THE LITTLE THINGS OF LIFE

Dear comrades and friends, today we shall be discussing about a salient issue/topic in life which is little but very powerful depending on how it is been used. It is a fact that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a step. That said, I will start by encouraging each and everyone of you to see life from a vantage and them globally. Its only by seeing life from a mirror perspective that we can  appreciate what life is when we face the real music it offers to you.

I belong to the school of thought that believe in learning from the foundation as opposed to dabbling into life from the middle and hoping things will gradually work out or miracle will happen just because you have seen or experienced similar feats in life. But guess what, you can't build something on nothing. In life we are all different in terms of race, colour, personality trait, character, experience, religion/belief, concept/approach to life, orientation/background etc. And so, seeing life from this aspect  will be a good way to start life and in turn appreciating and dealing with it decisively when faced with challenges. 

In order to relate successfully in life with folks, and reap the dividends inherent in it, we must know our onions, and we can't do this without having a good attitude towards life. Therefore in order to have the right attitude for success we must know the little things of life. The question now turns out to what are the little things of life? The little of life can be sumed up in the words of Vincent Van Gogh " Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together". Another way of saying this is, the little things of life are what makes life. Let's see from a holistic point of view. If you a in a relationship/marriage, you must have the right attitude in order for you to have a blissful relationship/union. Example simple words like thank you, please, excuse me, I'm sorry, smiles have proven to be the cornerstone of success in the society. I have often heard from folks/employees saying because of smile some folks have lost job during interviews. Moral: You don't know who is interviewing you, you don't know what they are big on and their turn ups/down. Again, its a fact that most folks have failed in life and in their profession because they lacked/neglected the foundational aspect/trainings of their academic requirements. Same goes to folks in relationships. Most folks especially ladies are big on what the men call trivial issues and guess what this is what makes the marriage/relationship collapse/strong. According to  Gary Chapman in his book entitled "The Five Love Languages there are five love languages namely "  gifts, quality time, words affirmation, acts of service and physical touch. If a rational/sensible man can decipher when to use any of there love languages, trust me, he/she is on the right way of having a smooth relationship.

The question now turns to how do we go ahead with achieving the little things of life in order to achieve success in life. As mentioned earlier, I don't believe in jumping into the ocean and start swimming. No one has started something in life without starting from somewhere. Therefore, it is imperative before we start a journey we must first of all know where we are and where we are about to go. In understanding the little of things of life we shall examine the concept in relativity to the tqo components namely: Attitude and Character.

Attitude: Our attitude sums us our view/perspective towards life and how we view it. Having the right attitude towards life shapes how we see life. As we know folks don't like dealing with people who have a negative character. If we have a healthy positive attitude as seen in Norman Vincent Peale's  book "The power of positive thinking" I have no doubt that you are on ground with the little things of life. This is because, how we respond to issues of life goes a long way to say what our values and approach to life is. Regardless of your profession/work its only by having the right attitude to work in addition to having the right work ethics that you  will be productive. In having the right attitude to work, you must pay attention to details, because these are the little things of life which I call the defining moments of your acceptability to work. This rule of thumb is also applicable to relationships, academic (Showing formulas or how you arrives to details) just like in the legal profession, mathematics  etc. Finally on attitude relating to work issues, there's is an efficient and right way of doing things. Most often folks do things in bandwagon ways for efficient reasons, but that's not the right way of doing things. In order to succeed in this atmosphere, we are advised to "know" person as opposed to knowing about them. In doing this, please see the points I raised on the second paragraph above. However, to be on the safer side, its better you do things in the right way format. If at all you want to follow the bandwagon, let it be know that, you are know the right way. By so doing, you have are having the right attitude to the little things of  life that matter in order to achieve the big things of life that makes the difference.

Character: This is the most important aspect/part of a living creature. There is a saying watch your thoughts they become your words, watch your words, they become your actions, watch your actions they become your character, and watch your character they become your destiny. Our character says a lot about us. There is a big difference between reputation and character.  Your reputation is what people think of you, your character is who you are.  Your character is what makes you what your are! What people think of you is not as important as to what you are. I say this because, folks will listen to you if they like you, but folks will only do business with you if they trust you. This goes to tell you, when you don't have a good credit, that;s a red flag right there. Compared to character, its is highly advisable you be yourself, by doing doing you will not only attract the right people into your life, you will have the right attitude and approach to the little things of life that matter most in life. Therefore, it is highly advisable you work on your character as opposed to building your reputation. Make no mistake about this, reputation is fine, however never you judge a book by its cover unless you have read it and digested its content. Only then, will you have an informed mindset on what the author is talking/depicting in the book. Same goes to humanity, never you judge a person until you have met them or have have really engaged them  in deep conversation either by way of of business dealings, life challenges, experiences or even walked through their shoes. The character of a human being cannot be hidden, one can fake, act, or even hide it for a temporary time,but at the tail end it will surface. It is only by having the right character approach to issues that we will attain success in whatever endeavor we find ourselves. Just like Aristotle rightly pointed out " Excellence is not an act won by training and habituation. We do not act because we have the the virtue of excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not act, but a habit".

Having given an in depth analysis and overview of the subject matter Therefore, it's advisable we do the needful by applying the right attitude and approach to issues in life. I believe we can do it. Doing the needful and necessary does not involve big things, all that is required is that "we have to do the best that we can, this is our sacred human responsibility" as advised by Albert Einstein. By so doing, we are gradually cultivating and nurturing the good things of life. 

Finally, it should be noted that, sometimes in life, all that is needed/ required is our acts of love, concern, appreciation, support, etc to help folks who needs it in life. In moments like this, what is needed can be that little one hour mentoring, training, correction, support, service to humanity etc that a person needs in life to make even. As rightly pointed out by John Motley  "Deeds, not stones are the true monuments of the great".  I therefore  implore, advise and encourage each and everyone of you to do the little things  of life which will makes the difference.  I will conclude with the words of  Theodore Roosevelt "Do what you can, with what you can have, where you are". Its only by so doing that we will be able to do the little things of life that shapes and matters most in life. Stay positive, inspire and change the world.

Youth And Nation Building – A case study of Nigeria

There’s no gain saying the fact that the youths form an integral part of our society, nation, country and state. I choose to blog on this topic because of a light heated conversation which centered on Nigerian Youths and Leadership on social media about 24 hours ago and again, I narrowed it down to Nigeria as this will help  send the right and desired message. Again, I think and feel its hi-time the youths realize who they are, and what they can offer to the society in this 21st century.
Its pertinent to note that for a country, nation, state or society to thrive, they should have the youths are the back of their mind if not on the front. Regardless of what it is, they youths should be seen in the larger picture. As the saying goes… ‘The youths are the leaders of tomorrow”. If this statement is true, them the youths  ought to be at the center of any issues pertaining to the development of their country and their  well being. Many civilized and advanced countries have taken advantage of this concept in order to take their country to the next level. No wonder they have invested heavily in  Research and Development, skills acquisition and vocational training. They have also discovered that, education per se only, is not a yardstick for one one to be productive and successful in life. They have therefor resorted to other ways/avenue to improvise in order to ensure productivity in both in the economy and man power development. However, the story seems to be different with third world countries where Nigeria is part of. Nigerian leaders I must fail have failed . By this I mean two thirds of the leaders who have ruled the country. They have no plan for the youths, they only think of themselves as supposed to thinking for the future of the country and the youths.  In the words of  John F. Kennedy’s during his Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961, he said ”Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You but what can you can do for your country” This goes to say that, the leaders of any country that wants to move their country to the  next stage must see themselves as servant leaders and opposed to warlords whom their subjects must be worship. In America for example, their leaders strive hard hard day and night to make the country a better place, but the citizens seem to believe their efforts is not good enough. Now, contrast this Nigeria and most third country countries where their leaders are looking for avenues to amass wealth for themselves, in addition to slicing the throat of their for them to die, rather the citizens have refused to die. Sounds funny right? But that’s the truth.
And now comes the big question, where is the place of the youths in nation building?  Youths all over the world have a unique role to play in the developmental affairs of their countries ranging from government, social- political, cultural, education etc. In civilized system, the government have been able to provide enabling opportunities for them to thrive. They do this by creating a conducive environment which promotes and encourages interested folks to learn in addition to providing infrastructural facilities. Also, they believe in skills acquisition and productivity. They do this by encouraging anyone who possess this skill. It is by so doing the youths contribute to nation building and are regardless as experts later in their life before they reach the age of 40 depending on when they start. Now let’s contrast this with third world country- a case study of Nigeria. Its no doubt that, two thirds of the leaders don’t have the youths  at heart. They fail to prepare the youths for the task ahead. No vocational centers for learning, no training to acquire skills acquisition, no encouragement either in form of moral or financial. Put it in a nutshell, they don’t have the youth in their picture forgetting that, failing to prepare is preparing to fail.
By 2030, Nigeria is estimated to be one of the few countries in the world that will likely have a bountiful supply of young workers. Out of a current projected population of 169 million Nigerians, young people account for over 43 percent of the population. What this means is that there are currently over 72 million young people in the country. Thus, youth, more than oil, could be Nigeria’s asset in the following decades, depending on how this demographic reality is managed.
it is indeed mind boggling  and disturbing  that, there appears to be no strategic plan towards tapping the great potentials hidden in a growing youth population. With a current youth unemployment rate of up to 50 percent, the growing menace of kidnap cases perpetrated by disgruntled youths, massive recruitment of young people into terrorist gangs and the ever growing number of desperate young people willing to become thugs for self seeking politicians, this worry is not misplaced.
Having taking a tour on the holistic view of the  place of the youths in nation building, the radar now changes to  the youths occupying their rightful place in Nigeria? In order to effectively answer the question, the place of youths, its important to start with this the quote of Benjamin Franklin — ‘By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. Yes, the ball has now shifted to the youths. I ask, are you doing what you what to do in order to assume the desired positions and leadership you have always wished and aspired to be in. I agree the  government needs to provide the enabling environment in other for the youths and all concerned parties to thrive. I ask again, what are you doing now in order to get to that desired positions.  This brings me to the question to the little heated conversation that reared its ugly head yesterday where a fellow youths said the presents youths of Nigeria are not ripe to take the mantle of leadership- they have to wait. I was stunned by that statement and hence comes this blog. I can agree if he spoke positively the youths are not prepared for the task ahead because they are lacking the necessary skills and vocational training need to effective do their job. For the sake of uninformed readers, this conversation started by a post on concerning the recruitment of prospective individuals by the  Nigerian Immigration Service. Although, I gave him reasons why the youths are more than qualified, he was still bent on his points. It is a face that 1/3 of most folks who applied for the immigration job lacked the desired skills and training required. Yes, I agree having a degree is a plus, but there’ more to that when employers are hiring. They look at what each candidate can offer. what will they bring to the table; how productive are they? What have they done/achieved, what makes them more resourceful and valuable when compared to other individuals competing for the same job.  Again, its a fact that most of this folks would be better utilized and resourceful if they acquire skills or vocation training as this will make them more productive in their host community.
Alternatively , one can say as you make your bed so you lie on it.  Nigerian youths and youths all over the world should cultivate the habit of thinking outside the box. Apart from the government’s failure to facilitate this process, I implore the youths all over the world to improvise on ways to ensure sustainability. You can’t just be doing the  samething everyday and expect a different result. Its is because of creativity that Mark Zukerbeg wh is just 29 changed the face of the world by creating Facebook. S, I believe we have more than capable hands to be an entrepreneur as opposed to waiting for waiting for white collar jobs.
According to Thomas Edison ” If we did all we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves . I wonder  my where good friend found his thought/idea that Nigerian youths are not yet ripe for leadership positions. According to Marianne Williamson  “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. I believe given every equal opportunity every person is a potential achiever because we don’t have dull brains only brains undeveloped. It is simply because the youths have chosen to lay low to the demands expected of them, that they are left out in the scheme of things.
Taking the lead is not always easy, however its possible if we believe in ourselves. According to Anatole France, “To accomplish great things. we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also  believe. The journey of 1000 miles indeed starts with a step in the right direction. We must take charge of our destiny. According to Barack Obama “We are the change we seek”
I am not concerned about the yesterday’ men who ruled in their 20′s. 30′s 40′s  as the case may be, I strongly believe  in the present. Yesterday is past, today is present/gift and  tomorrow is a mystery. According to the Greg Anderson, “I believe in the dream of what might be is more important than the record of what has been, we must however be serious about that vision”  Just like my learned friends will say, ” Justice should not  only be seen to be done, but it should be manifestly seen to be done. Apportioning blame will lead you to nowhere, you must assume responsibilities by fixing the problem.   You might think its hard judging from the look of things in the polity and the realistic view of achieving this feat, be advised  L.P Jacks had this to say ” The pessimistic sees the difficulty in every opportunity; the optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. I really believe there’s light at the end of the tunnel if only we can be steadfast.
Moving closer to the realistic goal requires perseverance no doubt, a lot of courage, curiosity, confidence and constancy as this will shape how we decide to take our possession from our failed leaders. Lin Yutang opined ” It is not so much what we believe in that matters, as the way in which you believe it and proceed to translate that belief into action. Its a fact a fact, passion is stronger than power. Therefore, the Nigerian youths needs to move in an positive aggressive mood to posses their possession. We have to picture ourselves sand our society how we want it to be in 5, 10, 20 years from now, and how will be will do it really matter. The time to start is now!
Finally, Lyndon Johnson nailed it ” The test before us as a  people is not whether our commitments match our will and courage, but whether we have the will and courage to match our commitments. Therefore folks, I implore each and every one of you adopt to practice the wise words of Albert Einstein ” We have to do the best that we can. This is our sacred responsibility” The future belongs to us and it is only to the measure we push/work hard for it, it will never come to us. Just like the proverbial saying of Martin Luther King  Jnr. ”Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” – Martin Luther King.

Raregem: Procrastination- The grave way that leads to death...

Raregem: Procrastination- The grave way that leads to death...: According to Mark Twain " Never put off till tomorrow what may be done after tomorrow just as well". According to the author of th...

Procrastination- The grave way that leads to death

According to Mark Twain " Never put off till tomorrow what may be done after tomorrow just as well". According to the author of this post,  he affirmatively believes procrastination is the grave way that leads to failure. W are all guilty of procrastinating in way or the other. In order for one to move up to the next stage of life and achieve his or her heart desires, ambition, passion and interests in life, he/she must must avoid this great opportunity killer called procrastination.

Its a fact nobody has ever achieved success procrastinating. The desire to start blogging was conceived when I was in my third year (2005) at Madonna University Okija, Nigeria, when I was opportuned to write the principles of success for Mass communication department . Its quite unfortunate, the article wasn't published as mentioned to me neither did I get it back. Well, the desire and love for putting things down in black and white sprang up again when I was serving my country -Nigeria (National Youth Service Corp). I wrote an article Character- The making of a Leader, a folk offered to publish it on one of the daily newspapers, but unfortunately again, we couldn't meet because  I was on the verge of leaving the shores of Nigeria to the United States of America.  Arriving into the United States of America, the urge to write and publish  has always been on my mind but, the grave killer of opportunities - procrastination, has never allowed the tree in me to blossom lol.

However, I do believe, at the appointed time, everything will take shape. After so much procrastination, the cup was filled with water to the brim and now overflowing. At this stage, I have come to realize, believe and know that procrastination is meant for failures and lazy people. Its a negative thought all progressive minds should eschew if they want to exceed in life

It should be noted that, there are lots of opportunities awaiting us when we do what we are required to to do. This is because, opportunities normally meet up at the dance floor. For example, assuming you are working in a company and you are given an assignment to do in a company and you were able to accomplish it in record time, there's a tendency for your boss to give you more work to do and this technically means you are well ahead of your contemporaries. According to Thomas Edison, if we did all the things we are capable of doing , we would literally astound ourselves. Moral: We are the ones holding ourselves back from reaching our goals in life. Again according to Maria Williason, 'Our deepest fear is not we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure". I believe, given every equal opportunity everybody is a potential achiever, because we don't have dull brains, we only have brains undeveloped. Procrastination is not of light, its of the darkness family, its so negative that it blinds our eyes to enabling opportunities surrounding us and in turn, giving us the impression there's always tomorrow, why not take nap, go to party, watch movies, television, have fun etc. How about you think, am I going to live tomorrow? What will happen if I do it today? Who knows what might be available when we complete the task at hand..

The big question now is how do we get ahead with the task ahead. There is not other way than of overcoming this negative spirit of procrastination than taking the day one minute at a time, one hour at a time.  A great way to start is taking one day one day at a time. Don't over labour yourself and don't set targets you can't reach in the name of I want to think positive. Be real on this and take one day at a time, only then can you build on it by majoring on your strength and working on your weakness. According to Mark Twain, "The secret of getting ahead is getting started. the secret of getting started is breaking your overwhelming complex tasks into small manageable tasks and then starting  with the first one".

Finally, when you must have done the needful, you should be able to take a holistic rubric assessment of your daily activities, what you achieved, what went wrong, what you should have done, amendments, way forward etc. These are some healthy positive thoughts can can help us to achieve our goals and only then can we have fulfillment and joy. Procrastination no doubts rubs us of opportunities. It is the number one killer of opportunities. You can imagine, when searching for a job, you have a contact who said to you send me your resume or do the application within a specific time, but you  failed in following up because you feel you still have some time say one day, week, month, etc. Again, let's say you are in business and your business partners or customers wants a particular product within a particular amount of time, but you delayed in meeting up because you feel you will always nail it at the last minute. How sure are you you will be alive or events won't pop out when you are ready, supposing your computer crash; your vehicle breaks down; etc. What then will be your fate? Again, you are a student, lawyer, journalist etc and you have a specific deadline to put some information for your boss, clients etc as the case may be, but due to the non-nonchalant and lackadaisical attitude of yours you, failed in meeting there desired targets, there's a tendency you have to pay for it in the nearest future.

May we never allow what we can do today, see the light of the next day, may we strive to better ourselves each day and we never apportion any blame to anyone or give reasons why we could't do a particular work.

I will end this post with encouraging words of Margret Thatcher " Look at t a day, when you are supremely satisfied at the end. Its not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; its a day when you have had everything and you have done it. May this be our portion moving forward. Your destiny is your hands and  your are what you think and say! Be positive, be positive, be positive.