Expand your Horizon, the Toyin Salahdeen Lesson!

Toyin Salahdeen is a big brother I share ideas and thoughts with.

 There was this day we were discussing, I can't remember what exactly, but what I will never forget was him telling me not to limit myself by not spending what I have. He told me to always think of how to make more to accomodate the need I have.

For instance, if I need to buy a car, I should not just restrict myself to buying the tokunbo or second hand, I should also think about what to do to raise money for a brand new one. Such mentality has really helped me. It reeks of motivation, it screams dream bigger. It makes you think deeper and is always an eye opener.

You can also tap into it, always dream big, reach for greater heights and expand your horizon. Dare to leave your comfort zone.

 

The Rule to taking advice: Code Eye Operation

Advice most times come without even being solicited. Everyone has something to tell you, they have a bettter way of doing the things you do and they are apt to share it with you.

There is nothing wrong in taking advice but always follow this rule, take advice from those who walk the walk not those who talk the talk. Take advice from an expert on the subject and who is also successful at that thing you want to do. Avoid the "tried it and failed" group.
Anyone successful would have failed at several attempts before eventually suceeding, so they know when to encourage you not to quit, they can feel what you are feeling and they understand what you are going through. Let their hindsight become your foresight.

Let me leave you with this thought, would you go for an eye operation performed by a foot surgeon? Would you go for an eye operation performed by an eye surgeon that has never recorded success in all of his operations?

Think about it.

Who is your Role Model?

Reading Robert Shemin's Book titled "How come that idiot's rich and I'm not?", I quote from page 82:

"If you would like to achieve success really quickly - in any field of endeavor- you might consider taking a little short-cut which is known as NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) "modelling". To make use of this technique, what you need to do is to first think of someone you know who is already achieving the success you're after. Just try to do that now... see if you can think of someone who fits the bill; someone who is already successful doing the very activity you need to improve. Once you have identified your "model" you need to analyse exactly what it is that person is actually doing to produce the results. Once you know what your model is actually doing, you can work on doing the same things and, by the law of cause and effect, you can also produce the same results. The modelling approach is sometimes referred to as "fake it till you make it" but there is nothing fake about it. You are simply using a scientific approach to the analysis of methods.... Eventually, those new behaviours - the ones that are producing the results - will sink deep into your own personality and you'll change for the better. So ultimately, you'll not need to "fake it" because you'll become the genuine article."

It is not a new thing, you have been asked several times to identify your role model. I want to ask you to only go a step further, critically study your role model and copy what he or she does for a while. I guess the results you see from your efforts will determine if you should continue or not.

All I am asking you to do is to act as if you have made it in that field you wish to play, see yourself doing all the things you admire in your rolemodel/mentor till you eventually get there.

Afterall, if they have become successful, so can you!

Strength in your Weakness

I read the story below somewhere and I have decided to share it with you. Even in our weaknesses, strength lie therein. You never can tell how useful that weakness you feel so bad about can become. Infact it could be your motivation for success.

Don't let me sermonize keep you from reading the story.

A 10-year-old boy decided to study judo despite the fact that he had lost his left arm in a devastating car accident. The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master. The boy was doing well, so he couldn't understand why, after three months of training the master had taught him only one move. "Sensei," the boy finally said, "Shouldn't I be learning more moves?" "This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you'll ever need to know," the sensei replied. Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training. Several months later, the sensei took the boy to his first tournament. Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent became impatient and charged; the boy deftly used his one move to win the match. Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the finals. This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Concerned that the boy might get hurt, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop the match when the sensei intervened. "No," the sensei insisted, "Let him continue." Soon after the match resumed, his opponent made a critical mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy had won the match and the tournament. He was the champion. On the way home, the boy and sensei reviewed every move in each and every match. Then the boy summoned the courage to ask what was really on his mind. "Sensei, how did I win the tournament with only one move?" "You won for two reasons," the sensei answered. "First, you've almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all of judo. And second, the only known defence for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm." The boy's biggest weakness had become his biggest strength. "Sometimes we feel that we have certain weaknesses and we blame god, the circumstances and our self for it but we never know that our weakness can become our strength one day. Each of us is special and important, so never think you have any weakness, never think of pride or pain, just live your life to its fullest and extract the best out of it!" - Courtesy: Vicky Nandavar

Fables and Stories Series: 2. The Fish Baking Story

A little girl was watching her mother prepare a fish for dinner. Her mother cut the head and tail off the fish and then placed it into a baking pan. The little girl asked her mother why she cut the head and tail off the fish. Her mother thought for a while and then said, "I've always done it that way - that's how grandma did it."

Not satisfied with the answer, the little girl went to visit her grandma to find out why she cut the head and tail off the fish before baking it.

Grandma thought for a while and replied, "I don't know. My mother always did it that way."

So the little girl and the grandma went to visit great grandma to find ask if she knew the answer.

Great grandma thought for a while and said, “Because my baking pan was too small to fit in the whole fish”.

(Ack M Hamanova)


Moral:

It is good to challenge some belief systems and assumptions.

It is good to question some activities that have become routine. Even in business and everyday living, why do you always fill that form? Why do you have to do that first? What is the reason behind that taboo?

When you understand the reason and logic behind an activity you can then improve on ways of tackling such.

The BRT Experience

IOn week days' mornings I normally go to work in Lagos BRTs. If you live on the mainland and work on the island and you don't drive your car to the office you will understand the ease of going in the BRT.

I have had so many experiences riding in the BRT and I will be sharing one of the experiences.

On a particular morning so as to avoid getting late to work, I took "standing" stood as I did not get a seat. I was hoping to get a seat later if some of the passengers seating down alighted at their bus stops.

To be truthful, my expectation was so low as I have not been "lucky" getting seat if I initially stood instead of seating. There was always one passenger beating me to the available seat.

On that fateful day, as the bus approached Stadium bus stop, I noticed a passenger three seats from me pressed the bell to alight. I was initially happy but the happiness did not last as there were four or five people in front of me that had more chance of getting the seat, yet I hoped.

I moved forward like I was about to alight too using the entrance door and so the people in front of me made way for me to pass. Not taking away my eyes off the about-to-be-vacant seat, I purposefully moved forward till I got to the seat. The bus arrived at the bus stop immediately I got to the seat and the passenger that pressed the bell to alight stood up to get down and I had the chance to sit down beating the people with the better chances to the seat.

It looke dso simple. Like the passenger that wanted to alight was waiting for me to get to the seat before standing up from it but I can tell you it was more than luck. It was planning, ability to see ahead, it was strategic positioning for oppurtunity.

Life is not going to wait for you. you have to make yourself available to grab any oppurtunity it's gonna throw your way.

Plan ahead, always think three to five years ahead. Don't be too focused on "now". Look beyond your immediate surrounding, dress beyond your present circumstance. Overall, always prepare to grab the next available seat oppurtunity.

 

Fables and Stories Series 1: The N1000 Note

It's the month of September and I am excited, it's the last quarter of the year and there is still time to take stock of the 8 months that have passed and still accomplish more feats.

I will be doing a series on fables and stories for this month so sit back and enjoy.

I read the story below on several sites and I have slightly modified the story to fit what is obtainable in Nigeria.

 

The Story:

"A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up N1000 note.

In the room of 200, he asked, “Who would like this N1000 note?”
Hands started going up.
He said, “I am going to give this N1000 to one of you but first, let me do this.” He proceeded to crumple the naira note up.
He then asked, “Who still wants it?”
Still the hands were up in the air.

“Well,” he replied, “What if I do this?” And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe.

He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty. “Now who still wants it?”

Still the hands went into the air.

“My friends, no matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth N1000.

Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way.

We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. You are special – Don’t ever forget it!” Author Unknown


Whatever the situation you are passing through is, whatever is it you have gone through, you are still YOU! You can only feel inferior if you permit it. Even if you have fallen, you can still rise up again if you desire to.

Action!

 Lookin at a friend's DP, I saw a status message which read thus "Yesterday you said you will do it tomorrow. Today, you have not done it, you are saying tomorrow again!"

I really pondered on the words above, relating them to my life.

Trully, I have been carrying over some activities that will really benefit me, delaying doing them because they would take my time. Pure procrastination.

What are you carrying over too? You have been saying you will do it tomorrow and tomorrow just keeps going. List them and do the most unpleasant one first, get it done with and move on to the next item on your list.

I am sure that's the way great achievers carry on. No wonder the greatest individuals are not the most brilliant fellows but people with abilities to follow through their projects without giving in to momentary pleasures.

It's your choice really, you decide if you actually want to follow through those lofty ideas and derive satisfaction from putting them to life and shaping the ideas till they have identity or you just keep delaying, moving them over each day to the next day and suddenly find out you are 70 and time has really gone by.

Let the world celebrate you too, give your self a chance, you really deserve that break so why are you holding yourself back?

Think on this, ponder dwell but take action. Just do it!

Take that step, JUST DO IT!

I have always longed to be a writer, a speaker and an author. It is a passion that has been with me for a long time. I dream it, I see it, I live it everyday. I have resigned at two jobs just to follow my heart. Presently I am on a job though.

It has not been an easy task . Guess what? I got discouraged after several failures and attempts but each time I had little success, I have been encouraged to forge ahead.
I have landed on my back several times but still have the courage to rise again.

I still remember my first attempt at public speaking, it was in NYSC camp in Lagos. I was in camp with other corpers, it was a talent show night. I thought I couldn’t sing, couldn’t dance, was not involved in acting. I could as well talk! I felt in me I have been born to talk. I summoned the courage to register my name too that night.
When it was my turn and I was called to come up, I felt jittery wishing the ground to swallow me up. Suddenly all the courage disappeared, I walked unsure of myself to the podium. All eyes were on me, I am sure they were all wondering what I had up my sleeves, a one-man act.

I did what I wanted to do, TALK. I encouraged them to believe in themselves and follow their heart. I did not capture everybody’s attention, some even booed but was so glad I was able to do what I wanted to do. The camp commandant was present and gave a talk after my own “presentation” saying it was great for me to come out and sort of encouraged me and others to do what was in our hearts.

That did it for me. I have spoken in my church several times before the NYSC camp but it had been to a crowd I was familiar with. I have been involved in programmes and conventions but none that was in an unfamiliar territory. That night had been a starting point in my life.

Presently I have not reached the top but I have been paid several times now to talk and facilitate. There was one that I trained senior NYSC officers just 2 years after service!
I still know I am not there yet but I am taking it step by step, living day by day encouraging myself and constantly seeing the BIG PICTURE.

The important thing is the fact that I have started, I have dared to take that first step. I am no longer afraid to go out and talk.

What is that thing you long to do? Start a business? Learn to drive? Get that second degree? Learn a trade? Write that book?

Take a pen and a sheet, write it down and run with it. This is the time to use your heart and not your head. Don’t take the time to think, you have always done that. You have been telling yourself for a long time you can’t do it. I am telling you YOU CAN. Do it and learn from your mistakes. At least you would have learnt what not to do the next time you embark on that project. The irony is that you won’t necessarily fail.

Surround yourself with people that encourage you, that believe you can do it. Read books or listen to tapes. Visit BELLANAIJA.COM and read the “inspired” and “career” sections. Read stories but ensure you motivate yourself anyway you can. Do it not because you want to impress but because you have always wanted to do it.

In all you do, ensure you take that step. JUST DO IT!

Starting all over again

It happened to me now. I woke up this morning to write a new post. I had written a long article and I really “felt” it. It was titled “Feeling Left Behind”. I spent more than an hour writing and the unexpected happened, an errror occured and my write up got wiped off! Just like that.

I did not know if to cry, scream or smash something. ”Wasted time,wasted efforts” I thought.

I later sat down and reflected, it wasn’t a wasted effort, I have learnt something, you can always start afresh. No matter the failures, no matter the set backs, keep pushing, keep striving, keep working at it till you get the desired result.

Re-submit that proposal, go back for that audition, re-enroll for that examination, go over that plan again, go back to the studio and work on that song again, do anything except sit back and fold your arms. Never accept failure but challenge it and I tell you that success is just around the corner.

This period you are going through is a phase of your life, a scene depicting trouble but don’t worry, another scene is starting where you are going to smile and fun. It is a bend and not an end. The crying will stop and tears will be wiped off your face.

You will still build that house, you will still have children, you can still earn your degree and you will still succeed in that business only if you don’t stop, only if you don’t give up.

I did not write “Feeling Left behind ” now but I can still write it and can still write a better article but I love what I have just written “Starting all over again”.

It is great to know that I am dedicated to writing this new post today and I feel glad that I have written it.

Likewise you, START ALL OVER AGAIN

Writer’s Block, Success’ Block, Blocks to success

Writer’s block is a common phenomenon that writers experience. You sit down to write and all you can do is stare at the paper. You even attempt to pen down some thoughts but you find out you keep tearing those pages out, you feel all you have scribbled down is rubbish. There is just no inspiration.

We at some point in life experience success’ block. As a result of painful experiences in the past, we tend to be success shy. There is fear holding us back from setting forth to achieve our goals. We write down the goals but we are scared to take the first step, most times thinking it’s going to be like the last time.


Times when we are afraid or times when we feel sad, abandoned, helpless and unloved we tend to achieve little or no success. Looking at times when we are excited, happy and feel loved, we are often in the “let’s conquer the world” mood and this mood tends to attract success.


The question now is how do we guide against all kinds of blocks? How do we overcome the blocks and go for the success behind the blocks? How do we keep attracting success?


For writer’s block, let go of all the negative thoughts, don’t set too high standards for yourself. Sit down to write what you feel about a topic and don’t initially set out to write the best write up. I am not asking you to write rubbish or not have goals, but often times we tend to set too high goals or standards for ourselves. You want to do better than Shakespeare with your first write up, how reasonable is that?

Go ahead and write the rubbish at first, as long as that gets you to write. Out of your nonsense and scribblings, however, believe that something good will come, a great idea will spring forth, there will be sparks and patterns will emerge. You will always discard some pages and write all over again, it’s alright just keep writing.

Also, move around with a small writing pad and pen. Ideas come to you when you least expect, it might be even be in the loo! Good ideas do not always come to us when we need them. We must learn to catch ideas as they come to us, fortuitously, even as we’re about to fall asleep at night. Then work on your ideas later, develop them and run with them.


For success block, forget about your past failures, take them as learning oppurtunities. Let go of the embarassment and focus on the end result you so much crave or desire to see. Winston Churchill once said success is going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.


You have to overcome all your fears. Deal with the pressure causing the block, illness,depresion, troubled relationship? Seek professional help and talk to someone that can counsel you. Simply discussing the problem or pressure with someone can reduce the effects of the pressure. After discussing with a person who listens, the problem often feels less difficult.

You also need to constantly see yourself achieving what you have set out to do. Ignore the thoughts that tell you “you can’t do it, no one has done this before, you are not competent for this”.
Deal with the false evidences appearing real. Deal with FEAR. Fears are not real. You have to know that fears are most times self created, e.g, I can’t succeeed, people will make fun of me. How did you know this?

Combat barricades either by pulling them down, digging a route through them or finding an alternative route entirely. No matter your decision, ensure obstacles,barricades don’t stop you. These problems, barriers are often there to define us, to toughen us and make us appreciate the success even more after we have it. Barriers, obstacles are situations that must be discovered and scaled through, you must overcome them.


It’s not going to be always easy but the fulfilment you will have at the end of the day when you are successful is worth the troubles and pains. Keep writing. Keep working at it till you succeed.

10 Reasons To Keep Going.

1.You are so close to success: Often times when we give up, we are only some few breaths away from success. This is not new, you have been told several times and I am emphasizing it again. Success is just around the corner, keep going. Where you are now is just a bend and not the end of the road. Keep going, don’t stop.







2.You have it in you to be successful: You are a strong person. You are stronger than all the setbacks you have experienced. Those problems are dying to see you give up but you have kept going and you have it in you to keep going. What is left for you to face is not up to what you have alrady faced. Keep pressing forward.





3.Winston Churchill: Like Winston Churchill, your life is different from that of your father. You don’t have to die early like your parents did and you don’t have to go through hardship simply because it has become a norm in you household. Winston’s father, Lord Randolph Churchill died on 24 January 1895, aged 45, leaving Churchill with the conviction that he too would die young and so should be quick about making his mark on the world but it was not so. Winston Churchill died on Sunday 24 January 1965, 70 years to the day after his father’s death.










4.Abraham Lincoln: From a humble begining he bacame the 16th president of the united states. He had made a living spiltting wood for fire and rail fencing. He has also worked as a shopkeeper, postmaster, and eventually general store owner. He later became a lawyer, teaching himself the law by reading Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Laws of England. Who would have thought at the time he was still growing in indiana. Your past will not determine your future. That you came out with third class degree does not mean you willnot succeed. That you failed the employment tests will not prevent you from being an employer. Keep moving towards your dream.











5.Orprah Winfrey: Born in rural poverty, then raised by a mother on welfare in a poor urban neighborhood, Winfrey became a millionaire at age 32 when her talk show went national. At age 41, Winfrey had a net worth of $340 million. Forbes’ international rich list has listed Winfrey as the world’s only black billionaire from 2004 to 2006 and as the first black woman billionaire in world history. As at August 2011, she was listed as the 14th most powerful woman in the world. You can also rise above your limitations and go on to rule the world.








6.You are not the first to experience this: This phase in your life has been experienced by someone before. It is not a new thing. So brace yourself and continue going forward, if one person has scaled through beforw, so you can.




7.To disappoint the Haters: I love this. There will always be people who are waiting to see you fail. Don’t humour them. Don’t give up. Even after that setback, keep going. Don’t give them reason to be happy. It’s your life, live it. It’s not about their beliefs. They believe it can’t be done or you can’t do it, it does not matter. What matters is what you believe.





8.For the sake of your children and family: What example or legacy do you want to leave behind? Someone that gives up, loses hope or someone who is a go getter? Persist because of them, you might read more, try another approach or enroll for that examination again. Be successful not because of you alone but because you want to help the people you love and provide them with a great life and example.




9.For yourself (Put your name): Yes keep going for your self. For your self worth, prove to yourself that you can do it. Prove to youself you have the tenacity and doggedness to keep going. You have to be able toprove to yourself that you don’t give up. Let you daily watchword be “Never ever give up”. Write down what you will want the world to say about you and keep going to achieve it.



10.I belive you will get there: You should keep going because I believe you will be successful. I know that if you keep at it, then your success is eventually going to come. There is always a “YES” behind every “NO”, Keep going to get that YES and your Success.

The Law of PUSH

PUSH is not a new word or a new concept in motivation. I was in a bus this morning when it popped in to my mind. There is this acronym that is so common, P.U.S.H: Pray until something happens.
From my own point of view, PUSH is PERSIST Until Something Happens. PERSEVERE Until Something Happens.


I am telling you today to press on to the completion of your goals, to persevere until you get the desired result, to persist until you get what you want.


Looking at the word PUSH itself, it means “to try to move beyond or expand” and ” to press or urge forward to completion”.


Persist: “To continue to exist especially past a usual, expected or normal time. To go on resolutely or sturbbornly in spite of opposition, importunity or warning.”

Persevere: ” To persist in a state, enterprise or undertaking in spite of counter influence, opposition or discouragement.”

Pursuing your goal, your dream is going to be tough and there will be a lot of barriers but hang in there, carry on and never give up.

To cushion the effects of the challenges, prepare your mind right from the on start not to give up. It is really going to be tough but prepare to hang in despite odds.


I know of someone that has his own company now. This is a true Nigerian story. He floated the company after having worked with like four reputable international companies. He had always known he will eventually start his company from the scratch. Eventually when he was about to start he got another international job that they were going to pay him in thousands of dollars monthly dollars but he said no. He knew he would be trading out his dreams if he took that job.


Of course he had saved money in preparation for the tough times he expected to face in the begining but nothing prepared him for the challenges he encountered on the way. He ran out of the savings faster than he thought and he had to keep borrowing to pay salaries. As if those were not enough, his house rent expired and he couldn’t afford to pay and had to move into his office apartment to live. He even sold his car and biked, relying on okadas for a long time. He later had to render his services free to some of the companies he proposed to work with just to get their attention.


Today, those tough times are in the past for him. His company has over two hundred employees at the moment, he has non ending flow of projects and has to keep subcontracting them out. He lives in his own house in the rich people’s area in his state. He has fleet of cars and a driver on his payroll to take him anywhere. All these in a span of five years, things were rough for more than 3 years but he persevered, persisted and prayed until things changed.


Today and every other day, keep pushing. Pray, persist and persevere until something happens. PUSH!


Why? You ask? There is someone that has gone through this same phase you are in right now, persevered and emerged as a winner. Your own can’t be different.

It is not too late

I am also writing to psyche myself. Whatever is your desire, your dream, your aspiration, your goal, it is not too late to go after them.

Reading other people’s success stories motivate you but atimes they depress you too. You suddenly find yourself feeling inferior in comparism if you don’t have a firm grip on yourself.

Firstly, you don’t need to compare yourself with anyone’s achievement. You came to this world at different times even if you are twins! We all have different aspirations, different skills and different level of mastery for similar skills. Learn to do your own thing in your own way in your own time. Be happy for others’ successess but do not allow those stories to deter you. Rather let them affirm in you that if they could do it, then you can do it too.

Secondly, reflect, reflect and reflect. Where are you supposed to be? I mean with regards to the dreams you had about yourself while growing up. In the plan for your life, where are you supposed to be now? What are you supposed to be doing? Where exactly are you now? This should be your basis for comparism. You daily compare yourself with your expected self. You set the goals for you, daily evaluate where you are and how far you are progressing in your life’s goals.

Thirdly, you have to take that first step. People have to be able to associate you with a theme, an idea or an area of excellence. People around you should be able to say in one word what you are passionate about; they should know what drives you; they should know what you are aspiring to excel in.

Fourthly, while doing your thing, enjoy. Don’t be too serious, relax and have fun while at it.


Rounding off, it is not too late to go back to school, start your own school or even help a school. You have one life to live, make it count.

Easy Ways to Raise that Money You Need, Part I

A lot of youths especially fresh graduates without jobs are always complaining they do not have capital to start businesses they have in mind.

Students complain they don't have enough money to spend in school especially during the Project Semester.

Everybody needs to raise money at one time or the other, for personal projects e.g. to buy a car, to pay for a property, to go on vacation, you get the drift?

In this article, I will be concentrating on how to raise a million naira, N1, 000,000. You can always change the million naira to the amount you need. It works always, you only need to be diligent and see the exercise through.

You will be needing a notebook and a pen for the exercise below

STEPS TO RAISING A MILLION NAIRA

1. Think, reflect and write down one person's name that can give you a million naira. Whew! Yes, it is possible. Your long time uncle, your grandpa e.t.c.
2. If you don't have a single person within reach that can give you a million naira, it is still not a far away goal. Let us start the game of breaking down a million naira.
3. Two people to give you five hundred thousand naira each.
4. Four people to give you two hundred and fifty thousand each.
5. Eight people to give you one hundred and twenty five thousand naira each.
6. 10 people to give you one hundred thosand naira each.
7. 20 people to give you fifty thousand naira each.
8. 40 people to give you twenty five thousand naira each.
9. 100 people to give you ten thousand naira each.
10. 200 people to give you five thousand naira each.

I will continue on the other ways to raise any kind of cash you need but dwell first on this and see if you can raise that cash you need.
The whole point of the exercise is to first see the goal of raising the money as an achievable task. Imagine you can even raise one million naira by getting Five thousand naira each from certain number of people.
Therefore, raising that money you need is a game of numbers you can always win once your heart is set.

What are you stillwaiting for? Go on and raise that money you need.