Leadership

What Are Your Goals Today?

18 Comments / Leadership, Life & Development / /

I was on a journey to Lagos. On that day, for the first time ever in all my journeys towards the southwest, we crossed the Jebba border into Kwara at about 2:04 pm. I almost couldn’t believe it. Did we leave Minna late? Relatively yes. Around the same time as we usually leave for Ilorin – 9:35 am or thereabout. If we put our hearts into achieving something, it will surely happen. All while I was at Abakaliki, every day we went baking, I always wondered what my uncle was hasty about. He’ll be like “quickly, don’t waste my time. We are out of time already.” As if there was somewhere to go to later or something specific to do. But here’s what I realised: If you have 1k, you only NEED to spend 300. Chances are, if you are not careful, you will spend the whole 1k and still find valid excuses for doing so. In the same way, you have 24 hours in a day. You could achieve 7 things at least. But if you’re not careful, you will achieve only 1 and find excuses for why others could be achieved tomorrow. “Ah, is it not just Ilorin here?” And then we eventually arrive by 8 pm. Same time as we arrived at Lagos. As if the ‘badder’ the situation, the more strength we’re willing to put. Sun Tzu, in the art of war, mentioned actually, that if you threaten a soldier with death, he will fight with all he has and may eventually beat you, as he’s fighting with death in mind. This could also mean that as bad/devastating your issue/situation of disadvantage is, the more you are likely to gather energy to overcome them. Much like where sin abounds, grace (to overcome it) about much more. Realise how much load/responsibility is on you. And then maximise the resources within your reach. Maximise, not minimise or luxuriously use them. Maximise! Wake up! Time is running. Run along, chasing destiny. Scripture says whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might. For there is no work in the grave where you are going. There is no destiny in the grave. I know that nothing evil will happen to you, but sorry baby; the grave is coming nonetheless, and no one knows when it’s going to come for him/her. Old age is coming. Death is coming. Change is coming. The strength of singleness before marriage will soon fade as you soon wear that ring. Maximize now. Serve now! Lead now! What is your goal today?

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QUALITY OF DILIGENCE

97 Comments / Leadership, Life & Development / /

Diligence is one of the seven heavenly virtues, which means steady, earnest, and energetic effort. Diligence is a character that must be shown in everything a man does, both important and seemingly “unimportant”. Over the years, most people have refused to be lazy majorly because of a pair of well-interconnected factors. “Motivation” and “Punishment”. These two beautiful twins have been the main reason most people do what they do. A student gets Motivated to study because if he or she doesn’t, then comes the Punishment of failure. An employee would be motivated to give his best to his work, otherwise, the punishment of losing his or her Job comes to play and so on. When an individual is motivated to work because of the punishment to come, then he or she lacks the character of diligence because if there was no Punishment, he or she won’t give the best. Diligence is a choice and not a gift or a special talent for a selected few. It is a character trait that cannot be hidden and so is laziness. A man who seems to give his best when he is out with others, at work, at school etc. but refuses to do so in his own home, with his own business, with himself etc. is no diligent man. Diligence shows in our every action down to the least and things we do, such as cleaning our rooms, dressing our bed in the morning, washing the plates after eating, and how we coordinate ourselves on getting home after a long and tiring day at work etc. Every action of a diligent man must answer the following questions therein lies the four basic Characteristics of Diligence. 1. Did you do it? (Consistency) 2. Did you do it at the right time? (Instant – No Procrastination) 3. Did you do it with the right Mindset? (Attitude) 4. Did you do it well? (Carefulness) Every of our actions must answer YES! Confidently to the above four (4) questions. PILLARS OF DILIGENCE As it is written in the Holy Bible, a diligent man is one who does not serve mean men, but kings. It doesn’t matter if he starts by serving or standing before men. His character of diligence must bring him before kings as long as all his daily life actions continue to answer Yes to all the Four (4) basic questions of diligence. The major four (4) Pillars or characteristics of diligence, which are the basic building blocks of the four questions asked by diligence, are; 1. Consistency 2. Instant 3. Attitude 4. Carefulness Consistency This feature of diligence asks “did you do it?” this question is not about doing it a single time. Consistency deals with uniformity and agreement of action, it is a quality of behaving similarly. It is important to note that in order for one to achieve something worthwhile, he or she needs to be consistent and have an attitude of “hit and run”. Instant Procrastination is known by most people as the most Successful thief of time. Being instant means saying No to Procrastination. Procrastination is “the habit of needless delaying where the action is required”. Being instant asks the question, “did you do it at the right time?” Attitude This is built on the mindset one carries before, during, and after an action. This quality of diligence asks “did you do it with the right mindset?”. As said by Keith Harrel “attitude is Everything”, attitude starts from your mind. A person’s mindset defines action and a consistent wrong mindset leads to consistent wrong actions, which leads to wrong habits that metamorphosis into the wrong character. Carefulness Asking the question “did you do it well?” is a feature of diligence that deals with how well an action is carried out. This quality checks if one’s complete best was given into action at any given time. No man can outlive his character, no man can live better than his character, if one has a good character, he or she cannot live a bad life, same for one who has a bad character, he or she cannot live a good life. The choice of diligence is a great life decision to live your best life.

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PERCEPTION

24 Comments / Leadership / / / ,

Perception has proven to be a strong foundation for individual conception and also their natural inclination to different subject matters that are still subjective to their current knowledge and culture, which did not do justice to a lot of these issues. One such subject matter that has found its way into this ever-growing list of topical discussions is leadership. Many intellectuals and wise men and women have defined leadership from the perspective of deep thinking, life, and practical experience, but little has come of it in terms of application by the many who have both heard and read such speeches and writings, and therein lies the problem: the nature and characteristic application of the intent and concept of leadership is in reality more convoluted than we thought. The attempt to give it a singular definition without considering the context will never bring out its essence. As a quick disclaimer, I am not suggesting that leadership cannot be defined in generic terms; rather, I believe that we should strongly emulate and nurture its intrinsic characteristics rather than define it. In order to respond to the question, “What is leadership?” Even if I don’t receive your comment right away, I’d love to read it in the chat box. Before I go into my own ideas on this, I’d want to state that leadership, however you define it, can only produce the best results if you have the right beliefs and habits, since in reality, you have to live it to properly teach it. Leadership is the ability to give external things direction as a result of profound internal foresight. In other words, a leader must supply direction from foresight, and here is where the gray line exists because many individuals in leadership today are unable to do so. Have you given any thought to why we have a leadership crisis in every sector today? I call it a leadership problem because that is exactly what it is: societal decay, economic sabotage, family mismanagement, and today’s human mishaps affecting livelihoods in many parts of the world are all a result of poor leadership. And the reason for this is simple: you can’t offer what you don’t have, and effective leadership requires you to do what you want others to do. Not only must the leader take the initiative to begin, but he or she must also take the initiative to instruct. I strongly believe that leadership is critical to human and systemic progress, but I would like to emphasize the need for a reorientation of our attitude and understanding of leadership, which transcends any positional connotation or cultural disposition. It is past time for us to awaken to this obligation and reengineer our subconsciousness to the predisposition of the leadership potency in us, while building intrinsic value and nature that will support our extrinsic proclamations when it matters.

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LESSONS FROM THE SQUIRREL

67 Comments / Leadership, Life & Development / / / , ,

One of our society’s primary challenge is obviously a high deficiency in leadership capabilities. Let us examine the subject for a while. Leadership, simply put, is the art and process of taking people from Point 1 to Point 2. We want to look at this through the lenses of the squirrel. Come with me. I witnessed this incident the day it happened. There was a bush on the other side of the fence of this compound, and from that bush, a plantain tree leaned against the wall. On the other side, within the compound, lavatories were being erected and they were attached to the wall, the fence. The lavatories were only at lintel level, but the lintels had not been cast. There were other trees in the compound. Then came a squirrel from the bush on a mission to cross over to the other side, that is, the trees in the compound. True to its character, it ran so fast on the fence and came to the top of the uncompleted lavatories. Then it met a wide gulf that will not let it pass over to its desired destination. It came to a halt abruptly, paused for a while and went to where it came from. I thought it gave up; but it came back, running more ferociously, now aware of the huddle it must cross. This time, that initial gulf had nothing on the squirrel. It was unstoppable, jumping through and continuing its journey. It however came to about three (3) more of such gulfs (which were actually the doorposts of the lavatories). With each new challenge of a gulf before it, it went back, jumped the previous one, the one before that, went back to the bush, and came back all the harder, until it jumped every hurdle and arrived at its desired destination. The first lesson is that to lead others, we must first lead ourselves. We leadourselves primarily by developing capacity to handle issues and situations. We develop this capacity by going the entire length of the mile, whether anyone goes with us or not. This is the way to even get reliable followers: when they meet you hard at work, your passion inspires them. The main point of the lesson gleaned is in the perseverance and the general attitude of never giving up that the squirrel portrayed. In like manner, whatever we do, we must persevere and stay till the end, as long as it is a good and noble cause. We should also make sure that we maintain the right attitude to never give up, no matter how big the mountain ahead appears to be. We should rather, calm down instead of being anxious, and plan, strategize on how to surmount the mountain. For some, part of the planning will include seeking help from others, and may include prayers. Once the planning is done, we immediately execute the plan. Remember the squirrel, how it paused for a while, evaluated the situation, and when it hatched a plan in its mind, went back immediately to execute the plan. It came out successful. This cycle remains the same whether we run as a single unit, or even when we run with others, perhaps leading them. We must inspire people always to maintain the right attitude in every situation. We must also learn and teach others to be perseverant in tackling difficult situations. In conclusion, being intentional about leadership is the only way to make great strides in life and in any field of endeavor. Good leadership does not happen by chance; rather, it is an outflow of the personality of the leader to his followers’ hearts. Since everyone is a leader, then all must therefore imbibe the right qualities and live them out.

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BEING INTENTIONAL!

54 Comments / Faith, Leadership, Life & Development / / / ,

Greetings to you there, and a very happy new February to you.So some useful questions came in as to what the theme “Being Intentional” really means. And you know, it made me realise that just because the theme plainly says “Being Intentional”, doesn’t mean everyoneunderstands it as ought, and thus with the intent of making it understood to everyone as much as is possible, I need to keep defining and redefining the theme as I received/conceived it.So what does “Being Intentional” mean?The word ‘Intentional’ derives from the word ‘Intention’ which means ‘what one wants to do or bring about’. And the word ‘Intention’ comes from ‘Intent’. Intent as a noun from Merriam-Webster dictionary means ‘the state of mind with which an act is done’. And as an adjective from same dictionary, means, ‘having the mind, attention, or will concentrated on something or some end or purpose’. Let’s quickly jump to the meaning of Intentional from same dictionary: ‘done by design’.So you see, the word Intentional comes with two implications: An intention, a goal, a purpose, a vision, an end, or a target, etc. That is, if someone is said to be Intentional, he/she must have something that they’re aiming at to get, do or achieve. Secondly, he/she must actively engage the perceived right actions to put in place in order to get, do or achieve their aim. You see, between March and June 2020, so many governments of countries including Africa’s, declared a lock down of their country. Although, the decision affected the economy of some African countries, the intention of these countries’ governments was to contain or control the spread of the COVID-19, using their perceived right ways. The governments were Being Intentional as regards the problem thatfaced them. If we remember somewhere in 2019, everyone was surprised and wondering why the Nigerian government didn’t seem to want to sign the AfCFTA Treaty. Now whether or not the government was working on it, we all must have assumed that the government was not Being Intentional as regards the state of our economy because, signing the treaty will surely help our economy and the African economy at large. Read more about AfCFTA https://www.tralac.org/resources/infographic/13795-status-of-afcfta- ratification.html. If I fall to the ground, and realise that I can’t stand again maybe because of a fracture or my weight, I will call to you: “please help me up, brother or sister”. I wouldn’t wait there, hiding my inability, wishing that somehow you will pity me and help me. I will call out to you for help. I am Being Intentional with my aim of standing up from the ground. If I need a job, and I understand the system that I’m in – one that needs a connection and adequate competence to get a job. I will build my competence, publicize my skills through LinkedIn and other platforms/means, and while doing so, I will put call through to some of the influential people on my contact list, and then I will keep reminding them. If I have a product but no customers, I will reach out to you, with the product so that you’ll buy or help me market/advertise it, and then I’ll keep disturbing you (in the very reasonable sense of that word to give me feedback of when and where to supply. I won’t just assume you’ll pick it up without forgetting, I will keep reminding you. Meanwhile, I won’t put the whole of my survival on you, I will call the other person too, and I will take the product to retailers and other people that I don’t know before now. If I feel down, disconnected from my faith. I will fast, pray, study the scriptures, as I wait to hear what my Creator is saying to me so that I will be strong again. No, I will not wait or over worry or get depressed. I will do the necessary to get connected again. When I keep this attitude continuously in every area of my life – that is, to intend for something and actively take necessary actions to achieve those intentions – I am Being Intentional.When I take good inventory of my situations, perceive rightly, take decisions to change those situations (i.e. aim), and then actively engage necessary and right actions to change those situations, I am Being Intentional. You see, the direct opposite of Being Intentional is passively hoping that your aim will become realizewithout your active participation. That participation might be involving someone, asking for counsel, asking for help, doing it yourself, taking decisions, setting goals, etc. You know it. Just do it. Be IntentionalBlessings!

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HANDLING THE DETAILS

10 Comments / Leadership / / / ,

Have you been in a situation, position or whatsoever where you wished there could be someone to help you handle something while you focus on what is comfortable for you? For example, you as the leader of a group, knowing what mindsets can help one thrive in the group’s work, but expecting that all the members should be matured without you going through the painstaking effort of training them. Or you as a starter in any reagrds, expecting that a volunteer will give the diligence of a pro in handling something which you’re not good at or comfortable with for your startup. Or you are to start something, but the righteous step to take in order to start it seems strenuous to you so you opt for hoping an angel will do it for you some day – prolonging the time of your delivery. Or you’re in a relationship situation with someone, hoping that somehow an elder will discern what’s up some day and come to settle you two without you doing what is necessary (like talking) to salvage the relationship. See, all the above are only examples of how each of us don’t want to be committed as ought, hoping that we handle administration (or rather our comfort) while someone else goes through the painstaking effort of handling the details for us. But it’s not about roles now…it’s about the quality of commitment and handling details. Important to mention here, that even administration is, itself, a demanding task if it will be effective. So comfort is what is on trial here now. Your comfort zone! So if you find yourself in administration or a PA or receptionist or an accountant, parent, child or student, it’s about having these qualities of QUALITY COMMITMENT AND HANDLING OF DETAILS, not occupying roles. 2020 was a year, indeed, stressful in many reagrds for many people. Yet only some have had their stress yield commensurate results for them. In 2020 people made profits, built companies, started up life, got married, got healed, won competitions, grew influence, etc. iPresh came out publicly in 2020 (oh thank you for the support thus far😇🥰❣, and we’ve learnt so much already, part of which is the content of this very article). I will say basically because they handled their supposed details as ought. Stress without commensurate results occurs when we want to dodge our supposed level of commitment to something, looking or rather worrying for easy way out. We want robots to just take charge while we focus and do other things…. now we have started building robots, but we’re exceedingly stressed in our minds, worried of how we’ll keep robots in control so they don’t rule over us. We want someone else to train our children but we’re at same time just expecting that by so doing, they’ll get the unique wisdom (which is supposed to come from you) that will help them live and thrive on earth. We know we’re ignorant of something specifically (maybe parenting or starting up a business), we also know how the ignorance is affecting our results in that area but instead of reading or seeking counsel, we’re hoping that somehow if we sleep  and wake up the knowledge, understanding and wisdom will just be in us (don’t get me wrong, this is possible for God to do). And don’t get me wrong, not like we can’t pay someone else for their service of expertise but, are we being committed as supposed. In 2021, confront the details on your table, handle them with the supposed level of commitment which might include hiring an expert or seeking counsel or planning or training or execution, etc. In any way, handle those details and make moves towards destiny!!! Be Intentional! Welcome to 2021, a fruitful year to be intentional. We are back! This time with a year’s theme: BEING INTENTIONAL.

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SO YOU WERE DISRESPECTED?

41 Comments / Leadership / / / , , ,

“You want people to honour you. Are you honourable? ” —- Daniel Agba I was the bible study coordinator of my Fellowship (FCS FUTMINNA) in my campus in 2017. We were having a retreat, and we invited my predecessor. That was when he made that statement quoted above. Hmmm… Oh mehn I felt so incompetent occupying that office! (I will talk about it some day). Consequent of my feeling unqualified/incompetent, I was having a feeling that people were not beingrespectful or loyal to my leadership. Then those words quoted above, dropped from my predecessor’s mouth. Wow! I was swept off my feet. And the feeling changed from feeling disrespected or not receiving loyalty to feelings with questions to myself: Do I really deserve their respect? Have I shown the faith and courage? Do I study diligently to speak as I ought? Do I respect them? Should I even expect their loyalty and respect? Do they owe it to me? Should I beckon on them to pay me the debts of respect and loyalty? All these questions changed my focus… I started setting mind on things like: it is my responsibility to be honourable, if they like they should honour; it is my responsibility to show enough conviction and convincing to them if they like they should follow; it is my responsibility to study diligently, etc. I have seen many elders striving for a place of respect and honour in the heart of a young one or among some young ones. Please tap your neighbor and say that just as the fathers always say “respect is earned”. “Be respectful, honourable, valuable, and that young one will honour you without bounds”. Let’s hope to talk about some practical things to do to command respect and honour. Doesn’t mean people won’t disrespect you though, even when/if you are respectable.Blessings!

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EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL, EVERY MAN GREAT.

61 Comments / Leadership / /

I was in Church, a province headquarters, when one of the pastor said “the church that had 4 members is now a province HQ. I remember when the pastor will be begging us to come to church and worship God.” Greatly amazing was when he mentioned that there had been many pastors who have come and laboured over the house to make it look as/what it is today. It ministered something to me. You know, everyone will think the main headquarters will just release some funds with resourced persons and give the order that a province headquarters be started somewhere. We just see a beautiful auditorium. We see a beautiful system, an organized school. We see a great man whose life is so effective and result-filled. And we assume that those beautiful things and great men were dropped from somewhere exactly as we know them now. Not so? Every beautiful thing and every great man, were made intentionally. They went through processes and phases to be where they are now. No great man was born the way he is now. Processes, experiences and how they responded is what has made them. Beautiful things turned out as they are and lasting through time because they were handled with consistent commitment. The same with your life and whatever beautiful thing you want to build. Take the necessary steps!

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CROWNING

7 Comments / Leadership / / / , ,

When they came near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples on ahead and told them, “Go into the village ahead of you. At once you will find a donkey tied up and a colt with it. Untie them, and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and that person will send them at once.” Now this happened to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet when he said, “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Look, your king is coming to you! He is humble and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt of a donkey.’” So the disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and put their coats on them, and he sat upon them. Many people in the crowd spread their own coats on the road, while others began cutting down branches from the trees and spreading them on the road. Both the crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed him kept shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! How blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” (Matthew 21:1-9) Notice the people who gave Him the accolade and honour of King? Not one magistrate, not one priest, not…. but people who He has ministered unto, people who have seen His nobility and leadership and salvation, etc. Also notice He wasn’t denying that He is King as accorded to Him but not because the people said so; rather because it was prophesied by God. A lot of times we seem to be waiting for validation from different entities (government, Europe, ICAN, etc.), which is not a bad thing but not fundamentally necessary. I mean if we get validation from these entities good and an advantage, but if we don’t should we then throw away God’s intention for our lives and live under what these entities have defined us? I tell you sometimes they define us so wrongly! The elders and Pharisees defined Jesus a lot of things, He didn’t have to wait for their validation to be what God called Him right from before all those entities existed. Now does it mean we should dishonour these entities? Hahaha you will be against God by that. Honour entities but don’t wait for their validation to be what God wants you to be. What if you you get their validation or endorsement? We appreciate it. But we are defined and moved by God alone.

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I M P E R F E C T

18 Comments / Faith, Leadership / / / , , , ,

“The world hates imperfection whereas it’s very name is spelt I M P E R F E C T.”—-Joshua Peters. A friend wanted to delete one of his YouTube videos because of a mistake in it. I told him not to. That he should rather leave it or add the new one. But not to delete the initial. He would have just lost gained traffic, likes, and comments that the video has brought, in an attempt to erase a mistake. I remember those times when we tried erasing mistakes on our books using rubber band — the damage it did on our books. You don’t have the appropriate means of erasing a mistake ( that is, tipex, representing a blotting out/atonement); simply STRIKE it (so you can still learn from it) like in the banks and other official places (it’s YOUR past). Please, don’t shade. Shading spells damage. 

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