THERE ARE STILL THOUGHTFUL NIGERIANS

I was checking my mails today and I gor this mail from an old classmate of mine. Immediately I read through, one thing kept ringing in my mind: there are still thoughtful Nigerians; people who care what happens to us as a nation; people who are concerned about how we are treated. Take away all personal sentiments, the writer of this article just demonstrated the kind of attitude our leaders should have.

American Embassy Plc (By Sochima Ndu; Published: Monday, 26 Mar 2007)

I was sad when I read the account narrated by Mr. Hakeem Ogunniran, the Managing Director of
MDS – a Division of the UACN Plc, in the Saturday PUNCH of March 17, concerning the appalling, and indeed pathetic, treatment that was meted to his wife by the Canadian Embassy in Lagos. The Ogunnirans are not alone in the saga of ill-treatment of Nigerians at the hands of foreign embassies.

Top on the list of these notorious embassies is the American Embassy on Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos. The visa section of the American Embassy is the revenue generation unit of the element and I can imagine that, like any profit-oriented enterprise, they start the year with a target of revenue and profitability which they must generate at all costs. The modus operandi for extracting the targeted sums from Nigerians starts with the invitation forinterview. The embassy exploits the desires of many Nigerians to visit foreign countries while on holiday, broaden their knowledge by attending seminars and conferences abroad and yes, even explore their destinies in other countries, by inviting them for these spurious interviews. It seems that they count the applications and decide how many must come per day and how many must have to reapply for the targets to be met.

In most cases, the letters of rejection have already been prepared in advance of the interviews. The candidates are invited, not to be heard, but for their N14,000 which is vital to the income and expenditure account of the embassy. Does the upfront collection of non-refundable application fees by these embassies not qualify as a definition of advance fee fraud? Can these embassies not collect a lower amount as non-refundable processing fee (say N1,000), while the N14,000 could remain as a visa issuance fee taken only from successful applicants?

I heard the case of a medical doctor whose son gained admission into Princeton and visited the American Embassy for a visa. Apparently knowing the penchant of consular officers to make instant illogical decisions on visa applications, he arranged to be at the embassy on the same day (perhaps to renew his visitor’s visa) so he could lend his voice to his son’s student’s visainterview. The visa official questioned him as to why he wanted his son to study in America instead of in a Nigerian university. What right does that American have to determine where a man wants his children to go to school? The answer is very simple – how many of the staff of the American embassy studied in Princeton or Harvard? It irks them to think that Nigerians aredaring to exceed those mundane limits which they have set for us in their finite minds.

In my few years in the service industry, I have learnt that revenues are compensations for values which have been added to a customer’s life or business. The question that then arises is, what value is the American embassy (our typical example and the worst culprit) adding to the lives of Nigerians to justify the gargantuan amount of money that it milks from them? Is it the number of hours that people must spend in order to attend those grueling interviews? Is it the sheer rudeness of the security personnel at the embassy? Is it the degrading attitude of the insincere embassy staff? Where lies the value addition in all of this experience?
In today’s world of branding, where organizations of different characters are taking concerted steps to develop positive perceptions from the public relative to their brand image, the likes of the Canadian and American embassies are very brazen in their disregard for the views and perceptions of Nigerians. Or is that not the case?

The truth is that what is being meted to the Nigerian citizenry is a direct reflection of the degree ofdisregard and disrespect that these people and their nations have for our country and our governments. They treat this country as a pariah and pay lip service to relationships.

They treat our leaders as clowns and show no modicum of respect for them. It is probably for this reason that even our leaders show no form of concern at the treatment meted to our citizenry. It seems normal to them. It is in this bizarre abnormality that the mystery lies. We have mortgaged every iota of self-respect for a fee and sacrificed our national destiny on the altar of greed and unabridged corruption. The Nigerian high commissions in other countries cannot even dream of conducting business in any manner near what these people do here. Their governments will shout to the high heavens. If our embassies do not crawl in penitence, they will blackmail, arm-twist, and threaten to bring down sanctions or even worse.

I call on the leadership of this country, in the spirit of the national anthem and the Nigerian pledge, to shake itself free from all apathy and protect its citizenry by standing up against the injustices and maltreatment which are handed down to Nigerians by all hostile foreign embassies operating on Nigerian soil.

Ndu writes from 23, Balogun Road, Ogba, Lagos.
Culled from the Punch Newspaper

PURPOSE OF DESIGN

It's been quite some time since I put something up here. Challenges, as usual. I like to start here by re-stating that it matters little what we have achieved on earth, we have not succeeded unless we have fulfilled our PUPRPOSE OF DESIGN. By that I mean to say that the One who made us had something in mind when He did so; and unless we function in that pre-designed capacity, the best we would ever do will be sub-standard. I therefor make bold to say that TRUE SUCCESS EQUALS FULFILLING THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH WE WERE CREATED.

Two key things follow from that. One, there is a Being who created (and still creates). This is only stating the obvious because there can be no pattern without a designer. The intricate patterns observed in creation tells us there is a Master Designer. Two, there is a reason for everything.

UNIQUE THOUGHTS

It’s so amazing that another year is almost quarter way through now. I mean, only 6 weeks ago we all hailed ‘Happy New Year”, and here we are – almost at the end of the second month of that same year. Maybe more amazing is the fact that many folks are still preparing to get started; and more amazing still is the fact that many who have started don’t even know where they’re going. Even more amazing is the apparent confidence with which these folks are getting on JUST FINE – as if they can’t be more right.

I beg you to pause and think
Ø Have you started – on your goals, your dreams, your aspirations, your desires – this year?
Ø Are you sure you know where what you’re doing now will take you?

Or better still, do you know why you want to do what you want to do?

Each time I’ve thought about these issues since the beginning of this year, no better illustration comes to my mind than Zig Ziglar’s experience as described by Tony Jeary in Success Acceleration (that’s the third book I’ve read this year, apart from my academic stuff).
According to Tony, Zig went to his gym one day and found the place so packed that he hardly found a space to park his car. It was even more serious inside the gym as the whole room was filled with people sweating it out on the machines.

Surprised, Zig approached the manager of the place to make enquiries about the sudden rush. The manager’s response was somewhat like this:
“It’s no problem, most of the people you see here are new, they’d be gone in about a month or two. It’s just the New Year resolution crowd.” (emphasis mine)
Two lessons I learned from this bit of experience. One, most people, in fact every average man/woman/child makes good decisions. Two, most people are gone in about a month or two. If you think it’s a fallacy, compare your church attendance figures on New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and last Sunday…

… And then the challenge … how many months will it take you to go?


Last year I raised the issue of the determinants of success and started by showing how, like mathematical equations, the value of one’s life is determined by the operator and the operand and not the constant. We’ll pick up from there and go on to see other dimensions of the matter … welcome.

DETERMINANTS OF SUCCESS

What determines the valve of a mathematical expression - the variable or the constant?

If you are familiar with mathematics, you will probably know that an equation comprises five main components: the equality and operator; and the variable, the constant and the result. In several instances, there is more than one of each of these components in an equation. Nevertheless, an equation still retains its basic form – the performance of some operation on some constant(s) and variable(s) to yield some result(s). LIFE IS JUST LIKE THAT. As we go about, we accept and make inputs into our existence, apply specific processes and then obtain results.

Now, let’s take a closer look at this equation concept and how it comes in useful to our discussion on SUCCESS. Consider the following expression:

y = x + 2

Let’s start by identifying the components. The variable is x which takes on any value we choose to give it; 2 is constant and does not change unless the entire equation changes; and y is the result which takes on the value of the result of the operation performed on 2 and x.

When x is 3, 2 remains 2 and y equals 5. When x becomes 4, 2 still remains 2 and y goes up to 6. If x drops to 1, y will also come down to 3 but 2 remains unchanged. Interestingly, if + changes to X and our variable x still takes on the value of 3, the result, y will be 6 as against 5 when the operator was +.

So let me ask again, “What determines the value of an expression?” Obviously it is the variable and the operator.

The LESSON?

Simple. The magnitude of the result of any endeavour depends on how large a variable is operated upon with the constant and what operator is used. We can then conclude that if we want higher results, we need to magnify our variables and change our operators.

I understand from sound teaching and experience that God does not change, that is, He is constant. Does that then mean that He does not influence our success as much as we do? The answer is YES? If you think of what He said to Joshua then you’ll probably agree.

Joshua 1:8
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

So, what you get out of your life depends directly on how much of yourself is added to God!. And then who’s the operator? You, your finances, your spouse, your job, your boss, your….just name it. As long as these things decide for you, don’t expect the best.
Summary: the principal determinant of success is you, yes, YOU and YOUR OPERATOR.

S.U.C.C.E.S.S.

This 7-letter word is one of the most-desired qualifications under heaven. I've not come across anyone who doesn't want to be referred to as successful. Ironically, I have come to realise that as absolute as it is, a significant percentage of people reason that success is relative. "It depends on what we're talking about", they think or say.

I posit, however, that success is absolutely absolute. One is either a success or a failure, no midland. And to think it is relative; relative to what?

Simply put, success is ACHIEVING PURPOSE OF DESIGN. Whatever it is that does well in a purpose for which it is not designed is only subjectively successful. That is, it is only successful in the sight of onlookers who will have no say in its final assessment.

An example: A pen is meant to leave indellible marks while a pencil is made to leave temporary, erasable marks. I bet no one would buy a pencil that leaves marks that an eraser can't handle; and when the marks of a pen is easily erased, it has failed even though it still makes its marks!

It means, to me therefore, that your success is independent of

whether or not you're rich

whether or not you're powerful

whether or not you're long-lived

So what does it depend on? This is one question I can't answer alone. Don't hesitate to leave your comments on this issue (it tkaes a few moments) as we consider it for the next few weeks.

MY POWER WORKS BEST IN YOUR WEAKNESS 2CORINTHIANS 12:9

At 19 months, Helen Keller contracted the illness that eventually left her without hearing and sight. Back then those labelled deaf and dumb were classified as idiots. But Helen’s parents didn’t agree. They hired teacher Anne Sullivan to work with her and eventually she learned to read and write using Braille. Amazingly, in 1904 she graduated with honours from Radcliff College, and then devoted her life to helping others. Philanthropist Andrew Carnegie paid her an annual income; writers Mark Twain and Robert Louis Stevenson praised her and almost every President of her day invited her to the White House. When asked if there was anything worse than being blind she replied, “Yes, having sight but no vision.”

At 12 Thomas Edison developed such severe hearing loss that his teachers recommended he be taken out of school. Instead, Edison used his handicap to drown out distractions and focus on his work. As a result, the boy who was labelled a slow learner gave the world over 1,000 inventions, including the light bulb, the phonograph and the motion camera.

Who gets to define normal anyway? Is it being short versus tall, or rich versus poor? The truth is God’s given all of us unique abilities that He expects us to explore. And interestingly, the real handicaps don’t belong to those who are born with physical and mental challenges. No, they belong to the so-called normal people who’ve accepted lethargy and limitation as part of life.

God said, “My power works best in your weakness”; so you can let your difficulties impede or inspire you. Which will it be?

courtesy Grace So Amazing Foundation

DESPITE ALL THESE THINGS…ROMANS 8:37

Composer Gian Carlio Menotti said, “Hell begins the day God grants us a vision of the gifts we’ve wasted, of all we might have done but we didn’t do.

Wilma Rudolph, who won three gold medals at the 1960 Olympics, would agree. What she accomplished isn’t as impressive as what she overcame. As a child Willie contracted polio and couldn’t walk without braces. Then at age 13 she regained the use of her legs and went on to become the fastest woman alive. But her challenges weren’t just physical. One of children born to a poor black family, she inspired us by transcending poverty and racial animosity. She said, "I can’t" has never been in my vocabulary.

At age two, Scott Halton, another famous Olympian skater, stopped growing because of a childhood illness that almost killed him. But his parents encouraged his rehabilitation by teaching him to skate; and the rest is history!

In 1976 when Brad Parks was injured in an accident that left him in a wheelchair, he strengthened his arm by whacking tennis balls against his garage door. Three years he formed the National Foundation of Wheelchair Tennis.

Paul said despite all these things victory is ours through Christ.

Rick Warren writes: Why does God use our weaknesses? Because when He does, He gets all the glory.

If God only used your strengths, others would look at you and be jealous or discouraged. But when God uses you in spite of your weaknesses they realise God could use me too! Your weaknesses aren’t an accident. God allowed them for the purpose of demonstrating his power through you.

courtesy Grace So Amazing Foundation

What Do You See?

Usually when things appear, different people see them in different lights and from different angles. The same occured in the case of Anousheh Ansari, history's first female space explorer and Space Ambassador. Majority of the comments that trailed the expedition were quite negative. I wondered, after seeing a few of those comments yesterday evening, why God created us not to see things the same way. "For God's sake," I thought, "why would anyone have problems with that charitable young lady who decided to pioneer for us what we would otherwise find hard to imagine."

Honestly, I think we have a right to what we think and say, but in doing that, we'd do better to be a bit more reflective. I like you to go through what one of the masterminds of Anousheh's expedition wrote - and think deeply. Take with that the post on tempers that I placed sometimes ago, and then you'll see what I mean: WHILE YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO YOUR OPINION, YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT IT IS INFLUENCED BY WHAT YOU SEE; AND SINCE YOU CAN'T SEE EVERYTHING, SOMEONE WILL ALWAYS HAVE A SUPERIOR OPINION. THE MOST MATURE PEOPLE ARE THOSE WHO TAKE THINGS OBJECTIVELY.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Peter @ 11:20 pm

This is for anyone who might be critical of Anousheh’s flight — even though it’s a small percentage of the discussion here.
First of all, I need to say that Anousheh and her family are among the most thoughtful and generous people I have ever met.
When someone spends their money to purchase artwork or fancy automobiles, I don’t hear the outcry of “how could you spend your money in that fashion.” The fact is that Anousheh’s support of private spaceflight is not a whim, but the fulfillment of a dream that will yield very positive long-term implications for humanity.
Stop to think about the wealthy adventurers of the 18th Century who spent their money to venture across the Atlantic, or the wealthy clients who purchased the first airplanes or airline tickets. Today most of us living in the US don’t stop to thank those early trans-Atlantic adventurers for risking their lives and their wealth to open the Americas.
Do you thank the first “aeronauts” every time you purchase a low-cost Southwest or EasyJet airline ticket? Yet you benefit from their investment. How about everyone looking at this blog on your computer… The first computers cost millions.
The bottom line is all of the “Breakthroughs” we have today were at one point expensive, dangerous and difficult. We take this for granted now, but each of these industries began with pioneers.
Thank you Anousheh for making the investment, for taking the risk and for being a pioneer. Hundreds of years from now when Earth is benefiting from the resources of space, when millions of humans are living beyond low-Earth orbit, you will be remembered for taking some first steps and showing us the way.
Tomorrow, Oct 4th, 2006, on the second anniversary of the Ansari X PRIZE win, we will announce our next $10 million X PRIZE for Genomics. This competition will be for rapid genome sequencing, a technology that will literally revolutionize medicine and increase the quality of life for millions of people. The X PRIZE Foundation was able to create this prize in part because of the Ansari Family’s generosity. Had they not funded our first prize, we’d never be doing a follow-on!

Peter H. Diamandis (Chairman & CEO, X PRIZE Foundation, Washington, DC)

WHAT'S FOR INDEPENDENCE?

On October 1st 1960, the Union Jack was brought down in Nigeria and the "green-white-green" was flown. Today, 46 years after, the Nigeria that we know is far from it used to be. Many reasons have been advanced for the downward trend this nation has suffered over the years but it all boils down to one thing: POOR LEADERSHIP. And that's what has made the difference between us and the United States, for example.

I was not there but I was told and I've read that the quest for independence cost us so much as a nation. It is unfortunate, however, that we are now our own taskmasters despite the price we paid to free ourselves from the foreigners. The extent of steady decadence over the years, and the fact that many of us in this generation were born into it, has led many Nigerians to believe (erroneously, though) that Nigeria "ko le dara mo" (can no longer be good).

I am one Nigerian who sees a bright future for this land and in spite of all, I'm always quick to say "THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER." I am so excited about it and I believe every Nigerian should. NIGERIA IS WORKING AGAIN AND IT SHALL WORK EVEN BETTER; the truth, as I believe, is that WE HAVE TO JOIN HANDS TO MAKE IT WORK with the FAITH that our fatherland WILL work again. WHETHER WE THINK IT CAN OR WE THINK IT CANNOT, WE'RE RIGHT.

For you to know that I'm not a lone ranger on this path, I give to you a text message on January 2nd, 2006 at 3:22pm

This is to wish you a fulfilling 2006.

May we live long enough to witness

A Nigeria where Power Holding (NEPA)

Will announce before a 5-minute interruption

Where our streets will be gleaming with bitumen

Where our able-bodied will choose

The type of work to do

Where the disabled will live

Without having to beg

Where tummy tuck can be done

At our Community Health Centres

Where we shall have surplus

That we initiate immigration programs (visa lottery)

Where our young shall die at the age of 80

Where no man shall sleep with a woman/lady

In order to make ends meet

But out of love/choice

Where our brothers/sisters overseas

Shall come back home

Not out of ill-luck or failure

But because they will be left out

Of civilisation if they fail to do so

Where we shall not ride okada for a living

But power bikes for Formula One

Where we shall look forward to retirement

Because it's sweet

DID I HEAR "AMENS?"

That piece was sent to me by EMMANUEL OLUWATOSIN, a product specialist with Globacom

THE BE-KNOW-DO OF LEADERSHIP

Yesterday I gave you an article by one brilliant Nigerian as an emphasis on my opinion on the current rift between our leaders and how it sharply contrasts with what obtains in the more mature world. The issue, like I raised yesterday, is that there are certain qualities every leader must possess- qualities that carry the essence of leadership. One of these is Finesse which we mentioned already. In what follows here, I just want you to have a synoptic understanding of what makes a leader good.

1. BE a professional. Examples: Be loyal to the organization, perform selfless service, take personal responsibility.
   
2. BE a professional who possess good character traits. Examples: Honesty, competence, candor, commitment, integrity, courage, straightforwardness, imagination.
   
3. KNOW the four factors of leadership - follower, leader, communication, situation.
   
4. KNOW yourself. Examples: strengths and weakness of your character, knowledge, and skills.
   
5. KNOW human nature. Examples: Human needs, emotions, and how people respond to stress.
   
6. KNOW your job. Examples: be proficient and be able to train others in their tasks.
   
7. DO provide direction. Examples: goal setting, problem solving, decision making, planning.
   
8. DO implement. Examples: communicating, coordinating, supervising, evaluating.
   
9. DO motivate. Examples: develop moral and esprit in the organization, train, coach, counsel.
   

STILL ON LEADERSHIP: reflections of national consequence

The truth is that leadership entails some
sterling qualities, one of which is finesse

That statement was made by Rasheed Ojikutu, a University don attached to the Faculty of Business Administration, University of Lagos. He wrote an article for the Guardian Newspaper yesterday (and I intended to place the full article here but... no thanks to PHCN, I lost my connectivity at some point) in which he drew some important lessons for us from the similarity between the events that presently surround the seats of power in Nigeria and Britain. While Nigeria's VP has proceeded on the path of arrogance and carefree vituperations against his boss (and the boss is not making matters better, either), Gordon Brown, the British Chancellor of Exchequer precedentedto succeed Tony Blair as PM and favoured above the latter by the political WHO'S WHO, displayed unequalled loyalty, discipline, responsibility and maturity in an article he sent in to The Sun newspaper last Sunday. The refined man gallantly admitted his boss' faults and gloriously celebrated his successes. In fact, Gordon, rather than join in the anti-Blair campaign which has seen the resignation of about 5 key parliamentarians, openly expressed his continued support of Tony as long as they are still ogethr in government.

In contrast, our own Atiku Abubakar has decided to GET BACK at his boss by hanging the adminstration's dirty laundry in the open. If you never gave it any serious thoughts before, I like you to know that the on-going feud between Uncle Sege and his Adamawa boy is a national shame. It only goes to show us what kind of leaders we have...let me allow Victor Oshisada's article spaek to you further...

The crisis in the presidency by Victor Oshisada
IT is disgusting. It is ridiculous. In the past couple of weeks, there have been ceaseless cataracts of allegations and invectives being poured forth from the Presidency. The combatants are President Olusegun Obasanjo and Vice-President Atiku Abubakar. Such a humiliation is a deep wound to the leaders' sense of honour and decency. Indeed, the development is hardly adult; it looks like a drama between two schoolboys who are struggling for a memento. How could it be explained? Whatever may be the good intentions or achievements of President Obasanjo's administration, the untoward scenario constitutes an abrasion on it. What a poor diversionary sideshow! It merely helps to slake the voracious appetite of the country's fifth columnists in their quest for unwarranted criticisms.
There are no guts in washing dirty linen in the public. All those ugly revelations emanating from both parties were their joint private action when the going was good. At the very first, I thought that the crisis between President Obasanjo and his deputy was a storm in a teacup, and that the discord would be resolved soonest. My reason for so believing was that human beings are human beings, and are naturally bound to disagree on issues anytime. But with time, I was weaned from this belief, because the discord has snowballed to greater proportion. On reflection, I concluded that the crossfire of accusations and counter-accusations between the fathers of the nation amounts to an admission of corruption, a sort of open or self-confession.
Interestingly, many Nigerians at home and abroad have called for the resignation of both leaders. The Minister of Information in the First Republic (1960 to 1966), Chief Theophilus Owolabi Shobowale Benson, one of the few surviving nationalists, in his own criticisms called on the President of the Senate, Chief Ken Nnamani, to take over the presidency if the duo fail to resolve their rift. In a statement signed by the Executive Director of Africa in America, Mr. Bonaventure Ezekwenna, said: "Clearly, admissions of corrupt practices are the well-established facts being communicated freely to the listening Nigerian public, at home and in the Diaspora, and the global community at large..."
Unknown to both sides, it may open up a vista of terrible consequences into the polity; not every politician is matured; the exalted position notwithstanding. The use of unbridled tongue borders on the verge of political immaturity, which is the hallmark of budding politicians at local government council meetings. The unrelenting interchange of accusation letters between the President and his deputy indicates that there is less to do in the Presidency, and that the welfare of the masses is at a discount. Our roads are in ruins, whilst the national electricity is producing at a low level. What is more, at a time that our graduates, supposed to be the economic hopefuls of their parents, have now become mill-stones round their necks, for being jobless, our leaders are engaging in mud-slinging.
In any exalted position, the basic requirement is discipline. If the fathers of the nation descend so low to engage in brickbats, the types that are traded by illiterate market-women, where is the claim to puritanical leadership? It must be borne in mind that the world is watching. The nations of the world have their representatives in the country. I think that the combatants are power-drunk. In government, serious minds are required. If the two leaders should engage in the frivolity of accusations, it is a manifestation of unseriousness. It may even mean that they have nothing to engage their attention in the presidency.
The ugly exposure throws bad light on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its government. Being members of the same party, I can only conclude that the cleavage between them reflects a political organisation that is divided. A divided party means a divided government and consequently a divided nation. The ongoing imbroglio between the President and his vice is an incarnate symbol of the Action Group crisis of 1962, except that the present combatants are in the same government at the centre.
What is the PDP doing as a political organisation that is in control of the centre? Where is the Council of State? What efforts has the Council made to effect the much-desired cease-fire and resolve the discord? It is a situation where the tail is wagging the dog. In a political party where the chairman is a mere figurehead what do we expect?
With all the allegations from both sides, if Constitutional immunity from prosecution is enjoyed, impeachment must be a veritable tool to implement removal. The country looks like being at the giddy edge of a cliff, gripped by the insane fear of attempting to jum over. My prayer is that the crisis does not lead to a macro-political convulsion.

The article is on page 65 of The GUARDIAN Newspaper today, Wednesday, 27th September, 2006. Rasheed Ojikutu's article that I earler referred to is on page 65 of The GUARDIAN Newspaper yesterday, Tuesday, 26th September, 2006.

STILL ON LEADERSHIP: an analogy

LEADERSHIP SERIES: What's the essence of Leadership?

The most under-rated question about leadership is it's WHY. The essence of leadership is what many people know next to nothing about, including many who have been trusted with positions, authority and followers' loyalty.

Leadership, as complex as it seems, is all about a few things. We begin to talk about them one after the other. To start with, I like to share with you these few powerful elements that form the whole essence of leadership. Share with me the thoughts of great men...

THIRD DISCOVERY: LEADERS OR MANAGERS?

Have you ever wondered why some companies outperform their competitors without any apparent extra investments? I mean, have you seen a set of firms in the same industry, the same investment profiles, similar crop of staff and equal standing in years but different profitability; and you begin to wonder why?

I'll tell you what makes the difference: LEADERSHIP. The problem with many firms today is that they only have EXPERIENCED MANAGERS and BAD LEADERS. The truth is that NO SOCIETY, INISTITUTION, ORGANISATION or even INDIVIDUAL can be really successful without being properly led. If you're a Nigerian, our experiences as a nation, since independence, should have taught you that lesson.

One interesting thing that I just discovered (and that's my 3rd recent discovery about leadership) is that a manager is not necessarily a leader.

That's easy for everyone to know, you'll say. But I'll ask, does everyone know that? If you say "Yes, most people know," then I'll ask, "Why then do we place the academics of the candidate above his PERSON and EXPERIENCES when we make appointments? The truth is that while leadership can be learnt, the school for it is really in the heart of a man and not in any tertiary institution. You can't ever force a man to learn what he doesn't want to. Do, it makes little difference whether a man has a Harvard Business School MBA or a Yale Scholarship or is a graduate of "GREAT IFE" , if he's not a leader at heart, the best he can be is a MANAGER.



•Managers administer, leaders innovate
•Managers ask how and when, leaders ask what and why
•Managers focus on systems, leaders focus on people
•Managers do things right, leaders do the right things
•Managers maintain, leaders develop
•Managers rely on control, leaders inspire trust
•Managers have a short-term perspective; leaders have a long- term perspective
•Managers accept the status-quo; leaders challenge the status-quo
•Managers have an eye on the bottom line; leaders have an eye on the horizon
•Managers imitate, leaders originate
•Managers emulate the classic good soldier, leaders are their own person
•Managers copy, leaders show originality

LEADERSHIP SERIES: SECOND DISCOVERY

The rains that came in IFE early this morning reminded me of one thing: GOD STILL CARES FOR US...

Now, let's get back to our series. My second discovery about leadership is not as simple as the first but it's equally (if not more) profound and far-reaching. Have you ever had any cause to visit a friend of yours who suddenly became an important office-holder? You probably will then understand better what it means to say that a leader should not live in a shell.

One of the greatest problems we have in AFRICA is the WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME among our leaders. Imagine a close friend of yours becoming a Local Government Chairman; and suddenly because of his NEW POSITION does not want to associate with you anymore. I think when we talk about Africa's leadership problem, we must always remind ourselves and those who lead us, that LEADERSHIP IS NOT ABOUT BEING IN FRONT BUT BEING INVOLVED.

At times, it's easy to understand why our leaders tend to burn the bridges behind them and holler across the gully at their followers. It's all about INsecurity. A celar conscience, they say, fears no accussation. No be so??

You'll know a TRUE leader when you see someone who wants to do things WITH his people and not just FOR them; who wants to reason WITH and not FOR them; and who thinks THEIR FEARS ARE REASONABLE. I'll never vote for someone who considers my anxieties invalid. I mean, if the people think some things are important why should a leader think otherwise (except, of course, he has superior information)? A bad leader is simply someone who is too fond of saying "NO PROBLEM" when actually there is!

All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This, and not much else, is the essence of leadership.

- John Kenneth Galbraith (Born 1908)

U.S. Economist

in The Age of Uncertainty, ch.12 (1977),

on his experience of the Nuremburg trials of Nazi war criminals

LEADERSHIP SERIES: SECOND DISCOVERY

The rains that came early this morning reminded me of one thing: GOD STILL CARES FOR US...

Now, let's get back to our series. My second discovery about leadership is not as simple as the first but it's equally (if not more) profound and far-reaching. Have you ever had any cause to visit a friend of yours who suddenly became an important office-holder? You probably will then understand better what it means to say that a leader should not live in a shell.

One of the greatest problems we have in AFRICA is the WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME among our leaders. Imagine a close friend of yours becoming a Local Government Chairman; and suddenly because of his NEW POSITION does not want to associate with you anymore. I think when we talk about Africa's leadership problem, we must always remind ourselves and those who lead us, that LEADERSHIP IS NOT ABOUT BEING IN FRONT BUT BEING INVOLVED.

At times, it's easy to understand why our leaders tend to burn the bridges behind them and holler across the gully at their followers. It's all about INsecurity. A celar conscience, they say, fears no accussation. No be so??

You'll know a TRUE leader when you see someone who wants to do things WITH his people and not just FOR them; who wants to reason WITH and not FOR them; and who thinks THEIR FEARS ARE REASONABLE. I'll never vote for someone who considers my anxieties invalid. I mean, if the people think some things are important why should a leader think otherwise (except, of course, he has superior information)? A bad leader is simply someone who is too fond of saying "NO PROBLEM" when actually there is!

All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This, and not much else, is the essence of leadership.

- John Kenneth Galbraith (Born 1908)

U.S. Economist

in The Age of Uncertainty, ch.12 (1977),

on his experience of the Nuremburg trials of Nazi war criminals

LEADERSHIP SERIES: FIRST DISCOVERY

LMy first new discovery about the concept of leadership is simple, yet profound; it's straightforward yet far-reaching. Have you ever observed the extent of complications most leaders surround themselves with? The lives of many just take a dramatic turn from being simple to being complex once they assume a position of responsibility.

The truth, however, is that LEADERSHIP is not COMPLICATED. In fact, the less complicated a leader is, the more of a true leader he/she is.

The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him in other men the conviction and the will to carry on. The genius of a good leader is to leave behind him a situation which common sense, without the grace of genius, can deal with successfully

-Walter Lippmann (1889-1974)

U. S. journalist,

from article “Roosevelt Is Gone”

in New York Herald Tribune. 14 April 1945)

LEADERSHIP SERIES

Last Saturday, my boss was invited to the 2006 Annual Convention of JAYCEES International in OAU. He was to speak on Functional Leadership for Better Future. One day before his presentation, the Registrar of my department presented a seminar to all senior staff in our office. Her title was The 360-Degree Measure of a Leader. I found myself playing an active role in the compilation of both presentations. In the next few weeks, therefore, my plan is to share with you some of the new insights I just gained into the concept of LEADERSHIP.

Note that you’re invited to share with me your thoughts on anything I write. It’s so easy to do. Just click on the appropriate link below the post. ENJOY...

IT ALL DEPENDS

This poem I'm sure you're likely to have seen before but I just want you to think about it again. Have you ever wondered how many times we attempt to get things done on our own. I've always asked one question: What does it matter what effort you put in if God was not going to do it in the first place?

I honestly think the greatest weakness we have to overcome as humans is our ILLUSION about ourselves- we tend to think more of ourselves than we really are, and that's why we find it hard to learn to trust God. But as you'll see, whatever turns out of whatever, IT ALL DEPENDS...


A basketball in my hands is worth about $19.
A basketball in Michael Jordan's hands is worth about $33 million.
It depends on whose hands it's in.

A baseball in my hands is worth about $6.
A baseball in Mark McGuire's hands is worth $19 million.
It depends on whose hands it's in.

A tennis racket is useless in my hands.
A tennis racket in Venus Williams' hands is a Wimbledon Championship.
It depends on whose hands it's in.

A rod in my hands will keep away a wild animal.
A rod in Moses' hands will part the mighty sea.
It depends on whose hands it's in.

A sling shot in my hands is a kid's toy.
A sling shot in David's hand is a mighty weapon.
It depends on whose hands it's in.

Two fish and five loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches.
Two fish and five loaves of bread in God's hands will feed thousands.
It depends on whose hands it's in.

Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse.
Nails in Jesus Christ's hands will produce salvation for the entire world.
It depends on whose hands it's in.

As you see now it depends whose hands it's in.
So put your concerns, your worries, your fears,
your hopes, your dreams, your families and your relationships
in God's Hands because ...
...it depends on Whose Hands it's in.

NAIL IN THE FENCE: a new perspective about tempers

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence.

Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there. "

A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one. Friends are very rare jewels, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us." Please forgive if anyone ever leaves a hole. And be careful not to leave holes...