Deoluakinyemi
Daily Motivation and Development for People and Organizations - ASE

Once upon a time two 13yr old boys decided to each ask their fathers for the key to their father’s brand new BMWs. They met together to agree which of their fathers was nicer, and which loved or cared about them the most. They were in JSS 3, and a lot of their classmates claimed to be able to drive, except them. Some of them also claimed to drive their fathers cars, but not them. It wasn’t good, they thought, they believed that the only way to sort things out, was to ask their fathers.

The first boy, whose name I’ll refer to as Chike, decided to ask his dad as well. He explained to his dad that he wanted to drive his fathers BMW, and that he was feeling very aloof as all his classmates were driving except him. His father laughed heartily and told him to go face his books, that when the time was right, they’ll sit down together and have that conversation again. He went to his room with tears laid eyes, his father had not even given him sufficient attention before dismissing his proposition.

The second boy, whose name I’ll refer to as Segun, asked his father the same question, explaining the issues on ground and how driving this car to school will increase his social standing. The father, being a very understanding father, who understood the value of a social life, decided to indulge him and gave him the car keys. After a lot of struggle… starts stops and sharp movements… he got the hand of how to move the car. In the course of one full day, he scratches the car, steals from his dad to fix it before he finds out, gets to impress and hang out with wrong company, and gets into big time trouble!

Read: Give Me! �

One of the core things that the New Nigeria Club seeks to address is the question of identity. Not just image, but identity. In this classification, image is how you are perceived while perception is how you see yourself. True sustainable image is one that is projected directly from one’s sense of personal identity. If what I am projecting as who I am is not who I really am, it’s only a matter of time before all my projections break down.

There was a question I was asked yesterday, I’ll like to ask you too. What makes someone a Nigerian. What is our unique selling point? What differentiates us, for what course are we willing to die. Who is a Nigerian? What are our values? What do we believe in? What binds us together? For the Americans it’s easy, it’s freedom. The free spirit has been branded the American spirit. Many American’s have died for Freedom, they have a statue of Liberty that is a National Icon, they believe in freedom of speech, of e.t.c. America is synonymous to freedom! When you think Singapore, you think cleanliness. They are so crazy about keeping the town beautiful and clean that they go to almost any length. As far as ensuring their citizens or visitors don’t chew gum, for fear they might not find where to stick it :). For Germany it’s commitment, e.t.c. There are some other countries like these, some known for fashion, some known for machines, some known for their technology, some for their piracy e.t.c. What is Nigeria known for, what what makes us Nigerian, and what should it rather be?

Read: P.A.T.R.I.O.T.I.C �

I once read someone’s article on a friend a long time ago, I have searched all day for this article online but haven’t found it, so I’m going to write mine, and hope that it would give someone the feeling I had back then, when I read the same thing.

In the story I read, a man talks about his childhood friend, how they had drifted apart somewhere along the line. To schools they went, different schools, and to Jobs they went, different Jobs. Wifes happened, and so did kids, and the tide of life threw them along different paths. Sometimes at work the young man would think, “oh, my friend, he would have said this and that”. Sometimes he’ll recall, and push till later when to give him a call. By and by the story went, each day with the pressure to call and see mounting stronger, until one day the young man receives a post mail. He sees the mail is stamped from the same place where his friend and he grew up.

Read: Friends -1 �

I have always been a strong proponent of the power of unity. I believed that the implication of the fact that if one could chase 1000 and then 2 will put 10,000 to flight means that there is power in synergy. In fact, I analyzed and showed people that any one who stood alone when he could collaborate with someone else, was wasting a lot of potentials. Can you imagine how much of 10,000 is lost when two people decide to go separately? If you calculated it, it’s 8,000, that’s a huge percentage of possibilities lost out of lack of collaboration. Just for clarity, here is the equation. 1 will chase 1000, this means that two independent 1’s will chase 2,000, as opposed to the 10,000 they could have chased this is a loss of 8,000 or 80%.

I however discovered a slight modification of this calculation today! I discovered to my utter surprise, that it is not normal for one to chase a thousand. When one chases 1000, it is because the almighty God is involved. That equation is an equation that is only in force when God is involved. One will normally chase a few,  but one with God is majority! Sometimes we underestimate the power of God in our lives, we forget, and we think we are where we are because of our attitude, skill and knowledge. Well A.S.K. (Attitude, Skill and Knowledge) helps but God is irreplaceable and key! So in this call for collaboration, I call on God almighty without whom life would not be worth living, and I call on you too, my ever supportive friends. I have developed something, and I need your collaboration for it to succeed.

Read: Please Let’s Collaborate �

“If you must play, decide on three things at the start: the rules of the game, the stakes, and the quitting time” - Chinese Proverb

In my last trip outside the country, I got the opportunity to watch American Gangster. It’s an interesting film for many reasons, it’s also a film that I find a lot of lessons in. I would cronicle a few, in my attempt to share with you what is frontal in my mind this morning.

The story line was that, an American Area Father (Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson)and crime boss died, and his driver  turned right hand man Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) took over. Denzel Washington had driven this man for years, been with him for negotiation meetings, been  his PA for most of the journey, and had watched and learned. There were quite a number of people in the hierachry ahead of him, but he had been closest to the old man, and had learnt a lot from him. How to handle pressure, how to be patient, how to be decisive, how to negotiate e.t.c. He had learnt the art of business. When the Area Father died, a vacuum was created, the market was going to go unregulated. Leadership became available and there were a number of options.

Read: Quitting Time! �

Today, July1, 2008 is the beginning of the second half of the year… so Welcome to Second half!

In the last one week, one particular thing has consistently been coming to my attention. While I have been busy, I have also had the time and opportunity to have some fun. In the midst of it all, I have come to realize that the greatest benefit you can do for yourself in this second half is to up your game!

The greatest enemy of great is good. The greatest enemy of exceptional is average. Rarely are people get motivated to do beyond where they get comfortable. Do you have a benchmark? Do you have standards you aspire to? Did you set goals for yourself at the beginning of the year, are you taking stock? If you are far from your goals, it’s alright, you now only need to up your game.

Here are a few tips on why and how you need to up your game this year.

Read: Up Your Game! �

I came across a quote from a friend today, and it spurred me on to write.  For all those out there who are looking for an “elevator” to success, I believe that this quote and write-up is a must read for you. We are in a sharp sharp generation, a microwave, two minutes noodles generation. We want what we want, and we want it yesterday.

Our young people don’t want to invest for the long term, they want short term, and high returns. Nobody is willing to test the powers of compound interest, nobody is willing to wait for 10yrs and see what a million can become after so long. They all want it in 1 month, in 3 months or worst case scenario in 6 months. We are too in a hurry, too hasty, too much in a rush! When we approach the building of life that has success on it’s topmost floor, we go to the elevator and punch the up button, we enter and hit the 10th floor. All we need to do is stand still, and wait for the elevator to deliver us to sure success. Isn’t this the way we want it? Smooth easy effortless ride to our dreams? Wake up, and smell the coffee.

Read: The Elevator to Success! �

I’m sure many that will read this are conversant with the reality that whether or not we are conscious of it, we are scribbling history with our daily lives. This was literally done yesterday as we presented some great opportunities to the people that attended a New Nigeria Club organized Investors Forum. I’m going to share with you here, the key highlights and opportunities from that meeting, and a little extra.

We gathered a number of high potential Nigerians together and presented them with some exclusive opportunities. In our own little ways we are making history and these opportunities are extended to you as well, provided you meet the exclusivity requirement.

Read: Yesterday Was History �

“Advertorial: Join us at the Investors Forum. Book ahead. Send a text to 08033469632 indicating your name and email.”

I hope you are not postponing your life till tomorrow, because if you are, I intend to shake you a bit today! Yesterday is gone, tomorrow does not exist, when we get to tomorrow, if we ever do, we’ll call it today! This truth leaves one with a shocking reality that what you really have power over is today. In fact if we want to make it more extreme, now! Does it then not seem strange, that many are living lives they are unhappy about today, in the hope that it will change tomorrow? Don’t procrastinate your happiness, don’t postpone your joy, don’t leave off to an unknown future the best parts of your life. Haven’t you heard - “Tomorrow, tomorrow… is always a day away!”?

This reminds me of a story I once heard. Of a rich Consultant that traveled to his village to let his air down, have fun and enjoy the peace and tranquility of the country side. While in the village, he decided to go fishing with on of his old time buddies who was a fisherman by profession. He set up an appointment with his friend and they set out to fish together. While they were on the waters, the rich consultant saw possibilities and told his friend. “Do you know that your business can be much bigger than this? You are living way below your potentials”. The fisherman looked at him, puzzled, “really? But why would I want to make my business bigger?” The rich consultant was puzzled at why a human being would not be aspirational and went on to explain further.

Read: The Unknown Tomorrow �

“Advertorial: There is an Investors Forum on the 15th of June, 2008 (This Sunday) at the Lagos Travel Inn (Toyin Street Ikeja, before Water Parks) at 2pm sharp. This meeting is free for New Nigeria Club members. We’ll be having as guest the MD Property Consulting Company from Dubai, who will be around to offer a unique property deal to interested investors, we will also be providing information about the New Nigeria Investment Club and other exciting opportunities. To book a sit, kindly send a text to 08033469632 indicating your name and email address. Non New Nigeria Club members will be required to pay N30,000 to attend or attend strictly by invitation.”

“A Property Investment forum will also be holding on the 14th of June, 2008 - 2pm (This Saturday) at Realty Point Ltd Office 3RD FLOOR, ONIGBAGBO HOUSE, BESIDE BOLA MEMORIAL CHURCH, BY ABULE B/STOP, 29 MOBOLAJI BANK ANTHONY WAY, IKEJA, LAGOS.”

A friend walked into my office last week, with only one question in mind - “How can I generate multiple streams of income?” From the way he spoke, he had gotten to that point in life, when what is reasonable to do is cry out for help. I tried as best I could to enumerate some basic steps for creating steady streams of income.

If you are wondering whether or not you need this, you probably aren’t ready, at least not yet. Being an employee often offers one the disadvantage of not thinking about this type of thing for a long time. With a sure salary coming at the end of every month, what’s the use of multiple streams? It will be good that you learn ahead though, particularly as we’ll all stop being employees one day. And if you have not developed extra sources, particularly passive ones for yourself, your later years might not be so rosy. When push comes to shove, your net value is the difference between your inputs and outputs. If we borrow from the bathtub theorem, the water the bathtub retains is a function of how many faucets and how you are plugging the drains.

Key tips to creating multiple streams of income

Read: Creating Multiple Streams of Income �