Self-Motivation, Personal Growth and Entrepreneurship Development on DeoluAkinyemi.com

It was high counsel that I once heard given to a young person: Always do what you are afraid to do. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom – Bertrand Russell

I’ve once mentioned my adventurous childhood. I remember on one occassion, try as I can, I will never forget! On that fateful day, for reasons I cannot remember, I went further into a forest than I would normally venture. There was a path in the forest, so it gave some comfort, at least I wasn’t charting new terrains, someone had come this way before. My curiousity led me on. After I had walked for what seemed like 1 hour then, I decided to take shade in a nearby tree, catch my breathe, wait for a while and then continue my curious search. I bent down to take a sit, when my eyes caught a glimpse just 300 meters from me. A Lion!!!

I literally felt my breathe leave me. It was looking wild and hungry, my heart raced so fast my legs were numb. See, ahead of now, I had watched many movies, read many books and knew that Lions where not man’s best friend. Had I come to the end of my journey so soon? What will happen to my love for mathematics, my strenght in physics or my passion for public speaking? (of course i’m writing this means the journey didn’t end). I couldn’t stare eyeball to eyeball with the beast, my ears were performing at their peak as i wondered if I didn’t see what I saw of if it didn’t see me. As I stood there (withing 1second) my entire life passed before me, I wished myself away, wished I could dissappear of fly. Things happened to quickly, before I knew what, I could hear the king of the jungle move. I took off, but could hear it closing in much faster, I tripped, I fell, I rolled off and wanted to leap again, but was stopped by a sharp pain on my feet as it collided with the ladder on my bed. Whew…it was a dream. I could still feel my adrenalin raising. That seemed like a close shave. I experienced the height of fear, and was extremely glad it was a dream.

There are largely two kinds of fear.

1. The natural fear. This is the fear that is deposited in our make up to keep us alive. This is the fear that causes extra dozes of adrenaline to pour into our system when we need to bail. It’s the fear things that have the direct capacity to hurt or harm. It’s the fear that allows the hunter to know when to run, and when to stay. It’s the fear we are trained with, small dozes of this fear is good for preservation.

2. The second is abnormal fear. It’s a fear that is developed from anticipating things that we are not certain will happen. It’s the fear that keeps most of mankind average while a few souls succeed. It’s the fear that makes you pause when you should move. It’s the fear that makes you timid when you should be bold. The absolute assurance that things can go bad. This is the fear that inhibits courage, that makes you not to dare, that stops you in your tracks. This is the fear that stops you from trying.

Remember, you will fail 100% at everything you don’t try. All the discoveries and creations of man are in the conquest of fear. Courage made Ferdinand Magelan venture to see if the world was truely a cupboid and if there was an edge. Lack of fear made philosophers ask questions that have led us to greater truth. Napoleon says, he who fears being conquered is sure of defeat. Our fears are spirits which have the capacity to bring what we fear to pass in our lives.

What is your fear? Face it! Our greatest fears are our greatest limitations. Your boss is human, your future is bright, you have worth. Conquer your fear, for that which you fear will ultimately happen. Are you afraid of something? The way to triumph is to tackle it headlong, look for an action that kills the fear, and do it. Fear kills more and faster than death. Fear of the extremes limits. Set yourself free!

Post your comments, Let’s if this is helpful…Adeolu Akinyemi

This morining I woke up to a disturbing reality! I finished my morning devotion with my family and wanted to start getting ready for work, I restored my laptop to check the earnings on my google account as my custom was only to discover that I wasn’t allowed access. What?? I went through all the protocols to investigate what happened and restore things as quickly as possible. All these took a while, in the midst of my search I also discovered that it might take quite a long time before I am restored. They had sent a mail to my box earlier which unfortunately was not delivered to me. Here was I completely at a loss as to what exactly was happening. You might not understand the implication of all these, but talk about setbacks? This was one, big time! If you can imagine that in the last two weeks my daily income had become 4 times what I was comfortable with just 3 weeks ago, then you’ll understand why this is a setback!
But amidst all the frustrations at being setback, my inner guide reminded me and made it clear to me, that setbacks were for comebacks! The seed that grows into a big tree, first of all dies. The grape that will win the blue ribbon must be prunned. There is no promotion without a test. Success will not happen without it’s trials. The obstacles we face in life are not to destroy us, they are there to strenghten us.  Quietly I wondered how infact these had been my write-ups within the last few days. Guess I was being prepared for what I couldn’t at then see.

I was reminded of the sayings of great men before me (I’m hoping to become one) about setbacks, about problems about difficulties. I remembered them and was assured! Giants are truely he signposts of Cannan. Before every breakthrought there is a breaking. Challenges coming before success in the dictionary is not coincidence

Life is a series of experiences, each of which makes us bigger, even though it is hard to realize this. For the world was built to develop character, and we must learn that the setbacks and grieves which we endure help us in our marching onward. Henry Ford

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.- Helen Keller

Every problem has a gift for you in its hands. -Richard Bach

In every difficult situation is potential value. Believe this, then begin looking for it. – Norman Vincent Peale

It is a rough road that leads to the heights of greatness.- Seneca

Do not be weary of good doing, for you will reap the reward in due season if you fail not -The Bible (paraphrased)

Are you experiencing a set back? Make up your mind to turn it around! Difficulties should act as tonics that spur us to greater exertion. Einstein also said that in the misdst  of difficulty lies opportunity. There is no hero that was made without a difficulty or setback. Quit complaining! Stop steering hard at the closed door. Look around you, withing that setback lies your opportunity. I read a book at a time ” I got fired, and that was the best thing that ever happened to me”. It cronicled the stories of industry giants whose motivation and lives histories changed because of a setback. Don’t cower before that which seems a giant. Without Goliath the story of David will never be heard. Rise up, Stand tall, Don’t give in don’t give up! In the midst of that difficulty, lies your story. Watch me!

Today was one of those days when once again, I am reminded that a few miscreants have wrecked and continue to wreck havoc on our national image.

Here was I, watching “Fakers and Takers” and being thoroughly amused by the fact that American and European electricians were more dubious than the ones I have always complained about here. My amusement was only shortlived, as not long after they had shown series of electricians being caught live on video making up problems in faultless appliances to get money, that the spotlight shifted to online scams.

Up until then, no country had been mentioned, just plain people and their lack of integrity. This time around the program facilitators actually mentioned Nigeria, mentioned 419 and even said that it was rumoured that 15% of our GDP probably came from 419. How more demeaning than this can things be?

While I disagree totally that 419 contributes as much as .05% to our GDP, and believe also that this is gross defamation of national character, I also believe that it is high time we used our own hands to correct our behaviour.

Lucky Luciano, a one time mafia boss, who made it into Times top 20 industrialists is quoted to have said ” I discovered late in my life that it takes as much work to make a honest million dollars as it took to make a dishonest million dollars, If I get to live again, I’ll do it honestly”. Reality is that there are legitimate ways to make money, and even online by doing sensible business and not breaking or bending any laws. Today for example is my all time highest earning from my website, it’s been rising almost every other day. All I do is legitimate and I’m sure one day(hopefully not too long), I’ll be in the league of a mentor I just rediscovered today who made CAD$900,000+ in February this year (thats over 102Million Naira-one month alone)..you can view his check at www.workhappy.net/2006/06/interview_with_.html. A group of us here in Nigeria that also make some money and are building our income online have decided to make a training available to people who like the idea of making legitimate money online, to yahoo yahoo boys who want to do it right, to 419ners who really want to turn around 180 degrees. The training information is here www.my180degrees.com, some other trainings are there as well.

May 419 and Yahoo yahoo be history in Nigeria. Let’s do it Legit!

I remember school days. School was fun, until the exam days drew near. Everybody (or almost) silently wished that this cup could just pass over unfelt. Exam time always came with a marked difference from other times. Back in Great Ife, these were times when any “aluta” that gave students extra breaks from the rigors of studying was welcome, these were times when the news of a strike sounded pleasing. Exams were certainly not students’ best friends.

As mortifying as the thought of exams used to be however, one thing was clear that made exams good to look forward to. There was no progress without examination. Exams were the interface between one class and the next. Success at this level is what qualifies one for the next. Every term or session ended with an exam, and unlike geography, the higher you go, the cooler it didn’t become

Its so interesting how we long to leave the school environment, excited that the seige of exam is over. Unknown to us, life is also in layers and levels, and exams are still as necessary for progress as they were in school.

The exams of life however do not take place in the classroom, they are given when atimes we are unconcious of having an examination. There are times when things get rough, situations get tough and the road seems like a dead end. There are times when we feel like compromising our standards, sacrificing our dreams and breaking down under the weight of pressure. These times when we feel like the cup should just pass over us, are times of examination. Endure the process, stay strong under the pressures, press on and you’ll be qualified for the next class.

The pressures are not meant to break you, they are to strenghten you. Everything is a test! The next time your boss yells, your car breaks down on the third mainland bridge, you are in a venture that seems is destined to crash, the money you borrowed is almost due and you are almost stuck, you’re looking forward to help and none seems near or in sight. Don’t give up, hang on and give it your best shot, it’s only a test! It’s the last hurdle before your well deserved promotion.

There is this interesting phenomenon I learnt very early in life. It had to do with the cultivation of grapes. The grape farmer uses a principle that we should all apply in our lives. When the grape is planted and begins to fruit, it brings out a large cluster of grapes. The cluster of grapes that spring out at times could be over 30. They all look beautiful and green. To a businessman, it’s very easy to start calculating the profit from these clusters, but not for a farmer who wants to develop choice grapes suitable for high value wines. For this grape farmer who intends to win a blue ribbon for his grape quality, 30 clusters on a tree will not serve his purpose.

From time to time he comes to this grape vine and cuts off some of the clusters, this is called pruning. Some are destroyed, but this allows the juices flowing from the roots to concentrate on fewer outlets. He keeps doing this from time to time until only 2 of those clusters remain on the tree. This two look beautiful and develop into big juicy looking grapes. They become a joy to behold by passersby; they begin to attract the attention of visitors and friends. The farmer gets more alert to wade away pests and thieves. Shortly to ripening however, the farmer goes ahead and still cuts away one of the grapes!

A life that will be prized, special, outstanding, attractive and blue ribboned will be focused. Pruning is prerequisite to growth. What is weak must be cut off, and what is strong must be given attention. This is the law of life for anyone who desires to stand for much and live a life beyond the ordinary. I believe that’s you.

Culled from Career Guide – Adeolu Akinyemi

One of the most powerful tools that we have in the world today is networking. This tool is predicated on the fact that everything that we need or want in this life is already present in the hands of someone who is willing to part with it. Let’s take a practical look at this. Do you need a Job? There is a company that wants to hire, the HR manager is looking for people, he is willing to advertise because he cannot clearly see anybody around him who can fill the need. Is it money? Someone has it in loads and is willing to exchange it for service, that you or someone that you know can provide? Is it happiness? Someone is happy and can show you how. Is it wisdom, someone has sufficient and more to share.

The Law of 250 states, that everybody knows about 250 people. This means that you for example know about 250 people, these people consist of your layer 1. In your layer 2 are the 250 people each, who these 250 people know. This means you have 62,500 people on your layer 2. On your layer 3? – about 15,000,000, by the time you take it to layer 4, you have people in your network approximately the population of the world. This means that you know someone who knows someone who knows whoever you need to meet in the world. This vast network can be converted into career opportunities. The question is How?

Research shows that people will do business or interact with you for only 3 reasons

1. They KNOW you

2. They LIKE you

3. They TRUST you

In every relationship you have with people, it is essential that you build these three factors. Knowledge, likeness and trustwortiness.

Ask yourself, how will people get to know me? What can I do so that people know what I need, what my aspirations are, my goals, my desires? To project the right knowledge about yourself, you must be knowledgeable about yourself. Your interests need to be clear to you and your layer 1 network.

Once people know you, they can interact and perhaps work with you, the next level is for them to like you. Hiring managers for example look for skills, but hire the skilled person that is likeable. This is not about the social mirror of “what do they think about me?”, but you should strive to have a likeable attitude. Show genuine concern for other people’s needs, be a friend, be supportive, smile, be emphatic, be likeable.

Trust is what you build with time. It’s like having an account. Every time you live up to or beyond expectations, you make a deposit in the other persons trust account. Trust is a responsibility. Faithfulness in little things credits you with more trust. It’s being consistently true to your words, it’s being consistent, it’s being truthful in the face of difficulties. The more people trust you, the more they are willing to help you or support your cause.

Everybody you know is a door into a world of opportunities. Learn how to knock gently.

Today I was at the burial of the mum of a friend. At the young age of 55, she had passed away. It was an event with mixed feelings, she had lived a great life, had children and grand children, but she was still gone too soon.

Yesterday night was the wake keeping, friends and family gather together, sang songs and talked about the life she lived. Amidst all the tears, talks and sober hymns, one question was consistent in my mind -What counts??

I listened to the testimonies of the people who could brave to speak, with watery eyes and shaky voices. One by one they recounted the parts of her life that touched theirs. I listened to hear if I’ll hear people speak about the things we daily chase -How many houses, cars, food, shelter, material possession, shares (all good things don’t get me wrong), but nobody spoke of these things. Everybody that spoke talked about the many ways in which she added value, in which her life touched theirs, in which they are forever better for associating with her. They spoke about how her life touched theirs. That was all that counted.

Hmmm…the people we leave behind in death will remember us, not for what we have, but what we gave. Not for what we owned but for what we shared. I took a quick inventory of my life and asked myself, what am I doing today that counts? I also remembered that even in the place we go after death, we will give account, not of what we were given, but what we used that which we had to do? Who did we touch, what value did we add, what change did we effect.

Ask yourself today and do something about it. Don’t just count your days, make them count. Life is not in duration, it’s in donation. When we close our eyes never to open them into this world, the things that will matter most to all we live behind (and all we go to meet) is the quality of our relationships, the generousity of our giving, the life that we shared, the purpose we pursued, the things we were willing to die for, the sacrifices we made, the value we added, the lives we touched. What will people say about you? Don’t wait till you are 60, start making your life count today!!!

I heard a true life story yesterday that inspired me. In fact I think I’ll arrange to meet with the person whose life story it is soon.
A certain young man plunged headlong into doing business rather than getting a paid job. He was skilled at what he did, and in no time made it and comfortably so. He had made it well, when all of a sudden his close allies duped him. He faced significant humilation and lost all that he had worked for.

This man gathered himself back up, placed a statement on his wall-” Aiduro ni jo” This means that the dance is in not stopping, not quitting not giving up! The moment you stop, the dance ceases. He kept himself motivated, looking up at the caption day in day out, and tell his staff, let’s keep dancing, lets continue – “Aiduronijo”

Did he make it? Yes he did! I hear profits are about a few hundred millions today. Are you about to stop what you believed in that isn’t working yet? Are you about to quit something you ventured into with full conviction? Don’t stop…keep dancing. “Aiduro nijo”!!!

The world cup is probably the most attention grabbing event in the world today. It happens once in 4 years but is unrivaled by the olympics, despite the fact that more sporting events are featured in it. To what event can we compare the World Cup? The swearing in of a new pope does not carry so much world interest, neither does the election of any of the worlds presidents, nor can you compare any one country’s independence day celebration with the global attention this one sport commands. Football!

Does it amaze you like it does me? That 25 grown up men (including the referees and their assistants-linesmen) spend a good part of 90 minuites running around chasing a leather ball? Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the game, in fact, my first audible word as a growing child was “ball” – Evidenced by my carefully filled out baby book Continue Reading »

If you won $1 million today, what would you do? Will you resign from your present job?

Research says that over 80% of people in the US will resign from their present jobs, do you have an idea what the statistics of Nigeria will look like? The interesting thing is, if you will resign from your present job, then you are in real trouble.

It means you have gotten the order wrong! You are waiting to make all the money you need, to begin to do the things that you love. It sounds like a good thing to do, after all, ABBA sang, ” All the things I could do, if I had a little money”. So you are waiting to have more money, then you will live the life of your dreams. It reminds me of the story of a fisher man. This fisher man was visited by an consultant from town, and they decided to go fishing together. The fisher man worked for 4 hours, caught a lot of fish, and retired for the day. The consultant was shocked, and the following conversation ensued.

Consultant: Do you know that I can show you a way to make a lot more money by doing this same business?

Fisherman: Aha…really, but what will be the need of that?

Consultant: See, if you spend 4 extra hours, making 8hrs fishing, you’ll catch double this number of fishes, you’ll be able to feed your family, sell the rest, make more money, re-invest it into your business, continue again tomorrow and before long, you’ll have enough money to buy a ship!

Fisherman: What will I do with a Ship?

Consultant: You’ll be able to go to sea, catch a lot more fish, supply the cities, and make a lot more money.

Fisherman: Then what?…Smiling happilly

Consultant: Then when you have made a lot of money, you’ll retire back to your village, work for few hours and spend the evenning chilling with your friends.

Fisherman: But that’s exactly what I do now! Why do I have to waste my time going that long route?

AHa…I hope you got that. Happiness is not the result of working tirelessly to make ends meet, then going ahead to do the things you love. Happiness is about finding the things that you truely enjoy, and following it with a passion. Successful people will tell you that they don’t work, they simply have found ways of being paid for what they love. In the words of Dale Carnegie, success is about finding what you love, and getting someone to pay you for doing it.
So take the $1million test, and be honest with yourself, what will change about your lifestyle and career? Whatever will change, needs to be changed! Start working towards it!