Don’t Build Your Life On Public Opinion

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SINCE the last US presidential election, the media have been awash with talks and stories on the elections. Some people are yet to overcome the shock of a Donald Trump victory. I have seen and read a lot about lessons from his victory. One lesson stands out, and this piece is titled after it: ‘Don’t Build Your Life On Public Opinion’. I don’t know the original author.

Trump lost the presidential debates, twice.

Yet he won the election.

He lost the public opinion polls to Hillary by double digit margins.

Yet he won the election.

All living former American presidents opposed him.

Take Action Now

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TODAY I share a thought by a great motivational speaker and my friend Bismark Tay from Ghana titled ‘Take Action Now!’

Action is the most important word on the journey of success. Many have heard of it, many more have said they'll embrace it but few actually do. For almost everyone, there's always something that needs to be done. Something new or something old and it’s either difficult or easy. At every point in our lives, there's always the need for us to take some action. Sometimes it's a decision, other times it's something we need to do. Our lives are just like a brick wall. The actions we take each day are the bricks that we lay to get the kind of walls we want.

It's Time To Re-fire

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RECENTLY, I was under the teaching of Ugochukwu Omeogu during the Nigeria Rise Concert. I was blown away to put it mildly. His conviction, eloquence and results are un-assailed. Indeed you should always make efforts to leave your comfort zone and your terrain to hear others speak. It’s really empowering.  Mr. Omeogu shared some enriching nuggets I would also share on this edition.

What Goes Around Comes Around

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THIS inspiring story truly shows that what goes around, comes around. The question has always been, ’if it comes around to you, would you be glad it did?’ One day a man saw an old lady, stranded on the side of the road, but even in the dim light of day, he could see she needed help. So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out. His jalopy as we call it here was still sputtering when he approached her. Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn’t look safe; he looked poor and hungry. 

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Have Things Blown Up...Try Again

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RECENTLY, the news media was awash with reports that Facebook founder lost about $200 million in the recent failed SpaceX Rocket launch that was meant to beam internet services to remote parts of Africa and the world. This was one of the reasons he came to Africa in the first place. It is instructive that Mr Zuckerberg himself was away in Kenya and Nigeria when this huge project was been executed in Cape Canaveral’s Launch Complex, Florida.  Also, when and after the launch failure, he was still busy in Nigeria attending to pre-arranged schedules. Strangely, he remained calm in the face of great adversity. There are lessons here.

Make That Move Right Now

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GROWING up in the 1980s, there was this popular song by Shalamar, ‘Make That Move Right Now Baby’. Remember it? Its old school now. That was any DJ’s favourite. It was guaranteed to bring legs to the dance floor. I remember my uncles and aunties always rocking this song. Growing up was fun. Well this is not the focus of this edition.

Make that move right now was actually inspired by my meeting a business associate recently. I belong to a couple of groups on WhatsApp. 

Be A Cheerleader

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ACCORDING to legend, the publisher of world famous Ebony Magazine, John H. Johnson, at the inception of publication in November 1945, would encourage his friends and family to go to the vendors on the streets of Chicago to buy the publication. Mr Johnson had hoped that as more and more of his friends demanded and bought his magazine, vendors would be forced to get copies of Ebony to their newsstands. 

Life Indeed Is A Seed - Important Lessons

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HAVE you heard this saying, ‘the evil you do remains with you: the good you do, comes back to you!’. This story captures it, and highlights some business lessons. A woman baked bread for members of her family and an extra one for a hungry passerby. She kept the extra bread on the window sill, for whosoever would take it away. Every day, a hunch-back came and took away the bread. Instead of expressing gratitude, he muttered the following words as he went his way: "The evil you do remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!" This went on, day after day. (She added poison to the bread she prepared for him!)

How To Have A Happy New Month Indeed!

photo courtesy of peacebenwilliams

I woke up this morning with loads of messages on my phone. The messages were everywhere – on Facebook, WhatsAapp, by text, you name it. Some people even sent messages by 12 midnight or shortly after, just to coincide with the dawning month. I guess that your phone and social media platforms have also been inundated with such posts – the happy new month messages and prayers. Sending and receiving such messages is not an issue in itself, but it becomes an issue when month in month out we keep sending and receiving such messages without any corresponding action to bring those great wishes to fruition.  While I then join tons of your friends to wish you a happy new month, on this edition, I share on how to have a happy new month indeed.  And this is in no order of importance.

Life And Business Lessons From A Gospel Singer

Chioma Jesus. Photo courtesy of youtube

RECENTLY in church, we celebrated first fruit harvest and mid-year thanksgiving with Nigeria's famous gospel singer Evangelist Amaka Okwuoha, also known as, Chioma Jesus. I have never seen my Church dance in this manner. It would seem that we were in a dance competition. I saw happiness in an extraordinary way likened to heaven, maybe.  I saw people sweating off their sorrows, smiling away anger and praising God for his favour, grace and love. I share some life and business lessons I learnt as I listened to Chioma Jesus minister in songs.