Mind your minute, because each minute counts. For inspirational and motivating piece on issues of life................ we welcome you aboard?!
Thursday, 23 July 2020
THE YOUNG AMBITIOUS RICE FARMER
Friday, 19 June 2020
IGNORANTIA JURIS NON EXCUSAT
Monday, 8 June 2020
WHY SIT WE HERE TILL WE DIE?
We left Lagos as early as possible in order for us to be able to meet up and make necessary assessments before offices begin to close down for the day. On arrival, we called up our contact, but she begged that we give her some time to wrap up what she was doing and meet up with us. Seconds turned to minutes and minutes turned to hours. While waiting, we diligently parked the car somewhere around one of the campus’s car parks while we feast our eyes on the beautiful resources that the institution is endowed with. Both natural and human.
After some hours, a lady tapped the door of the car and we opened for her to enter. She sat down and we exchange pleasantries. We were about setting out on our journey only for us to discover that we had the wrong person in the car. The lady in the car is not who we were actually waiting for!!!!!! According to her, she thought the car is a taxi that conveys students within the school premises. It was a very funny incident.
Have you come to realize in this life that where you are determines the kind of people you attract? Location is a very important factor as we journey through life. Little wonder there is a saying that your location determines your allocation. The only reason we almost end up picking the wrong person was because of where we parked. There were actually other parks for private cars like ours however ignorance played a fast one on us.
We should have an understanding that where we are determines who we know. Who we know determines our network. Our network determines our net worth. It’s that simple. Ever asked yourself why some people will never stay in some particular areas? It is because of the kind of people they wish to associate with.
By location, we are not necessarily speaking to where you live. Your location could mean your place of work, place of worship, circle of friends etc.
In what ways does location affect our lives?
Ever imagined how the clique of friends you keep has an adverse effect on the way you see life? Show me your friend and I will tell you the kind of person you are. The circle of people you move with will go a long way in impacting your ethics, values and morals. And this definitely decides what you get from life.
It doesn’t matter the level of hard work you might put into every effort, there is always little or nothing to show for it. The results you get is never at par with what you desired. And this is where frustration and depression sets in.
What is the way forward?
Knowledge is key!
With ignorance comes a price, hence knowledge is never a waste. Like they say, he who knows not and knows not that he knows not has a problem. (Let’s not call him a fool). Until you are first able to realize and admit that where you are is not where you are supposed to be, then there can be no way forward.
However, there must be a self-realization to the fact that what you are getting from your present location is not what you want. Complacency is never an option in this case. You can never be satisfied with your present predicament and expect any form of change. You are on a long thing.
After this, with the knowledge you have, take action. In taking action, be informed that there is never a perfect moment to start. There is never a perfect moment to launch. But there is a right moment to propel.
Make the move. Make it now. And you’re on the right track to have a change of story.
Remember the words of the four Lepers in the Holy Bible: “why sit we here till we die”
#mindyourminute because every minute counts.
Wednesday, 3 June 2020
ALL LIVES MATTER
I remember quite vividly the story of a footballer for FC Barcelona by name Dani Alves in April 2014. During the course of play, a spectator threw a banana at him; a gesture that translates to racial abuse. Dani picked up the banana, ate and continued playing his match. In December 2018, the popular Arsenal footballer Patrick Aubameyang had a banana peel thrown at him after scoring a goal. This is just one out of the many cases of records of racism that is being faced all around. Talk about the movie industry, sports, and most importantly security. The earlier we have something to do about this now, the better for us as a human race.
In the wake of the recent happenings around the world, there
is a need for us to look back as humanity and review how far we have come. And how
far we still have to go. Many authors have given various review of their thought
about this long-lasting menace in the society. Clergies, politicians, scholars
and all have contributed knowledge to what they think about the discourse of
racism. The genesis, the cause, the implications and what have you. But again, I
say can we have a review?
Many are of the believe that there is a particular group of races
that are superior or inferior to another. As a result of this, prejudice, antagonization,
discrimination and so on are directed and targeted towards these particular set
of people because of their ancestry, color or origin.
In essence, this particular set of people are blamed and
made to pay for being who they are despite being outside of their own control
or will. Institutions and societies are built in such a way and manner as to
discriminate against this people. This has gone for such a long time and hence
the need for us to have a review as humanity.
In the words of Martin Luther King Jr., he said “we must
rapidly begin the shift from the thing-oriented society to a people-oriented
society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are
considered more important than people, the giant triplets of Racism, Materialism
and Militarism can never be conquered.”
This could not have been better said. Considering the gulf
in which we have been thrown into as a race.
The fight against racism begins with you and I. institutions
are all made up of people who have vowed to be an agent of this menace to
humanity. Do you treat me based on the ethics of your profession or based on
the fact that I have a color you so much despised? How deep do you think
racial abuses eats deep into the mental soundness of who is been abused?
Mention any profession today and see for yourself how
discriminatory people can be. How long do we continue with this scourge? How long
do we bear with this menace? Can we as human being begin to think of doing
better? Can we all put a stop to this pandemic causing enmity between us? How long
before we realize that irrespective of colors, race or tribes, we are all
human before being of a color.
Whatever you do, all lives matter. Be you black, white, Hispanic
or whatever color we have out there, we are all humans created by God and no
one has a say as to determine what color to become.
Like Martin Luther King Jr said: “I have a dream.”
#mindyourminute
Friday, 13 July 2018
MOVING FORWARD: In the Right Direction
Good morning people.
Let's consider this analogy: Try and have a picture of a popular and busy road in your city. A major road which links many other small roads. Now let us assume that you're traveling on this road on a hot afternoon. After more than thirty minutes of driving, you noticed that you are the only person on the road. No one else is going or coming. How will you feel? Will you still be comfortable continuing on your journey? What are the thoughts that will be running through your mind? Could it possibly be that there is a curfew I am not aware of? Is there a robbery operation going on somewhere? Various thoughts will definitely come through your mind, and believe me after considering all the thoughts, the only conclusion you will come to is to take a U-turn and find your way back to your home.
This is almost the same manner in which our journey in life is taking. Because you are the only one on that road does not mean you are on the wrong path. Surely, many people will be looking at you with one kind of a disturbing eye. Why will this guy ply this road alone? Can't you see that you are on your own? These are the kind of comments you will definitely hear from people around you. However, always note one thing that life is a journey; a personal one at that!
If you want to go forward, make sure you are going in the right way. Make sure you are doing it the right way. Never compare yourself with anybody and never allow anybody give you instructions that will distract your journey. We all are in this journey together, but we are all in it separately. There is no joint race in this.
A lot of times,, doing the right thing might mean doing it all alone. It might result in looking for supporters and finding none, but never give up. Keep pushing. Keep trying. Keep your heads high up.
We will definitely reach our goal no matter how long it will take us.
#mindyourminute
Thursday, 12 July 2018
GO FORWARD
Maxwell Maltz, an American cosmetic surgeon and author once said: "Man maintains his balance, poise and sense of security only as he is moving forward."
Ever imagined what happens to a stagnant water. Different types of dirt finds it's way right into it. The same way for a life that's not moving forward.
Life has and will always pose us with challenges that far outweighs what we can carry or bear. Someone once asked why things must always be difficult in life, and the response he got was that such is life. And exactly, such is life.
Quite a lot of times, we are often left with little or no choice as regards what next step to take. You find yourself in one particular bad spot and it seems as if all is over for you, while people around you seems to be having a merry ride. Jobs are not forthcoming, the one you manage is nothing close to a gainful employment, but a painful one.
You have tried your heart on different relationships, but all without a success. There is this bright idea you have nurtured for a whole lot of time and it seems you are at a cross road as regards how to move it forward. As a matter of fact, no one even cares about that idea. Or possibly, yours has gotten to a stage where all you need is just a block to complete the puzzle and everything starts to glow, but how to lay hands on that precious block seems like a mirage. You merry-go-round about the same axis. And then you thought of just allowing nature to take it's course. You end up telling the same slogan of Que sera sera; what will be will be!
I am not here to tell you that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. That word is for someone who has not given up yet. But for someone like you who has given up and has been on the same spot for a while, why not just shake up yourself and tell yourself that you can never be down.
We all remember the Newton's first law of motion which states that a body will continually remain at rest or in a state of uniform motion unless an external force is acted upon it. Look for that external force that will give you the push you need to move ahead. Life is never going to be full of ease. A scholar once said, may your roads be rough. Someone experiencing a rough road shows a sign of progression. The worst state a man can be is in a state of stagnation.
Never allow anything to make you remain at a spot in life. Failure will always come, but never stand down. Stand up, Keep moving. You have been looking for jobs after years of graduation, never be deterred. Find something productive to keep you busy and going. Remember, an idle hand is a productive hand for the devil.
Every little steps that you take in life counts a lot. The point is to remain in motion. Never take life as a competition. The only person you compete with should be yourself. Make friends with people of like passion with you. You stand to achieve a lot from it. Be motivated by the stories of people who have failed countless number of times, and have also risen countless number of times.
My word for you today is to KEEP MOVING. It's never too late to start. Never ever stop moving.
#mindyourminute.
Sunday, 8 January 2017
TICK TOCK
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
Friday, 6 January 2017
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.
Saturday, 3 December 2016
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
Friday, 25 November 2016
A LITTLE HERE........A LITTLE THERE
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.
Tuesday, 15 November 2016
WHO YOU EPP?
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.
Monday, 7 November 2016
DECISION MAKING MOMENTS
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.
Friday, 4 November 2016
WHY DO YOU DO WHAT YOU DO?
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
Tuesday, 1 November 2016
FANTASY ISLAND
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.
Friday, 28 October 2016
NEVER STOP LEARNING
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.




