TICK TOCK

When something new is about to happen, or a new event is taking place, there is this zeal with which we all carry on. A kind of attribute that makes us look like finally what i av been waiting for is here, let me get to work immediately. We make promises upon promises. Resolutions and determinations becomes the order of the day. And then gradually, as time ticks, as minutes becomes hours, hoirs days and days weeks and months, we start to soft pedal. I still have a whole lot of time ahead of me to do that; we say to ourselves.

We are in a new year, andamidst the jubilations and rejoicing, we must be cognisant of the fact that the time is ticking. Like a recitation we used to do when we were young (not as if i am old now though), tick says the clock tick tick. What you have to do do quick. When it started, it was with a fresh zeal. Some people gomas far as putting pen to paper to itemise what they propose to have achieved by the time the year will be winding down. A very laudable effort i must say. But hope it wont end there.

The purpose of writing down is to be able to run with it that runneth. There will be times in the course of the year when it will seem as if everything is in a stand still. Times you look aroumd and discover you are standing there all alone. Times the resources and the wherewithal to accomplish your goals are not just available. When that time comes, what will be your response to it. What will you think of as the next in line of action.

We all make plans. Good. But the mistake we most probably do is not making the plans adequately. How subjective and objective are the plans you have for the new year. That hopefully will be a discussion for another day. Meanwhile, its never too late to start the new year with goals and plans that can see you through it.

See you next time. Please feel free to drop your comments and respomse here. Thanks

Its been a very long time. Decided to go for a break till today, to come back stromgrr and better. We are still around. To all those that read up my posts, and eternally grateful. You guys rocks. Especially from the United States.

Well, its my birthday today. Hurray!!! Am so so happy. I feel blessed. Its been God all the way. I dont have much to say than to just make a wish (or two).

Firstly, i wish to get a new job. A dream job. (So incase you have something for me, just request for my resume......lol)

Secondly, to meet with some of my readers. I want to hear feedback from them.

And that will be all. Still in the joy of the celebration. Catch you guys later.

WHO BE THIS ONE?

For lovers of football from this part of the world, it's a question that i have heard quite a lot of times whenever a team is not performing so well, and there is a substitution. If the substitute happens to be a newbie (like a debut game or something ), what comes out of the lips of most is this particular question; who be this one?

The truth is the world is never ready to give you a chance. Though everybody started from somewhere somehow, but that opportunity is just too much of a luxury for the world to give you. Not everyone of us will have the opportunity to rise quickly on the shoulders of a successful family member or relative. Many will have to crawl their way up to stardom. But on your debut, be prepared to answer the question of who you are.

I remember quite vividly, the words of one of the popular Nigeria rapper (falz the badh guy as he is known). He said something that i can never forget in life. He happens to be the son of a very popular lawyer cum human righnt activist. When he ventured into music, he was often referred to as the son of Falana the great right activist. Though he has the opportunity to ride on the shoulders of his father, he discovers the need for him to make a name for himself. In his words: "i want people to say Barrister Falana, the son of Falz instead of saying Falz, the son of Barrister Falana".

Now, whether you heard the who be this one question or not, what matters most is how prepared you are when you get to that stage. Many have been allowed on the stage and were never given a second chance. Just a little opportunity,  and a lot have made a name for themselves.

They say luck is when opportunity meets preparedness. How prepared are you? How ready are you? The world is waiting for you. Go ahead and proof who and what you are made of.

#mindyourminute

A LITTLE HERE........A LITTLE THERE

One of the most catchy phrase i really love using from the bible is the one above: 'a little here, a little there.' When we were still young, we all have come across different stories that bothers on too many brooks spoils the soup (or something like that.......can't really remember well). Sincerely, this applies to our everyday life. As human beings, we really want to achieve a lot within a very short time. Dont get me wrong, its very good to be ambitious. To be passionate about a lot of things. To have so many interests. But there are lots of underlying dangers that if care is not taken, we might not only be ignorant of their effects on our lives, but might also end up with little or no result to show for it.

Ofcourse, someone might be thinking that you dont put all your eggs in one basket. But permit me to tell you, it is much easier to watch over all your eggs in one basket than in different baskets scattered all around. A little here, a little there. Can you try and imagine a situation where you are just putting all your available woods in the fire at the same time. I need not tell you the implication of what that will do to whatever meal you are trying to make.

While it is possible to achieve whatever it is you set your heart to achieve, and coupled with the fact that you have a brain that has the capacity to process as many things as possible you set your mind to, of ultimate importance is the reality of making surenthat you take a step one at a time. When a little boy who has never walk starts learning, those simple one step he takes are of utmost importance in the overall ability of such child to walk in the long run.

Many people have a lot of things they have set their hearts to achieve. Kudos to that. But permit me to use this opportunity to inform you that to makemit all a reality, u need not scramble everything together. Take it one step at a time. A little here, a little there. To help yourself, you can decide to come up with a concise time table or schedule. This will go amlong way in ensuring a fruitful productivity. Never rob yourself the joy of accomplishment. The joy that you are able to start a project and see it to the end. The joy that you started a course or program and you are able to finish successfully. Nothing brings regret as starting many things and not being able to bring even one to a completion.

Finally, i salute your vision. I salute your ambition and your desire to achieve. But always have this at the back of your mind that better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof. A LITTLE HERE, A LITTLE THERE.

WHO YOU EPP?

Very popular a slang in Nigeria today is the slogan: 'who you epp?' (Meaning who have you helped). Sounds amusing and playful to say the least. But careful consideration of this slang makes a whole lot of sense and meaning to me. And i really wish to share.

Help is a way of providing or rendering any form of assistance to someone or group of persons. It is called help, not just because you are providing an assistance, but more importantly because you are meeting a need. We live in a world where everybody has a problem, a situation or a pressing need, without having someone to call on, or someone to come to their rescue. Life is so much complicated that people now rarely go out of their way to put a smile on the face of another person. Everybody has issues they are battling with, and this has robbed us of one of our sense of purpose as human beings. It always about me. Ita always about being personal.

Ever wondered why sometimes it seems as if we are in a stucked situation, it could really be as a result of we neglecting others who needs us. We need to correct this impression that the next person's problem is really as big as ours. Its a very wrong orientation. Like the cache of the popular MMM ponzi scheme, before you are qualified to be helped, you must have helped somebody. Who you epp?

Even the bible makes this point very clear in a lot of places. It talked about the seed and the harvest time. It talked about sowing and reaping. Casting your bread upon the waters. Giving and being given in good measures. All these are pointers to the fact that helping each other is a way to have a better human race. It should not only be about you alone. Put a smile on the face of someone.

What you think is a waste to you is someone else's treasure. The live you are tired of, is someone else's dream. Nothing can be too big or too small to help a fellow. Many orphanages are out there. The physically challenged. Nothing can be too small. A smile could be treasured by someone. Give it out. Your time could be what someone need of you, spend it. Clothes you domt wear, shoes you want to throw away. Many things could make a difference for someone close to you.

When next they ask who you epp, be confident in your mind that you epp person.
love you.

DECISION MAKING MOMENTS

On my way home in a public transport some few days ago. There was a traffic gridlock. The vehicle movements were so slow. It's the type that we call "go slow" over here. One peculiar thing about this kind of situation is the fact that when you are on a particular lane, and you see the other lane moving, you will wish you were on that other lane. Back to the story. Our driver was torn between two options; remaining on his present lane, or switching over to a lane that seems free.

Passengers started airing their opinion. Go this way, go that way. Everybody giving advise on the top of their voice with cogent reasons. Now the driver becomes more confused than he was initially. All this happened in less than a minute, and the driver has a few secomds to make a decision.

The same is the scenario in the world over. We find ourselves at junctions where we need to make decisions. Decisions which might be major or minor, but still goes a long way in affecting us. At some poimts in our lifes, we are faced with issues that requires us to do something, and do it real fast. Unfortunately, many found themselves in this position unprepared, thereby taking decisions that are not deeply thought out.

The best people can do for you is to advise you. The onus is on you as a person to decide what you really want to do. People will only put themselves in your shoe, but in actual sense, the shoe is still yours and only you knows where it's really itching. Opinions are always welcome. Ideas are surely being entertained. But the real decision maker is you. In the case of the driver, despite all the shoutings, no one came to hijack the wheel from him. He still has the wheel in his hands. He still determines which way to go whether the opinion makers are satisfied or not. Its his call. So also are you.

Finally, whenever you take a decision, take full responsibility for it. Whether it's the right or wrong, be respomsible for your decisions. If it's the right one, teach others. If it's the wrong one, learn from it. This life is a leraning stage. The more we live, the more we learn.

WHY DO YOU DO WHAT YOU DO?

Was with a friend some days ago, and i met him watching a very popular Nigerian series. Personally, i really detest the series. Not detest as such, but i really don't fancy it at all. And as such, i assumed most guys should really not fancy it. What a messed up assumption. I asked the guy why he will be watching such a series, when he is not a lady. And the reply he gave me got me meditating all through the period we were together. He said the reason he watches the series was due to the graphic works in it. He loves the graphic work so much being a graphic artist himself. I couldn't say anything any further.

Now, take a good look at yourself and the things you do. Why do you do what you do? Why do you wear what you wear? Why do watch what you watch? Like they used to say, abuse is inevitable if the purpose of a thing is not known. Now i have a better understanding that to cast aspersions on people for doing what they do.

Firstly, never judge anybody for doing what they do. They might definitely have a reason for their actions. Because you don't like a thing does not mean you forcing it on others. Every mallam with his kettle.

Secondly, before you do anything, or you undertake any action, always ensure to avail yourself the motive behind what you do. Make sure you do what you do because you have a reason to do what you do.

I love you.
#mindyourminute

FANTASY ISLAND

Back in primary school, whenever we just resumed for the holiday, one of the major tasks that we are always assigned is writing an essay on how you spent your last holiday. There is hardly a new session we don't have to write this particular essay. One thing i remember in particular, was the fantasy i indulge in back in those days.

By the time I start to write the essay, its an all fantasy project. How I traveled to Lagos, to the bar beach, went to different eateries and so on and so forth. The kind of meals i ate and the drinks. I remember vividly, a delicacy my father used to call chicken peri peri (not even sure i got the spelling right, if at all there is anything called that). All FANTASY. But in actual sense, the holiday was spent in my fathers house, playing around and most importantly attending holiday classes. All we get to eat was AKAMU and moi moi/akara. A total divergence from whatever it is we wrote down and submit to our teacher.

This exactly is a major challenge to us, especially the youth. we live in fantasy. We live with a mindset and orientation that one day, we will get to that promise land. That one day, we will just become successful. How wrong could we be? Success is not a destination, but a journey; i can remember telling a friend of recent.

Every steps, actions, attitudes and characters we exhibit today all determines our success in life. There is never anything like he day i become successful. Its a journey, which we must be well prepared to embark on. More importantly, it is pertinent to note that success is not a measure of financial capabilities alone. It  is all encompassing.

Make a change of orientation. Set a target, a plan, a vision and a mission statement for your life. All this will be like a guide to help you life the successful kind of life you always dream of.

mind your minute, because each minute counts.

NEVER STOP LEARNING

The capability of our brain as human being is one great advantage bestowed on us by God (nature). Many researches have been made as to how much can the average human brain take. What is the optimal level of assimilation and learning we can accommodate. Starting from when we are toddlers, up until now, we have actually been learning one thing or the other; knowingly or unknowingly.

Our senses have been programmed in such a way that mere seeing of somethings alone gets registered in a part of our brain, which we ourselves might not be wary of. This is actually the motivation for today's piece. Never ever stop learning. No matter how old or incapable we might seem to be, we still stand a very high chance of learning something new. Everyday! Every time!

We have seen stories, documentaries of people that decided to go back to school at a very old age. Though this might seem irrational to the ordinary person, but permit me to say it is a decision beyond an ordinary mind. It is a decision of a mind whose soundness transcends the physical attribute, age, or disposition.

Wherever you might find yourself, make a decision to task yourself to always be ready to learn something new. Make a decision to pick up a new skill. Its not all about the fact that you are done with academic education. The day we stop learning (through reading or whichever means) is the day we start dying). You are not too old, not too young, not too educated and most importantly not too dumb to pick up a new skill (most preferably out of your circle or discipline) and equip yourself for yourself and for your community.

mind your minute.

NOW IS THE TIME TO BE HAPPY

Found myself in the midst of a discussion today. Someone was trying to give a description for everybody. I was curious to know how i would be described. Alas! When it got to my turn; "you are always frowning your face. You hardly smile." To say i was shocked will be an understatement.  We all laughed it off.

But i tried to reason along with myself. Could it be true? Do i always frown my face? Why don't i carry a smiling and friendly face? What could be wrong with me? All this questions were popping up in my mind. And i felt a need to share my thoughts and opinion.

Most times, we seem to think things are not working formus the way it should. As a matter of fact, we tend to believe we are the only person in that kind of challenge. We seem to always ask ourselves; why always me? And its rather unfortunate that all of these things have robbed us of the happiness we are suppose to enjoy ourselves and to also share to others. We tend to believe that there is a moment in life when all we desire will be available, and then we can start to express hapiness. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

The same situation you find yourself that does not make you happy is the heart desire of some folks.  My advice to you is to enjoy life as it comes to you. Like they say, you only live once. When life gives you a lemon, make a melon from it, or turn it to a lemonade. Always note that the smile on your face could be an encouragement to someone out there. Happiness is enjoyed most when it is shared.

Make a decision to be joyful always irrespective of your disposition. Make a decision never to allow challenges and issues of life to rob you of the satisfaction you derived from being happy and making others happy too.

BE RESPONSIBLE

Leadership comes first with responsibilities before opportunities. You must be responsible for or to something. The level of leadership determines the height of responsibilities you get. Opportunities definitely comes leadership, but first there must be responsibilities.

Wherever you find yourself, be ready to take on responsibilities. It's a setup to your opportunities. Never shy away from responsibilities. Good leaders are responsible people.

Mimd your minute.

OPPORTUNITY AND PREPARATION

Opportunity sometimes comes without warning. Opportunity sometimes comes without signs. There are times you are waiting, and it doesn't really show up. Times when all you needed is like a miracle. Yet nothing shows up.

But one thing i am sure of is the fact that when there is adequate preparations, whenever opportunities show up, you are tagged the lucky guy. Preparation is the key here. If you want to make judicious use of opportunity whenever it shows, be ready. Be prepared.

Mind your minute.

TODAY'S PAIN.................TOMORROW'S GAIN

No pain, no gain is a popular word we've all used at a point or the other. But in the real sense of it, what's the degree of pain we can actually endure whilst waiting for the gain? Whenever issues comes up, what and how do we respond to them? .

One thing we can all be assured of is the fact that on oir way to actualisation of our dreams, the road will definitely be rough. There will be times we will be faced with daunting experiences that will likely make us to try and rethink what we are doing.

But be rest assured, you are on the right way. Remain commited to your dreams. Remain totally dedicated to your calling. Your rough road today will never last. Tough times don't last, tough people do. The beginning seems scary, the ending will definitely be great. You have come too long to give up. Every great testimony comes with a test. Keep fighting.

I love you.

HALF EMPTY OR HALF FILLED.

We are all conversant with the story of the half filled/half empty cup.  I just wish to reiterate one or two things about this wonderful story. A cup with water up to its middle is place in your front. If you are to describe it, what will be your description? Half empty or half full.

Your perspective to the things that happens around you determines the kind of person you are. When challenges face you, what is your resolution? What comes first to your mind. How do you see gourself in the thick of the storm? We will all be faced with challenges in our life, but what will your reactions be to this.

Just as the cup, never look at what you have lost, but at what you have left. No matter how little that which is left, there is still a power of multiplication that can work in it. All you need is to have a strong will believing that you can achieve what you set out to achieve. Its not over. Keep on fighting. Keep on believing.

I love you.

THE GYMNASTIC PYRAMID PART 3

To bring it all to a wrap, the last part to discuss i call THE FRONTIERS. The frontiers as the name implies are always on the fore front. He is the part of the structure that people get to see. Most of the times, he takes the glory. He takes the credit.  He is the one we all get to see.

The frontier can be likened to the fruit of the effort of the whole group. He has come a long way to find himself wherever he is. One thing i will love to make known to the frontier is never to allow the glory get to his head. He must never at anytime forget to appreciate the efforts of all others at any given opportunity. Its horrible to imagine the result of a collapse in the structure. Guess who will be most affected. Its the frontier. And as such, he must be very careful.

In conclusion, wherever you find yourself in any structure, please be aware that you not playing your part is dangerous to the group. Also, the unity of each subgroup must reflect on the unity of the structure as a whole.

Always endeavour to play your part. You are too important to be left out. Whatsoever is worth doingbat all, is worth doing well. Make a difference anhwhere you find yourself. You are the best. You are a champion.

I oove you!