ANCELOTTI HEADS TO FRANCE

Carlo Ancelotti is set to be unveiled as the new coach of Paris Saint-Germain on Friday, but former England captain David Beckham has still not committed to the big-spending Qatar-backed French club.

Former AC Milan and Chelsea boss Ancelotti has been in talks with the Ligue 1 leaders in the French capital since Wednesday, after being lined up to replace Antoine Kombouare.

PSG are thought to be keen to confirm the Italian as their new coach in time for him to fly out to the Middle East with the first-team squad on Sunday for a four-day winter training camp in Qatar and Dubai.

PSG's next competitive game is a French Cup last-64 tie away to Brittany amateur outfit Locmine on January 8.

It has been reported that Ancelotti, twice a Champions League winner in his time with Milan, would become the best-paid coach in the history of the French game on a two-and-a-half-year deal with an annual salary of between six and seven million euros ($7.8m-$9m).

The club have yet officially to confirm the sacking of Kombouare, a former player who has been in the dug-out since the summer of 2009.

A statement on December 22 merely indicated that PSG and Kombouare were in "peaceful discussions."
But Beckham's agent on Friday denied media reports that the former Manchester United star had signed for the Parisian club.
"There is no agreement with PSG at this time, an offer does not make a contract, we continue to hold negotiations with a number of clubs," 19Management said in a statement released by the SEMP public relations company.
"No decision has been made and we do not expect one at the moment."

But PSG's mega-rich owners Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) expressed confidence that Beckham would "soon be a player for PSG".

"We are confident that he will be in attendance for the (friendly) match with AC Milan, and are happy to see David and his family settle into Paris."

Courtesy: Yahoo news

DON’T GET MAD…

What is the point in you getting mad? What does it solve? That something is getting the best of you is not for you to get mad….you get even! Reach that destination! The world is such that the rich are getting richer and the poor, poorer; there is no middle man; you are either moving up the ladder or going down the ladder, which is how the society works these days. It helps if you know somebody and if you have that silver spoon syndrome but more importantly, what you know can change the course of your life for good.

The numbers of unemployed, underemployed people are so alarming all over the world….so this is not the time to get mad….find excuses and blame somebody or the Government. It is time for you to fight, to believe in yourself and survive.  You cannot just give up on yourself or feel sorry that no one cares about me…..you will be so disappointed. The world is moving so fast and the society is selfish but that is no excuse…. You must and you should never get mad. Whatever your challenges, it is time for you to rise above it and let that propel you to fight for what you believe it. Strive harder. This is not the time to give up. You want a car? Then work your ass off for it. That is how you get even. Getting even isn’t so much about proving a point or hitting hard on someone, it is achieving what you want and still having your dignity fully intact. No one has to get hurt or you do not have to sell your soul to get even.

I read a newspaper spread recently which clearly says that “getting a job is serious work”. That you are unemployed and that you are looking for another job is an office already. I bet many people never knew, reading it was revealing and it will help a lot of young people as well as those seeking a change of job….. It further goes to talk on mindset. Very true. Your disposition matters in life. It is not so much about your condition but your decision and what you know informs your decision.

The rate of unemployment and lowering life expectancy in this part of the world calls for us to look inwards and take a stock of what we have been up to. Getting angry at the rich or the politicians will not solve a single thing. We must figure our way through the chaos and move ahead. Stop hating, stop getting angry….get even and open your mind to reality. In case you are still stuck with the entitlement mentality that someone else is responsible for you or that the Government must do this or do that for you do be able to take a step, you will end up 40years old and very disappointed. Possibly, you are yet to realise that life is not about grades anymore, as much as it is great, do not forget that there are loads of first class and second class upper graduates roaming the streets unemployed. Some are even flipping burgers…in a bid to survive.

Take the initiative and find your way. Times are hard and there is no guarantee it will get better. The effort you use to envy, plot someone’s downfall, and use it to make your life better. The times you spend looking for phone numbers of influential people and contacts just in a bid to make your leg longer for better opportunities, use it to challenge your gifts. This is not the era for you to begin choosing some type of job, some type of environment or who you must work with. Dream big dreams but don’t forget reality. This is not the time to get mad, blame your parents, teachers, background, spouse, children or whoever  for what they did or did not do….this is not the time to envy your girlfriend because she has made it big or plot ways to bring her down….let whatever you feel, propel you to hunger for greatness. Not to cut corners but having the patience to pursue your dreams legitimately. Life is never fair and you must be willing to fight continually, survive. Envy, jealousy, Crime, short cuts, strife, back biting will not take you far and it will never put a good man down. Pursue knowledge and let it drive you to the top, not being angry and sorry. If you have a challenge, if you cannot resist the feeling to envy and bad mouth somebody, all you have to do is find a solution. You can learn from those who have made it, not to envy them and rejoice at their down fall. Not to get mad and expect the world to stop rotating. You are one in how many billion people on the face of the earth? 7 billion and counting! The world owes you nothing and you are responsible for your actions. Deal with it. Remember, you do not have to prove a point or run someone down… you have a destination, reach it…that is how you get even. You have to get there legitimately and enjoy every step of the way.

It is not about getting mad; it is all about getting even!

TIAN TIAN MAKES BBC's LIST…….and she is a PANDA!

The BBC is making headlines this time again…what for? They have decided to choose a Panda named Tian Tian (Sweetie) as one of its female faces of the year!...oh yeah…exactly as you see it. A panda! Does it mean no other woman fit? Some things are just outrageous, funny and makes you wonder…. Tian  Tian a female panda arrived at the Edinburgh zoon on loan from China earlier in the year with huge publicity. That decision has provoked angry tweets. Some of the tweets read;

“So the BBC couldn’t find a woman for Sports Personality of the year, but they could find a panda for female face of 2011” Former Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott

“No offence to Sweetie---su5re a lovely panda and best in the class etc----but clue is in the title ‘women’ not  ‘female of the species’ of the year. Labour MP Stella Creasy

What’s more? BBC has been criticised because a quarter of the female faces this year were chosen because of their involvement in marriages. You guessed right….Pippa Middleton (it helps when The Royal Family is your in-law), South African Charlene Wittstock who married Prince Albert of Monaco and Spanish Billionaire the Duchess of Alba 85, who tied the knot with a civil servant 24 years her junior. This is not the first time an animal make the list for doing nothing…

In 2009, Benson the Carp, a giant fish was August’s entry on the male list and Last year Peppa the pig was on the female list.  Being popular works more….how can an animal possibly be of more value than a human being?

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER TO BE PARDONED!

 

Great way for Maria and Arnold to start the new year! They reportedly spent the christmas together despite having filed for divorce. Maria Shriver i hear is set to pardon her husband after all the scandals...she reminds me of Jackie Kennedy-Onasis. Forgiveness rocks and its the best path...

Divorce isn't neccesarily worth all the stress. Arnold mustbe a happy man right now! I respect Maria even much more now and i think she has a lot of courage to do what is right even though not easy!

KIM KARDASHIAN PAID $600k to host Vegas New year's eve Gig

Kim Kardashian may have suffered press bashing after are famous divorce from Kris Humpries but she still banks cash. She is reportedly paid $600k to host a new year's eve gig in Las Vegas. She was paid $500k to host that last year.....Just great and a way to bounce back and prove that she is still very much alive and standing...

SAMOANS TO MISS THE WHOLE OF FRIDAY!

 I find it very interesting...sleeping and waking up with one whole day behind? how? International Dateline will move...the Samoans will go to bed 11:59pm to wake up saturday morning. This puts Samoans 3hours ahead of western Australia instead of 21hours behind.

Just amazing! A whole day...it means those born on the 30th of December will have to miss a birthday this year!

BE INSPIRED WITH ADEPERO ODUYE

As a Nigerian, I cling to things and people that make me believe; people that inspire my adrenalin pump.

There is Sophie Okenedo,

Sade Adu,

Chiwentel Ejiofor

and now I have Adepero Oduye on that list! As 2012 approaches and we get that resolutions fever, I believe we need all the inspiration we can get and move forward with our lives….Never giving up no matter what.

I like this lady really…and her story inspires me especially what she said about life and her role in Pariah; a movie directed by Dee Rees, as Alike, the 17 year old who is desperately trying to be herself and yet not disappoint her traditional and devout parents.

Adepero Oduye is a 33year old Nigerian Brooklynite. She lost her dad at 19 and had to find a way to survive with all 7 children. As a pre-med student at Cornell University, she realised she did not want to be a doctor. To this she says:

“Life is short. If you know what you want to do, you have to at least try”

Adepero has found affinity for Alike’s (the character she played) struggle to unmask herself. It reminded her of the time many years ago when she was hired as an improve actor for a teen job programme at the Centre for Family Life in Brooklyn. That experience opened her eyes to the belief that she could truly express herself through acting. To his she said:

“I identified with that feeling of not feeling free. You know there is a person deep down inside of you that is beautiful but is covered with all this stuff. You know you want to uncover all that stuff and be the person you are meant to be”.

Pariah premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. She did a good job but reading her quotes and comments is inspiring and it shows the human ability to succeed against the odds.

“It been challenging but at the end of the day it has made me who I am and I like the actor I am today. The journey has made it clear what kind of work I want to do and what kind of people I want to be with. I want to tell authentic real stories with real characters".

 You Go Girl!!

MEL GIBSON'S EX-WIFE TAKES HALF OF HIS ESTIMATED $850M FORTUNE

I just wonder how Mel Gibson will be feeling right now...considering how much money goes with this divorce from his 30 years marriage with his ex-wife Robyn.
 Divorce can be messy....this is certainly not about the money but Ouch! that is a lot of money... wow! divide $850million dollars into half....how much is that? Celebrity divorce comes with a huge prize!

SIMON COWELL EARNS 28MILLION POUNDS IN ONE YEAR….WHAT???

Simon Cowell! The same one you know, The X-Factor judge who gave up American Idol and imported the X-factor from the U.K. The X-factor US reportedly had an average of 13.5 million viewers per episode…. What????

It is so amazing that in this age of economic meltdown, an individual is raked in a whooping 28 million pounds in just 12 months! That says how lucrative the entertainment/talent business really is. This windfall takes his fortune to 200 million Pounds. Thanks to his reclaimed rights to the X-Factor and Britain’s Got Talent in a massive deal with song BMG. For a 50% stake in the venture, Simon was paid 26,754,967 (in pounds) according to Syco Entertainment annual accounts for the 12 months up to March 31 this year.

With the second season of the X-Factor US on the way, it can only get better for him…. Opportunities still abound and if we could just take that risk, we’ll achieve far more than we can imagine.  He is changing people’s lives and gives ordinary people the chance to do extra ordinary things. He is a risk taker and it pays…High risk, high reward.

KHLOE AND LAMAR HAVING A BABY?

 Khloe and Lamar having a baby?
That will be great....if truely Khloe is pregnant! A follower today twitted "you are jtoo adorable and such an example of love, pls have beautiful babies".
The recent photos taken...show something that looks like a baby bump...it could be true, don't you agree?

FIRST FAMILY...love this picture

I really love this picture and i have to post it on my blog....just cute and the girls are all grown up. Merry Christmas...

CONGRATS MELANIE AMARO

A big Congrats to Melanie Amaro..... The powerful 19 year old vocalist from Sunrise,Florida. I bet Simon will reallly be happy, after all that Rachel Crow drama, this has to be some sweet revenge for Simon Cowell who mentored her all through. The X-factor may not have really rocked like the Idols but  people's lives have been changed...not just the winner but the likes of Rachel Crow talking with Disney Execs. We have seen transformation and contestants really got some boost....the second season would be bigger. It is an exported UK show and  America is warming up to it.

Melanie was at one point eliminated and then reinstated, she now has a whooping $5 miilion recording contract and a starring role in a Pepsi Commercial. Happy for you girl! You deserved it...so go rock it! America has given the chance...enjoy every moment.
In her own words "Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God".  

OCCUPY LEKKI: does it work here?

I always thought it an American "Thing" so to say but then we already have occupy Lekki. Does the occupying method works here?  i am not sure after the outcome...

Many people were injured in the process even though it was supposed to be a peaceful protest. Occupy Lekki is a mass protest against the  tolling on Lekki-Epe Expressway. Men of the Police Force allegedly dispersed protestesters with Tear Gas but that resulted in Exhasution of some protesters. The toll which goes as high as N50 for motocycles and N300 for heavy duty vehicles.

The Government of Babatunde Fashola, Lagos State Governor has come under serious critism. With the drama around the fuel subsidy, uncessary new number plates and Drivers' Licence, Nigerians are Tired of the mechasims that run the economy. 

Some Nigerians have said the the Anti-Gay Bill was uneccesary when other pressing needs are screaming for attention...with The Boko Haram theat still lingering and people not feeling safe, poor infrastructure, High Domestic debt, Import driven economy collapse of the educational system( ASUU on strike) and unyeilding policies; President Goodluck Jonathan isincreasingly getting unpopular. The motivation is really low, while we pray, we want result.

I have always liked Fashola but i think he should reconsider this step even though it appears like a made decision.

I really cannot help but keep wondering what is happening in Nigeria.... everyday, we wake up to different disturbing headlines.  Occupy Lekki is obviously not working in a place like Nigeria and it shows the kind of system that works around here.

THE END OF AN ERA; KIM JONG IL

I woke up this morning to this news on Twitter.

The passing of North Korean Leader, Kim Jon il after 17 years.
He was 69 years old and is reported to have died of heart attack due to mental and physical strain. Other resports say he suffered a severe myocardial infaction along with a heart attack. There are reports of stroke in 2008 and pancreatic cancer. He died 8.30 am, 17th december, 2011, while on a train for 1 of his "feild guadiance' tour.
In 2010 forbes magazine named him the 31st most powerful man in the world. In 2009, the North Korean constitution was amanded and he was referrd to him as the supreme leader. he was known to be a dictator, defying global condenmation to build nuclear weapon at the expense  of his people who are starving.
His son, Kim Jon Un is going to succeed him hopefully. He is a politiacl novice and the youngest son, around 28 years old.The death of the NK Leader makes the end of an era and i want to believe change as well as democracy comes to the country which is now known for her hereditary succession style.  He was known as a repressive leader around the world, normally impossible to negotiate with. Fickle with a cult personality holding almost 23 million people to nightmare regime.
Many North Koreans are crossing the border and especially now, more will move. Some citizens are showing great signs of distraught as the express shock over the death of thier supreme leader but  for the most part, i believe the average north korean wants democracy not withstanding how much respect the had for thier leader. NK is a very close country with little access form the outside world.  Funeral is for 28 december and no foreign delegation will be invited. Dec 17-28 has been declared
We just have to wait and see what happens....2011 sure has taken some  leaders along!

KNOWING WHAT TO DO!!!!

There is no point cutting a large chunk of meat into little pieces with a blunt knife, when by sharpening the knife, your work is faster and you save energy…..but wait, what if you did not know that the knife could be sharpened? You just keep struggling with the task, when it is as easy as sharpening the knife. That is how lack of not knowing what to do can be for us. Your life becomes complicated, you become confused and you may be running around in circles because you do not know the right thing to do. Knowing what to do is wisdom and not knowing is why you are running around in circles.

Ecclesiastes 10:15

The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them because he knoweth not how to go to the city.

Proverbs 4:7

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

I read this verse some days back and then two words came to my mind; Rat race and Wisdom. Then I started wondering how these can be related even though wisdom is the major thought of this whole write up.

Rat race can be like running around in cycles, you just get exhausted and you have achieved nothing you just run around in cycles without leaving the same position. It can be likened to activity without progress or struggling without results or proofs.

What about wisdom? Wisdom the Bible says is the principal thing. It is the right application of knowledge in moral and spiritual matters. This goes to say that if a man doesn’t k now what to do, it would be a case of lacking wisdom. Wisdom is getting the right info, breaking the knowledge down and understanding then right application. Simply put, Wisdom is the right application of what you understand from what you know.

The link between wisdom and rat race is getting clearer now. Not knowing what to do at a particular point in time can result in someone running around in circles.   There has to be first, a hunger for the right information. When you have the right information, it is what we call knowledge.  For information to be right, it must be correct, progressive because knowledge is progressive. It has to be in accordance with what is good, proper. It must be solution-oriented and appropriate. It has to be something that meets your needs, a way to help you out of your predicament, challenge or what ever.

 When you now have the right information, you must not be in a hurry to begin doing it or rush through pages, you must understand it well. Break it down correctly into small bits. This is what UNDERSTANDING means. Until you understand, it cannot translate to right application. Until it is the applied rightly there is no wisdom, just as it is not enough to have the right information….the crux of the whole grammar is in doing. It is in right application you get a solution. Success is in problem – solving.

THE PRINCIPAL THING

That is why the Bible says that wisdom is the principal thing and with all your getting, whatever you are getting in this life, you must get understanding. There will not be meaning to anyone’s life if we run around not knowing the right thing to do. It is not just doing anything but the right thing. The race of this world is for those who can finish, you have a race to run and you need wisdom to run your race to the finish line. You need wisdom, knowing what to do at a particular point in time, so that you are not running in another man’s lane or running the opposite direction, the truth is, you must run your race and you must be determined to win the race. The Bible tells us in I Corinthians 9: 24 to run that we may obtain because obtaining for winners.  Wisdom is the only way out of the trial and error life. As human beings, trying and trying is easier said than done, it takes wisdom for you to pick important lessons from mistake because if you do the same thing over and over again, in the same way you did it, you will be getting the same result and you have not learnt anything from your previous failures. Besides, you do not have forever to live a trial and error life.

Wisdom is the principal thing and it better than money. When people operate in wisdom, they have speed and it is almost like they are some super humans, like their lives are so easy. They have a solution-oriented approach to problems. People who operate in wisdom are leaders. For you to operate in wisdom, the life of knowing what to do, when to do it, you must have hunger for knowledge. The hunger to know and you match it up with action. 

ANOITING

If you are a Christian and you went to church, you were anointed, it is not for you to run away from problems live a life of confusion but the anointing helps you to walk in wisdom.  There are challenges in your personal life that you are facing but because you don’t know what to do, you just sit there confused operating in the trial and error life believing one way, things will definitely work out. How long can you can you wait? Anoiting is for problem-solving.

 A lot of us are eager for solutions ready-made ones, the reason why you are confused. You are so dependent on fast-solutions, the experts, you never take the time to know and understand, and you want things solved so easily. The truth is when you know and understand your challenges; you are in a better place to proffer solutions. When you know how to get a challenge solved, you are a better person because you would have learnt something. Next time, you response will be better. Wisdom is very important and everyday; we must continually seek it from God because it is the principal thing in life. When you know the right thing to do and you apply it, you’ll experience speed and grace. The spirit of toiling and strife has over taken many in the world. The feeling that you have to suffer for everything, which the world is all about suffering and the type that wears you out. Nothing good comes easy but wisdom does more for you because God did not create you to suffer. Believe it and resist the temptation to think so. Your life is made to be progressive, not to run around in circles, to suffer all the days of your life.

 A man of wisdom is a man of understanding. When you understand issues thoroughly, you can solve and move on to something else. This is the time for you to rise again and stop managing your mediocre, self-pity, angry life. It is not about anger, envy or self-pity; it is all about knowing what to do. The right thing to do and when you should be doing it. Be tired of running around in circles, desire progress and stop making excuses for your average life. If you do not like where you are now, it is time to look inside, ask yourself what next. Do not just sit there feeling so confused,getting lost in the crowd for every problem, no matter how complicated, there is a solution and wisdom helps you figure that out.

HOW?

To get wisdom, ask God…..be hungry. Let God see your heart and your hunger… He never fails. He is the author of wisdom. You can also learn from other people from books and other valuable resources. Do not be a one-man army, be eager to learn.

THE DEATH OF ORIGINALITY: Speaking your own language

I like J’odie, Omawumi because they are original. So is my love for Asa and Dagrin. I love Classic FM 97.3 Lagos because there is nothing like it. You will hear songs you will not hear anywhere else in Nigeria, I can bet on that.

Many presenters in the media houses around here are so taken by their supposed “American” and “British” accents. Many musicians are so dying to get the Beyonce factor, the Rihanna sexy behaviour, sing like Mariah Carey, rap like Lil’ Wayne, Jay Z and everybody says they have got some swagger….and am wondering who are these people? Since they are trying hard to be like someone?  I thought we are supposed to learn from them, get inspired but never loose our sense of individuality? I won’t be surprised if someone starts dressing up like Lady Gaga walking down my streets. Every other lady rocks lace wig and Brazilian, they all have BBs, so it is understandable what trends mean. Little wonder, I see a lot of BEZs on my street and at auditions, all the young guys sagging their jeans because it seems like a huge trend…just wondering what happened to being original?

Many people are for the successful ventures, nobody wants to test the new grounds, once someone invents something and it works, you can be sure that the rest of Lagos will be unto it. You watch music videos and movies; it is like the same thing. Similar lyrics, beat, dress code, dance style……it is all so common. The radio stations are playing the same thing, it is so boring. Don’t you just like it when you hear JayZ, you just know it has to be JayZ and if it is not him, we just say, oh! This guy raps like JayZ; all because JayZ has defined his own style and it has stuck right inside our heads. When you hear Tu-Face, you know who it is. That is what originality is all about, It is why many people love Beyonce, Madonna, Lil’Wayne, Akon and all those who stand for originality. The world is in need of originality. If God wanted us to be copy-cats he would not have given us different finger prints.

Originality rocks and keeps you ahead of the pack.

-         Instead of spending time and resources duplicating Christian Audigier Ed Hardy T-shirts, take a cue and make yours.

-         We all cannot be so into that Brazilian hair and BB fever…. If you must have them, make sure it is not a bandwagon effect.

-         Short dresses or hugging clothes are not for you because it does not work for all figures.

-         Don’t catch the pencil heels fever, it is not for everyone.

-         Your lyrics must not be about girls especially naked ones and your beats must not follow the band wagon.

-         Stop sagging your jeans; it gives you no sense of style.

-         Stop forcing the American or British Accent, it makes you so fake and listening to you or watching you is so boring.

-         Don’t jump at that business because it looks lucrative

The earlier you know it the better for you…..the news is, you can only copy, you cannot be them, so take your cue and build your own brand. We already have them and we are so into them already…..we want something new and we want your brand. You can copy all you like; it will never get you anywhere. Whatever the success, it will be short lived…you will always be like them…oh she sings like Madonna.

A close friend told me how he lost a race in his secondary school days because he wanted to run a particular style copying someone. The funny thing about it was that he was ahead of the rest half way into the race but because he decided to copy, swing his arms like the other guy who was then the fastest guy, he lost the race and finished last. If he had ran at his own pace, his own style, he would have won first prize for his house and ended up as the new fast guy in school but he gave that away all in a bid to copy someone because he thought it would make him run faster. What he did not know them was that, it was a natural thing for the other guy and he never even took notice that he ran that way. So it is with all these original stars. They are doing what they love in their own original style and that is why they are stars. You have to believe in what you can do and do it well, that makes you original. Why it takes you so much time and effort to copy someone, it comes naturally to them and it is effortless.

Even when we hear everyday that originality is important and it gives you an edge, people still prefer to copy. That is why we have a lot of counterfeit products in the market. People just enjoy copying, everybody is conforming, and those who the society labels as rebel go on to become stars. The uncommon road is not an easy route but if you believe in something, then you should go for it. You must not dress like everyone dress, buy what they buy, sing like them to believe you are somebody. Right where you are, just as you are…..all you need to do is groom yourself better, brand yourself, with patience, persistence….you too can be a star.

It is better people hate for being original than them praising you for acting Lady Gaga so well. You will continually be in their shadow. It is why they encourage winners of talent hunt to write their own songs and do their own style. This is life, you must run your own race and you must finish it. You can be slow as a snail, if that is your style but the important thing is that you finish. You may not be able to run as fast as Usian Bolt or swag like Rihanna, the point is in you finishing as you. Never loose your individuality. There are so many people in the world and God created us uniquely, run with who you are…..be yourself…nothing more, nothing less. Be original, speak your own language.

CONGRATS TO THE NEWLY CROWNED MISS NIGERIA

Congrats to the new Miss Nigeria, Miss Feyijimi Sodipo.

This time they are more natural and thier dress sense works for me. Make up was really moderate and the girls are far intelligent. Miss Ogun nailed that Global warming answer and that was the part that made all the diffrence. Miss Edo was 2nd runner up and Miss Benue 1st runnner up. The Ankara and the styles was amazing...

SOLUTIONS....PLEASE! part 2

People go abroad and when they come back, they go back to littering the streets, while it is not done over there, once they come back, they become like most people. Yet they complain of how dirty the streets are. You are well travelled but some things, you cannot change, when it is vacation, you pack your family and off you go, then you come back and say how bad Nigeria is. People like you are part of the problem, major source!!!!  People make little money, instead of investing it; they quickly buy a liability….no thinking of posterity, long-term rewards. A lot of us prefer to buy a car twice as expensive, wear all the best clothes instead of doing something to change someone’s life with part of the money. We are so material driven that all we see is what people have….it becomes our aspiration. Don’t be the type of Nigerian or African with all the resources and all you do is consuming, you are not contributing anything, just occupying space and complaining. Some of us have no value for human lives, trampling others under our feet for some little power…... Collecting ‘change’ as a PHCN officer to connect light; what is supposed to be your job, what they are paying you for. Promising young girls a better life abroad and eventually sending them into a life of prostitution. You take another man’s child into your house and maltreat the poor child over little things, something you will never do to your child. Over working and continually criticizing your subordinates, with no regard for their private life and family, you treat them with no regard and if many of them had their way, they will not even be working under you. It is always about you, you must be the first to benefit, nothing from you at the top ever trickles down. You are a lecturer and all you do is intimidate your students, why they must buy your handout even with your obsolete teaching methods. People jumping corners to get things done, eye-service even in the tiniest form. If you do these things and more, you are part of the problem.

 Be the solution….Make it a choice to pursue excellence, never compromising. We have enough problems already. If we do not play our part, the way Nigeria is headed, God help us. Those in power are practically clueless and the ruling class are not allowing those below to climb up. If you want to rise above the rat race, be that star, then start thinking solution. In anyway, you can impact people’s lives positively, begin to now. It is not always about having money; even how you treat others, how you spend your money, what you say and do…change your thinking!!!!

  For those seeking relevance, wanting to be superstars…..remember that; when you solve problems, people will come to you regardless of your location, language, colour or whatever prejudice. We are tired of complainers, it is major tabloid headlines, it sells but we cannot continue like this. Be the change you seek, part of the solution, don’t add to our problems!

SOLUTIONS….PLEASE! part 1

Everyday, people complain and complain. I sometimes do but I try to resist it because most times we complain to people who cannot solve the problem, that is what I like to call lamentation or when you voice out to people who are supposed to be hearing, it is almost like they never heard you. As I have I figured, complaining does not solve anything, it only makes it worse. The best way is to put your self in the place of solution. Find some problem to solve, stop being part of the problem. In this part of the world (Africa), our greatest battle has been leadership. We lack it and for the most part, we barely can figure out how to lead.  The world needs solutions, plenty of it, that is what the developed world thrives on and it is the way to lead. Leading in that your small corner, doing those simple things extra-ordinarily well and being the change you seek. The system around here erodes human values and makes a lot of things difficult, our culture is change-resistant and we like complexity, too many processesses; it is understandable the challenges of pursuing excellence but the good thing is that it is possible. There are norms, Traditions and mechanisms that drive our system, even when they do not help. Certain practices that give no room for keeping your vision alive, baseless procedures but you must strive to keep your vision alive. Fight for what you believe in and let it begin where you are.

Complaining about it further complicates everything. Until recently, I just did not see how providing solutions could be linked to leadership, now I know (Thanks to my experience at Excellence in Leadership Conference (2011), Daystar Christian Centre, Lagos). To lead is to be different, to solve problems. When you are part of the solution, you are a true leader. Leadership is reserved for problem solvers. It is not about occupying positions. It is based on wisdom. We are plagued with a leadership that is experiencing HIV (Having Insufficient Vision) in the words of Sam Adeyemi. I resolved not to be part of the problem anymore but consider ways I can improve the things around me. Waiting on those leaders will not get us anywhere. They have enough on their hands already.

When you look at Young American Millionaires, they are entrepreneurs providing solutions to problems.

 Mark Zuckerberg, Dustin Moskovitz, Eduardo Saverin and Sean Parker are all linked with Facebook and the success of a platform for social networking has changed the way we communicate.

Segrey Brin and Larry Page have Google.

Let us ask ourselves, what problems are we solving now? Is there really nothing we can do? Are we part of the dependency population, the consumers? The point is, if you belong to this class, you are likely to fall into the class of people who always complain…waiting on someone else to fix the problem, you are not willing to use your initiative even in the smallest way. In Nigeria, we see that those who provide goods and services are mostly the CEOs, the dictate the tune when it comes to employment and they are the ones making all the cash. They are always ahead of the pack and take all the risks. They are always looking for solutions and by providing it, they become huge in many ways. It does not matter how much money you have or what your talent is, you must begin to start thinking solution, improvement and innovation…..you must not let the challenges of your environment limit you.

In the Bible, we see that people like David, Joseph, Daniel and Jesus Christ himself were all at the top because they provided solution.

-         David was a musician who played for King Saul when he needed a musician and was recommended; He also killed Goliath, a major problem for the Israelites.

-         Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream. If there was no dream to be interpreted, Joseph will not be called to be palace and will not even be remembered.

-         Daniel Excelled because of his spirit of wisdom, being a captive; he also interpreted dreams and counselled the king.

-         Jesus Christ went about doing good, God anointed him and he went about solving problems, helping people live better lives.

The list goes on and you will see that many inventors and legends today solved problems, they rose above the crowd of complainers and by deciding to be different, and they have changed our lives. Mary Slessor, Florence Nightingale, Martin Luther King, Pastor Sam (Leadership) and  Nike Adeyemi (Orphans and Single mothers), Pastor Bimbo Odukoya (late), Bishop David Oyedepo, Lexy Mojo-Eyes, Mary Kay, Sean Diddy Combs, Fela and Tara Durotoye, Mike Adenuga, Cobhams Asuquo, Raymond Dokpesi, Betty Irabor etc. You MUST find a way to be a solution, stop complaining. Your own should not be pure consuming and finding faults in what others do. How about you? Which problem have you solved?

You must not allow the ineptitude of your leaders sabotage your dreams. You must survive and as Nigerians, we know exactly how to do it legitimately, if we truly want to. You can sit all day read the papers and the magazines admiring all those beautiful people, that is how far, you can go. Let their achievement inspire you to act, let it drive you to achieve and solve a problem, no matter how little it is. Be the candle light in the darkness. We cannot continue to wallow in backwardness, entitlement mentality, Get-rich-quick schemes, Poor value systems, Sentiments, Religion, Nepotism, No regard for the law (breaking the law, when you are supposed to be upholding the law) Selfishness, Bureaucracy, Tribalism, Insubordination, Mediocrity….refusing to be the change.

to be continued....