It’s 3am in the city of Dubai, my flight leaves here today, and I need to be awake early as 6am to be able to wish the South Africans and the English a hearty good bye. I gave them the hugs already, but who says one hug is enough when you may not see until last week in March in SA or April in the UK . There is no use reserving the best time of your life for the time when you can’t do most things. Now is life, the older you grow the fewer your options.  Enjoy your youth and prepare for your future.

I have a lot on my mind tonight, and a short time to say it. So I’m going to say it all in pictures, since pictures are a thousand words. I’ll capture a few of the events of the past few weeks, and basically summarize my lessons. Being in Dubai has been fun and exciting. It’s been a lot of great news, great progress and meeting of wonderful people. Remember, people matter a lot, time with them are your greatest investments.

Nokia Bloggers Forum

Was invited for a Nokia Bloggers Brunch by the lovely looking, heavily dimpled Sede (myleft), had an exciting time and an opportunity to meet other bloggers. Also had a great opportunity to meet with Nokia communications manager. Discovered that Nokia actually was more than just the phone, they had a few apps… one in particular you must lay your hands on is the GPRS mapping for Lagos, which is FREE. Got to hear about ovi.com, their email service and a few of their apps. Guess I might be getting a heads up ahead of many as Nokia makes progress… watchout.

One key lesson I took from the event though, was not to base my consistency in writing on feedback. That many people are watching from the sidelines and being blessed. We must continue to do that which we find expression in, whether it feels like or not. If you noticed I have been writing a bit more frequently, I got that fire from the Nokia Bloggers Brunch. Thanks Nokia!

Interestingly I’m thinking we can have our next bloggers conference in April, my blog is clocking 5yrs this March, and I need to come up with a solution to celebrate it. I need things to give away.. laptops, flight tickets e.t.c.

People Lessons from the Platinum meeting in Dubai

Bishop and Pastor (Mrs) Katung were at the Platinum meeting, and of course as platinums. This is a quite comfortable man, he came with one of his pastors who is doing very well as a business man. What amazes me and endears me to these people is their humility. Their abilities to interact well with all of us and have fun as well. I didn’t know Bishop and Pastor (Mrs) before H&C, but knowing them is adding loads of value to my life. Never get to that place where you take yourself too seriously to enjoy your life.

These two ladies inspire me. The first lady is 65yrs old, she just turned platinum a few weeks ago! At 65yrs of age, this is the first holiday she has ever had in her life. She had never ever left South Africa all her live. She was a teacher before retirement, and in her words her dreams are coming true. How old are you and how far is your dream? You can still travel the world, you can still make it happen. She fell quite badly at the ski Dubai, but I’m proud of her, there is something about her spirit that wants to ensure that age is never her barrier in achieving success. The second lady is Mrs Motivated! I have not met many women who are so driven, when she speaks you can feel her energy. She is a lesson in getting to the top, stopping and starting afresh with new zeal.

I like this man, not too old to dream, and certainly not too old to have fun. He looks like Mandela and he has a big heart. He joined the business just to show some people that the business was legitimate.

I always saw the Ski Dubai, but never tried it. We got no choice however this time because it had been organized for us. Guess even though some of us are not doing badly, but doing new things and going after adventure is something we are lacking in. Skiing was fun, and watching other people fall and rise up was just so much fun.

Beware what you use to describe heaven for your kids… if you say it’s a place with loads of sweets and candy, they can confuse this place for heaven

I remember that when we married I couldn’t afford to give my wife vacation outside the town we did the wedding in… I promised then that I would make it up to her in the future. Thank you God, for giving me the grace to fulfill the promises.

]]> http://www.deoluakinyemi.com/pictures-say-1000-words/feed/ 15 http://www.deoluakinyemi.com/nigeria-a-time-to-pray/ http://www.deoluakinyemi.com/nigeria-a-time-to-pray/#comments Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:43:16 +0000 Adeolu Akinyemi http://www.deoluakinyemi.com/?p=1254 Share On Facebook

Those who contend for the soul of this nation, are not not resting on their oars. Underneath the obvious is an evil spiritual force fighting for the right to steal, kill and destroy the soul of this Nation. The Masters command to his disciples is not to disciple individuals, but to make disciples of Nations. God is interested in National influence and discipleship, the alignment of people groups is more important to him than the alignment of individuals. The shameless events being perpetrated by those who will stop at nothing to exert influence over this nation is disturbing, and even though we are in the season of ACTION, we are in that time as well, when we must pray. Trust me, prayer ranks high on our to do list, cause there is nobody there today to engage, nobody to walk against or publish anything about.

It’s not as if we haven’t been praying though, I only doubt if we have all been praying about the right things, I also doubt if we have the full picture about prayer. True prayer must be backed up by receiving action. Elijah prayed earnestly that it would not rain and for three and a half years it did not rain. It took another fervent prayer to release the clouds, before the clouds made sense he ran, he was sure that God doesn’t store prayers. When Jesus decreed about the fig tree, it wasn’t go and come back, it dried up!  The true measure of prayer power is not length, it’s function. Today is not the day of diplomacy or standing in the middle, today is the day to take a prayer stand, backed up with the willingness to surrender ourselves to the process of answered prayers. Please circulate this far and wide, this is prayer with ultimatum, this is the time where we back up our prayers with oaths and a fast until our eyes see that which our soul desires. Here are the prayer points.

1. Pray that the powers contrary to God’s, holding Nigeria to ransom will be displaced, and their ministers put to public shame.

2. Pray that the military forces that are about to be employed to sabotage this nations destiny will collide with themselves and make a mess of themselves, that in the places where they gather to collaborate they shall be thrown into confusion.

3. Pray for Harvest, that all who have perpetrated evil in Nigeria should enter into their season of harvest. Pray that God brings this to past hastily!

4. Pray that God will reverse the coup plot that has already happened, that the military leaders will self destruct.

5. Pray for Jonathan Goodluck, that God will grant him courage to execute all the power brokers that heaven has already executed. The he will be able to execute the already declared judgement and bring the axe to bear on the root of all the appropriate people.

6. Pray, that everyone who slacks in executing the desires of heaven over Nigeria will suddenly lose their throne and relevance, while it becomes available to one who will steer Nigeria into its destiny. Declare in the realm of the Spirit, Jonathan, you have less than 3 days to act! Are you the one, or do we await another??

7. Pray that like the Children of Israel, God will deliver the soul of the New Nigeria from this old and decaying debris. That God will kill all the firstborn of the people occupying the spiritual positioning of Egypt, that they will lose all their resources to the New Nigeria, and will be afflicted by many plagues.

8. Pray that Nigerian acting leaders will not miss this small window of opportunity that has been created to finally put Nigeria on the right track. Pray that God will deliver us from the spirit of sluggishness and inaction.

There is so much more I desire that you pray, but this is enough for now. This is not the time to complain or lament. It’s not the time to analyze and paralyze. It’s not the time to wish and hope. It’s true that the military is deploying and acting as if there is already a coup, it’s true that the nation seems at the mercies of an unelected presidents wife. This is time however to pray. Not prayers of God let their be peace – at this time that’s totally praying in error (read Jeremiah 29). Those who pray prayers of peace at this time are false prophets. The soul of Nigeria must be delivered by violent action.

{Ojo nlo, Jonathan!, ma na gere, soji, jasi asiko re ni yi oh}

You who are destined to take position, do not slack. These are no mere prayer points, this is a declaration that those for whom it’s been created need only step into the scene! Selah.

On Sunday morning, I had the privilege of spending some time with the Harvesters Church in Ibadan, and ministering in 2 of their services. It was an unexpected opportunity, but it felt very right in my spirit and mind, it was a great way to have spent my Sunday morning as I shared Gods revelation to me about relationships. I felt really blessed by the thoughts myself, and I’m positive that many people received wisdom and instruction to better position themselves.

Relationships are important, they are like Relation- Ships, they are ships that aid you towards a desired destination. Ships like most modes of transportation are useless without clear direction. Those who don’t know where they are going need no road maps, a relationship is a ship that via the opportunity to relate with another mortal, steers you towards your dreams. Friendship for friendships sake is a waste of time. If you don’t know where you are going, every company you keep is a wrong company. The first step in navigating into the right relationship is investing in the clarity of one’s vision. The first question that precedes great relationships is clarity of purpose! Before you begin to join yourself to any chariot, where you are going must first be sure!

Once your destination is clear and your sails are set, things will begin to work in your favor. It doesn’t matter where the wind is coming from or where it is going, the winds will ultimately serve your purpose once your sails are set. The picture of your future triggers a desire in your heart, this desire takes you to the place of prayer, and the moment your desire is expressed to the divine, your responsibility shifts from a mere seeker to someone who operates with ownership. As this becomes your reality, the universe begins to rearrange itself. Information and People begin to seek you to link you up with that which has been made available to you by your request. Relationships are answers to prayers, when your life is on the border of change, two things happen, you come into contact with amazing information, and you encounter new people. The comfort that you need, is with someone who required the same comfort in their own seasons. The clarity of your vision is directly proportional to the accuracy of  your relationships.

With a clear vision as a fulfilled prerequisite, it is important to understand the types of relationships that are important to have as one navigates towards ones dreams.

1. Forerunner

The role of a forerunner is critical, this might be a biological father, mother or relative, or anyone that plays the role of going ahead of you to show you your future. Taking a case study from the life of Joseph, his father gives him a colourful robe representative of royalty and being special. Shortly after receiving this robe, Joseph begins to have dreams. The role of the forerunner is to inspire you and alert you of the greatness that resides in you. Josephs father continued to take note of the small things that Joseph was doing and keeping the records so that in the times when clarity blurs, Joseph has a rich history to lean on. The same type of thing happened with Jesus, this time it was Mary keeping the records. It  was this same Mary that got his first miracle out of him. The forerunner is someone placed above you, who loves you deeply and is sensitive enough to sense that your life is not ordinary. These people inspire us.

2. Foes

Yes you read that correctly. Foes or Enemies are required roles in the life of anyone who will be successful. In a story I’m fond of telling, where the king decides to give his daughter’s hand in marriage to the person who demonstrates courage, the guy who finally jumps into the pool filled with crocodiles and successfully swam to the other side and married the daughter claimed one thing. He claimed that he was pushed! No normal person will jump into a pool of fasting crocodiles. The question I like to ask is, who pushed him? Was it his friend or his foe?  The foe for sure, friends don’t push you, they hug you . You want to be successful? You need enemies, you need critics, you need adversaries. Opposing views and criticisms are extremely helpful, even when we shut them down, they affect us. They force us to regularly raise our standards, they motivate us to up our game, they inspire us to look for ways to block the holes that they so shamelessly expose. In the case study of Joseph. He was sold into slavery by his brothers who had become his foes, the Bible says they hated him. They sold him in their eyes into slavery, but God sent him ahead to save the nation of Israel. Would he ever have gotten to Egypt if all his brothers loved him and wanted him around them? No! Where your life is going is far, you need foes to push you along the right path. In the words of Jesus – “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you”. Foes are ultimately push you to purpose. Even in the story of Jesus, Jesus was driven to fulfill his purpose by the devil (his foe), while Peter (his friend) was trying to drag him back. Love those who hate you, and pray for those who despisefully use you!

3. Forgers

To forge is to form (metal, for example) by heating in a forge and beating or hammering into shape. Forgers are those people in your life who are neither your friends nor your foes, but have a role to play in your life that involves hammering you into shape. In the period of their reign over your life, if you are not perceptive, you do not like them very much. They are like superiors at work, seniors in school or someone whose authority you are under by not much of your direct choice. They are very demanding and very stressful, but they are forging you into shape and increasing your future market value. They are the family you stay with inbetween transition that force you to be neat, force you to come home early, force you to not be in the wrong relationship. You have a healthy fear for them, and you comply. In the life of Joseph, this was Potiphar.  Joseph could dream and interprete dreams, but in Potiphar’s house, Joseph learnt administration. Without Potiphar, Joseph could have gotten to Pharoah’s palace and interpreted the dreams alone. There is a long shot from knowing what to do to knowing how to do it. The skill sets required for being a government critic is different from the skill sets of being an executive governor. Forgers heat and beat you to shape. They are essential in any life heading for greatness.

There are still a few more F’s and a few more relationship watch outs. When use is unknown, abuse is inevitable. I’ll be talking more about this soon, till then. Get clarity about your future, write it down and paint it out. Define your relationships, and let them serve their purpose in your life, and to all my foes out there, may you live long May you live long for the scriptures to be fulfilled that say – “you prepared a table before me (a six course meal -msg), in the presence of my enemies”

Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing at all – Helen Keller

Traveling is higher education, and for me it was exciting to have been involved in the success story of 36 Nigerians who qualified for a 7 all expense paid vacation in India and an experience of the short-stay offer in Dubai. One politician once said, matter of factly that 50% of Nigerians will never get to the international airport before they die. While the statement sounds irritating, it’s falls short of the real numbers.  One of the reasons we are where we are is because our people don’t know better, and don’t demand for better. If you see countries like Dubai, you will know that we are almost indeed reduced as a country to a local government, but that’s not the story I want to share. I want to share the story of people, people like you and me, everyday people, who are living their dreams, and enjoying the time of their lives. Dare to dream, and dare to take the steps to make your dreams come true. We were all in India together, and took in the experience, let me take you to India via the eyes and experiences of those who journeyed.

(From Left to Right: Nma Nwaolekeme (single), Gladys Oghidi, Nancy Failla (US), Chinwe Chilaka, Temitope Akinyemi, Getrude Duru) These are ladies from all works of life, they didn’t have to step into any embassy to be in India… the company (Holidays and Cash) made it happen. This was a petrol station we stopped over at, on our way to Agra, where we saw Taj Mahal.

India is has some interesting statistics, they are more populous than we are by a wide margin – about 1.2billion. They have a lot of poor people and poor communities as well. Where they however beat us arms down, are in their medical facilities, in their policies relating to local manufacturing and power. Our visit to India took us to some of the most lovely spots in India, we dinned in Luxury and lodged in 5 Star Hotels, but once in a while, we came down in the parts of town that remind us of home. The 5hrs Journey to Agra was one of such.

(Left to Right: Ngozi Onyebueke (Mrs), Emeka Nwankwo) Interestingly Mrs Onyebueke was at the event with her husband with barely 3 months of being a distributor with Holidays and Cash. She attends Deeper Life Bible Church and has some beautiful children, her first daughter is almost done with school. Emeka Nwankwo is a Redeem Pastor, and a Professional Engineer that decided to fire his high paying job and boss to focus full time on Holidays and Cash. He’s having a swell time, in the bus enroute Agra, and is enjoying the opportunity to bond well with his children and live the life of his dreams.

(From top to Bottom, Left to Right: Mr. Chris Obianagha, Mrs Nkem Obianagha, Bishop Katung is covered by Sipho Njiva, Mrs. Momma Katung, Nkeiru Akwarandu and Mr. John Akwarandu, Busayo Akanro, Lola Faleye, Don Failla, Olaoluwa Daramola, Temitope, Omolola and Franca Olaiwola, Paul Chataway, (Daddy) Adebayo Akinyemi, Tuks Dabula and Christian Love.  We all went shopping together, went to Taj Mahal, went to see a few palaces, their open market e.t.c. In Dubai we went for a boat cruise in the dark night, we went for a Desert Safari ( Jeep rides in the sands), we watched belly dancing together, drove motor bikes, rode camels and had a great time together.

Iroyin ko to afoju ba – The News can’t be like being there. Our next group destination is Spain. Ordinary people, with everyday jobs, and everyday lifestyles but with big dreams can make things happen. Everybody benefits, nobody loses, it’s called Win-Win.

“Desire is possibility seeking expression” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

This is perhaps one of the most apt definitions of desire I have come across in my personal development journey. I stumbled on this quote in the book, Science of Getting Rich, and it’s a quote and a theme that has appeared quite frequently after that in my journey. Desire is possibility seeking expression or function seeking performance. This means that the desire that you have, is an indication of possibilities. You do not  have the desire, if the thing that is desired is impossible. It might have been impossible to the world before you came, but once the desire is birthed in you, it triggers a vision or is triggered by one, and it only takes commitment and time.

Just recently I listened to an audio where the speaker was narrating the story of Bill Gates from an interesting mind lens. According to him, Bill Gates had a vision while he was in Harvard.  He had a vision that one day, computers will be a household phenomena and that there will be operating systems running on them. Whether this was a vision he saw in the day or night is not clear, but there was something that he saw, heard or felt that came to him that made him believe such a future unseen possibility. Recollect, that the world vision ahead of that time, sponsored by the leader in the computer industry was captured in the quote below.

“I think there’s a world market for about 5 computers.”-(Thomas J. Watson, Chairman of the Board, IBM, circa 1948)

Bill Gates caught a glimpse of a possibility seeking expression, and that thought propelled him and his partner Paul Allen to drop out of arguably the worlds most prestigious university and to ultimately found Microsoft. I have read Bill Gates biography a number of times, I’m a fan of his in quite some regards. The concept of Bill Gates having insights into an unseen, and organizing his life to allow the unseen to have expression ala walking in faith got me to read some excerpts of his biography again. I decided to be Berean, and search out his story to see a trace of what guided him into being the richest man in the world for 15yrs+

Reading the story of Bill Gates again got me seriously amused. I read through a few of his online biographies, and read some of his speeches. I make bold to assert, that Bill Gates truly had a sensing of something that was meant to be, and plugged himself in the pathway of it. Now this is not about Bill Gates, this is about you, and about the desires that God has placed in your heart. The desires that you are currently not manifesting because society feels highly about your personal “Harvard”. Possibilities are seeking manifestation on the earth, there are functions that long to be performed, but some of those designed with the skills and temperaments to make them come to live are caged in glamorous institutional prisons. Many are shackled by the failures of the past, and are incapable of entering the future with accuracy. Just so that you don’t think I am building castles out of the bricks of my imagination, let’s together read some excerpts from the life of Bill Gates.

1. He sold the Invisible (His speech in Harvard)

2. The ventured into the unknown with faith (www.youngenterpreneur.com)

As teenagers, Gates and Allen decided that the possibility of every household and business to have a computer was both a realistic and a desirable goal, which they could work to achieve. “Microsoft was a dream Paul Allen and I had about what software could become – the idea that you could buy PCs from many different hardware companies and yet they would all run the same software,” says Gates.

Despite the vast implications of their vision – that the entire IT industry would have to be restructured – Gates and Allen did not seemingly know just how much of an impact they were going to have. “Not that we had any clear view that it would ever be a large business, but I had to pay these friends that I had hired,” recalls Gates. But, they fearlessly approached their vision, entering into the unknown.

Guided by a belief that the personal computer would be a valuable tool on every office desktop and in every home, they began developing software for personal computers.

3. It wasn’t about the popularity of the Vision – Nobody needs to agree. (Time Magazine)

Pretty soon Gates and Allen twigged that there was a bigger game going on, even bigger than Harvard. “We’d agreed the microprocessor was going to change the world,” Gates remembers. “It was weird that people didn’t see that.” A Popular Mechanics cover story about an early personal computer called the Altair was what doomed Gates’ career at Harvard. “The thing that Paul and I had been talking about happening was happening,” he says, “and we’re sitting there going, Oh, no, it’s happening without us!” Gates had realized that there was a future in writing and selling software for personal computers. It was one of the great technology and business insights of the century.

He spent a few minutes talking about the biggest change he sees coming to the world of computers. In a familiar pitch, Gates said he envisions software that can interact with us on more human levels by recognizing our voices, our faces and hand gestures. Equipped with cheap digital cameras, computers will someday have sight. You’ll someday be able to put a digital camera on your coffee table and have pictures automatically displayed. “Right now we use the keyboard and mouse,” he said. “We’ll finally be able to compliment that with a natural user interface.”

He sees interactive tablet PCs replacing textbooks and notebooks in schools. Students will call up everything they need on their tablet PCs and write everything directly on the screen to be stored there. His daughter’s school, he said, is already using this technology. But, for most schools, the cost of the new computers will not come down enough to be a reasonable alternative to traditional textbooks for another two to four years, he predicted.

Once we are clear on the fundamentals, now back to you? What desire is strong in your heart and seeking manifestation? Where is your Harvard that provides you with the brand that keeps you bound? What is your Traf-o-Data (the company that Bill Gates and Paul Allen first owned) that is giving you the leverage of experience (good or bad) to step into your dreams?

Possibilities are seeking expression through you, but guess what, just like it almost happened to Bill Gates, it can happen without you. Are you aligned? Are you tuned? Are you going for it, or allowing it to jump and pass?

It’s been unduly long since I wrote, I’ve been on a hectic vacation schedule, and it has been difficult to spare 1hr in front of my computer and realy write something to my taste. My mind has beeen shifting back and forth on different topics. I’ve been mostly on the move as well, so there is a load of information that I have recieved on these amazing 7 days on the exotic laps of luxury. It’s exciting enjoying the vacation that others only dream about, take my word for it, tourism is higher education. This year seems an adventure already, courtesy of Holidays and Cash, we’ll be doing Sun City this month as well, Spain around the corner, Thailand and Las Vegas. Don’t die in the rut of running a marathon race with your life, rather enlist in a relay race, and enjoy your life.

There are quite a number of topics struggling for priority attention in my mind. I will simply write about them all, and then do the diligence of expanding the write-up as passion becomes available. I will jump from topics that don’t seem connected, but the thread that will join them all together are valuable wisdom nuggets that we can take away and add to our lives. Welcome through the lenses of my eyes, lightly tinted by my development bias into the world of India. With 36 million gods and religions, a population above 1 billion, host community of one of the wonders of the world – The Taj Mahal and rich historical content, I welcome you to Incredible India!

Five Star Service

Experiencing a few days in the Galaxy Hotel in New Delhi, redefined service for me. Experiencing the treatment of the staff of this hotel, made it apparent that 5 stay was not only about the building and the structure of the rooms. It wasn’t only about having a massager in one’s room, or having a real Jacuzzi and enjoying bubble baths. 5 star was very much the building as well as the service. The average scenery in India is worse than what you’ll see on Nigerian streets, they are many, and many are poor. Once you step into the hotel however you are in a different world. The staff don’t watch you passby, they literally stand up to greet you at your instance. Extremely respectful and helpful, it’s difficult to know who calls the shots among them. At the dining, you are chocked with support, they want you to be pleased like their job depended on it. It’s like every minute counts or like someone is always watching them. Getting to Agra and lodging in the JP Hotel was another 5 star treatment, 5hrs away from New Delhi and it confirmed to me that 5 star was matched with 5 star treatment, irrespective of location. Are you offering your clients 5 star service?
 
36 Million gods

I felt it was riddiculous when I was told that there are as much as 36 million gods in India. Doesn’t that mean that every group of 30 people have one god each? It’s amazing how the indians have converted almost any form into a god. I have never seen cows as well fed and chubby as the ones in India. They don’t eat cows because for supplying milk for children they are seen as gods. In India, you can’t kill a cow . I also heard that if you do too many miracles as a pastor in India, you can be made one of their gods . Thinking deeply about having so many gods however brought me to take a look back to my country. In this age of “my pastor said”, this age of “my man of God”, are we also not having close to 36 million god forms? In India they worship all forms, but many of our people have reneged their powers of thought and their personal walks with God, with the idolatory of keeping their eyes on men rather than on God. Idolatory in the 21st century is not necessarily bowing before a golden calf. Idolatory is the process of idolizing anything – a Sportsman, an entertainer, a pastor, a car, money – anything. Whatever wins you place your pedestal and wins your time and attention is becoming a god to you. Idolatory is stealing God’s glory. Whatever you refer to for what God ought to be refered to, is an idol. What are your idols?

Transgenerational Achievement

I don’t know if it’s coincidence that the bible talks about wise men from the east (Asia). It seems that Asians are wise indeed. One thing that stands in your face if you care to pay attention, is how families have been able to hand over their businesses down generations. I met quite a number of people whose businesses were what was handed down to them across 2 or more generations. We met an artist whose works is simply beyond this world, a concept called needing painting. The artist uses needles and threads of different colours to create a picture that looks like a painting and is at times three dimensional (Trust me, you need to see it to fully grasp this). What I find extrememly interesting is that 4 generations after, the great grand children have added education to thiers and are taking over the baton from their fathers. Even in a shop full of gift items, you hear the 50+ year old shop owner proudly telling you that his grandfather sold in the same shop in 1950. It’s not only big companies that should have succession plans, even small shops can. Once we get it right in a small model, it won’t be difficult to make happen on the bigger base. A wise man leaves an inheritance for his Childrens children. What are you building that will outlive you? Your job will not! Don’t push this thought till tomorrow, start building something today, and build them on the right values. The only house that will stand the test of time, is the one built upon the solid rock.

Love or Immortality?

There is a theme I’m seeing these days, it seems to me, that the themes that make up the greatest tourist attractions in the world have to do with either love or immortality. One would think that the pyramids of Egypt were economic monuments, they are not. They are tombs that someone who wanted some form of immortality built. If you haven’t seen the pyramids, this might not bite so hard on your mind, but trust me, these monster structures are so big, it’s difficult to wrap my mind around the fact that it’s merely a tomb! The pyramids are getting mileage off of immortality. The Burj Dubai is a demonstration of love, it was designed to be the tallest building in the world, shaped like a felt pen. It was a gift between the Abu Dhabi Emirate and the Dubai Emirate. It’s mileage is off of Love. Taj Mahal however combined these two in an interesting way. The Taj Mahal is simply a tomb that man (Emperor Shah Jahan) built for the wife he loved the most. History has it that this was the only wife that gave him children, and the wife died during the childbirth of the 14th child. The Taj mahal was built to be the final resting place of his beloved wife. The Taj Mahal is a monsterous marble structure with 4 gates that are also major construction works. The symmetery in the architecture is thrilling. According to a popular myth 20,000 people worked relentlessly for 16 years to build the Taj Mahal and their hands were all dismembered so that the can never build another one like it. 2-4 million people visit the Taj Mahal annually. Men made themselves relevant beyond their times by building physical monuments. Today is our turn to build, and we can build physically, economically even spiritually. When the curtains draw on time, and the gap between now and eternity is bridged, what will you have lived for? In what ways will your sacrifices of love be felt, and what themes are going to surround your immortality.
Namaste!

The Egyptians put their hands together in front of them like a prayer clap, bow down their heads and say Namaste. It means, I’m bowing to the divine power on your inside. Everyone of us has a seed of greatness in us. This seed has within it the harvest of many possibilities. You are guaranteed to be great, to be big to be mighty upon the earth. Except this seed however takes the risk of losing itself and follows it’s intuition to do that for which it was made, it will abide alone. In closing to you today, I say Namaste!

“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends”- Martin Luther King

The Lagos version of the Abuja walk by the Save Nigeria Group titled, “Enough is Enough” is taking place today at 10am. We’ll be moving from Arch Bishop Vinning Memorial Church to the Government house in Alausa. Our message has not changed, we are marching in peaceful protest against the current issues which stem from the same root -lack of good governance! Ever so often the intellectuals want to ask -why are you walking? Will this walk achieve anything? Are there no other risk free things that can be done? Is there a hidden agenda?  Intellectuals love to ask questions, and thankfully, I’m not un-intellectual as well, so I can answer what I can.

There is a trend I’m picking up and it’s grieving my soul. The most religious (Christian or otherwise) societies in the world, are it’s poorest and most underdeveloped. The cities that pack millions into auditoriums are the ones that don’t have any representation in other aspects of human influence. It’s seems like an inversion of everything that I have learnt, that light should give illumination, that spiritual enlightenment should lead to economic, social, governmental and whole revival. Thorough analysis however reveals, that the opposite is true.

Why, you may wonder? Don’t waste your wonder, it’s not far fetched. The church needs to regain it’s saltiness, and the people of God their light. We have replaced the gospel of the kingdom with the gospel of salvation. We have left the discipling of nations, for the leadership of individuals. We have wondered off the biblical world view into being spiritual. Hear this and hear it clear, any spiritual activity that does not elevate a man into a higher realm in all the areas of influence on earth, is a mere and empty religion!

“The gospel that does not deal with the issues of the day is not a gospel at all” – Martin Luther

In case you are wondering if my trend is founded, let me attempt to offer you some statistics.

In South Korea, as at a few years ago (Before Africa -Nigeria started challenging the numbers), when the biggest churches in the world were in South Korea, when there were churches that had over 1 million members and many more close to those kind of numbers. It was amazing that while the ranked highest in number of churches or population of churches, they had no standard company from South Korea that was one of the top 500 companies in the world. A similar study in America shows that the most Christianized city in America is Dallas Texas. This was so based on number of people in church per capita on sunday. When analyzed based on core services however, the city was the lowest ranking city in the nation. Indices like crime rate, job availability, abuse, homelessness e.t.c.
There are two broad ways to look at this, one we can choose to see it as religion being the opium of the masses – meaning that poor people search for something to believe in. Or we can look at this the way I’m seeing it, that there is a lot of brain drain in society as gifted hands and minds feel that to serve God they need to be very involved in a church. The Church which is meant to have a biblical worldview of Religion being only one of the segments, now has become the source of brain drain of the other segments. Haven given up authority for education, governance, family, media, entertainment and business to the world, the earth is in chaos. What however amazes me the most about the Dallas analysis, is what the Dallas Pastor was credited to have said – “Those things do not concern us, we are spiritual leaders”. I again affirm in the words of Martin Luther, the gospel that does not deal with the issues of the day is not a gospel at all!
We need to ensure that we are relevant, not just on Sunday’s but all week though. We need to find out our own mountains and conquer them for God. There is a lot of Junk going on in Media today, a lot of lies, misrepresentations, and falsehood. Why? Because, light is not there, and the people of light rather than taking their lights to the world are comfortable with shining it into their own eyes and confusing one another. The Entertainment industry has become one giant manufacturing industry with only one product – sex! Education is in crisis, family values are fast eroding. The government is in the hands of charlatans, crooks and thieves, our lives are shaped by those who cannot mould their families. Where are you and I in the midst of all this mess?

I have only 3 questions for you, think about them and let your answers be correct.
1. Will your community notice (positively) if your local church shuts it’s doors tomorrow?
2. Would your workplace notice if you were no longer there?
3. Is your industry different because of you?

Let’s stop fooling ourselves, if your answers are No, you have to make them yes this year!

Yesterday was quite a full day for me, it was a day in which many things simply came to a head. I had deliberately refused to comment on a number of issues for a while, hoping that in the period of my silence things will bounce back to normalsy. The more the days pass however, it’s becoming clearer and clearer that we are approaching a failed state. Optimism is good, if it is bound at the bottom by reality, at the top by faith and at the sides by work. Baseless optimism is a cancer, it’s false hope and mere lies.

Rather than confront our issues and do what we need to do to save our nation from a head on collision course with failure, we tell ourselves it’s all going to be well, God will do it, we make God out to be our slave. In the face of unconstitutional behaviour, in the face of  televised dishonesty, of forgeries at the highest levels, of being labelled as terrorists, of no power at home and a vacuum in the seat of power, the elite in Nigeria have not heard the drums of war. We pacify ourselves with phrases that show that even if we lose all, we still have something. We are voiceless in our own country, slaves where we should have been princes, our young sons and daughters flee from our shores preferring to be slaves abroad than at home, and our elders have nostalgic memories of when they were slaves to colonial masters. This house is falling, and those who exercise the power of faith limit it to their words and are slow to back it up with action.  My brothers and sisters, if we continue to fold our hands we will soon have them cuffed. History is replete with trends we can learn from, the distance between our current state and people seeking refuge in other nations as refugee is not as far as we have been deluded to think. The time to have a stand and stand for it is now!

What philosophy exactly engages the mind of our elite that makes them sit still? I have tried to comprehend it but perhaps I’m not as bright as the average one of us. I have analysed it from different angles, wishing that even I could have that complacent philosophy that will make me sit still and have the opinion that my voice does not count, but the reasons constantly elude me. I need someone to help me here, give me a reason to not feel moved or touched by the realities that bedevil my nation. Does it make sense to you that rather than face our issues we celebrate how great we could have been? Or what potentials we have? While by arithmetic or geometric progression our nation is heading down, we constantly behave like we are not touched. The elite is comfortable in the possibility of being an island of prosperity in a quick sand of poverty. Mark my words however, danger looms, what’s on ground is beyond being political, non partisan or partisan. If you are not relevant to the future of this nation… relocate now, before you lose it all! There is a time for peace and there is a time for war. We are in those times, when we must turn our agricultural instruments into weapons of war (Joel 3:9-12). It’s time to use that skill that you use to feed to fight.

They say questions are the answers, well, today I have loads of them. Are we safe? These people who have the leadership of this country as their puppets, are they sane? Are they value driven? Are we in the hands of equitable and fair people? America ranks us as a terrorist nation, is that all of us? Is it some of us? We have moved from being a threat to ourselves, to becoming a threat to the world, are we aware? Does it make sense that almost 50yrs after we started extracting oil, we are still queuing for fuel and having scarcity? Are we sane as a nation, when our leaders spend over $200million per annum on treatment overseas? Are we normal when these overseas hospitals are managed by Nigerian doctors, nurses and cleaners, with only the equipments being foreign? Are we fair when we put an El-Rufai on excile and allow a James Ibori to walk free? Are elites existing in a nation that banishes a man that refused gifts from all who intended to woo him, and free right of way to one who would be arrested if allowed to travel? Can you and I make our president the CEO of a company we have investments in? Is he desirable as a staff in your company? Or is it not our business? Am I asking too many questions, don’t I have the right to ask? I hear we now all have a locus standi, true? Are we relevant to the world as one country? Or is it in the best interest of the world that we are split into unsustainable units? Are the people of a country normal whose president is unseen and inaudible for already more than 10% of a year?

The elders say that when the elders are at home, the head of a new born will take shape, are there no elders in our land? When will the elites  - the educated middle class in Nigeria get angry and enlist in this silently developing war? Do we have to wait until we are denied visa to every country because we are terrorists? Who needs to die for Nigerians to get angry enough to act? Does pharoah need to lose the firstborn of all his subjects and himself before the people are let go? In the revolution that looms, who will be spared, and why will they be spared? Are our brothers  in diaspora free of all these? Do they need to lend their voice? Or are they untouched by the appelation of terrorists? Are they not also getting full body massages at international airports?

Follow me for a little while more on this illogical reasoning, pardon me, the sun and powerlessness do have their effects.  How many Mutallabs do we need to change Nigeria? Do they all need to be trained in yemen or does the south south have concentration camps that can convert decent men into living explosives? I heard this morning that the US has revoked the VISA’s of a few high ranking government officials, former governors e.t.c. Can they please add the current Governors, Lawmakers, ministers and members of the executive council, past and present? Can they please add our Pastors and Imams as well? Wait for the big one, can they send our people back home? Won’t it help if we all lock ourselves in this country and sort it all out? Can they help us send all the ones in America, in Europe and even Asia? Can the world please send our people home and give us a 10yr break so we can resolve our issues? I’m not saying anything oh, I’m just asking questions , abi? Am I being too harsh on our brothers overseas? Is it not because our America’s Ambassadors son raped someone in the US and was sent parking that Obama doesn’t have anyone to relate with on what actions Nigeria has taken on the terrorism case? Is it also not because Yaradua’s phone number has been barred for not being in touch for more than 30 days that he couldn’t be reached? Are we not a country of comedians and jokers?

I think the axe is already at the root of every tree, and the future will tell. This country will be better, by fire! I see a New Nigeria, a country that will flourish again and become the most desireable country to live in in the world. A Nigeria that is so good today looks like a cruel joke! Between now and then however, there are sacrifices to be made.  What sacrifice are you williing to make today?

Please join us in Abuja on Tuesday (Jan 12)  as we match together to make our voice heard. We need leadership, and we will not manage our current circumstances. Details will be coming up shortly.

The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]

The Antioch Experience was an experience! About 40 professionals gathered together for an 8hrs prayer meeting. God was present, his presence and revelations were real. Indeed he crowns our year with goodness, and his paths drop fatness.  Many annointed children led different aspects of the prayer and there was no low energy moment.  We are confident that this meeting will be a reference point for us for years to come. It was indeed an Antioch experience.

Please find below some of the prophetic words we recieved for the coming year. While we expect that things will continue to grow darker and more confusing in the nation and world at large, God’s people have an opportunity to enjoy in Goshen while the world gets visited with calamities. What is below does not exhaust what God ministered to us, but at least even though you were not there you can share in what God can also make real in your life.

In 2010…  Serve, God will distinguish you for Serving

Spend time with God, when you spend time here, God will take you there. Gods presense protects your vision and makes your visions achievable

You have God’s divine nature… concentrate on your character and relationship with god, you won’t miss performance!

You will get a full measure of God’s secret when you know what him and what he has done for you.

Start! Don’t criticize! The reason the wrong people are there in any sphere is because you are not performing… books worse than those in your head have been written.

There is power available when you pray, and it can be converted into any form… leverage on this power.. carry it through into your year.

Done Deal, whatever you say in Gods presense today is a done deal

The Nature of God is still in you… say the word and God will back it!

The darkeness and formlessness is for your good, wait for God’s spirit to move and speak the word… your future will be created.

Power is Changing hands…Men will seek you out.. you are entereing into a Joseph and Daniel Dimension… you’ll be sought by kings, they will have dreams that will throw them into confusion till they find you.

You are a key… God has coded you to open some doors..

Nigeria is struggling because the right keys are being made… this is your year!

Marry God’s word this year, step up.. Outdo your past. God’s word will always produce fruit, nothing wrong with his word… step up to it

This is your year of declaration, open your mouth and declare…

This is the year of jubilee (Nigeria is 50) it’s the year of fulfillment of all visions.. nothing will delay

Take Position

Organize… you have all the resources already, only organize them.

Enter the right company, come out of bad relationships..

Step up in your relationships. God saved the friends of Daniels twice because of Daniel… enter the daniel company

Get extreme this year, the Devil has vowed to get you down, vow to get serious.

God will make Esau hungry for Jacob to get his inheritance… Start cultivating what you will offer Esau… Your season of exchange is here.. prepare your pottage

God will drop wealth in your hands for kingdom buillding so you can establish his way..

Minister to God, When God takes his place in your life, you will take your place in society

When you see a need meet it. You are the answer… meeting needs will connect you this year to purpose.

There is a move in the air…the old is dying and the new is taking it’s place. God is positioning young people… to plug in focus on Character, Integrity, His presence and Skill.

Save this year Sacrifice this year, sacrifice is saving and giving… plug in

A lot has happened lately with the financial sector in Nigeria. This has led to a number of people losing their jobs, and a list being compiled of more to come. Many people in the banking industry are ending their year without much hope, and many are anxious of what awaits them in the new year.

If you work in the banking sector in Nigeria and have either lost your job or are afraid you might, then this small meeting is for you. We are organizing a meeting of Bankers and Entrepreneurs. We are fishing out entrepreneurs who have been bankers, entrepreneurs who forcefully entered the productivity market and entrepreneurs who left and at a point in their lives had nothing. It’s a serious meeting for a select few, we have number constraints so we want to ensure the meeting features people that are really dying for this opportunity.

To Register for this event, please follow the instruction in the advert below.

“I was a banker, I lost my Job, I need fresh insight!” Let’s induct you into the world of possibilities. January, 3, 2010. Contact praisefowowe@gmail.com to get an access pin. FREE – Courtesy The Entrepreneurs Network (TEN)

You can also help us spread the word by adjusting the advert above as your update on facebook for the next 24-48hrs. Let’s make this test a testimony for some, let’s turn this trials into a triumph, let’s make a message out of this mess and convert what looks like an obstacle into a miracle. We can, we will, we must! This Mass Sack, is a blessing in disguise,  every problem is an opportunity in overalls! Join us!

About 13yrs ago, a few young guys met together for a 3 days prayer meeting code named Antioch Experience. It was in that meeting that I met Gbenga Sesan, Bayo Olotu and a few other young men. It was 3 days of sharing God’s word, praying and recieving direction from God for our futures on that campus OAU and life in general.  It was an exciting meeting, in that it left us all better men, providing an anchor of some sort for our lives. Our text then was from ACTS 13 – The Antioch Experience! A few days ago, in my daily bible study throught he book of ACTS, I stumbled again on this centrepeice – Antioch! I had for a while been contemplating a prayer meeting with friends, and as soon as I read the chapter again, it became clear what the prayer meeting will be code named.

Date: December 30, 2009

Time: 8am -4pm (Prompt)

Venue: Headstone Christian Center: The Leadership Center 30a coker rd ilupeju

(No gate crashing – Please confirm attendance – Venue can change based on Numbers)

What exactly happened at Antioch, and what can we expect to happen at this prayer meeting.

1. The meeting was blessed with a number of prophet-preachers and teachers.

On the 30th of December we can expect to have a variety of God’s children, some in the market place, some in the Lord’s vineyard. It will be a day of the expression of many dimensions of God’s multidimensional manifold wisdom. We’ll be praying and sharing from God’s mind.

2. They Worshiped God.

We’ll spend quality time, praising and worshiping God as well. We will not sing to ourselves, we will sing to God, we’ll offer him ourselves as living sacrifices, which is our reasonable act of worship. By God’s grace, it won’t be a measure of sonorosity of voice, but the heart of surrender.

3. They Fasted and waited for Guidance

Everybody is urged to come with a personal jotter and come fasting. We will wait upon God and expect to recieve His guidance. The expectations of the righteous shall not be cut off. God will guide us into 2010.

4. The Holy Spirit Spoke

Just as they didn’t engage in the exercise of prayer alone but were graced with God’s voice and words, the same will be our portion. We will worship, pray, fast and recieve guidance from the Holy Spirit.

5. Men were commissioned

Just as Paul and Barnabas were launched into their ministry, people will recieve direction from God that will launch them into God’s purpose for their lives.

6. There was an intensity and obedience

Those who prayed were serious, and the meeting created an intense circle, and people were willing to follow God’s bidding, wherever or whatever he asked to do was not questioned. They went out and pursued their assignments.

7. Antioch became a reference point in their lives

Paul and Barnabas went far and wide and always returned to Antioch. It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians. Antioch was where the course of the Gospel changed, from strictly Jews to Greeks and Non-Jews. As Antioch provided a pivotal point for the life of Paul, Barnabas and those that gathered there, we trust that we will have a reference point from our meeting place on the 3oth.

All who would come for these date are requested to spend quality time before this date seeking God’s face and fasting if they can. The venue can sit 50, so we can accomodate close to that. Reservations can be made individually and as couples. All participants can also come with some refreshment for 2-5 as we’ll all break our fast with a small love feast. Also expect a session on faith for creating wealth with reference to the Science of Getting Rich.

To Confirm you attendance pls send a mail to praisefowowe at gmail.com

Today, I simply feel like freestyling, too many topics fighting in my mind for attention, I don’t want to be bound by one topic. As I reminisce over the last 11 months of this amazing year, my heart swells with gratitude to God, and is slightly punctuated by unexpressed tears gathering momentum in my tear sac. My mind is well trained, not to ask the questions for which the answers are clear. Today is (I can’t seem to use past tense) my mum’s birthday, and oh, how I miss calling her and and hearing her reassuring voice.  So today, I just want to well it out from my heart, demonstrate gratitude by counting the blessings that can be counted in public, sharing the bitter sweet lessons, and giving everybody a reason to have hope, to trust and to obey.

Mummy’s Day

It’s my mum’s day today, and though I know the righteous do not die, they sleep, I miss her.  If you read the two articles I wrote at the time of her departure in the second half of this year, you’ll see what an enigma she was. Sweet mother and Lessons from the life of my mum. Interestingly however, even though fast asleep from this current existence, she’s more alive than many who still have breath, or how do you reconcile these things. On my Fathers birthday for example, my mum’s phone suddenly comes back to live and starts beeping and alarm, on the face of the phone was a cake and lights and a message – Jo’s (meaning sweetheart) birthday! My father was happily shocked and told me about it, in my mind the phrase that rang – “Still relevant!”. A few weeks ago, my dad asked me to tell any of my friends coming to Lagos to him, that my mum’s farm of Yams have just been harvested and he wants to send the yam to all the children (we) and siblings.  We are still eating the yam from my mum’s farm, it’s a lot of yam as it was a huge farm, in my mind? Still relevant! You are alive and well, are you relevant? Who are you relevant to? Is your life relevant to now, and are you living to be relevant in eternity?

Relationships

Whenever I think about this year, one of the things I’m most grateful for are the people God has brought into my life. Please understand that whatever God will deliver into your hands must come via the vehicle of people, value will change hands till that which you desire comes to you. He who is seperated from all relationships is on the pathway to ruin. This year has been a great year for me in the context of relationships. I’m in a friendly relationship with so many great people, my personal accessible network has doubled. I have also added value to more people than I have ever, travelled more widely and simply enjoyed the company of family and friends who last year were total strangers. The door to my abundance is wide, there are many channels through which the divine can cause my desires to reach me. It’s worth every clap and shout of praise.

Are you conciously adding value to people? Are you building quality relationships? Or is this your year of  ”My Job first”? Poeple are our connectors with our possibilities, they are the access points through which our desires are delivered, they are our options. Don’t let work clubber you into a position where all that is left with you, are the people you are forced to work with, who don’t like you very much and who you don’t send either.

Opportunities

I had a few great opportunities this year, I also had many not so good opportunities. What I have learnt however is that if one is great it sometimes covers for 20 others.  One success wipes away the memory of many failures. The challenge is not in failing, it is stopping short of success.  This year has been a year of tremendous learning for me,  infact it has made me look back in time with absolutely no regrets, as even the rough and rugged times of my life have prepared me for the opportunity of now.  No experience in life is a waste, every experience shifts your benchmark, sharpens your mind and prepares you for the next.

I am sincerely sad for those whose past failures have numbed from positive movement. I’m sad for those who have taken their current realities as the TRUTH and have refused to listen to the inner guidance of their maker. I weep for those who will not amount to much in life, because fear has eaten deep into the fabrics of their soul. Does your philosophy allow you to seek for opportunities, or do you operate with a closed mind and limited options?

I’ve been getting this question quite a lot these days, and I’m ashamed I have to type a fresh mail everytime because there is no document that simply addresses this question. Not anymore, In the next few lines, I’ll explain, how to be a part of the Global Holidays and Cash Family. The questions on why you should be a member are also already answered in the following already written posts.

1.  http://www.deoluakinyemi.com/bankers-ticketing-agents-and-sewing-machines/

2.  http://www.deoluakinyemi.com/spectators-are-less-than-losers/

3.  http://www.deoluakinyemi.com/response-to-a-sincere-letter/

4.  http://www.deoluakinyemi.com/before-its-in-the-news/

5.  http://www.deoluakinyemi.com/where-will-you-be-at-65/

6.  http://www.deoluakinyemi.com/thank-you-dearie/

If you read the above, perhaps it will answer a few of your questions on why you need to be involved with Holidays and Cash, they are not very direct though, so maybe after I have done this, I’ll still do a direct – why you should be involved with Holidays and Cash. For now though, here is how.

Step 1. Pay for your privilege pack prepaid voucher.

Go to any of the Holidays and Cash Banks and Pay a sum of $250 or N40,000 to purhcase a privilege pack. Once you have made payment, keep your teller number and go to www.holidaysandcash.com/vouchers/ni to fill in your details. You can pay for as many prepaid vouchers you want, but you only need one for yourself. Once you have filled the form on the  page of buy prepaid vouchers, you will get a prepaid voucher in your email within 30mins provided the deposit reflects in the account. This step is only required if you don’t have a credit card, if you do have a credit card, you do not need step 1.

Bank Details are available on http://www.holidaysandcash.com/vouchers/ni/cash.html

Step 2. Buy your privilege pack

Buying your privilege pack gives you the right to be an international distributor with Holidays and Cash. The privilege pack is a pack of privileges – Discount Travel, Educational Materials, Wholesale prices on consumer goods e.t.c. To buy the privilege pack, simply access the Holidays and Cash site via the username of your sponsor. This is www.holidaysandcash.com/username. Once this link displays click “Buy Now”. The “buy now” instruction will take you to a registeration page which you are required to complete with all your required information.  Once you complete this form, click submit, you recieve an sms code of your password, it then takes you to where you have an option of paying for your privilege pack. You can pay with credit card, Alertpay, EGP (earnings from H&C) or a prepaid voucher. If you followed the first process (if you are in Nigeria) you can then simply pay with your prepaid voucher.

Step 3: Pay for an already registered member

If for any reason you had done step 2 before step 1, you would need to stop the step 2 process and obtain a prepaid voucher. If you had to do this, you will go back to the site of your sponsor, and click “buy now” again. You will follow the links to pay for the prepaid voucher, but this time around you will select  ”Already Registered Member”, when you select this, it gives you a page with two feilds – username and phone number. Once you fill these 2 with accurate details, it will take you directly to the payment page, where you can now use your prepaid voucher.

I have learnt a lot in the last almost 4yrs as an entrepreneur, I thought I was knowledgeable, and maybe I was, but the words, “see thou a man that is wise in his own eyes, there is more hope for a fool than him” – make more sense to me by the day. When you begin to know, you realize that the more you know, the more there is to know.  Real knowledge is a by product of the experience of others. The gap between hypothesis and theory is bridged by experience – repeated experiments. He who would be knowledgeable must be willing to either learn from a lab mice, or be one. I daresay, better is the grace of  humility to learn from the lab rat, than the grace of courage to be one yourself.  The complete life however, must balance these means.

About 3yrs ago, I was quite broke – broke as N40,000 could be what 9 of us shared in a month. I was doing everything I knew to do to keep afloat.  I had a team of guys working with me then as well as volunteers, and it was getting difficult to manage things and keep everybody together. We had sent out lots of proposals, were engaged in different small projects, but not so many results. Somewhere along the line, I stumbled on this book, that we are reading till this year ends. I decided not to read it alone, but to do a group effort with all my colleagues. It was just 3 days ago, that it dawned on me fully that it was less than 3 months from when we started the group reading, that a series of opportunities began to flood us all.  We have never attributed the deluge to the book we had read that had tuned us to thinking and acting in a certain way. I thought it was serendipity, but I guess it was actually a science. The ride to wealth and fame was stalled only when we left the creative mind frame and became competitive. I have resumed reading this book again, this time not with 9 people, but with 175 people so far on my database who sent me an email, and I forwarded the book to them. In case you are thinking of joining us, here are some things we have learnt in the last 4 days.

Today is the last day of this month, by tomorrow, the last month of the year will start, and before we all know it, the year would end. This year has been the best year of my life so far, and somehow I’m persuaded beyond any doubt that the last days of the year are going to be crowned with goodness. I know that in the last month of this year, many expecations are still going to be met, many people’s prayers will still be answered, many unfinished goals will be achieved and dreams will still come through and true! I’m about to embark on a 30 days journey of success, and I want you to come with me.

When I say this year has been good, it’s on all counts. Just this morning for example, I had the privilege of giving out a gift of an all expense paid vacation to two people, and not the first time this year. This year, I have gotten to meet and built great relationships with fantastic people, people I had never met have become my friends and partners. This year  I have also enjoyed financial progress, enjoyed freedom, enjoyed a number of vacations, watched my kids, family and friends make progress. This year I have heard a lot of thank yous, a lot of God bless yous and so much gratitude has filtered into my life.  This year, my mum stepped up to glory, and even though not here, I feel peace when I draw inspiration from her life. Very importantly too, this year, I have experienced God’s grace, guidance, protection, leading and wisdom in ways too amazing and numerous to describe.  As this year wraps up however, I have a mandate to help a few more people achieve their goals and dreams, meet their future partners, attract wealth, be a blessing to someone else, whatever it is that’s going to crown your year with goodness. All you need to do is simple and brief.

In the next 31 days starting from the 1st of  December 2009, I will be committing to reading a particular book for 1hr daily, and sharing my thoughts with you here on this post. I will like you to join me in this exercise and let’s learn together and ultimately earn together. This book is one book that has had the greatest influence on my life financially! I confidently assure you that if you read this book and follow it’s instructions, your finances will not remain the same. The book has the powers to destroy your old mindsets and set you up to succeed, particularly financially. The good thing however is that the principles are applicable to any areas of life where you need closure on your dreams. All I need from you is commitment to this process and I can guarantee that you’ll have good news to share before this year ends. I will also like us to share our insights and testimonies here as well. I’m sure you are wondering which book, it’s a book I can send to you electronically  as soon as you request it. It’s a book that is worth millions of dollars to me, based on what I’m certain it has created and yet has the capacities to create.

If you are interested in Joining me for any 30days within the 31 days, kindly send me an email at deoluakinyemi at gmail.com so I can forward the e-book to you. As soon as we start reading, you can bookmark this page, and let’s daily come here to share our thoughts and learnings and to learn from each other. Let me sound this clearly though, the first step in achieving anything is belief, if you believe, all things are possible! If you don’t believe this process can work for you, please don’t bother, but if it resonates with your heart and you feel there is something in this process that will lead to the answer you seek. Come with me, let’s run with this together. Please don’t be a mere spectator, be in the race!

Amos 5:21-14 (The Message Translation)

“I can’t stand your religious meetings.

I’m fed up with your conferences and conventions.

I want nothing to do with your religion projects,

your pretentious slogans and goals.

I’m sick of your fund-raising schemes,

your public relations and image making.

I’ve had all I can take of your noisy ego-music.

When was the last time you sang to me?

Do you know what I want?

I want justice–oceans of it.

I want fairness–rivers of it.

That’s what I want. That’s all I want.”

How else can we ensure oceans of justice and rivers of fairness without accurate representation in the executive, judiciary and legislative arms of government? How can we take responsibility for doing what God wants when we have strategically placed it out of our reach?

What was God really upset with here, and what was he saying the priorities should be? I think it’s clear, don’t you think so? I think it’s so clear we might need to have to hire someone to deceive us. God is not interested in religious meetings, conferences or conventions. He doesn’t want anything to do with religious projects or pretentious slogans. He’s had enough of fund-raising schemes, public relations and image making stunts. He’s not interested in celebrity ego-music, he wants people to sing to him not about themselves or to themselves. More importantly he wants an abundance of justice and fairness – virtues we may never be able to model without playing an active role in the polity of the nation.

Don’t get me wrong, the Church in Nigeria has tried. We have supported and built a few orphanages, we have created Jobs for many people in the Church industry, we have converted unproductive warehouses into development and production centres, we have kept a lot of young minds busy, rather than idle-ing away their Sunday mornings and midweek evenings. Some of the more noble ones among us have even gone further to venture in education, health, communities and all. We have tried, or haven’t we? What worries me however is not what we have done, but what we have done compared to what we could have done! What we have done compared to what we can do! And what we have left undone! All that we do and have done pales into near insignificance when compared to what a serving governor can achieve in a few months of his/her administration. We need credible people to lead us, and what it means is that you and I must be interested, and the church cannot be silent participants anymore. We can give billions to support certain courses, but if the head is sick our investments on any part of the body will soon rot.

Oh, I understand and do know history, I know how in the past the church of God became nothing else but a political gathering, and I know that the fear of that error is enough to completely take one’s hands off it. However, the same way the church has learnt that money itself is not a bad thing, but the lust after it without recourse to ethics is what is wrong, in the same way, we must assure ourselves that if all we do is fold our fingers in the time of voting, we’ll continue to be ruled by wickedness. If we cease to be light, then our lack of expression gives permission to darkness. This is not a clarion call for community development, this is a call for taking political leadership. “Nigerian politics is dirty”, is so common a phrase, my question is how will it ever get clean if those who ought to be making change happen run away from it? The church in Nigeria has gotten more enlightened in the last 20yrs about it’s members taking their rightful place in the economy, today however we must with the same zeal and fire enlighten and empower ourselves to advance into leadership. It is shameful to have 5 star churches and world-class cathedrals in an underdeveloped country. We need to move to action, or we’ll lose our place. Or isn’t the government meant to rest on the shoulders of the body of Christ?

“Any religion that professes to be concerned with the souls of men and is not concerned with the slums that damn them, the economic conditions that strangle them, and the social conditions that cripple them, is a dry-as-dust religion.” – MLKJR

In the days we live in, the world celebrates Martin Luther King Jr, even the church is apt to identify with him and with what he stood for, but it was not so in the days that he lived in. When I listen to people refer to great men like this, I’m often ashamed when I discover that those that speak know little more than their listeners about the life of the people they speak about. Many are shallow, from not reading  in depth enough, to not engaging their minds when they read, to  having insufficient experience to draw from to connect with the lives of these great people. Read this slowly and understand it clearly – “The “Organized” Church Opposed Martin Luther King Jr, in his days!” If you need to read more about this, find articles like the Letter from Birmingham Jail or his book “why we can’t wait”. I daresay, that anybody interested in change in any nation must read the “Letter from Birmingham Jail”.

“But the judgment of God is upon the church as never before. If today’s church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century. Every day I meet young people whose disappointment with the church has turned into outright disgust.” – MLKJR.

The question today, is simple and straight forward – “Is your Church relevant, or are you gradually becoming an irrelevant social club?”. I  must warn you that NOW requires urgency. Our nation is in on an auto-cruise that is collision bound with annihilation. We are failing as a state, with all our metrics and indexes for measuring progress plummeting, in a few years we may well be history and the last hope of this nation is currently rubbing shoulders with those who may enthrone it as the headquarters of cowardice and complacency. So answer the question, “Is your Church relevant, or are you an irrelevant social club?”

Before you are quick to make this about them and not us, please understand that by Church, I mean the Organized Church and I also mean the internal Church – the called out ones – the Ekklesia – the hope of the world -You and I! Are we relevant collectively or individually? As a nation are we not too full of organized churches for this country to be the way it is? Have we assigned God the responsibility of coming down to earth to set things right on His own? Or are we God’s arm and the people he seeks for change to happen? Isn’t there too much light in this country for us to be the darkest nation on earth? Are we not fast becoming irrelevant social clubs?

“Perhaps I have once again been too optimistic. Is organized religion too inextricably bound to the status quo to save our nation and the world? Perhaps I must turn my faith to the inner spiritual church, the church within the church, as the true ekklesia and the hope of the world. But again I am thankful to God that some noble souls from the ranks of organized religion have broken loose from the paralyzing chains of conformity and joined us as active partners in the struggle for freedom. They have left their secure congregations and walked the streets of Albany, Georgia, with us. They have gone down the highways of the South on tortuous rides for freedom. Yes, they have gone to jail with us. Some have been dismissed from their churches, have lost the support of their bishops and fellow ministers. But they have acted in the faith that right defeated is stronger than evil triumphant. Their witness has been the spiritual salt that has preserved the true meaning of the gospel in these troubled times. They have carved a tunnel of hope through the dark mountain of disappointment.” – MLKJR

Are our organized churches bound to status quo? Are they afraid of biting the arms that waiver them? Have we exchanged our birth rights to be the conscience of the nation for the messy pottage of unprincipled alignment? Where are those noble souls in Nigeria who would break out of satanic conformity and join us to herald and birth a New Nigeria? Rather than weep the deplorable state of our nation, and secure our one hand with swords and the other with bricks, we spend our resources on spiritual jamborees! We are in subtle competition, slyly moving the coliseum into the organized church – Our churches are ranked by their numbers, by who organizes the biggest concerts, who has the biggest cathedral, who has the largest assembly in one sitting and many more. Our numbers are not converting into voting in righteousness, into upholding justice or annihilating poverty. The helpless die in our watch, our negligence equates us to murderers.  There is a conspiracy of the prophets – Let he/she who reads be guided by the words of Ezekiel in Chapter 22: 23-31. Prophets, Priests and Princes gone bad! We are in perilous times. About our times however and about where we are positioned, God is not silent! If we are irrelevant in the days of battle, we will be irrelevant in the days of victory! A stationary bird is an easy target! Hear God’s views crystallized before our times.

“I can’t stand your religious meetings.

I’m fed up with your conferences and conventions.

I want nothing to do with your religion projects,

your pretentious slogans and goals.

I’m sick of your fund-raising schemes,

your public relations and image making.

I’ve had all I can take of your noisy ego-music.

When was the last time you sang to me?

Do you know what I want?

I want justice–oceans of it.

I want fairness–rivers of it.

That’s what I want. That’s all I want.” – Amos 5:21-14 (Message Translation)

When I read this again some months ago, my heart trembled, today it still does… I have moved to action. Even New Nigeria Club has left being an irrelevant social club. We need to engage the highest offices, and move our nation into better than it is, simply because we are better than this, and there is a lot we can salvage! What about you? Even if the organized church you attend is fast embracing irrelevance, what about you? What are you doing about it? Can you print this for your pastor? Can you influence change?

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It’s been a while I have been brooding on this topic, and I do not mean to personally attack anybody or any profession. What you are about to read may upset you, it may also set you free and motivate you. I have learnt however that life is made up of what we choose. Many students often attend the same class and get different grades, it’s not because the teacher  taught them different things, it’s because of the choices they made. Usually, when the student is ready, the teacher will appear.

These three, Bankers, Ticketing Agents and Sewing Machines have one stricking similarity. I know because I have been around many bankers and have a good number as friends,  I have also worked with an airline and even drawn up job descriptions for ticketing agents. I also grew up watching my mum use a sewing machine. Their point of similarity is a sobering reality. A reality that every one of you reading this mail must make it a point of duty to break away from. It must be your prayer point, a strong desire, infact a burning passion never to share this trait with any of these icons.

The sewing machine sews clothes for the whole world, while itself is naked! The Ticketing Agent prints tickets for all to fly around the world, while he/she remains grounded. The banker also, unfortunately banks money for people not as intelligent as her, but lives from paycheck to paycheck with nothing in the bank!

Does it not sound ironic to you, that the one that ought to be the pipe through which all the water flows does not get wet? Isn’t it absurd, that the sewing machine is naked? That the Ticketing Agent has no ticket of her own, and that the banker simply doesn’t have much to bank? My sincere prayer for you as you read this, is that your story will not be like the proverbial sewing machine, the ticketing agent or the banker! Familiarity will not rob you of your blessings, proximity will not deny you of your reward! May you get the wisdom required not to starve in the midst of plenty nor to thirst in the sea of abundance.

Here are a key thoughts you must never allow to rob you of your full potentials.

1. A Full Cup

“Some people be acting like they know it all” – 2 Face Idibia

If you think you know a lot, or know it all, and use that as a basis to determine what you allow yourself to listen to, mark my words and read my lips – “you will be the last mover in a growing economic trend, and you will lose out big time!” It is the saying of the wise that pride goes before a fall, it sure does. If your cup is full, you cannot take in new knowledge, you can’t understand new perspectives. One of the first things you are likely to think even reading this is, “this is not for me, I know someone that it applies to”. Sincerely? Shut up and pay attention. Things are not as they seem, conventional knowledge is being stood on it’s head. What you have always believed might no longer be true. The frame with which you see the world may be tinted. Don’t jump into conclusions based on your limited experience. Empty your cup! Your office is not the universe! No matter how bright your boss is, there are brighter people out there in the bigger world. The standard practice in your work does not govern the world. It is important for your employer to make you think you are smart so you can deliver your best, your intelligence must radiate beyond the scope of your managers commendation. This is the way it I  have always done it is no excuse for not trying out a different way. The only things that should be none negotiable are value positions. For knowledge and all else, empty your cup regularly!

2. Giving Up!

“Perseverance is failing 19times and succeeding on the 20th” – Julie Andrews

“Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other”- Walter Elliot

“Without perservance, talent is a barren bed” – Welsh Proverb

There is so much that has been said over time about perseverance. I don’t still get if people actually understand it.  Talent by itself does not qualify anyone for success! There is no other skill or attitude that can take the place of perseverance. It’s the key to the final door that leads to success, fortune or fame! It’s the element that tips the fragile balance between obscurity and celebrity! The worlds celebrated are not the worlds best, they are the people who refuse to give up! Sometimes I feel like giving people bridles for their mouth when they quote Thomas Edison, we talk about him and celebrate him, yet if he was in our generation we would have rated him closer to an idiot than a genius. With over 1000 patents to his name, this man put his footprints in the stones of time, not by genius, not by skill, but by perseverance.  One element of his guiding philosophy can be seen in one statement he once made – Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.  It’s so easy for intellectuals to give up, we quickly rationalize and agree it doesn’t work. In fact it’s bright people with many options that are most likely to give up, optionless people will keep trying. If you look at the music industry and check out the celebrities and their stories, what you will find is people who kept going and going because they murdered their options. People fail less than 10 times at anything and they give up! No wonder we are surrounded with failures!

3. No Faith in their Dreams!

“Your hands can’t hit what your eyes can’t see” – Mohammed Ali

It’s quite touching and pityful to watch a rat running on one spot on a rotating wheel. It’s like a man running on a threadmill only this time around, there is no end – the wheel keeps moving and the rat keeps running. It’s all on one spot, making lot of action, but no real progress. It’s very sorrowful for the rat, and much more sorrowful for the human being who exists in this frame of reference. We can say the rat has no choice, but for a human being – the person must be daft or like a mentor says – he’s a moron! If your life is largely – Wake up, go to work, come back home, sleep and go to work you are a perfect match!

Why on earth will a human being with a purpose and a dream live like a rat in a revolving wheel? Why will one whole month pass, without a human being paying attention to her dream or the things that really truly matter to him or her? Can you explain that? Everytime I play cashflow 101, I simply watch people and a point always rings home – People who are in the rat race, who are still encumbered with making a salary and trying to be free, never think about their dreams. Dreams are for free people! While you are not yet literally free however, it takes faith in your dreams, a strong belief that you are meant to be relevant, and unwavering conciousness of your responsibility to the world, to break free! Do you have a dream? Do you have Faith? Or are you satisfied with living your life on the threadmill of motion without progress?

What you are about to read is a piece from a new friend and sister of mine. She has been reading from this site for a while, and one day gathered herself and contacted me. Like many of you, she felt that what I was writing was for her, and that rather than let her life pass one second at a time, she needed to get herself involved in the things she truly enjoys.  She lives over 10hours away from where I live, so meeting was difficult, but somehow we met – thanks to Holidays and Cash.

After our brief meeting that had so many other people around, we communicated again on phone once and talked about what she was doing and what she would really love to do.  I encouraged her to start her blog, and to give herself an opportunity to do what she really wants to do. I counselled her to document her progress, take pictures and really take in the feeling evoked from following her passion and heart. She decided to spend her time at an orphanage, and the piece she wrote when she came back blew my mind. Amazing things can happen when people grow in their soil. Have an exciting read.

Written by Sophia Alale (sophiaalale@gmail.com)

What is your story?

It is often said that one thing people have in common, no matter their race, bank account or age, is time. Recently I discovered something else we all have in common; a story. Every experience you face in life, good or bad, is a story worth telling. Yesterday my friends’ and I visited an orphanage in Port Harcourt, and it was a life changing experience for all of us. It wasn’t my first time of visiting an orphanage, but the impact this visit had on me, will remain a story I will tell for a very long time.

It was a home filled with beautiful children of different ages, sex and ancestry who found themselves living together in a place that is now their home, under the watchful eyes of a keeper they all refer to as father and it doesn’t matter where anyone of them was picked from, in their hearts they see each other as brothers and sisters. Every child in that home had an amazing story; some of their stories would make a grown man weep, while some would only show you how wicked and callous a person can be. What struck me particularly was a little girl,  I will love to refer to as Sunshine -that had been blind from birth, she had to be led to the dining room, through the stairs, and even to a person just in case she wanted to say hello. Amazingly however, that child had the happiest smile I have ever seen in my life; everything seemed to excite her; my hair; my wrist watch; and the couch I sat on.

Little Miss Sunshine as I love to call her is trapped in a dark world, a world that cannot recognise colours, and closes its eyes to nature’s beauty. In her world you can’t tell if its day or night, cloudy or sunny, all you see is black, not grey; black. I wonder what thoughts go through her mind; does she imagine what her fingers look like? Does she long to see all the people behind the voices she hears?  She might never be able to tell the difference between blue and pink, she might never see a butterfly or admire the early morning sun; she might never see the full moon in its grandeur or the stars that twinkle in the bright blue sky.

Please don’t feel sorry for miss sunshine because in her darkness she has brought light to many hearts. Her smile opened my eyes to the beauty of life and all that God has so graciously given me.

I’m consistently irritated and angered by how many people are so comfortable with the lukewarm position of being spectators. The myriads of purposeless souls who would rather watch and analyze than engage and participate. I’m puzzled at how people can become professors at subjects their only interface with is theoretical. People earn a reputation for being critical of things they are obviously shallow about, the fear of failure robs people of the will to try, the fear of death numbs people and even though they don’t die, neither do they live.

Hear this and let it ring loud in your heart, “when all you do is watch, you are less than those who lost!” Someone once said, it’s better to change, discover that change was wrong and change back, than not to have changed at all. There is always merit in action, if a process doesn’t leave you with wealth, it’s certain to leave you with a wealth of experience. It’s better to fight and lose, than give in from the beginning, it’s better to try and fail, than to analyze fromt he sidelines. Bad players win commentaries, there is no commentary for spectators. My charge to you today is simple, don’t be a mere observer. Don’t venture only into speculation, venture into engaging and participating. Rather than join the crowd of spectators airing their opininon on plenty of reasons why failure is imminent, why not enter into the arena and win or lose and forever seal your reputation as one who is involved!

If your life was put together into a movie, would you be playing a lead role or are you one of those people that just walk along in the movie – “wakapass”.  Are you engaged in anything close to your dream, are you doing anything that requires faith? Are you taking risks or are you stranded by cautious living? Don’t let the hours of your life roll away from you, take charge of your time and put it to good use. Stop being a commentator, be a performer! Stop watching, start playing.

Don’t overate failure, failure is a necessary junction on the road to success. If you haven’t tried and failed before you haven’t even quite started. Success is the end result of persistent errors and failures.  I’ll rather try and fail than not at all. So over to you, what thing, bigger than you, are you currently engaging? Are you a mere spectator or are you trying to run things? Lights are never meant to be lit and hidden, your functionality is in action, not observation.

These days my heart wells over with joy when I think about some things that happened to me and showed me that really, we must not be spectators.

1. I have been a spectator in the political process since I was 18. Most times I simply watched on TV, and a few times I actually went out to exercise my civic duties and vote. Interestingly however I have come to discover from getting a bit more involved this year, that I was actually outstandingly ignorant of the political process in Nigeria. By becoming more than a spectator, my mind has openned up in new ways, to new realities. I have been able to migrate from unconscious ignorance to at least concious ignorance and awareness.

Participating has shown me, that those who stand by the sidelines or stay far away in the podium are empty! So empty yet so full in their eyes,  it’s even difficult to enlighten them. They say, he that pulls a cat by the tail, learns a lesson he can learn no other way. I say, how true!

2. I was told about an opportunity with Holidays and Cash, a 21st century balanced approach to the concept of network marketing, a completely different enterprise from what I had experience with, a real and sustainable model, I despised it. My cup was full, I thought I knew all there was to know, and I wasn’t happy with the industry and what seemed to be it’s aftertaste.  I succumbed to pressure only to buy the product – Privelege Pack, thinking that losing $250 was no biggie. For 6 months later, I did nothing, and simply watched from a distance. One day however it struck me!

Without my involvement, the company had crossed 1,000 and 2,000 mark. I discovered the model was different and decided to give it a go. Looking back to the award night that had many people screaming at the mention of my name, it dawned on me afresh. Your relevance is in being involved, not in observing! The number of thank you’s, number of God bless you, I love you and you are my mentor that I have heard in the last 7 months make my previous years shrink in comparism. What was the difference, I left the spectator seat! People are not celebrated for their analysis, or rated for their abilities to criticize. There are no trophies for spectators, they are too small to even lose!

3. When I left paid employment over 3 years ago, it was in response to a leading on my inside to go to a land that I will be shown. Prior to that time, I was a student of wisdom. I read books, lots of them, listened to audios and watched inspirational programs on TV. I can remember as far back as 15yrs ago, have specific jotters to document what I was learning. I believed strongly then, that if you wanted to go into the waters of wisdom, going with a ship made a difference from swimming. When you go with a ship, you can store what you catch. I have been a student and still am, but hear this. Once I took the decision to act my own movie and step out of being a mere spectator of the journeys’ of others, I have learnt more, seen more, experienced more and become more than I ever was!

Becoming an actor, sure has it’s challenges, but trust me, it’s so much more fun, so much more learning, so much more experience, so much much more than anything anybody can ever gain from a strictly theoretical standpoint. I’m in the game now, and everyday is exciting, and all the issues real. The actor doesn’t die, but the wakapass can.

Stop living as a spectator, engage in your passion, find something to do. Quit standing in the middle of the road, you may get run over. Take a side, and chose to be active!

The last few weeks have been hectic for me. So hectic, I have not been able to do that which I love – write! In these weeks however I have met with hundreds of people, in an audience and in close range, and the more I engage with people, the more I realize that the world has changed. (I promised a young lady that I’ll mention her… her surname is Bello – remind me pls )Just less than a century ago, the world ran without light bulbs, without TV and without the computer. Imagine a world without these things, yet men and women faired well. Interestingly however a lot of work had gone on in the close of the 19th century that birthed these things in the wake of 20th century. The tools changed and the old way of doing things became obsolete. In the same way, a lot of new things started to pop up in the close of the 20th century, some of these things are already taking roots in the 21st Century and except you and I are well equipped, we are about to become obsolete.

The last few weeks have been hectic for me. So hectic, I have not been able to do that which I love – write! In these weeks however I have met with hundreds of people, in an audience and in close range, and the more I engage with people, the more I realize that the world has changed. (I promised a young lady that I’ll mention her… her surname is Bello – remind me pls )Just less than a century ago, the world ran without light bulbs, without TV and without the computer. Imagine a world without these things, yet men and women faired well. Interestingly however a lot of work had gone on in the close of the 19th century that birthed these things in the wake of 20th century. The tools changed and the old way of doing things became obsolete. In the same way, a lot of new things started to pop up in the close of the 20th century, some of these things are already taking roots in the 21st Century and except you and I are well equipped, we are about to become obsolete.

Different times call for different skills. I won’t mince words with you, if you don’t upgrade, you will gradually degrade. In this new day and age, stagnancy is redundancy, stationary is backward! If you are not moving forward, you are moving backward, the middle ground is losing it’s relevance, you are either action prone or you might not even be worthy of being called a spectator. I hope for your own sake that you do not wait for 10yrs from now to make meaning out of what I’m writing to you. It is crucial that you embrace new skills or you’ll be the gateman or nightwatch man of the next generation. Trust me, it doens’t matter how much money you have in your account today, like Warren Buffet said -”It’s all on paper”.

You want to be relevant and make impact in this generation? The following are assets you must have.

1. Communication Skills

Learn how to talk, how to write and very importantly how to listen! These have always been important skills, but their value in this emerging world economy is going to be unbelievable. It doesn’t matter if it’s to one or to a crowd, your speech must envoke respect, your letters motivate action and your attention captivating! Learn to communicate exceptionally well. Go for courses, study others, read books, develop your ability to say the same thing in the best way, and to hear what others miss. Evaluate yourself as fair, that way you can gun for better and best.

Can you talk to another person? Can you speak to a crowd? Can you sustain your thoughts in front of an audience? Do you fidget or get scattered when talking to others? Do you have a good attention span?

2. A Rich Network

Learn to cultivate and build a network. Today, life is not about what you know, or who you know. It’s about what you know, who you know, who knows you and for what? Who you know is meaningless if you can’t leverage on the relationship. Successful people in this age will be people who have a rich network. Rich is big, rich is great relationships, rich is useful networks. Friends are like clothes, when you are down to nothing they keep you looking great, ane when you are up to something, they give you presence. This is the generation that kills the lone ranger and murders it’s stars. Your relevance is not in how better than everybody else you are, it’s a function of how much you have invested in bringing others up to where you are. It’s easy to break a broom stick but difficult to bend a bunch. Exist in strong clusters, and stay alive and relevant.

Do you belong to any society? Do you have a network of people that are different from you? If you suddenly need a bailout do you have people who can come to your rescue? Do you need loans from friends or strangers?

3. Internet Leverage

The point and click technology was invented in 1993. Prior to this time, only geeks could browse the internet. It was strictly a command prompt concept and you needed to be almost a programmer to access the world wide web. With point and click, the internet was partially democratized. Today, the usage is growing exponentially. If you don’t have a footprint on the internet, you will be irrelevant and forgotten in a few years. I’m not talking about merely having an email address or a facebook account. I’m saying have presence, learn the many tools that afford you the opportunity to leverage on the internet. The age of small kiosk in the middle of nowhere is fast phasing out, get online and get relevant! People that have a few more years to live are leveraging on the internet, I pity young people without a clue.

Do you have a website? How many friends do you have on facebook? When I search your name on google how many results do I get? Is there anything else I can search for to find you? What is your address on earth? What is your address on the internet?

4. Investments in People

When something becomes a mere cliche it robs us of the true value of the meanings. Phrases like “people are our greatest assets” are so often said that people seldom pause to take in the realities, at least for this century. Mark my words, everything people are investing in will crumble and ultimately fall. Real Estate prices will crash, stock prices will further plummet, businesses will run down, and intellectual property will face lawsuits. The only thing that will appreciate is the value of the investments you have made in people! There are strong spiritual undertones running beneath the current of my words, you can go into the scriptures to search them out, but believe it, the only investment that always pays is that made in people. When you give to the poor, you lend to God! When you empower another, your reward is not bound by the earth, it transcends this realm. Are you making investments in people?

Are you anybody’s mentor? Is someone blessing God they met you? Or are you too busy taking care of yourself? Does your plan include anyone else? Is one day in a school in 4 months enough? Are you making anybody? Or are you simply focused on your own career path? Don’t be a rich fool!

5. Influence

I’ve said this before, I’m writing it again, everybody sells something. Either an opinion, themselves, products or services. If you can’t generate leads and convert them, you are going to be at the bottom of the food chain in this century. Develop your ability to sell, to convince or influence another. Influence is a powerful concept, like fire and many powerful things, it can be used morally or ammorally. Influence is a necessary asset for this day and age.

Are you influencial? Does your opinion count to any others? Do you have an opinion? Are you pushing your opinion? Or are you dead silent?

6. Self Development

It has been said that they key to the 21st century would be the ability to learn, unlearn and relearn. You want to succeed in this century, you must develop yourself. The centre for learning and development has moved however, it has moved away from the physical schools as we once knew it. Learning takes place not when the teacher stands, but when the student is ready. The drive of learning in this century is you and I, the students. We must learn by reading, we must learn from wise people, we must learn from the experiences of others, and by all means we must learn by our own experiences. I tell people, when you try, you fail, when you fail, you learn, when you learn, you ultimately succeed! Failure is the grandparent of success, learning it’s mother, and trying the great grand parent. It has been said that readers are leaders, I beg to slightly disagree, readers could be historians, but leaders and definitely readers!

What is your philosophy and what informs it? What is your paradigm on society, or religion, on finance, on politics or have you allowed your schooling to tamper with your education? This is an age where slowness is determined by how long it takes you to understand. Do you analyze and theorize or do you get your hands dirtied and your nose bloodied in the gathering of knowledge and experience. In the partway of knowledge there are no regrets, only lessons, are you learning for real, or are you still holding on to what your teacher told you? When you were 18, you wanted to be a Dr. Now you are are a Doctor and are 30, shoudl you continue to let the 18yr old dictate the life of the 30yr old, or should you look at your life in fresh light?

It’s one of those days when I’m not sure whether to be happy or sad that as a nation, it’s been 49 years since we have been free! Where we are, and where we could have been by now is such a big gully apart that if we really knew any better we would not find so many things so funny.  Imagine for example that we are the darkest nation on earth, and parallel that with the fact that we are one of the wealthiest nations on earth in all the elements that can be used to generate power. We became independent 49yrs ago, but can we truly lay claim to freedom? In 49 years  Nigerians have willfully submitted to the recycled leadership of the same set of people. It would have been exciting if those people were actually our brightest and fairest, but it is appalling to consider that we averagely agree that our leadership is not representative of our intelligence, values and good naturedness. Year in year out however, the strongest arm of government – the people, silently reneges it’s powers to those whose voices ought be be subject to theirs, and for 49yrs we have allowed the tail to wag the dog!

It’s bad, but thank God, this is our year of  Jubilee! Without going into detailed biblical references and deep exhortations on the origin of Jubilee and the concept, let me quickly summarize. God is very structured and very detailed, and uses numbers quite well (I’ve written a number of articles on numbers). On the 7th day of creation, God rested. He then appointed the 7th day for man as a day to be separated from all labours to rest. It is meant to be a day of freedom, a day of liberty, a day when you just stay off all work and rest. For the slaves in captivity in Egypt back then, rest was a luxury indeed. God then established a number of events characterised by this number 7. After 7 sets of 7 days.. meaning 7weeks, there was the celebration of a week of weeks, same for years. The 49th year is the end of the 7 sets of 7years, and marks the beginning of a year of years. The actual Jubilee is on the clock of 50, but the proclamation of it starts from the 49th year. It is a year when two key things are guaranteed –  1. Freedom! 2. A repossession of inheritance! Nigeria, welcome to your year of Jubilee!

An attempt to go into the details of what this 49th year holds would make this post unbearably long, so once again permit me to hint and gloss lightly over the surface of the issues. I’ll expect debate and questions to give us all an opportunity to open all our eyes towards what is coming.

There are a few fundamentals I am assuming here, let me clarify them.

1. I am assuming that you understand in all scriptural referrences to Israel, Israel was classified as God’s first born and hence is a type of the template of what God has in plan and stock for other nations.  That God is the God of all the nations of the earth, and that in every nation, God’s people are those called by his name.

2. I am assuming that you know that every major symbolic event demonstrating freedom took place in the Bible happened during the year of Jubilee. I mean events like – The Birth of Abraham, Exodus, The dedication of Solomon’s temple, The return from Babylon and the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

3. I am assuming that you know that this life is not where it all ends. That all current Jubilees are pointers to a greater Jubilee that is set to happen before the expiration of time. That all that God says are types and shadows of that which leads over the edge of time, into eternity!

Having taken the assumptions out of our way, these are a few things to expect in the next 1yr. By the time we clock 50, we would have entered fully into the operations of Jubilee, but the process and proclamation starts now!

1. Freedom

Nigeria and Nigerians are currently held in bondage. We are independent as a nation but we are not free. This is a year in which the cry and clamour for freedom must take new frequencies. As a nation our people are in chains! Financial Chains, Social Chains, Political Chains, and even Spiritual Chains. The salaries are not enough, and even the courage to engage in means to make ends meet is bankrupt – We are in Financial Chains. The young and upcoming man is interested in a lady he would love to marry, he has love and a litte money, but society is setting him expectations that will make his wedding trendy but his marriage stressful – Society Chains. We keep saying our leaders are corrupt and bad, yet we refuse to exercise our civil right to vote, no volounteer our uncorrupt selves for pubic office – Political Chains.  We are not living right with God, we know, we go to church regularly and the messages rarely make us feel we are different from everyone else, the preacher preaches a userfriendly gospel and does not rock anybody’s boats, we know that things are not right but are caught in the habit of religion – Spiritual Chains.

When you are roaming one spot for 49 years, it’s either you have a chain that ties you to a particular spot, or the chain is anchored deep within your soul far from the reach of any who could help. In this year, chains will be revealed and broken. Freedom is a good thing and a bad thing. The slave goes free, and the master is deprived. In this year, many servants shall lose their masters. Some people’s freedom will be delivered because their captors are no more.  The human entities that constitute our problems as a nation will be no more. I proclaim freedom over your life, you will know no limits, your boundaries will be enlarged. This is our year of Jubilee!

2. Repossession of Inheritance

There are so many things we have as a country, seperately and corporately. In some of these things, our folly in times past has led us to exchange our destiny for a pot of porrige. We, a prosperous oil rich and resource rich country are ranking as darkest nation on earth, featuring as number 9 failed state and winning so many sad appelations. This year however, we are taking it all back! Those houses are not owned by them, they are our inheritance, and at the right opportunity we’ll get what is ours!

We have lost our right to be respected by other nations, but we’ll get it back

We have lost a right to be called the Giants of Africa, but we’ll get it back

By now, we should be ranking as one of the best countries in the world to live, we are really far from it, however we’ll get all back!

Is there anything that has been taken from you that you had before? As individuals and as a nation this is our year of years!

Hello Friends and Compatriots,

A lot has been going on, and I’ve personally been waiting for a time when there can indeed be a call to action to alert and inform you. Please do not doubt for one second that the issue of our nation is a matter of life and death. It is! Do not assume as well, that we can do this halfheartedly, we can’t!

All we can achieve as mere citizens with any form of other power in this country is little, limited and inconsequential compared to what a man in political power can achieve. Our greatest achievement in this nation hence is to seize political power! I’ve got exciting news for you, we can, we must and we will!

I am not being optimistic, I’m as practical as it gets. We have the ability to mobilize a mass movement in this nation that has the capacity to place real leaders in position. We are better than this, and we are jointly responsible for our current state. We are aware that by negligence we have sinned. Our doing less than our capacity has made us guilty of involvement in the death of all those who perish on our roads, die in our hospitals and are sent to early graves by our non functioning systems. We are in a terrible state, and I also share in the fears that if we allow things to go on this way, we will not exist as a nation in any guise in the next 20yrs. However, I have seen the glory of the New Nigeria! I have seen the land bounded by prosperity, inhabited by talent and flourishing with natural endowments. My eyes have seen the future! The future crafted by the hands of the youth that knows the truth! A nation led by leaders whom the great God can guide.

Our eyes can see, and our hands never touch, if we restrain ourselves to empty words that are not backed by due action. we must make movement, we must take action. It is on this premise that we have come to an all important junction in the history of our nation. The day called today, where you and I must mark our names on the indelible stones of time as having taken action. The action is simple, but it forms the trigger of all our future actions. We have gotten to that one part, upon which everything else in history refers – The registration of our political party and platform. The birth of The Party (more details later)!

We have less than 2 weeks to get this party registered. We would ideally need N30million to get this done, but we have gotten a few concessions that makes this possible for N10million. We do not want to burden a few, we want to involve many. As I write this, we are yet to get candidates for many of the offices, but we have found a few credible leaders, that we know we can back! Call it an experiment at least, if you are pessimistic, but mark my words – History will be made!

This is a call to you and a call to your friends. This is an opportunity to back our commitment with action! We need to pull funds together to first get the party registered. We have two weeks, as the last batch of parties will be announced in November.

I have had enough of Empty Oct 1 events. I have spoken on October 1’s for as long as I can remember, if any of you are speaking there, please raise funds for this cause. Let’s pull funds together. All payments can be made into New Naija Club account in GTBank 223865965 110, and a mail sent to party@newnigeriaclub.net to indicate how much you paid and your teller number. We intend to appoint an auditor for this and account for every penny. For all who are around Lagos, we will hold a meeting on Sunday the 4th of October, to do a round table and fund raising session. The venue will be communicated shortly.

Here are the items we need to cover for

1. Workshop to produce Manifesto and constitution – N250,000

2. Printing of Constitution and Manifesto – N100,000

3. Rent of Party HQ in Abuja – N10m (volunteered)

4. Furnishing of Party Secretariat – N5M (partially volunteered)

5. 1 party Vehicle – N3.5M/Lease (Given)

6. Conference for Mobilization of Activists/Leaders – N5m (optional)

7. Official Reg – N100,000

8. PR – N2m

9. Miscellaneous – N1m

We are appointing an auditor to monitor the entire process of collection and execution, we’ll also maintain a public forum where we’ll publish the names and amounts contributed by all who contribute. Volounteers are also welcome.

We can make this happen. All off us! Please let’s hear from you.  We can have 200 people willing to contribute N50,000 each or 2,000 people that can put N5,000 together each we can make a lot happen.  We can then also have a team of people who are willing to commit monthly payments to drive the movement. We do not need to burden anybody with heavy tarrifs.

Let me end with this …

“ the man who really counts in the world is the doer, the man who actually does the work, even if imperfectly, not the man who only talks or writes about how it ought to be done.”

The TIME to ACT is NOW! Be a STAKEHOLDER and not a spectator. We will do this for sure, hopefully with you. Thank you so much.

Kind Regards

Adeolu Akinyemi

On Behalf of The Future Movement and the New Nigeria Club.

Everyday, I get letters from people, recieve calls and generally interact with people accross different class divides and age ranges.  These letters are usually in 2 categories, there are letters that involve a request and letters that are simply saying thank you and showing appreciation. I also get questions, comments, enquiries, e.tc. Yesterday, I got a letter from someone that I have his permission to share and respond for him and all who occupy a similar circumstance to read.

Here is the letter, read carefully and find my response below.

“Chairman,

How you dey? How’s business and family?

Sorry, i’ve been out of touch. Its not just because of time constraints, but as a result of the fact that i didn’t know how to ask the questions i’ve been wanting to ask. Its been an issue of the right questions create the right answers. That kind of thing.

By the way, what we talked about resumed yesterday, thanks for your suggestion. I used what you recommended and it worked. God bless you so much for ur wealth of knowledge and depth of experience. God bless.

In this mail, i’ll be asking the right questions. Kindly take time to answer me- don’t rush. Thanks.

I’m in a fix- financially. Pareto’s principle has caught up with my income and my financial goals for the year have been elusive. I planned to increase my flow of income thru the haulage biz and forex but the loan i wanted to get for the former was not approved and the guy i invested in his forex biz has messed up by not giving me my returns. I invested $2000 in February, to be receiving a repayment of $400/month starting May but the guy trading the biz has been giving me stomach-upsetting excuses.

I know that i desperately need new income streams, moreso that our baby is coming pretty soon. A lot of needs are still outstanding and there seems to be nothing remaining to cater for any other thing. I usually get a loan from my wife before the end of the month. What do u suggest? What do i do to generate money?????????

Second, i know i’ve got stuff- intellectually. My pastor’s current series on Real Money has been thought-provoking. I know i have value but i’m yet to realise how to trade them for money. So how do i convert this to real money and, what do i need to do to keep adding value to myself?

As per working in XXXXXXXXX, i know its time to still stay here and learn. I have my eyes on enterprenurship ultimately but God told me a few months ago that i should still be here for now. But i want to make some passive income by the side cos i cant depend on my earnings here.

Questions, questions, so many questions. I need your counsel, brother.

Warm Regards,

Itfitbeu”

When I read this letter, I was touched for him, but not only him, it’s not my first time listening to these same thoughts, or offering advice on similar issues. I’m going to identify the key issues and give a structured response to what I believe my friend should do. I’m going to also share the basis for my thoughts and why I think this will work.

Key Issues

1. Financial Fix

2. Developing Personal Value and Converting Value to Money

3. Passive Income by the side

My Response,

My Dear Brother,

Thanks for sincerely sharing your heart. My family and business are fine, thanks also for asking.

I quite understand what you are going through, I have had a little experience with those thoughts and realities as well. I quite appreciate your being candid, that’s indeed the first step. Once you are able to come to terms with what exactly the current situation is, and can be frank with yourself, you are well on your way to a lasting solution.

I hope you will be as sincere in taking my counsel as you have been in sharing the problem with me. Many people have problems, but when the solution comes they cower, because they are unwilling to pay the price of success. It makes me ask, “How badly do you want it?” If you don’t really want what you say you want, it will show in your response or the action you chose to take after this. Please find my thoughts below.

1. Don’t rush out of a fix

Life is not mono-seasonal. There will always be summer and winter, there will always be a time when the seasons will be in your favour and times when it will not be in your favour.  We cannot alter the seasons, but we can plan with them. Wisdom is the management of seasons, not the anhilation of them. The biggest mistake we make when in a financial fix, is to want to get out of it in too much of a hurry. This is a sure reciepy for making bigger mistakes and running into bigger troubles. Are you in debt, give yourself a 1-2yrs exit plan. Anything that gives you an idea that will clear it in 3 months will put you into bigger trouble. The richest man in the world has debts, the richest man in Nigeria has debts, it’s not the absence of debt that makes a man rich, it’s the management of debt. Get out of the fix slowly, no shortcuts.

2. Learn from your mistakes

I have lost tens of millions in various kinds of investments. I know the feeling of loss as well as the joy of gains. I know what if feels like when a debtor stops picking your phonecalls, or when your investment specialist begins to sound incoherent. I’ve been there, done that, bought the T-shirt, but I learnt my lessons. Some of those lessons cannot be shared for free (you must bring thousands of dollars and venison to the feet of the masters, and then their mouths will open ) More seriously though – if I shared the lessons here, you would undervalue them, the words will read like English but you will not understand them. Let me give you a few just to drive home my point. “The person is more important than the idea”, “When you give your money to another on whatever terms, record it as a loss”, “The best investment you’ll ever make is in others, nothing else compares”. Now each of these quotes deserve their own books, when we see we can talk elaborately.

3. Get involved with Network Marketing

Let me sound it clearly here, that you do not even need to join one that I am involved with. Join anyone that is legitimate, and gives you an opportunity to earn passive income for life without a limit to over how much depth you can earn. Legitimacy is a function of functional product and credible people – a network must create a network of the kind of people that appeal to you. It is a known fact world over, that out of the 5 known ways to create passive income, this is the only one that is available to people who are not millionaires in dollars. It’s not clear to many yet, our colonial masters would have us forever slaves, and taught us that progress was employment. It’s not, progress is freedom – ask the tailors or hairdressers. Network Marketing is a vehicle that drives to financial freedom, you might now want to check out the brand that you should drive. It may take time for the world to realize it, but it’s as simple a decision as openning a bank account. It’s not wether you will not open, it’s which bank do you want an account with. I’m involved with a few, but I’m actively driving Holidays and Cash.  In these not so good days, I’m already closing in on almost a million weekly.  I can promise you that, that will not happen for you suddenly. If you are willing to commit 1/8 of what you put into your work, you can be earning over $1000 extra in 6 -12 months. Remember, no rush! Again you don’t have to join through me, join through someone who will have time for you. You can involve me in discussing with the person.

4. Gaining Value Personally and Converting it.

There are two great channels to personal development.  One is relationships and the other is reading. Whatever you do that makes you meet other people or mandates you to read is vital for your development.  The process of value conversion requires exchange. You bring what you have to the market and it’s bargained for. Crucial to any of such processes is an understanding of the sales process. When you break it all down to the basics, it’s a question of what do you have to sell – your skills, your looks, your education e.t.c. Don’t follow the crowd to speak evil of selling, realize that everybody needs it and embrace it. Your sales ability can determine the difference between poverty and wealth. Gain value and learn how to market it.

My brother, I obviously have not rushed it, as my mail is getting too long already. These are my urgent recommendations. I would also suggest you can collaborate with a few other people to still get involved in the haulage business. Know surely however that there is no business in the conventional model of business that doesn’t have it’s bad days. Whatever you are not willing to lose should not be staked, but nothing risked nothing gained.

I hope your questions are answered satisfactorily, if they are not, please feel free to ask for more clarification and I will be delighted to help in any way I can. Please give my regards to your wife as well.

Kind Regards

Adeolu Akinyemi

We are where we are today, because of decisions that we made. Life is a journey, it’s a long road with many junctions, it’s a giant maze. The junction you and I chose to follow determine our destination, and determine our experience. Take it from me, decision making the most important activity we’ll ever engage in. Everything else stems from our decisions. He who leads, excels or succeeds does so based on decisions. The only measurable output of your thinking is your decision. Once again  however, our curriculum does not arm us at any level with how to make decisions.

“Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision.” – Peter Drucker (Management Guru)

This reminds me of the story of an economic adviser to a great king. This king always relied on his adviser to help him with his economically oriented decisions, but typical of all economists, the adviser will offer him a detailed analysis of why to do things in a certain way on one hand, and reasons why he can do it the other way on the other hand. The king would need to make a decision, and at the end of the day will hear two possibilities, one version on one hand, and the other on the other hand. This got the king really frustrated, and anxious to end his persistent confusion. The king thought long and hard, and finally came up with a decision that is indeed the mother of all decisions. The decision that will help him simplify his decision making process. After he did that, his life became simple, and he became successful.

What did he do? Simple, he asked that the economists left hand be amputated! That way, the economist only presents one hand, and there is no other hand.

We need to employ a system that helps us make great decisions. Our decision making paradigm has the greatest impact on our lives. The first thing you need to do, is amputate one of your hands… figuratively that is.

1. Decide now for all the decisions you need to make.

It actually sounds funny, but if you wait till the pressure of the moment to decide what your stand will be, you will go in the direction of the lowest denominator. You will always go for what is easier, and more short term. Have a long term approach to decisions. When you decide your values, you limit your options and technically amputate some possibilities. Don’t wait till the exam day to decide if you’ll cheat or not, don’t wait till the opportunity to lie comes before you decide. Decide long before you decide. The further your decision is from the event, the stronger your resolve. If you need to pause to think about anything, if you need to pray before you know what your decision is, then pause thoroughly and rather form convictions rather than take impulsive decisions.

“Chance favors the prepared mind” – Louis Pasteur

2. Maintain a Clear Midterm to Longterm Vision.

When a man sets out of his house, the bus he boards, the direction he faces and the side of the road he stays is not decided on his whims, it’s decided because he first purposed a destination in his heart. Our immediates are ruled and governed by our ultimates. When you have a clear destination in mind, you can take your decisions by simply consulting your destination. Will what I am doing now help me achieve my objective? Decision making becomes easy when you have a clear picture of where you are going. Small wonder visionless, and purposeless people vacillate between making up their minds. Grab a journal and document your vision, get a glimpse of 20yrs from now, and form a 1-2yr plan. When you head out with your car at night, the light doesn’t see as far as the end of the road, but it sees far enough to get you to the next level that helps you see further. You are in trouble without a vision. Form one!

“Give to us clear vision that we may know where to stand and what to stand for – because unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything” -Peter Marshall

3. Get Guidance

The greatest guide available to man, is God! We are limited by time, God is not! We do not know the future, he does. There is no greater or better guidance than for a man to submit himself to the word of God and to the Holy Spirit. When you have God guiding you, all you need to do is be in communion, move and he’ll guide. You also need to get guidance from people who have had experience before you. In the multitude of counselors there is safety. If you get to that unforseen crossroad in life where it’s difficult to consult your convictions or your vision, ask. Don’t rely strictly on your knowledge and efforts. It’s not weakness to ask, it’s wisdom!

“The secret of success is to ask” – Unknown

Wheeeh, wheeeh…. weeeeh. These were probably the first words your lips ever uttered. It’s incomprehensible in most languages, it’s the first communication that typically leaves the lips of a baby. We were not born with the skill of any language, we learnt to talk! Where you and I are today in our use of language, is a function of what we have learnt, or allowed ourselves to learn. Like with most things however, less than 20% of humanity occupy a proficiency level higher than 80%. For most of us, the powerful tool of words is grossly underutilized. My objective in this peice is to arm you with a comprehensive talkkit to enable you achieve more with your mouth.

Before you delve into this specially prepared delicacy, let me further whet your appetite. If you get things right with your words, it can literally help to turn your life around. You can experience more joy, more wealth, greater relationships, better self awareness and esteem, you’ll ooze  more confidence,  be more charming, achieve more and your game will clearly step up. If you make use of what you are about to read, and form habits out of some of these instructions, you will become successful, you will radically improve and your progress and the comments it will elicit from your friends and family will be UNBELIEVABLE!

Let’s get one thing perfectly right. That red piece of velvet between the white ridges of ivory called your teeth has within it the powers of life and death. Like a little rudder directs the giant ships and the little keys open great doors, that tongue of yours holds in it the key to your successful future. Your life is literally under the control of your tongue. If your life becomes triumphant and your battles won, or you remain less than average and comfortable with the status quo, it is because of your use or lack of use of your tongue. Take my words for it, you are a product of the words you allowed to germinate in your heart, and your future is taking it’s instructions from what escapes those white ridges today.

There are 5 key directions in which we talk, and there is a way to do it well, and transform our lives by the way we talk. These ways for the sake of this presentation are: Selftalk, Uptalk, Downtalk, Sidetalk/Around talk and Backtalk.

1. Selftalk: Words are a development level ahead of thoughts. When you heart is full of a thought, the mouth speaks. Conventionally, thoughts produce words. Because words are superior to thoughts however, it is possible to use the flow of words to align your thoughts and build momentum. The cyclical progression is thoughts to words to actions to thoughts. You need to learn to say positive things to yourself. Your tongue is like a pen making inscriptions on the tablet of your heart. Words are the language that our hearts are programmed with. You can be hated or loved, as a result of words. Autosuggestion is a tool for converting wandering thoughts into motivating obsessions. Gather great words, and say them to yourself about yourself until you are in reality what you declare to be. In the book of wisdom, a notable verse challenges all who would be successful to only one vital activity – “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it, so shall you make your way prosperous, and so shall you have good success”.

Friends, what you say, is what you’ll get. Words are the substance out of which our worlds were made. “I am more than a conqueror, I am a winner, I am blessed and highly favoured, I am rich, I am in right standing with God, I am a role model…Keep saying it, don’t stop!

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.

Watch your words, for they become actions.

Watch your actions, for they become habits.

Watch your habits, for they become character.

Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

2. Uptalk: No matter how self sufficient you are, we always have those times, for some of us, regularly, when we have to turn to our creator and maker. Uptalk is your conversation with God! There is how to talk to God as well, God is our creator, He was before we are. So we talk to him with reverence and on his terms. We ask him for things we know are in his will, he wants the best and cares for us, our language to him and to others should reflect that. Don’t be hasty in God’s presence, don’t make the offering of fools… impulsive vows and promises. He’s your father, and he lovingly cares. Uptalk is called prayer, it’s a channel that must be openned 24/7. It’s the talk that fosters confidence and brings peace and calmness.

3. Downtalk: This is how you talk to somoene who occupies a social position perceived to be lower than yours. Whatever word you say to anyone who looks up to you or are percieved higher then, should be words that lift up. Words that encourage, words that edify. Words that leave the person better, that makes the person stronger. Not words that pull down. Let another soul benefit from the strenght of your words, not suffer from it’s blows. Don’t talk down to people, talk people up.

If you call your children all sorts of names, and rain abuses on the heads of those who serve you. In a matter of time, the words will reap their harvest, and whereas the whole world sees good, you’ll experience the harvest of your words. Rather, let your words minister grace to the hearers. Let another comment that listening to you made a difference in their lives.

4. Side/Around Talk: These are the exchange of words between us and people around us, they are words in response to building emotions, words in conversation. Soft words turn away wrath. Peaceable words come with calm. Words energize others, influence people create peace or at times birth wars. We need to live peaceably with all men, and utter words that encourage, that edify, that end quarrels and most importantly words that are aligned with the Gold rule. We should only speak to others, that which if spoken to us would be appreciated.

Also speak to your situations and circumstances. Speak to your environment. All that was made was made with words, everything in creation obeys words. Even the angels who excel in strenght harken to the spoken word of God. Speak to the wind, to the fig tree, to the sun, to the earth, to your business, to your circumstance, speak! The events and circumstances around our lives obey.

5. Backtalk: This is what you say when another is not around. This is what you say of people behind their backs. Only say in the secret, that which you are comfortable of getting to the open. There is nothing hidden under the sun, everything declared in the secrecy of the bedroom, will one day be announced at the rooftop. Don’t backbite, don’t slander, speak the truth in love. Rebuke openly if you must, it’s better than loving in secret. Be straightforward, be candid, be considerate. Be concious that what you do to others, will be done to you as well. When you talk behind other people’s backs, watch yours.

We all learnt to talk, but there is yet more to learn. That little member called your tongue holds to key to your destiny. Master it, and you can create a brand new world for yourself, no matter how chaotic things are at the moment.

If you can stay constant to positive word habits for the next 100 days you would have advanced to unbelievable heights and it will be clear that your life is sparkling. I dare you to prove this principle wrong!