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16 Things Sucessful People Do At The Start Of Every Work Day

2013-10-19T22:19:00.001+01:00

The first few hours of the work day can have a significant effect on your level of productivity over the following eight—so it’s important you have a morning routine that sets you up for success.

“Having a good start to the day where you have greater control is critical in achieving better results, and ultimately greater career success,” says Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and author of Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant; How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job. “How you begin your morning often sets the tone and your attitude for the day. It can also derail or direct your focus. If you remain committed to good morning work habits, you won’t fall prey to feeling unproductive and distracted at the end of the day or week.”

With the help of career and workplace experts Taylor, David Shindler, Michael Kerr, Anita Attridge, Alexandra Levit and Michael “Dr. Woody” Woodward, I compiled a list of 16 things all workers should do when they get to work each morning.

Arrive on time. This may be obvious to most people—but some don’t realize that showing up late can not only leave a bad impression, but also throw off your entire day. “Getting in on time or a little early helps your mindset for the day and helps promote a feeling of accomplishment,” Taylor says.

Take a deep breath. “Literally,” says Michael Kerr, an international business speaker, author and president of Humor at Work. “And do something to focus in on the here and now.” Many people come into work harried because they don’t leave enough time at home to deal with “home stuff,” he says, “and then they’ve barely survived another horrendously stressful commute, and then they dive into the madness.” Slowing down, taking a moment to pause, and creating a routine around centering yourself can work wonders, he adds.

Michael “Dr. Woody” Woodward, PhD, organizational psychologist and author of The YOU Plan, says after the deep breath, give yourself a few minutes to meditate and get settled in.“This is a good way to set the tone of the day,” he says. “Don’t allow yourself to be bum rushed by frantic co-workers lost in their own confusion. It’s not unusual to wake up to a long backlog of e-mails just screaming for your attention. The challenge is taking a moment for yourself before diving head first into your day.”

Woodward says he has worked with executives who meditate 10 minutes every morning before they even think of looking at an e-mail or taking a call. “There is a tremendous power in mediation when it comes to settling your mind. Starting off your day right is really about setting your own tone and meditation is a great way to begin.”

Eat a proper breakfast. “Breakfast truly is the most important meal of the day to help us down the path of not only being more physically fit, but also to have the mental energy needed to tackle your workday,” Kerr says.

Start each day with a clean slate. You may have to attend to projects or discussions that rolled over from the previous afternoon—but try to treat each day as a fresh one, says David Shindler, founder of The Employability Hub and author ofLearning to Leap. “Leave any crap from yesterday behind, tap into what’s happening at the outset of the day, get organized and ready or hit the ground running, if that’s what is needed,” he says.

Don’t be moody. You’ll want to pay attention to your mood and be aware of its effect on others. “First and last thing in the day is whenemotional intelligence can have the greatest impact,” Shindler says. So if you’re not a “morning person,” try to suck it up and have a positive attitude when you arrive at the office. Grab a second or third cup of coffee, if that’s what it takes.

Kerr agrees. “Your first hour at work can set your ‘attitude barometer’ for the rest of the day, so from a purely emotional point of view, I think it’s an important part of the day,” he says. “One morning grump can infect an entire team and put everyone on the wrong footing.”

Organize your day. The first hour of the work day is the best time to assess priorities and to focus on what you absolutely need to accomplish, Kerr says. “Too many people get distracted first thing in the morning with unimportant activities such as diving right into their morass of e-mail, when there may be a whole host of more important issues that need dealing with.” Make a to-do list, or update the one you made the previous day, and try to stick to it. However, if your boss has an urgent need, then it’s OK re-shuffle your priorities within reason, Taylor adds.

Anita Attridge, a career and executive coach with the Five O’Clock Club, a career coaching organization, says when you prepare your morning to-do list, determine what must be done today and what can be completed tomorrow, and prioritize accordingly. “Also determine your peak working time and plan your schedule accordingly,” she says. “Use your peak time each morning to do the most important tasks.”

Be present. Even if you’re not a morning person, you need to be awake when you get the office. Especially if you’re in a leadership position, it’s critical to be present, mentally and physically, and to communicate. “One of the biggest office pet peeves I hear from employees is about how their immediate supervisor just blows by them in the morning without so much as a smile,” Kerr says. “Taking the time to connect with your team members is essential, and doing the seemingly small things–making eye contact, smiling, asking them about their night, and checking in on what they may need help with–helps you as a leader take the pulse of the team, and helps set the tone for all the employees.”Check in with your colleagues. “A quick 5 to 10 minute team huddle can also be an effective way for many people to start their day,” Kerr says. Make it a short meeting, with no chairs, have everyone share their top goal for the day, and share any critical information the rest of the team absolutely needs to know, he says. “Doing the huddles helps people focus and more importantly, connects everyone with the team. And by sharing your goals for the day publicly, the odds of achieving them rise substantially.”

Organize your workspace. Clearing off the desk and creating a neat workspace sets a tone for the rest of the day, says Alexandra Levit, the author of Blind Spots: The 10 Business Myths You Can’t Afford to Believe on Your New Path to Success.

It can also help avoid confusion. “While most communications are through e-mails and texts, if your boss or co-worker stopped by looking for you and left a sticky note about a last-minute meeting occurring in ten minutes, and it’s sitting on a mound of mail or papers, you’re already behind the eight ball,” Taylor says. “Also, for many, it’s difficult to think clearly, easy to forget important reminders, and just plain stressful if you feel you’re fighting the battle and the tornado of mail or paper is winning.” Ideally, you’d clear whatever you can out the night before so you can have a fresh start before you even turn on your computer in the morning. But if not, make sure clearing your desk takes precedence over things like checking e-mails and chatting with co-workers in the morning.

Remind yourself of your core purpose at work. “As corny or as trite as this may sound, I’d suggest that you take a moment each morning to remind yourself of your core purpose at work,” Kerr says. Connecting to a sense of purpose is one of the most powerful motivators there is, and taking just a moment each day to reconnect to what truly matters in your job and what you are ultimately trying to achieve and for whom, can help you feel more motivated and help you focus on the priority areas in your work.

Don’t be distracted by your inbox. This one is difficult for most people—but the experts agree that you shouldn’t check your e-mail first thing in the morning. If you do, only read and respond to messages that are urgent. “Priority-scan your inbox,” Taylor says. “Not all e-mails were created equal. Hone your ability to quickly sift the wheat from the chaff and address what must be answered on an urgent basis.”

Attridge agrees. “Only respond immediately to the urgent messages so that you control your morning activities.” There will be time during the day to respond to the less urgent e-mails.

Why must you put off checking e-mails? “For far too many people, e-mail and the web can serve as huge time-wasters and distracters, particularly in the morning,” Kerr says.

Listen to your voice mail. Most people jump on the computer and ignore their phone. “While office voice mail is indeed becoming antiquated as people rely more on personal cell phones, Blackberrys and e-mail, some people do leave voice messages, and if you ignore them, you could miss something important,” Levit says.“Once you start checking e-mails, it’s a click away from watching the funny video someone forwarded you, which then sucks you into the abyss: checking the sports scores on line, the news headlines,the stocks, et cetera, and before you know it you’ve been watching a cat play the drums for twenty minutes and, like a poorly planned Oscars ceremony, your entire schedule is already thrown off before you’ve even begun your day.”

Place important calls and send urgent e-mails. If you know you need to get in touch with someone that day, place the call or send the e-mail first thing in the morning. If you wait until midday, there’s a greater chance you won’t hear back before you leave the office. “There’s nothing more frustrating that trying to complete something and not having access or answers from people you need because your day time hours were lost on other matters,” Taylor says. “If you have your questions ready and your e-mails fired off during early peak hours, by the end of the day you should have what you need.”

Take advantage of your cleared mind. “Many people feel that their brains function best in the morning, and that morning is when they are most creative and productive,” Kerr says. “Consider whether you are making the best use of your brainpower and plan ‘high brain’ activities in the morning.”

Mix things up from time to time. Some people like order and are habitual—but others like variety and change. “For them, my advice is to shake things up occasionally by sitting somewhere different (if you have the choice) so you get a different perspective; go walkabout first thing and be visible to people in other spaces, both from a social point of view and as an alternative to picking up the phone,” Shindler says. “Small things that can energize you from the off and can positively impact you and the office dynamics.”

Plan a mid-morning break. “This is the time to assess where you and take time to revitalize yourself so that you can keep your momentum going,” Attridge says.

If you’re stuck in a routine that doesn’t include these must-dos, it may be worthwhile to re-examine your habits and make some changes for enhanced career development, Taylor says.

“Habits are created out of having regular cues that prompt a routine, which then eventually become our habits,” Kerr adds. The morning is the perfect time to create some critical habits that will, over time, become routine and help you be more focused and productive.

“I know my morning routines are critically important. They help me focus and build momentum,” he says. “I’m a big believer in thinking about the start of your day the night before.”

Taylor adds that it’s also helpful not to be too tied to your routines or rigid plans. “Expect the unexpected, allow flexibility, and look at the big picture in what your productivity will look like end of day. You’re likely to be thrown a curve–you might not check off all your initial to-dos. But you can take pride in your ability to handle the unforeseen.”

Jacquelyn Smith, Forbes Staff

5 Things You should Do Before 8 AM

2013-10-19T21:37:00.004+01:00

Wakie Wakie! Morning time just became your new best friend. Utilizing the morning hours before setting out is the secret to healthy lifestyle and health. waking up early is common among successful and influential people.
Margaret Thatcher wakes up every day at 5 a.m.; Frank Lloyd Wright at 4 am and Robert Iger, the CEO of Disney wakes at 4:30am just to name a few. I know what you’re thinking – you do your best work at night. Not so fast. According to Inc. Magazine, morning people have been found to be more proactive and more productive. In addition, the health benefits for those with a life before work go on and on. Let’s see five of the things successful people do before 8 am.

1. Exercise. Most people that work out daily, work out in the morning. Whether it’s a morning yoga session or a trip to the gym, exercising before work gives you a boost of energy for the day and that deserved sense of accomplishment. Anyone can tackle a pile of paperwork after 200 ab reps! Morning workouts also eliminate the possibility of flaking out on your cardio after a long day at work. Even if you aren’t bright eyed and bushy tailed at the thought of a 5 am jog, try waking up 15 minutes early for a quick bedside set of pushups or stretching. It’ll help wake up your body, and prep you for your day.

2. Map Out Your Day. Maximize your potential by mapping out your schedule for the day, as well as your goals and to dos. The morning is a good time for this as it is often one of the only quiet times a person gets throughout the day. The early hours foster easier reflection that helps when prioritizing your activities. They also allow for uninterrupted problem solving when trying to fit everything into your timetable. While scheduling, don’t forget about your mental health. Plan a 10 minute break after that stressful meeting for a quick walk around the block or a moment of meditation at your desk. Trying to eat healthy? Schedule a small window in the evening to pack a few nutritious snacks to bring to work the next day.

3. Eat a Healthy Breakfast. We all know that rush out the door with a cup of coffee and an empty stomach feeling. Take that extra time in the morning to fuel your body for the tasks ahead of it. It will help keep your mind on what’s at hand and not your growling stomach. Not only is breakfast good for your physical health, it is also a good time to connect socially. Even five minutes of talking with your kids or spouse while eating a quick bowl of oatmeal can boost your spirits before heading out the door.

4. Visualization. These days we talk about our physical health ad nauseam, but sometimes our mental health gets overlooked. The morning is the perfect time to spend some quiet time inside your mind meditating or visualizing. Take a moment to visualize your day ahead of you, focusing on the successes you will have. Even just a minute of visualization and positive thinking can help improve your mood and outlook on your work load for the day.

5. Make Your Day Top Heavy. We all have that one item on our to do list that we dread. It looms over you all day (or week) until you finally suck it up and do it after much procrastination. Here’s an easy tip to save yourself the stress – do that least desirable task on your list first. Instead of anticipating the unpleasantness of it from first coffee through your lunch break, get it out of the way. The morning is the time when you are (generally) more well rested and your energy level is up. Therefore, you are more well equipped to handle more difficult projects. And look at it this way, your day will get progressivelyeasier, not the other way around. By the time your work day is ending, you’re winding down with easier to dos and heading into your free time more relaxed. Success!

wakinUtili

Lagos capable of accommodating at least 20 shopping malls; property developer

2013-10-18T09:00:00.000+01:00

The construction of shopping malls in Nigeria and the country’s retail potential is a hot topic, as highlighted by discussions at last month’s Africa Property Investment Summit in Johannesburg.

South African food retailer Shoprite Holdings, which has partnered with different property development companies to take the anchor position in a number of these planned malls, is emphasising the demand for mall expansion across the West African country.

According to Hakeem Ogunniran, managing director of UACN Property Development Company (UPDC) in Nigeria, Lagos could effectively hold 20 malls. The rapidly expanding city and commercial hub currently has three large modern shopping malls (with a fourth to be opened soon) and has seen a growing consumer class and a number of international retail companies enter the space.

Ogunniran told How we made it in Africa that Johannesburg, with a population of 4-5m people, has substantially more malls than Lagos. “Lagos with 17-20m could presumably take up to 20-25 malls.”

UPDC, which is also developing in the residential and commercial (office) real estate markets, is looking at the country’s potential in its “B and C grade” cities for formal retail infrastructure, office spaces and residential developments, said Ogunniran.

This is in alignment with what Resilient Africa’s managing director Holden Marshall told How we made it in Africa last month. Resilient Africa is focused specifically on developing smaller shopping centres in Nigeria, of which Shoprite is a partner.

Although Resilient Africa is securing sites to develop malls in the popular retail hubs of Lagos and Abuja, it is also targeting a number of other cities in the country. Warri in the Delta State in southern Nigeria will see the Delta City Mall completed by November next year. Marshall said the company has either secured or is in the process of securing sites in Asaba, Benin City, Port Harcourt, Owerri, Yenagoa and Abeokuta.

According to Marshall, the growing middle class population in these cities is underserviced. “And that’s why the retailers are going there… [They] have got money to spend and are looking for good brands, a nice environment, and a modern facility. And that’s what we are hoping to capture and deliver.”

Warri, where Resilient Africa’s first mall is being built, is seeing rapid growth and has a good income per capita.

“That whole south Delta region of Nigeria, a large part of it is based on an oil economy,” Marshall explained. “All those cities in that region are growing exceptionally fast. In the last three years they have all sort of quadrupled in size. So Warri is quite a substantial city. [There are] indications of a population of 1.5m that is sort of countable but there are a lot more [people].”

Richest Black Woman

2013-10-17T20:23:00.000+01:00

Oprah is one of the most famous women in the world, rising from poverty to now having a net worth of $2.9 billion. Not only is she one of the richest people in the world, she’s also regarded as the richest black woman. Now has to move over, as Folorunsho Alakija is now the richest black woman in the world.

This 62 year old is an oil tycoon and owner of Framfa Oil, which has a 60% stake in Nigeria’s OML 127 oil block. This has shot her net worth to $7.3 billion dollars. She has a story much like Oprah, as she started off as a bank secretary and worked hard before she was able to open up her own business. Although Oprah may no longer be the richest black woman in the world, she’s still one of the wealthiest overall. Her net worth will continue to grow with the many companies she owns, including her own television network.

Top 10 Oil Producing Countries In Africa

2013-10-17T20:11:00.000+01:00

Who are the top oil producing nations in Africa? Oil is unarguably one of the most powerful tools of trade in Africa and the world at large. The most powerful countries in the world hold great control over the resource that is needed to run almost everything right from the huge industries to simple generators in the home. Africa is one of the world largest oil producers after the Middle East. The potential could be much more with very little exploration being done due to a number of reasons ranging from political to development based.
The oil industry in Africa has been racked by a lot of challenges that have been a major hindrance to the production of oil. Countries like Kenya and Uganda have been doing a serious exploration for oil and this has raised hope in the countries for the production of oil. It would also mean a lot for these countries in terms of exports and financial abilities if oil was to be struck in these regions. Here are the list of top oil producers in Africa from the least.This ranking contains the top 10 only as there are other oil producing countries in Africa.

South Africa

Top ten from the bottom is South Africa producing about 191,000 barrels of oil each day. South Africa is one of Africa’s richest countries. The country is looking into more prospects with the opening up of new oil wells to expand the business. They are currently importing oil and have not reached a capacity to export any oil. The country requires about 570,000 barrels per day to run the country. The deficit is bought from other countries.

Gabon

Gabon is the 9th producer of oil in Africa. The country produces about 241, 700 barrels of oil each and every day.

The Republic of Congo

The eighth biggest producer of oil in Africa is the Republic of Congo. The country produces about 274, 400 barrels of oil per day. The country has also been unstable from war while now with a coup taking place. The stable economy being enjoyed now has been part of improving the oil sector with more investors considering the country as an investment point.

Equatorial Guinea

The 7th biggest producer of oil in Africa is Equatorial Guinea producing about 346,000 barrels each and every day. Oil makes a big part of the economy in this part f the world with most oil rings just off the coast.

Sudan

Sudan is the 6th biggest producer of oil in Africa. Producing about 487, 000 barrels a day, Sudan has oil as its biggest economic activity. The country has also had its share of problems with the north and the South having problems getting along leading to the splitting of the country into two independent nations. Things are still tense though the oil keeps running.

Egypt

Egypt is the 5th best producer of Africa. They produce 680, 000 barrels per day. The main spots of production are the Gulf of Suez, the Eastern desert, the Western Desert and the Peninsula of Sinai. They have also invested in a pipeline that runs from the Gulf of Suez to the city of Sidi Kerir. Oil is one of Egypt’s biggest supports for the economy with the pipeline making for easy transportation and making more for the nation.

Libya

Libya produces about 1.7 million barrels per day, exporting about 1.2 of the total which makes it the 4th producer oil in Africa. Libya has seen a lot of change since the fall of Gadaffi the leader and dictator. There has been a war between the rebels and the government forces though subsiding making this country a stable nation for investors. The political change has affected the oil companies positively and more is expected to be derived from the large investment grounds.

Angola

Angola takes 3rd place in oil producers in Africa and their 1.9 million barrels each day places them 7th in the world. Oil and gas holds Angola’s economy. Many foreign investors have ventured into the business with the government giving a pliable platform that has built the economy making Angola one of Africa’s richest countries.

Algeria

Algeria comes 2nd in Africa producing about 2.1 million barrels a day. It has also had its share of problems with the president firing the CEO due to scandal claims. Sonatrach is owned by the state explaining the action by the president. Algeria had flaunted oil reserves holding about 12.2 billion barrels of oil in the year 2010. This is a massive amount equaling about 18 years of the worlds production.

Nigeria

Nigeria is Africa’s number one oil producer with over 2.2 million barrels being produced daily. This makes them the number 4th world exporter of oil. The industry has however been racked with a lot of problems which has also affected the effect of the oil industry on the country. Many oil producing countries are way ahead of Nigeria which has left many wondering. The Royal Dutch Shell is currently facing a one hundred million dollars fine from the Nigerian government due to an oil spill. Militants have also gotten into the business cutting into the production and slowing down production exponentially. This has also led to the death of a number of people in the whole saga making it a hot spot area.

What's your take on this?

MY DISCOVERY; COME TO NIGERIA (www.cometonigeria.com)

2013-08-30T00:27:00.000+01:00

On a cool Sunday evening as I was surfing the net as usual, I stumbled upon a treasure website called cometonigeria.com. The website is full of information and resource for Nigerians and foreigners alike, its contents are unique and unrivaled. Before I proceed, let’s talk more about the subject matter, Nigeria.

Everybody knows Nigeria consist of over 160,000 million people which makes it the most populous black nation. Officially the Federal Republic Nigeria is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital territory Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares boarders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroun in the east and Niger in the north. Its coast is the Gulf of Guinea on the Atlantic Ocean. There are over 500 ethnic groups in Nigeria of which the three largest ethnic groups are the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba. Nigerians are popular for the varieties of local delicacies, social and religious life.

Nigerians and their foreign counterparts alike have found it difficult and painstaking to explore the riches and abundance of opportunities in the country due to the rigor and lack of access to vital information and resource. Over the years, individuals and organisations alike have tried to make things easy for people searching for information about Nigeria, but all have fail.

After years of trial and error, in 2008, Mr Oladimeji Adisa, led a team of dedicated and information hungry Nigerians and foreign buddies to establish www.cometonigeria.com website. The website is built with passion and its original. On my first visit, I was astonished by what I saw. I was impressed and didn’t want to leave the site. I could navigate easily through the pages to read the great contents therein.

After years of surfing the net for resource and information about Nigeria, I have not seen such a rich and unique website with much depth and find ability as www.cometonigeria.com. Some of Its contents include but not limited to the following;

v Destinations in Nigeria

v Where to visit

v Where to stay

v Travel and events

v Beaches and holidays resorts

v Park and wildlife

v Castles and monuments

v Investment opportunities

v Accommodation

v Cultural festivals

v Nature and conservation.

All this tabs are very easy to navigate with unique and beautiful picture stories. I felt a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction after this great discovery.

If you are a Nigerian and you have not visited this site, you don’t know anything about your country yet. Also all tourist and foreign investors who are planning to visit Nigeria for business or leisure will need to visit www.cometonigeria.com to make their life easy before and during their visit. Warning!!! Don’t come to Nigeria without visiting www.cometonigeria.com.

You can also find them on Facebook and twitter at: www.facebook.com/cometonigeria and www.twitter.com/cometonigeria respectively.

Happy Eid El Fitr to all our Muslim friends.... Wish you a happy celebration.

2013-08-08T06:06:00.003+01:00

Happy Eid El Fitr to all our Muslim friends.... Wish you a happy celebration.

Top 10 Motivational Books in History

2013-08-05T07:00:00.000+01:00

Every business library should include at least one of these gems.

I have listed the Top 10 motivational books in history that drive readers to change their lives, improve their lot, and build better careers. Beware of the final (No. 1) book!

10. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

While he gets a bit preachy sometimes, Steven Covey's road map for living doesn't just help you develop better habits, it convinces you that acquiring them will make you a better person.
Best quote: "Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny."

9. How to Win Friends & Influence People

Prior to Dale Carnegie's classic, mixing business relationships with personal relationships was considered a bit underhanded, like nepotism. After Carnegie, the business relationships and personal relationships were seen as not just as compatible, but absolutely inseparable.
Best quote: "The unvarnished truth is that almost all the people you meet feel themselves superior to you in some way, and a sure way to their hearts is to let them realize in some subtle way that you recognize their importance, and recognize it sincerely."

8. Think and Grow Rich

Napoleon Hill interviewed "40 millionaires" to discover the common thought processes and behaviors that had led to their success. His study of these "best practices" was revolutionary in a world where it was largely assumed that great wealth resulted from a combination of greed and luck.
Best quote: "All the breaks you need in life wait within your imagination. Imagination is the workshop of your mind, capable of turning mind energy into accomplishment and wealth."

7. Awaken the Giant Within

Anthony Robbins is unlike most motivational writers in two ways. First, he treats training the mind and body as a technological challenge rather than moral imperative. Second, he somehow manages to be both an inspirational role model and the most annoying guy on the planet.
Best quote: "If you can't, you must. If you must, you can."

6. As a Man Thinketh

Motivational books are usually about taking immediate action. By contrast, this 1902 classic by James Allen is a bit more, well..., thoughtful. It explains how your thoughts mold your personality, and how that personality drives you to take action and determines the type of action you'll take.
Best quote: "The dreamers are the saviors of the world. As the visible world is sustained by the invisible, so men, through all their trials and sins and sordid vocations, are nourished by the beautiful visions of their solitary dreamers."

5. The Greatest Salesman in the World

Far more than just a sales book, Og Mandino's faux-biblical parable encourages your to live your life to the fullest by believing in yourself and your ability to help others. Required reading for anybody who sells. Which is just about everybody.
Best quote: "I will live this day as if it is my last. This day is all I have and these hours are now my eternity. I greet this sunrise with cries of joy as a prisoner who is reprieved from death. I lift mine arms with thanks for this priceless gift of a new day."

4. Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

A big part of motivation is clearing your mind of the clutter that weighs it down. Richard Carlson helps you differentiate between what's really important--and deserving of your attention--and what's just "noise in the system."
Best quote: "Stress is nothing more than a socially acceptable form of mental illness."

3. Drive

Motivation comes from the judicious use of carrots and sticks, right. Not so, says author Daniel Pink. His book illustrates the fact that motivation comes from many sources and that, at the highest level of performance, motivation come from your deepest and most profound sense of who you are and want to be.
Best quote: "For artists, scientists, inventors, schoolchildren, and the rest of us, intrinsic motivation--the drive to do something because it is interesting, challenging, and absorbing --is essential for high levels of creativity."

2. The Power of Positive Thinking

When it was first published, both psychologists and theologians attacked this book as heretical, and accused author Norman Vincent Peale of being a crank. Today, science has verified the book's basic concept--that being optimistic makes you healthier and happier and thus more likely to succeed.
Best quote: "Action is a great restorer and builder of confidence. Inaction is not only the result, but the cause, of fear. Perhaps the action you take will be successful; perhaps different action or adjustments will have to follow. But any action is better than no action at all."

1. Your Favorite Here

Okay, I've provided you with nine incredibly motivating books, any one of which could literally change your life.
Now it's your turn.
What book ought to be on this list? What book has motivated you? What motivational book do you recommend to your friends?

Leave a comment!

Forbes' 2013 list of highest earning US celebrities under 30

2013-07-23T08:50:00.006+01:00

Forbes yesterday released their annual 'list of top-earning celebrities under 30' and Lady Gaga topped the list. Forbes calculated their earnings between June 2012 and June 2013. See the top 10 below...

1. Lady Gaga (age 27) $80 million
2. Justin Bieber (age 19) $58 million
3. Taylor Swift (age 23) $55 million
4. Calvin Harris (age 29) $46 million
5.Rihanna (age 25) $43 million
6. Katy Perry (age 28) $39 million
7. Jennifer Lawrence (age 22) $26 million
8. Adele (age 25) $25 million
9. Kristen Stewart (age 23) $22 million
10.Taylor Lautner (age 21) $22 million

AMAZING- Meet the woman who asked doctors to cut her spinal cord so she can fulfill her desire of using a wheelchair

2013-07-22T08:53:00.000+01:00

A Cambridge University educated research scientist is so desperate to live the life of a wheelchair-bound person she is prepared to pay a doctor help her become disabled. She wears leg braces and uses a wheelchair, even though her legs are healthy. Chloe spends most of her time in a wheelchair, but has to get out for various household tasks and walk down the steps to her car. Since childhood, Chloe Jennings-White has made several attempts at injuring herself so she can finally climb into her own wheelchair.In 2010 she even found a doctor overseas willing to help her become disabled by cutting her sciatic and femoral nerves, but she could not afford the £16,000 costs.
'I might never be able to afford it, but I know, truly and deeply, I won't regret it if I ever can,' she said
Chloe, 58, from Salt Lake City, Utah, suffers from a rare condition called Body Integrity Identity Disorder, or BIID. Sufferers do not accept one of their own limb or limbs and seek to amputate them or become paraplegic
Some experts believe it is caused by a neurological fault, in which the brain's mapping system cannot see a certain body part.The Cambridge graduate believes both of her legs do not belong to her and dreams of being paralysed from the waist down.
'Something in my brain tells me my legs are not supposed to work,' she said. 'Having any sensation in them just feels wrong.'

For years she bandaged herself secretly, but now lives openly with her condition despite facing intolerance, insults, and sometimes online threats.Chloe first realised she was different at the age of four, after visiting her Aunt Olive, who was using leg braces after a bike accident.
'I wanted them too,' she said. 'I wondered why I wasn't born needing them and felt something was wrong with me because I didn't have them.'
At the age of nine, Chloe even took action and pedalled her bike off a four-foot high acting stage on Hampstead Heath, north London, landing on her neck.
'I only wanted to stop my legs working but could have broken my neck or died,' she added.
From then on, Chloe lived out her fantasy in secret, pretending to be disabled when alone, playing risky sports and climbing trees in the hope of hurting her legs.
Now, as an adult, Chloe enjoys the excitement of downhill skiing and the possibility she might fall and suffer serious leg fractures.

'I ski extremely fast, and aim for the most dangerous runs .'Doing any activity that brings a chance of me becoming paraplegic gives me a sense of relief from the anxiety caused by the BIID.'My friends and family can get a little worried about me skiing, as they know I ski very aggressively and they know that in the back of my mind I actually want to get paralysed.' I can't afford to convert my home for disabled access so I just use the chair as much as I can,' she said.

She fantasises about having a car crash without hurting anyone else just so she can damage her own legs.

Daily mail.

Shocking Confession- How I beheaded 100 men, pounded 27 babies & slept with my mother- Shina Rambo

2013-07-22T08:39:00.003+01:00

When I read this, to say I was shocked would be an understatement. I found it almost unbelievable.. I.e,...I couldn't believe he actually did all these things... but who am I to judge?
Read Below..

It was a beautiful Saturday morning, I was garbed in a pair of jeans, on a pair of Timberland boots, a military sweat shirt, and my JackMoody denim jacket. I had been attacked by men of the underworld the night before whilst we were on production, at the office. So I slung my black Ted Baker satchel across my right shoulder, armed with my camera, my midget, and some other small gizmos.I was more determined, to embark on this adventure, than ever before. I was headed for the ancient city of brown roofs, Ibadan where a one-time Nigeria’s most notorious and dreaded bandit that ever lived SHINA RAMBO mounted the pulpit to preach!!! What an irony you would say.Now Mathew Oluwanifemi, Shina Rambo was a name that sent shivers down the spine of people who lived in the South West of Nigeria and even outside Nigeria, like Benin Republic and neighborhood, in the 1990’s. He was a hardened criminal, a terror and killer, one whom men of the security agencies will never forget in a haste!

A man mountain, towering about 6ft 5inch, well built, dark skinned and sweltering eyes, he carried out his operations, like a movie, in the broad day light, with sophisticated weapons, and bullet belts and explosives strapped roundabout him! He specialized in robbing exotic cars on highways and banks. Nothing could stop him, not even security operatives, he was totally invincible. He was Shina Rambo!He was born in the year 1958 to a military man who was a bad egg in the service. His father was from Abeokuta in Ogun state, but his mother was a native of Sabongida–Ora in Edo state. His father had over 18 wives, as was the norm for soldiers to impregnate virtually every woman they met where they were posted to.His father used his military influence to rob innocent citizens, and always brought huge amount of money home.

This used to entice little Shina. He recalls, “I remembered when I was about 7 years old, my father

came home with a lot of money, foreign currencies, with blood on it, and they were using something like a woman’s scarf to wipe it, then I asked him, is this an animal’s blood, or human blood? But he wouldn’t answer me, they were just drinking, smoking, and merry making.”Shina was already indoctrinated into the underworld by his father at a tender age of 7 without him knowing it, as he would sit in front of his son, to dismantle and assemble all sorts of weapons and then polishing them in preparation for an operation. This went on for so long till one day, little Shina, entered into his father’s room while he had stepped into the toilet, and saw a dismembered gun on the floor.

He sat down in front of it, and bit by bit, he had assembled it effortlessly in no time at all. His father came out of the toilet, and saw his son, with a loaded gun in his hands. Shina flashed back and said, “That day my father was so disappointed, that he wanted to kill me, he grabbed the gun from my hand and shot straight at me, but I miraculously escaped out of the room.Then he waited for me to be less alert at night he came to my room with a machete and tried to behead me, but once again, I

escaped, but the machete caught my left leg. (rolled up his trouser to show us the large scar, that made everyone sighed in pity)

. It cut me so deep I thought I was never going to walk again. That day I knew I had graduated, all that was left was to pull the trigger, and I was so eager.Shina Rambo became so notorious in no time, and was hell bent on succeeding in his career as an armed robber, that he went through any length to secure spiritual powers for fortification. To the extent of pounding over 27 live new born babies in the mortar with a pestle, cutting off about 100 human tongues and cooking them to eat, visiting the spiritual river called river of life in Ogoja, Cross Rivers State, living in an Iroko tree for days, and sleeping in the cemetery.He was given a spiritual wife who always followed him for any operation, she dressed like an Alhaja, people thought she was human, but she was a spirit, that was why they never saw her face. He said she was his personal driver, that she could drive from Nigeria to Cotonou, in the speed of light.

Hear him. ”I was involved in so many rituals, that I can’t start naming them now, I was so powerful, I went underground, inside trees that looked like a city, a lot of beautiful houses inside the tree, I had my own too, I went into a river called River of life in Ogoja, where a lot of politicians and wealthy men used to come, I had several personalities, I could change my form whenever I wanted to, that’s why the police were busy killing innocent people, and thought they were killing Shina Rambo.The 9

herbalists that gave me that power, I became stronger than them, one day I went to their shrines, and killed all of them, so that they don’t reveal my secrets. I had too many powers; my spiritual wife could drive any car in this world or out of it, no police vehicle, or anyone for that matter, could ever chase and catch me during an operation.

She was out of this world, and when she had completed her operation, they took her away from me. I could give anything to get powers, and the elders knew, so they also gave me anything I wanted.I once beheaded hundred men, and gave them the heads fresh, they were so happy with me that they made me invincible. No matter the kind of bullet you shot at me, it was just like pure water on my body. I could give anything to get power, but of all the things I did to get power, the one that still breaks my heart the most, is sleeping with my mother. My father is dead now, but my mother is still alive, and she lives with me she is 85 years old, whenever I set my eyes on her, I just start crying. I can`t bear it.Shina Rambo was a raging terror, he was infallibly dangerous, the police dreaded him, both in Nigeria, and Benin Republic, his place of interest for business.

He would go to police stations, in broad daylight and kill every policeman there, drive to check points and open fire on every policeman on duty, he didn’t like the police at all, and was never afraid of them, he operated in broad day light armed to the teeth looking like Johny Rambo, in the popular Sylvester Stalone movie, “First Blood”.He once robbed 40 exotic cars in one day and drove all of them in a convoy, from Lagos to Cotonou, unstopped. He was powerful; he was wealthy, and impenetrable. He was a tin god, apparently belched from the very arroyo hell, we all dreaded him. He had a wife and three children, but he lost all of them in one day during a bloody police raid whilst he was away on operation.
His wife was his stabilizing factor his life changed afterwards. He says “my wife was everything to me,

I was forbidden by the elders to sleep with any other woman apart from her, I could gather about 50 women around me in a hotel, and they will just be playing with me, we would smoke, drink, and sniff cocaine, I will give them money but I will never sleep with them. I will go back home to my wife and sleep with her. That was why the police never caught me.She knew my job, she knew what I was, I never left them alone at night, I operated in the day time and go back home to my family at night. I had everything, I was very wealthy, I once spent 50 million naira in a day. I did it a lot, there was one day that we were coming from an operation and it seemed as if my powers were going to fail me, the police and the army were almost closing in on us, so we had to drive into a crowd and threw millions of naira in the air, there was commotion, everybody was busy picking naira notes even the police, until we escaped.

I was too rich, but anything the devil gives you never lasts, he will collect more from you, it’s only the devil that will give you Fila, (cap) and ask for Iro and Buba.(wrapper and top). I lost everything, all the money, my family; I was so powerful the police couldn’t catch me but I lost it all.I had to surrender myself to the police, and I was arrested and jailed for 11 years. When I was serving my jail term in Agodi prisons, Ibadan, Prophet T.O Obadare came visiting, and having been encouraged several times by the Christian brothers and sisters in the prison to give my life to Christ, he prayed for me and converted me, and changed my name to Oluwanifemi, and it was so miraculous, the next day I woke up and started speaking in tongues. It was during the time of President Olusegun Obasanjo, that we were granted freedom.
At this point, I was glued to my seat, the revival where Shina Rambo gave this exclusive confession was on an open ground revival in the ancient city of Ibadan, right in front of me, on stage, was Evangelist Mathew Oluwanifemi, the once feared Shina Rambo, clad in a loose fitting shirt, black pants and a pair of leather sandals with a black Holy Bible in his hands, gigantic dark skinned and bald headed, still had those fiery looks, and stealth movement. I was more transfixed than focused, God is indeed awesome, he picked the offering basket raised it to the congregation prayed and asked who had anything to give to God, at first I was reluctant, my mind was occupied and out of an innate compulsion, sheer curiosity I stood up, dipped my hand in my pocket walked towards him briskly and calculatedly brought out my offering, dropped it into the basket, and looked deep into his eyes, I had too many things to ask him, there were too many questions unanswered. He looked back at me, and spoke in Yoruba, saying God bless you my brother; we know your type when we see them.The congregation broke into a mild giggle, as all eyes were on me as I went back to my seat, with a lot of things on my mind, and the red light on my midget still blinking, in the breast pocket of my jacket…

..To be continued……Tunde Moshood.

The devil made me kill my first husband with a stone- Pregnant woman (Photo)

2013-07-22T08:14:00.004+01:00

Thirty-year-old pregnant woman, Fatimoh Issa, has been arrested by the Kwara State Police Command for allegedly killing her first husband, Issa Yunusa, 48.
Our correspondent gathered on Sunday that Yunusa was a commercial motorcyclist in Ilorin.
Though the marriage had been blessed with three children, it was said that Fatimoh abandoned Yunusa after he had an accident and became financially incapacitated as he was no longer able to operate his commercial motorcycle business.
Fatimoh was said to have later met another man, Gani Ajibade, 25, a tricycle driver, with whom she started another relationship.
Our correspondent learnt that the new relationship had been blessed with a child, while Fatimoh was also said to be expecting another baby for Ajibade.
It was learnt that not long ago, Fatimoh was informed that her former husband, Yunusa had fully recovered and had bought another motorcycle. She decided to go back to him.
However, while leaving Ajibade’s house, sources said she took his mobile phone. The source added thatYunusa accepted Fatimoh back.
But Ajibade, who was not pleased with the turn of events, was said to have stormed Yunusa’s residence and demanded for his mobile phone.
The deceased was said to have promised Ajibade that he would get back the phone from the woman.
But the following morning, July 17, the neighbours were woken up about 5am by shouts from Fatimoh, who was seeking help from neighbours.
Some of the neighbours rushed into Yinusa’s house to know what the problem was. They found Yinusa in a pool of blood. Yinusa was said to have been hit by a heavy object on the head.
A top police officer, who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said, “Yunusa was attacked with a heavy stone and eventually killed by Fatimoh.”
Neighbours were said to have made spirited efforts to rush Yinusa to hospital for treatment. But taxi drivers were said to have refused to convey the victims because they feared that he might die on the way to hospital.
Our correspondent gathered that the police subsequently arrested and detained Fatimoh and Ajibade at the State Criminal Investigation Department after Yunusa was confirmed dead.
The Kwara State Police Public Relation Officer,

Mr. Olufemi Fabode, on Sunday said the two suspects were transferred from A Division to the SCID.
He added that Fatimoh had confessed to having committed the crime. Fabode, who is a deputy superintendent of police, said the suspect blamed the devil for her actions.
He said, “She told us that it was work of the devil. We also asked her what she used to kill him. She said she used a big stone. But when we asked her who would take care of the children since she killed her husband, she kept mute.”

Punch

Forbes' List Of Hollywood's Highest Paid Actors

2013-07-21T22:14:00.000+01:00

Forbes, a few days ago, released their annual 'Highest Paid Hollywood Actors' list and Iron Man actor Robert Downey topped the list. See what the top 10 actors earned between June 2012 & June 2013..

1. Robert Downey Jr - $75million (Iron Man)
2. Channing Tatun - $60million (Magic Mike, White House Down)
3. Hugh Jackman - $55million (Les Miserables, X-Men)
4. Mark Wahlberg - $52 million (Ted)
5. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson - $42million (Fast & Furious)
6. Leonardo DiCaprio - $39million (Great Gatsby)
7. Adam Sandler - $37million (Hotel Transylvania)
8. Tom Cruise - $35million (Jack Reacher)
9. Denzel Washington - $33 (Flight)
10. Liam Neeson - $32million (Taken 2, The Grey)

Who controls Nigeria’s oil wealth?

2013-07-16T18:00:00.000+01:00

Amidst the controversy over the north-south shifting balance in the control of Nigeria’s oil resources, a clearer picture is emerging from the shadowy oil world of the major players, as well as the source and extent of their amazing oil wealth.

Senator Ita Enang fired the first salvo in Abuja last week, when he stated that northern interests control as much as 83% of Nigeria’s oil blocks and then sparked a wild debate over the huge inequitable distribution of wealth in country.

According to information available, the first comprehensive push to grant oil exploration and production (E&P) licences to solely Nigerian citizens began in 1990 under the Ibrahim Babangida

military regime, under a bogus plan to promote indigenous participation in the lucrative oil industry.

According to Toyin Akinosho, a petroleum geologist and journalist who worked in an IOC for many years, between 1990 and 1993, leading Nigerians like Folawiyo, Abiola, Adenuga, Udoji, Ibru, Igbinedion, Saleh Jumbo and Mai Deribe, were handed oil blocks.
According to him, “we suddenly had 25 companies that were Nigerian E&P companies and they took themselves so seriously that they set up an association they christened Nigerian Association of Indigenous Petroleum Exploration companies.”
Akinosho says many did not know exactly what to do with the licences, and that of the class, only Adenuga created what you could really call an E&P company, adding that Nigerian indigenous private acreage holders do not produce as a collective, up to 150,000 barrels of oil a day or 7% of total national production.

He went on to state that the Obe field held by Cavendish Petroleum owned by the late Mai Deribe has not produced since 2007 when Trafigura, the last technical partner walked out. Another awardee, Mohammed Indimi, another close friend of Babangida is associated with three oil assets via Oriental Resources which he owns, but that only Ebok field is producing 8,000 barrels of oil daily today, under management by the UK listed Afren. One other field, Okwok is still under development.
Aminu Dantata’s Express Petroleum holds the Oil mining lease 108 which has the Ukpokiti field, which should have made the Dantatas quite rich for the more than seven years the field was under production.

His company has produced another northerner Saleh Mohammed Jumbo, who is linked with NorthEast Petroleum, but not one single drop of oil since Babangida awarded him the licence.
Former Army chief, Theophilus Danjuma is clearly the biggest beneficiary by a wide margin. His sale of 45% equity in his South Atlantic Petroleum Limited, SAPETRO to China Overseas Offshore Company, CNOC should have fetched $2.268bn and today the retired general gets something in the region of 25,600 barrels daily for a 15% share of OML 130 from Akpo field which is delivering 175,000 barrels daily.

Fresh information has also emerged about the link of former oil minister Rilwanu Lukman to Afren, which has never been awarded any oil acreage by any government in Nigeria. According to Akinosho, what Lukman and other Nigerian players in Afren did in 2004 was to use their knowledge of the business to team up with the original promoters of Afren to create what is easily one of Africa’s most successful and professionally run oil firms, instead of angling for award of licence by government. According to one Nigerian analyst, “AfrenPlc is well connected. Rilwanu Lukman, Nigeria’s former minister of petroleum and OPEC Secretary-General for five terms, is one of Afren’s three Nigerian co-founders. Egbert Imomoh and Constantine Ogunbiyi are the other two. Two Liberians, Osman Shahenshah and Ethelbert J.L Cooper are the other co-founders.

“Industry watchers reckon that Lukman’s links with Afren is almost a coincidence – a happy one nonetheless. All the co-founders have stellar oil and gas experience in the Gulf of Guinea. Yet Lukman, bar none, has considerable local and international clout. Still Lukman isn’t the company’s talisman. It’s telling that Afren did not get involved in primary bid rounds held by government for oil blocks, while Lukman was oil minister or adviser. That’s not their strategy. “
Others operating along purely professional lines according to those closely following the industry, are Allied Engery, CAMAC and Petrodel.

Apart from beneficiaries of northern extraction, there have also been favoured ones from the south, even if as another petroleum geophysicist, Samuel Diminas puts it, “while owners of oil blocks and allocations included individuals from across the country, there was an unarguable common denominator, if the blocks or allocations were not owned by generals or northern oligarchs, then the southern owners or fronts had a very strong and recognisable relationship with the ruling generals.”

He cites three cases to buttress this point. Bella field’s OPL 113, a cream among the pack of marginal fields where discovery was made in 1991 and whose prospecting licence was converted to a mining licence ready for development in 1993.
There is also the case of Famfa Oil limited incorporated in September 1991 by the family of Folorusho Alakija, publicly reported as having strong ties to late Maryam Babangida. Famfa was awarded leasehold rights to OPL 216 on August 10, 1993, a mere 16 days before Babangida eased himself from power. Today, Famfa oil is entitled to 25,000 barrels of oil daily from the Chevron operated Agbami field located in deep-water OML 127.

Diminas also cites the case of Moni Pulo limited, owned by another businessman from southern Nigeria.
Former Petroleum Minister Dan Etete also features here through Malabu Oil and Gas Limited’s oil prospecting lease OPL 245 which entered into a mouth watering deal involving a $1bn pay out by Shell and Agip. The leasehold on OPL 245 was awarded by the late General Sani Abacha and court filings suggest a link to one Mohammed Abacha.

Finally, there is the case of Moni Pulo which was incorporated in 1992, by River State business man, Lulu Briggs and awarded OPL 230 now OML 114 in May of the same year. However, unlike many others, Moni Pulo was awarded a frontier exploration lease 30km south of Calabar and the firm went through nine difficult years of exploration and appraisal field development and hit the first oil in the Abana field in March 1999. The case of MoniPulo may have been a rare case of sprinkling the lot with one or two genuine awards by the Babangida regime.

Strangely, in all of these, no mention is made of the former senator, Jubril Aminu, the man who as petroleum minister, presided over the award of most of these leases to indigenous Nigerian promoters.

See the world most expensive dress valued at $17.7 million

2013-07-16T17:00:00.000+01:00

The dazzling dress is encrusted with 2000 stones in total including the star of the show: the world's rarest and most expensive red diamond.

The Abaya created by British designer Debbie Wingham may be attracting masses of attention because of its £11.7m price tag.

See more pictures after the cut.......

Debbie first made her mark on the fashion world when she unveiled a £3.5m black dress encrusted with 50 two carat black diamonds that weighed a hefty 29lbs (13kg) last year.

Her latest creation may be a simple abaya design (a loose over-garment, essentially a robe-like dress, worn by some women in parts of the Islamic world including in North Africa and the Arabian Peninsul) but the extravagant design and detailing makes it the most expensive item to ever go on sale.

At the centre of the dress dazzles the world's rarest and most expensive diamond.

One in every hundred million diamonds is a natural red colour and they are found on average every 50 years but generally too small to speak of, so this is something quite special.

The individual diamond has a value of £4.89m.

The Power of Prayer for Business

2013-07-15T18:00:00.000+01:00

Some integrate prayer in their work life and others avoid it. Here is a practical approach to harnessing the power of prayer regardless of your religious beliefs.

In Vietnam, i have read and have been impressed by the consistency of prayer and ritual in every shop or office. In any establishment, you will typically find a small altar with burning incense and offerings to Buddha and/or Cai Shen. It made me aware of my own use of prayer relating to my business, and my observation of others who do the same in Western culture.
I have certainly witnessed on many occasions the following prayers by people I know:
• Praying to close that big deal.
• Praying to make payroll at the end of the month.
• Praying that your expensive new marketing campaign will work.
• Praying your employees will get it right this time.
• Praying your client won't see the big mistake you made.
• Praying that something not so good happens to your competitors.

But real prayer is about focus and discipline, traits that have great relevance to daily business performance. People of any religion who pray regularly use the dedicated time and ritual to organize their thoughts and feelings. Those who do so daily find meditative value in clearing their mind and grounding their soul, so they can deal with people in a strong, calm, and centered manner. Daily prayer gives you the space to focus on what is really important and at the same time mentally and emotionally prepares you for what ever is coming your way, be it challenge or opportunity. (Hint: It's always both and sometimes in the same occurrence.)
You don't need to be a religious fanatic or even believe in a particular god to use prayer effectively in business. Here are some basic components:

1. Be Thankful

Whether it's God, Buddha, Mother Earth, Allah, Ganesh, the Force or even just the universe around you, express your gratitude for the many wonders of the world and the fact that you get to enjoy them every day.

2. Be Humble

Acknowledge that no matter how successful you are or how many people you employ, you are a small part of something bigger. Accept that your role has impact and requires commitment to make the world a better place.

3. Be Hopeful

There is nothing wrong or selfish about asking the universe for good things to come your way. Prayer connects you with powerful forces to improve your life. But recognize that the universe is not Santa Claus. Ask for that which you are ready to be worthy and deserving.

4. Be Open

So often what I think I want turns out not to be what I really need. And what's more, had I received my original desire, I would never have experienced the events in my life I now treasure most. The universe has its own way of answering prayers. Express that you are open and ready to accept whatever comes and make the most of it.
People ask me all the time if prayer has contributed to my success over the years. It has indeed helped me through challenging times and also helped focus me in abundant times. Here is how to incorporate these prayer components into daily 10-minute ritual:
1. Begin with a powerful Hebrew prayer, which glorifies God and his kingdom (the world around me).
2. Express gratitude for nature, my health, my family, and my friends, wishing them peace, good health and happiness.
3. Say the following prayers related to business and goals:
• Praised be God, who shows me opportunities, and gives me the courage, strength, and wisdom to pursue them to their fullest extent.
• Praised be God, may you grant favorable results to my business, cash flow, and to all my deals and transactions.
• Praised be God, may you support me in my pursuit of the Awesome Experience.
Prayer is obviously very personal and individual. For some, discussion of a religious subject is taboo when it comes to business. But you don't need to proselytize to benefit from faith and prayer in your daily business life. Just find 10 minutes a day by yourself to focus your soul and be at one with the universe.

Obama releases statement following Zimmerman not guilty verdict

2013-07-15T15:13:00.002+01:00

The US president said:

“The death of Trayvon Martin was a tragedy. Not just for his family, or for any one community, but for America. I know this case has elicited strong passions. And in the wake of the verdict, I know those passions may be running even higher. But we are a nation of laws, and a jury has spoken. I now ask every American to respect the call for calm reflection from two parents who lost their young son. And as we do, we should ask ourselves if we’re doing all we can to widen the circle of compassion and understanding in our own communities. We should ask ourselves if we’re doing all we can to stem the tide of gun violence that claims too many lives across this country on a daily basis. We should ask ourselves, as individuals and as a society, how we can prevent future tragedies like this. As citizens, that’s a job for all of us. That’s the way to honor Trayvon Martin.”

Download this New club Banger!!!

2013-07-15T15:04:00.001+01:00

Oluwaseun popularly known as Cshow just released his latest single titled Every day. This new single is a mixture of Pop and Rap, and the molody makes you wanna get your groove on. The song is already enjoying airplay on popular radio stations nationwide....

Download here.......http://www.hulkshare.com/q6wh1vugx88w

Nigeria loses N3.76bn to foreign domain names’ usage

2013-07-15T15:00:00.000+01:00

In the last five years, the country has lost about N3.76bn to the continuous patronage of foreign domain names by Nigerians living.
This figure is expected to more than double in the next five years if the trend is not checked given the increasing level of Internet awareness and usage in the country.
On a yearly basis, over N752.66m is spent to service the over 600,000 foreign domain names registered by Nigerians as it costs about $7.99 to renew the domain names annually.
Some of the popular foreign domain names are .com, .org, .net, and .co.uk, among others. Nigeria’s own unique identifier on the Internet is .ng.

The Chief Operating Officer, Nigeria Internet Registration Association, Mr. Ope Odunsa, who confirmed the figure on Tuesday in a telephone interview with our correspondent, said every year, over $7 was being paid by users to renew the foreign domain names.
“Over 600,000 foreign domain names are currently registered by Nigerians in Nigeria,” Odunsa said.
He lamented the capital flight occasioned by the use of such foreign domain names for websites operated from Nigeria.
The NiRA boss noted that the preference for foreign domain names by corporate bodies and individual Internet users was worrisome, adding that Nigerians had continued to sign up to foreign domain names instead of “our own domain name, which we should be proud of.”
Odunsa recently told some stakeholders in the Information and Communications Technology industry that Nigerian companies, institutions and individuals should leverage on the .ng domain identity, as it was the country’s unique identifier on the Internet.

The .ng platform, he noted, enabled the citizens to create websites for the promotion of Nigerian content.
By the end of 2012, only 26,000 registered domain names were with NiRA.
NiRA believes that with more Nigerian domain names, money sent abroad for domain name registration would be deployed in other areas of the business.
Industry statistics had shown that a lot of government officials also prefer the use of foreign domain names like Google, Yahoo, Hotmail, among others, to host their electronic mail.
The Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, had recently confirmed that out of the 54,000 indigenous email accounts created for government officials in the federal ministries, departments and agencies, only four per cent were in use.
The minister, who expressed worries over the development, also called for the use of the .ng domain name for the sake of security of confidential mails, especially by businesses, institutions and individuals.
NiRA had recently confirmed that it was investing about N11m in to upgrade its equioment. It is targeting 250,000 domain names registered in the .ng registry as government MDAs, businesses, educational institutions and individuals.

[Punch]

US athlete Tyson Gay tests positive for banned substances

2013-07-15T14:38:00.000+01:00

Tyson Gay has tested positive for a banned substance and has said he'll pull out of next month's world championships in Moscow.

Gay told the Associated Press he was notified by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency of the positive test late last week. He wouldn't reveal the substance but said the positive test came from a May 16 out-of-competition test, the AP reported.

"I don't have a sabotage story. I don't have any lies. I don't have anything to say to make this seem like it was a mistake or it was on USADA's hands, someone playing games," said Gay, who fought back sobs as he spoke to the AP. "I don't have any of those stories. I basically put my trust in someone and I was let down."

He did not disclose to whom he was referring when he said he was let down.

Nigerians complain of discrimination in Mumbai, India

2013-07-15T14:30:00.003+01:00

Sheeba Rani has been ostracised by many friends and relatives for marrying Nigerian Sambo Davis

Africans staying in and around India's commercial capital, Mumbai (Bombay), complain of indiscriminate racism and constant police harassment, reports the BBC's Zubair Ahmed.

Nigerian Sambo Davis is married to an Indian woman and lives in Mumbai. All his documents are valid, but he was arrested by the police recently on suspicion of being a drug dealer.

He and 30 other black Africans were detained for hours before they were let off with an apology.
But the following day, Mr Davis said that he was shocked to read in local newspapers that they were "arrested for drug peddling".
Read more after the cut....

"The police treat us Africans like dogs," he says. Mr Davis claims he often faces discrimination when he goes to restaurants or when he tries to rent an apartment in gated middle-class communities.

But he is nevertheless one of the lucky ones. He found a decent flat to rent, thanks to his Indian wife.

But his fellow countrymen, he says, still face discrimination: "When they go to rent flats in a normal building they are told - 'you are a black man, you are Nigerian, and you are not wanted'. This is racism."

'Hide and seek' There is no official data on how many Africans live in Mumbai, but since India's economic progress gathered momentum in recent years, many have come to work in and around the city. Unofficial estimates put their numbers at more than 5,000.

Most of them are engaged in exporting garments to Nigeria and other African countries.
Many others are students, enrolled in the region's prestigious educational institutions.

But there are also hundreds of Africans, mostly Nigerians, who live as illegal immigrants in India. They have either "lost" their passports or their visas have "expired".
Every day, these people play hide-and-seek with the police - if they are caught, they are sent to jail.
Ikeorah Junior from Lagos runs a cafe for Africans in a crowded market on Mumbai's Mohammed Ali Road.
"I don't understand why they [police] have to go from house to house to arrest the people who don't have their papers. If they don't have papers, then deport them, don't put them in jail," he says.

Ahmed Javed, who is in charge of maintaining law and order in the state of Maharashtra, says it is not that simple: "In most cases they have no passports. So, unless their nationalities are determined, they cannot be deported."

Dozens of Africans have taken up residence on Mira Road, a dusty, nondescript town just outside Mumbai.

One "illegal immigrant" there asked me for money, claiming he had not eaten for two days.
He looked worried and told me that he had been approached by drug dealers to work for them.

"I have been here for three years - my visa expired a long time ago. I want to go back home. Please help me, brother," he tells me.

In this neighbourhood, Negro or kaalia (black in Hindi) are the two words indiscriminately used to describe all black people.

"We call them Negro because they are black. They look frightening," says one woman.
"They don't find homes to rent in Mumbai, they only stay in Mira Road. Why? Because of the way they behave. They sell drugs and indulge in other illegal activities. They cannot be trusted," a local man commented, seemingly unaware of the offensive nature of his words.

'Embarrassed and ashamed' Against such a backdrop of pronounced prejudice, Sheeba Rani married Sambo Davis four years ago and the couple have two children.
Mrs Davis says her parents are enlightened Christians and they blessed them because they thought the marriage was God's wish.
But, she says, she has been ostracised by many friends, relatives and society since her marriage.
Mrs Davis is "embarrassed and ashamed" by the behaviour of the Indian people towards black Africans.

"When I used to go to a mall or if I walked with him, I always wanted him to hold my hand. But when people saw me with him, they thought I was from a bad family or even a prostitute."
Earlier, she did not understand why black people were being looked down upon, but now she says she does.
"Because our society is obsessed with white skin. If I had married a white man, I would have gained more friends and society's approval too."

Mr Davis believes that the discrimination is solely "because I am a black man".
"It's because I am from Africa, I am a Nigerian. I think Indians see us as inferior."
Yet despite the discrimination they face, nearly all Africans the BBC interviewed said they had a soft spot for their adopted country.
They say the relations between India and Africa are "rock solid". Many argued that Indians and Africans are brothers.
"We look after Indians in our countries. They have become rich there. All we want here is for Indians to understand we are not drug dealers. We are not violent. We are just like them."

Source: BBC

Creepy French Scientist Is Adamant That Women Should Not Wear Bras

2013-07-15T14:30:00.002+01:00

Across the course of history, French discoveries have proved invaluable to the field of science. Children still learn the stories of Louis Pasteur, who discovered that invisibly small bacteria spoil food and cause disease, and Marie Curie, who found and named the unseen power of radioactivity. Now there's one more name to add to the list of geniuses upending the world's assumptions : Professor Jean-Denis Rouillon, who has declared that bras make women's boobs saggy.
Rouillon, who teaches at the Franche-Comté University in Besançon, was recently interviewed by France Info about the results of an in-depth 15-year titty study. Through observations running back to 1997, he claims to have discovered that women who wear bras, a garment intended to defy gravity, actually have saggier boobs than women who don't.

"Medically, physiologically, anatomically—the breast derives no benefit from being denied gravity. On the contrary, it becomes saggier with a bra."

For the study, Rouillon, whose background is in sports medicine, tracked the breast developments of 330 women, aged 18 to 35, more carefully than a 13-year-old boy tracks the breast developments of the girls in his Social Studies class. Now he's ready to tell the world: bras are bad and boobs are good.
"Capucine," a perky 28-year-old who participated in the study, sung the praises of Rouillon's findings.

"I breathe more easily, I have better posture, and I have less back pain."

Rouillon stressed that the study was preliminary and that his subjects were not representative of the overall population of the world. (They were probably more effervescent and chic than the average woman, with a coyer smile and lot more sexy secrets. "Bonjour! No bra today! C'est la vie! Champagne for breakfast! Put on a striped t-shirt and go for a bike ride!")
As for hard numbers, Rouillon found that the nipples of his manic pixie French girls "lifted an average of seven millimeters per year in relation to the shoulders," if they didn't wear a bra. A shrug, a wink, and right up they float. Carefree nipples rising ever skyward. C'est beau. C'est boob. C'est si bon.
But faites attention, mes amis! Rouillon warns that a bouncing braless existence isn't for everyone.

"It all depends on the structure of each breast. An overweight, 45-year-old woman with three kids has no business not wearing a bra."

In summary: Don't wear a bra (HOT LADIES ONLY).
Liberté. Egalité. Jubblié.
[France Info via TheLocal.fr // Image via Shutterstock]

Nigeria spends N365bn yearly on rice importation — FG

2013-07-15T14:30:00.001+01:00

Nigeria is spending about N365bn annually on the importation of 2.1 million metric tonnes of milled rice, the Federal Government has said.

According to the government, the country is currently the largest importer of rice in the world, a development it notes as adversely affecting its agricultural sector.
A document obtained by our correspondent from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture on Friday stated, “Nigeria is the largest importer of rice in the world, spending N365bn per year importing 2.1 million MT of milled rice.”
The government, in a bid to reduce the nation’s import dependence, had to raise tariff on imported brown rice and finished rice, it was learnt.

Our correspondent also gathered from the ministry that private investors had set up 13 new rice mills with a total capacity of 240,000MT.
This, the ministry officials said, was part of measures aimed at reducing the huge capital outflows from the nation’s economy through the importation of rice.
The Director, Policy Research and Statistics in the ministry, Dr. Umar Hussaini, stated that in the last one year, the Federal Government had produced 690,000MT in the main season, and would have done 1.2 million MT by the end of the dry season.

He said the government was “currently securing financing of over $1.2bn from the China Exim Bank for 100 large-scale rice processing plants with a total capacity of 2.1 million MT, which is enough to substitute imports.”
“For the first time in our history as a nation, Nigeria will have the full industrial capacity to mill internationally competitive quality rice,” Hussaini said.
The document stated that agriculture import dependency was hurting the economy, stressing that yearly, Nigeria was importing over $11bn worth of wheat, rice, sugar and fish.
“Nigeria’s food imports are growing at an unsustainable rate of 11 per cent per annum. Relying on the import of expensive food on global markets fuels domestic inflation,” it stated.
It added that excessive imports were putting pressure on the naira, adding that Nigeria was importing what it could produce in abundance.

[Punch]

Diamond Bank launches Branchless Banking on BankOne platform

2013-07-15T14:30:00.000+01:00

London-listed Nigerian banking behemoth Diamond Bank has intensified its focus on delivering financial services to the under-banked in the informal sector by launching its “branchless banking” service on BankOne, a mobile banking application which allows instant account opening and registration. The application is designed and developed by AppZone, a fast-growing technology company. The integration of the branchless banking on the BankOne platform, will allow Diamond Bank acquire and easily migrate all mass market accounts and ensure customers get quality service.

BankOne shall be deployed alongside Diamond Bank’s core banking platform to ensure an up-to-date record of customers using the new product plus a robust central accounting and reporting system. The pilot phase of this value-added service named ‘Beta Friends’ will involve the recruitment and deployment of agents to the streets of Lagos to promote the new product. These agents will be armed with mobile phones equipped with the BankOne mobile banking application which will enable them to open bank accounts on the field and also issue instant debit cards.

This unique banking product is tailored to provide target customers with “branchless” access to basic financial services via more than 10,000 ATMs nationwide as well as through numerous mobile Agents. A range of value added services including Mobile Banking, Inter-Bank transfers, and bills payments are also available to customers. To facilitate this, Appzone has integrated the Bankone system into Diamond Bank’s core banking platform to enable real-time visibility of transactions as they occur on customer accounts and integration into Interswitch’s system to facilitate ATM access.

The partnership between Diamond Bank and Appzone will lead to a significant surge in the number of accounts created for customers in the informal sector which in turn shall contribute to the Bank’s target of delivering quality financial services to customers in this sector of the economy. BankOne is the leading core-banking and electronic payments platform for microfinance and primary mortgage banks. BankOne’s parent company AppZone has partnerships with five commercial banks and two financial switches in Nigeria.

businessdaynigeria.com

30 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself

2013-07-15T13:58:00.001+01:00

When you stop chasing the wrong things you give
the right things a chance to catch you.

As Maria Robinson once said, “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” Nothing could be closer to the truth. But before you can begin this process of transformation you have to stop doing the things that have been holding you back.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Stop spending time with the wrong people. – Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you. If someone wants you in their life, they’ll make room for you. You shouldn’t have to fight for a spot. Never, ever insist yourself to someone who continuously overlooks your worth. And remember, it’s not the people that stand by your side when you’re at your best, but the ones who stand beside you when you’re at your worst that are your true friends.
Stop running from your problems. – Face them head on. No, it won’t be easy. There is no person in the world capable of flawlessly handling every punch thrown at them. We aren’t supposed to be able to instantly solve problems. That’s not how we’re made. In fact, we’re made to get upset, sad, hurt, stumble and fall. Because that’s the whole purpose of living – to face problems, learn, adapt, and solve them over the course of time. This is what ultimately molds us into the person we become.
Stop lying to yourself. – You can lie to anyone else in the world, but you can’t lie to yourself. Our lives improve only when we take chances, and the first and most difficult chance we can take is to be honest with ourselves.
Stop putting your own needs on the back burner. – The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too. Yes, help others; but help yourself too. If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.
Stop trying to be someone you’re not. – One of the greatest challenges in life is being yourself in a world that’s trying to make you like everyone else. Someone will always be prettier, someone will always be smarter, someone will always be younger, but they will never be you. Don’t change so people will like you. Be yourself and the right people will love the real you.
Stop trying to hold onto the past. – You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last one.
Stop being scared to make a mistake. – Doing something and getting it wrong is at least ten times more productive than doing nothing. Every success has a trail of failures behind it, and every failure is leading towards success. You end up regretting the things you did NOT do far more than the things you did.
Stop berating yourself for old mistakes. – We may love the wrong person and cry about the wrong things, but no matter how things go wrong, one thing is for sure, mistakes help us find the person and things that are right for us. We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past. But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future. Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come.
Stop trying to buy happiness. – Many of the things we desire are expensive. But the truth is, the things that really satisfy us are totally free – love, laughter and working on our passions.
Stop exclusively looking to others for happiness. – If you’re not happy with who you are on the inside, you won’t be happy in a long-term relationship with anyone else either. You have to create stability in your own life first before you can share it with someone else.
Stop being idle. – Don’t think too much or you’ll create a problem that wasn’t even there in the first place. Evaluate situations and take decisive action. You cannot change what you refuse to confront. Making progress involves risk. Period! You can’t make it to second base with your foot on first.
Stop thinking you’re not ready. – Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises. Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.
Stop getting involved in relationships for the wrong reasons. – Relationships must be chosen wisely. It’s better to be alone than to be in bad company. There’s no need to rush. If something is meant to be, it will happen – in the right time, with the right person, and for the best reason. Fall in love when you’re ready, not when you’re lonely.
Stop rejecting new relationships just because old ones didn’t work. – In life you’ll realize that there is a purpose for everyone you meet. Some will test you, some will use you and some will teach you. But most importantly, some will bring out the best in you.
Stop trying to compete against everyone else. – Don’t worry about what others are doing better than you. Concentrate on beating your own records every day. Success is a battle between YOU and YOURSELF only.
Stop being jealous of others. – Jealousy is the art of counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own. Ask yourself this: “What’s something I have that everyone wants?”
Stop complaining and feeling sorry for yourself. – Life’s curveballs are thrown for a reason – to shift your path in a direction that is meant for you. You may not see or understand everything the moment it happens, and it may be tough. But reflect back on those negative curveballs thrown at you in the past. You’ll often see that eventually they led you to a better place, person, state of mind, or situation. So smile! Let everyone know that today you are a lot stronger than you were yesterday, and you will be.
Stop holding grudges. – Don’t live your life with hate in your heart. You will end up hurting yourself more than the people you hate. Forgiveness is not saying, “What you did to me is okay.” It is saying, “I’m not going to let what you did to me ruin my happiness forever.” Forgiveness is the answer… let go, find peace, liberate yourself! And remember, forgiveness is not just for other people, it’s for you too. If you must, forgive yourself, move on and try to do better next time.
Stop letting others bring you down to their level. – Refuse to lower your standards to accommodate those who refuse to raise theirs.
Stop wasting time explaining yourself to others. – Your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe it anyway. Just do what you know in your heart is right.
Stop doing the same things over and over without taking a break. – The time to take a deep breath is when you don’t have time for it. If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting. Sometimes you need to distance yourself to see things clearly.
Stop overlooking the beauty of small moments. – Enjoy the little things, because one day you may look back and discover they were the big things. The best portion of your life will be the small, nameless moments you spend smiling with someone who matters to you.
Stop trying to make things perfect. – The real world doesn’t reward perfectionists, it rewards people who get things done.
Stop following the path of least resistance. – Life is not easy, especially when you plan on achieving something worthwhile. Don’t take the easy way out. Do something extraordinary.
Stop acting like everything is fine if it isn’t. – It’s okay to fall apart for a little while. You don’t always have to pretend to be strong, and there is no need to constantly prove that everything is going well. You shouldn’t be concerned with what other people are thinking either – cry if you need to – it’s healthy to shed your tears. The sooner you do, the sooner you will be able to smile again.
Stop blaming others for your troubles. – The extent to which you can achieve your dreams depends on the extent to which you take responsibility for your life. When you blame others for what you’re going through, you deny responsibility – you give others power over that part of your life.
Stop trying to be everything to everyone. – Doing so is impossible, and trying will only burn you out. But making one person smile CAN change the world. Maybe not the whole world, but their world. So narrow your focus.
Stop worrying so much. – Worry will not strip tomorrow of its burdens, it will strip today of its joy. One way to check if something is worth mulling over is to ask yourself this question: “Will this matter in one year’s time? Three years? Five years?” If not, then it’s not worth worrying about.
Stop focusing on what you don’t want to happen. – Focus on what you do want to happen. Positive thinking is at the forefront of every great success story. If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and you pay close attention, you’ll often find that you’re right.
Stop being ungrateful. – No matter how good or bad you have it, wake up each day thankful for your life. Someone somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs. Instead of thinking about what you’re missing, try thinking about what you have that everyone else is missing.