LEADING OR TALKING A WALK

ARE YOU LEADING OR TAKING A WORK?

LEADING OR TAKING A WALK?

John Maxwell once said and I quote: “He that thinks he leads while nobody is following is only taking a walk.” When I first came across that statement, I thought it to be quite comical, but now I understand that however amusing it sounds it is profound with meaning. One of the first things that come to mind when analyzing that statement is that leadership is more of a pragmatic than a theoretical concept. Leadership is more of a functional than a positional phenomenon. What do I mean by this?

Well, I have realized that in actual fact not everyone who claims to be in leadership is leading. A person may claim to be in leadership because he occupies a position in an organization. You may be surprised however to surprised however to discover that shortly after this same person vacates that position; he is left with little or no relevance at all. I have understood that influence and relevance are inseparable from true leadership. Put more directly, leadership is about influence and relevance. Let me say therefore that is your leadership is predicated on the position you occupy, then you better watch it closely because people might just be following you not because you are influential or relevant to them, but because they have to respect the authority under which you act.

Influence is not only the bane of leadership but will remain so. You cannot claim to be leading people whom you exert little or no influence on. If I cannot inspire or stir up a particular desired, predetermined pattern of thought in people and get them to act out that pattern of thought then my leadership is suspicious. Look at all the people in world history whom we consider to be great leaders, we consider them to be great because of the influence they had on their world and still have on our world. The biblical Daniel influenced his three Hebrew brothers into preferring pulse and water to the suspicious but idolatrous meals the kings of Babylon offered, Jesus got Peter, Andrew, James and John to abandon lucrative fishing career to follow a way they knew nothing about . in a negative sense, Adolph Hitler under Nazi Germany got his men not by coercion but influence, to embark on the annihilation of the Jewish race. I’m sure that right now you can remember someone who has led by influence.

I want to say at this point that I do not think there is anyone who would not want to be a powerful leader. Everybody wants. But why are there few who become powerful leader as a result of their influence? The answer found in two very important words: Character and Charisma. Time and space will not allow me to delve into them now. Please do me a favour by answering this poser very sincerely and personally: Are you actually in leadership or are you just taking a walk?

VIOD THE DUNGEON OF PENURY

VIOD THE DUNGEON OF PENURY

It is perhaps not yet known to many that being at the summit of the ladder of life requires deliberates actions by one self. The greatest mistake you can make in like is to blame others for your misfortune when probably you were asleep while other worked. It could appear very unimaginable, difficult and tasking to void the dungeon of penury. But one good way of achieving this is to ask yourself some of these salient question: Do I have any source of income? Do I save part of my income? Do I have any plan to invest? Today’s economy is driven by Information and Communication Technology (ICT), how much knowledge of ICT do I have? Do I audit myself and my environment continuously? Do I think of the future? What are my vision, mission and objectives in life? The list is endless. Engaging yourself in a contemplative deep-rooted reflection to answer the above questions genuinely can vindicate you from the dungeon of penury

Income, saving and investment are important aspects of wealth creation. No matter how small might be, make sure you have a constant source of income, save part of the income and invest. One rewarding area of the economy you can invest in is the capital market. This you can do by buying of stocks and shares of listed companies in the floor of the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE). Consult a Stock Broker.

The reason why so many people wallow in abject penury is because they are not informed. Information is wealth. Lack of information could lead to stagnation and stagnation could be deadly. A man who has no knowledge of ICT is not a man of this generation; he might be a man of the 18^th century. Infact, as a career person, you must continue to audit yourself and the environment in order to remain relevant in the scheme of things. You must have a clear vision of your career and continue to build on your competences and capabilities.

A third approach towards voiding the dungeon of penury is entrepreneurship. By this, I mean you can be the owner of a business. Many persons thinks they must have millions of naira or dollars before they can set up a business, whereas there are so many business opportunities around us that we can exploit with very little capital. here are some of such business: Firewood supply, sales of fruit juice, yoghurt, tea shop, catfish farming, snail farming, handbags, a business centre with telephone services, daycare centre for children, fitness trainer, recording studio, art gallery, food delivery service, restaurant business, cake making/dressing, frozen food shop e.tc. Why don’t you watch out in your environment and think of the best business opportunity to exploit? Time waits for no one. Poverty is a crime, its is a disease and we must do everything to eradicate and vindicate ourselves from the dungeon of poverty

THE CRIES FROM THE JUNGLE

THE CRIES FROM THE JUNGLE

From the land of the morning sun that borders the plain of the Sahara, down to the shores of the Atlantic, on the continent of Africa, thrives a divine vision; one given years ahead of time, of generation yet born, who will serve the Lord in a different and unique way.

The prophecy sounded like: “A time will come when the Nigerian Government would be paying the Nigerian Youth to preach the Gospel in all nook and crannies of the country.” This was unknown to the then Gen. Gowon led Government that established the National Youth Service Corps Scheme [NYSC] in 1973.

The Nigerian Christian Corpers’ Fellowship [NCCF] came into existence in fulfillment of this prophesy given some years ago by Pa. S.G. Elton, a notable British Missionary. Mid October, 2007.

These missionary journeys were rough, really ‘rugged’ through the jungles of some parts of the state. Our skin and blood became feed for the insects [Mosquitoes] like that of the rural dwellers. The cold and sleepless night on hard surface which serves as mattress and the surrounding forest were challenging. While the sticky muddy earth of the rainy season wore out our boots and shoes, “Eya! Sorry Corpers,” was the greetings from most of the villagers. But the situation was the other way round they were the ones we pity most. They deeply appreciate our coming. “God sent you to help us, thank God…… We were like forgotten people.” ‘No teacher to teach our children, no doctor to help our sick people, we have to cross rivers or travel miles on these bad roads to the big towns for medical attentions.”

These were some of their complaints. The day we were leaving Nselle [One of the villages we visited], I wept in my heart when on of the neighbouring villagers begged us to come to their village. I stood helpless all I could do as to pray for divine assistance. All this period, what were engaged in spiritual welfare, spreading the gospel of Christ Jesus, counseling the villagers against the dangers of HIV/AIDS, rendering some social services such as giving free drugs [by the help of our Medical Corpers] to the sick and donation of clothes to the villagers.

Dear reader, permit me to ask you this question, what have you done to impact something positive in the lives of someone else? Have you saved someone life from perishing? Well if your question is yes please keep doing the good work because your reward is in heaven, even if your answer is no within your heart think of something to do to help someone, it is not too late to do that. START NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

QUOTABLE QUOTES

· Laugher is the most civilized music in the world

· Somehow, the better we are, the better the people are that we meet.

· There are two things that raise a man above earthly things – simplicity and purity

· There are two kinds of people who don’t say much, those who are quite and those who talk a lot.

· We praise a man who is angry on the right ground, against the right persons, in the right manner, at the right moment and for the right length of time.

· Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all times you can, to all people you can, as long as you ever can.

· Life with Christ is an endless hope; without him a hopeless end.

SEVEN MODERN SINS

· Politics without principle

· Pleasures without conscience

· Wealth without work

· Knowledge without character

· Industry without morality

· Science without God

Worship without sacrifice

Monday, May 11, 2009

QUOTABLE QUOTES
• Laugher is the most civilized music in the world
• Somehow, the better we are, the better the people are that we meet.
• There are two things that raise a man above earthly things – simplicity and purity
• There are two kinds of people who don’t say much, those who are quite and those who talk a lot.
• We praise a man who is angry on the right ground, against the right persons, in the right manner, at the right moment and for the right length of time.
• Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all times you can, to all people you can, as long as you ever can.
• Life with Christ is an endless hope; without him a hopeless end.

SEVEN MODERN SINS
• Politics without principle
• Pleasures without conscience
• Wealth without work
• Knowledge without character
• Industry without morality
• Science without God
• Worship without sacrifice