Medass-extra

Entrepreneurship Series with Dode - The Basics of Entrepreneurship

2021-05-20T17:42:00.000+01:00

Entrepreneurship is way beyond the simple definition we find on the web or in journals. It actually takes a whole lot to operationalise the concept. Join me on this journey as we launch the introduction to Entrepreneurship to help you discover how you can fully explore the world of endless opportunities.

Click the link below to listen to the first podcast

👇

Entrepreneurship Series with Dode- Season 1 : Episode 1

What is Entrepreneurship?

Redefining your perception on Marriage

2016-05-04T16:17:00.000+01:00

So many singles just hear that people are getting married and want to do same for the wrong reasons. They do not know what they are getting themselves into. The glamour of the wedding beclouds their judgement and the promise of a happy life ever after propels them to make decisions with their heads and not their hearts. No matter how many marital books you read or marriage seminars you attend, you can never be too prepared for marriage. There's nothing like the real deal, so learn to manage your expectations so that you don't get disappointed. Many singles think that they will be good marriage counselors because of the wealth of knowledge they garnered from books, only to get married and realize that it is easier to assess others than to be assessed. They soon discover the difference between literature and reality.

Many people have painted for themselves, a lovey-dovey picture about marriage portrayed by Rom-Com movies and Romance novels and this make singles fantasize and anticipate a perfect marriage. Romance is a good thing but just before you dive in, stop and ask yourself if you're actually thinking before acting; The reason is because we keep making the same mistakes with our choices and do not learn from the experiences of others. The fact that some people come to social media on wedding anniversaries and write about how good, caring and supportive their spouse had been or how wonderful their marriage had been doesn't mean that it is the true picture; they may be covering up their mess or hiding the scars from salvaged marriages.

Ladies, a man may mistakenly put you in the family way and make you have a baby out of wedlock but that doesn't make him a husband; mistakes happen, learn, move on and don't give up on yourself. Remember, there are many daddies out there but few fathers. Many are simply sperm donors with no accountability whatsoever. Don't allow any man answer your crucial questions with motivational speeches like “I'm young and promising and capable of making you happy” when he doesn't even have a job, incapable of getting one, lacks ideas on how to create one or simply clueless. Security in marriage is not found in men with 6-pack; a well-built man is attractive but a well-built home is long lasting and fulfilling. Don't be a liability looking for accomplished men to attach yourself to for a better future; be a successful single and then accomplish greater things with your spouse.

Gentlemen, many of the hour-glass shaped ladies with long legs and smooth skins in the magazines you drool over are not found in homes but in the photo studios. When you do see them and that’s if you ever do, ask them how long it took them to look that way, how many people helped them look that way and ask their photographers how long it took them to complete their Photoshop. A wife and mother has got no such time; her hands will be rough from cooking your meals and doing your dirty laundry; her body will be battered from bearing your children. So, be careful what you wish for; wife materials are not groomed in public places. If you're not a proper bachelor, you can hardly become a good husband; If you do not learn how to manage yourself and your resources as a single, you can hardly manage a home. Don’t start a family when you know you cannot provide for the basic needs; it's a shame!

Please don’t get me wrong, no one is perfect; everyone is striving to be the best to their loved ones. We do not have the luxury or the capacity to mold the kind of partner we want; hence the need to look out for who we think is right. Please note that marriage is more about companionship, responsibility, accountability and sacrifice and less about sex, freedom, rings and titles of Mr. and Mrs. Do not marry just to make others happy and live in misery all your life. Do not marry out of pity, I cannot overemphasize this. Do not marry because 99.9% of people believe you're good together. People change every day and marriage exposes everyone with time. People may pretend for years in relationships but in marriage, it takes just few days or months for the reality to set in.

Finally, guard your heart diligently. Do not rush into marriage now only to rush out a couple of months later. Age is a number; it shouldn’t be your number 1 reason for diving in. Study your partner carefully, do not be blinded by love or lust and neglect the details. Look, before marriage, you will be familiar with the big issues; it is the tiny details you overlooked that will do the damage. Do not marry if you're incapable of forgiving your partner. I hear people say marriage is to be enjoyed and not endured; actually, prepare for both. There are so many marital victims out there, don't be one of them and if you are, pray your way out of it. Look before you leap and just like a swimmer, do not dive into a pool that you have not properly assessed its depth; you may end up striking your head at the bottom and the damage may be irreparable.

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Nugget #1: Life; just like a game of Ludo

2015-06-19T18:00:00.000+01:00

Did I hear you say "Life is dicey"? Living life is like casting dice in a game of Ludo. A die has different faces but you only need one face to start your game; a six (6). Once you start, you can no longer predict the faces you display when you throw; maybe 1,2,3,4 or 5. You just play with whatever you have whether it moves your token to the finish square safely or it drags along, whether it takes you far or slows you down.

In reality, you don't play this game alone, you play with an opponent and each person takes his/her turn to race the tokens to the finish square smoothly. Sometimes, the race of one of your tokens ends suddenly and is returned back to start from scratch, while some get to the finish square . Some complete their task along the way by getting rid of an opponent's token. Every move you make is a risk because you never know what your opponent is plotting.

Such is life too

Every time you release a token with a 'SIX' indicates that every new chapter of your life starts perfectly.e.g.the day you were born, got married or got a new job, but the journey thereof is so unpredictable. Every move your token makes represents the steps you take as you move along the pages of life. Sometimes it's towards your victory but at other times, it's towards your defeat.

Not every chapter you open ends happily. Most tokens are returned to start from scratch meaning sometimes life hits you so hard that you need to go back and start the journey all over again. When your token makes it to the 'home coloured squares', the player feels safe; when we finally achieve what we desire at the end of the road, it's usually a resting place where no one can get us.

Each player finishes one at a time which means we can't all make it at the same time, some are smarter, some are slower and some cheat to win. To avoid being a loser, you need to acquire the necessary skills needed to outshine your opponent. You need to know and apply the rules of the game and think one step ahead of your contemporaries.

You have to win no matter how complicated it is because you cannot afford to be a loser. No matter how many times your strategy fails, no matter how many times you get knocked out and have to retrace your steps, just keep playing because THE MORE YOU PLAY, THE BETTER YOU GET.

HOW TO ACHIEVE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

2014-10-31T21:43:00.000+00:00

TIPS FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

Excellence is a quality of being outstanding; it is not a trait, hence it cannot be inherited. There is no one way of achieving excellence academically; it is how you apply the principles governing it that determines the outcome. Excellence comes with a price, only those who understand its worth can pay for it. I will like to share with you some tips that can help you in your quest for success; they are relative but I am sure you will find them interesting.

Put God first

God Himself is a God of excellence, no wonder he made all things perfect and endows His children with an excellent spirit. He has given you all that it takes to succeed at whatever you do, it is just for you to believe and tap into His abundant resources. Do not allow your studies to compete with God’s time in your life because you need Him to sustain and see you through. I understand the place of prayer in your academics but it is not enough; remember that faith without work is dead, play your own part and do your best; pray as if you will never read and read as if you will never pray.

Prioritize

Many people have problems of misplaced priorities because they find it very difficult to order things according to their importance. You have to understand that your primary reason for being in school is to study in order to come out with good grades that will give you an edge in this highly competitive world; every other thing is secondary such as clubs, associations, parties etc. How you channel your resources and apportion your time is a function of what your scale of preference is like. If your academics is important to you, you will invest your time, money and energy; you will do anything to get the right materials and textbooks to upgrade you and make you a better student, but if you pay more attention to trivial things; you might soon be on your way to failure.

Set a target

Don’t start your semester without having a sense of direction; if you do not set an achievable target for yourself, you will discover very late that you are studying aimlessly. Be ambitious and always aspire to be the best because you deserve it; don’t settle for less, believe in yourself, set out plans and develop strategies to accomplish them. Setting targets ignite your passion and that is the driving force that will propel you towards excellence. For example, when I got into college, I was determined to make a First class; even when it seemed difficult, I kept assuring myself I could do it and kept pressing on until I achieved it and today I am sharing my success story.

Be disciplined

Discipline is a very essential principle of excellence that is lacking in the lives of so many youths hiding under the shadow of freedom to do anything. Self discipline is a conscious control over your lifestyle and you need to nurture it because it is one of an achiever’s greatest weapon. Some students have worn indolence as a robe, nonchalance as a footwear and procrastination as a hat getting dressed to travel the road of shambles; they look into the mirror of stupidity with so much satisfaction and bid their studies goodbye. They get to the end of the road only to see an ocean of failure; they skilfully dive into it and continue to swim in confusion until they are being swept away by a tide of destruction. You should be disciplined enough to have a study timetable that guides you like a map in a journey; be punctual for all lectures and complete your assignments without waiting for deadlines; be committed to your study time and you can be sure of remarkable results.

Stay focused

I’m not talking about a gaze, I mean conditioning your mind to one important goal you must achieve. Know what you want and go for it with all determination, enthusiasm and optimism. Distraction can come in any form such as businesses, relationships, friends, families and so on; note that not so many things can travel with you on the way to success; a lot of unwanted baggage have to be dropped because they might slow you down. There are things that can wait because they will always be there; however if you cannot make sacrifices for your academics, then don’t think about excellence. Excellence is not plucked from a tree or picked on the road; it takes a lot of commitment and discipline to achieve it. When your eyes are fixed on something, you can hardly miss any detail and even when there are times when you are tempted to shift grounds, return as soon as you acknowledge it because the farther you move away from your goals, the lesser the chances of achieving them.

Manage your time

As endless as TIME is, you cannot hold onto it; as the clock ticks and seconds count, you’re getting closer to your end no matter how old you live. Time management is the act of controlling and organizing events as they are being influenced by time; this has become a skill because many people are guilty of mismanagement. Even if 24 hours were increased to 48 hours in a day, many will still complain it’s not enough. There is time for everything; time to admitted and time to graduate, time to study and time to write exams. Procrastination has eaten deep into the minds of some students such that everything is always for a later date, they start their day without proper planning on how to apportion their time and instead of controlling the events, they end up being controlled by them, they slump into their beds at the end of each wasted day, wake up the next day worthlessly and remain the same. At the start of each semester, many busy about with frivolities and when exams draw close; they start expecting miracles, rush and muddle up things, write exams ill-prepared and expect fantastic results. Instead, make a deliberate effort to plan your day, make a list of events and appointments and make sure you are disciplined enough to meet up. Time is a free but non-renewable resource, so spend each moment wisely.

Keep the right Company

You are who you move with, there are different kinds of companies you can keep in an academic environment but the choice of those that can make or mar you is entirely yours to make. Students form cliques for different reasons; to some, it gives them a feeling of importance while for others; it’s a way of being a part of something.

For good companies, it has to do with mingling with people of similar interests and goals, people of like minds, passion and vision who have excellence as their watch word, people who believe in your dreams and are ready to push you through. It can be a study group where you exchange ideas, learn and also impart others. Although you must develop yourself independently, you cannot be an island because the more you share your knowledge, the more you know; don’t be scared of making mistakes, you stand to be corrected but remember that your clique can only help you outside the examination hall, so maximize the moments you share with them. If you ever develop any form of academic apathy, the best thing to do is to talk about it; let people with positive thinking advise you and deliver you from misery.

For bad companies on the other hand, your circle of friends are like viruses that corrupt your mind, becloud your thinking and cause you to lose yourself and your purpose for living. They lure you into all forms of vices such as drugs, gambling, prostitution, cultism, internet fraud, examination malpractices and so on. If they determine the kind of life that you lead, so mighty will be your fall and guess what - you will be falling alone; some are in complete jeopardy and are looking for partners in failure. Quickly identify bad friends and dissociate yourself before you become entangled. Evil and Excellence both start with the letter ‘E’ but they are two separate roads you cannot travel at the same time.

Don’t copy others

Carve out your own niche; know what you are capable of doing and the extent you can go. Be yourself and never try to study like someone else; understand your pattern of learning and develop your style of studying. Never compare yourself with anyone because people apply principles of success differently; this is what I mean, for example, students in the same class receiving the same lecture under the same condition cannot assimilate at the same rate. Know your pace, never give up, try to catch up and you will soon be up. Recognize your time of maximum assimilation, day or night and fix up your study timetable; never follow friends to study when it is very inconvenient for you, you might just be the greatest loser, so be wise.

Prepare adequately

Examination is a test designed to measure the academic aptitude of students to ascertain their level of understanding of a particular subject. Knowing fully that you have to pass it to be promoted to the next level, why won’t you give it your best shot. Don’t start studying too close to exams, you will only be tasking your brain too hard, denying yourself of enough rest and putting your entire body system in a state of higgledy-piggledy. Information is being stored over time and not spontaneously, no magic will magnetize answers to your brain, so why don’t you make sacrifices, burn the mid night oil, go the extra mile and do your best, stay healthy with a good diet and be punctual for all your exams . You don’t have to cheat if you have played your role well because you will be destroying your image and peradventure you get caught, the consequences are very severe, so beware!

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The A-Z Attributes of Highly Effective People

2014-10-09T12:27:00.000+01:00

Effective people are known for being productive in all ramifications of life. They are successful and produce strong or favorable impression on people. They influence people positively and impart their generations. They follow certain principles and pay close attention to the following characteristics;

A - ASPIRATION

Aspiration is born out of AMBITION. It is a strong feeling or desire to be successful in life and to achieve great things.

B - BRILLIANCE

You have to learn how to put your brain to use effectively. Being intellectual is built by absorbing useful resources and utilizing them to produce exceptional results.

C - CURIOSITY

The more questions you ask, the more answers you get and hence, the more knowledgeable you become. Your yearning for information and your eagerness to discover new things will keep you on the path of success.

D - DISCIPLINE

There is no successful person that has ever made it without discipline. Discipline is having a conscious control over your lifestyle. An attribute close to it is DILIGENCE which is persistence and hard work even in the face of challenges.

E - EXCELLENCE

This is the quality of being outstanding. This is an attribute successful people don’t joke with. Being the best and standing out always and consistently. Excellence is not a trait, it is developed. This is the quality that distinguishes you. Your ability to outshine your contemporaries makes you unique and exceptional.

F - FOCUS

When your concentration on a particular thing is high, you can hardly miss any detail just like a properly focused beam of light. Having a TARGET and going for it with all your resources is an important key to effectiveness.

G - GROWTH

To be highly effective, know that success is not a destination but a journey. No matter where you attain in life, there is always room to do more. Refuse to be stagnated by your past glory and keep moving on. Keep growing!

H - HARD WORK

You will agree with me that gold is not picked on the streets, neither is oil scooped by the river banks. If you want an exceptional result, then you must be willing to pay the price. You must dig, toil and perspire. Though hard work comes with pain and sacrifices, the gain thereof is immeasurable.

I - INTEGRITY

If you trade your integrity for the smallest amount, then you are worth the cheapest commodity money can buy. Honesty may not put food on your table, but it will save your name. Do not soil your REPUTATION no matter the temptation.

J - JUDICIOUSNESS

Successful people are good managers of time and resources. You must be prudent enough to maximize resources so as to avoid wasting them. You must be accountable for every action taken.

K - KNOWLEDGE

This is the most powerful tool needed to remain relevant in your generation. Seek it, find it and apply it. Every other thing may be stolen from you but a man who will steal your knowledge must be able to cease your breath first. Guide it jealously because KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.

L - LEARNING

Learning should be an endless process to remain productive. The day you stop learning, you start dying. Learning keeps you contemporary. Reading is one way of learning, as a matter of fact - READERS ARE LEADERS, so do not joke with your personal LIBRARY.

M - MOTIVATION

Most successful people are self-motivated. You have to believe in yourself and in your dreams. There must be a drive from within that will fuel your passion for productivity.

N - NOBILITY

You need to possess an excellent moral character. Noble people are true to their words and they do whatever positive thing they determine to do. They exude a charisma that is worthy of emulation.

O - OPTIMISM

You have to develop a positive attitude towards life and hold on to your hopes and expectations. Condition your mind to remain confident about the steps you take. It is the oil that will keep your lamp burning.

P - PURPOSE

A man of purpose is a man of VISION. When the purpose of a thing is not known, abuse is inevitable. Purpose defines your direction and keeps you focused on your desired goal.

Q - QUALITY

Highly effective people set standards for themselves that cannot be compromised. Everything about you should reflect your genuineness.

R - RESILIENCE

When challenges come because they will definitely show up, your ability to exhibit courage in the face of obstacles guarantees your success story. You just have to the tough to approach the problems that life poses to you and seek ways to overcome them because you are a PROBLEM SOLVER. Never give up!

S - SENSITIVITY

Your response to your immediate environment and how you are being influenced by it depends on how sensitive you are. Changes will definitely occur but how you maneuver your way through them will determine your level of productivity.

T - TIME MANAGEMENT

Only a fool thinks that he has all the time in the world to do whatever he likes. Effective people do not joke with their time because every moment is important and should be well accounted for.

U - UNDERSTANDING

Your ability to comprehend issues and situations goes a long way to determine how effective you will be especially in the area of management of people. Your approach to life and living must reflect clairvoyance.

V - VALUE

Your value system is what projects your personality. It is what reveals the stuff you are made of. It shows who you are and what you stand for. Developing good values is inevitable for effective people.

W - WISDOM

Mere men can rule but only wise men can lead. Wisdom is not inherited; it is acquired over time through experiences. Effective people use this tool to approach life issues with a good sense of judgement.

X - XTRA-ORDINARINESS

Going the extra mile, taking the extra step and doing the extra thing differentiates effective people from ordinary men. You must be ready to BREAK RECORDS, set paces and establish your uniqueness.

Y - YIELD

Effective people are result-oriented. They are interested in measuring their level of productivity at all times and challenging themselves to become better in all they do.

Z - ZEAL

You must show great enthusiasm and optimism. You have to be proactive to get results that are worthy of commendation.

These are not all the attributes of highly effective people, there are many more but the ones mentioned above were chosen to be captured in this article. EFFECTIVE PEOPLE ARE WINNERS;

Why not join the winning team now?

THE MONSTER IN YOU

2014-10-01T16:20:00.000+01:00

There is a monster in every man. It is only a matter of time and event before it is unleashed either by self, people or other means. It is like the negative photographic film of a beautiful picture.

Your monster is just like the negative film of your beautiful picture

You will agree with me that no one wants to appear the way he/she is in the negative film – it looks ugly, evil and horrific; nobody would like to upload it as a profile picture. The negative photographic film is the direct opposite of you and so is your monster.

The angry mode of every man when activated is destructive no matter how gentle he used to be. If you don’t believe me, ask some people who ended up in court, prison and hospital about the anger-provoking situation that led them there.

You cannot destroy the monster. It’s like the slogan in the ‘Peak milk advertisement’, ‘IT’S IN YOU’ and is always there. Just like you always need the negative film to print more pictures of the same kind. You can only do one thing, ‘SUPPRESS IT’. No matter how hard you are pushed, DON’T BE TEMPTED TO UNLEASH YOUR MONSTER.

The urge to drift to your negative part is a strong one. It’s a tendency you need to check. You have to fight back and fight hard to overcome it. If you were shown a video of yourself in a destructive state, you won’t probably like a playback. Usually, the monster in you is louder than the angel in you. When you do something wrong, it’s never the work of the devil, it is the suggestion of the devil; you only choose which part of you accepts it. When you are facing the consequence of your actions, the devil will be innocent.

For instance, when you observe most of our leaders, you can tell which part of them is in charge of funds - the monstrous right? Yes, that egocentric part that always wants to amass the wealth and starve the citizens. But they were once followers like you and I, craving for equity and justice.

In the heat of a dispute, imagine you saying to a barren woman, “no wonder you never had kids” or to a dull kid, “you can never make it” or to a jobless man, “you can never succeed” or to the sick, “you’ll never recover”. Even when they forgive you, they will never forget such cruel words. The only good thing is - only God’s words never fall to the ground, yours can, so stop wasting your saliva. Just like the CPU of a computer, humans use their brains to process words and unlike the CPU, we interpret it differently. The words spoken are indestructible and even when scores are eventually settled; the wrong words continually linger and hurt the recipients.

When a lady says, “I hate men”, find out if she was a rape victim. When a guy says, “I dislike women”, find out if he suffered multiple heart breaks. When a young girl says, “I will distribute this HIV to all men”, find out how she contracted it. These people are acting on the basis that the monsters in them have been unleashed.

result of anger turned violence

Let me paint a scenario; if someone hits you hard and you bear the pain and walk away, you may live peacefully for another 50 years or more. If you retaliate on the other hand and you both resort to a higher degree of violence which escalates into the use of weapons, you’ll probably spend the next 50 years of your life in jail or be bedridden and that is if you manage to escape death. Why not let’s leave the probabilities for the mathematicians to solve and move on with our lives.

If you want to be remembered by someone forever, hurt him/her enough to imprint a scar that cannot be erased. Your name will always crop up anytime the person has to narrate his ordeal throughout his/her life time. Unfortunately, you will only be remembered for something gruesome.

I could remember my childhood days when playing as kids led to the accidental knocking out of the front tooth of a friend who boasted that he wouldn't fall down no matter how hard I pushed him standing on one leg. Unfortunately for us, it was a permanent tooth and now when he smiles at me, I weep in my heart. It was an unintentional incidence that led to an irreparable loss, I am only grateful he stays miles away from me to free me from guilt.

So friends, now that you know the consequences of unleashing your monster, it is imperative for you to learn how to deliberately put it under subjection, you have to TAME THE MONSTER in you. Ask God to help you, smile always and STAY POSITIVE!

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Life is Everything

2012-09-12T15:46:00.002+01:00

If Life is a race, run it

If Life is a book, read it

If Life is a contest, win it

If Life is a jungle, survive it

If Life is a puzzle, solve it

If Life is a risk, take it

If Life is a game, play it

If Life is a gift, cherish it

If Life is a challenge, face it

If Life is a lesson, learn it

If Life is a battle, fight it

If Life is a journey, travel it

If Life is a struggle, resist it

If Life is a privilege, appreciate it

If Life is a mountain, subdue it

If Life is a bridge, cross it

If Life is a mystery, phantom it

If Life is an adventure, tour it

If Life is a code, decipher it

If Life is an opportunity, use it

If life is all these and even more, then there’s more to life than meets the eye and imagination. There is no precise definition for life neither is there one thing that represents it. However it is, make sure you are not just living or existing but making a difference and impacting your immediate environment.

This is not all that life represents, so share with us, what you think about life by placing your comments below

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30 ways to say “GOODBYE” to an ugly PAST

2012-08-08T15:57:00.006+01:00

How to break from your past

Imagine your past is something you can feel or touch, something you can see face to face.

face to face with your past

Look at it straight in the eyes and say the following

You were not my mistake but my lesson
You were not my regret but my experience
You were not my waste, you showed me worth
You were not my folly but improved my wisdom
You were not my stupidity, you made me clever
You were not a curse but a blessing in disguise
You were not worthless, you taught me value
You were not my failure, you showed me winning ways
You were not a wrong decision, you exposed the right choice
You were not my ignorance, you gave more knowledge
You were not my error; you only proved that I am human
You were the shame that pushed me to glory
You were the missing piece I needed to get my puzzle right
You were the necessary suffering for my future comfort
You were the story behind my glory
You were the pain behind my gain
You were the sorrow behind my joy
You were the tears behind my laughter
You were the training needed to secure my future
You were the foundation needed for my edifice
You were the mess that passed the message
You were the signpost directing me to my glorious destination
You were the test needed for my testimony
You were so rough that you made me so tough
You didn’t dash my hopes, you raised my expectations
You didn’t batter me, you taught me resilience
You didn’t deal with me, you taught me strength
You didn’t take advantage of me, you corrected my vulnerability
You didn’t kill my dream; you woke me from my slumber
You didn’t blindfold me, You developed my insight

You wanted us to be together but I’m sorry time would not permit, don’t waste your time trying to hold on to me, we’re no more on the same level; you are now behind while I am ahead. Your role in my life is over, you are no longer significant, I have paid for your services, you can now retire to where you belong because your appointment is terminated; farewell my past.

do not weep for me for I am in safe hands now; I am free at last to embrace my bright, promising and rewarding future. Adieu mon passé

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Do not beg for these things - NEVER!

2012-03-02T17:05:00.002+00:00

Don’t beg for respect, earn it
Don’t beg to lead, merit it
Don’t beg for recognition, get noticed
Don’t beg for honour, be honoured
Don’t beg for riches, acquire it
Don’t beg for your right, demand it
Don’t beg for fame, let it speak
Don’t beg for job, create it
Don’t beg for promotion, deserve it
Don’t beg for success, achieve it
Don't beg for power, be worthy of it
Don’t beg for money continuously, work for it
Don’t beg for friendship, request it
Don’t beg for idea, conceive it
Don’t beg for love, win it
Don’t beg for salvation, get it free

The only thing that is worth begging for is your life because the moment you lose it, all is gone and there is no alternative!!!
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Say 50 prayer points in 3mins

2011-09-03T16:54:00.000+01:00

O Lord!

Cover my nudity with your beauty
Turn my mediocrity to your sovereignty
Let my race be at your pace
Shower my praise with your grace
Give me unction, I want to function
Ignite my passion for your mission
Let me have a portion in your mansion
Let my action reflect your decision
Erase my transgression and save me from damnation
Let me decrease that you may increase
In you I find peace, please don’t let it cease
Help me to preach to as much as I can reach
Give me boldness that I may fear no darkness
Let me see your goodness and walk in greatness
Turn my sadness into gladness
Accept my offering and end my suffering
Give my life a meaning, keep it from demeaning
Turn my story to your glory
Show me your mercy when things get messy
Fight my enemy with your army
Grant me wisdom to seek your kingdom
Fan my faith, lest I will faint
Bless me now, let people ask me how?
Bless my future with your treasure
Change my world with your word
Scatter my foes with your blows
Transform my gloom into bloom
Control my wheel at your will
Fuel my desire to burn like fire
Guard my way that I may not sway
Wipe my tears and end my fears
Show me favour even as I labour
Bless me more than ever before
You are my potter, don’t let me shatter
Make me the best even among the rest
I surrender, don’t make me wander
Take my all, don’t let me fall
When I sleep, you have my soul to keep
Let me succeed even as I proceed
Crown my worship as my lordship
Lord I am dry, please hear my cry
I’ll know no sorrow and I will not borrow
My journey may be rough, Lord teach me to be tough
Remove my shame and save my name
Let me hear your voice to help make my choice
In you I trust, please don’t let me rust
I will enjoy because you are my joy
You know my plight, please shine your light
You are my creator, be my protector
Teach me how to pray, I don’t want to be a prey

(AMEN!)

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Curbing terrible habits

2011-08-26T18:00:00.000+01:00

Hard drugs

Alcoholism

Habits are formed from actions that have been built over time which eventually develop into character that defines who we are. Habits are regularly repeated behaviors which we cannot do without; we become so used to them that we find it difficult to change. Habits can either be constructive or destructive depending on how they make or mar us.

Terrible habits are habits that negate the precepts of accepted moral standards; they are very destructive and if conscious effort is not made to curb them, the result is catastrophic. Some constructive habits progress into high moral principles that eventually become the pillars that uphold our destinies while destructive ones progress into terrible addictions that eventually become the canker worms that destroy our lives. Bad habits are easier to form than good ones because of the human tendency to do wrong and this has led to the premature termination of the destinies of many. The fact that some of these habits are not spelled out in the scriptures does not mean that they not ungodly; some of these habits include debauchery (immoral behavior involving sex, alcohol, and drugs), smoking, deviousness (dishonesty and deceitfulness), Internet fraud, pornography, masturbation, gossip etc; the list is endless. Some of these habits are punishable by law while for others, it’s strictly the business of whoever is involved and the consequences are born personally.

But, let’s come to think of it, why do youths indulge in these demeaning habits?

Peer pressure

The desire to belong and be a part of something has pushed so many people into dangerous situations; the yearning to get approval is so great that many are dying to impress. They often get so involved that it becomes too difficult to opt out of these unprofitable associations. The saying that, “if you cannot beat them, you join them” has become the watchword of many, but what happens if you can beat them?

Low self esteem

Inferiority complex is like a virus that gradually destroys one’s personality. Some youths lack the feeling of self worth; hence they turn to habits they feel can boost their ego such as smoking, alcoholism and drugs, only for them to discover the effect is extrinsic and the feeling can only last for a while; it’s like expanding a balloon, no matter how big it is, it will eventually deflate with time.

Unwholesome adventure

The curiosity of youths has increased their tendency to try out new things, but how devastating will it be if their expedition is tending towards negativity? Youthful exuberance if not handled with moderation can lead to unanticipated downfall. Many youths have a misconception that turning to these habits is a way surmounting the challenges of life or forgetting their sorrows; they do not realize that solutions repel those who run away from their problems.

Stopping terrible habits is not spontaneous; it takes a gradual process and a conscious effort is needed to achieve it. Let me share with you some of the ways of gaining freedom from these habits;

Acknowledge

Firstly, you need to identify the habit and admit that it is bad; you have to understand that you need help and unless you are willing to be free, you haven’t started yet. You shouldn’t give the excuse of not knowing a habit is terrible; if it’s so cool, why do it under closed doors, in secluded places, behind bars, without supervision and so on.

Seek help through counseling

The kind of counsel you seek should depend on the kind of habit you want to curb and the degree of deterioration it has caused to your life; for example, of what use is an academic counselor to a person who is psychologically affected by drugs? Identify your problem and seek help from appropriate personalities who can guide and advise you from their wealth of experience.

Engage your mind positively

Permit me to define the mind as a factory where thoughts are being processed with actions as finished products; it can be likened to the CPU of a computer with actions as the output; it also works with the principle of garbage in – garbage out. You are your mind and your mind is you; what you perceive, feel, see and hear is being analyzed by the mind which eventually dictates what you do; be careful what you feed your mind with and guard it with all diligence – read good books that will build and motivate you, listen to tapes that will inspire you positively and watch videos that will not pollute your mind.

Dissociate from malicious companies

Malignant groups have a way of influencing youths negatively and are detrimental to your personal growth and development; disentangle yourself from these morbid associations before they ruin you completely. Evil communication corrupts good manners; don’t fall a victim of these terrible influences, rather, associate with people of high moral character for it is better to be alone than to be in a bad company.

Pray for strength

Prayer made from a sincere and repentant heart will go a long way to pull you out off that messy situation; God is always willing to accept anyone who turns to Him for help. There is no habit too appalling to discontinue, no matter the degree of damage it has caused. Many people receive forgiveness but refuse to forgive themselves and they continue to lead a life of guilt; spend quality time with God and allow Him to break you, mold you and build you into what He wants you to be and you can be sure that your freedom is guaranteed.

HOW TO BECOME AN EXPERT IN YOUR CHOSEN FIELD OF CAREER

2011-07-31T21:35:00.000+01:00

BECOMING INDISPENSABLE IN YOUR CHOSEN FIELD OF CAREER

The choice of a career no matter how carefully selected is less significant to building it. A career as fixed and as calmly brilliant as it may seem is that profession you have chosen to do throughout your working life; so it’s more than just a job. Primarily, in choosing a career, you need to find out what you like doing and getting someone to pay you for doing it. Whether goods or services, be you an artist, a doctor, a teacher, a lawyer, an engineer or whatever it is you have chosen to do, you should never stop until you become a professional. It takes more than passing through the walls of an institution, you need personal development and capacity building; you have to make a conscious effort at being an expert or being indispensable in your field of career.

An expert is a person who has exceptional skill or knowledge in a particular field. To achieve this status, you need to put the following into consideration;

1. Identify

You need to recognize the need of your organization or the recipients of your services so as to be able to touch areas no one has ever touched, you need to explore your world of opportunities; what is the essence of being an expert if you are not providing solutions and improving the effectiveness of your organization. You have to do your research to discover prospects that have not been exploited and see how you can add value to life.

2. Develop

To be exceptionally skilful or indispensable, you need to do more than your contemporaries. As an ordinary person, you have to be ready to do extraordinary things. What makes you preferred to others is a function of one unique, special or extra thing you have to do. Developing oneself can be very difficult but listen! That’s the sacrifice you have to pay for greatness; act one step ahead of others.

3. Update

Sustain your passion for your profession by loving what you do and investing your resources in it. Spend time, energy and money, get trained, learn updated computer softwares pertaining to your field that can make you work effectively, get certifications from regulating bodies in your field both locally and internationally to boost your professionalism, attend seminars, take classes, read relevant materials such as books and magazines and stay updated.

4. Associate

Before you, are people who have succeeded in your field of career, establish healthy relationships with people who are already experts; exchange ideas, ask questions, keep learning, join groups or associations relevant to your field and before you know it, you are on top.

5. Sell yourself

This is a very crucial aspect of expertise. Some people have problems projecting who they are or what they are capable of doing. Nobody sees you in the dark until you bring yourself to spotlight and brand yourself; you need to package yourself and your ideas and let people know how much you can contribute to the world. You can achieve this through various means such as giving speeches, contributing the company newsletter, creating blogs or websites, participating in business oriented online forums by joining professional networking sites where business subjects are being discussed. . For example the Linkedin Network connects professionals in various fields, sharing of knowledge is being enhanced and avenues are created for opportunities; the Behance Network also enables you to showcase your work and get people of similar interest to recognize your expertise in your area of work.

DEVELOPING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE

2011-07-04T17:53:00.000+01:00

When we cry

We wear ourselves out, we feel pain and depression, we think life is unjust and does not make sense, let us know that no matter how long we cry, our tears would not be enough to drown our problems or make them flow away. Let us wipe our tears to see clearly the solution coming our way, weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning

We are happy and we want the feeling to last longer. Let us enjoy the moment while it lasts because life is not a bed of roses

When we laugh

When we fall

It is not the end of the world, we shouldn’t give up on ourselves or remain in the dust; we should get up and forge ahead because the road to the top is never smooth.

Let us see it as an opportunity to lift others up and not trample upon them because nobody knows tomorrow

When we rise

When we lose

It doesn’t make us losers in life, though defeat is bitter, we don’t have to fight; there will always be another time to prove ourselves

Let us celebrate because victory is sweet but we should remember we won because someone better than us wasn’t there

When we win

When we fail

It does not make us failures, let us learn from our mistakes and move on. There is no successful person that has never failed in one way or the other

Let us rejoice; we shouldn’t think we have arrived because success is a journey and not a destination, we should keep breaking our own record

When we succeed

When we climb

Let us do it with caution because the higher we go, the more dangerous it is to fall; the more challenges we face

Let us know that we must serve and not abuse the power vested on us and take advantage of others

When we lead

When we give

Let us do it with all humility and cheerfulness because the more we give, the more we receive

Let us believe that we will receive answers, without double-mindedness, let us keep our faith strong

When we pray

When we love

Let it be real and unconditional; let us love with all sincerity

Let us do it with all diligence and without coercion

When we work

When we err

Let us accept it, beg for forgiveness, learn from it and never repeat it

Let us live a purposeful life, hope for the best and prepare for the worst. Let us know that it is for a short time

When we live

When we die

It is all over, the kind of life we live is what speaks for us when we are gone

DEVELOPING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE

Assess yourself in 5 mins to know your temperament

2011-06-16T01:38:00.000+01:00

YOU AND YOUR TEMPERAMENT

Have you ever wondered why you cannot change certain things about yourself no matter how hard you try, that is because you are an individual with a unique nature. You need to understand that there are 4 different temperament personalities and you are a combination of all in different percentages.

The characteristic of each temperament cannot be overemphasized; they have got their strengths and weaknesses. Let’s look at them one after the other;

MELANCHOLY

The Melancholy personality has the following characteristics;

They are perfectionists and introverts

They are very emotional and have mood swings

They are good thinkers and solution providers

They are highly creative in activities such as art and poetry

They are very intelligent and have a good imaginative capability

They are independent and self –reliant but also egocentric.

They always want to do things right; e.g. being punctual, neat, well behaved etc.

They are result oriented and are not very patient

They prefer solitude; they do better alone than in a team

They usually have a feeling of depression and self pity and are often pessimistic.

They do not accept defeat; they don’t want to be a second fiddle

It takes time for them to recover from loses, tragedy and humiliation

They often forget about others when involved in something; they hate being interrupted.

They are not sociable; so they are not party goers

They are silent revengers

They are more prone to suicide than any other temperament personality

We can infer that, Melancholic people are;

better as Followers than as Leaders

better as Artisans than as Politicians

better as Instrumentalists than as dancers

SANGUINE

To some, Sanguine is the direct opposite of Melancholy

They are sociable and fun to be with

They are extroverted in nature

They are cheerful and optimistic

They are good conversationalists

They are bold, self confident and persuasive

They are garrulous and gregarious

They are playful, forgetful and a little sarcastic

They always want to try out new things e.g. new places, people, attires, hobbies, interests, food etc.

They are unstable and nonchalant e.g. they are chronically late, not organised and hardly care about what people think about them.

They are hyperactive

They easily get into relationships but can hardly keep them

They sensitive, compassionate and thoughtful

They call for attention and always want to be applauded

We can infer that people with the sanguine personality are;

better as comedians than as analysts

better as singers and dancers than as writers

good ‘Masters of Ceremonies’ and event organizers

CHOLERIC

Let’s see who they are;

They are very hardworking and result oriented

They believe in action and hence are very good activists

They are more autocratic than democratic

They are organized and want everything to be done their way

They are workaholic and strategic

They are passionate, energetic and ambitious and always try to instill it in others

They are domineering and often times not flexible

They are charismatic leaders and politicians

They love to dictate the pace for others to follow

They are very bossy and coercive

They don’t tolerate nonsense

They are often bullies and always want to have their way or be on top of the game

They are usually busy and can multi-task

They are not receptive because they believe their opinion is the best.

They are likely to be proud

We can infer that choleric people are;

better as military men than as civilians

better as leaders than as followers

better as bosses than as subordinates

better as husbands than as wives

PHLEGMATIC

To some, Phlegmatic is the direct opposite of Choleric; let’s have a look at some of their characteristics;

They are cool, calm and collected

They are accommodating and affectionate

They are rational, observant and curious

They are shy and receptive

They are respectful, self-content and kind

They easily give up

They humble and submissive

They are consistent

They try their best and leave the rest

They shy away from competitions

Sometimes, they are not easily understood by other temperaments because of their deep nature.

They are unpredictable and sensitive

They can also be passive and sometimes aggressive

We can infer that, phlegmatic people are;

better administrators

better as spectators than as participants

the best followers of all the 4 temperaments

A man is a composed of all 4 but in different percentages which vary depending on the current situation, environment, or stage of one’s life, but usually one is dominant. For example;

From the above diagram, we can see that the dominating temperament is Melancholy, followed by Sanguine while the rest are in traces.

No temperament is the best and none is the worst, it is their respective combinations that make us unique individuals. No two persons have the same percentage of combinations no matter how biologically linked they are. Just recognize who you are, appreciate people for who they are, work on your strengths and try to see how your immediate community can benefit from you. The only thing that makes you to be you is actually in you.

Just be real!!!

You can mail this page to your friends and families (http://medassextra.blogspot.com/2011/06/access-yourself-in-5-mins-to-know-your.html) so that they can share from this wonderful self discovery

Now tell me what your temperament is

The 5 major ingredients of a lasting relationship

2011-06-12T01:22:00.000+01:00

Be it a relationship, courtship or marriage, if these ingredients are not there to spice it up, it will come crashing down in no time.

Time

Partners must spend time together no matter how tight their schedule is to know each other properly, understand their individual values and seek for ways to harmonize them. They should know individual likes, dislikes, favourites, hobbies and interests. This could be done in various ways; picnics, watching TV or games together, seeing a movie, engaging in sports together, visiting tourist sites, etc.

Understanding

Don’t be deceived, love or sex does not keep a relationship, understanding does, especially in marriage. Accepting your partner for who he/she is helps to prevent avoidable clashes that can lead to break-ups. You cannot always be right, learn to forgive each other and learn from past mistakes. Understanding keeps a relationship when the chips are down.Don’t be egocentric; share everything together because your partner is your fire proof.

Commitment

Being faithful to your partner is a priceless and uncommon virtue. Being open and sincere even when it hurts would make your partner treasure you forever. Commitment builds trust, it makes both partners responsible and accountable and also reduces the risk of contracting STDs.

Communication

Communication sustains relationships especially when long distance is involved. It strengthens the bond and it is the fuel that keeps the fire burning. It is a way of reassuring your partner that you are always there. You must discuss on how to let go off the past, survive the present and prepare for the future.

Compatibility

Compatibility is the ability to coexist but in this context the coexistence needs to be amicable. Compatibility is not devoid of problems and quarrels, it is not a natural phenomenon; it takes deliberate working out from both partners. It works like the lock and key hypothesis of enzyme-substrate reactions. To be a perfect match, you will need to cut down some excesses at some points and also ‘add on’ at some other. Looking for a perfect person is an endless search, instead, Strive towards perfection.

There is no one way to a perfect relationship, how you apply the fundamental principles and learn from experiences is what matters.

REMEMBER, DON’T GO TO THE KITCHEN WHEN YOUR INGREDIENTS ARE NOT COMPLETE, you might just have a bad cooking

Why not share with the world what you think can build a successful relationship

Some facts about life

2011-06-06T01:31:00.000+01:00

You need to know these facts about life

Life does not have a definite meaning because of its ambiguity. Every moment spent defines itself. It could be beautiful, miserable, wonderful and so on, depending on the circumstance. Just appreciate the moments you’ve got and face life just as it is.

Life is like a game, unless you understand it and play by the rules, you will always be a loser and since you cannot completely understand it, just try to stay on the game, refuse to be beaten.

In life, don’t beg for fame, be famous, don’t beg for honour, be honoured, don’t beg for respect, be respected, don’t beg for money, have it, don’t beg for love, be loved, the only thing worth begging for is your life.

Life does not ask for your permission before messing you up, so don’t ask for life’s permission before dealing with it.

Life is always right, we don’t usually have much of a choice, most times we accept what it gives.

You can do something about your character by changing them, but you can hardly do something about your nature because that is your ground state.