IMPACT

Strategies for the Secong Half

2011-07-01T04:14:00.000-07:00

Hi All

I shared some strategies for this 2nd half on twitter this morning and want to share same with you. I do hope it would help in all your persona and career development efforts.

It's still a whole 6 months to achieve all that you had in mind in January 2011.

Strategy 1:

Look back, take stock, evaluate all that has happened from Jan- June 2011.
Laugh at your mistakes but take note of the lesson learnt.
Of a good mention are the relationships in your life, take the stock.
Let the good ones stay, put some under consideration, let others GO
Take stock: look at d goals U wrote down or planned for, score yourself. Add humor to your life.
What percentage of your goals is achieved. Be informed

Strategy 2:

Dream and See the beauties of the 2nd half.
Can you see NOW all that you would have achieved by Dec 2011.
If you can SEE it, then you can GET IT.
Add some passion to your dream. Go beyond your comfort zone. You thinking of a million, who says 10 million is not reachable. Expand your mind. Reality can be a plus or minus, it all depends on you.
Don't allow your present situation hinder you from seeing the greater you that can be

Strategy 3:

Plan. He who fails to plan actually is planning to fail. Plan how to use all the resources you have to achieve your dreams.
Your resources can either be tangible or intangible.
Intangible resources include your time, relationships, skills and abilities, your brain.
Tangible resources include money, cars, house etc.
Your intangible resources helps you to use your tangible resources in the best optimum way.

Strategy 4:

Put action to your plans. Just do it. Make your plans come to life. Stop talking about it, start doing it.
You would only be rewarded for the problems you solved and not the ones you created.
Do you know that the success you have been dreaming of can be achieved by putting actions to the plans in your head

You want to follow me on twitter - @daalberto

Thanks for your time.

Why Do Businesses Fail in Nigeria?

2010-12-03T03:38:00.000-08:00

Hi All,

Permit me today to share some thoughts and to also get to ear from you on why businesses fail In Nigeria.

I have been involved in some personal business for a while now and have been privileged to see from some companies point of view but I still haven't gotten it to see why businesses fail. Sometimes I have gotten frustrated and keep thinking if people are the helms of power see it the way am seeing it.

Let me discuss a few options I have heard and would also state my view on them.

Option 1 : Lack of planning, market research and technical expertise

I really don't agree fully with the lack of planning because I have seen companies with high level plans and even most are documented but key reason here is implementation. How many plans are actually implemented. Most times, we spent countless of hours to develop beautiful plans that would never see the light of the day in terms of implementation. To me, the decision to implement a plan is key than that of developing the plan.

I agree with the point on market research and technical expertise. I wont want to jump into any sea I don't have all the key information on. Businesses should be started with a full knowledge of all technical, commercial, market and personnel know- how's.

Option 2 : Leadership

A friend stated that most companies owners find it hard to create a system that works independent of them. This is so true. I have seen managers that scrutinize all level of expenditures from buying stationeries of N200 to other expense of N500000. Our businesses need to create leadership system where work schedules are known and top management people handle other key and time based issues.

We need to empower our staffs and believe in their abilities to act as we would in different situation. Many managers today are s afraid of people working under them that they keep all information to themselves and you see such businesses tumbling down on the absence of that manager.

Also on the issue of leadership is the vice called micro-management. This really to me is a bug that eats up time and drags businesses into the mud. We need to open up, let our staff sometimes make mistakes and learn from it.

Option 3: Professionalism and Excellence

I keep saying this is on key factor missing in most Nigerian businesses. Our presentations are so shallow and most times copied directly from the internet and just edited. Attitude to clients are at the poorest peak and the saying that "customers are always right" have been changed to "customers are sometimes right". A good comparison I like making is comparing the look of an American policeman to their Nigerian counterpart. The difference speaks for itself. Same most times goes for our banking industries where you have to keep waiting endlessly while the bank staff is on some personal calls. I made up my mind not to take a seat in any bank because I have concluded that it means I have given them my assent to waste my time.

Option 4: Lack of funds

I will like to rephrase this more to mismanagement of funds. Every business should thrive on a well and meaningful plan. Business expense should be well anticipated and resources should be planned to meet this need. Our society believes you should spend first on your social ego than on your businesses. I have seen managers use 80% of profits from a deal to get themselves very good and benefiting cars. Their social class need to be elevated at the expense of their business.

Let me stop here for now. I would take time to write more on ideas and opinions I get on this. So feel free to drop your comment or send me your articulated idea on this. My contact are daalberto@yahoo.com, 08034424156, bb pin-30f13f82

My name is Albert, I enjoy Life

2010-07-28T00:45:00.000-07:00

Hey Friends,

Waoh its been a while that i have posted a note on facebook. Sorry duty calls. For today, just had some random thoughts I need to get off my mind. So flow with me.

1. My name is Khan, I am not a terrorist

Maybe you have been wondering what's up with my last two status update - My name is Albert, am not a poor boy. I visited the beautiful and very busy city of Bangalore in India in March 2010 because of the project am working on presently. After some pretty days of work, I went to the cinemas and wanted to see the latest Indian film - My name is Khan, I am not a terrorist. Eventually I did not see the film because the next show was like 3 hours time. Finally, yesterday in the comfort of my villa, I sat to watch this film and to be very candid, I was so impressed with a million lessons learnt from it. I think you should go see the movie too. You would surely enjoy it. Three major lesson from the film are
1. Never look down on anybody possibly because they have a weakness. Some maybe smarter than you.
2. When you have a vision, keep to it. The more you keep to it, the more you get close to it.
3. Have a heart of gold that is so touched to help humanity. Stop complaining about the government, do the little best to make life pleasant for people around you.

For the remaining lesson, go see the movie and also come up with your own title, Your name is ..........., and you are a ............................

2. What love can do
I have always been delighted to see people in love. It thrills me to see two people committed to make life work together for themselves. Love changes us when we accept it and boldly make full expression of it. Irrespective of our differences maybe gender based or our background, love covers that gap and make us see possibilities. Open your heart to love an see your life get transformed. I dedicate this to celebrate my two very close pal as they celebrates God's faithfulness to them and the men God gave her. Adebola, you rock, dont worry, its built to last and the music for you soul is unending. Ademayowa, soon to be wedded. God has made all things to work for you. Friends for life

Wait a minute, tomorrow marks my parents 33rd wedding anniversary and the best mum will soon be 55 years old. What a joy to be blessed with the best parents of all time. You know how we do it, you guys have to holla them for me.

3. If you have the opportunity, what would you do
I was on a flight to Abuja last week thursday and while waiting for the flight, guess who I saw? A great man and life motivator that I have always been looking up to. Ok, this is my point. We all have desires to meet great men in life and we look forward to that day that we would have to opportunity to shake their hands and talk to them. We look forward to an arranged setting but I have learnt most times to prepare for my opportunities as God bring them on my ways. Think out of the box the next time you meet a great man that you have always admired. Go say hello, introduce yourself and say some words of the impact the fellow have had on you. If you have your business card, ask if they don't mind to get it and see if you can get their personal contacts. This gives you access to them. For sure, you will have cold feet, mind calculations on the next step but from me to you, Just Do It.

4. My book launch
Its so good to know a lot of people are thinking about you and also praying for you. I posted on facebook for friends to help clear their calendar for October 2nd and hmmmmn, am amazed by all the comments. All of them were related to marriage. Some even called and wanted me to confirm the occasion. Ok friends and folk, I am having a book launch and the title of the book is "I AM GETTING MARRIED" . Did I just say that? Yes, I am getting married and will soon post full details.
For my guys, one day would always be one day. My advice, plan ahead, have a year in mind and work towards it, mine started 7 years ago and I have always told my friends about getting married in 2010. Its a significant year for me.
For the ladies, Trust God to make all things work for you. Open your heart and follow the rhythms. Be there for the man that God has given to you.

5. Friends for Life
I was reminiscing about my days in OAU Ife and the core parts that always come to mind is that of the great friends God blesses me with. I really wish I could mention names and be very specific but I would leave that for another note ( Its a promise). My advice, do all you can to be the greatest thing that could ever happen to your friends. The memory lingers and they are very sweet to the soul. Like I remember friends that we take tutorials together at the back of Pharmacy building ( Ahmed Atere and Co), Business partners in all my events management engagement ( Funmi Oraf, Ope, Tonia), Agric Engr classmates and some selected lecturers ( waoh, we rocked that department for good), Fellowship crews( Dj, Femi, Jide and a whole lot of others).
Thanks for being my friend and if you still are, am still committed - Friends for life.

Cheers
@Albert Afolabi (July, 2010)
www.daalberto.blogspot.com

Business Innovation by Myles Munroe

2010-04-23T02:29:00.000-07:00

Hi,

I have always treasured getting to work early and using my time as I deem fit. Today, I choose to listen to messages of two great speakers - Dr Tayo Adeyemi and Myles Munroe.

NB; I would like to share the audio file with any interested person. You need to listen to this.

Myles Munroe preached on Business Innovation and Vision and I would like to share some points with you.

Defining Business
1. Every problem is a business.
2. Every business is someone's solution to a business
3. Business is not about money. Its about solving a problem. Jesus solves the problem of our world - Sin and he solved it. Jesus was God's solution to man's problem

Characters of True Business Leaders
1. True business leaders have the ability to think outside the box.
2. True business leaders learn from experience but they never live by it.
3. True business leaders possess the capacity to combine old ideas and concepts to new ideas and create new results
4. True business leaders never believe there is only one way to accomplish any task
5. True business leaders are never prisoners of tradition.
6. True business thinkers always break tradition.

Definition of Innovation
1. Innovation is the capacity to create new approaches to deal with old challenges.
2. Innovation is the perceptibility to see possibilities in the combination of old and new components
3. Innovation is the creation, development and the application of untested ways to solve old and new problems
4. Innovation is the capacity to think beyond the norm, defy the norm and believe in your ability to solve new problems

God and Innovation
1. Innovation is God's nature
2. God created everything different.
3. God loves innovation.
4. God hates sameness, He is always producing difference
5. God never repeated anything in creation. Everything God does, He creates as an original
6. God never did the same miracle twice.
7. God always solve problems in unexpected and non traditional ways.
8. God challenged men to think beyond their experience.
9. God never believed anything is impossible
10. God never dealt with man according to the norm

Final Challenge
1. Look for new ways to solve old problems
2. Find new ways to solve new problems
3. Find your uniqueness and develop products along it
4. Don't talk about the problem, solve it
5. Be creative, God is always creative
6. Business is formed when you break tradition

Meeting with Great Men - 1

2010-01-22T00:45:00.000-08:00

Hi All,

Happy New Year.

I must confess that I have really been enthusiastic about writing my notes and truth is that the inspiration keeps coming. What I did not push myself to do is to post them for you all. I have taken my time always to read all the notes by all of my friends and I am really glad that waoh, we have so much great talents brewing up. Some are getting more poetic (Tolu Oke), while some are getting more original (Toks Hexydre), some are getting very religious , some very radical. Great thing here is that we all know whwre to turn to when it keeps flowing. I do pray that we would always have something to say or write for the whole world to benefit from. Sorry did not mention that some are getting more notes to "tiff" -(feel like mentioning a name here buy you guys can suggest, I would only confirm).

I chose to write today of an encounter I had with a great man yesterday. It was a great privilege for me to meet him in person. With him, time was not counting. I have always preached that be very careful and very choosy about people in your network. They either add to your net-worth or sap every value in you. When you have great friends, you will surely meet great people. Let me say thanks to Mayowa Owolabi and Omotola Fawunmi at this point.They are two great friends that have helped me achieve my goal of meeting two great people this month.

Yesterday, I met Mr. Richie Dayo Johnson ( http://richmondjohnson.com/richie.html). He is popularly called RDJ. The best way to introduce him for now is that he is one of the judges for the recently just concluded Great Debaters. We had so many inciting chat and it was easy bonding with Him. At a point during our discourse, He said you are not going anywhere tonight. I was really impressed. We spoke about many interest and you could see the way he was listening to me. I felt like Obama at a point. It was a great time for me meeting a professional speaker who knows his onions and still has the energy in him. An hour with him was like reading 5 motivational books put together.

This morning, I got a call from RDJwishing me a great day and thanking me for the meeting. To me, that was impactful. I have spent the next 20minutes after then reading through his website. Please do take your time to check it up and have same experience with me, www.richmondjohnson.com).

For this note, I "tiffed" some of his great and very inspiring quotes for you. Enjoyyyyyyyyyy

1. "At the end of our lives, we do not regret the things at which we failed, we regret the things we wished for but never attempted”- RDJ

2. “Be careful the environment you choose, for it will shape you; be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them” - RDJ

3. “You must be willing to do today what other people will not do in order to have tomorrow what they will not have”. - RDJ

4. “Everytime you open your mouth, you let men look into your mind. Whether you like it or not, your conversation is your advertisement.” - RDJ

5. “The Art of speaking and sartorial savvy begin with you. Foster the art in your own life and then apply the art to all you encounter.” -RDJ

6. “Excellence is not a destination but a process that gives attention to detail. It is also an antidote used to stop the deadly disease called mediocrity.” - RDJ

7. "When you open your mouth, you tell the world who you are" - RDJ

8. "The moment you open your mouth, you enter into the world of show business" -RDJ

9. "Knowledge inspires confidence. Knowledge plus confidence will win any audience" - RDJ

10. “You must be willing to do today what other people will not do in order to have tomorrow what they will not have”. -RDJ

11. "An effective plan implemented today is more profitable than a perfect one delayed till next year"- RDJ

See you all next week.

Your Friend and Brother,

Albert AFOLABI

Random Thoughts

2009-12-22T03:29:00.001-08:00

Hi All,

I am very much excited to be alive today. For some days now, I have been taking stock of my life and all I can say is waohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I can boldly say that God has been so good to me and this is my best year ever.Come 25th of December, I will be a year older. I feel like counting my blessings.

1. the greatest of all my blessings is that I am still a child of God. waoh, its been great maintaining and enjoying the walk with God.

2. I have been of immense help to many people. I see myself having a help ministry and this year was filled with many great opportunities to touch lives.I have seen myself going out of my way to do things for others. A friend asked how I have been able to do this, the answer is "I dont know". I just do whatever my hands and my heart finds to do.

3. It was a year of new things in my life. New accomodation, new job and many other new things that I can count.

4. I have great friends. Great friends that I can never forget. Great friends that have been there for me all the while. For some of them, we have known each other for years. For great Ife guys especially Tech007, its a privilege being a part of you guys. I need to mention some names here, Bola Adeoye, Ahmed Atere, Sola Adepoju, Femi Ilori, Mayowa Owolabi, Funmi Orafidiya, Denrele, Jumoke Abiodun, Omotola Fawunmi, Oje Ivagba and many others, we rocked 2009 together.

5. I have a great family, my dad and mum, mr and mrs sunday and tessy afolabi, mr and mrs tunji, tayo and pretty baby korede afolabi, bunmi and opeyemi afolabi( my pretty sisters - pls no request). Thanks for being there always

6. I met so many great life influencers. My life was added greatly and I would always thank God for making our path cross. Let me say these this way

My boss at Abraham Holmes, Pst Akin Abrahams and Mrs Tolu Lanre-Adisa - at the start of my career life, you gave me wings to fly, you encouraged me and boost up my confidence. Thanks a bunch

Fela Durotoye - I have always looked up to you and when you invited me for lunch in your house, it was a dream come through. I see myself more in you and for every time I see you, I know that really I am just starting.

Seye Fagbongbe, Segun Ajayi(Agape), Ope Onifade, Seun Soladoye - I refer to you as my mentors. You might not know but you guys have prevented me from many mistakes and mishaps in life. Thanks for all your timely advice.

Pst Sam Adeyemi - thanks for being my pastor.

Damilola Odukoya - I would never forget the word you spoke to me that helped me realize the real thing about my relationship. I might not have found new love but for your advice. Thanks a bunch

Seun, Dami and Anjola(my God daughter) Afolabi - thanks for being my friend. what a lovely young family. We have stuffs to do together

7. Many people and organizations gave me a platform to show myself. For this, am grateful. Names again are Leap Africa,Mushin Makeover project, NGK Academy, MFM church in otta, Young Nigerian Future Leaders conference in Otta (organised by Bola Adeoye), BSF OAU FYB, Impact Seminar and many others. Am grateful.

8. To all my colleagues at Abraham Holmes, MTNN, MTech communications Pls, Impact Computers, we made the year together.

9. To my business partners in Ife, Seun Akande, TY, Taiwo Adekola, you helped me made some cool cash this year. Greater income nest year.

10. To a friend that beautified my living room, all I can say is that your life will never be ugly.

Sincerely, I can keep up with this list but I need to pause here. Hey wait there, One more person to be mentioned though I am sure she might not see this she is not given to facebook.

I met you on 3rd of February and we became friends. We clicked despite our differences. It wasn't a long thing for me to know you are the one. All through the year, every moment spent with you have been worth the while. I can't wait to let you have my rings on your fingers. I feel like putting your full name here but you said you don't want facebook publicity. To those that can decode, my new name is Abraham. Next year is our year and Its a journey of great adventures. Thanks for allowing me into your life. I love you.

Okay, My final word for this year is the good new about next year. Victor Adeyemi use these words in a song in Daystar Xtain Center. It says

No limits, No boundaries
I see increase all around me
Stretch forth, Break forth
Release me, Enlarge my territory

I would always remain an INCURABLE OPTIMIST.

ciao

Albert Afolabi
08034424156,07089995883

Random Thoughts

2009-12-22T03:29:00.000-08:00

My Thought Today: Take a Stand, Make a Difference

2009-11-13T03:56:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-13T03:34:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-09T05:42:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-02T00:06:00.000-08:00

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

2009-10-30T04:31:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-29T00:54:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-26T01:14:00.001-07:00

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

My Thought Today: Believe and Act

2009-10-23T02:26:00.000-07:00

Hi,

First, let me say thanks to my readers. You guys keep me going.

What happened to my thought yesterday? Sorry, had a presentation in Abuja and its a whole day story, maybe for another time.

My thought today is one that has never left me since the time I read a paragraph in Max Lucado's book ( He still moves stones) during my flight to Abuja.

See this story as illustrated by Max Lucado

I love the story of the private who ran after and caught the runaway horse of Alexander the Great. When he brought the animal back to the general, Alexander thanked him by saying, "Thanks you, captain.''

With one word the private was promoted. When the general said it, the private believed it. He went to the quartermaster, selected a new uniform, and put it on. He went to the officer's quarters and selected a bunk. He went to the officer's mess and had a meal.

Because the General said it, he believed it. Would that we would do the same.

I wish we would do that; I wish we would take Jesus at his words. I wish, like heaven, that we would learn that when he says something, it happens. What is this peculiar paralysis that confines us? What is this stubborn unwillingness to be healed? When Jesus tells you to stand, let's stand
When he says we are forgiven, let's unload the guilt.
When he says we are valuable, let's believe him.
When he says we are eternal, let's bury our fear.
When he says we are provided for, let's stop worrying.
When he says, "Stand up,'" let's do it.

Bringing it home, what do you believe about yourself, start living the lifestyle now. My pastor will say ,' you are not a millionaire when you have a million naira in your bank account, you become a millionaire first in your mind, then the millions have no choice but to find their way into your bank account.

Go back and list all that God has said about you, build your mind capacity till that word becomes part of you, then act accordingly. Just like the private, immediately the general called him a captain, he started acting as one.

Do Have a great day.

Your Friend and Brother

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

Today's Thought: Give and Take

2009-10-21T01:37:00.000-07:00

Hi,

You are wondering why I am bothering you with my thoughts everyday. My Life goal is to impact my world and one of the ways I have chosen to do that is to share my thoughts with you. I tell people that I am a very young person but I have learnt quite a lot which has really helped me. I also see myself learning more from people when I can help them trigger their own thoughts too. So lets enjoy the process together. To all those that took their time to read my ramblings yesterday, I say a big thank you.

On my way to work today, I was offered a free ride by my landlord right from my house to my office. It was a pleasurable ride. While in the car, I looked at what I stand to enjoy by this free ride and what I stand to loose. Its brings to light clearly that there is no free lunch anywhere. It's a life of give and take. Let me explain further by painting the two scenarios.

The Good
1. It is stressless. I was picked practically from my doorstep to my office.
2. It is free. was able to save #300 in the process.
3. It is very comfortable

The Bad
1. I wasnt too free like I would have been in the BRT bus.
2. I could not read my book.
3. Maybe I would have me a new friend or an old friend on the bus.

This is my point.

1. Life is about give and take. For every time people offer to give you something, you dont just collect, there is a part of you that is giving too.

2. Be very conscious of every offer that comes to you because they all come with their strings. Many people could not leave their present place of work today because they have received so much favour to keep tying them down. A friend left a company after 3 years and was still referred to as an ingrate. The boss told him,"after all that I have done to you".

3. Weigh the options. Sometimes the cost to be saved is not worth the cost of your freedom. Try to think ahead of time. My boss would always advice to look at every option in the passage of time.Not all that glitters is gold.

4. Most people give to you because they want something in return. Only few give without expecting returns. When you are the one giving, please understand fully why you are giving and if possible do not expect anything in return. I learnt that lesson recently when I thought people I have stood for in their own time will also stand for me. Most times, it does not work like that.

5. See these quotes

“Nature provides a free lunch, but only if we control our appetites.” - William Ruckelshaus

“A free lunch is only found in mousetraps.”- John Capozzi

“Life is a gift. Never take it for granted.”- Sasha Azevedo

Let me stop here for today. Below is a quote that relates my today's thought with that of yesterday (Titled - Today's thought - make someone happy). Always keep this quote in mind.

“I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing 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.” Etienne De Grellet

Thanks once again for your time.

Your Friend and Brother

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

Today's thought: Make Someone Happy

2009-10-20T01:16:00.000-07:00

Yhello,

On my way to the office today ( thanks to the BRT buses that are fully fitted with Air conditioning systems),I was reading a book written by Max Lucado and I came across an excerpt which I want to share with you. I wish I could talk about books by Max Lucado but you won't feel me till you go get yourself a copy and you would be introduced to the world of one of the most poetic author.

This excerpt is from his book titled: He still moves stones and like i said its been very interesting. He was describing the experience of the woman with the issue of blood that touched the hem of Jesus garment. Two great things happened to the woman namely
1. She was healed of her disease
2. Jesus called her "daughter".

This was the only time Jesus calls any woman like that in the bible. Imagine how that would make the woman feel. Who would remember the last time she received a term of affection? Who knew the last time kind eyes met hers?

Max Lucado tells the story of LeO Tolstoy, the great Russian writer, who tells of the time he was walking down the street and passed a beggar. Tolstoy reached into his pocket to give the beggar some money, but his pocket was empty. Tolstoy turned to the man and said, "I am sorry, my brother, but I have nothing to give."

The beggar brightened and said, " You have given me more than I asked for - you have called me brother."

TO THE LOVED, A WORD OF AFFECTION IS A MORSEL, BUT TO THE LOVE-STARVED, A WORD OF AFFECTION CAN BE A FEAST.

Remember, Jesus gave the woman a banquet.

Bringing it home, can you take time to look every person that has come across your way today. They may be okada men, bus conductors, beggars, cleaners, security guards, colleagues, your boss or whoever they are or claim to be, Go ahead and place before them a banquet just like Jesus did. Show them that affection that God has blessed you with. Be kind to every one that you come across. i have learnt in life that if you want to be happy, make other people happy. What you do for others will surely come your way.

Its a great day ahead. Make the most out of it and like Max Lucado will say, thanks for reading my ramblings today.

Your Friend and Brother

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

From Me to You

2009-10-15T01:38:00.000-07:00

My special Gift

I do have one special gift for all my friends. It’s an advice and it is priceless. I would advise you to please listen to Pastor Sam Adeyemi’s recent messages on” Real Money”. Life is guided by principles. These principles work even they don’t make sense to you. I have seen some of these principles worked and I am triggered now to commit my life to great principles.

Pastor Sam identified real money as value and not the paper note we so desire. The paper note is to be in exchange for value. Being a consultant, I can say that about 8% of people that I have interviewed for jobs are more particular about how much the job will be paying them. Some even told me that they can do any job just as the pay is there. Very few people have learnt this principle of giving value first to get value. Pastor Sam made a statement that when the bricklayer is building the house; the house too is building the bricklayer. This is so true. Imagine your level of wisdom and knowledge before you took up a job and then imagine what you know now. In doing your job, the job also has increased your mental capabilities. I can say boldly that my mind capacity has been so stretched by my job, the networks it has afforded me, strive for possibilities and the learning turfs in new ventures I have explored. I can say that I am a 1000 time bigger on the inside than I am on the outside.

The key word here is to build value. I should advice here that you should be very careful before taking a job. Pastor Sam explained that you are the CEO of You Incorporated. When you are employed by a company, they have employed the CEO of another company to come and work with them for a while. Carry yourself with that dignity and go add your wealth of wisdom to theirs. The way an employer has the right to choose who their employee is should the same way you should determine who your employer would be.

Let me give some specific advice here.

1. Don’t work for money. Always choose to work in a place where you would develop yourself. When you are about to determine which job you should take, ask yourself this question, “in the passage of time, if you are doing this job, what would have been added to you?” if your present job is developing you but not paying too much, stay there and learn all you need to learn, what you are doing is that you are building value which another employer will pay for later. I can tell you of friends of mine who work in places where they are not well paid but they are the ones running the whole show. One of them now works with shell and gets paid like 500k monthly. I tell you, it is not his fault, he has paid his dues.

2. Always have money. I do believe that God send to us different ideas every day. Ideas that will prosper us. Ideas are like seeds. We must prepare our minds as fertile lands for every idea to germinate in our lives. One of the facts I have noticed that kills ideas in our lives is the fact that we don’t have money. No matter how grand the idea is, when the reality shines on us that we don’t have money, it rubbishes the idea. Try this simple method I have been practicing for long on having money always. It really works.

• Have at least a bank account or more. For me, I started with two banks.

• Make up your mind on what you want your minimum deposit. Have this thought that if the remaining money in your account is this minimum balance, then tell yourself you don’t have money. WHATEVER YOU DO, ALWAYS LEAVE THAT MINIMUM DEPOSIT.
I started with #5000 naira in my accounts which makes #10,000. So when I tell you I don’t have money, what I really mean is that I have #10000 in my accounts.

• Over time, increase the minimum accounts as your income grows. Always let the thought that you have money be in your mind. Relish the idea. I was able to increase my minimum balance from #5000 to #50,000. No matter the idea that comes to me, I know I have #100,000 in the bank that I can use to effect it.

• It’s so simple to do but you must be disciplined and very consistent.

3. Have a life plan. Plan your life ahead. I would always be grateful to a 10 year plan I did for myself. I have had all I planned for each year. I would implore you to sit down and create a long term and short term plan for your life. A descriptive plan I have always enjoyed writing is called “A day in my life in 5 years time”. My mind keeps getting enlarged anytime I read the last plan and decide to change it. I can assure you, it keeps getting better. Let your plan be achievable, believable and concrete.

4. Stay positive. I have learnt in life that when am going through some tough situations, I should find out what the worst case scenario is. Truth is that the worst never happens. I have made up my mind to always see the glass of water as half full and never half empty. I am an incurable optimist. It will surely get better for me. This year would be a great year for me. It might be hard but stay strong and stay positive.

5. Lastly, have good friends. Invest in friends. You will reap bountifully. The greatest thing that could happen to you is when your friends mention your name where it matters. Imagine an employer looking for a valuable staff, would your friend so much trust you to mention your name. Think about this.

Parable Of The Pencil

2009-08-12T05:47:00.000-07:00

Parable Of The Pencil

Author Unknown

The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box. There are 5 things you need to know, he told the pencil, before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be.

One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone's hand.

Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll need it to become a better pencil.

Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.

Four: The most important part of you will always be what's inside.

And Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write.

The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.

Now replacing the place of the pencil with you; always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be.

One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God's hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.

Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems, but you'll need it to become a stronger person.

Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.

Four: The most important part of you will always be what's on the inside.

And Five: On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to do your duties.

By understanding and remembering, let us proceed with our life on this earth having a meaningful purpose in our heart.

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” - Proverbs 27:17

Don't forget the lyrics

2009-07-09T05:08:00.001-07:00

How much of musical lyrics can you remember? There is a reality show presently called “Don’t forget the lyrics” where you can be rewarded for the musical lyrics you can remember. It’s a contest so you would need to apply and only very few get to play.

Thinking about this show, I thought of the reality show we all are expected to play in. it pays more than any reality show presently. It’s also tied to how much you can remember. For this show, everybody is qualified to play. You don’t have to buy any ticket or send any text message where your faith is determined by a machine or somebody. It’s a show you are expected to feature in at all times. I can see that you are eager to know which show this is. Let’s give the show a name : DON’T FORGET THE GOODNESS OF GOD. To feature, all you have to do like a song is to count your blessings and name them one by one. The only person that won’t get a dime is the ungrateful ones. These are people that are never satisfied with themselves or their current position thereby failing to see all the great things that God has done for them. They always wish to be this or that but never remember to make the most of where they are now.

Let me be the first player for today if you permit me.

Lord I thank you.
For the gift of life, I am grateful.
For a fully functional body system, I am grateful.
For my family and relatives, I am thankful
For the friends you gave me, I am grateful
For not having to beg to eat, I am grateful
For my job and my co-workers, I am grateful
For good health, I am grateful
For journey mercies, I am grateful
For protection and guidance, I am grateful
For sound mind, I am grateful
For the grace the breathe fresh air daily, I am grateful
For my trials and my shortcomings, I am grateful
For Nigeria, Lord am grateful
For all that I could ever think of, Lord am grateful
For all that I can’t imagine, Lord am grateful

Waoh, this is great. My account has just been credited with goodness, mercies and blessings from God. This surpasses any amount of money you could ever think of.

I read about a guy with no shoe complaining that God is not good to him. When he saw a man with no legs, he fell on his knees and asked God to forgive him. Wherever you are now and whatever it is you are going through, you still have a reason to say,’’ Lord, I am grateful.

When you think about all things, you will always see the need to be grateful to God.

You can join me to sing this song. If really you don't have any reason to thank God for, then you can thank God for me.

1. When I see another breaking of the day, I say thank you, thank you Lord/x2

2. Thank you, Jesus
for the grace that you have given us
we could never repay you but from our heart
we like to say that we thank you

Facts and Truth: breaking free from wrong mentality

2009-07-08T02:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday while on my way to Abeokuta, I was recounting my last discussion with a great friend on the phone. We talked about the new set of youth corp members that just finished their service and how most of them will have to go out there looking for job. My friend made a statement that it is not easy that there are too many people and very few jobs. She concluded by saying it’s only the lucky ones that will get the few jobs available.

Something reacted to the opposite in me and I laid out my point to her that everybody can get the job they desire if they understand certain fact about themselves. Facts like
1. I am never part of the masses. I am very unique and there is already a provision in store for me because I have a unique gift that fits that provision.
2. I am here in this world for a purpose.

While still thinking about our discussion, I wanted to discuss with so many people today what I call facts and truth. A great mind once said that “Attitude is greater than facts”. This, I believe so well. No matter what the fact is, with a great and positive attitude, you can turn the fact into a lie. My definition of fact is a circumstance people term to be impossible only because they have not given it a trial yet. I look back today and I remember the facts of yesterday and where they are now, they are now regarded as the past. Do these names ring a bell – Barack Obama, Tiger Woods, Serena Williams, Thomas Edison

Fact 1: There are too many people looking for the few jobs available
Truth: There is a job reserved for you that only you fit the profile. Don’t be too concerned about the increasing number of people looking for job. People that are already working are also in this race, they want to change their job. There is something unique in you and this has already made a provision for you.

Fact 2: There are no jobs available
Truth: have you seen the Guardian newspaper on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It’s loaded with job vacancies. Companies are recruiting every day. It’s a lazy man’s excuse that there are no jobs available. Always have a mindset that there are jobs available.

Fact 3: I am limited by my age
Truth: some companies are looking for people not more than 26 years of age but not all companies. If a company rejects you because of your age, then it’s not the place to be for you. Keep looking till you get a company that will appreciate your uniqueness. Nothing can limit you, not your age, your complexion, your degree, your sex. I can stand boldly to say nothing can limit you. The only person that can limit you is the person you see when you look into a mirror. Do you know that limitation is a thing of the mind? If you can achieve it in your mind, you can’t get it in life.

Fact 4: I don’t have the connections
Truth: our uniqueness goes beyond whatever connection you might think you need. The other way to it is that if you feel you need to know somebody before you can work for that company, take a bold step, walk into the place, ask to see the person and state your cause. Truth is that you can’t be rejected at all times. Nike’s motto is “just do it”. Yes, you are right, just do it. Take that step you have always wanted to take, go meet that man you have always longed to meet. Just go for it.
A friend explained to me that whoever you desire to meet in life, you are only 4 persons away from the person. Let me explain, if I wanted to meet the president of Nigeria, this statement said I need only 4 persons. See my list
I know my dad – 1st person
My dad has a school mate friend who is in the senate- 2nd person
The senator knows the Senate resident – 3rd person
The senate presidents knows the President – 4th person
All you just need to do to meet anybody in life is just to sit and count them, then take the move.

Fact 5: I don’t always seem to be lucky
Truth: somebody once said,’’ the great heights that great men achieved were not done by sudden flight, but they while their mates were sleeping, toiled all through the night and when they are successful, people said they are lucky. I have never believed in luck. Success is when preparation meets opportunity. There is your own part of getting prepared for all the opportunities that will come your way, and then success is sure.

Here below is an article from Edgar Guest

Somebody said it couldn't be done, but he, with a chuckle replied that 'Maybe it couldn't, but he would be One who wouldn't say so till he'd tried.

So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin on his face, if he worried he hid it, he started to sing as he tackled the thing that couldn't be done, and he did it.

Somebody scoffed oh you'll never do that. At least no one ever has done it; But he took off his coat and he took off his Hat; and the first thing we knew he'd begun It .With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin, without any doubting or quiddit, he Started Done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done, there are thousands to prophesy failure; There are thousands to point out to you, one by one, the dangers that wait to assail you. But just buckle in with a bit of a grin, Just take off your coat and go to it; Just start to sing as you tackle the thing that 'cannot be done' and you will do it

Living Your Best Life NOW

2009-06-04T01:30:00.000-07:00

Can you answer these questions sincerely?

When was the last time you really gave yourself a treat?
When last did you hang out with your friends?
Are you the happy guy on Friday and the sad one on Monday?
Can you describe your life presently?
Are you caught up in the rat race?
Are you in charge of your life or other people, work etc are the ones planning your life for you?

Whichever way your answers go, I do have a challenge for you and you are not alone in this race. I want to challenge you on how to live your best life now. Enjoying every day of your life is very crucial in you been successful and getting fulfilled. You need to wake up Monday morning with full blast of energy knowing that it’s another great week for you and this week is moving you in the direction of your vision. The person you see when you look into a mirror is the one that dictates everything about you. You can live your best life now. You can buy the future now.
The place to be is the Impact seminar where all these would be addressed. Find the details below:

Impact Seminar

Tagged: Living your best life NOW
Date: June 27, 2009

Time: There are 2 sessions. Please choose which one will be convenient for you.
Session 1: 10.00am -1.00pmnoon
Session 2: 1.30 – 4.30pm

Venue: Chams Digital Village, Isaac John Str. Ikeja GRA

Speakers: Afolabi Albert, Abraham Holmes
Bola Adeoye, Image Consulting
Sola Adepoju, Planet Projects
Omotola Fawunmi, Project Stretch

NOTE: There are limited seats available for each session. To book your seat, you can send a sms to 08034424156 or send a mail to daalberto@yahoo.com. The seminar is free

Empower yourself

2009-05-20T05:00:00.000-07:00

Empower Yourself

One of the challenges that I face as a human resource consultant is when friends look at you as the only one who can help them and truth is that you can only do your best for them. Let me read out some text messages to you.

1. Dear Albert, please find enclosed my cv. I want a job in a telco company or an oil and gas firm. I am really counting on you to make it happen for me.

2. After looking at everything, I came to the conclusion that you are my last bus stop and I want to work in your company. Please help me as God would help you in return.

3. I heard that Etisalat is coming to Ibadan and they are recruiting. My friend told me you help recruit for them. Please help me get a job with them.

4. Good day Albert, I am very sorry for sending my CV in word format a bit late. Hope it is still timely. Still counting on you.

There are many more that I need not bore you with. I decided to write this note today because of recent happenings in our economy. Many companies are retrenching their staffs, heard about a telco company where they are bringing out the list in batches of 300. A friend described it this way that when you see your name on the list, they pay you 3 months’ salary upfront. There is an ambulance outside for those that might pass out. Banks that are nor retrenching are slashing salaries and giving huge targets. I know of corpers serving in banks that have as much as 200 million target.

The question I keep asking myself is what do we do in times like these and a reality is that why it is going bad for some, it is getting better for others. A bank just promoted some of its staffs even in this recession. Some are getting better jobs. What do we do in times like these?

My simple challenge to us is to do all we can to empower ourselves. Let me list out some ways by which we can do that.

1. Get new skills. I could remember doing recruitment for a telco company and the only requirement in the job description is that the person must be able to use Microsoft excel very well. I thought this was very easy but after a week, I could only get 3 people that have this skill. I really felt bad. I thought I was a guru in excel but in an interview when my COO was asking the guy if he can do this and that, I knew I need to go and sharpen my excel skill. There are many certifications you can do now that will increase your market value. Go out and do them. invest your money in increasing your value. There is Project Management Professional (PMP) , Certified Business Analyst Professional(CBAP), ICAN, ICSA, Oracle professional, CCNA, CCNP ETC. Go out there and increase your value. You will need it as leverage one day.

2. Brand yourself. I have conducted quite a lot of interviews and my conclusion from it is that I can see passion in people who know the value they carry. Some come and feel giving them a job is an emotional decision you have to make. Do a quick x-ray of yourself and determine your value. Say it out with all confidence. Let the person interviewing you have this guilt if he is not offering you the job.

3. Where you are now is not your last bus stop. There is still more to you. Have many plans for yourself. Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years? Take a while and think about this. Put your imagination to work. Create the most lovely and realistic dream. It doesn’t have to make sense to you know but let your mind believe it. Dream big, shoot for the stars. You are meant to be the best.

4. Always have money. I am an advocate for this. Cultivate a savings culture irrespective of how much you are earning. I strongly believe that ideas need a good landing pad in us and one thing that can help you take an idea to the next level is when you know you have money somewhere to pursue the idea. How many ideas have we rendered powerless because of the thought of “I don’t have to do this”. Have noticed that people will be willing to help you when you tell them that you need a million naira for a project and you already have 300,000 naira on your own.

5. Have other sources of income. Think very well. What services can you provides that brings in more money for you. Do not be too proud that doing some things would reduce your status. Your status would soon become very useless when you have the resources you need to back it up. I have met many people selling one or two things in different offices and truth is that no matter how small it is, something extra is coming in. I have made quite a lot in doing what I call the middleman business. All I need for this business is just to be resourceful and innovative. People need solutions and a middleman is just the person that can link both the supplier and the buyer together, in that way, he makes a little money for himself.

Let me stop here a while because there is a lot in me to write, my major charge for you is not to let people, circumstances, world economy, your job to dictate who you are, what you can do or how far you can go in life. You are the architect of your life. Empower yourself now so that you can enjoy the fruits of the labour later.

Cheers

Afolabi Albert
albert@abrahamholmes.com
Blog: www.daalberto.blogspot.com

''Believe it, Feel It, See it. You can get there''

On my wedding day

2009-04-20T04:06:00.000-07:00

On my wedding day

I had a lovely time at a friend’s wedding where I was the best man this Saturday. I could see two people in love ready to share the rest of their lives together. I saw a man tired of living alone and ready to be fully responsible. I looked at myself and sincerely I know am up to the task. As the best man, we are both dressed the same , looking so glamorous but the difference between us later is the 18 karat gold ring on the finger of my friend which he was really brandishing to everybody who cares to see.

I got home tired that night but my mind kept wondering to the fact that my wedding day will soon be here. How wonderful it will be. Sometimes I do wish I can speed it up. I am one of the few that getting married has never really scared me. I did a 10 year plan for my life and included is the plan is that I should get married on or before 2010. There are various times that I have written different articles about my married life. This keeps the dream glowing in me. A particular one I wrote was inspired by my pastor, titled ‘’a day in my life in 5 years time”. I picked a particular day and wrote vividly how the day would be like starting from describing my house, my wife, my kid(s), my work and every other thing that surrounds me. I know one day I will make most of my write ups public. I do take time to read them over again and sometimes I update the write up because my dreams keep getting better and better.

A particular wish I would have loved is to get married on my birthday i.e December 25th, 2010 but for some reasons like I don’t want to wait that long before getting married and a friend of mine is accusing me of wanting to celebrate many occasions (birthday, Christmas, wedding anniversary) on the same day. Don’t blame me for dreaming that big. I do like good things.I am not here just making noise about my wedding day but I can tell you assuredly that overtime, I have got myself prepared for that next phase of my life. I want to list some of what I did maybe it will help others to get themselves ready for the best union in life.

1. Know who you want – as a guy, I do want a very pretty wife but I more than been pretty, I do have some values I hold dearly which she most possess. With these, my choice process was very easy. I have met some ladies who seem to be nice but we just never clicked on my values, for these ones I stay clear off but we just remain friends. When I saw what I wanted, I went all out for her.

2. Never be guided by your emotions – relationship is never to be guided by emotions. Don’t just fall in love; learn to stand in love too. If the person is not meeting all your requirements, don’t manage the person, look away immediately. Whatever is it you can’t accept in life, don’t go ahead with the belief that the person will change.

3. Get information – I have read many books about relationships and have listened to countless people talk about it. I could even do my own relationship series for people to buy. I remember when am trying to look for the values that I hold dear that my spouse must have, I saw in Oral Robert’s biography an excerpt he wrote titled “ 10 things he expects from his wife”. I read that place over again, copied it out and place that note in my wallet for a long time. I typed it out and ensured that my spouse has all of them. I have also read books on how to relate with women. Let me list a few here.
• Boy meets Girl – Joshua Harris
• I kissed dating goodbye – Joshua Harris
• Men are from Mars, women are from Venus – John Gray
• Five love languages – Gary Chapman
• Men are like waffles, women are like spaghetti – Bill and Pam Farrel
• Sex straight talk- Sam Adeyemi
• Every woman – • 165 questions – Bimbo Odukoya
• Before you say “I do”- H. Norman Wright and Wes Roberts
• Help me, am falling in love
• The lady, her lover and her Lord – T.D.Jakes
• Understand the power and purpose of man – Myles Munroe
• Understand the power and purpose of woman – Myles Munroe
• And so on and so forth………………

4. Have mentors – I would have made many blunders in life if not for the mentors God has blessed my life with. They are more like landing pads for all my ideas and wishful thinking. I find it very easy to seek their opinion before going ahead to take a step. They have been very truthful to me using their life’s experiences as an example to me. I would never forget a mentor of mine who told me a secret about her that many of us that are close to her would never believe just to stress her point to me. I do thank God for her because what she said gave me the strength to push forward. Don’t just have mentors, believe in them, obey them and maintain a good relationship with them.

5. Have good friends – you also need the input of your friends. Your friends need to accept your spouse. You need to foster a relationship between your friends and your spouse. When you are just getting by, try to do the introductions one at a time. Also get to meet your spouse’s friends too. You would need their support one day.

6. Plan ahead – dream out loud and be able to tell yourself how your married life is going to be. Share this dream with your spouse, it makes the person knows what to expect. Define your career life and that of your spouse. Know clearly what you want. Never be a victim of circumstances.

7. Learn to communicate effectively. Communication is the life wire of any relationship. Be ready to talk about anything. Spend much time together discussing saeverything ranging from what you like and what you don’t like, all your best- food, colour, idea and whatever. Just talk.

There are still many other but the name of the game is always to be on top of every situation. You dont have to compare with anybody, just be yourself and take yourself. You are either knight in shining armour or the angel of his life. Enjoyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Best Regards
Albert Afolabi
http://www.blogspot.com/

Good people, Great Nation

2009-03-20T08:07:00.000-07:00

I am not a politician and I wont write like one. I just want to write this piece from the depth of my heart. I want to write about Nigerians. The new rebranding for our nation came up with the slogan,'Good people, Great Nation. Let truth be told, that

1. Nigerians are very good people. I have met a great number of people in different spheres in this country and they are really nice. Our parents were brought up with the culture of helping each other. I could say that because i Know my dad was quite responsible for many family members under him. Our house has always been with the addition of one relative or the other. I stand to say Nigerians are good people and we have to believe this fact before we can really value ourselves.I wont deny the fact that due to some people's behaviour, this niceness in Nigerians is eroding away but WE can stop it and inculcate it into ourselves.

2. Nigerians are people with great culture and firm belief in proper and right manners. I do remember stories of when sexual chastity use to be highly honoured. The pride of every family is not just giving out their daughter in marriage but that on the eve of the wedding there is the white cloth stained with blood to show that she was a virgin until then. It is not like now when it is no more valued and people have thrown restraint to the winds.We are good people and we have always gotten it right before. Thiefs were not called sweet names before or given national honours. They really were not celebrated. Truth is that we can still get there. Honesty was well valued and parents teach this not just to their children but even in folklores all around.

3. Nigeria is a great nation. We are the pride of Africa. Greatly respected through the world. Our population is our strength. We are well positioned and blessed with great resources. Our people go to other nations and do great exploits. Nigeria is a blessed land. People from other nation strive to do business here because they get a good return on the investment.

There are many more to write about us, we are Good people belonging to a Great Nation. I do hope we can all start singing this and go a step further by believing it.

We will get there.

Good people, Great Nation

See the Invisible, Do the Impossible

2009-01-13T00:32:00.000-08:00

Yhello,

Let me use this medium to wish you all a happy new year. Its surely is a great year with many great expectations. To some, fear and anxiety is all what they could see for this year but i must say this year is very personal to everybody. Its about what you can see for yourself.

I am very conversant about happening around the world. A colleague told me this morning that exchange rate for dollar is now N160. I wasnt too suprised even though I know the full implication of that. Prices of goods that are dependent on foreign exchange would rise. I also know about great companies closing down like Lehman brothers and some declaring loss for the first time like Toyota. Bringing it home, the crash of our stocks market is still leaving many people hanging in indecision.

Amidst all these happenings around me, I believe this is still going to be the best year for me. I believe there are many breakthroughs embedded in this year for me. I remember one of my age long commitment which is
TO FOREVER BE AN INCURABLE OPTIMIST,
TO ALWAYS SEE THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE,
TO MAKE JOY MY EVER COMPATIBLE COMPANION,
TO ALWAYS HAVE AN EXPECTATIONTO ENJOY LIFE COS LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL.

I remember 2008 vividly and I can boldly say this commitments really open doors for me. One major thing the commitments did for me was when others were seeing problems and issues, I could see the way out. I later got to know that I have made my lifestyle to be like that and that is why i have a different story.

My challenge to you this year is that forget what the news is saying, its not all truth. Forget what people beside you are saying, they can only say their own view of the situation which may be right or wrong and most times biased. Forget what past experiences may be, you might not be well equipped for that season. Forget what the economy might be saying, even in tougher situations, some people still break records and others wonder how did they do it.

My challenge is that even for what people have termed impossible, you can still do it. All you need to do is to be able to see the invisible. The invisble is what the people around you cannot see, what the economy is not saying, what does not tally with your past experienceswhat the news will never say ( we are used to bad news in this part of the world)The best way to challenge yourself is to always see the best you want for yourself. Hold dear to your heart the picture of brighter days ahead that you have always desired. You need a car, be specific, know the price, go window shopping, go test driving, one day when your heart is endeared to it, the financials will sort itself. I am not telling you what does not work or what i have not put to practice.

This year, I am commited to seeing the imvisible because I am well set to do the impossible.

JUST DO IT - Nike

Best Regards
Afolabi Albert
Abraham Holmes
3rd Floor(Right Wing),
63 Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos.
Mobile: 08034424156, 07028754801
Office: 01-7403722
URL: www.abrahamholmes.com
www.choicecrew.com(An Abraham Holmes Company)

Our deepest fear

2008-10-15T05:25:00.000-07:00

yhello all,

One way I have discovered to relax after each day's work of seeing inspiring movies. It helps to really relax my nerves. One great actor, director and producer that i am really thrilled by his works is Tyler Perry ( Diary of a mad black woman, Madea's family reunion, Daddy's daughters etc). You get to think deeply after any of his movies. I recently read about him in Ebony magazine (October 2008's edition). Like my last article, He is someone i can also refer to as a contrarian thinker. His method of film production as been compared to that of Hollywood and he is making a cool name for himself. For any movie that would be produced at $50 million in Holywood, He would do the same for $10 million and would still make more profit than his Hollywood counterpart.

Over the weekend, I had to see a movie that I had seen before. The title is "Akeelah and the bee". Its a lovely film starring Lawrence Fishbone. Its about a small girl called Akeelah with her great spelling skills obviously inspired by her dad. Truth is I tried spelling some words along with them but it was not really that simple.I want to share with us a quote that was shared with Akeelah in the film. It got me really thinking and I just got more motivated.
Here is the quote

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate,
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
We ask ourselves, who am i to be brilliant, georgeous, talented and fabulous.
Actually, whoare you not to be.
We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us,and as we let our own light shine, We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

Most of us have looked at the wealthy people in our world today and we have come to a conclusion that they are the only ones suitable to be. The question really is who are you not to be wealthy. Its also funny when we see people drive past us in posh cars and we just conclude that they dont have a clean source of wealth. we even refer to them as the wealthy ones or in Yoruba- "awon olowo" i.e the rich ones. question here is if they are the rich ones, then who are you?

I do hope we can pause here and look at the level where we are and really understand that we are responsible for that level which we find ourselves. The person stopping us from achieving greatness in life is the person we see when we look into the mirror.We can achieve greatness if only we can overcome our deepest fear which is that WE ARE POWERFUL BEYOND MEASURE.
Its a jolly ride at the top and i do hope to see you there.

Thinking on the contrary

2008-10-15T05:20:00.000-07:00

Remember that the airplane takes off AGAINST THE WIND not with it - Henry Ford

yhello,

Been a while sort of. Not that i was tired of writing but was looking forward to creating a real big stir. I had been always in support of people who are not too rigid in their thinking.Sometimes, what it will take to get the job done is our ability to think on the contrary. We need to know the difference between been active and been productive.

Let me share this article titled "Two centuries of contrarian thinkers" written by Michal Lev-ram. This articles talks about 8 individuals.

1. Samuel Brannan (1819-1889)
Contrarian insight: the real money's is in the picks and shovels, not the gold
Legacy: the 1st publicist of the California gold rush bought every shovel in San Francisco before he ran through the street shouting "gold!gold! gold! from the American river!" Cisco Systems has become a $32 billion company using a similar strategy, selling th routers and switches that form the backbone of the internet.

2. Aaron Montgomery Ward (1844-1913)
Contrarian Insight: Cut out the middlemen.
Legacy: Ward founded the world's 1st mail order business, Montgomery Ward Co. in 1872. countless othr catalog based companies have followed in his footsteps, including infrmation-age retailers like Amazon.com

3. King Camp Gillette (1855-1932)
Contrarian insight: sell the razors cheap and the blades dear.
Legacy: Gillette's loss-leader strategy has been replicated by countless companies. Hewlett-Packard makes billions by peddling $30 ink catridges for its $100 printers and while Sony losses money on its Playstations, it cleans up on th games.

4. Henry Ford ( 1863-1947)
Contrarian insight: Create a mass market for mass produced goods.
Legacy: in 1914, Ford doubled the standard industrial wage and laid the foundation for today's consumer society, assembly-line production of goods made by workers paid just enought to afford them.

5. Coco Chanel (1883-1971)
Contrarian insight: (Men's) clothes make the woman.
Legacy: back when women wore rib-cracking corsets, Chanel appropriated menswear to dress the "second sex" for the business world. Women snapped up her boxy tweed jackets and pants, and her small Paris shop became an international powerhouse, its runaway success forever changing women's fashion.

6. Leo Burnett (1891-1971)
Contrarian insight: image is everything
Legacy: that's a truism today but when advertising pioneer Burnett got his start, most ads consisted of wordy product descriptions. Burnett created such enduring icons as Tony the Tiger and the Pillsbury Doughboy and proved that it is the picture, not the prose, that really captures the consumer's attention.

7. Juan Trippe (1899-1981)
Contrarian insight: cater to coach class
Legacy: in the 1940s, when air travel was still rservd for industrialists, movie stars, and royalty. Pan Am's troupe started selling "tourist class" tickets for his newly expanded global air routes. he paved the way for mass tourism and generations of discount airlines, from Laker Airways to Jetblue.

8. Mary Kay Ash (1918-2001)
Contrarian insight: sales team sell more than salespeople.
Legacy: the founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics put a feminine twist on th multilevel marketing model pioneered by Amway. she championed cooperation, not competition, and brought more than a million women into the workforce to compete for her annual top sales prize, a pink Cadillac

see ya all

CRISIS IS COMING

2008-07-10T09:24:00.003-07:00

It seems a bit alarming for the title i gave this piece but i think its the best for now. A simple definition of crisis or synonyms that comes to mind maybe chaos or disarray. I am not particular about about the English meaning but I just learnt about this word from the Chinese. Crisis in Chinese consist of two words namely Wei Ji. this two holds holds a very deep meaning.
Wei means Dangerous
Ji means Opportunity
So to the Chinese, crisis means a DANGEROUS OPPORTUNITY.
What a deep meaning and our world today can say how much this word had impacted the lives of the Chinese. The Chinese have been known to invest in places the Western world would not deem fit and they would succeed in it. to them, its a dangerous opportunity but how do you know which opportunity will pay you till you have tried it out. The Western world had believed that Africa is filled with despair and investing in its business arena is a waste of time, but their views are changing now because some people saw it as a dangerous opportunity and now it is paying them now.
When next you hear the word crisis, what comes to you, is it disarray/chaos or a dangerous oportunity. Dont ask me, i choose always to hear dangerous opportunity.

Excerpt from Leke Alder's book

2008-06-19T06:43:00.000-07:00

yhello,

Books have a way of changing lives and one great point I have always noted is that great books are written by great people. I tend to read from some particular author most times because am sure i wont be disappointed.

This excerpt titled 'the philosophy of underachievement" is from a book written by Leke Alder. I have been privilege to go through some of his presentations that I am always looking out for the next one. His style of writing is unique, likewise his personality.

You want to do like me, do visit www.lekealder.com and be amazed to see a Nigerian doing great. It also makes me still remain assured that the best of brain that you can get anywhere are Nigerians.

Enjoyyyyyyyyyyyyy

The philosophy of under achievement
1. The shortest route to underachievement is called Nothing. Just do nothing. This is the first rule of underachievement. Fold your arms and just sit down. Stare into the skies, twiddle your thumbs, tap your knees; and if those seem too strenuous, meditate on Nothingness. Let your mind wander and day-dream but by all means do nothing.
2 Make indefinite plans. And each time you miss an opportunity to prove your worth, remind yourself of your grander plans.
3 Put in half effort into every job you have knowing that the man who said “Whatsoever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might,” is a pathetic liar who doesn't understand the principle of efficient allocation of energy resources.
4 Always wait for perfect conditions before you start anything. If the conditions aren't right, don't even think of starting.
5 Spend your time hanging out in your friend’s office during working hours, but if that seems a little extreme, spend evenings at your club or your friend's house telling tall stories. The more effusive your stories and plans, the better. Do what Boys do: hang out and gist!
6 Wait for the perfect contract even if it takes 3 years. Why waste your time starting on small jobs when the real ones will soon come along?
7 Love process very much and don't focus on productivity. Indeed, the preparation for the assignment should be more than the assignment. Gather data, prepare to start and shuffle papers. You should indeed be commended for how far you've pushed the file through the bureaucratic labyrinth of your desk.
8 Always take 'No' for an answer. There is no need to argue. You are a liberal and a gentleman. You don't want to be crude.
9 Blame your past and if that doesn't work blame your parents, your wife, your girlfriend, past governments and even Mr. Alder's dogs. It really doesn't matter who; just blame someone.
10 Wait for inspiration to do your work. Always wait to be inspired before you do anything.
11 Do just enough in anything. Don't follow up.

Dynasties Of Poverty And The Education Challenge

2008-06-10T00:58:00.000-07:00

Dynasties Of Poverty And The Education Challenge

By Reuben Abati

I spent the better part of Tuesday, April 29, attending the Global Leaders Forum organized by the Oceanic Bank at the Muson Centre Lagos, as part of the bank's Corporate Social Responsibility drive. The attraction was the array of super star speakers: Wole Soyinka (Nobel Prize in Literature, 1986), Rita Dove (1987 US Poet Laureate), Eric Maskin (Nobel Prize in Economics, 2007), and Henry Louis Gates Jnr. (leading US literary theorist, scholar and cosmopolitan intellectual) . There was a certain formlessness to the presentations on the theme of Human Capital Development and Wealth Creation, but all the speakers harped on one essential value as the key to wealth creation, human capacity development and national sovereignty, namely education.
Maskin had spoken about the challenges and the discontents of globalization in terms of disparity between the developed and the developing world. His final recommendation as a means of bridging the gap and releasing the potentials of developing countries is in the area of training and retraining workers to increase productivity, wages and international matching opportunities. And he had asked: who should pay for this education? Rita Dove offered a cultural analysis of the human capacity challenge when she submitted that young persons need to be taught experienced and recorded history, and introduced to the culture of reading/literacy in order to offer them access to the soulfulness of art and communication and doors of possibilities.
Henry Louis Gates Jr. began with the poser that knowledge is important, knowledge about the self, and like Dove, he had emphasized the need to teach young persons the history of their own cultural heritage.. He then went on to tell the story of W. E. B. Du Bois, and how he and others (Soyinka, Kwame Anthony Appiah) managed to publish the Encyclopaedia Africana (1999) after 27 years of trying to do so. Professor Soyinka commented on the human mind as a catalytic force and societal importance of human resource, the primary resource that ties together, and transforms inert, virtual and dynamic resources. He lamented the tragedy of brain drain in the Nigerian economy and the need to develop the local environment and nurture national human resource potentials through education. In the end, the Speakers drew attention to issues of leadership, culture, values, good governance and how education is so important to the building of human capacity.
If this was the only message that came out of the Oceanic Bank Global Forum, I believe the event truly served its purpose. There is indeed an emergency in the education sector in Nigeria which needs to be continually remarked upon. Nigeria used to be praised for its rich natural and human resource potential. The former is being mismanaged because the latter has lost its capacity for performance. Nigeria's rating on the competitiveness index is one of the lowest in the world. National Productivity is at an all-time low. No Nigerian university in the past five years has featured on the list of the best 200 universities in the world.
The situation is so bad that local employers of labour are now reluctant to employ graduates of Nigerian universities and polytechnics. You could cross the hurdle only if you have a First Class or a Second Class Upper degree, even with this, you are likely to be treated with suspicion. Many Nigerian employers now travel to Ghana and to Europe to recruit staff. This is why a large number of graduates of Nigerian universities seeing how so unworthy they seem to be in the eyes of their employers now go abroad, after two or three years in the Nigerian system to obtain a foreign qualification. They return to better jobs and higher positions. The few courageous employers of labour who are still recruiting local graduates really have to look for the good ones, through a series of tests and sheer faith, but even then these rough elements have to be trained and retrained at additional cost. The school to work equation in Nigeria is skewed; there is no serious national manpower projection and planning.
Four separate incidents occurred in the past week alone which would seem to offer an insight into the nature of the problem. At the University of Ibadan, the students had taken to the streets to protest incessant power outage and lack of water supply on campus. They held the campus hostage and then spilled into the Ibadan community. Electricity tariff has just been increased, average national electricity supply is down to about 1, 000 MW. This, in a country of over 140 million people. It is not as if the students were reacting to anything strange. They were just exasperated. The same week, the national union of university teachers, ASUU embarked on a warning strike for one week, the second time it would do so this year, to remind the Federal Government of the need to negotiate some of the issues responsible for the dispute between university teachers and the government since 2002.
This includes the sacking of 49 lecturers at the University of Ilorin in 2001, and ASUU's principled protest that they should be reinstated and should not have been victimised for taking part in a labour strike. In Nigeria, it is not only university teachers that go on strike, teachers at all levels do so, including primary schools. The third incident occurred on Wednesday, a day after the Oceanic Bank event. The Federal Minister of Education, Dr Igwe Aja Nwachuckwu, at a press conference to inaugurate the 2008 Education For All Week had lamented that 11 million Nigerian children of school age are out of school. These 11 million children according to the Minister are part of the 80 million children worldwide who are out of school. With Nigeria having more than ten per cent of the global average of children who are missing out on the opportunity to be educated, it is not surprising that Nigeria is not in a position to meet the six Education For All Goals by 2015. A few weeks before this official declaration, UNICEF sources had earlier been quoted as saying no less than 10 million children of school age are out of school in Nigeria.
Professor Wole Soyinka had laid the problem at the door step of anti-intellectualis m on the part of the Nigerian leadership. He also drew attention to an existing anti-culture of exclusion and its threat even at the infant level, as well as the narrow ghettoes of ignorance and religious fanaticism, by reminding the audience of how a nursing mother was murdered by her own pupils in a school in Gombe state because she had tried to stop the students from cheating in an examination hall. She was accused of having violated a religious tenet, and the pupils turned into a murderous mob. Such stories are familiar within the Nigerian education context.
At the university level, female lecturers are raped, strict male teachers are murdered by their own students, and with violent gangs having taken over the campuses, the students dictate to their teachers how they should be taught and sometimes what they should be taught and how they should be examined. The madness has been reported even at secondary and primary school levels. Again, a few days ago, some staff of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) who were in custody of the examinations papers for English Language in the on-going School Certificate Examination were attacked by armed robbers and dispossessed of the examination papers! We don't get to hear of such stories from Gambia, Sierra Leone and Ghana where the same exam is written. The identity of the exam paper robbers is still shrouded in mystery but it is not impossible that they are students. WAEC has now had to postpone the writing of the exam till May 14. This crisis is the harvest of many years of neglect of the education sector by distracted leaders at all levels who by the 80s had begun to play games with the future of Nigeria.
There is terrible decay in the Nigerian public school system. Public schools lack facilities; they are congested, the teachers are not paid on time; at the university level where the pay has been increased, facilities for quality instruction are unavailable, and generally, governments politicize education and treat the system with contempt. A military officer was once appointed the sole administrator of a first generation university!. In my days as a primary and secondary school student in this same country, Ministry of Education officials used to go onto the streets during office hours to arrest any child of school age, that they found on the street, out of school. It was a thing of shame for anybody's child to be arrested by "Roga" as they were called. But these days, it is taken for granted for children to be out of school. The 11 million children that the Minister spoke about (they are probably more than that) can be found on the streets fully engaged as beggars, pickpockets, and hawkers of all sorts of items including toothpick.
Rita Dove recommended the idea of mentoring and the promotion of a reading culture. But Nigeria is trapped in the age of illiteracy. Young persons no longer want to read. They have since joined the mad rush for lucre. Across the country, the 50th anniversary of Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, a major classic is being celebrated. I was in Abuja the other week as compere of an evening of readings put together by the Federal Capital Territory Administration. I was astounded when a young lady, a final year English studies undergraduate, in a private conversation, could not establish the connection between Chinua Achebe and Things Fall Apart.
She insisted that Things Fall Apart was written by Peter Edochie and that the man in fact played the role of Okonkwo on television. She had never read the novel but she had watched the television series based on the novel, and Edochie who acted the lead role had made an impression on her as the author! I had to give her my copy of the Heinemann 50th anniversary edition of the novel, to purge her of her crime. Louis Gates Jr. had recommended the teaching of history to young people. He should be interested in the fact that a few years ago contemporary managers of the school curriculum in Nigeria suddenly decided that history was a useless subject and they had tried to remove it from the curriculum. When the media, and others protested, history was grudgingly returned to the curriculum as an optional subject!. Again at the Oceanic Bank event, Maskin had specifically recommended the education of low-skilled workers to deepen their capacity and by so doing create a competitive advantage for developing countries.
In this regard, there is also a serious crisis in Nigeria today. Nigeria is losing the capacity to maintain existing infrastructure, or develop new ones because its blue collar workers suffer a skills-deficit. Every country needs its machinists, tailors, plumbers, bricklayers, welders, mechanics, factory hands etc. Unfortunately, Nigeria is now saddled with mechanics who function by trial and error, and end up damaging people's cars, bricklayers who cannot read building plans, plumbers who cannot run pipes, tailors who cannot sew a fitting cloth without you having to amend it later. Many Nigerians are now going to neighbouring countries to look for labourers. This country once had Government Technical Colleges and Trade Centres where blue collar workers were trained. There was also under Obasanjo a Universal Basic Education Programme, but there was greater emphasis on the sharing of money.
The ruling class and the emergent Nigerian middle class are trying to protect their own children by sending them to private and privileged schools, which now exist from primary to the university level. The children in these schools are protected from the rot in the public school system. But what is being widened is the gap and the conflict between the classes. The children of the poor who are going to the terrible schools, are likely to end up being poor because they may not acquire the skills they need to survive in a world that can only become more competitive. This replication of poverty, and its social implications, is what Professor Charles Soludo, Central Bank Governor and moderator of the Oceanic Bank forum, referred to as "dynasties of poverty and the bleaching syndrome".
It is society that will bear the cost because the army of poorly educated children, trapped in empires of poverty, together with their cousins, the uneducated poor with attitudes, will make it impossible for the products of the privileged and private schools to enjoy the wealth and the opportunities they may have acquired. The children of the Nigerian rich in the future will have to live in houses with higher fences, stronger window braces, and drive bullet proof cars; they would have to protect themselves against the 11 million plus armed robbers and social invalids who are now being created.
Nor is the life of the rich idyllic in relation to education. The schools to which they send their children at home and abroad are expensive to say the least. Many parents out there are under pressure to pay school fees, or send their children abroad and we find here part of the explanation for the corruption in the land. To prevent social implosion, the signs of which are already here, Nigerian governments, federal, state and local, must wake up, and begin to pay attention to education. The secret of countries like Japan, Germany, Singapore, the United States, Britain, India, and Nigeria's defunct Western region, lies in the careful management of their national education system. The problem is not what to do; it is finding the will to act.

inspiring quotes

2008-05-21T07:48:00.000-07:00

yhelo,
day by day, i read different books and am quite xcited by the quotes in them. i have developd the habit of collecting them and reading them over again. today, i just feel like sharing some of them on my blog. feel free to post your comments too.

1. bring ideas in, entertain them royally, for one of them may be king- Martin Van Doren
2. your past is important but it is not enough to control your future - Zig Ziglar
3. doing beats talking everytime
4. its your attitude not your aptitude that determines your altitude.
5. life consist of what man is thinking about all day - Ralph Waldo Emerson
6. the action of men are the best interpreters of their thots - John Locke
7. beware when d great God let loose a great thinker on the planet- Emerson

will still post some more.
take careeeeeee

THINK WEEK

2008-05-14T02:30:00.001-07:00

THINK WEEK

note: this article is adapted from john maxwell's magazine.

With Palm Pilots and Blackberries, Bluetooth and Wifi, RSS and SMS, technology gives us access to absurd amounts of information, anytime, anywhere, at amazing speeds. Information bombards us from every angle, and we struggle to escape the virtual office.
With the workplace available at our fingertips, retreat from the demands of the office has become trickier but perhaps more important than ever. Constant connectivity takes its toll on our well-being, and threatens to wear us down. To restore our creativity and fight fatigue, a break from the pressing burdens of work is a must.
In an article for Workforce, Dr. Timothy Butler draws attention to the famed “think weeks” of Microsoft’s Bill Gates. As Butler notes, even Gates, whose genius gave impetus to the onset of the information age, makes time to disengage from the clutter of information around him. Twice a year, Gates disappears for a week to focus his thinking and refine his ideas.
Initially, thinking days strike us as inherently unproductive. We fear a day away from work will put us behind in the game. Yet, as Butler writes, “In the race to deal with the minute-to-minute, the longer term can suffer.” For a fresh perspective, we would be wise to follow Bill Gates’ lead.
As one of the most influential men in the world, Gates wields enormous responsibility, yet, he recognizes the imperative of removing himself from the daily grind. He not only unwinds from ongoing pressures during his “think weeks,” but he’s also able to wade through the opportunities and ideas around him by taking a clear look at the big picture.
Butler outlines a simple, three-step approach by which leaders can escape the vortex of immediacy to renew their outlook.
Stop
Prohibit yourself from checking emails or making work-related calls for a few days. Hone in on the biggest opportunity ahead of you, and free yourself from the details of your job. Dig deeply in a big idea, and avoid letting your thoughts get sucked into the muddle of urgent, yet relatively unimportant work.
Look
See your world anew by withdrawing to a place of solitude. A beachfront hotel or mountain cabin can be an ideal vantage point to look at life from a fresh perspective.
Listen
Attune your ears to new voices. Separate yourself from the usual drone of the workday by consulting with a friend in another industry or a prominent leader outside of your sphere of work.
Information overload can handicap the best of leaders. Getting away from time to time can be refreshingly restorative. Perhaps it’s time to explore a retreat from the chains of the mundane to strengthen your ability to think and act clearly.

To view the full text of “Taking Time to Think: The Irony of Bill Gates’ Legacy,” by Dr. Timothy Butler, visit:
http://www.workforce.com/section/01/article/24/52/11.html

PERSPECTIVES

2008-05-08T02:55:00.001-07:00

PERSPECTIVES
This morning on my way to office, I had made it a point of duty to efficiently make use of my time. In the bus, I am either reading a book or thinking constructively. Some thoughts came back to me this morning from a message on marriage by my pastor, Sam Adeyemi. He was discussing about a man and he said to the woman,” Inside every man is a king and a fool, it is the one that you talk to that will respond.” I think most happy men today are always so because their wives have the right address to the king in them. No wonder the wives too are happy because when you address your husband as a king, then she is automatically a queen. Some women only know their husbands as fools and most times get to see their husbands as a school teacher who beats the students whenever they misbehave.
I actually want to use that quote not to discuss the relationship between a man and his wife but to discuss our dear nation, Nigeria. Let me rephrase the quote as this,” inside Nigeria is great opportunities and great problems; it is the one that we see and work towards that we get. Some of us live our lives daily in Nigeria and all we ever see is a country where things are never working. Even we sometimes take a step further to confess that things can never work in Nigeria. We fail to learn that when you see a place where everything is working, it is the people that are working it; nothing works on its own. Such people complain and lament always when things are not turning up for them and the nearest way out is to find somebody to take the blame and guess who they attack – the Government.
In this same country, I have read about some people who when given a cup filled with water to the middle will always see the cup as half filled and not as half empty. They know that Nigeria is a land filled with great opportunities and they have committed themselves to exploit it. Have you ever given a thought to why people from other countries (Americans, Asian etc) are leaving the comfort of their country to come and enjoy the hot scorching sun in Nigeria? No, they know that great business opportunities are in this country and they also know that Nigerians are not seeing them. Most of us are satisfied that a white man should come and start his company here and employ us to work for him. I am looking forward to times when we will be the ones employing the Whites to come and work for us.
My challenge today for you is that what your perspective on Nigeria is. Do you see a country filled with milk and honey or a country where things can and will never work. Remember,” inside Nigeria is great opportunities and great problems; it is the one that we see and work towards that we get.

Abilities or Mentalities

2008-05-08T02:51:00.000-07:00

I promised to paste an excerpt from a book by Myles Munroe. Sometimes you read a book and you get to a place that you just have to pause because what you have just read carries so much weight. This excerpt is just like that. I keep reading it over and over again and it really changed my life. I have had the opportunity to show it to most of my friends so that we all can see ourselves in the true light and determine to change.
Myles Munroe in his book – Rediscovering the kingdom, narrated an experience he had. He said, he will never forget one meeting in Malaysia where he spoke to a group of Sony Company. During a meal, he was chatting with some of them- these were all high-powered individuals, each one of them a multimillionaire- when one of them told him the story of how he made his fortune. This individual was a Chinese gentleman who was in Malaysia as a consultant with Sony. After sharing his story with Myles, he asked,” Can you tell me why it is that people of your particular pigmentation, no matter what country they reside in, generally do not quite break through to true financial success? We Chinese usually make money wherever we go.” Myles noticed that the man was not at all vain o arrogant with his question, but was simply inquiring about an observation he had made in his travels. Myles replies that he really do not know and asked the man if he could tell him.
The man answered by saying, “During a trip to America, I noticed in every city I visited that when an Asian comes to town, even if he has nothing when he starts, he owns a business in just a few months. People of your pigmentation, on the other hand, even though most of them are very hard working, have been there for decades; yet most often do not own anything. After studying this for a while and talking to many of your people, I finally figured out that THE DIFFERENCE LIES NOT IN OUR ABILITIES, BUT IN OUR MENTALITIES. More often than not, when your people go into a city, they go looking for a job. It is different with Asians. We Chinese never look for jobs. When we go into a city, we are looking for a business. We may need to hold a job for a while, but that is only until we can buy or start a business of our own.”

My trip to Cotonou

2008-05-07T07:42:00.000-07:00

MY TRIP TO COTONOU
I was at Cotonou, Benin Republic on Friday, 2nd May. I was amazed at the car market they have there and was thinking in terms of the country's economy. The first point of reflection was when I had to change the naira on me to their currency; the exchange rate was 1000cfa to N288. The way they talk about millions there might deceive you if you think they are talking about a huge sum of money. Also it looks great when I noticed that they still spend coins there. The highest coin they have is 1000cfas. I thought how it would be if our N1000 naira is just a coin. I really wonder why coins don’t seem to work here. Even little children would reject the coins when you give it to them. I am writing about this trip not actually because of their monetary system or our own but I noticed some issues that did not really go down with me. It kept me thinking how we “blacks” have allowed “whites” to dominate us. We might say we already have our independence from them but are we the ones really on control.
Let me describe the normal scene at the Cotonou car market.
The market is dominated by the Lebanese. They have built in wooden houses with just the roof covering it used as their offices. They are mostly the young guys and some few old ones. They keep puffing cigars as if they run a locomotive train. They enjoy the cool of the air though the normal temperature is killing. It’s as if we blacks are the ones the sun is made for. For every car dealers, they have blacks working for them who are continuously in the sun looking for prospective buyers. When they eventually get a buyer, they allow the buyer to see his car of choice and when they reach an agreement, they lead the buyer to the office to meet the white guy. There they negotiate the cost of the car and they get the cash. When the buyer gets down, you now see other people around asking for settlement. I wonder why blacks settled for the little money you would give them as settlement.
I really wonder when blacks will be
· the owner of the major markets in our country
· initiate great investment ideas that even whites will be interested in
· refuse to get the crumbs that falls from the table of white guys and go for the larger share of the food
· become the people developing our nation and not really waiting for some assistance from anywhere.
I really keep wondering. All these can really be if we all can start to take our stand NOW. Lets start putting our mind and brain to work. We all pray for God’s blessing but the thought that comes to me this morning when thinking about the word of God is that God is going to bless the work of our hands if we obey Him. I wonder how many people God would have blessed if they have something doing.
Let’s get productive and thinking. I would tomorrow put an excerpt from a book by Myles Munroe on his encounter with some Asians and their findings about the black man. It’s a call to stand and take what is rightly ours.
Thanks for your time.

Leadership Course for Busy People@ Daystar

2008-04-30T07:49:00.000-07:00

i want to use this medium to invite you for a training programme i attended in march. this version is for busy people because it is designed to run for just 11 saturdays starting from may 3rd.

details are:

DAYSTAR LEADERSHIP ACADEMY (Basic Certificate Course)

Daystar Leadership Academy is a leadership development school designed to fire you up a while helping you discover, develop and maximize your God-given potentials.
DLA offers training for any career field,

there is something that will suit your interest and goals; be it ministry, business, engineering, law, banking, marketing, e.t.c and thats justs just the beginning.
Course module

Personal Transformation

Success Habits

Financial Management

Project Management

System Development

LeadershipLeadership Development

Delegation strategiesEntrepreneurship

The Supernatural

Family success I

Organizational Growth

Excellence oriented organization

Personal Health Management

Dynamics of vision

tuition fee is #7000.

u can register with cash on may 1st between 10-1pm at 71 kudirat abiola way,oregun ikeja.

lecture venue is

plot A3C ikosi road, beside GTBank

oregun industrial estate,ikeja,lagos

lecture time

9.30am-3.30pm

for more details, visit www.dlaonline.org

The Nigerian Dream III

2008-04-30T07:02:00.000-07:00

DREAM OR VISION?
WHO’S RESPONSIBILTY: THE GOVERNMENT OR THE CITIZENZ?
At this stage, I believe sincerely we all have the belief that we need a Nigerian dream and we have a better idea of what the dream should be. Like we said, this dream is the picture of our preferred future. The question then arises that who should be the dreamer. For so long, we have put the responsibility on our government to do the dreaming for us. We believe that because they are in charge of our resources, they must tell us how it must be done. To some extent, we are partly right but mostly wrong. The truth about government is that it is an institution that God recognizes and places much value on. For any government to be in power, it has to do with God’s approval. So if the government gives to us the dream of our preferred future, it’s a great idea but where I disagree is that this dream is not the picture of the government’s preferred picture but the picture of our preferred picture. No institution or person can tell us how bright or colorful our future is to be. We, the citizens must be responsible in doing the work of dreaming and then working with the government to actualize it. We need to start dreaming and voicing out our dreams. We need to open up to the government what we want our tomorrow to be like. One funny thing is that it is we the citizens that get into government and most times, we go in without any idea of what out tomorrow will be like. This will forever lead to waste of resources. Our dreams must become our expectation which when they meet with opportunities brings about great results.
Let Nigerians begin to dream of how
Our educational sector should be like – where quality education is free for all.
Our political terrain should be like – where people go into politics to serve and not to embezzle.
Our economy/policy making sector should be like – where our naira will be well valued
The road network and housing schemes should be like – house for all and roads free of potholes.
Our social, arts, media should be like - let me talk on the media. The government has no business owning media houses. It is the citizen’s duty. They should work to say the truth as it is and not adjusted. We need individuals to dream, fight this cause and take over the media from the government. Fact is that it’s only in developing nations that we still have government controlled media houses and when the few privately owned media houses do their work, they either get closed down, harassed or locked up in jail. We must stand against this. But first we must dream of the right situation and then actualize our dream. Very soon, the Bureau of Public Enterprise might be selling media houses that are presently government controlled. We must start dreaming of a day when all media houses are controlled and owned by the citizens so that when the opportunity to buy comes up, it will be the good case of expectation meeting with opportunity. If we don’t dream now, foreigners are doing the dreaming for us and when such opportunities come up, they will be the ones buying them up.

Let’s be free to dream. It’s our responsibility. I am looking forward to when each one of us will write to describe the Nigeria of our dream. These collective dreams will change this nation for good.
IT’S OUR RESPONSIBILTY TO DREAM
OUR DREAMS TODAY IS OUR FUTURE TOMORROW
NO DREAM TODAY, NO PREFERRED TOMORROW
WAKE UP THE SLEEPING GIANTS.
BE FREE TO DREAM AGAIN
I would recommend a book written by Sam Adeyemi titled “The Second Revolution”. It will be of great help. I do hope to review the book one day on this blog.
Also, there are some very good initiatives on a new Nigeria. you can visit these sites for more details

www.newnigeriaclub.net

www.gemstone2025.org

Afolabi, Albert Abiodun
daalberto@yahoo.com
08034424156,07028754801

The Nigerian Dream II

2008-04-30T03:00:00.000-07:00

The Nigerian Dream II

I intend in this article to continue on what I started. Day by day, I believe more in the future of this country and nothing gives me that more hope than we, the present generation, who would be the architect of these developments. At this stage I believe we are tired of passing the blame, its time to start acting on all our dreams.
One of the questions I asked in the last article is that what is the Nigerian dream?
First, in trying to define a dream, I came up with these
1. A DREAM OR VISION IS THE PICTURE OF A PREFERABLE PICTURE.
2. Dreams will surely outlive the dreamers i.e. we have the capacity to have dreams that will still be talked about even when we are no more. Thomas Edison is no more today but we talk about him when we talk about the light bulb and many others like that.
3. God created every body with a large capacity to dream.
THE Nigerian dream should be all that we expect in our country. We could try to make a list of our expectations and start working towards the reality.
* Well developed educational sector where the real value of education is cherished.
* Well developed political system where people see political office as a call to serve not as a call to enrich their pockets.
* Well developed family system where good values are passed on from the parents to their children. Most of us suffer today because our parents were never the good examples we could have emulated.
* Well developed economy where every business is worth it. Where our naira is highly valued as it has once been.
* Good road networks which makes travelling at any point in time safe.
* Good security system where policemen would really be our friends and not our enemies. Where at any site of problem, a man in uniform comes in and people are secured because their rights will be protected.
There are still many more, which we can still mention but all we can mention are a product of our dreams. In as much as I believe in a new Nigeria, I dare each and every one of us to start dreaming. Lets then pass along our dreams to others and let’s take positive actions to get them actualized.

The Nigerian Dream

2008-04-30T02:57:00.000-07:00

The Nigerian Dream I
This is a project I started for a while now and possibly might bring up a book on it.
FOCUS
Every developed country has a dream and vision through which the nation has been thriving on. This is well described to their citizens. We don’t have a Nigerian dream. I have come to a conclusion that we are to be held responsible for it. We have put too much blame on the government. Let stand up and take charge.
IT’S OUR WORLD
Let me start by saying that where and what we are today is the results of dreams of some people in some past years. Dreams are like the visions to get us into true reality. Without it, our nation has no hope.
Taking a look at an average American child, in built in them is a dream called the American Dream. They have something to look forward to. They have a clear picture of what their tomorrow is going to be like. This, research has proven why their nation is where they are today. They did not get their by sudden flight. A great man said that the great heights that great men have achieved were not done by sudden flight, but they while their mates were sleeping, toiled all through the night. I deduced from this that if all developed nations are where they are today by toiling all through the night, it means Nigerians have been sleeping when others are toiling and the irony is that we feel we should be in the same place they are.
These questions should be ringing in our hearts.
What is the Nigerian dream?
Whose responsibility is it to dream for us?
How do we actualize these dreams when we have one?
I hope to pick up from here next time.

Welcome to my blog

2008-04-30T00:37:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog.
Just felt great sharing my thoughts online. This blog is called impact because the only reason why we are on this planet is to do just that i.e. impact. Many just impress. Impression can be good but they don’t last. They fade away as soon as they appear. It’s just like a flash in a pan. It’s just for that moment. The sad thing about many people is that their lives are just like that. You hear about them once and that's all about them. To impact, you need take Jesus as your perfect mentor, who came to this world and changed the world. An account of Him in the book of mark chapter 7:37 says "THE PEOPLE WERE ASTONISHED BECAUSE HE HAD DONE ALL THINGS PERFECTLY WELL". That’s impact. I am determined to pattern my life after Jesus, to create an impact wherever I am. Touching people's life is my delight. Bringing solution to this world is my pleasure and doing all that He will allow me do.To start with, here is a thought line –
Where you are today?
Can you think of how many people have been there before?
How many do you still talk about?
How many have never been mentioned at all?
What we do today makes history tomorrow.

Love you all

Albert 08034424156,07028754801