“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
It’s good old conventional wisdom. Why should you want to fix something that is still working? Wouldn’t that be madness?
The common electric fan, invented by Dr Schulyer Wheeler in 1886, is reputed to be one gadget that has hardly undergone a fundamental change in over a hundred and twenty years of existence. It is probably the best example of the saying: ‘if it aint broke, don’t fix it.” In a world of dizzying speed in inventions and improvements to gadgets this simple convenience has held its ground and continues to this day in its simplistic beauty.
But look through all of history as far back as you can see. You will see that this is the exception, not the rule.
What was “broke” with the human leg when the ancients decided to tame and use horses for their trips? Nothing. What was “broke” with the horse’s leg when wheels were invented to carry more luggage? Nothing. What was wrong with the horse to warrant a bicycle? Nothing. What was wrong with the bicycle to warrant a motorcycle? Nothing. What was wrong with the motorcycle to warrant a car? Nothing. What was wrong with the car to warrant an aero plane? Nothing. Nothing will go wrong with the aero plane for a higher and better means of transportation to come up. You can bet on it.
So what’s the lesson?
Don’t wait for things to get broken before you look for a solution. That will be reactionary. And societies or people that are reactionary are always at the mercy of the ones that start the action. Take a second look around you; if you find yourself not making as much progress as you would love to, or if you find your community not taking the leaps it should be capable of, or your organization not achieving what its potential predicts, then be assured that it is because some things have not been fixed recently – because they aren’t broken yet.
But the idea is in your head; the inspiration lies within you. The simple innovation begs for you to give it life and the YAT Team asks that you do just that here:
You read it right, we are not broke, we don’t need fixing, but we can grow and transform and become better for the future. Together we will build Nigeria into the world class Nation of our dreams. And as another ancient saying goes, dreams can come true.
Sunday, 18 November 2012
SERENDIPITY
Where do you look for good luck?
In petty trade…
Rose graduated from university 4 years ago with a second class upper in accountancy. She had written every test she could hear of and submitted her CV to as many organizations and persons as she could find. Yet she had remained unemployed. She eventually took to petty selling in offices. On one fateful day she was hawking her goods in an oil company when she learnt they were looking for a graduate in accounting. There and then she jokingly asked if she can apply and she got the job the next day. She may not have been the best qualified for the job, but she was there when it mattered most. Serendipity.
In an annoying accident…
An engineer at Canon carelessly placed his hot soldering iron on his pen and noticed a moment later that ink was ejected from the pen. Maybe it was a careless accident, but it led to the invention of inkjet printers. Serendipity.
In last night’s dinner…
In 1898, two young men left their cooked wheat unattended. The next day, they attempted rolling it into a sheet just for fun. The mischievous playtime activity of the Kellogg brothers gave the world cornflakes. Serendipity.
In a failed product…
Someone in 3M, the manufacturing giant, was fooling around and came up with a glue that was too weak for any good. It was an idea condemned to the dustbin, until Arthur Fry, stumbled on it and used it to stick up notes in his church hymnal. The popular invention is the coloured paper we all use for reminders – Post It Notes.
Viagra was a drug intended to cure hypertension and that was the regular prescription, until someone noticed that the elderly men taking it were reporting improved libido. The highly successful drug was now repackaged and marketed for that serendipitous quality.
In everyday things and misfortunes…
Wherever you turn – be it Christopher Columbus’ misadventure in trying to find a new route to India that eventually resulted in the discovery America, the accidental discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming, or the discovery of the potency of Viagra – there is always that hand of the unseen playing games with human destiny, placing clues for the open minded and the observant to stumble on something fortunate while looking for a completely unrelated object. That is the definition of serendipity.
Right where you are, the little occurrences, annoyances and misadventures that you discard so easily may actually be serendipity knocking on your door. Are you open minded and observant enough to let it work for you?
If you are reading this, you are at the right place at the right time too
Sunday, 21 October 2012
ACTION & REACTION
ACTION & REACTION
Action and reaction are equal and opposite.
- Isaac Newton (3rd Law of Motion)
Do you truly believe this quote? Sometimes it appears we are left without an option. It appears we must react in an equal and opposite manner, if not for any other reason to fulfill the stereotype we have been made to accept.
But are reactions truly equal and opposite to their causes? Maybe what Isaac Newton meant is completely different from how we apply that historic third law of motion. Consider these actions and reactions:
It is the same electricity that turns the iron hot that makes the fridge cold. It is the same electricity that makes the heater boil water that makes the freezer “block” water. The same action, but radically different outcomes. ‘But those are mere appliances programmed to react in a particular way’, you scream in defense.
The 1930s were terrible years to live in the United States, an economic depression had the country in its grips. (It still remains the yardstick for measuring economic depressions worldwide.) While some people sold off their businesses, one Charles Darrow produced and sold a cardboard game that ensured he became wealthy for the rest of his life. The game is Monopoly and you have probably used it to entertain your guests. The same depression that made some lose their jobs made others create more jobs. Talk of action and reaction being equal and opposite.
The story is told of two brothers who lived not just in different cities but in wholly different lives. One was a wife beater, constantly abused his children and lived as a drug addict. The other was a well respected gentleman who loved his family dearly, never abused any of them and did not as much as smoke a cigarette. The first was asked why he lived the kind of life he lived. And his response was very telling. “I learnt it from my father. He constantly abused us, beat my mum and was a drug addict. How do you expect me to be any different?” When his brother was asked the same question his answer was somewhat similar… “My father is responsible. Growing up I saw my father beat my mom and abuse us and I decided I was not going to do any of that.”
The moral of the story is simple. Reaction is simply what you process in your mind. It does not have to be equal and/or opposite. It only has to be what you desire it to be. The individual that abuses you could turn out to be your most profitable link to greatness after all. The person that comes your way with a complaint is not an enemy but a friend, if you react as a friend. You can never control how others act, but your reaction is completely determined by you. Making it equal and/or opposite is one out of many options available to you.
Let’s make our reactions the very best, today and always.
Action and reaction are equal and opposite.
- Isaac Newton (3rd Law of Motion)
Do you truly believe this quote? Sometimes it appears we are left without an option. It appears we must react in an equal and opposite manner, if not for any other reason to fulfill the stereotype we have been made to accept.
But are reactions truly equal and opposite to their causes? Maybe what Isaac Newton meant is completely different from how we apply that historic third law of motion. Consider these actions and reactions:
It is the same electricity that turns the iron hot that makes the fridge cold. It is the same electricity that makes the heater boil water that makes the freezer “block” water. The same action, but radically different outcomes. ‘But those are mere appliances programmed to react in a particular way’, you scream in defense.
The 1930s were terrible years to live in the United States, an economic depression had the country in its grips. (It still remains the yardstick for measuring economic depressions worldwide.) While some people sold off their businesses, one Charles Darrow produced and sold a cardboard game that ensured he became wealthy for the rest of his life. The game is Monopoly and you have probably used it to entertain your guests. The same depression that made some lose their jobs made others create more jobs. Talk of action and reaction being equal and opposite.
The story is told of two brothers who lived not just in different cities but in wholly different lives. One was a wife beater, constantly abused his children and lived as a drug addict. The other was a well respected gentleman who loved his family dearly, never abused any of them and did not as much as smoke a cigarette. The first was asked why he lived the kind of life he lived. And his response was very telling. “I learnt it from my father. He constantly abused us, beat my mum and was a drug addict. How do you expect me to be any different?” When his brother was asked the same question his answer was somewhat similar… “My father is responsible. Growing up I saw my father beat my mom and abuse us and I decided I was not going to do any of that.”
The moral of the story is simple. Reaction is simply what you process in your mind. It does not have to be equal and/or opposite. It only has to be what you desire it to be. The individual that abuses you could turn out to be your most profitable link to greatness after all. The person that comes your way with a complaint is not an enemy but a friend, if you react as a friend. You can never control how others act, but your reaction is completely determined by you. Making it equal and/or opposite is one out of many options available to you.
Let’s make our reactions the very best, today and always.
Monday, 24 September 2012
NEWS!!!
I am YOUNG, I am an AFRICAN, I've got SWAG and I have JESUS. I am YOUNG AFRICAN TALENT-A reach to the African youth. October 29th, 2012-Inauguration of first phase of the movement to raise role models and reach 1 million African youths by 2015 with a message of hope, change, purpose and God. Join us!!!
Thursday, 6 September 2012
JELANI ALIYU- Africa's YAT in profile this week
In Young African Talent, we celebrate excellence and portray the lives of individuals who have risen above background, societal limitations to inspire and motivate the African youth to heights of greatness beyond description. Today we profile one individual who is proving himself beyond the limitation of skin color (Not race). We must all remember that there is only ONE RACE and that is the HUMAN RACE and the same limitations befall all but some people choose what the end result will be by setting the right standards. Meet Jelani Alliyu, a Nigerian top car designer for General Motors.
Jelani Alliyu, a Nigerian top car designer for General Motors.
Jelani Aliyu, a Nigerian from Sokoto State, is US auto giant General Motors Senior Creative Designer. He designed the world acclaimed Chevy Volt which has been described as an American Revolution and hottest concept in automobile design line. According to the company's New York office release, "GM`s most electrifying advanced technology vehicle is the Chevrolet Volt concept, a battery-powered, extended-range electric passenger vehicle."In his paper delivered at the conference of Nigerians in Diaspora Organization, NIDO, Canada, entitled Role of Educated Youth in 3Ps and Entrepreneurship, the designer of the state-of-the-art electric car for General Motors, the world’s largest automobile makers, paints a picture that says nothing is impossible to achieve once your mind is fully set;
We must never underestimate the amazing power of human imagination, the ability to envision that which does not yet exist. Every great city, every monument, every historic feat, as it stands for all the world to see, was once pure thought, pure imagination acted upon and brought into reality.
To imagine is to dream, to dream is to believe in the yet unreal. And when we do dream, it must be big, because to dream small is to totally underestimate the amazing capabilities that lie within each and every one of us.
I was born and grew up in Nigeria, Land of the Niger crocodile, The Baobab tree, And the midday sun, Nigeria, Where smiles are free Like the bright blue sky And the beautiful stars of the night.
I grew up in Sokoto, in the northern part of the country, about an hour from the northern border. My parents came from Dogondaji, which is a town about an hour southwest of Sokoto. Growing up was a fascinating experience, the wide open spaces, the bright blue sky and the very closely knit family. Growing up was a lot of fun, very exciting times.
I have always wanted to be a car designer for as far back as I can remember (YAT- what are your dreams and aspirations). I studied Architecture, the closest thing to it in Nigeria, at the Birnin Kebbi Polytechnic (YAT- Are you still concerned as to how you graduated whether in a university, college of education or polytecnic? It doesn't matter so long as you have the dream and passion burning in you).
After that I attended the College for creative Studies in Detroit where I studied Transportation Design. When I graduated I got a job with general Motors, I worked at the GM tech Center for about three years and then went on international assignment to Germany for about two years at Opel.
Then I came back to the Tech Center and most recently I designed the Chevrolet Volt Electric Car, a vehicle that is crucial not just to GM but to the whole industry and world in general.
When ever I am in Nigeria, I am fascinated by the people, culture and environment. Nigeria is truly a country endowed with a lot of resources, we have oil, natural gas, cocoa, minerals and fertile soil that could cultivated to feed hundreds of millions, but above all, at our very core, what we have is our humanity, that magical inner spirit that glows from within, that magical inner spirit that makes us an integral and crucial part of the human civilization.
This is now more important than ever before, because humanity as a group, (Africans and Europeans, Asians and Americans, humanity in its totality) is on the verge of a major philosophical evolution, an evolution that will dramatically and forever change the very pattern of the human experience.
This will be brought about by exponential advances in the sciences, arts and technology, leading to a better and deeper understanding of the human mind and how it works, and also leading to the scientific connection between the human thought process and the man made reality that surrounds us.
Two significant results of this new way of thinking will be enhanced relationships within humanity and between humanity and the environment.
2013 Chevy Volt model
And when we do observe nature, we see that we live on a truly magical planet, a gigantic orb of life hurtling through space, every where we look around us, we are surrounded by wonders of our natural world, from the tiny leaf only fractions of a millimeter thick and yet a highly efficient factory to the amazing sea rays that glide within the deep waters of the Atlantic, planet earth is a perfect balance of beauty and practicality.
That is what I use as inspiration for my designs, and that is what we as Nigerians must use as inspiration to move our country forward. In these days of environmental consciousness, sustainability and renewability, who more environmental than the African, who more sustainable than the Nigerian?
We must remember our historic roots of closeness to nature and continue to pull our inspiration from it, nature: a magnificent bowl of life full of awe and wonder. As we build our cities, let they be the magnificent manifestations of a people that have inherited and are fully endowed with a great respect for the environment.
It can be intelligently argued that although some of the reasons our nation is still underdeveloped are less than gallant, there is no doubt that being at the stage we find ourselves gives us the opportunity to be at an exciting beginning with no carry over disruptive technologies, this makes us free to adopt the most applicable and efficient new technology for our unique purposes.
That technology that we adopt must be one that is in tune with our culture and environment. A major reason for the failure of a lot of infrastructure and systems in our nation is because they were not fundamentally designed for our applications.
It is no surprise that our physical environment is absolutely different from the conceptual birth place of a lot of the technology that finds itself transplanted into our lands.
A lot of systems fail in Africa simply because they do not fall within the critical physical and mental patterns that are natural in that environment, not because of an inherent lack of local human support.
From time immemorial, Africans have had tools, systems and technologies that have assisted them in their daily lives. These technologies had been developed and evolved over time to be most conducive to our people and environment.
For example most of Africa is hot, and historically homes have been built to be comfortable with passive cooling technologies without the need for added energy. In the last couple of decades we have equated progress with completely disregarding and forgetting a lot of our local and very effective technologies.
This is not right, we must not dismiss them, but rather, we must take and merge them with applicable new technology to create a contemporary and yet authentic Nigerian solution.
It is an exciting new world, and we must be strong valuable members of it, we must go for the seemingly impossible and make it reality. We must brave new paths with no fear, we must all come together and courageously strive towards the achievement of all that which will positively and most dynamically impact multiple facets of the Nigerian human experience.
YAT: You can hold the governement, your parents, teachers and lecturers accountable for every action that they have taken, but one thing you cant do is blame anyone for the present turn your life has taken. The Holy book says "...man you are inexcusable Rom.2:1" Do you have a dream? are you passionate enough? Do you have the discipline to pursue your aspirations? Are you surrounded by the right people? Have you changed your thought process? Most importantly, have you taken the first step and burned all the bridges behind you? You can surely make IF ONLY YOU WOULD BEFLIF
(INSERTS- Are comments meant to inspire you from YAT and not an actual question and answer session with Jelani Alliyu)
Culled from africanoutlookonline.com
Jelani Aliyu, a Nigerian from Sokoto State, is US auto giant General Motors Senior Creative Designer. He designed the world acclaimed Chevy Volt which has been described as an American Revolution and hottest concept in automobile design line. According to the company's New York office release, "GM`s most electrifying advanced technology vehicle is the Chevrolet Volt concept, a battery-powered, extended-range electric passenger vehicle."In his paper delivered at the conference of Nigerians in Diaspora Organization, NIDO, Canada, entitled Role of Educated Youth in 3Ps and Entrepreneurship, the designer of the state-of-the-art electric car for General Motors, the world’s largest automobile makers, paints a picture that says nothing is impossible to achieve once your mind is fully set;
We must never underestimate the amazing power of human imagination, the ability to envision that which does not yet exist. Every great city, every monument, every historic feat, as it stands for all the world to see, was once pure thought, pure imagination acted upon and brought into reality.
To imagine is to dream, to dream is to believe in the yet unreal. And when we do dream, it must be big, because to dream small is to totally underestimate the amazing capabilities that lie within each and every one of us.
I was born and grew up in Nigeria, Land of the Niger crocodile, The Baobab tree, And the midday sun, Nigeria, Where smiles are free Like the bright blue sky And the beautiful stars of the night.
I grew up in Sokoto, in the northern part of the country, about an hour from the northern border. My parents came from Dogondaji, which is a town about an hour southwest of Sokoto. Growing up was a fascinating experience, the wide open spaces, the bright blue sky and the very closely knit family. Growing up was a lot of fun, very exciting times.
I have always wanted to be a car designer for as far back as I can remember (YAT- what are your dreams and aspirations). I studied Architecture, the closest thing to it in Nigeria, at the Birnin Kebbi Polytechnic (YAT- Are you still concerned as to how you graduated whether in a university, college of education or polytecnic? It doesn't matter so long as you have the dream and passion burning in you).
After that I attended the College for creative Studies in Detroit where I studied Transportation Design. When I graduated I got a job with general Motors, I worked at the GM tech Center for about three years and then went on international assignment to Germany for about two years at Opel.
Then I came back to the Tech Center and most recently I designed the Chevrolet Volt Electric Car, a vehicle that is crucial not just to GM but to the whole industry and world in general.
When ever I am in Nigeria, I am fascinated by the people, culture and environment. Nigeria is truly a country endowed with a lot of resources, we have oil, natural gas, cocoa, minerals and fertile soil that could cultivated to feed hundreds of millions, but above all, at our very core, what we have is our humanity, that magical inner spirit that glows from within, that magical inner spirit that makes us an integral and crucial part of the human civilization.
This is now more important than ever before, because humanity as a group, (Africans and Europeans, Asians and Americans, humanity in its totality) is on the verge of a major philosophical evolution, an evolution that will dramatically and forever change the very pattern of the human experience.
This will be brought about by exponential advances in the sciences, arts and technology, leading to a better and deeper understanding of the human mind and how it works, and also leading to the scientific connection between the human thought process and the man made reality that surrounds us.
Two significant results of this new way of thinking will be enhanced relationships within humanity and between humanity and the environment.
Another Way to Connect to Your Volt: With the myChevrolet† and OnStar® RemoteLink™† mobile apps, you’ll have power to control and customize many of the features of Volt
.
Volt is loaded with the latest technology, including push-button start and a 7-inch diagonal touch-screen
That is what I use as inspiration for my designs, and that is what we as Nigerians must use as inspiration to move our country forward. In these days of environmental consciousness, sustainability and renewability, who more environmental than the African, who more sustainable than the Nigerian?
We must remember our historic roots of closeness to nature and continue to pull our inspiration from it, nature: a magnificent bowl of life full of awe and wonder. As we build our cities, let they be the magnificent manifestations of a people that have inherited and are fully endowed with a great respect for the environment.
It can be intelligently argued that although some of the reasons our nation is still underdeveloped are less than gallant, there is no doubt that being at the stage we find ourselves gives us the opportunity to be at an exciting beginning with no carry over disruptive technologies, this makes us free to adopt the most applicable and efficient new technology for our unique purposes.
That technology that we adopt must be one that is in tune with our culture and environment. A major reason for the failure of a lot of infrastructure and systems in our nation is because they were not fundamentally designed for our applications.
It is no surprise that our physical environment is absolutely different from the conceptual birth place of a lot of the technology that finds itself transplanted into our lands.
A lot of systems fail in Africa simply because they do not fall within the critical physical and mental patterns that are natural in that environment, not because of an inherent lack of local human support.
From time immemorial, Africans have had tools, systems and technologies that have assisted them in their daily lives. These technologies had been developed and evolved over time to be most conducive to our people and environment.
For example most of Africa is hot, and historically homes have been built to be comfortable with passive cooling technologies without the need for added energy. In the last couple of decades we have equated progress with completely disregarding and forgetting a lot of our local and very effective technologies.
This is not right, we must not dismiss them, but rather, we must take and merge them with applicable new technology to create a contemporary and yet authentic Nigerian solution.
It is an exciting new world, and we must be strong valuable members of it, we must go for the seemingly impossible and make it reality. We must brave new paths with no fear, we must all come together and courageously strive towards the achievement of all that which will positively and most dynamically impact multiple facets of the Nigerian human experience.
YAT: You can hold the governement, your parents, teachers and lecturers accountable for every action that they have taken, but one thing you cant do is blame anyone for the present turn your life has taken. The Holy book says "...man you are inexcusable Rom.2:1" Do you have a dream? are you passionate enough? Do you have the discipline to pursue your aspirations? Are you surrounded by the right people? Have you changed your thought process? Most importantly, have you taken the first step and burned all the bridges behind you? You can surely make IF ONLY YOU WOULD BEFLIF
(INSERTS- Are comments meant to inspire you from YAT and not an actual question and answer session with Jelani Alliyu)
Culled from africanoutlookonline.com
Wednesday, 5 September 2012
YAT on MISSION
The future belongs to those who belief in the beauty of their dreams. Africa can arise out of the shackles to the greatness in her. We can make a difference and that's exactly what we would do. Join us as we reach 1 million African youths by 2015 with a message of hope, purpose, self discovery as we instill the discipline, virtues and morals it takes to capture the future.
Tuesday, 14 August 2012
OPEN DOORS
OPEN DOORS
In the mid 1980s the Malaysian government embarked on a project to renew the country’s aging prison facilities. The news was received with mixed reactions, as expected. Soon, the first of the new prison designs was completed and the government was willing to show off the facilities and their state-of-the-art security.
There was a popular blacksmith in the nation’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, who boasted that he could open any lock no matter how sophisticated within just five minutes. His boastful claims grew wings when he got interviewed on a local radio program.
Soon the government was under pressure to truly test the claim of security against this common blacksmith. A date was agreed upon for the blacksmith to be locked up while he makes true his claim of being able to open the locks.
On the agreed date, the blacksmith arrived at the prison facility dressed in a worn out jacket. He insisted that he wear the jacket into the prison. Since it did not look extraordinary in any way, his request was granted. The warders led the voluntary prisoner into his cell while outside, the prison officials, building contractor, government representatives and the press waited to see how the showdown would end.
The sound of locking grids and iron bars echoed through the empty prison as the lonely prisoner was left to his fate and possible fame. The warder turned the key, took a look at his time and said, ‘5 minutes’ as he walked away.
No sooner has he turned his back than the blacksmith removed his jacket to reveal hidden tools sewn into the seams of the worn out dress. He worked with such confidence; there was no need to hurry. He had successfully picked every lock and this was not going to be an exception. The minutes ticked away. The sweat broke out on his face. His time would be up in 45 seconds. Yet not even a click of a lock falling into place. 5 minutes went to 10 and then 15. A sense of anguish and dejection came over the lonely blacksmith while outside the excitement began to show on the faces of the contractor and the government officials who claimed they have won the bet.
After 30 minutes all was satisfied this was the greatest lock ever invented by man. And the warder went back to release the defeated blacksmith. As they made their way to the waiting crowd, the blacksmith asked just how possible it was he could not open the lock with all his master tools. The warder smiled as he told him the prison door had not been locked in the first instance!
A door that is locked in your mind can only be opened in your mind. You are what you think you are. You can never go beyond the capacity of your thinking. How positive is that thinking? No matter the resources at your disposal, if you fail to see the possibilities in your mind, it will all amount to nothing. It is not simply more people, or more time or more money or more I.T.
What we need more than anything else is a possibility mindset; one focused on more productivity, one that sees a better vision of today and a glorious one of tomorrow. We need to see open doors in our minds as we make that marketing call. We need to see the possibility of exceeding our targets no matter how daunting it may seem at first. If we can see it, we can do it! It is only when we have seen the end that we can continuously navigate to where we hope to find ourselves.
In the mid 1980s the Malaysian government embarked on a project to renew the country’s aging prison facilities. The news was received with mixed reactions, as expected. Soon, the first of the new prison designs was completed and the government was willing to show off the facilities and their state-of-the-art security.
There was a popular blacksmith in the nation’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, who boasted that he could open any lock no matter how sophisticated within just five minutes. His boastful claims grew wings when he got interviewed on a local radio program.
Soon the government was under pressure to truly test the claim of security against this common blacksmith. A date was agreed upon for the blacksmith to be locked up while he makes true his claim of being able to open the locks.
On the agreed date, the blacksmith arrived at the prison facility dressed in a worn out jacket. He insisted that he wear the jacket into the prison. Since it did not look extraordinary in any way, his request was granted. The warders led the voluntary prisoner into his cell while outside, the prison officials, building contractor, government representatives and the press waited to see how the showdown would end.
The sound of locking grids and iron bars echoed through the empty prison as the lonely prisoner was left to his fate and possible fame. The warder turned the key, took a look at his time and said, ‘5 minutes’ as he walked away.
No sooner has he turned his back than the blacksmith removed his jacket to reveal hidden tools sewn into the seams of the worn out dress. He worked with such confidence; there was no need to hurry. He had successfully picked every lock and this was not going to be an exception. The minutes ticked away. The sweat broke out on his face. His time would be up in 45 seconds. Yet not even a click of a lock falling into place. 5 minutes went to 10 and then 15. A sense of anguish and dejection came over the lonely blacksmith while outside the excitement began to show on the faces of the contractor and the government officials who claimed they have won the bet.
After 30 minutes all was satisfied this was the greatest lock ever invented by man. And the warder went back to release the defeated blacksmith. As they made their way to the waiting crowd, the blacksmith asked just how possible it was he could not open the lock with all his master tools. The warder smiled as he told him the prison door had not been locked in the first instance!
A door that is locked in your mind can only be opened in your mind. You are what you think you are. You can never go beyond the capacity of your thinking. How positive is that thinking? No matter the resources at your disposal, if you fail to see the possibilities in your mind, it will all amount to nothing. It is not simply more people, or more time or more money or more I.T.
What we need more than anything else is a possibility mindset; one focused on more productivity, one that sees a better vision of today and a glorious one of tomorrow. We need to see open doors in our minds as we make that marketing call. We need to see the possibility of exceeding our targets no matter how daunting it may seem at first. If we can see it, we can do it! It is only when we have seen the end that we can continuously navigate to where we hope to find ourselves.
Thursday, 2 August 2012
5 THINGS NO GOVERNMENT CAN GIVE YOU
1: Your government can't give you VISION
You've got to have a clear understanding of where U are headed in life. The prosperity of a nation does not equal yours. If U dont know where U are going to,anywhere U get to will seem like the Place.
2: Your government can't give U DISCIPLINE/SELF CONTROL
No matter the laws of the land, U have to realise only disciplined pple will see their goals achieved. Not all activity/food was designed for man.While some have limits, others are unsuitable while yet others are absolutely forbidden-Dont ask y dey exist.
3: Your government can't give U DETERMINATION
It has been proven thru time that every great endeavour MUST be met with a season of discouragement, hopelessness and seeming failure. Only d determined can truly brave this storms and relish the success of their dreams.
4: Your government can't give U PATIENCE
Have U done all U know how to do? You will never see success if you dont understand HOW TO WAIT and REMAIN FOCUSSED. No matter how much U cried, begged, prayed and whined to be an an adult while U were a kid, U still had to endure the painful but exciting process of growing up (Remember all d ridicule frm elderly ones, jesting from peers-They have all made U who U are today)
5:Finally, NO GOVERMENT CAN GIVE U A DESIRE TO BE GREAT
Yea, it all starts with a desire. Someone said-When U desire success as desperately as U want the air U breathe, then U would have it. Do U remebre that phone U purchased, or the dress, or the friend U so earnestly sought to have. There are numerous things in Ur life that has been birthed due to Ur desires. The same is true for LIFE's ASSIGNMENT-It starts with a DESIRE. You can hold the government accountable for mis-governing. Hold Ur parents accountable for the things they did while U were a kid. Accuse Ur school teacher of not putting his/her best in teaching back in school- BUT YOU CANT BLAME ANYONE FOR WHERE U ARE RIGHT NOW
You've got to have a clear understanding of where U are headed in life. The prosperity of a nation does not equal yours. If U dont know where U are going to,anywhere U get to will seem like the Place.
2: Your government can't give U DISCIPLINE/SELF CONTROL
No matter the laws of the land, U have to realise only disciplined pple will see their goals achieved. Not all activity/food was designed for man.While some have limits, others are unsuitable while yet others are absolutely forbidden-Dont ask y dey exist.
3: Your government can't give U DETERMINATION
It has been proven thru time that every great endeavour MUST be met with a season of discouragement, hopelessness and seeming failure. Only d determined can truly brave this storms and relish the success of their dreams.
4: Your government can't give U PATIENCE
Have U done all U know how to do? You will never see success if you dont understand HOW TO WAIT and REMAIN FOCUSSED. No matter how much U cried, begged, prayed and whined to be an an adult while U were a kid, U still had to endure the painful but exciting process of growing up (Remember all d ridicule frm elderly ones, jesting from peers-They have all made U who U are today)
5:Finally, NO GOVERMENT CAN GIVE U A DESIRE TO BE GREAT
Yea, it all starts with a desire. Someone said-When U desire success as desperately as U want the air U breathe, then U would have it. Do U remebre that phone U purchased, or the dress, or the friend U so earnestly sought to have. There are numerous things in Ur life that has been birthed due to Ur desires. The same is true for LIFE's ASSIGNMENT-It starts with a DESIRE. You can hold the government accountable for mis-governing. Hold Ur parents accountable for the things they did while U were a kid. Accuse Ur school teacher of not putting his/her best in teaching back in school- BUT YOU CANT BLAME ANYONE FOR WHERE U ARE RIGHT NOW
Tuesday, 31 July 2012
SECOND CHANCE
“You don’t have a second chance to make a first impression” goes a popular saying. It emphasizes the importance of the first impression. One must always put his best foot forward. But sometimes you put your best forward and then slip…
Will that be acceptable? Of course it is not. An impression is an impression and even what you may consider as being your best may be not so good.
Wh...
Will that be acceptable? Of course it is not. An impression is an impression and even what you may consider as being your best may be not so good.
Wh...
at do you do when your first impression goes bad? Sulk? Put up a “i-couldn’t- care-less” attitude? Blame everyone and everything else? Or come back with a second impression that condemns the first to the dust bin of memory?
During the momentous swearing in ceremony of President Obama in 2009, nearly all hotel rooms in Washington were booked by tourists and government functionaries, both local and international. A couple had booked for a hotel room long before the mad rush for rooms in the city. It was just coincidental that their scheduled visit now clashed with such an important event.
When they arrived at the hotel, they were carelessly informed at the reception that their earlier confirmed room could not be given to them. They were furious. “We have paid, and confirmed this booking over a month ago, what could possibly be the problem”
Obviously, “important” guests have taken over the place. This information just added to the anger and frustration of the couple. How on earth were they supposed to get another room given the peculiarity of that day? They insisted on seeing the management. This was the first impression. It was a really bad impression and they were going to let whoever get a piece of their minds.
The manager took it upon himself to secure a room in a not-so popular hotel for the couple and arranged for them to be chauffeur-driven throughout their stay at his hotel’s expense. That was a pleasant surprise; a much better bargain than staying at the hotel of their first choice.
But the best experience came in the evening when the couple received a call from the manager politely inviting them to the spectacular Neighbourhood Inauguration Ball (where the new President and his wife were going to make their first showing)if they didn’t mind. Now tell me, who in the world would mind that opportunity?
The couple became a part of history because one hotel’s best foot forward slipped. Now seriously, which impression do you think will last longer - the failed room booking or the excellent service recovery that followed? They will certainly pray for a failed booking the next time they visit Washington!
When customers get upset because of the challenges of the migration project experienced last week, we must respond with a superlative service delivery that erases that memory and give them even better reasons to remain on our platform and invite others to experience our warmth and professionalism.
It is true. There is no second chance to make a first impression. But it is also true that every chance is a great opportunity to make a better impression than the last one.
It matters what impressions you first create but much more important is the eventual image you leave.
During the momentous swearing in ceremony of President Obama in 2009, nearly all hotel rooms in Washington were booked by tourists and government functionaries, both local and international. A couple had booked for a hotel room long before the mad rush for rooms in the city. It was just coincidental that their scheduled visit now clashed with such an important event.
When they arrived at the hotel, they were carelessly informed at the reception that their earlier confirmed room could not be given to them. They were furious. “We have paid, and confirmed this booking over a month ago, what could possibly be the problem”
Obviously, “important” guests have taken over the place. This information just added to the anger and frustration of the couple. How on earth were they supposed to get another room given the peculiarity of that day? They insisted on seeing the management. This was the first impression. It was a really bad impression and they were going to let whoever get a piece of their minds.
The manager took it upon himself to secure a room in a not-so popular hotel for the couple and arranged for them to be chauffeur-driven throughout their stay at his hotel’s expense. That was a pleasant surprise; a much better bargain than staying at the hotel of their first choice.
But the best experience came in the evening when the couple received a call from the manager politely inviting them to the spectacular Neighbourhood Inauguration Ball (where the new President and his wife were going to make their first showing)if they didn’t mind. Now tell me, who in the world would mind that opportunity?
The couple became a part of history because one hotel’s best foot forward slipped. Now seriously, which impression do you think will last longer - the failed room booking or the excellent service recovery that followed? They will certainly pray for a failed booking the next time they visit Washington!
When customers get upset because of the challenges of the migration project experienced last week, we must respond with a superlative service delivery that erases that memory and give them even better reasons to remain on our platform and invite others to experience our warmth and professionalism.
It is true. There is no second chance to make a first impression. But it is also true that every chance is a great opportunity to make a better impression than the last one.
It matters what impressions you first create but much more important is the eventual image you leave.
Monday, 30 July 2012
FINISHING WELL
Mexico, 1968 Olympics
“Out of the cold darkness he came. John Stephen Akhwari of Tanzania entered at the far end of the stadium, hobbling painfully with every step, his leg bloody and bandaged. The winner of the marathon had been declared over an hour earlier. Only a few spectators remained. But the lone runner pressed on…”
It is not enough to start a race, you must be able to finish it and finish it well.
The world hardly remembers people who start but never finish. We all remember the Wright Brothers (1903) for their “invention” of the airplane yet they where only building up on works that commenced as early as 900 AD. In fact just a couple of years before their historic break, a university professor of mathematics, Dr. Samuel P. Langley, had received some grant from the US War Department for his research and development of a viable manned airplane. On October 8, 1903, after six years of intense research, Langley gathered the press and notables for the historic moment. The experiment failed. The press condemnation was unparalleled. He fought back gallantly and eight weeks later he tried again with an even more catastrophic result. He started well, but it was the Wright brothers, unfunded, uneducated and unknown that finished well a few days after his second attempt. They are the ones the world remembers.
Alexander Graham Bell, credited with the invention of the telephone, won the patent right because he filed just a few hours earlier than his competitor Elisha Gray who in all likelihood made the invention based on more recent revelations. Gray started well, Graham finished better…
All through history we see this scenario played outcx It is good to start but infinitely better to finish. The first cut may be the deepest, but the last cut is what finishes the job. The prize is not for starters but for finishers. You have set out with a goal in mind; do you actualize it or do you allow the vagaries of the day take their toll and cause you to deviate? The thought that creeps into your mind is the start of many great eventualities; do you see yours to a logical conclusion?
“…as the Tanzanian athlete limped round the field to cross the finishing line, the small crowd of spectators gave him a standing ovation, roaring their appreciation. Afterward, a reporter asked the runner why he had not retired from the race, since he had no chance of winning. He seemed confused by the question. Finally, he answered: “My country did not send me to Mexico to start the race, they sent me to finish.”
In spite of all the challenges we face in Process, Product, People, Technology, power, etc always keep this in mind: you were not created/employed to see the problem, but to solve it. The fact that you are seeing it means you have started the process. Can you finish it?
Sunday, 29 July 2012
THE RIGHT TO FAIL
Please read to the end before you delete.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights has 30 articles dealing with every right you can think of except the one we all need most. Article 1 declares that we are all born free and equal. But everyone knows that is just on the paper. No one is free and we are not equal. Article 4 deals expressly with the issue of slavery. “No one shall be a slave…” It’s an ideal that we should all push towards. But do you know there will always be slaves?
So what is the right that we most need that is not provided for in the Declaration?
Every human being has an inherent and inalienable right to fail.
Drop the pretence. Who hasn’t failed before? Why do we treat failure with such contempt as if it was illegal to fail? Funny enough the greatest victories often come from the biggest failures.
Zane Grey became a dentist and hated it. He wrote several novels. They failed. He wrote a western novel, “The Last of the Plainsmen”. That too was rejected. He was told he had no future as a writer and to give it up. He persisted and was 40 before his first book sold. He had 65 books published while he was alive—24 after he died. His books sold more than 50 million copies. Forty-nine of his novels were made into movies. One million of his books still sell every year. He exercised his right to fail.
Decca Recording Company turned down The Beatles in 1962. They said, "We don't like their sound. Groups of guitarists are on the way out." After that rejection, The Beatles became the best-selling band in the history of popular music, and four decades after their break-up, their recordings are still in demand. They have had more number one albums on the UK charts and have held the top spot longer than any other musical act. They have received 7 Grammy Awards from the American National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. They exercised their right to be called failures.
Van Gogh sold only one painting in his entire lifetime and that one was of his own brother! The price of that painting was a meager $1600. Today, seven of his works are amongst the most expensive artworks ever bought totaling about $670 million! In his lifetime he was seen as a failure (it drove him to commit suicide) but imagine the worth of his work after death! Success looks like failure when its time has not come!
Richard Hooker spent 17 years writing a humorous war story which was rejected by 21 publishers before William Morrow bought it. The title of the book? MASH! Ultimately, however, the book proved amazingly successful. The novel inspired an Academy Award-winning film released in 1970 and a widely popular television series that lasted eleven seasons! He too exercised his right to fail.
Walt Disney went broke seven times and had a nervous breakdown before becoming successful. Certainly you have heard of Abraham Lincoln and how he was defeated in several elections before he could become the President of America. And what a successful president he was!
What of Thomas Edison (with his legendary failure in the quest for a workable electric bulb) or Winston Churchill (Britain’s wartime leader) who struggled in school with spelling or Albert Einstein (the popular scientist) whose teachers felt could not amount to much, or Ben Carson (the world’s most celebrated neuro-surgeon) whose teacher once described as the dumbest student in the world? You are in good company if you have failed.
Exercise your right! Refuse to be intimidated by people or circumstances. Refuse to give up just because someone believes you are a failure. Just because your projections didn’t quite materialize does not make you a failure. But don’t just fail blindly. Pick something up with each failure. Keep your eyes open. Call it purposeful failure.
Success dwells on the far side of failure, not on the opposite side. If you really want to succeed that badly, then know that you will have to walk through what a lot of people call failure boulevard. If you don’t stop, if you keep your focus, and exercise your basic human right to fail – then you will wake up one morning to the beautiful music of success. This is as true for corporate organizations as it is for individuals. And today could be that day for all you know.
Until next week, stay true to yourself and your customers and remember, great service happens in the moment, moment by moment.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights has 30 articles dealing with every right you can think of except the one we all need most. Article 1 declares that we are all born free and equal. But everyone knows that is just on the paper. No one is free and we are not equal. Article 4 deals expressly with the issue of slavery. “No one shall be a slave…” It’s an ideal that we should all push towards. But do you know there will always be slaves?
So what is the right that we most need that is not provided for in the Declaration?
Every human being has an inherent and inalienable right to fail.
Drop the pretence. Who hasn’t failed before? Why do we treat failure with such contempt as if it was illegal to fail? Funny enough the greatest victories often come from the biggest failures.
Zane Grey became a dentist and hated it. He wrote several novels. They failed. He wrote a western novel, “The Last of the Plainsmen”. That too was rejected. He was told he had no future as a writer and to give it up. He persisted and was 40 before his first book sold. He had 65 books published while he was alive—24 after he died. His books sold more than 50 million copies. Forty-nine of his novels were made into movies. One million of his books still sell every year. He exercised his right to fail.
Decca Recording Company turned down The Beatles in 1962. They said, "We don't like their sound. Groups of guitarists are on the way out." After that rejection, The Beatles became the best-selling band in the history of popular music, and four decades after their break-up, their recordings are still in demand. They have had more number one albums on the UK charts and have held the top spot longer than any other musical act. They have received 7 Grammy Awards from the American National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. They exercised their right to be called failures.
Van Gogh sold only one painting in his entire lifetime and that one was of his own brother! The price of that painting was a meager $1600. Today, seven of his works are amongst the most expensive artworks ever bought totaling about $670 million! In his lifetime he was seen as a failure (it drove him to commit suicide) but imagine the worth of his work after death! Success looks like failure when its time has not come!
Richard Hooker spent 17 years writing a humorous war story which was rejected by 21 publishers before William Morrow bought it. The title of the book? MASH! Ultimately, however, the book proved amazingly successful. The novel inspired an Academy Award-winning film released in 1970 and a widely popular television series that lasted eleven seasons! He too exercised his right to fail.
Walt Disney went broke seven times and had a nervous breakdown before becoming successful. Certainly you have heard of Abraham Lincoln and how he was defeated in several elections before he could become the President of America. And what a successful president he was!
What of Thomas Edison (with his legendary failure in the quest for a workable electric bulb) or Winston Churchill (Britain’s wartime leader) who struggled in school with spelling or Albert Einstein (the popular scientist) whose teachers felt could not amount to much, or Ben Carson (the world’s most celebrated neuro-surgeon) whose teacher once described as the dumbest student in the world? You are in good company if you have failed.
Exercise your right! Refuse to be intimidated by people or circumstances. Refuse to give up just because someone believes you are a failure. Just because your projections didn’t quite materialize does not make you a failure. But don’t just fail blindly. Pick something up with each failure. Keep your eyes open. Call it purposeful failure.
Success dwells on the far side of failure, not on the opposite side. If you really want to succeed that badly, then know that you will have to walk through what a lot of people call failure boulevard. If you don’t stop, if you keep your focus, and exercise your basic human right to fail – then you will wake up one morning to the beautiful music of success. This is as true for corporate organizations as it is for individuals. And today could be that day for all you know.
Until next week, stay true to yourself and your customers and remember, great service happens in the moment, moment by moment.
Monday, 2 July 2012
SAVING CULTURE
Have you considered the benefts you can enjoy from building
a savings culture today? Research suggests that:
People who save do not run out of money in an emergency
People who save can help their children further their education
People who save have a nest of golden eggs to see them through their retirement years
Many of us aspire to achieve some or all of these states of fnancial security but starting off does need a bit of encouragement. Well, to start you off, here are a few tips on saving money:
Give yourself a reason to save as it is easier to save with a goal in mind
Know where you stand today with your income and your
recurring expenditure
Make a commitment to put away a fxed amount of money
each month – this can be from foregoing non-essential recurring
expenditure or reducing how much you spend on non-essential items
Choose a place to help your money grow
Keep track of your savings and see your money grow month after month.
a savings culture today? Research suggests that:
People who save do not run out of money in an emergency
People who save can help their children further their education
People who save have a nest of golden eggs to see them through their retirement years
Many of us aspire to achieve some or all of these states of fnancial security but starting off does need a bit of encouragement. Well, to start you off, here are a few tips on saving money:
Give yourself a reason to save as it is easier to save with a goal in mind
Know where you stand today with your income and your
recurring expenditure
Make a commitment to put away a fxed amount of money
each month – this can be from foregoing non-essential recurring
expenditure or reducing how much you spend on non-essential items
Choose a place to help your money grow
Keep track of your savings and see your money grow month after month.
Thursday, 17 May 2012
PERCEPTION AND YOUTH
"Perception involves all the ways of becoming aware of things, people, happenings, or ideas. Judgment involves all the ways of coming to conclusions about what has been perceived. If people differ systematically in what they perceive and in how they reach conclusions, then it is only reasonable for them to differ correspondingly in their interests, reactions, values, motivations, and skills." This is the AFRICAN PROBLEM that we in YAT seek to remedy. It was discovereed based on our research that perceptions are formed between the ages 13 to 21 years, while judgement based on perceptions are most notably between the ages 21 to 29 years. The fruits of our perceptions and judgements are what we exprience in later years. We aim to help every category of the African youth both at their point of perception and judgement to achieve the AFRICAN DREAM project. Join us in our quest to reach 1 MILLION AFRICAN YOUTHS BY 2015. To participate, send us a mail... youngafricantalent@gmail.com
Thursday, 10 May 2012
YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE
This message is to every one particularly the African youth whose identity has been greatly abused by the negative information system that has been allowed to flow within the society. This message is to you who is on the verge of giving up. The message is simple,-YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE. The term failure is defined as someone who is not making an attempt at doing anything.
It is amazing to note that success and failure have a definition in common. Success as I define it is the process of not failing while failure is also the process of not failing. So long as you don’t make any attempt at anything, then you can be guaranteed of not failing.
Dear friends, there is no known success story without some losses or failings. It does not matter how often you have stumbled, it doesn’t matter who has spoken over you or what name you have been affiliated with. Your success story is not left in any man’s hands. You and YOU ALONE determine how much life has to offer you. Thomas Edison it is that history records to have attempted making the light bulb 999 times before eventual success. I marvel when I see Africans rushing to leave the shores of their homeland. Every great nation today had gone through a process of failings that ultimately led them to seasons of discoveries today. Look within yourself and pull out the resources deposited. Be determined about your life, never accept defeat. Never give up. Be focussed and never compare yourself with anyone.
REMEMBER, YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE
Tuesday, 8 May 2012
NUTRITION AND HEALTH:YOUR MIND
An interesting piece found on someones note, I thought to share it only with a different conclusion...
For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.
1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
What then makes the Americans so vulnerable to such attcks? The answer is rooted in the kind of information that flows within the American environment. Not all knowledge is good, not all information is edifying. It is said that "you are what you eat?" By eat, it includes the substance that goes into your mind.
CONCLUSION
Change your thoughts, restructure your mind, guard your heart with all diligence for out of it proceeds the issues of life.
For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.
1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.
What then makes the Americans so vulnerable to such attcks? The answer is rooted in the kind of information that flows within the American environment. Not all knowledge is good, not all information is edifying. It is said that "you are what you eat?" By eat, it includes the substance that goes into your mind.
CONCLUSION
Change your thoughts, restructure your mind, guard your heart with all diligence for out of it proceeds the issues of life.
AFRICA:CHANGE THE MINDSET, CHANGE AFRICA
From Mogadishu in Somalia
to Conakry in Guinea, from Libya to Abuja in Nigeria, from Johannesburg in South Africa to Cairo in Egypt, the
story of the African continent remains the same. The story depicts a continent
still trying to grapple with her identity. Every known self inflicted human
vice can be associated with the continent. Corruption, slavery, sickness, wars,
underdevelopment, terrible leadership, HIV etc. The list is endless. To what
can we attribute all these? It appears Africa has defied every known human
solution. Daily we read on the pages of newspaper the enormous amount of money
being pumped into one project after another. Committees are set by successive
governments. Ideas are borrowed from the western world by the few well meaning
ones but all of these seem not to work. We are at war with our collective
existence and until we understand the root cause, we remain chained in the
valley of hopelessness.
The one question any well
meaning patriot would ask is- what is the one thing that differentiates the
African continent from others that have made some measure of progress? Is it
the color of the skin? Is it the geographical location? The answer is definitely
NO. Neither of these factors HAVE
EVER BEEN THE REASON FOR CHANGE. It is important to note that when two
people approach a project, the results that are seen are purely determined by
the level of information at the individuals’ disposal. THE PROBLEM WITH THE AFRICAN CONTINENT IS ROOTED IN ONE FACTOR and
that is THE MINDSET. To effect
change, the continent must engage in the active education of the thought
process of the entire peoples of the continent. A person is defined not by
location, race, tribe or religion but by the intellectual base of the MIND. You
are called “LOCAL” only because your thought process is inferior which affects
your actions. Your dressing, speech, attitude and everything that you do is
directly linked to the PROWESS OF the MIND. It is therefore safe to establish
that every problem associated with the African continent has a direct link to THE POWER BASE OF THE MIND. A corrupt
leader steals because he still has a poverty mentality, HIV is prevalent
because the mental instincts that helps with self worth is very low hence the
devaluation and lack of protection in acts that lead to such diseases. To conclude,
IF WE MUST CHANGE AFRICA AND MAKE HER A BETTER PLACE, WE MUST ACTIVELY CHANGE
THE WAY THE AFRICAN MAN THINKS.
Wednesday, 25 April 2012
Saturday, 21 April 2012
TOP TWO REASONS WHY MEN WITH GREAT SKILLS FELL FROM GRACE
RESEARCH: In a recent research conducted by the YAT GROUP covering the lives of well over 50 famous people all over the world, we were able to discover a very astonishing FACT on why people with GREAT talent, people who have attained some measure of social, political or religious stand FELL FROM GRACE .
One thing keeps coming to mind though as we ponder this very discovery. “Why havent we learnt from history? Why has the mistakes of these people not taught the world a lesson? Why is it that as you read this, someone somewhere is perhaps involved in the very same act?” It seems the words of one of the wisest men to live in the person of king Solomon is proving true which he said “the thing that has been, it is that which shall be, and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. ”
We discovered amongst several that 2 things top the list of every great persons reason for falling from GRACE to GRASS
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Eight lessons of leadership:
1. Courage is not the absence of fear - it's inspiring others to move beyond it.
2. Lead from the front-but don't leave your base behind.
3. Lead from the back - and let others believe they are in front.
4. Know your enemy- and learn about his favorite sport.
5. Keep your friends close - and your rivals even closer.
6. Appearances matter - and remember to smile.
7. Nothing is black or white.
8. Quitting is leading too.
By H.E President Rolihlahla Nelson Mandela, First South African President to be elected in a fully representative democratic election (1994-1999).
2. Lead from the front-but don't leave your base behind.
3. Lead from the back - and let others believe they are in front.
4. Know your enemy- and learn about his favorite sport.
5. Keep your friends close - and your rivals even closer.
6. Appearances matter - and remember to smile.
7. Nothing is black or white.
8. Quitting is leading too.
By H.E President Rolihlahla Nelson Mandela, First South African President to be elected in a fully representative democratic election (1994-1999).
Friday, 20 April 2012
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
THE FIRST STEP TO GETTING WHAT YOU WANT OUT OF LIFE IS KNOWING WHAT YOU WANT
Know what you want:Deliberate goal setting is the Foundation upon which all healthy career development is built. Your quest for greatness is hinged upon your ability to discover what you truly want. Your quest will be more effective if your goals are clearly mapped out.
Wednesday, 18 April 2012
3 SECRETS TO SUCCESS
In my research through books and the lives of men who have achieved some measure of success in their endeavour, I have found that the secret to success in any field is not as numerous as some books makes us believe, neither is it as hard to achieve success as some have wrongly pointed out.
I have found out that these 3 will guarantee anyone success in almost anything he/she does. I have also found that all other qualities as might be mentioned by any group, book, individual are embedded in these 3. They are:
1: God: Much as many have come to disregard the Supreme Being and have assumed a stance where they believe HE doesnt exist. I can assure you way beyond the shadow of doubt that truly, nothing happens here on earth without God’s intervention. There can never be any success without God’s approval of it. Therefore acknowledging Him is a first and sure way to head in that direction every human craves for-SUCCESS.
2: HARD WORK/DILIGENCE: Christians, muslims, hindus- you name the religion. There is not a single one that supports laziness. There is not a single endeavour that you undertake in life that does not require diligence. You would never be master of anything in life if you do not put in that extra level of work, time and resources. The only way to command attention, respect and honor is to be found GOING THE EXTRA MILE.
3: SEEDs: Do you know of any great establishment, groups or individuals who was not involved in one philantropic work or the other? Whether it’s your seed to God or humanity, there is something about that benevolence you render to people that ushers in wealth. You cant do without the goodwill and prayers of those you render help to. Divinity somehow opens you to more opportunities when you are considered a willing channel to help others.
Someone would say “how about vision, ideas, relationship with the right people(connections) etc?” Whatever you might think as a necessary ingredient, you can be sure it has it’s root in one of the above.
Wednesday, 4 April 2012
TALENT + RIGHT CHOICES = A TALENT-PLUS PERSON
TALENT + RIGHT CHOICES = A TALENT-PLUS PERSON
Your talent is not defined by what you do or can do but rather by who you are. eventually, the quality of life or personal character outlives your talent. We hold to be evident that you can make a difference in your world no matter where you have been.
Your talent is not defined by what you do or can do but rather by who you are. eventually, the quality of life or personal character outlives your talent. We hold to be evident that you can make a difference in your world no matter where you have been.
Saturday, 31 March 2012
YOU AND YOUR CAREER
WHAT
IS A CAREER?
As defined in the
dictionary, it means ‘one’s professional
progress through life’. Simply put, ‘it is that pathway by which an
individual has chosen to run through life’s course’.
Life is an adventure
and as such requires a certain approach. An adventure to a mountain requires a
different approach from an adventure to a forest. There are those who will love
the pathway to the mountain more than the one to the forest. This immediately
leads me to the next question…
HOW
DO YOU CHOOSE A CAREER?
It’s amazing that much
of what would have been a fantastic career path for some people has ended in
much unhappiness. For instance, some people love to talk but because the
society has condemned people who talk, they have tried to live up to the
society’s dictate. Some even use religion as a cover up of their true self-
forgetting that there’s no fruit of the Spirit called quietness. This has led
them to a lifetime of inevitable frustration and unhappiness. We see people in
our world today who are envied simply because of what they do-the very same
things they were rejected for while they were young but they discovered
themselves and stuck to it and now they are celebrities. e.g Oprah Winfrey,
Mother Theresa, Michael Angelo, Wole Soyinka, Beethoven e. t. c to mention but
a few.
There’s so much to say
but I have found that of all the important things to note, key to choosing your
career is to find where YOUR PASSION
LIES. What you love doing, what you always think about, what you love to read
about, what you dont get tired of doing and talking about are all
elements of your PASSION and hence
should no doubt be your career choice indicator.
KEY
POINTS IN CAREER ASSESSMENT/SIGNALS
I strongly believe in
prayers and as such would say everyone who is sincere enough in discovering
his/her career should do the first and most important thing which is seek the
One who knows it all and has our lives fashioned out. I hold to be self evident
and fulfilling that all who have truly sought the face of God in matters
pertaining to their lives always rejoice in the end. James 1:5 has this to say “if
anyone does not know what to do, he should ask God…(NLT)”
Secondly, in the
corporate world, there’s an analysis called SWOT that is used for businesses. Experts have agreed that this is
also an analysis that could be used amongst other things in understanding
oneself to help better choose a career path.
S-STRENGHT
W-WEAKNESSES
O-OPPORTUNITIES
T-THREATS
Example
Let’s take the case of
a young girl who is known to always talk, loves meeting people and showing them
care, never wants to sit in one place, can’t stop telling stories. At a point
in time, this girl was referred to as a nuisance by her parents and friends but
today she’s the world most celebrated and richest woman. Though everyone around
her seemed to despise her, she found her passion and decided to work at it.
This woman is none other than Oprah
Winfrey, who runs the Oprah Winfrey
Show; a program many the world over will do anything to be on.
SWOT
ANALYSIS-OPRAH WINFREY
STRENGHT-
talking, meeting people, showing love/concern
WEAKNESS-
Gets on people’s nerves.
OPPORTUNITIES-
Could host a TV show where she could channel her gifts to a mass of people
without being a nuisance to her family at the same time make more money and
live a better and more fulfilling life.
THREATS-
Would people listen to a talkative, would she have sponsors for it.
She kept at it and with
dedication, hard work and faith in God, she is where she is today. Many more
could be told about other people who pursued their passions as a career choice
and are celebrated today. Never despise who you are, its God’s gift to you.
Never chose a career
simply because its lucrative, or because your parents wants it. Your career is
not the same thing as the feelings of your friends about you. It is primarily a
function of you. When tough times come, which will definitely come for anything
you chose to do, it’s only your faith in God and your passion for the career
that will keep you going. I believe there will be no limit to what can be
achieved when we truly discover who we are and what we want to do with our
lives.
Olabiyi Olubunmi
Charles
Career and management
consultant
Friday, 30 March 2012
MORE THAN TALENTS
Remember Macaulay Culkin?? The kid in Home ALone!!
He wasted everything because of drugs.
He was arrested for consuming excess drugs in Oklahoma City for the possession of 17.3g of marijuana and two controlled substances, 16.5 mg of Alprazolam and 32 mg of Clonazepam.
SAD.in life its important to have the right people around you.
He wasted everything because of drugs.
He was arrested for consuming excess drugs in Oklahoma City for the possession of 17.3g of marijuana and two controlled substances, 16.5 mg of Alprazolam and 32 mg of Clonazepam.
SAD.in life its important to have the right people around you.
It is also important to understand that it’s more than just having a talent, it’s about the characters you develop alongside that counts. That’s why we more than help you discover your talent, we at young african talent help you mold the qualities needed to make a difference.
Thursday, 29 March 2012
Discovering your uniqueness and what defines you is as important as the instinct you develop when faced with a life threatening situation. Your definintion of your unique qualities determines how you chose to represent yourself. The self discovery of man is endangered and you must do everything to protect who you are.
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