit to complain less and see the way forward. Most times when we complain or get angry, it blocks our imaginative mind in seeing the way forward. I go about life always feeling very optimistic. I am not saying we should not talk when our voice can make a difference. St Francis Xavier said in one of his quotes that God should give him the courage to change what he could change, the serenity to accept the things he could not change and the wisdom to know the difference. My challenge here is that we should learn not to waste our energy on things that are out of our control and accept the fact that it will always work for our good.

2. Every body at every time always prefer that life should go on without any issue. I keep imagining what life would be without problems, road blocks, issues, stress, problems etc. Would man still be as creative as they are? Human beings would always want an easy way out. I do believe this is one of the major causes of hold-up or go-slow in Lagos roads. We are all looking for the easy way out. Immediately you are stuck here, look for an alternative and sometimes go against the law just to get your way. I do wish we will take time to enjoy certain situations and not look for the easy way out. There would not be any great ideas or opportunities in life if there are no problems or road blocks. We should not be hasty to go through every situation but take time to learn every lesson that we need to learn.
Life is beautiful (MTN)
Life is good (LG).
TAKE TIME TO ENJOY LIFE.

To conclude my thoughts today, my challenge for you is:

HAKUNA MATATA

DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY

Your Friend and Brother,

Albert Afolabi
"Born to Impact, Never to Impress''
www.daalberto.blogspot.com