February 21, 2007

Who I aspire to be!


I read a story today that gave me a picture of my true aspirations. I had given one of my protege’s an assignment, I asked him to read a book, summarize it and present it to me as a PowerPoint presentation. It had taken him over 3 weeks, not haven used MS PowerPoint before. Eventually he came to make the presentation. First of all, he will need to redo the exercise, but in the spirit of everything is useful, I decided to pay close attention to a story in the e-book he read. Here is the story (tweaked to express my views).

There was once an old fellow, woman or man, I cannot tell. He had been at a particularly strategic spot for about 30yrs begging for alms. On this particular day, a stranger approached him, an in his regular style he called on to the stranger and held out his hand for the stranger to give something. Instead of giving him something, the stranger responded -”I don’t have anything to give you!” Then he asked, “what is that you are sitting on?” “Nothing,” replied the beggar. “Just an old box. I have been sitting on it for as long as I can remember.” “Ever looked inside?” asked the stranger. “No,” said the beggar. “What’s the point? There’s nothing in there.” “Have a look inside,” insisted the stranger. The beggar managed to pry open the lid. With astonishment, disbelief, and elation, he saw that the box was filled with gold. Continue reading

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February 20, 2007

One day, one day!


“One day, one day, one day e go better, e go better, e go better, e go better for you, one day, one day, one day e go better. You go get money, you go buy motto…” – Lagos Lotto

Have you ever wondered about the disparity of your value and your present circumstances? Have you ever wondered that you wake up so early, close so late and are not in control of much of it? Have you ever thought that you are a lot bigger than the confinement you find yourself in, or that you are more capable than what you are doing? Have you ever asked if this is all there is about you? Are you struggling with any limitation? Bothered by any occurrence? Are you looking forward to something, or waiting for something to end? Are you mixed up in a wrong crowd, relationship or office? One day, one day, the ground that holds the seed, will give way to it’s growth. One day, one day!

Are you familiar with that statement? One day, one day! It’s as if people are waiting for a particular day for the shackles on their feet to give way. People are waiting for the offer of freedom, tired and frustrated, people relinquish all hope into the hands of one day! But does one day come without warning? Or is patience the art of quietly sitting and waiting for what we expect without doubt? If you are hoping for one day, then this article is for you. Continue reading

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February 13, 2007

The Proof of Desire


“Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything.”- Napoleon Hill

I have heard many people play lip service to the concept of having a desire. They tell you they desire an education, a better life, a better relationship, a better job, a better salary… and the list goes on. They say they desire, but is it really desire? How do you know that someone truly desires a thing? What differentiates desires from wishes, wants and needs? Is there anything you desire? What are you doing about it? Continue reading

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December 25, 2006

Planning for the Year Ahead


Today is the 25th of December! It’s chrismas day! I remember what today stood for growing up as a child. It was a high point in the year worth looking forward to. Not only would we get new clothes and eat anything at home, the whole neighbourhood became our restaurant, and the best part was that the food was free. I can clearly remember discussing back then with my playmates about how many bottles of fanta or coke we had taken that day alone. We were welcome in as many as the 300 homes in our neighbourhood, and it was a taboo to answer “thank you”, when you were offered food. If you don’t want to eat there, don’t go there. As you can bet however, things are a lot different with me now :) . December 25 is still a day of celebration of the birth and purpose of Jesus Christ, that hasn’t changed. What has changed is, rather than moving from pillar to post, I now spend my Chrismas days introspectively, trying to draw out clear paths and plans for the coming year. If you haven’t, it’s a good time as well, to ask yourself, what is my plan for the coming year. Remember, what doesn’t get measured, rarely gets done! Continue reading

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November 17, 2006

Do you believe in Nigeria?


Go and write it down somewhere, 15-20yrs from now, Nigeria will be one of the most desired countries in the world. The Nigerian VISA will be more priced and more scarce than that of Dubai. People will literally kill to visit, and people will smile and get excited about you, when they hear that you are a Nigerian. What Nigeria will be is not like anything that presently exists. The men and women, boys and girls who will be remembered for their parts in this struggle of selflessness are the ones I urge to cast their votes for a New Nigeria here. Don’t join the bandwagon, think about it, and say YES!!! Say yes to a New Nigeria, say YES to the Nigeria of our dreams. It is a struggle that will require sacrifice, patience, strategy, persistence, courage and strong desires. But we will make it! Not can, WILL. And I, Adeolu Akinyemi together with You will be part of the success story of the New Nigeria.

This is a clarion call to all those who believe that something good can still come out of Nigeria. That we can team up with our little drops and make a mighty ocean. That together we can raise a force of African Role Models, that have the capacity to cause change in Nigeria and Africa at large. Just recently, I was reading the blog of a friend, and I saw prophecies/perspectives from a guy about further doom for Nigeria, and I wondered…it is true that the only thing that good needs to do for evil to prosper is not shine. Silence is the crime of good. Let me remind you, no matter how comfortable you feel as second class citizens in another mans land, home will forever be more appealing if things are done right. Continue reading

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November 15, 2006

Stand Out from the Crowd


The 180 degrees seminar in OOU went very well. 11 of us left from Lagos (9 of us as part of Generis Solutions) as part of the planning committee for this event. Pat Utomi also came in  with his convoy during the seminar. The programme was anchored by Image consultant, Lolu Mogaji. Speakers were Pat Utomi, ‘Gbenga Sesan and my humble self. The none verbalized theme for the day was standing out of the crowd.

That crowded picuture garnished with the title “is this fair?” has been challenging my thoughts, inspiring me while being a source of concern in the past few days. While as a nation we mourn for air disasters, this teeming crowd of people queuing for the opportunity to sit test for a job opportunity beats the disaster of an aircrash. These are Nigeria’s current leaders straining for scarce resources while being surrounded by abundance. How can young children be fighting for a drop of water in a cup while the rain pours around them? I have asked myself how come majority of the people who have struggled hard to get a degree come out of the higher institutions blinded. Can it be that everybody is looking in the same direction? Must we all look endlessly for Jobs? And while we wait, must we stay idle and become TV addicts? Continue reading

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November 8, 2006

How to become lucky.


One and a half years ago, I had an interesting conversation with a friend, I was in the UK, recruiting Nigerians for a multinational company here in Nigeria, and we chatted online. She sent me some excerpts of the chat today. She sent it to me with the title Dreams, she said she was shocked that I was already writing the scripts. You too can make your dreams come true, you can become lucky. Set you goals, the winds will work to favour you when your sails are set. I was excited when I read what you are about to read after just 1.5yrs…how time flies. I have posted all of it, with her consent. Continue reading

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October 29, 2006

Making the Most of Education’s Reforms


I got two calls yesterday morning, both from people who had sensed my passion for education and wanted me to hear a live broadcast on the educational reform agenda for Nigeria. One of them even informed me that he would have been willing to listen to the broadcast and prepare a documented summary for me, if wasn’t scheduled to travel. Before I go on to share my thoughts on this programme (Presidential forum on Education) which I watched till the end, I’ll like to remind the readers on this forum of the importance of having a vision, and making your passions clear. People will remember you when opportunities come in the line of your vision. If you didn’t watch this broadcast, you better read this, and if you did, you need to comment. Continue reading

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