Here are some top websites to find remote Product Manager roles:

1. Remote.co – Remote.co: This is a treasure trove of remote job listings, including a wide array of Product Manager positions.
2. Toptal.com – Toptal: The website connects Product Managers with top-tier companies for remote and freelance opportunities.
3. We Work Remotely – We Work Remotely: This platform specializes in remote job listings, offering a dedicated section for Product Management roles.
4. FlexJobs – FlexJobs: Known for quality remote job opportunities, FlexJobs frequently features remote Product Manager positions with reputable companies.
5. AngelList – AngelList: This is ideal for startup enthusiasts, AngelList showcases remote Product Manager jobs with innovative companies.
6. Remotive – Remotive: Discover remote Product Manager roles on Remotive, along with valuable resources for remote work enthusiasts.
7. Stack Overflow Jobs – Stack Overflow: This is a go-to platform for tech enthusiasts including anyone looking for remote Product Manager positions.
8. Glassdoor – Glassdoor: On Glassdoor, you can uncover remote Product Manager openings, read company reviews, and gain insights into workplace culture.
9. Indeed – Indeed: As a job search engine, Indeed features remote Product Manager opportunities posted by companies of all sizes.
10. LinkedIn – LinkedIn: Leverage LinkedIn’s powerful network to find remote Product Manager opportunities and connect with industry professionals.

Remember, when seeking remote Product Manager roles, consider not only the job itself but also the company culture, values, and alignment with your career goals.

Have you found success on any of these platforms, or do you have other favorite websites to add to the list? Share your experiences and insights!

Together, we can empower the Product Manager community in the remote work landscape.

The post Top Websites for Remote Product Manager Jobs! appeared first on Emmanuel Oluwatosin Official Website | Lean Startup Certified Coach | Product Leader | Venture Builder.

Two problems on my mind right now: Unemployment and lack of data. #BuildTheFuture @opeadeoye @asemota @EmekaOkoye

— Emmanuel Oluwatosin (@eolutosin) August 30, 2016

I posted the tweet above two days and it has been on my mind since. I got some interesting mentions in response. See below.

@eolutosin you cant solve unemployment problem without increasing business opportunities. There is enough data for that @opeadeoye @asemota

— Emeka Azuka Okoye (@EmekaOkoye) August 30, 2016

@eolutosin me, only one. Unemployment. @asemota @EmekaOkoye

— Ope Adeoye (@opeadeoye) August 30, 2016

and

@eolutosin Your mind is in a great place. Tangible value needs to be created. @opeadeoye @asemota @EmekaOkoye

— Kayode Muyibi (@kazey) August 30, 2016

From the different responses, it is clear that unemployment is a great problem that needs urgent attention. Every day, I read about people looking for jobs and how it has been hard to find a job in Nigeria. Youth unemployment in Nigeria has doubled between 2012 and 2016. During a youth employment panel at 2016 World Economic Forum, Dominic Barton, Global Managing Director for Mckinsey and Company referred to youth unemployment as a pandemic and placed the unemployment figure for Nigeria at 50%.

According to the National Bureau for Statistics Nigeria Q2’2016 report, the economically active population or working age population (persons within ages 15 and 64) increased from 106.00 million in Q1 2016 to 106.69 million in Q2 2016. This represents a 0.65% increase over the previous quarter and a 3.02% increase when compared to Q2 2014. In Q2 2016, the labour force population (i.e those within the working age population willing, able and actively looking for work) increased to 79.9 million from 78.5 million in Q1 2016, representing an increase of 1.78% in the labour force during the quarter. This means 1.39 million persons from the economically active population entered the labour force, that is individuals that were able, willing and actively looking for work. This magnitude of this increase between Q1 and Q2 2016 is smaller when compared to Q4 2015 and Q12016, which was an increase of 1.59m in the Labour force population. Within the reference period, the total number of person in full time employment (did any form of work for at least 40hours) decreased by 351,350 or 0.65% when compared to the previous quarter, and also decreased by 749,414 or 1.38% when compared to Q2 of 2015.

The number of underemployed in the labour force (those working but doing menial jobs not commensurate with their qualifications or those not engaged in fulltime work and merely working for few hours) increased by 392,390 or 2.61%, resulting in an increase in the underemployment rate to 19.3 % (15.4million persons) in Q2 2016 from 19.1% (15,02 million persons) in Q1 2016, 18.7% (14.42 million persons) in Q4 2015, from 17.4% (13.2 million persons) in Q3 2015 and 18.3% (13.5 million persons) in Q2 2015. During the reference period, the number of unemployed in the labour force increased by 1,158,700 persons, resulting in an increase in the national unemployment rate to 13.3% in Q2 2016 from 12.1 in Q1 2016, 10.4% in Q4 2015 from 9.9% in Q3 2015 and from 8.2% in Q2 2015. In view of this, there were a total of 26.06 million persons in the Nigerian labour force in Q2 2016, that were either unemployed or underemployed compared to compared to 24.5 million in Q1 2016 and 22.6 million in Q4 2015.

These stats are alarming and call for urgent attention. If things are going to change, it is clear that we cannot leave this to government alone.  We could create more sustainable jobs if businesses have the right environment to scale. Aside from poor infrastructure and poor business regulations, most businesses also lack intellectual strength to make bold decisions. They simply practice “subsistence business” always managing to survive month after month. They also rely on studies carried out by other organisations in most cases people who don’t understand their environment or business.

The 21st century business requires constant update, be it operating systems, phone and PC applications, market data etc. The bigger corporations spend a lot of money to maintain the tempo but small businesses find it very challenging. This simply means that Africa may not achieve fore-casted growth if we don’t find creative ways for SMEs to scale. A good example is the recently released Mobile Africa report. The report points out that, although Africa will show the fastest growth in subscribers, it will still account for the lowest penetration by 2020, citing reasons like technical literacy, coverage and high cost of ownership as a proportion of income. How then can SMEs achieve scaling?

Can these two problems be solved with a single approach? According to @pystar, yes and I totally agree.

@eolutosin data gathering using mobile devices can solve lots, starting with unemployment.

— pystar (@pystar) August 30, 2016

Will it be easy? No. According to my oga, @emekaokoye, this will involve carving niches, filling gaps, embracing & extending and meeting unfulfilled

@eolutosin carve niches, fill gaps, embrace & extend, make something cheaper, create alternatives, meet unfulfilled needs @opeadeoye @asemota

— Emeka Azuka Okoye (@EmekaOkoye) August 30, 2016

I will be sharing my thoughts on how I plan to solve these problems in future posts.

Image credits: wok

The post Solving Unemployment And Data Problems appeared first on Emmanuel Oluwatosin Official Website | Lean Startup Certified Coach | Product Leader | Venture Builder.

There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.

Life is a journey and some things happen along the way that may consume you if you don’t have the required support system in place. It doesn’t matter how rich you are or how successful you have been. So, when you are faced with a challenge, who are the people that you can reach out to? Who can you call your friends? Who are the people that can watch out for you? Who are your mentors?

If you are married, your close friend should be your spouse. He or she will be the main person around you. When things get tough and most people leave you, your spouse will most likely not leave you. So, this is a good time to continue to make deposit into the emotional bank account of your spouse. You will be glad you did :).

Aside your spouse (and probably your parents), you need to have a set of people that you can always reach out to at a short notice. When you feel like giving up, who will be there to lift you up? I remember when I had the accident in 2010, it was as if the end had come. But God has blessed me with such wonderful people. If not for these people, the story might be different today. From the accident venue on Lagos – Ibadan road to the hospital venue in Lagos and my time at the hospital in South Africa, my friends were really wonderful. Where will I be today without these God-sent people?

At a particular time, I was meant to pay my children’s school fees in Nigeria while away at the hospital in South Africa but I had no access to my bank account (even though I had money in my account at the time), it was a friend that came to the rescue. I only had to make a phone call and the bill was settled. Imagine what would have happened if there was no friend that could sort me out when I had no access to my money? It is better imagined than experienced. And throughout my stay at the hospital, there were friends providing one form of support or the other. To everyone (Fowe, Wale Yusuf, Ayo, Seun, Lekan, Latte, Wale Owoeye, Kunle, Gbolade, GS, Korede, Titi, Idowu, my former colleagues at Nokia & Microsoft etc.) that provided the support system for me then, God bless.

When I came back from the hospital, a lot of people were looking out for me. At every phase of the journey, there was always someone around to provide a support system. I withdrew from the ecosystem even though it wasn’t intentional. I wanted to be alone as I was still trying to process the whole experience and everything I had gone through. But friends and mentors came to the rescue as always. Oo was constantly on my case. My oga Emeka would not take no for an answer. He was and is always looking out for me. GS kept pushing and reminding me of the work we still have to do. A lot others kept reminding me of the dreams I had and what I have always wanted to do, the solutions / services I have always wanted to launch and projects I have always wanted to support. All these added to my motivation.

On a particular day, my big oga, TD, came calling. He gave me several reasons why I needed to move on and focus on following up my passion and adding values to others. Those words still ring in my ears till today. It is one of the reasons I decided to move on and indeed focus on adding values. These people, and others I could not mention, were not only supporting with words but they were there for me. They connected me with people that could be of help. I am forever grateful for this support system.

So, if you are going through any challenge at the moment, this is not the time to be withdrawn but a time to reach out to your friend(s). See this as a phase and not the end in itself. If this doesn’t break you, you will be stronger for it. And your experience will serve as a source of encouragement for others in the future. If you don’t have anyone you can call a friend or mentor, still reach out to people that may be able to help. You never know who can be of help or direct you to who can help.

And finally, if you feel I can be of help to you, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. My contact email is emmanuel[@]oluwatos[.]in.

Image credit: meaww

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Our ideal candidate is someone who walks into a room of people and can’t leave without making a few friends. Someone who is obsessed with social media and is creative and thoughtful when interacting with online communities and building relationships.

What You Will Do:

• Create a long term social media plan and marketing calendar.
• Track social media analytics using HootSuite, Bit.ly, and other software, and report results and new ideas to our marketing team.
• Create compelling content and get it shared by influencers.
• Create viral loops between our Facebook Page, twitter, and blog accounts
• Much more – your will work closely with other staff.

What We Require:

• Highly organized, with an ability to prioritize time-sensitive assignments.
• Fearless – not afraid to be a bold and outside the box thinker.
• Love for using social networking sites, and general excitement to learn new skills.

How To Apply?

We don’t care what your background is – least of all when it comes to recruiting. That’s right. Yes, we mean it. If this sounds interesting we want to hear from you.  Create a sample campaign, on your account, to show us how you will drive users acquisition for a mobile solution on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram as our Social Media Intern.

Send us URLS of the campaigns on the different platforms via email – jobs@tivasgroup.com – latest by Friday, 05 August 2016 and the job could be yours.

Update: The submission deadline has been extended

Image credits: Fairfax Library

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Dr. Maduka’s story reinforces my belief that money/funding isn’t the major reason most businesses fail. One thing that struck me in his story has been his focus and tenacity. Despite the fact that he did not go to the traditional school, he has been able to build what many will term a successful business with operations in several African countries. If he could do it, you can do it.

Champions focus on where they are going to. The only man who never makes mistake is a man who never tries anything.

Thinking about his story again reminds me of a question that has been on my mind for weeks. How does one build a great company? How do you move from startup to a running a great business? Can one actually build a successful business with limited budget? Dr. Maduka highlighted some things that have helped him on the way. He called them 10 Commandments for Small and Medium Enterprises. So, if you own and manage a business at the moment or are thinking of starting one soon, read on. You can also bookmark this URL as these tips will come handy in your journey.

Even if you don’t have plans to start a business, you will find these tips very useful in your chosen career. The best gift you can give yourself after reading this is to make up your mind to apply every single tip or advice. Remember, whether you or your  business will succeed or not depends on you.

Destiny is a matter of choice. It is something to achieve, not something to wait for.

1. Pick and remain focused on a business you understand well: Don’t just go into a business because it is the most convenient business to start.
2. Thoroughly understand your market: Don’t go into a business because you feel it is a nice thing to do. You must be sure that you understand your business environment. You need to be convinced that there is an existing market opportunity and especially that people will be willing to pay for your service or product. Never go into business because your friends are doing the same business. Even if it means you have to understudy someone for some time, you will be glad you did.
3. Look for and hire professional managers: You might be the CEO, CFO, Sales Director, Chief Security Officer or Driver now but that will change soon. When it gets to the time to bring other people on-board, go for the best. Don’t hire someone because it will save you cost, rather bring someone on board because they will add value to your business.
4. Put in place strong financial and administrative control: Whether you are in business or not, my advice is always simple: spend less than you earn and keep a money diary. If you are the CEO, place yourself on salary and make sure you don’t take more than the pre-determined amount every month.
5. Constantly research the market to confirm the continue relevance of your service/products: Things change fast in every market. Have you noticed that most OEMs now release new version of their devices within six months of the last edition? This is exactly why you need to be on top of happenings in your industry and country. Many years ago, films used to be the main things when it comes to photography but that has changed now. People now carry around digital cameras and smartphones with powerful camera. So, there is no need for films again. If you were playing in the industry, you would be out of business now if you didn’t change with trends.
6. Do not spend too much money on office space and self-serving activity: Break loose from I “have arrived” mentality. If you know you can’t afford an office space, continue to operate from your home. Many successful businesses operated like this for some years and most people can’t even remember this again. Also, don’t compete with your staff. The fact that you staff is driving a BMW doesn’t mean you should drive one too. If you can’t afford a car yet, don’t worry. Keep working on your business. Remember, your staff has certificates and can always get another job. But you have to keep the business moving since it is what you have decided to do.
7. Have a business strategy plan and constantly review it: Always review your plan. Identify things that work out based on your plan. Pick the lesson and apply it again.
8. Keep proper and complete record of all transactions: This is especially important in the areas of finance. If you just wake up from a sleep and you are asked about your financial transactions, you should be able to come up with this within few minutes.
9. Make sure that there is a job description for every position and match with income-earned.
10. Set performance milestones and standards against which progress can be measured: How do you determine if your business is on the right tracks if there are no performance measures? If you are in sales business, you need to have, for instance, an idea of how many sales you intend to make in a year. This can then be broken down into monthly targets.

This post first appeared as 10 Commandments for SMEs on BiTs.

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I started my first business with a friend when I was in year 2 at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and moved on to start 2 other businesses before I graduated from the university. I can say that I stumbled into business. And most people start this way. I finished my Computer Programming assignment in record time but still had the urge to play around with the Fortran Programming language I had learnt few weeks earlier. I am sure many people might not remember what Fortran language is.

Within few hours, I came up with different other versions of the code that could achieve the same result as required in the assignment. The task was a programming assignment to help National Youth Service Corps automate the deployment of the graduating students to the 36 states as well as the Federal Capital Territory. The task also included ensuring that no graduating student was deployed to his/her state of origin. Moreover, married graduating students were expected to be deployed to the state where their husbands reside.

After the first few iterations, my friend and I started getting request to customize the codes from fellow students. We gladly accepted to do this free of charge but with the condition that the students had to but computer diskettes from us. This was the time the seed was sown. From 1998 till date, I have been involved in quite a number of business ventures and some of them are really exciting.

So, why should you take this route now? Why should you start a business while in school?

1. You will gain experience. Owning and running your own business is an incredible way to gain experience and build expertise regardless of whether you decide to stay in business once you graduate.
2. You will learn what they don’t teach or prepare you for in school: Entrepreneurship is the combination of all the disciplines of business. It includes knowledge of marketing, accounting, management and operations. This will equip you for life after school even if you decide to pick a job.
3. Your value will increase: Starting a business in school helps to increase the value of “the brand called you” and gives you more options. For instance, an entrepreneur with a large brand value can publish a book, star in a documentary movie, or go straight to the top of another company.
4. You have nothing to lose: When you are a student, you are still depending on your parents or others to meet your needs. The worst thing that can happen if your business fails is that you get a job, have an incredible credential on your resume, and have experience that will increase your chances of success in the future. The best thing that can happen is that you will go on to build a successful business. Either way, you will have something to show for it.
5. You will develop networking skills: Your network increases your net worth. When you run a business, you will develop excellent contacts. Even if you decide to pursue a career after you graduate, you will have a great pool of people who will be more than happy to hire you or send your resume to somebody who wants to.
6. Operating a profitable business in the long term is less risky than being an employee in the long term. Just look around you, companies are downsizing. Tens of thousands of people have been laid off. If you run a successful business, you will still be around and possibly doing what you like. Business owners are always the last set of people to go down with a ship. Business owners can have multiple streams of incomes from different customers. If you are an employee, you are most likely going to have only one stream of income and therefore are bearing more risk.
7. The business is yours. You create your own hours, work from wherever you want and choose who you want to work with. You can also pick what interests you the most and build a business around it. If you like writing, you can write a book and do your own public relations and marketing. You can even start learning a programming language and develop a solution.
8. And finally, you will grow. No matter the business you are running, you will need to learn new things. And this involves reading books and attending some seminars and / or training. This will ultimately shape who you become!

So, what is holding you back? Start NOW!

The post A Student? Now Is Time To Start a Business! appeared first on Emmanuel Oluwatosin Official Website | Lean Startup Certified Coach | Product Leader | Venture Builder.

Do you re-group and hit it hard again, or do you just lay it down and quit? Many people have made a u-turn when their success is actually around the corner. Most successful people have at least one experience of failure but they just don’t give us. They learn from every failure and bounce back. Even if they have told you several times that you are not qualified for that job, this is not the end. It just means you need to develop yourself further and equip yourself with relevant skills.

Calvin Coolidge said,

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.“

Failure is never an end. It should be seen as a bend towards another destination. Setbacks should be seen as the foundations upon which you can build future success and not the final excuse for failure. Most people who are working on their ideas get discouraged when they are faced with some challenges or one form of failure. When you fail is not the time to become discouraged. It is the time to use the obstacle as a stepping stone. Don’t give in to discouragement, opposition and / or obstacles. Be persistent.

The dictionary defines persistence as: to continue firmly or obstinately. Persistence is a state of mind. In the words of Thomas Edison,

“Just because something does not do what you planned it to do does not mean it is useless…. Reverses should be an incentive to great accomplishment. Results? Why, man, I have gotten lots of results! If I find 10,000 ways something won’t work, I haven’t failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is just one more step forward…. There are no rules here; we are just trying to accomplish something.”

It is therefore normal for someone to have obstacles before success. Even the dictionary puts the word obstacle before success. Obstacles are there to strengthen you and offer progressive measurement of your growing strength. Discouragement sets in when you misunderstand the purpose of obstacles. Persistence is a conscious decision. So, train yourself to be persistent and focus on the big picture.

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No matter what you want to do or achieve, there is always a price to be paid.

So what are you trying to achieve? Do you want to go to school, start a business or even get a new job? It will not just fall on your lap. There is a price that you have to pay. And until you pay the price, you will only keep dreaming.

The question is “are you willing and ready to pay the price?” Most people have great plans but are allowing the plans to remain only on paper. The best laid plans, the most comprehensive preparation, can still lead to nothing unless we endeavour to take the necessary action.

No matter how strong and promising your plans, if you chose not to act, you might even be going backward when you compare your current situation to that of previous years.

“If you put off everything until you’re sure of it, you’ll get nothing done.” – Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

Has God opened your eyes to some things that you need to do? It is time to  face your fear and WALK THE TALK. If you are really serious about your life, you have to take the necessary steps now. You will not see any progress until you make a commitment to act on your plans. What are you waiting for? Start NOW. Pay the price!

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This is a thanksgiving post and I am grateful first to God for his mercy.  Yes, “Mercy Says No”. You can join me in singing the song – “Mercy Says No” by Cece Winans.

I am grateful to God for may reasons – first for the gift of life and 2nd for the wonderful family and friends God has given me. Wifey, Temi – as I fondly call you, I am forever grateful to God for bringing you my way. I really appreciate all your sacrifices and my prayer is that God will continue to strengthen you. My lovely daughters, I am grateful to God for giving you to us. You have asked questions that have helped appreciate God more. I am glad for the opportunity to be your father.

So, here is my thanksgiving list:

• I am grateful to God for mercy and opportunity to be alive to effect desired change in this country. We may complain about so many wrong things happening but we are here to effect the change and I am grateful to God for counting me worthy to be part of this.
• I am grateful to God for giving me a wonderful wife and lovely daughters. You are two much!
• I am grateful to God for my family – extended, nuclear. Your supports in the last one year are highly appreciated. What can one really do without a good family?
• I am grateful to God for the circle of friends God has placed me. You all know yourselves :). It is always great to know that there are people who can really be there for you in all situations.
• I am grateful to God for my colleagues at work. Words alone can not express my appreciation. You have shown me that I didn’t make a wrong choice accepting to work with you guys
• I am grateful to God for my church members & my pastors. Your prayers and support come handy.

Looking back now at the event of the last one year, everything looks like being given a second chance – an opportunity to fulfill my mission here on earth. I am forever grateful for this opportunity to actually wake up each day and pursue what I love doing. I am here to add value and I trust God for strength and grace as I diligently pursue my dream. Let’s create the change we want. This is our country and we can’t keep waiting forever for others to provide the solutions to our challenges. The time to act is now. Will you take up the challenge?

This post will not be complete without mentioning Bankole Taiwo. It would have be great to have you alive today and celebrate together but… We lost a gem and I am really short of words. Bankole, we do miss you and I pray that God will fill the void you have left behind in your family.

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What is it that you are trying to achieve? Start a business, go  back to school, get that job or even get that promotion at work? It is within your reach. The world presents us with so many opportunities every day to achieve our dreams. Do we take advantage of these opportunities or we just allow them to pass us by? I believe you know the answer in your heart. Your answer is the exact reason why you are where you are today. If things are not unfolding as you would like, it means you have to take action and explore other possibilities.

Exploring possibilities is a personal task. No one can do it for you. While your parents (family, spouses, mentors etc) may be able to provide you with the platform you need, the main responsibility is on you. No one can help you to achieve your dreams. You know what you want and must be ready to pay the price to achieve it. People around you (mentors, boss, parents, friends etc) can only show you the way.They may be able to teach and advise you and enable you to become a wise and effective human being. But taking the actual steps is your responsibility.

“I do hope I have a mentor, but you still have to go through many things by yourself. The only person who can help you is yourself.” – Fann Wong

If you continually wait and hope for things to be different or for others to provide, then you will remain a victim of circumstances. And really, how much fun is that? And how much fun do you think it is for to be at the mercies of others? Believing that someone else is responsible, or making them responsible, for your happiness limits how far you will go. People can only do so much for you. Always remember that irrespective of what people tell you about being successful, you have to be willing to put in the time and effort. If you don’t have the drive to be successful, you are not going to succeed. So, here are some things that may help you move in the direction of your dreams:

1. Make the commitment to reach your goal: “One person with a commitment is worth a hundred who only have an interest” – Mary Crowley. Your goal is worth nothing without your commitment to follow through on it. You need to constantly remind yourself that nobody can achieve your goal for you. How committed are you to your goals?
2. Be prepared for change: Something are definitely not within your control. The foreign exchange flunctuation, radical changes in oil prices, inflation, interest rates, government policies etc. are things that you can not control.  Stick with your decision to move toward a goal – but be willing to change your direction to get there as conditions and circumstances demand.
3. Be accountable: Commit yourself to detailed accountability. Get a mentor that you know would be interested in you. Remember that the mentors are not there to help you achieve your goals. They are to ensure that you remain on the right track.
4. Give yourself no other option: Whether you will achieve your goals depends on how you respond to tough circumstances. Most people give up when all that they need is just to try one more time. Join the league of the few that succeed because they did not give in. Give yourself no other option.
5. Hang around with successful people: Being around successful people will make you want to be successful as well. Look for people that you know are going somewhere and engage them. You might need to go extra miles to build relationship with this set of people but it is worth the effort. Just remember that “iron sharpens iron”
6. Get back to reality: Spending hours in front of TV, watching movies and even playing games is a great way to escape from reality. This may be fun but it will pull you away from your goals. While you may have immediate satisfaction, you may be sacrificing your future at the same time. Concentrate on your long-term goals and don’t get caught up in things that take you away from reality.
7. Stop thinking and start acting: There is a limit to how far thinking can take you. The best laid plans, the most comprehensive preparation, can still lead to nothing unless you endeavour to take the necessary action. No matter how strong and promising your thought, plans and preparation are, once you fail to act, you would still be heading no where. The action step does not have to be perfect but ensure you start acting on things.
8. Read success stories: There are a lot of biographies of successful people and case studies successful entrepreneurs (business start-ups) who went from rags to riches. Lay your hand on these materials and learn from their mistakes and secrets. Following these people would help in motivating yourself.

Above all, remember, the first step is to know where you are going. If you do not know where you are going, you will undoubtedly end up somewhere else. You can do better, you can achieve more, you can be the best God has created you to be. Start now to make your dreams happen! It is never late to achive your dreams… Go for it!

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The journey actually started some years before 29 July 2006 but I will leave that story for another day. It is definitely part of the story and 29 July 2006 would not have come to past without the phase before it. As I type this now, everything looks like yesterday. Has the journey been totally smooth? No…but have I been better off by taking this journey? Definitely YES. Indeed, the experience has been mind-blowing

Are you still wondering what I am talking about? Hmm..It is exactly 3 years today that I invoked the power given to us as men to change names. Yeah… it was a priviledge to have the opportunity to fulfil God’s instruction to man.

“For this reason shall a man leaves his family and cleave to his wife“

I got married to the one that I love. And the result? I found a “good thing”. Indeed, I have obtained favour from God. Olayemi, knowing you is great but having the priviledge to join forces with you on this journey is greater. I have achieved more these past 3 years than I had achieved the years before put together. This is the effect of GRACE and I am not going to take you or this grace for granted for a second.

Baby, I can’t say it enough…I LOVE YOU and I am glad you are part of my world. I just want to let you know that the journey has just started. We have not seen anything yet. Everyday that I wake up with you by my side comes with new strength to fulfil destiny. And I know that with God as the “third person” of our relationship, we will continue to experience HIS hand. I love you so much.

And to my “men in black” on the day – Idowu Opaleye, Dimeji Aboderin, Ayo Oladejo, Seun Olajide, Wale Akinbola, Yemi Adenaike, Toyin Daniel” – you are part of the story. I can’t thank you enough.  Your presence and committment added colour to the foundation. My driver of the day, Mr. Gbolade Shoyemi, what else can I say? God will reward your labour of love. I am waiting for the good news from you oooo. So, don’t keep boiz waiting for too long. My brother from another mother – Hammed Shittu – you have showed on several occassions that, indeed, there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. Thanks for the support pre & post-foundation laying ceremony

The Shittus, the Akinyemis (God understand why He brought us together as family), Uncle Toks, Big bros (Ghese), Ayoboye “Mr. Ogundiya”, Destiny Partners, Glo Colleagues (Bukenzo, Chief Lolu, Mr. Nasamu…), friends, My fellowship – Student Christian Movement “Generation of Lion”, Daystar Christian Centre and the name continues. Thanks so much. The seed of love you have sown has germinated and is growing fast. Our families (brother, sisters, uncles, aunties, nieces, nephews, cousins etc), thanks for the prayer and the support. God has definitely answered your prayers. The results abound. Our parents, on both side, this journey would not have started without your approval. Thanks for showing us the way to go. We are foreover grateful to God for giving us parents like you. God bless you and give you long life.

And to the one who agrees to go together with me on this journey, Olayemi, thanks for the support. You are trully a virtuous woman and our children will call you blessed. I will forever love you. How could I forget my little princess – ‘Mikun. You are God’s gift to us. We appreciate your presence and we constantly thank God for making you a source of joy to us. Finally to God who has given us strength, we join our voice together to say a big THANK YOU. Thank you for your mercy and leading. You are indeed our shepherd…

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Your complaints thus far has not changed anything. If you have witnessed any change, it is because some people have decided to act. Some people have taken it upon themselves to pay the price. Your complaint does not do any good to you except creating a negative magnetic field around you. And the result? You will keep attracting negative people and circumstances toward you. Our focus should be on working to create the environment that has only remained in our dream till now.  It can be done but it places a demand on you and I.

If you are really ready to create the change, stop complaining. Join the crusade. A life of complaining is the ultimate guarantee for failure.  Things will not remain as this if we act now. It will not definitely come easy, but it is achievable.  If you are ready act, signify your intention by clicking on “the future started yesterday” and “State of our nation“. Will you create the change we so desired?

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Are you ready for your winter? Can you say that you are better equipped to face your winter? It is not a question of “if” winter will come but rather a question of “when”. What you do today will determine the kind of experience you will have in winter. I will like to share a story I read some years ago. The story may be old but I keep seeing new applications each time I re-read it. So, join me on this storylane…

One summer day, a lazy grasshopper was chirping and sitting and playing games, just as he did every day. A hard-working ant passed by, carrying a huge leaf that he was taking back to the ant’s nest. The grassshopper said to the ant, “All you ants do is to work all day. You should be more like me and play, play, play.”

The ant replied, ” I’m storing food for the winter season. You should be working, for just the same reason. What will you eat when the weather gets cold? How will you feed your hungry household?” The grasshopper laughed, “All you ants do is work and worry. Slow down, don’t be in a such a hurry. Just look around, there’s plenty of food; don’t give me advice, that’s just plain rude.”

The ant kept working, the grasshopper kept playing, and winter soon came. The ant had prepared for the winter and had enough food stored in the nest to last through the cold, harsh winter weather. Now that winter had arrived, the grasshopper couldn’t find any food and soon became very hungry. He soon remembered the hard-working ant he had made fun of in the summer. The grasshopper went to the ant’s nest and asked for food.

The ant, who was still busy working at keeping the food clean and dry, said, “I toiled to save food for the winter freeze, while you spent the summer playing in ease. I stored just enough food for the winter, it’s true, but I can’t feed you all winter, or I’ll starve too.”

The ant, however, gave the grasshoper a few crumbs, but the grasshopper was cold, miserable, and hungry all winter. The next summer, the grasshopper worked hard to store food for the upcoming winter. That next winter, the grasshopper was well fed and happy! He learned to think ahead and plan for the future.

Can you pick any lesson(s) from this story? If not, I would suggest that you go back and read it again until the message sinks. However, I will like to share some of the lessons I have been able to pick from the story.

Lesson 1:

Winter is inevitable. Every human being and business will go through a winter period. The only difference is the timing. You might be going through your winter time while your friend’s winter is much later.  So, PLAN. Once you fail to plan, you are definitely planning to fail. No one can effectively achieve an objective that he or she does not have clearly defined. The ant’s main objective was to ensure that he had enough food in winter. This he planned to achieve. Likewise, you and I have to think things through, decide on the kind of lifestyle we want irrespective of circumstance, and write out our plan to achieve it.

“the depth of your plan determines the length of your success,” Rev’d Sam Adeyemi

So, if you really need to succeed, you need to embrace planning as part of your life. You need to plan very well so that you can sweat less. Only then can we do as Dr. Stephen R. Covey suggests, “begin with the end in mind.”

Lesson 2:

The  next important lesson is that the Ant prepared for the winter. There is no easy way out. There are basically two types of pain available – pain of discipline and pain of regret. So choose the one you want. You can either choose to be the ant or the grasshopper. The ball is in your court. Commit to learn new trade, study, practice, take that lecture, attend that seminar and go for that course.

Exercise, listen to those tapes, nurture a relationship, read that book (especially those written by people who have gone ahead in your chosen field). Someone somewhere has passed through your current path in your business or career. His/her experience has been packaged in a book / CD and is within your reach. Instead of you charting the course all over, grab the book/CD, digest the content therein and apply it to the situation at hand. You will be surprised at easy things will turn out to be. The important thing is to do something today that will make the path smoother tomorrow.

Lesson 3:

The ant did not stop at preparation. The ant performed. He worked every day during summer to gather his food. David Schwartz made this simple but profound statement,

“the only way to start, is to start.“

The simple fact is that the best laid plans, the most comprehensive preparation, can still lead to nothing unless you endeavour to take the necessary action. No matter how strong and promising your plans and preparation are, once ye fail to act, you would still be heading no where. The action step does not have to be perfect. They just  have to be taking you towards achieving your plan.

Dr. Norman Vincent Peale observed,

“If you put off everything until you’re sure of it, you’ll get nothing done.”

One of my favourite passage in the Bible – Ecclesiastes 11:4 – even confirms this,

“He that observeth the wind shall not show; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap”.

The truth is that nothing would be achieved until you set out to act. We would only continue to make matter worse. The need to act the plans does not only become necessary but important. Nike – one of the top kit manufacturing company in the world – has the right idea in her simple slogan, “Do it!” So, I advice that you change your motto to “DO IT” now.

Lesson 4:

The ant was persistent. Discouragement came from grasshopper painting picture of a better way to live. But the ant did not let go of his goal / plan. Will the road ahead be smooth? Will there be any adversity on the way? Yes… The difference between the successful person and the one stalked by failure is not the adversity – everybody has that. What do you do when you are faced with obstacle on the way? Do you regroup and hit it hard again, or do you just lay it down and quit? Many people have made a u-turn when success is actually around the corner.

It is therefore normal for you to have obstacles before success. Even the dictionary puts the word obstacle before success. Obstacles are there to strengthen you and offer progressive measurement of your growing strength. Discouragement sets in when you misunderstand the purpose of obstacles. Persistence is a conscious decision. So, you and I need to train ourselves to be persistent persons.

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1st half of year 2009 will soon come to an end and whether we like it or not, year 2009 will come to an end like a breeze. Reviewing my activities versus my plan for 1st half of the year shows that there are still many things I wish I had done these past months. I didn’t fully match my actions with my words. One thing that became more obvious is that most of the people around me are still in the planning mood. They are still talking about what they would do in the course of the year. Are you ONLY a talker?

Talkers are those people that have great ideas or great intentions, but just never follow through. Anyone can be a talker, but to make a change in your life, you need to take solid action and follow through 100%. If you don’t, you will never see the results that are ultimately in your grasp. As this first half comes to an end, revisit your plan. Dust off your plans from where you have kept them and review everything you have written down. And if you don’t have any plan for this year, it is not too late to get down to work.

“if you do not know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else.“

Once you fail to plan, you are definitely planning to fail. No one can effectively achieve an objective that he or she does not have clearly defined. We have got to think things through, decide what we want, and write out our plan. Then make a personal commitment to follow through.

If you want to succeed, you need to embrace planning and commitment to action as part of your life. It is one thing to determine the things that you have to do in order for you to achieve your objectives, it is another thing to commit to work on everything. Forget about what you have not done in the past months but choose now to act on what you have written down. If you don’t know where to start from, seek counsel. Attend a “How To” seminar. Pick up a book and listen to that message.

Someone somewhere has done something similar to what you plan to do. Some people have passed through similar situation as yours and have packaged their experience in books and CDs. These are within your reach. Instead of you charting the course all over, grab the book, digest the content therein and apply it to the situation at hand. It is time to  to do something today that will make the path smoother tomorrow. So, make a commitment to follow through on your plan(s).

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Why would a bank that is laying off some staff announce payment of bonus to the remaining staff if indeed the focus is on cutting cost?  The response of the CEO was shocking. He said, “the only way to keep their best staff is to pay them high bonus“.  What is the difference between the ones laid off and those that received bonus? The difference? The people who are seemed to be successful – those living their dreams – are those that have learnt to manage their future. They live not at the mercies of others. They are in charge of their destiny.

How do you take charge of your destiny? Manage your future and mind your business. I am not not saying that you should resign from your job or rather that you should [tag]start your own business[/tag] now. Very few people are cut out for business. So, I will definitely not advise you to take that route if business is not passion. The challenge is for you to really be in charge. You don’t have to keep worrying that your [tag]job security[/tag] depends on the whims or moods of your current boss. The kind of live you have always wanted to live is within your reach. You can even transform your current job into that [tag]dream job[/tag].

The starting point is to control what happens in your career. You must take charge of your work life. You will have to fire your boss mentally. You will have to determine your own value. You will be setting your own goals. You have to be in charge of selecting the skills you wish to attain. You will also have your own personal work plan.You may need to do the following:

• Write your own job description: Write a brief description of your job. However, do not align yourself with a certain company, profession or specialization. Reflect on what you do each day and each week.
• Give yourself a performance review: Find out what other people with the same job description earn. Also find out the skills that are valued in this certain field.
• Define alternate courses: After you have done the two steps above, you will realize that there are alternate courses available to you. Brainstorm about all the other fields and occupations that would suit the job description that you created.
• Put your plan into writing: Develop your own plan for your work life. Remember that your future plans should not hinder the alternate courses you have defined. Note down the new skills you need to acquire.

Where you are today is a direct reflection of the words, thoughts and actions you took days, months and years ago. No matter how much you continue to blame your parents, teachers, where you grew up, television, the government or anything else, the truth is that nobody got you where you are today but yourself. The longer you choose not to take responsibility for your live, the longer you will be living uninspired lives that you do not love.

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These are however interesting times, in fact, the best times to be alive! While many are already getting half salaries, while some are losing their jobs, and while some are yet to find, many unknown of and unheard of will keep prospering. Everybody wishes to be successful. Many want to be successful but few people really desire to be successful. The proof that you desire something is that you pursue it! The test of pursuit is commitment to paying the price. Are you ready to pay the price? The choice is yours.

If you are ready to take the next step and you live in Nigeria, I will invite you to join us at our weekly business opportunity meeting. All you have to do is to fill this form and enter my name (Emmanuel Oluwatosin) in the”Referred By” space. if you don’t live in Nigeria and want to take part in this business opportunity, we have you in mind. Do click here and you will have access to the same information. You will be able to attend the meeting online. If you need further clarification, you can send me an email and I will reply with further information that will enhance your understanding.

We are in an information age, and what you know can make a difference in your life. At these business opportunity meetings, you get information that can radically change your paradigm and your life. You are the same person you were 10yrs ago, but for two things

• The New People you have met
• The New Information that you have got

At these business opportunity meetings, you get to meet new people and get new information. These meetings are currently free, but you must book your seat ahead. Please complete this form (and remember to enter my name – Emmanuel Oluwatosin – as the referral) if you are interested in booking a seat in any of the Saturday meetings. You can also send me an email as soon as you book a seat so that I can confirm that you are booked. Take the first step now…

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The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. ‘I am going to give each one of you a SEED today – one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO.’

One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed. Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow.

Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn’t have a plant and he felt like a failure. Six months went by — still nothing in Jim’s pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn’t say anything to his colleagues, however. He kept watering and fertilizing the soil. He really wanted the seed to grow.

A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection. Jim told his wife that he wasn’t going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach. It was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful — in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!

When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives. Jim tried to hide in the back. ‘My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown,’ said the CEO. ‘Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!’ All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the Financial Director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, ‘The CEO knows I’m a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!’

When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed – Jim told him the story. The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, ‘Behold your next Chief Executive Officer! His name is Jim!’ Jim couldn’t believe it. Jim couldn’t even grow his seed.

‘How could he be the new CEO?’ the others said. Then the CEO said, ‘One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead – it was not possible for them to grow. All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive Officer!’

Lessons: Can you identify some lessons from this story? If your answer is NO, you may need to re-read the story again. I have identified some lessons and I will list them below:

1. Honesty Pays:
2. Be accountable to someone
3. The fact that everyone is doing something does not make it the right thing
4. Before every promion comes a test

Can you identify ANY other lesson(s) from the story? Share them below using the comment section.

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