Victor Counted | Keynote Speaker, Author, Life Coach

Want to be Successful? See the 3 Essential People that Will Make a Difference in Your Life

2013-05-21T04:48:00.001-07:00

Azuka was tired of living from paycheck to paycheck and trapped in his own miserable life. He grew tired of the friends he had and the company he kept because none of them were better than he was. They all looked up to Azuka for one thing or the other. Although Azuka knew he was a nobody in the outer society and can’t boast of any significant possession of his own, he kept it all to himself and celebrated his ephemeral moment of mediocrity. As days goes by, he began to search for ways to enhance himself and decided to sought out new friends. He targeted big events, conventions and conferences to connect with people who had made something of themselves. He completely replaced the pack of people in his network and decided to make a new list of friends. The list was simply divided into two columns: One for those who would improve his life and the other for those who would drag him down. He spent more time as possible with folks who could improve his life, and keep away from his old friends as much as possible. It wasn't up to 2 years Azuka’s life became a success story.

In case you don’t know yet, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with”. Frankly, you need to modify your friends’ list in order to move forward in life. You need to surround yourself with people who would inspire you to live better. What makes the most successful amongst us today is nothing other than the company they keep. If you make friends with healthy people, you will in turn become healthy. Keep company with wise people, you shall become wise thyself. Associate with losers, you will be dragged down along with them. It is as simple as it works.

Brenton Weyi in his inspiring article, “Why Successful People Leave Their Loser Friends Behind", shares these three powerful insights on the kind of folks to stay around with.

If you want to be truly successful, you must have these 3 essential people in your life at all times:

A person who is older and more successful than you to learn from

What this person does is simple: he or she gives you counsel and positions you for success. This can be a mentor or role model...someone you look up to. No matter where you want to be, someone else have got the experience you need to get there or had been there and knows all about the game. To avoid wasting resources and time in getting results, it is much wiser to learn how to tie the rope from the masters. This could be an older or perhaps a younger lad with the experience. It saves time and truncates unwarranted mistakes in my past lingo. You deceive yourself if you claim there is nobody to look up to in your chosen hustle. Arguably, success is the function of humility. The ability to humble ourselves and learn from those that are ahead of us. We must learn from people to grow.

A person who is equal to you to exchange ideas with

Look out for folks that challenge your intelligence and make you feel as if you still have a lot to learn. Of course everyone does. But go for peers whose passion is as same as yours, to provide an exchange of inspiration and ideas. You may never figure it all out alone. At some point you may need some helping hands to sharpen that vision of yours. Don’t engage anybody. Find those that you share the same goals with, people who seem to go the same direction with you. However, be careful not to engage people who think they know you too much and want to tell you everything they have not achieved. Look out for people with through life’s story, those whose storyline you can tap great wisdom and inspiration from. Remember, do not engage all your friends, especially those who love you and know you too well, they might do the opposite of what you need: weaken your confidence. Find fellow millennials who are connected, open to change and very passionate about your area of interest, connect them and boast each other’s enthusiasm in order to succeed together.

A person below you to coach and keep you energized

This is the part most successful businesspeople miss out. The success of generational leadership is the ability to pass on the baton. The ability to incubate in another, the spirit in you. Being an inspirational leader is not loving your followers (every leader does that) and neither is it to devote your entirety for them. It is far beyond that. Seek amongst your followers new kings of the game. Look out for them. Embrace them. Humble them with your true life’s story; as some leaders avoid saying it all in the public for plausible reasons. Make them believe they can be greater than you. Give them chance to exhibit their naivety in accordance to your rules. Never you laugh at them or reach your decibel level when correcting them. Correct them in love as the Bible teaches us. Learn from them. Teach them true success from inside out. Lead them and empower them to succeed.

The quality of every great and successful leader is in the humility to challenge themselves with people that will refine their talents. Success is usually the function of the network of driven peers who provide both inspiration and healthy motivation. Your life reflects the shadow of people in your circle.

Upgrade your mindset today and modify your close associates. Draft a make and break list of people you need in your life and those you don’t need. Always challenge yourself with exceptional people that will lift you higher. Surround yourself with down-to-earth folks who will inspire your work in progress and continue to turn on your audacity. Find young lads to train and bring up in thy ways. Never join an easy crowd of losers that will drag you down. Go where things happen, where stakes and demands to achieve are too high. Make it happen!

Be amazing!

5 Secrets to Excellence of Self

2013-05-15T04:13:00.002-07:00

Winston Churchill spent most of his life in polities. His career encompassed numerous failures and disappointments. His father, Sir Randolph Churchill, never believed his son would make such much of himself, despite his continual effort to do so. Winston lost office and switched political parties more than once. He repeatedly teetered on the brink of bankruptcy. Yet on May 10, 1940, he finally became Prime Minister of Britain.

Harry Truman’s early life was, like Churchill’s, filled with disappointment. He suffered bankruptcy. Being a plainspoken, ordinary man, he was often overlooked. He was usually an underdog in elections in which he ran. He was the third Vice President to serve under Franklin Roosevelt. His presidency, beginning when he was 61, was much like Churchill’s role as prime minister, largely unexpected. In each case, the men served with distinction and changed the course of history.

I have come to discover the five unique qualities that may help you become better at what you do.

Patience

Recently, my girlfriend began to make jokes about my fidgeting weakness. It was only of recent I realized it was a weakness. For some of my life-brothers and sisters out there life may seem too slow for, I empathize with your quest. I’m not a slow lad either. The world just won't understand our rush. I just cannot help it myself. I am too impatient. One of the most difficult tasks ever is to discern if God is using our current position to open doors to new opportunities or whether our present position is orchestrated by the devil. Most often, the answer is, “I don’t know”, which suggests the need for more patience. Most people I talk with express dissatisfaction with where they are or facing job transition that are raising vexing concerns. Of course, I don’t have answers for them, just more vexing questions. But I know that God has you in that seemingly uncomfortable state for a reason. Don’t ever underestimate the mind blowing power of patience, especially when things seem not to work out as we had hoped. God’s plan often requires patience and character, but if we are willing to remain faithful and unmovable in our state of “alert-expectancy” we are never left shortchanged. (Rom. 5:3-5 – Message Bible). You need the awesomeness of patience to come up with a brilliant plan – make plans while you wait on the Lord.

Courage

Don’t ever think of giving up on what you have started. It could be your vision, family or talent. Of recent, I came to understand that some parents unconsciously grade the measure of achievement their kids will have when they grow up on the basis of what they see them do when they were little. As a result, for those that were low-ranked, there is a low level of expectancy for such a child. Notice, the reaction or response of your parents when you share with them the “big-picture” of your dream determines the measure to which you are ranked by them. Whether they believe you can do big or small things. Perhaps they believe you will give up half way. Not giving you all the support you need is their unrelated way of saying they don’t trust you with big things. But who wins without ever taking risks? Nobody! We need to find courage to support those we claim to love.

Confidence

Have you ever felt the rush of confidence drizzling through your veins? For those of us who may have experienced such state of hype and swagger, please stay focused and be who you were born to be. It was said that in an earlier age, military might and physical strength were often as important as your vision for the future and your ability to delegate. It was a prerequisite for leadership, especially in times of warfare. People of size and muscles automatically gained the loyalty of followers. People who were not tall or particularly muscular were at a distinct disadvantage. Over the years we have seen people like the relatively diminutive Napoleon Bonaparte, standing at five feet six inches driven as much by confidence as he was by his ambition to rule the world. Go for whatever you think that can enhance your confidence. Find the right look for yourself. Gym and nurture the right physique, if required. Dress with class and do whatever necessary to activate your confidence. You need to be confident with your vision. It starts with being confident in thyself. One cannot break the ice of inferiority if he does not boldly step out in faith to win. The clock is running. Make the most of today. Time waits for no man. The thin line between failure and success is simply the blurry line of confidence – belief in yourself and your abilities. The world is waiting for us to break out of our inferior zone and come to the bright side of life.

Self-Control

Field Marshall Lord Allenby was a brilliant World War One commander who led in the overthrow of the Ottoman Empire’s stranglehold over the Middle East, liberating both Jerusalem and Damascus. Allenby appeared fearless and radiated confidence. He could be relentless in attack. His biographer noted that Allenby was never recognized as a great leader, nor was he as popular with his men as one might have supposed, in light of his success. This was due in part because Allenby lacked a measure of self-control, a little humanity, the power to communicate enthusiasm and to inspire disciples. According to Wavell Archibald in his book Allenby in which he concludes that Allenby’s sudden explosions of temper, his occasional almost childish petulance, did his reputation the more harm since he never troubled to correct the impression they created. For starters, people can be extremely frustrating! Their foolish actions can harm your organization and cause you numerous problems. But often your greatness as a leader is not measured by the decibel level you reach as you chew out your colleagues, but by the self-control and maturity you demonstrate as you seek a solution. Remember that God is fully aware of our human frailties. He knows too well the grief and headache some of the foolish choices we make will cost us. Yet He relates to us graciously. He is slow to anger, in the same manner He wants us to. Seek to change others rather than to berate those around you.

Compassion

We are “BAD” – fantastically bad! We do not care to respect or consider others first before thinking of ourselves. As leaders, we disrespectfully shout on our employees or junior colleagues with disgust simply because of a little wrong they did. Who is even perfect? You? We don’t care whether the man next door is on the verge of losing his sanity because we chose not to listen. We don't care whether our pastor can pay his children's school fees with the little stipend from the church. We don't care whether the way we portray ourselves or dress in public influences others to sin. One word defines us all: “Selfish”. We are self-seeking. We want to head-on and do whatever we feel like simply because it feels good to us alone. Think…when last did you reach out to some of your facebook friends and ask how they were doing? Think…when last did you celebrate God’s grace and mercy over your life? However, nobody dislikes understanding the suffering of others and wanting to do something about it. Often you realize that above 90% of people do not want to help others because of a familiar experience. As a result, they reciprocate such subliminal action by redirecting their revenge towards innocent people that are within their compass. Need I remind you, compassion is not as much what we do as it is who we are out of love; a state where God’s Word and our deeds are in sync. Turn your rage into positive. Do to people what you want them to do to you. Compassion should not be required but given. Show compassion!

Strive to be better. Strive to be more. Strive to be counted among the amazing.

8 out of 10 of Every Nigerian Millennial Seem To Think They Have a Career in Music

2013-05-09T16:59:00.000-07:00

Upcoming Nigerian Artiste: Chyme HD

Perhaps you have not noticed yet, the upsurge of wanna-be entertainers at every nook and cranny of our society? An increased number of young millennials now seek to build careers in the music industry either as a singer, rapper, cinematographer, sound engineer or DJ. While there is nothing wrong with pursuing a dream of becoming an entertainer, the concern is that the sudden influx into the entertainment industry has affected the education sector. Besides, this seems to be a shared dream of an increased percentage of the Nigeria’s millennial population. Where are the career professionals of the future?

I randomly conducted interviews with some young adults in quite a few selected parts of Lagos metropolis prior to my research proper and I here listed 5 strongest links that might be responsible for this recent evolution. Although these factors are not, in totality, accurate, I invite you to support my research and examine how Nigerian Millennials engage in what has been consistently referred to — on both sides of the Atlantic — as “the pop culture”.

Here are what I came up with:

Get-Rich-Quick Theory of Life

The two things that are slowly destroying millennials today are prosperity-at-any-price and the love for soft-living. Peradventure this might be as a result of what they are exposed to. Since what we listen to or watch has an altering effect on us, especially when internalized. For instance, the popular celebrity news gossip on our local TV and radio stations is enough motivation to arouse a like for fast life, for the reason that it shows nothing but how easy and enjoyable life could be, but only if you are a celebrity. Nobody is interested anymore in pursuing long-term academic goals. Neither is the system framed in such a way that one can build a stable future through long term strategic planning and development. Truth be told, it is difficult and only the strong can survive the long-term process to greatness.

Frustrating School System

While the need for JAMB and post-UME exams are understandable although negotiable, the overall effect it has on the education system is overwhelmingly counterproductive. A youth that retakes JAMB and post-UME exams for 3 productive years of their life span might finally have to give up on education since their peers who are either into music or business are gradually attracting fame or growing in their own business. If we do not make the Nigeria education system flexible enough to accommodate everyone we might lose our growing population of millennials sooner than we think, once it becomes clearer to them that you can actually make it without a university degree. Although this is true, but education still plays a vital role in perfecting our niche and in nation building.

High Unemployment Rate

Some of the artistes I had the chance to interact with whispered in camera, saying they invested their energy into music because of their love for music. However, this according to one of the artiste was the corollary of not finding a suitable job after school. In their own words, “they discovered who they really are and had to create a slot for themselves in the society.” Imagine a scenario where one finally finishes from the University and yet unable to find a job, while his peers that are into business or music are doing excellently well and building empires? That is not fair and nothing short of frustration for the youth. No matter how interested you are in pursing long term academic goals you certainly might eventually lose interest with time since it doesn’t momentarily pay the bills. I frown at people who often say that we get educated to create jobs not to find job. While this is seemingly true from a pro-active perspective, we tend to forget that the wheel of entrepreneurship surely requires – at least, a little capital to service or start the gear. While academic pursuit stagnates you in the waiting line of success and music affords you the opportunity to automatic stardom, there is a chance you might swap or get lost in that waiting line of success sooner or later.

Peer Group Influence

Nothing attracts a crowd like a crowd. Millennials are naturally attracted to the pop culture, in most cases, because of the crowd – they love big events, big shows and big crowds. They want to be seen by friends. They want to display their primness and be noticed in their glowing prime by new associates. Hence, going out, be it to church, school or event, for the millennial, becomes a razzmatazz of personality. Millennials are frequent fans of innovation and operate in a Homogenous Unit Principle (google it). Any government that takes human resource development seriously should make millennials a major priority in their pro-development agenda because of their receptivity and application of the Homogeneous Unit Principle. In other words, if their peers are attracted to something, maybe to a music, an artiste or pop event, they are inevitably going to be attracted to that same thing sooner or later – be it for good, bad or whatever reason.

Popular Entertainment News

With the growing influence of the music industry in Nigeria, a lot of media houses have now re-modified their publications to have a more entertaining interface to sellout. Every media house surely wants to grow their fan base and airing entertainment-related contents like playing music videos or supplying celebrity gossips is a good way to get started. They compete from who has the latest entertainment news gossip to who has the latest D’Banj’s new single. Who are the audience if not millennials? Entertainment news is taking over the air waves and people are interested more on gossips about celebrities than they are on real issues about real people. Celebrity gist is obviously preferred to promoting quality and educational news. On the contrary, research groups only share group knowledge about their recent research works within their confines. Making it impossible for people like you and I outside their bounded scope to have access to their shared research. This is not the right way to share knowledge.

Thank God for TED for helping out. But what if we get something for Africans and by Africans? Imagine converting our indigenous research initiatives and data into popular news stories and providing a banquet for free knowledge and inspiration for Africa’s millennia transition? In effect, we can gradually formulate and inspire a third millennium African culture, which is a whole new level of cultural colonization, from top down! Thank God for TMAfrica for leading such a vision. That in my opinion is the solution to building a new breed of young people with capacity for leadership and development. Much said.

Young people are moved by what they see. And with continuous assimilation, they gradually get induced to music, to a point they develop in themselves a music talent to compete as entertainers, since everybody has in themselves a music talent – all you need to do is to find it and develop it. I can prove it (if you ask).

Finally after administering my questionnaires and interviews; a common question was, “Are you an artiste or do you wish you were an entertainer?” I got the shocker of my life from their response. I came to realize from my statistics that 8 out of 10 of every Nigerian millennial either seem to think they have a career in music or wish they were entertainers.

What does this mean for the future?

Perhaps the future will be musically bright but intellectually bleak. If we do not teach our young people that education truly pays by making our education system accommodating and rewarding, we might lose a huge percentage of our young millennials who should be experts in diverse professional fields than to music and music alone. What this means is that in no time from now, when the Gen X Nigerian professionals and those in management positions have all retired from the workplace, there will be a massive scarcity of intellectual flow.

Want People to Listen to You? Speak With Authority!

2013-05-07T10:44:00.000-07:00

I read the story of Jesus and how he could teach people continuously for days without his audience worrying about food. Fascinating, isn’t it? The multitudes were always astonished at his teaching, simply because of one thing: “he taught them with authority” and not like the typical religious leaders of his days (Mk 1:22).

One thing I learnt from this passage is how knowing your subject could boast you communication skills. Rarely do you see anybody preach, teach or speak authoritatively on a subject they know nothing about. Two things to learn from Jesus from his speaking skills: 1. He knew his subject. 2. He knew how to engage his audience.

Knowing your subject and strategically engaging your audience are two different things. You can know your subject quite alright but may shamelessly give a whole day of boring lecture without people having a clue of what you are “tttrrryyyiiinnnggg” to say. Conversely, you can as well have the gift of Gab and strategically know how to engage your audience without impartation. In fact the latter is worst.

So then, how can we engage people?

I learnt this from Jesus: He chose to be different.

The bible tells us that he was not like the scribes – the religious leaders of his time. It was a typical thing for a student or a follower to want to speak or talk like his leader. We see that today in churches, especially in Africa. What is that?

To engage people effectively you must be yourself. Speak the way you were born to speak, and know your subject matter by experience, and not just by mere study. People need to see that what they hear you speak or talk about is the truth about your own life.

Nobody wants to listen to you because you feel you have a solution to their problems, but because they feel your experience is the solution to their problem. That is, you have an experience that connects to their present situation.

Cultivate a shared-learning attitude in your communication with people and not an “I am better than you” attitude we see all around us.

Let’s speak, inspire and impact from the purview of experience.

Share knowledge. Lead. Achieve!

How To Manage Criticism as a Leader

2013-03-15T03:31:00.000-07:00

No joke, you don’t necessarily have to offend someone before they find you offensive. It starts with the unimagined of things…

Today, I want to breezily talk about How to Win Your Critics and share some little experiential knowledge that might help.

Some years back I led a group of vibrant seminarians as the president and during my little time with them I learnt so many things from the lonely seat of leadership. First, no matter how hard you try to selflessly sacrifice and dedicate your life to a group of people, there will always be some, if not many who will never understand your good intentions. Secondly, you don’t have to be a people pleaser to be a good leader. Thirdly, listen to your followers but listen more to your instincts because your followers may deny you if peradventure their strategy flops but your instinct will never leave you nor forsake you. In there lies your decision.

I should have started by saying that no leader ever want to mislead their followers. Every leader comes to produce remarkable results.

If you are a leader or an aspiring leader, there are five kinds of people that are going to give you trouble eventually:

1. Those who hate you without a just cause.
2. Those who are envious of your accomplishment and just will badmouth you
3. The timid and the cowards: the never-do-wells who believe your assignment is impossible
4. Those who pay you with evil for the good you have done them
5. Those who believe they should be in the position you are because they think they are more qualified then you are.

So what do you do? The bible tells us that we must “Silent the ignorant criticism of wicked men by continuing to do good,” (2 Tim. 3:14) because there must be something they are reacting to. Continue to live in faith. The enemy wants you to give up but never let him win.

Psalm 35: 11, 13 tells us of our response to those who pay us with evil for the good we have done them. Although fierce witnesses rise up against you to reward your hard work with evil, asking you things you don’t know, humble them with your silence and prayer.

What about those who hate you for no just cause? The bible says love your enemies, do good to those who dump you (Matt. 5: 33). Let them associate together, let them gather but do not be troubled (Isaiah 8: 9-10).

My word for every leader out there reading this is: In times of loneliness, difficulty and criticism please choose not to faint, but rather be exceptional because it is the right thing to do and not because you are afraid of criticism. Do the work you are called to do in fairness to all. Go ahead doing good because it is only for a matter of time, what they say and what they do against you will come against them and be your testimony. Focus on the assignment. Don’t drop the ball.

Joseph was thrown into prison yet he continued interpreting dreams for people. Jesus was criticized and yet he went about doing good and even was crucified for it. The end is the beginning of your happiness because your unrecognized hard work will eventually count in just a matter of time.

The future of the blameless is peace because it's from the Lord. He is their strength in time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him. (Psalm 37: 37-40).

The Arab Awakening: A Blessing or a Curse to Democracy?

2013-02-16T03:49:00.000-08:00

The world was taken by surprise by the revolutionary changes sweeping the Arab world.[1] Even as some argue for revolution and some rebuke the experience, we must however understand that the Arab world is undergoing an awakening. It is also widely agreed that the Arab world is undergoing a profound transformation and will never be the same again[2] both for the best and worst. As the world supports legitimate demonstrations of democratic aspirations wherever “the seeds of freedom fall”[3] and students examine various aspects of transformational change occurring in the Middle East and Africa as a result of revolution, and as young people and women everywhere yearn to be free, there are life changing/saving lessons from these events as nations struggle to bless or curse democracy in the third millennium.

Does revolution resolve democratic frustrations? Does revolution truly bring about reforms? As post-revolutionary administration battles with sentimental conditions and tensions, what is the hope of social integration?

According to Patrick Seale (2011) the burgeoning democratic movement in the Arab world will need to be underpinned by urgent financial support. If immediate and substantial financial and economic help is not given to Egypt, Tunisia and Libya, the great hopes that have been aroused will be dashed. It is no accident that terrorism thrives where poverty and hopelessness are widespread.[4]

Seale exemplified, “when the Soviet system collapsed in central and Eastern Europe, the West created the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in 1990 to promote economic development, multi-party democracy and to help the transition to capitalist economies. Something similar,” he says “is urgently required in the Arab world: if not an Arab development bank, then a massive fund, something in the nature of the Marshall Plan which the United States launched after the Second World War to rescue and revive European economies”,[5] he adds.

Now the war is over is time for action.

Must we have to go through a revolution to experience democratic change? Do revolutionary demonstrations leverage the aftermath tensions and still-limping economic backdrop? Are we ready to go through the pains and consequences of a post-revolutionary situation?

Indeed there are no straight answers to these. I would like to bring here a Biblical Wisdom.

When the instrument of state fails to curtail a rampaging injustice or when the evil is perpetuated by the state itself through the establishment and elite apparatus, especially in political matters, it is not reason enough for us to resort to antisocial and inhuman methods to vent our frustrations as we have seen in recent times in Africa. When civil protests and legal procedures fail us, Peter admonishes us (see I Peter 2:21-23. NIV) to seek recourse, as Christ did, in God to judge and vindicate us.

The intentions of revolutionary demonstrations are understandable but not worth the leverage of the aftermath conditions (social tensions, instability, and still-limping economic situations) which often lead to disintegration, insecurity, and poverty. In as much as we want to experience freedom and cultivate the seed of freedom for the coming generation is not reason enough to resort to antisocial and inhuman methods which only lead to more frustrations and nemesis for the future generation.

According to Seale, country after country, Arab protesters have voiced the same demands. They want to end random arrests; they want to speak and be heard; to participate in politics; to choose their own representatives. They want a better life for themselves and their children, the end of corruption, and the gross privileges of narrow elites. And they forget that, in the free world none of these are even free. Most of these are surreal. In any case, here is a thought I think might help: we miss to know that “Those who offend us are generally punished for the offence they give; but we so frequently miss the satisfaction of knowing that we are avenged”[6] says Anthony Trollope.

So far, the scenarios of a bloodcurdling revolution which genuine intentions aims at freedom, social justice, economic opportunity, dignity and democratic governance but barely reaches these targets at a post-revolutionary scene, as the system suffers from gimping economic and social frustrations, worst than they were before revolutionary demonstrations.

Although the frustrations of revolutionaries are understandable, with our justice, democracy and our common humanity the reasons of these violations, in any case, a comparism of a post-revolutionary situation with the former leaves the pro-revolutionist reader with the choice to make change in the most rarely spoken of in our pursuit for sustainable democracy. This change is possible.

[1] Patrick Seale, January 3, 2011. Lessons from the Arab Revolution. Middle East Online

[2] Ibid

[3] Gary L. Hunt, February 3, 2011. Lessons from the Middle East Internet Revolution

[4] Patrick Seale, January 3, 2011. Lessons from the Arab Revolution

[5] Ibid

[6] Anthony Trollope, The Small House of Allington

Why a Post-revolutionary Democracy May Never Work

2013-02-13T03:44:00.000-08:00

Let’s take a look at Libya as our case study.

As Libya marks their one year of post-revolutionary experience amid huge challenges, ranging from how to tame rowdy militias to establishing a new rule of law in the country one year after uprising,[1] questions have been asked by many observers as to the prospect of tailoring the over-all instability and moral repression fueled in the country. In the eve of the event marking their Revolution Day a year ago, men, women and children came out on the streets of Tripoli, Benghazi, Misrata and other towns to begin initial celebrations by setting off fire crackers and chanting slogans.[2] “Curly we are sorry!” shouted children dressed like angels in sarcastic reference to Gaddafi, who bore that nickname because of his distinctive locks, as they sat on top of cars in a procession in Benghazi that started from the landmark Tahreer (Liberation) Square.[3] Libya’s new ruler, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, also has warned that the revolutionary spirit of Libya and its stability will not be compromised in any way. In his words, “We opened our arms to all Libyans, whether they supported the revolution or not. But this tolerance does not mean we are incapable of dealing with the stability of our country.” This seeming prospect for stability and reforms is what this post seems to be concern about, especially as similar revolutionary counterparts like Tunisia and Egypt, still almost a year before the Libyan revolution is yet to get off the ground with their reforms and stability adjustment programs which has proven but a failure. Dividing a country into radical parties might be a long process to achieving peace-talks, talk more of building a sustainable democracy. Mustafa Jalil adds in his speech “We will be tough towards people who threaten our stability”. As the challenges facing Libya’s new leadership are manifold, including rebuilding an ageing and damaged infrastructure, fostering vibrant state institutions, tackling an already corrupt economy and boosting what are weak health, judicial and education systems. The most immediate headache for the country is how to control the tens of thousands of blood-tasting ex-rebels who have now turned into powerful militias, whose jealously guarded commitment to their honor and power occasionally erupts into deadly clashes.[4] This militias, according to a World Bank advisor in a recent report, “have developed vested interests and they will be loath to relinquish” says Hafed al-Ghwell. These rival militias have emerged as the biggest security threat for Libya, regularly clashing with each other, the police and causing fatalities. Although the prospect of creating job for them might be on the pipeline but how many of them are ready to work-through the “civilized” process of pursuing new careers since their services are no more needed. Surely, a difficult step, especially as some of them still lashes torture on their pro-Gaddafi prisoners and fighters. Some global human rights organizations like the Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Doctors Without Borders have lashed out at them, accusing them of torturing their prisoners, most of whom are former pro-Gaddafi fighters. These militias commit widespread human rights abuses with impunity, fuelling insecurity, instability and hindering structural reforms. With these scenarios, the future of a sustainable democracy for the continuous governance and development of Libya is in-doubt. Donatella Rovera, the senior advisor at Amnesty International warns, “It is imperative that the Libyan authorizes firmly demonstrate their commitment to turning the page in decades of systematic violations by reining in the militias, investigating all past-present abuses and prosecuting those responsible”.[5] In response to this Prime Minister Kib has acknowledged that integrating these militias into security services is a “complex” issue. However, few days after this statement, his government, in a media release, said that about 5,000 of them had been integrated into the security services. Imagine 5,000 is quite an enormous figure. But compare this to the 74,800[6] IDPs[7] (militias) making up the country’s militia, according to the IDPC Report on Libya in 2011. This is to say, based on the 6.3million[8] Libya’s population count as of 2011, that 1.2% of Libya’s populations are militias.

In a similar case, Egypt has experience countless numbers of incidents and uproar after the Mubarak’s oust. Militia groups seem not to give up their rage and submit to the new regime. Militias, if they can, as some concerned have voiced, have to break out of the gun-firing and knife-slaughtering disposition and stereotypes, and help the new government rebuild organizations that might continually improve quality and reduce costs in order to prosper in the turbulent global marketplace.

A post-revolutionary government continuously battles with internal divisions, a credibility deficit and questions surrounding its effectiveness, as the populace and militias lacks the perseverance and patience to trust again.

Post-revolutionary systems are dynamical systems that are extremely sensitive to its initial conditions. This feeling then arouses discordances when not needed, especially when parties from difference bearings congregate. This could be unhealthy for leadership. They make the over-all system formless and disordered. We call this “chaos”.

We also see a continued struggle with instability and a choking of liberal democracy, as new tensions between Islamicists and secular liberals in the boulevard of a still-limping economy. Prior to their revolution, countries like Tunisia and Bahrain were best positioned for a successful transition to a liberal democracy, with their relatively small, homogenous population, comparatively high levels of education, an apolitical military, a moderate Islamist movement and a long history of a unified national identity.[9]As the case seems, achieving a peaceful, sustainable and cooperative democracy for a post-revolutionary society might be a long journey to paradise.

[1] Jay Deshmukh, February 2012. Libya Marks Revolution Day Amid Huge Challenges. Middle East Online

[2] Ibid

[3] Ibid

[4] Ibid

[5] Amnesty International Report

[6] Internal displacement monitoring centre (IDMC) Report,

[7] According to the IDMC Report, IDP is short for “Internally Displaced Person.” Some 26 million people worldwide currently live in situations of internal displacement as a result of conflicts or human rights violations. They are forced to flee their homes because their lives were at danger, but unlike refugees they did not cross international borders. Although internally displaced people now outnumber refugees by two to one, their plight receives far less international attention. Many IDPs remain exposed to violence and other human rights violations during their displacement. Often they have no or only very limited access to food, employment, education and healthcare. Large numbers of IDPs are caught in desperate situations amidst fighting or in remote and inaccessible areas cut-off from international assistance. Others have been forced away from their homes as a result of revolutionary situations. As a result of these situations, they resolve to settle their rage. Attaining an obsolete adulthood they begin to see someone happy and near is responsible for their pain. They are hurting within and bitter at everyone and themselves. Then the power brokers who broke down their lives in the first place, in order to prevent the dehumanized from discovering their true violators, come around in pretensions of religious and political brotherhood to quickly divert their frustrations to the wrong enemy. Now revolutionary violence affords the seething vengeance of the IDP a cheap sublimation. In their deep state of mental confusion, slaughtering man in the name of God and justice is not antisocial after all. This smooth deceit fires the IDP to enlist in killer squads. And this way the privileged ones perpetuate the self disintegration of the suffering IDP, who relieve their pain and receive their pay through revolutionary fighting.

[8] Ibid

[9] The New York Times. June 11, 2012. Tunisia News – Breaking World

Does Revolutionary Demonstrations Truly Resolve Democratic Frustrations?

2013-02-09T18:00:00.000-08:00

Recall, the revolutions that have swept the Arab world has a simple and tragic beginning. A lad in Tunisia had finally endured too much of the repressive regime under which he lived, and burned himself to death. It seemed to be the only way he could protest and leave no victim to be punished. He was Mohamed Bouazizi, a 26 year-old who could not find work after finishing his education. He earned a bare living operating in fruit and vegetable cart, until that was also taken away from him for not having a proper permit. So he went to the front steps of the governor’s office in his small town of Sidi Bouzid in central Tunisia, poured gasoline upon himself, and went up in flames on December 17, 2010. It would take an agonizing three weeks for him to die from those critical burns.[1] His death gave life to a revolution. Not just in Tunisia. This spread out like wildfire to Egypt, Libya, Bahrain, Yemen, Syria and still spreading remotely. His flames ignited Tunisia, where his countrymen drove out their repressive ruler Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali on January 14, 2011. Somewhat shockingly, this example was followed in Egypt, the Arab world’s most highly populated country. Where we saw hundreds of thousands gathered at the Cairo’s Tahrir Square and other places of protest, and endured 846 deaths (as of April 19, 2011) at the hands of Hosni Mubarak’s police and militias. But in the end it was Mubarak who surrendered to the impassioned revolution on February 11, 2011.[2]

Revolts in Libya came next, with ruler Moammar Gaddafi literally fighting back with his army against his own people. The total number of people killed in this fighting is estimated above 30,000. Not long, French leader, Nicholas Sarkozy insisted on allied support for the rebels in Libya, and President Barack Obama of the US agreed to supply jet fighters and Tomahawk missiles to this effort.[3] NATO took over leadership of the military support, and local rebels successfully captured Tripoli, the nation’s capital and fighting at other cities still goes on until Gaddafi was captured.

Syria and Bahrain have also been plunged into repeated cycles of passionate protests followed by the killing of protesters and harsh treatment of those arrested. Their rulers both see this bloodshed as the foundation for their rule, but this only seems to push more people into revolt. The death toll continuous to rise as this uproar is still on-going.[4]

Looking at all these events, will the result be democracy? With the damaged national fabric, what is the possibility of a sustainable democracy/development? What effect will this have on the state and the coming generation of young Arabs in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Bahrain and Syria? Although is widely assumed that if a revolution took place in a system it will change everything for good, but that is not true.

While considering democracy, development and the high rate of corruption in systems in Africa, is adopting revolution and accepting chaos necessary for an African state survival? Looking at the present condition of countries that had undergone such experience, and their struggle towards restructuring their systems, is there a likelihood of a structural/economic rebound for them as they strive to curb post-revolutionary challenges in the nearest future? We are yet to see this (especially in Egypt), as unending rioting and protests becomes the order of the day. What lessons can we sieve from their experience for the betterment democracy? This seeming prospect for stability and reforms is what this post seems to be concern about, especially as revolutionary counterparts like Tunisia, Libya and Egypt; still almost a year after their revolution is yet to get off the ground with their reforms and stability adjustment programs which have proven but a failure. Truth is, dividing a country into radical parties might be a long process to achieving peace-talks, talk more of building a sustainable democracy.

[1] Boomers Life, 20 May 2012. Tunisian Democracy, A Blast From the Past.

[2] Ibid

[3] Ibid

[4] Ibid

10 Reasons Why Work Is Not A Curse

2012-12-28T10:33:00.000-08:00

Christianity has, at the core of it, recognized the need for all people to work. It is helpful to remember that God ordained work before the fall of man. Adam was created, given a job, and prudency to do right from the beginning. God gave him a commission to till the ground and to keep the garden, also to name the animals. God gave man a bountiful and beautiful earth filled with wonderful resources to care for, have dominion over and exploit. We have been using up the resources rapidly throughout all the centuries and more than ever, people are beginning to question the inconformity of work. They say people go out in the morning because they see others do the same. And from here the argument grows.

Scholars argue whether or not work really is a curse. If it is, why then do we work? Many think of work as a kind of curse, a severe affliction (as the Greeks), something causing misery that has been imposed upon man – perhaps because of the “Fall” in Genesis. People of the ancient and medieval thought of work as a curse, and that a good living is innate and therefore once you are not born a slave there is no need to work. This same thinking lingers today but in a whole different dynamics. Look around and you will notice: we are cursed with welfare abusers who take contracts from the government with no thought of working on their part. They are perfectly able to work, but they will do no such thing.

Notice in the story of the church in Thessalonians, Apostle Paul did not say what was causing the Thessalonians to stop working, but he faces the fact of it. Historians, however, do not feel that such a condition was obtained in the early Church, but that may have been the case in this pioneer church in Thessalonica. At any strata there are still some people who choose not to work but rather chosen to live off the good will and kindness of others.

In any case, i think work is not a curse because...

Work Socializes

It is very helpful to remember that the great 'men' of God in history who taught us all the marvelous truths through their lives and writings were not isolated from the ordinary working world, but were involved in it. By virtue of their works, they were required to socialize. If work socializes, people can, inescapably receive from a society-at-work: comfort, use and protection.

Work is Accomplishing Something

What is it about work that the Apostle Paul (and the Lord himself) sees as so valuable that he would take the time to deal with it? It is becoming clear from this that work is divinely intended to give us a sense of self-worth. When you are working, you feel like you are accomplishing something. Besides when you are laid off and unable to work, you feel out of sorts and unable to function as you were intended. It is really a testimony to the fact that God made us to work.

Work Commands Reputation

Naturally, good things have a way of showing themselves. An industrious man will always have his honor in the society. And the thing about the honor in work is that is not required but given. It commands respect by its own virtue. Honor should be given not required. We don’t impress on people to respect us because of the kind of work we do. Rather, we allow nature to play its course. Insofar as we work genuinely; the credit of our work will come to us without panic.

Work Rekindles our Faith and Hope in Our Master

All that matters for the servant/apprentice in his relationship with his master is that warm approving glance of appreciation from his master. So it is with us and God when we do an eternal work. Our work must come out from an inner sense of call, knowing that our work as Christians is for God’s glory and not man’s… This rekindles faith and brings about comfort and hope in times of fair trials. Believers must regard one thing only: how the Master (God) regards their work and not what people say.

Work is a Seed of Honor

The happiness of a posterity is as a result of the seed of hard work cultivated by an ancestor years before their existence. This seed germinates, bears the fruit of perseverance – gives hope and builds character which never fails; and therefrom grows honor for posterity. And at the end of the day, they glow as if they were born so. When our work is selflessly done with discipline, it is “transformative in the healing of the soul and in building of honor” says Clement of Alexandria.

Work is a Reminder of our Indebtedness to God

St. Basil was of the view that we acquire a recollected spirit – when in every action we beg God the success of our work and satisfy our debt of gratitude to Him who gave us the power to do the work, and when, as has been said, we keep before our minds the aim of pleasing Him. The mystery of living reminds us of our nothingness before God, without whom we are beingless. Without His breath of life we cannot work. In the process of reciprocating our indebtedness to God, we tend to pray. In the thick of our work can we fulfill the duty of prayer, giving thanks to Him who has granted strength to our feeble hands for performing our tasks and cleverness to our minds for acquiring knowledge, and for having provided the materials for that which is in the instruments we use and that which forms the matters of the art in which we may be engaged, praying that the work of our hands may be directed toward its goal, the good pleasure of God.

We Work Because an Idle Man is the Devil’s Workshop

Work could be a clamp for repressing sinful, fleshly desires, and the physical exertion in work is beneficial for bringing the body into subjection. This is so true! Once you have nothing doing, the proclivity to compromise is very likely. But once we engage our hands in doing something, fix our mind to a task, no matter how demeaning we think it might look, such activity engages the mind in action and frees one from the paralysis of idleness.

Work is the Fulfillment of the Greatest Commandment

Work fulfills one of the two greatest commandments: to love thy neighbor, (cf. Matt. 22: 37- 40). You may ask “how”. Most work is done out of genuine love. “Once we are generous in spirit, we fulfill this second greatest command”, says St. Basil. If we obey the instruction of Apostle Paul to work, we cultivate the discipline to give benevolently, and share in the liberation of poverty by helping the needy among us.

We are to Work for God’s Purpose

If our work, fundamentally, is for God, it is essential to know the purposes He has in mind. The redeemed man is freed to pursue the objectives of the Father in his work. A Christian is not at liberty to limit the use of his gifts to providing for himself alone, but needs to use all he has been given in ability, opportunity, and natural resources for all the objectives God has for the world through fulfilling the Great Commission Workers therefore need to consider whether their operations help others meet their own needs, and achieve the Great Commission. This is the true purpose of God for us as we marshal and utilize the earth and its operations for His purpose.

Work can Help You Discover Purpose

Before Christ gave up the ghost, He was contented because He had glorified His Father. He glorified the Father simply by accomplishing His work. John 17:4 says, “I have glorified thee on the earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do (KJV)”. How can we glorify God without finishing the work He gave us? Christ glorified God through completing His work. Your purpose may only be realized through your work. Until we discover our work and the area of service we are called to, we might not yet have glorified Him. This Scripture clearly shows that we praise God through our works, and our works, when utilized as intended, will fulfill purpose.

Beware of These 3 Kinds of People if You Have a Vision

2012-11-25T03:54:00.001-08:00

For starters, it is not everything you tell everybody. Although many people are familiar with this wisdom but the problem is usually how to discern who-to and who-not-to share stuffs with. One of the prime mistakes a lot of folks make is to first share their vision, plans or ‘conspiracy’ with family, a mate or a best friend. Apparently, when placed in a mutual thermometer it might seem to be the right thing to do but, its mostly the wrong step to take. I will explain why.

Now let’s carefully beware of who to run to when we feel the whim to accomplish something, as we study these three kinds of people:

People That Love You

There are some individuals in your circle that just genuinely care about you, nothing attached. Part of their life’s responsibility is making you happy and secure. They will do anything to make that happen, and will be in pain if they see you get hurt. This group of people wants you to be secure with your decisions. Understand that this circle of people want the best for you and can even give their own lives for you to live. However, despite the bond of affection they might share with you, they could be vision killers. Notice, they might not want you to take-on new adventures because of the risk involved. People classed here could be family, best friends or relatives. They want you secure, and not to move out of your comfort zone in order to help you duck a possible misery of an unsuccessful risk. Essentially, this is seen with family. Many parents prefer their kids to choose a particular career path because they want them to be financially secure and stable for the future. While this is understandable, their kids on the other hand, might have an itch for something peculiarly different. Often, it ends up in confrontation and the strong always have their way. Don’t tell your family everything because they love you well too much and want you to be secure and not get hurt. Truth is, parents know what they are doing and want the best for their kids. Besides what parents fail to realize is that experience is a requisite for true success. Allow your kids to fail and learn from their mess. Don’t keep them secluded because life isn’t secure. Someday you will die and they will be left in this world alone to make their own choices. Allow them to pursue their passion, and even if they fail, they will learn and do it right the next time. We must realize that there is nothing like “failure” in the real world, all good and bad adventures count for experience, and experience is key to successful living. Ever wondered how many years the earth rotates round the sun in failure before it hits an eclipse? Think about that and recognize that you must rotate in failure before you hit the jackpot. If you eventually fail pursuing a passion, don’t whine about it, you simply learn from it and do it better the next time. The world won’t care about your failure. People expect you to accomplish something before they heed to your lament. So even if you fail a thousand times, it’s nobody’s business! Be careful what you tell people that love you because inasmuch as they want the best for you, they might be a curse for you.

People That Know You

Run from people that know you too well. Have you noticed that there are people that know you way too well to let you be? They feel they know the summary of you. Their opinions or counsel for you come from either of this position: Sincerity or Pride. That is, their counsel might either be genuinely sincere or proudly subjugating. This category of people either accent love or hate. However, it is possible that what people know about you may help you see more clearly and decipher the patterns of your strength or weakness, though depending on HOW they see you. For instance, if they see you as WEAK it will be very difficult to IMPRESS them with your vision. They won’t buy it. Period! If you eventually go ahead to run the vision and unluckily fail, their feedback will always be either of these: “If you had listened to me…”, “I told you that’s what will happen…”, “You’ve seen for yourself…”, and so on. All in all, they will cause you more and more misery than good, and you will only see less of your potential. However, the reverse is the case if you’ve impressed them with your past accomplishments. Come to think of it, having this kind of people might really be an asset because they tell you the truth about yourself. On the other hand, they could be your nemesis. You’d be lucky to have people that know you too well and yet sincerely control and augment your thoughts. Beware…the reverse can be a source of misery. My advice, run from people that know you too well because having them around you is unhealthy if you want to exercise your faith and courageousness.

People That Believe In You

Stay around people that believe in you all the time because they are an asset. They fill your heart with an engaging impetus ‘to accomplish’. Be it good or bad, the dream you pursue shall surely come to be but it takes not just courage and faith to say and believe it, but associating yourself with the right kind of people to bring it forth to reality. These are not people who love you too much and don’t want you to take risk in the real world so you don’t get hurt. Neither are this people who, out of pride/ego, want to subjugate your enthusiasm and class you as ‘incapable’. You need to discover people that believe in you and spend more time with them. It takes not just courage to stay alive, but having the right kind of people around you. Majority of these people might be Those That Know You, but by virtue of your track record you’ve made a positive impression on them. This is why is important to do everything with diligence and focus to make the best out of every opportunity that comes your way. Make an impression! Whenever you are given a task to do, do it well with all your strength and etch your name as ‘capable’ in the hearts of men. What you do today and how you do it is what you will be remembered for the rest of your life.

Finally, always remember this: Hard work not only brings profit, but builds esteem and credibility, which are ingredients of the future.

What Expectations From Work Are Appropriate?

2012-11-22T05:58:00.000-08:00

The law and the prophets, the gospels and epistles all proclaim that work deserves pay and that the withholding of what is right will bring God's wrath. Therefore a worker may expect and petition for fair pay. If he sees that his basic commitment is to God, and the fair distribution of resources for all, there are limits to the extent that he may disrupt this purpose in the interest of insisting on his own rights (cf. Prov. 29:18).

In many cases however, the normal laws of sowing and reaping will apply and a person will prosper because of his diligence. Diligence, they say, needs not wish. But in Paul’s case, this was different. He expected that God would favor his “work” and cause it to bring effectual results but for a reason unmentioned, Paul was worried about the result of his work (I Thess. 3:5).

Whether a person can continue to find fulfillment in their work is questionable, unless they see work in terms of God's requirements and rewards rather than man’s. Usually, this is the interpretation given to service. In contrast to service, the preacher of Ecclesiastes learned to delight in his labor as pleasure, only to realize that the delight was all for nothing, (Eccles. 2:9-11, 18-23). The truth is: we can find fulfillment in our work only when we begin to see work in terms of God's requirements and rewards. Maslow's hierarchy of human needs[1] and their effects on motivation in work indicate that it takes a lot to bring a person to fulfillment. Meanwhile, while Abraham Maslow’s theory gets apotheosized, no single theory of his motivation has been universally accepted, but a bearing is evident.

A Christian can always have reason to be proud of his work (Rom. 15:17-20) because it is ordained by God to manifest and fulfill His purpose on earth. The Christian, having done what is his to do, can recognize that since the Lord is in an enterprise, he has not laboureth vainly (I Cor. 15: 58).

Above all, there is great gain in godliness with contentment (I Tim. 6:6-8) because he recognizes the limits of what his labour can produce and enjoys what is his to enjoy through his diligent hand-at-work.

[1] These are: physiological; security and safety; love and feelings of belonging; competence, prestige, and esteem; self-fulfillment; and curiosity and the need to understand

In What Manner Should You Work?

2012-11-20T05:40:00.001-08:00

The book of Proverbs has much to say about diligence in work leading to good results (10:4; 12:11; 24, 27; 13:4, 11; 14:23). Skill and knowledge concerning one's affairs, and orderliness will all be rewarded (22:29; 27:23; 30:25ff.). While diligence will include a good use of time (22:29), a frantic use of time is of no value (21:5). The diligent man plans and does not need to be in haste. Toiling and having in mind riches for one’s own sake is not wise (23:4) says Grant Thorpe. Hence, in our diligence in work, we should be calculative and productive in the use of time so as to yield better, inspiring results.

According to Grant Thorpe, If a man is diligent, he will be able to commit the results of his labours to God, and not eat the bread of anxious toil (Psalm 127:1-2). The implication is that man may finish a day's work in a day, and rest at night (cf. Eccles 5:9-12). The Decalogue assumes that a week's work can be done in a week (“Six days you shall labour and do all your work” Exod. 20:9) and that rest follows, as was the case with God's creation. A man may come to the end of his life knowing he has done what he was given to do (John 17:4; II Tim. 4:6f.). Birds neither sow, reap, or gather into barns, and have no need to be anxious; but man does sow, reap, and gather, and he is not at liberty, having done that, to be anxious (Matt. 6:25-34).

In other words, God feeds the birds without their sowing or reaping, but they do the work for which they were created, and God takes care of them. In the same manner, he will take care of us – not in idleness or improvidence, but if we do the work for which God created us, in diligence, not minding constraints, serving the necessities, and laboring in all thy capacity, we will find favor in love with God.

Therefore, we should work diligently and not merely amuse our self in idleness so that we may find favor in the sight of God and of man through the work of our hands since the harder you work, the luckier you get.

What You Must Know If You Are Tired Of Pleasing Your Boss

2012-11-12T03:56:00.001-08:00

This is directed to you! For whom should you work? Perhaps, you are engaged with work and yet struggling to please your boss and be a successful workplace hero. Whatever corrective step you take seems to be another ample blunder. You have also tried several techniques to win the heart of your boss and yet it is not working. This is for you. May be you are missing a great deal of knowledge.

Every morning billions of people around the world leave their homes all in the name of work, struggling for sustenance and doing the conventional. Many work hard every day to make good income but yet not knowing for whom they sweat for. As a result, they build faulty premise around their work, convolute work ethic principles and make their work terrifyingly unproductive and un-conducive. This is the answer for most workplace disputes.

Grant Thorpe (1999) made a grand contribution to this topic in his article, A Christian View of Work and Vocation. Grant acknowledges that all relationships derive from God and hold together only in Christ (See Acts 17:26-28, Col. 1:15-20). So work relationships are the same. Slaves were to obey their earthly masters, not as men-pleasers, but fearing the Lord, and serving the Lord Christ. Masters were to treat slaves justly and fairly knowing that they had a Master in heaven (Col. 3:22-4:1 Also Eph. 6:5-9). The same should define work relationship between an employer and an employee.

Whom do we work for? Christians betray their true attitude to God as much by how they work as by how they worship. If a Christian in fact works for God, to please God, knowing he or she will be rewarded by God, it is clear that his reasons for working and manner of working are drastically affected. In the same way, other relationships will follow the same order. A wife is to live as is fitting in the Lord and children to live so as to please the Lord (cf. Col. 3:18, 20).

It all makes sense.

According to Grant, if a person can quickly reject this understanding of working, basically, for God, as unreal or idealistic, it would be good for them to ask if their relationship to God was real-or only idealistic.

Parables such as the vineyard and its tenants (Matt. 21:33-44) and the talents (Matt. 25:14-30), teach that God holds man responsible for every work entrusted to him. This includes the whole life of man, and not exclusively what may be called religious duties. Come to think of, even the fourth commandment (cf. Exo. 20:4) requires first, that in six days, man shall do all his work before keeping holy the Sabbath.

The Christian man therefore is answerable first to God in respect to proper management functions.

It is important then to appreciate that in all relationships, authority is delegated to those in leadership roles, and that these leadership roles are to be respected because they are delegated rather than because they deserve to be respected. The New Testament is not unmindful that this on occasions will lead to injustice and affirms that the offended party is to commit his case to God. There is no mention of rejecting the authority however. This entails that the means are now available whereby the power of employers can be checked, but in using these means, employees should remember also that they work to please God and that it has pleased God to make leadership essential to work relationships for proper management functions.

Besides, Proverbs 27:18 tells us that he who guards his master will be honoured. Mordecai did this with very significant results (Esther 2:22). This suggests that in a wider scope, employees should seek the well being of their employer. Judaean captives in Babylon were told to seek the welfare of the city to which they were taken hostage because from that would come their own welfare (Jer. 29:7). Daniel obviously maintained his place as statesman to pagan kings because he sought their welfare (Dan. 4:19). In each of these cases, the authorities were far from seeking the objectives of God (although they might), yet God's objectives were fulfilled by men meeting their obligations to their immediate employers, as far as was possible. This means that every work done by every man be it good or bad, directly or indirectly, is accountable to God.

Those who have endless objections to their employers may in fact be reaping the reward of not seeking their employer's welfare and probably expressing their rebellion towards God simply for not knowing whom they work for and thus bringing dishonored on themselves, contrary to the supposed promise of Proverbs 27:18.

Be careful! Love, lean on and learn from your boss and you shall lead someday.

"Black & Beautiful" Lyrics: Use My Free Lyrics To Complete Your Love Song

2012-11-09T10:14:00.000-08:00

Just in case you don’t know yet, I had a crush on music when I was struggling with adolescence. Don’t be surprise is not a history that grew out of nowhere nor for the love for money that defines the music industry of today, though it was slightly part of it lol.

Remember when I said in one of my posts that everyone has a talent of music in them, that all youneed to do is to find it and develop it? Although I didn’t push on with consistency to make success with music that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. However, things have change for me and music, and, although I am not saying it is late, but I have gotten a little bit old mentally for the music hustle.

Almost a decade ago, I was into music and was obsessed by it in totality like every other youth. Firmly, I wrote a couple of songs, which might make me, claim the label of a “song writer”. For your assessment, below is a song I wrote 10 years ago with an instrumental back up and voice-feed for your delight. I sang with my rookie voice on the instrumental (that was ten years ago and not now lol) to help you flow with the rhythm. Perhaps you can fill it up with your own voice. Contact me if you need the instrumental on the background.

The lyrics of the song “Black & Beautiful” is here for you to copy and use for free. I have decided to give it out for free to anyone that wish to use it for whatever purpose. But with these two conditions:

1. That the title of the song “Black & Beautiful” will not be changed

2. That “Victor Counted” will be referenced as the song writer

So…here is the lyrics to the song “Black & Beautiful” written by Victor Counted:

Solo 1

She’s tall and black

She’s young and full of love

There are little stars on her hairs

Her smile makes me wax stronger

Her winks are my world

Her frown makes me pace…she’s full of live

If she cries I’m afraid…she’s soft and kind

[Chorus 1]

Oh sweet love you’re my miss right

You more than everything [2x]

Solo 2

She’s rich and kind

She’s soft and full of love

Wherever she is going…

Her hands is dashing out to the poor

Her tongue is preaching peace

Her love is flattering…she’s full of joy

Her love is hovering…she’s full of love

[Chorus 2]

Oh sweet love…come on miss right

You black and beautiful [2x]

Solo 3

Be far or near...
She’s always on my mind

The wall tells me she coming…

When she smiles at me…she’s beautiful

When I think of her…she’s tall and black

[Chorus 3]

Oh miss right…come on sweet love

You young and beautiful [2x]

If you have any corrections for this song lyrics or any ideas about the meaning to this song, please feel free to send me an email and I will gladly explain.

[Infographic] The Cost To Educate A President: Education Matters...

2012-11-01T03:12:00.003-07:00

As Election Day looms, voters across the country are deciding which of the two candidates will get their vote. The political views of Mitt Romney and Barack Obama have been evaluated and dissected by hundreds of websites and countless political pundits. We’ve seen the two candidates debate on TV and approve countless commercial messages. We’ve heard their talking points and read their plans. However, we wanted to know how they got so smart.

So, we took a closer look at how they earned their degrees, where they started in grade school, and how they managed to afford their educations. It’s all right here in this special election infographic. Apparently, the road to The White House isn’t cheap. Both candidates chose pricey private school educations that ended with advanced degrees from Harvard. Can a president educated in an ivory tower understand the stresses of the public school system and the challenges a public school student faces? Whoever wins, we’ll soon find out.

Presented by www.degreejungle.com - The Cost to Educate a President

Mitt's younger years were spent upon what Paul Goldberger of the New York Times called "one of the greatest campuses ever created anywhere" at Cranbrook School. The prestigious Michigan school started in 1922 boasts one of the largest boarding school endowments and notable alumni including Selma Blair, Senator Simpson, and Sun Microsystems founder Scott McNealy. Obama on the other hand attended Punahou School in Honolulu which is the largest independent school in the United States. This powerhouse started in 1841 has been called the "greenest" school in America in 2006 and best sports program in the country by Sports Illustrated in 2008 and 2009. This schools has a notable alumni list much too long to consider here but ranges from numerous pro athletes to Sun Yat-Sen the Founding Father of the Republic of China. These important years helped shape both men to get ready for critical college and grad schools years and their rise through politics.

You’ve seen what it costs to educate a president. Now, you’re wondering how much your education will cost and how much will it will be worth. A recent studyshows college graduates have fared much better than high school graduates during the recession and recovery. The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce reports that most of the new jobs created since the beginning of the recession require a post-graduate degree. The report also shows that earnings of workers with a Bachelor’s degree or better are still nearly twice that of high school-educated workers. That certainly puts the value of a degree in perspective.

5 Compulsory Tests That Exude Success

2012-10-26T10:20:00.000-07:00

Success is a genuine game. It pursues those who attend to it. If you dedicate yourself to it, you will have it! If you clear and prepare your field for it, it will come. It is like a sheep that goes to the greenest of fields to feed and in return becomes a source of sustenance to the shepherd. Success is a sheep. It is a hungry sheep...looking for fertile fields to feed on – and in return, those who made it possible will be fed by their hard work.

Today I want to talk about the five simple yet challenging Tests you must pass to qualify for success.

Before I did start I would like to note here that being successful does not necessarily mean you are significant. While some are successful with their money, others are significant with their lives.

Everyday Money Making Principles are being brutally thrown at us daily from all flanks of life. Be it as it may, you may not succeed if you do not qualify for these success requisites.

The Accountability Test

You must pass the accountability test. Everyone who seeks to cut an edge must, in totality, be accountable. If you are accountable you will be trusted and people will confide in you. Though it is part of it, but accountability test has to do with making your word your bound – been able to go the extra mile to keep a secret, to be trusted and to be ‘safe with’. The last is the most crucial. You ought to show responsibility to someone or for some activity. People are looking for people of integrity who they can be safe with. People need to know they are safe with you and that you will not pose as any threat for them in the future. To be accountable, you only need to do two things only: simply be truthful and live a simple life.

The Transparency Test

After you have passed the accountability test, it is time to be honest and open not minding the over-bearing consequences of openness. For starters, you will be turned down a lot more than you expect, but any ‘fish’ your ‘honest hook’ catches will last for a while – if not a life time. Transparency could be humiliating…but it is golden. It pays to be honest and transparent. What it does for you is that it brings the right kind of people to your door steps. People you can effectively manage without having to go over your head to please them.

The Credibility Test

Although this may complement accountability but there is a dangerous difference. I will explain. Accountability qualifies credibility. You can be accountable and yet not be credible, whereas you can be credible and at the same time accountable. Credibility has to do with getting the work done, relatively speaking. Having the required skills, qualification, tact, corporate swag or hype to convince and truly get it started. This matters. That’s why you hear this popular workplace cliche: “He looks credible”. Yeah…you must do your homework well to pass this test. It is more than been genuinely passionate to help people. You need to package yourself professionally to hit your target. That’s why many organizations fail. They know what to do but don’t know how to go about it. My advice if you are still here is: “Upgrade yourself, show us your evidence and be trusted to do the job”.

The Idea Test

Couple of years ago, I co-founded an initiative with a friend, I remember the day I was discussing the idea with a mentor-friend and he simply asked me what our project was all about? To my greatest surprise, that was the biggest question ever...at that point, to me. Suddenly it dawn on me that we had no clear cut out goal. Brethren, it took me almost 5 minutes to blow all the grammar in this world and convince him we knew what we wanted to do. Luckily I was eloquent enough to utilize my gift to confuse him the more. You can guess what happened after that meeting.

This is very important! You must pass the idea test if you want to go anywhere with your vision. Money will always come when you have a good idea. The problem is, we get our ideas convoluted. We want to do everything all at the same time. Please, sharpen and narrow whatever vision you have. Keep It Simple and Short (KISS). Make it a KISS idea. Focus on one thing only and then grow from there. But the moment you start from the little, you will soon realize that little is not actually little but your uniqueness. A broad idea can only dread you on how to get started and it is so frustrating half-way long. Be uniquely you in just one thing and be celebrated for that. Ideas rule the world. If you can pass this test with ease you are made already. You only need a simple idea to change the world.

The God Factor

I cannot write comfortably without emphasizing the efficacy of The God Factor in our humanness. I will shout it loud! Again, you cannot do 'NOTHING' without God being by your side. The thing about God is that He is always there but only reveals Himself to those who want to truly see Him. This consciousness of our ubiquitous God spawns in us, an urge for holy living – to start with our failures and wash them in the ‘Blood of the Lamb’ and progressively (not perfectly) fight our daily battles and walk with God the Father to make us better people. We all are insufficient on our own, but God’s presence in our lives makes us sufficient and fully qualifies us for manifestation. If you don’t have God, true success is far from you. Period!

Will E-Books Make The Next Batch of Millionaires in This Economy?

2012-10-22T18:49:00.000-07:00

You don't have to hold an MBA to notice the trends in our economy. Today, more than ever e-books have been exploding in sales with only more growth in the future. So, lets take a quick look at "behind the scenes" and ask, why?

Why are e-books making millions for people online? Well there are two very important trends. The first is that new tablet computing devices, such as the iPad, Nook, or other devices are creating a demand for more and more e-books. People want to read on their readers!

The second major issue is that once you purchase e-books, you can resell them over and over again and keep all the profits without having to pay for inventory or shipping costs. In fact, entrepreneurs rarely have to deal with "difficult" customers, freeing up even more time.

The fact that demand is so high and the profit margins are pretty much at 100%, the ability to make money every day is astounding.

So, what's the trick? Well, with e-books there are no tricks. When you have the right to sell a book over again, you have a very valuable product. Because of the internet, you have another million ways to sell your product online.

This is the third and most important factor to consider - is the growing ways to develop contact with potential customers online. Social media networks like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Stumble Upon, can drive up sales relatively quickly.

Of course, building an email list can also help you increase your sales, because once people sign on to your email list, they are already interested in what you have to say. Developing an email list can generate 10's of thousands of sales over and over again.

Here's why? People who buy e-books, are most likely going to buy other e-books as well. And they will keep coming and coming to purchase more and more.

Do you remember buying your first DVD player? Did you only go out and rent or purchase one DVD? The answer is probably not. The answer is that you probably bought many DVDS - movies, concerts, etc to play on your DVD player. Well, if you people are buying electronic readers in the millions, how many e-books do you think they will buy?

The fact is that the next batch of millionaires will be those that are selling e-books, new computer software, and informational products.

Contributed by Aaron Daker,

Internet Marketer & Graphics Designer

www.tiptopmarketer.com

To Every Young Nigerian: Be Yourself, Be Nigerian and Fight for a Good Name!

2012-10-16T22:44:00.001-07:00

Disclaimer,

Dear Reader, my name is Victor Agina Counted, i am a Nigerian and not a scammer.

One of the heartbreaking experiences we face each day as young Nigerians is with the issue of TRUST. Nobody believes our word because our fathers made mess of our future and scam-branded our identity. As a Nigerian, one of the psyche-aching battles i fight everyday is that of CREDIBILITY. It is frustrating...!

Building a flexible and consistent relationship on the web as a Nigerian is more than passing the idea test or having a mere deft intelligence of the subject matter. Like it or not, they may 'take off' because you are a Nigerian. As a result, many young Nigerians go online, falsifying their identities in order to be accepted in the global community. While some on the other hand, may not be able to falsify their identity to initiate "genuine" transactions, as a result, they continue to fight daily with their national "demon" - the "Demon of Acceptability". This has been our common nemesis.

The other day, a young Nigerian millennial shared of how he had to change his identity online in order to be accepted as genuine. He made himself a blond beautiful 'she' of a marketer on fiverr. Right now, he is profoundly making progress as an American faked "Helen" and gaining the trust and attention of 'her' audience in 'her' Online Marketing Business. Now 'she' only wishes they knew 'her' by his real name. I also know of another who does online trading with a fake image. According to Richard (not his real name), “…nobody will want to work with me if I say I’m a Nigerian”. By the way, Richard is British. So beware, there are two fake people online now that i know of: Helen and Richard...lol.

Frankly, I hate PayPal. Reason being that they deleted Nigeria in their country sign up list. What this means is that you cannot own a PayPal account if you are living in Nigeria or to put it as intended: "Every Nigerian is a Scammer". That is, you cannot genuinely own a paypal account as a Nigerian except you lie about your country of origin. Sad!!! Ask me if i have a PayPal account, the answer is YES, i do! - I need it for my transactions online; so don't ask me how i opened it...lol.

Besides, it is not news anymore that Nigerian IP addresses are blocked by some sites. Yet with all these online barricades, young Nigerians still invade the web and make credible differences, while some, angry at foreign “haters” become more the “pseudo” they are tagged.

But put yourself in their shoes for a moment. It is so frustrating when people think that every sincere impression you make comes in totality with something hidden or wanting to it.

Two things are involved here:

1. It is either you falsify your identity and succeed with a fake identity though with good intentions or,

2. You fight long-years war of credibility, which often could be very frustrating and unending.

However, if you are mentally prepared to fight for a good name, you will surely have a solid-rock image that will out-live you.

I am sharing this because of a recent experience I had: 'they' turned me down because I am a Nigerian and they just "don't trust your people", so they say.

The moral of my rant is:

No matter what your experiences are as a young Nigerian, perhaps you've been rejected several times because of your nationality, please know that you are not alone on this.

It is important that you Be Yourself, Be Nigerian and Fight For A Good Name. Simple!

Genuine success comes to those who wait and work.

Nigerian Ambassador to Ukraine warns Nigerians against Studying in Ukranian Universities

2012-10-16T02:37:00.000-07:00

Studying in Ukraine, has in recent times, been a topic of debate considering the alleged racial discrimination being experienced by Nigerian students and the problem of communicating in English Language. As English is not the official language spoken in Ukraine, Nigerian students often have difficulties in communicating when they travel there for their studies.

To buttress this, the Nigerian Ambassador to Ukraine, Frank Ngozi Isoh, has advised Nigerian parents to be wary of sending their children to English Language training institutions as Ukrainians are not proficient in the language.

In September, the National Universities Commission (NUC) had said some states sponsor students to sub-standard universities abroad and Ukraine was one of the countries mentioned. The Executive Secretary of NUC Professor Julius Okojie also made reference to a university in Ukraine where there are over 800 medical students and some of the students do not have the qualification in basic sciences.

In a recent report by Daily Trust, the Ambassador made some startling revelations that raises some doubts about the idea of studying in Ukraine.

The Ambassador said that Nigerians won’t get the best when it comes to studying in Ukraine with the English Language. “One thing I will like to say about education in this place, and this is something we intend to package in a report to government to see how this can be propagated back home – I do not think that Nigerians get the best when it comes to studying in this place in the English language.”

While noting that the lure for most parents is the low cost of tuition which is about $3,000 for a course that could cost up to $20,000 in the United States or Canada, the Ambassador further said that the people who teach them in English language are natives of Ukraine who are also not very proficient in the language.

He advised students who want to study in Ukraine to first learn the local language in order to get the best out of the education system. While speaking on Universities in Ukraine offering medical courses, he said he doesn’t think Nigerian medical students trained in English get the best. “We don’t think that Nigerian medical doctors trained in English speaking universities here get the best. But those who endeavour to learn the language and then attend lectures with the natives certainly get better trained.”

It was only weeks ago that news of a Nigerian student studying in Ukraine who faced life imprisonment for allegedly defending himself against six teenagers surfaced in the media {click here to read it}. What was noteworthy about his case is that he was remanded in detention for several days by the Ukrainian police who refused to take the case to court citing unavailability of the police to get an interpreter for him.

If you were planning on studying in Ukraine, it might be wise to listen to the advice of the Ambassador.

culled from BellaNaija.com

The Generation Gap Infographic for Your Office

2012-10-08T22:41:00.000-07:00

I have here an infographic explaining the changes in the workplace. It's no more news that the Baby Busters are all reaching their retirement age while the Millennials are about to take full control of the workplace. This infographic explains how this change will take effect. It was provided by Compliance and Safety dot com.

Featured By: Compliance and Safety

The New High Man and the Rebound of Renaissance: 3 Possible Features

2012-09-25T15:52:00.001-07:00

The Renaissance was marked by three cardinal features and so will individuals of the future work ethic assume similar features. They will first rediscover the supremacy culture; distinguished for their objectivism, curiosity, relativity, and secularism; and respected for their self-worth – Individualism.

REDISCOVERY OF THE DOMINANCE CULTURE

Man was created to have dominance over nature. This is seen in the Bible – Genesis 1:26. He was created to supersede everything formed and made under heaven. This includes technology which by the way was invented by man. According to Han Yu, there are three grades of character: the first is the “superior”, second “medium” and the third grade is the “inferior”. During the Middles Ages, the value of humans was said to have diminished to the third grade, while through the renaissance up until the post-industrial and modern age, man was capable of development both in an upwards and downwards direction these experiences showed forth great “medium” potentials. But during this next pace, the grade will just be good as “superior”. Before the Renaissance, there was a lifeless interest in classical literature. The outburst of the Renaissance culture made it lively just as postmodernism paved way for success in ICT revolution. The force of this ‘sustained build out or golden age of technology’ will profoundly astound man. This attention however, will be mostly confined to the professional activities of those that believe in ‘high tech, high touch and high growth’ processes. During the Renaissance, people from various segments of society—from kings and nobles to merchants and soldiers—studied classical literature and art to activate their intellectual flow. And so it is even now for ICT and digital revolutions. People will have no choice but to be part of this new revolution and be identified by its work ethic. “Superannuated boomers won't vanish from the workplace altogether: people in their 60s and 70s — because of either need or desire — will be among the 40% of the workforce that will rent out its skills” says Anne Fisher. According to author Joanne Sujanskey in her co-authored book Keeping the Millennials, “Boomers will be working part-time as coaches, strategists and consultants”. “In no time”, says Sujansky, “there will be many more of those opportunities than there are now because Boomers will need the income and companies will need their expertise". There will be an increase in job-sharing at very senior levels. You might have two boomers who share the job of chief financial adviser. In most cases, millennials will occupy different high-ranking positions in different firms. And soon the services of the boomers will fade out of relevance. People’s ability to grapple on different work levels will also define their supremacy. People will exist largely for their own sake as subjects of ideal splendor and intellectual quality due to their rediscovery of their mental heritage which in common sense theology is taught as an aspect of the Image of God humans possess.

OBJECTIVISM, CURIOSITY, RELATIVISM, AND SECULARISM

Evil does have its own good. “Evil has encircled man from all sides, so man has devised good in all courses of action”. Well said by Naguib Mahfouz when quoting Sheikh Abd-Rabbih al-Ta-ih in his Echoes of an Autobiography. As a result of our shallowness of faith, we’ve snaked a new, freedom-oriented pathway of admiration. The themed factors here are all the chief cause of chaos in the global community today. People are subjective in their observing and commenting of phenomena. They want things run in their favor no matter how bad it looks. That independent claim of truth is what everyone wants to prevail. And these struggles have all shaped us as nothing but a pleasure seeking but pain avoiding animal. From here come all other things foreseeable – even the rejection of religion and religious considerations. According to the Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia, the period of Renaissance was also said to be characteristic of an “intense interest in the visible world and in the knowledge derived from concrete sensory experience”. This genuine curiosity turned away the abstract speculations and interest in life after death that characterized the Middle Ages. These abstract speculations spellbound Christians since it was introduced by the Church and incessantly preached on pulpits. Although Christianity was not abandoned, the otherworldliness and monastic ideology of the Middle Ages were largely discarded. The focus during the Renaissance turned from abstract discussions of religious issues to the morality of human actions. This eventually introduced the medieval work ethic termed the Protestant Work Ethic through the cleric in influences of men like John Calvin and Martin Luther. The next pace is just as similar but different. There will be an increased interest in the sustained build out technology and the knowledge educed from human’s experience with the cyber-culture. This will interestingly overwhelm man during which he will recognize his first grade level, his power to control his digital environment out of curiosity to function remotely in a fair manner. This will breed a new set of millennials with the capacity for creativity in high tech, high touch and high sense processes.

INDIVIDUALISM

With the ICT Revolution, people like Mark Zuckerberg who founded the most used social media site today, facebook, is becoming a principality in our world. What about Bill Gates of Microsoft? Jimmy Wales of Wikipedia? The writer remembers vividly the book lunch of President Goodluck Jonathan sometime in 2010, of his interaction with his facebook friends, titled, My Friends and I, where Zuckerberg was invited to the book lunch, but obviously did not show-up for the event due to his supposed unavoidable engagements. Although he sent a representative, that was a snippet of a man who discovered his self worth. But can you imagine such level of pride or perhaps busyness? For me, I would run without my shoes on just to have a hand shake with a State Governor talk more of featuring at a President’s book lunch. What’s the point here? Household names are shaped today and will be shaped in the future because of a sudden realization of self-worth – the supremacy culture – the understanding that it takes self to define self. Research now shows that from level 1-10, man is yet to make use of his potentials up to the 5^th level. This means that our genes are heavily deposited with great potentials. Motivational speakers are vastly spreading nuggets of wisdom of our human abilities. Scientists on the other hand are proving the importance of the individual and discovering the uniqueness of his self-reliance and the power personal independence. The Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia accounts that in the Renaissance, the unique talents and potential of the individual became very significant and the concept of personal fame was much more highly developed than during the Middle Ages. This is not different from what today’s motivational speakers are saying and waggling about. Attention will soon be tremendously given to the development of the ideal person. This will give birth to the new millennials, individuals of first grade ability with dynamic, creative, and productive potential to matchup the new workforce of the future. This ideal person is what I call The New High Man in my forthcoming book: “The New High Man: High Tech, High Touch, and High Sense Busters”.

Photo Credit: freedigitalphotos.net

The Future Work Ethic: A Rebound of Renaissance?

2012-09-25T15:34:00.000-07:00

Work in our today's mobile economy is incredibly challenging-but highly rewarding. It is a whole new pledge to a new deal; everyone will have to live by selling something. In no time from now, people will be turned upside down by technology, globalization, demographics and environmental alterations. It will be a time when ‘work’ is no longer a place you go, but what you do; not the contributions you make but the ideas you create; how not to do it but how best to do it. The new society will compel people to be more creative. An age of identification and discovery of the individual’s worth as harmony to the millennial life. I believe this might be the comeback of Renaissance: an era of rebirth in the learning culture of man. The characteristic spirit of work in the coming phase might be a rebound of Renaissance. I will tell you why.

The word ‘Renaissance’ means “rebirth.” Originally, the idea of rebirth first originated in the belief that Europeans had rediscovered the superiority of Greek and Roman culture after many centuries of what they considered intellectual and cultural decline. The period of renaissance was also described as the era of revival of learning and culture. It was a time when people began to discover their self worth; that they could do things unimagined as opposed to what was previously observed and practiced. This ‘self-worth’ drive, Alfred Alder says is the motivating force for human life in contrast to what he calls “inferiority complex”. From this perception that lauds an individual’s worth came talented individuals who became a voice and turned the then culture of ignorance around. Names such as the Italian poet Petrarch, the Italian artist Michelangelo, the Italian painter Giotto, Leonardo da Vinci, the French philosopher René Descartes and others all came into light. These men proved their self-worth and thus redefined the formation of their time. In rebound this time, people will begin to realize their superiority and dominance over the eclipsing influences of their time. They will discover that the mind is powerful more than they ever imagined will utilize this force to pull down the stronghold of fear and a seemingly assumed backdrop of ignorance. Some qualities of self-awareness will explosively emerge once the web is enhanced to simulate the complexity of the human brain. People will rediscover the superiority of the cyber-culture through their inputs as opposed to the previous 'inferiority complex' towards the complexity of technology. Then will sophisticated rational beings, who possess within themselves the capacity for invention, truth and goodness, emerge and come to light.

A basic principle for Renaissance is humanism, an attitude that emphasizes the dignity and worth of the individual. While this thrives, people will begin to see themselves as rational beings that possess within themselves the capacity for truth and goodness and superiority and dominance. The millennials will introduce this change and as they pass out with a majority of them at the verge of retiring from work, a new set of millennials will emerge. This new grade of millennials will run the show and the workforce they will be leading will have altered almost beyond recognition. The impact of these new millennials will become very significant and apparent to all as they dominate. New names will emerge eventually. Men will prove their worth of dominance with the discovery of their self-worth. However, there is no assurance of sustaining this self-worth attitude neither is there a guarantee that work will still happen. Simply put, there may be a whole new pledge to a new deal. In any case, I smell dirt in its heap insofar The New High Man will be distinguished with these 3 similar Renaissance attributes: 1. rediscovery of the supremacy culture; 2. objectivism, curiosity, relativity, and secularism; and 3.Individualism. These will be discussed in my next post.

8 Features of the New Work Ethic

2012-09-25T15:18:00.001-07:00

“What do digital technologies and the Internet mean for the future of work?” That was the central theme of the Information Roundtable at the Aspen Institute’s Communications and Society Program, an annual event that brings together some heavyweight businesspeople, technologists and academics to discuss a breaking issue. Based on the report about the conference and from recent research, I have sorted out these assumptions in my quest to unpick the complex processes surrounding the new workplace. Recall, ICT revolution has brought about a whole new dimension to work. As this continues, we may see a more flexible, more freelance, more collaborative and far less secure work ethic. It will be run by a generation with new values, and women will increasingly be at the controls. We will briefly see why this is so. This new work ethic will be marked with the following features:

1. FLEXIBILITY

Steven Miller (2007) in his book, Civilizing Cyberspace, said that “the real force behind the debasement of our culture is the freedom of our business to pursue profit without constraint from the non-market institutions that are the repository of community values” (p.37). This is what the new work ethic will look like. It will give freedom and will be flexible, but will diminish our cultural values. Work will give everyone what they desire: affluence, freedom, and consolations but all these won’t come in coziness of labor. Through hard work people will climb their ladder of success in freedom and discomfort. Everyone who admires the fruit of hard-work will be availed of such an opportunity to prove their work-worth. Men, women and young people will all side-by-side work together without fear of intellectual or sex discrimination. Everyone will contribute relatively in their own field. Flexibility will no longer be a favor to be handed out like candy at a children's birthday party; it will be a compelling business strategy of the future. Flexibility at the workplace will also be marked by three phases.

2. NEW WORKPLACE HEROES

The workplace is changing. From recent research, it seems women will rule the future workplace while the Gen X male-dominated workforce gradually retires from management positions. The new work ethic will create a multiplicity of petty entrepreneurs each in command of his own little business kingdom. It is a matter of time. In no time there will be a work-life balance in the corporate world. Workers will be hired based on their experience and skills, not by their personality, sex or racial background. Bruce Trugan asserts in his book Not Everyone Gets a Trophy that achievement will come only through hard work. The “successful” will be marked not by their rank or seniority but by getting results whether is a chance to lead a new-product launch or being able to take winters off for snowboarding. Considering the status quo, perhaps there is a better chance that women will be workplace heroes because 1. They are more attractive, 2. Theyproduce more results, 3. They manage more and 4. They love God more than mendo.

3. HARD WORK

Modern day scholars have lamented of the scarcity of work reason being that work have been associated with the conventional cubicle lifestyle. The future of work will be radically different than anything we know today or can even imagine. Who knows what jobs will be born a decade from now? Though unemployment is at a very alarming rate, work will eventually return. But when it does, it will no longer be the same. No one is going to pay you just to show up. Work will be a thing of choice, and people will have no choice but to work and prove their worth. There will be no room for loafers and neither will there be days for cubicle life. As never experienced in history, hard work will eventually pay. The harder the better slang will make the day. It will be a time when flexibility will be at its core and the three phasesof flexibility must have undergone an incredibly significant evolution. People will strive to excel on their own merits. Life will be all about what you make out of it. Opportunities will be disguised in hard work so most people don't recognize them. Hard work will pay as it becomes a mark of honor and builds niches.

4. AN ELECTRONIC SKIN

According to Robert Sardello, “we have entered the electronic hi-way”, which indices is that of automatic transmission and measurement of data from remote sources by wire, radio or other means in no time. In fact, even countries of the developing world are gradually being donned with the electronic skin. Neil Gross (1999) argues, as he predicts in an article for the Business Week Online that years from now there will be trillions of such telemetric systems, each with a microprocessor brain and a radio. According to Lallana and Margaret (2003), many analysts feel there will be more “telemetric devices for every human being on the planet”, which means that humans will be in contact with one another. “The communication won’t be at our plodding verbal pace since fifty kilobits per second is slow,’’ says Horst Stormer. According to him, these “machines will prefer to talk at gigabit speeds and higher—so fast that humans will catch only scattered snippets of the discussion,” Stormer adds. What will this new skin permit us to feel? How will we utilize its sensation? According to Lallana and Margaret, for several years—maybe for a decade—there will be no central nervous system to manage this vast signaling network. There will be no central intelligence as many scientists believe that some qualities of self-awareness will emerge once the net is sensually enhanced to stimulate the complexity of the human brain. These changes will nurture first grade individuals who possess within themselves the general ability to bear a resemblance with the electronic skin. This might be the revival of a humanist movement which I call The Rebound of Renaissance.

5. SPECIALIZATION

As a result of the concomitant nature of work in the future, Robert Sardello (2007) predicts that jobs will become more and more specialized functions…in vocational life, as this change is rapidly becoming electrified (¶4). Work will be disintegrated into categories and there will be a special line of work for every career. From this might come the discovery of new trends of specialized work which we don’t know of yet. Even with the operation of the millennials at this time, with their large general power, their work will be determined to some particular direction. Specialism will be a necessity for individual workers and niches as the future holds nothing but hope for all career paths.

6. PRAGMATISM

The age will be marked by its pragmaticalness – an era when pragmatics will prevail. Pragmatism calls for ideas and theories to be tested in practice, by assessing whether acting upon the idea/theory produces desirable or undesirable results. This is good. Is not just blabbing about your effectiveness in work but proving it by showing desired results. There will be no time for sentiments. People will want to get things done at once and make provision for other aspirations. Thoughts will be guided by realistic experiences and expectations rather than nursing hypotheticals. “If an idea is worth its hoopla, let’s SEE for ourselves,” so they will say. However, there is nothing wrong with pragmatism except that “not to go back is somewhat to advance, and men must walk at least before they dance” says the English poet, Alexandra Pope.

7. TEAM LEADERSHIP

A team leader will be someone who “facilitates his or her team’s processes by working collaboratively with the team to ensure that they complete their tasks efficiently, by maintaining good working relationships, and by coordinating with the manager and others on goals, priorities, team needs, and achievements”. The knowledge, skills and abilities required for team leaders include subject matter expertise, facilitation, problem-solving, team-building , leadership, motivation, innovation and flexibility, knowledge of quality tools, planning and organizing, coaching and counseling. According to Richard Kelley (1995) of the US Department of Labor, the three team-leadership models in the new workplace will range from (1.) a quasi-supervisory team leader of a team in a traditionally structure organization, through (2.) an intermediate leadership role of a semi-autonomous team, to (3.) a leader of an empowered team.

8. A REBOUND OF RENAISSANCE

The word ‘Renaissance’ means “rebirth.” Originally, the idea of rebirth first originated in the belief that Europeans had rediscovered the superiority of Greek and Roman culture after many centuries of what they considered intellectual and cultural decline. The period of renaissance was also described as the era of revival of learning and culture. It was a time when people began to discover their self worth; that they could do things unimagined as opposed to what was previously observed and practiced. This ‘self-worth’ drive, Alfred Alder says is the motivating force for human life in contrast to what he calls “inferiority complex”. From this perception that lauds an individual’s worth came talented individuals who became a voice and turned the then culture of ignorance around. Names such as the Italian poet Petrarch, the Italian artist Michelangelo, the Italian painter Giotto, Leonardo da Vinci, the French philosopher René Descartes and others all came into light. These men proved their self-worth and thus redefined the formation of their time. In rebound this time, people will begin to realize their superiority and dominance over the eclipsing influences of their time. They will discover that the mind is powerful more than they ever imagined and hence utilize this force to pull down the stronghold of fear and a seemingly assumed ignorance. Some qualities of self-awareness will explosively emerge once the web is enhanced to simulate the complexity of the human brain. People will rediscover the superiority of the cyber-culture through their constructive inputs as opposed to prior inferiority towards the complexity of technology. Then will the trending sophisticated rational beings that possess within themselves the capacity for invention, truth and goodness will emerge.

Photos Credit: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net

Hiring Lots of Women Can Help You Make More Money

2012-09-17T19:02:00.002-07:00

The workplace is changing. From recent research, it seems women will rule the future workplace while the Gen X male-dominated workforce gradually retires from management positions. The new work ethic will create a multiplicity of petty entrepreneurs each in command of his own little business kingdom. It is a matter of time. In no time there will be a work-life balance in the corporate world. Workers will be hired based on their experience and skills, not by their personality, sex or racial background. Bruce Trugan asserts in his book Not Everyone Gets a Trophy that achievement will come only through hard work. The “successful” will be marked not by their rank or seniority but by getting results whether is a chance to lead a new-product launch or being able to take winters off for snowboarding. Considering the status quo, perhaps there is a better chance that women will be workplace heroes for these simple reasons.

1. Women are feminine
Hate it or accept it, women are more attractive than men. Perhaps because of their feminineness. I think in a fairer world, 'sex' would not be so rewarded. But it is. There is this general attention women draw with their sultry hype. Good looking women at the other hand can end up getting hired faster, being more often promoted and receiving approved contracts than their similarly qualified male coworkers. While it might seem to make sense that beautiful women would earn more in roles where good looks might be an asset, such as for media personalities, actors or spokespeople, it turns out that even in jobs where looks don't play a factor, the 'attractive' still earn more because the business world wants to see more of beautiful people to sell their brands.

2. Women produce results
Years ago, a group carried out a research on female management potentials and discovered that women are not soft as people often thought but profit-oriented. It is either women themselves making the real difference in the workplace or they are neither involved. “Women focus on efficiency, not schmoozing!” says Shipman and Kay. As a result of their firmness in the workplace, they tend to produce results than men do. Besides, with growing evidence in today's marketplace, the female management impression is not only remotely less-competitive but also admirably significant.

3. Women manage more than Men
According to Shipman and Kay (2009), “women manage more cautiously than men do. They focus on the long term whereas men thrive on risk, especially when surrounded by other men” (¶12). Let’s take this back to the setting of a growing family where the husband had to start a piggy bank at home and saves money through the wife. They carefully keep the money for their man until it is requested for. In home management routines, women best manage resources year-in-year-out. Imagine if they utilize this management skill in the workplace? No contest, women are more economic than men. The workplace needs organizational managers to truly get stable and sustainable. Women could be very useful for this purpose. When next you think of hiring a manager for your company, a woman might best suit that position.

4. Women are more religious
Believe it or not, religion comes in handy when it comes to growing a business. This is because religiosity plays a crucial role in the perfection of morality. For Christians, the Bible says that those who know their God…shall do exploits (Daniel 11:32). The Bible uses the plural "their"...meaning, your success is not limited to your religion. Whether you are a Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist and so on, this relates to everyone. The Infinite-Creator-God blesses those who genuinely seek Him. An attempt to draw close to God is an attempt on success. The good part, God never fails. Usually in a church setting, women are the ones that first get converted and then literary drag their husbands to church. Devotion to God gives a Christian woman her purpose, even her identity. Their love and devotion to God produce in them an enthusiasm to serve God, not just in the church but in their family and workplace. As they allow God to infiltrate every part of their lives, God begins to shine through them and prospers the work of their hand and attends to every of their tear-drop. This is how God wants His people to live. A try on faith adds spice to fate.

Now, wouldn’t the unsettlements in the religious landscape be unfolded a bit differently if religious institutions had had a few more women on board? Perhaps having the first female Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) president? Although the integration of women’s management positions seems lacking at most corporate settings, the new work ethic promises to abet female management functions. The new work ethics is redefining gender relations and one of the most striking developments in Africa today is the rise in status of women. Both social and religious trends have initially undermined gender inequality but now the shift to the millennial has drawn increasing numbers of women into the workplace and most of them are selling out. Modern democracies no longer deny rights to women on account of gender; marriages are becoming increasingly symmetrical, with greater equality of partners and less stereotypical gender roles; and African women are no longer confined to the role of homemakers – men are not solely defined today as the breadwinners. The reason for this change could be attributed to the grounds that women are getting more jobs than their male counterparts – perhaps because of some of the above reasons.

Since women are noted for their unique never-giving-up attitude, the new work ethic is already favoring them. And while women gradually dominate the workplace with their beauty, passion, natural management skills and religiousness, companies will understand that hiring lots of women, and letting them work the way they want, will help them get the needed exposure, draw Grace for success and Make More Money.

The 21st Century Workplace May be the Last Days of Cubicle Life

2012-09-17T18:54:00.001-07:00

During the 20^th century, the general idea about organizing work was summarized by Chui who says that “the best way to harness human talent is through full-time, exclusive employment relationships where people are paid for the amount of time they spend at a common location. They should be organized in stable hierarchies where they are evaluated primarily through the judgment of their superiors, and what and how they do their jobs is prescribed. As a result of flexibility at work, there will be an ability to move spontaneously and independently at the workplace. The 21^st century workplace, according to Seth Godin, will be the last days of cubicle life. Godin told of when Frank Lloyd Wright unveiled the Johnson Wax Building in 1939. It showcased a new way of looking at work. One room, covering half an acre (0.2 hectare) was filled with women, lined up in rows, typing. Work didn't necessarily mean loud, dirty factories but it still involved sitting in orderly rows, doing orderly work for a finicky boss. That was then. In order for us to understand what the workplace will be like in years to come, Seth Godlin gives us a clue:

…employers no longer need to pay you to drive to a building to sit and type. In fact, under pressure from an uncertain economy, bosses are discovering that there are a lot of reasons not to pay you to drive to a central location or even to pay you at all. And when work gets auctioned off to the lowest bidder, your job gets a lot more stressful (Ibid ¶8).

The future of work in years to come will have nothing to do with processing words or figures (the internet can do that now). Nor will we need many people to act as placeholders, errand runners or receptionists. A successful worker will be one that is intensely knowledgeable, smart and skillful with millennial abilities. In fact, Godin suggested that during this time there's going to be a huge focus on finding the essential people and outsourcing the rest. These essential individuals are likely to be the millennials. As the 77 million Baby Boomers begin to reach traditional retirement age today, the next group called the millennials or Gen Y is entering the workplace and making incredibly significant contributions to the status quo. As these ‘millennials’ are entering the new millennium workplace, the Baby Boomers are refusing to retire. The result is that 60 year-olds are working alongside the 20 year-olds. In most cases, very recent college graduates find themselves in charge of people who could be their grandparents, says Godin. This will soon end as the need for enhanced technological skills become increasingly demanding at the workplace.

According to Seth Godin, most of the best jobs will be for people who manage customers, who organize fans, who do digital community management. We'll continue to need brilliant designers, energetic brainstormers and rigorous lab technicians. More and more, the need to actually show up at an office that consists of an anonymous hallway and a farm of cubicles or closed doors is just going to fade away. Reason been that a farm of cubicles is too expensive and too slow. Godin explained this, saying: “I'd rather send you a file at the end of my day (when you're in a very different time zone) and have the information returned to my desktop when I wake up tomorrow. We may never meet, but we're both doing essential work”. He argues that work at this time “will mean managing a tribe, creating a movement and operating in teams to change the world”. This has great implication for the Church as well. The utmost impact then can come when the Church begin to diversify and learn how to swiftly manage, organize, create and operate with a vibrant team spirit to change the world as a colony of heaven. This means that church might not necessarily be done in an architectural building but by virtue of the new workplace the Church might be forced to operate in cable wires. More services and evangelistic programs will be held online and people will find Christ, not in a typical local church setting but online.