April 25, 2010

The Law of Diminishing Intent


I’ve been working on this article for about 5 days now, I’m just coming back from a 4 days exciting adventure in Ilorin, where I saw the future of business in Nigeria. I saw young guys and lady’s making great things happen, utilizing their time well and getting themselves positioned for the future. The more I speak with them, the more these thoughts burn in my mind. It’s the law of Diminishing Intent, not my original idea, but it’s motivating to me, so I have decided to put my thoughts on it down for you, and for the future.
“The Longer you wait to do something you know you should do now, the greater the chances you will never actually do it!” – Culled from The Success Formula by Bob Burg.
Patience is a virtue, it in fact is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Patience however does not mean slackness. Patience is rather a manifestation of faith that allows you to maintain decorum as you position for the things that are yours while they do not appear to be so. I’m stating this clearly ahead so that you don’t confuse what I’m writing about today with a motivation to be impatient, you need to have the right context about patience. What you have when you wait without instruction or without faith in a possibility is not patience it’s slackness! Continue reading

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November 2, 2009

Spectators are less than losers


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! Continue reading

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September 2, 2009

Change your LIFE


Very early this morning I woke up with a startle. There seemed to be a strong message on my heart, for me, and for all that care to listen. I had known for a long time that the determining factor of anyones success or failure is his/her thoughts, but very early this morning it got reinforced. Our minds are the battle grounds in which our battles are won or lost, it is the last frontier before our victories. You and I can get to anywhere from where we are, we can become anything we dream or chose to become. It’s totally up to us, we’ve been given the power. Great things however do not happen to us by coincidence, to become and arrive at the right destination, we must become the right people.
If you desire the financial prosperity of Bill Gates, what you need is not his company or a financial leverage. What you need is to think the thoughts of Bill Gates. If you want to play golf like Tiger Woods, then you need to think like Tiger woods. Change your thoughts and your life will change. Think poverty and you will become poor, think wealth and it will be. As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. Your life will move in the direction of your most predominant thought. I hold firmly the opinion that you can change your life. That you and I have a choice in the way our tomorrow will be. I believe that inside everyman and woman, lies the keys to a better life, that no matter how bad, we can change, not matter how low, we can still rise. Do you feel the need for more, for better, for greater, for more impact? Then this is your time, and this post was written to guide you.
Right there from where you are, you can begin to live a brand new changed life, from right now. The greatest change that can happen to any human is a change of paradigm. A foundational change in philosophy or perspective. We are who we are, until we challenge who we are, empty our cups and open up ourselves for greater possibilities. Let me be frank with you, the reason you are where you are currently is because that’s how far the way you think can take you. If you are broke, angry, frustrated or unhappy, you were led there by your thoughts. If you want more, better, or greater, then you need to think differently. Einstein said it correctly, when he said that the level of thinking that solves a problem must be different from the level of thinking that created it. Here are a few things you can do
1. Challenge your current paradigm. One of the greatest limitations that man faces, is that we get used to what we have always done. We get so used to this that we get stuck into a philosophy of way of thinking we neither questioned nor challenged. We live our lives with stereotypes, more often than not, we stick with our vocations at the age of 40, because 22yrs ago, and 18yr old boy made the mistake of studying that course. Ask yourself, must I continue like this?
One of the greatest ways to challenge your paradigm is to switch on your imagination, to allow yourself to dream big. Many of us grow up get jobs, struggle with our work, cower to our bosses and bury our dreams. Challenge your status quo. Imagine yourself as the president of a global organization, imagine yourself owning a big business, heading a franchise, being a blessing, influencing millions of people. Imagine yourself going on vacation when you want, driving the type of car you like, living in the side of town that suites and satisfies you. Imagine yourself investing time in your childrens development, attending their competitions and special sport outings rather than sending a coach. Does your current life contain your big dream or are you clearly in the wrong box? Challenge your choices, challenge your options, ask how human beings have achieved greatness, ask why not you?
2. Think Positive thoughts with positive emotions. The average person is so negative, perhaps that’s why he is average, or is it merely average to think negative? You can make wonders happen for your life, by deliberately thinking positive thoughts and having positive emotions. Take a loan from your future, place and advance request on your goals. Don’t wait for perfect things to begin to happen to you before you exhibit perfect behaviour. Tell yourself where do I want to get to, and begin to exhibit the traits for that place, NOW! Start living your dream now, don’t think successful, feel successful. Don’t think royalty, feel royalty. Let your bounce, your carriage and posture align with your aspirations.
Expect the best, be positively paranoid – expect that all things, good and bad are working together with the entire universe to make something good happen for you. See the cup as half full, see the future as bright. This possibilities, enjoy the best of today. Don’t prospone your life, have no regrets. Think I an become, think, I will become!
3. Engage in Positive-Self Talk. Words are spiritual, they have the capacity to create, or to destroy. Words are the programing language of our mind, with our words we can influence our minds, we can scribble on our minds and stirr ourselves into action.
We all engage in negative self talk unconciously. It’s the reason we think we are shy, the reason we hide, the reason we stay within our comfort zone. Our propensity to want to impress others, to do everything for the sake of who sees, and who gets to hear, puts pressure on us, and we put ourselves down. Tell yourself, you can! If it is to be, it is up to me! Tell yourself, I will be great! I can’t be small! I will be big – (As in, I must be Bigs, as in, you know, ouush). I am beautifully and wonderfully made, gentiles come to my light and kings to the brightness of my rising. I am exceptional! I am a king! e.t.c.
4. Just do it! Rather than regularly analyze it, frequently condemn it, or often give excuses. Just do it! Move into the action lane and face your fears. Do the things you know have the capacity to change your life. Like start your day well – pray and confess the right things, form the right habits, exercise, prioritize, practice deliberate kindness.
Don’t go slowly through life wondering what could have been, make things happen. Leave the spectators, join the actors. Embrace change. Make mistakes, unmake them, learn, improve, grow. Dare big things, have a life of adventure, live the good life, be happy, help someone else, live life, don’t watch it. Own your life!

Very early this morning I woke up with a startle. There seemed to be a strong message on my heart, for me, and for all that care to listen. I had known for a long time that the determining factor of anyones success or failure is his/her thoughts, but very early this morning it got reinforced. Our minds are the battle grounds in which our battles are won or lost, it is the last frontier before our victories. You and I can get to anywhere from where we are, we can become anything we dream or chose to become. It’s totally up to us, we’ve been given the power. Great things however do not happen to us by coincidence, to become and arrive at the right destination, we must become the right people.

If you desire the financial prosperity of Bill Gates, what you need is not his company or a financial leverage. What you need is to think the thoughts of Bill Gates. If you want to play golf like Tiger Woods, then you need to think like Tiger woods. Change your thoughts and your life will change. Think poverty and you will become poor, think wealth and it will be. As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. Your life will move in the direction of your most predominant thought. I hold firmly the opinion that you can change your life. That you and I have a choice in the way our tomorrow will be. I believe that inside everyman and woman, lies the keys to a better life, that no matter how bad, we can change, not matter how low, we can still rise. Do you feel the need for more, for better, for greater, for more impact? Then this is your time, and this post was written to guide you. Continue reading

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March 21, 2009

Helpful Tips – Egypt Recap


I came back into Nigeria yesterday, and I have been tongue and finger tied. When you learn too much in one doze, it can lead to intellectual constipation. In these kind of times, it pays to sit still for a while and let it all sink in. Afterall, it’s not what we learn that matters, it’s what we do with what we learn. 

It’s been 9 days of interacting with nature and history! I’ve been around a few countries prior to now, my first visit to Dubai made me feel that Dubai was the ultimate tourist attraction from Africa to Asia, but the number of tourists I came into contact with in Egypt, is a record I’m not sure will be beaten in a long time! Whereas in Dubai the crowd clusters were in shopping malls, in Egypt people queued in front of Tombs, in front of Temples, Mosques, Churches and Museums. People paid, yesterday night I counted my own tickets, to learn about the past. American’s, Europeans, Asians, Africans, Australians, all the continents were there, everybody taking out time to be on vacation, looking for something, asking questions, and where they were allowed, taking pictures. Continue reading

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March 5, 2009

What the World Owes You


 

Announcement: There will be a Business Opportunity Meeting on Saturday 1pm, 3rd Floor, 71 Allen Avenue, Ikeja Lagos. If you are interested or you want to book a sit for your friends. Send a text to 08034772724. Send the names, and phone numbers. It’s Free this Weekend.

theworld

“Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more” – Anthony Robbins.

I have been extremely busy in the last few days, travel, meeting, e.t.c. I’ve been unable to sit down and craft out the thoughts of my heart. I have many pending things to say, and as I write this morning, my heart is being tugged into many directions. I hope I’m able to withstand the temptation of writing 3 articles within the next 2 days J. 

I read a story sometime ago, about a young lad who was caught by the police for snatching a wallet with less than $10. He was caught, kept in custody for a while and  later arraigned before a juvenile court. When the judge asked him weeks later, why he had stolen the wallet, the young lad replied, “because the world owes me a living”. Apparently he had grown to buy the philosophy freely expressed in his environment. That we did not ask to be in this world, and hence the world owes us a living. Of course if you live in the west, it probably is easier to develop this mind frame, even the way the governments operate, it’s easy for the people to feel they are entitled to somethings. Interestingly however, we who live in the side of the world where our government makes it clear that we are not entitled to anything, still live like we are. We waste our time and energies demanding and hoping for entitlements! Continue reading

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January 20, 2009

Do More


I was reading a story some days ago that I had read before, but it struck me in a new way! It is a proverb, that when the student is ready, the teacher will appear. I have noticed this a lot in my life. That what I have seen before takes on new meaning because of the experiences that I am having. I know for how long I drove in the car with my dad for example, without paying attention to how the car was driven. It came to a time however, that the student in me was so ready, that everything that was done became a lesson for me. We are at various points in our journey, and the stories told today may not be relevant to you today, but keep them close to your heart, for as soon as the student in you is ready, the teacher will appear!

In this story, a prophet was about to die, this prophet was not a fake prophet, he was a real prophet. He was real in that he had said different things and they had come to pass, he had also done many great works, and miracles and signs. He was a respected and highly revered prophet in the land, and even the king was installed by him. On his death bed, the king came to him, and sought for him to bless him this last time. To appeal to his emotions, the king said the same words that the prophet uttered when his own mentor was departing. The prophet was touched, he decided to bless the king, but not in the conventional way of blessing, he requested that the king perform some acts of symbolism as a channel for his blessings. What you are about to read, is the strategy for ensuring that that which is yours in potential, reaches you in reality. Enjoy Continue reading

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November 8, 2008

We can make a difference!


I’m sure by now it’s no longer news, that a convoy of armed Navy men, maltreated a young lady by the name of Uzoma Okere. They beat her up and stripped her of her blouse, leaving her bra exposed on the streets in broad day light. This constitutes a breach of fundamental human rights, a lack of respect for human beings, and a national shame at the time when the world celebrates democracy.

There are some things within the events that have unveiled that I actually am happy with, and I want to take it up as a conscious effort we can make. Within 3 days, the media had responded, the matter had reached the senate, the Governor of Lagos had called her up and a lot seemed to be happening. It seems like it deserved to happen like that, but that’s not the Nigeria I knew some years ago. The speed of circulation of information about this matter could not have happened 8yrs ago! As a nation, we are changing, to get better, we must take responsibility, and yes we can!

Here are a few key highlights of what happened that was good, and how we can all help to replicate it. Continue reading

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