WHY ARE YOU GETTING THAT EDUCATION?

Following through an eventful weekend, I had a peep view of how the week rounded off, places I went to, books I bought, blogs I read (oh! how I love to read blogs), the good thing about reading blogs is that you have several others to read after another. Not missing to check my favorite social network sites and found that most of my friends had finished their masters. Whoa! What a feat, am so proud of them, even envy them and then I thought of evaluating the question as stated in the title, the know the intent behind my educational attainment. In evaluating this question as it concerns you, you can only be true to yourself, think deep and don’t lie about it. If you can really answer the question then you probably have just justified the reason for that education.

A lot of water has gone under the bridge as they say, but not as much as would still go under the bridge, it is a year plus after my NYSC now, a lot has happened but the future still holds much more for sure. Getting any further education at this stage one can only be definite since we’ve had enough on general and basic education. After graduating from the university, we fancy going for our masters degree; ofcourse, an international masters which most people did, but the question in check still troubles me to really see if we have done the right thing for the right reason and not just because it was the in thing or others were doing it so it became necessary. Do we profit from education just because we are educated or because we use the skills obtained? If the latter is the case then the type of education we get matters a lot on where we are going to and what we really want from life. How relevant is it in terms of what is in it for you, because in the final analysis after going to school the only thing we take home is that we are educated. What skill has that education brought you and how relevant is it to you? Too many questions to ask…

Now as it is frankly speaking I don’t fancy having my masters as I use to, if I have it now it may just amount to another certificate in my folder, I need to make the achievement meaningful and not just another graduation ceremony. I need to satisfy my reason by answering the subject question before attaining it. about My colleagues and ofcourse my humble self, if we haven’t gone to school at all, we have spent a minimum of 16year of class room education which is enough to turn anyone into a genius. However, those years are basic foundation, nonetheless I feel strange about certain issues, not just to follow the process and get another degree or probably wear another graduation gown after another but to answer the question “why are you getting that education?” Don’t get me wrong, it is very important to go to school, I love school and I even anticipate getting a doctorate degree myself, that about now has a conditional phrase, which is if I can really satisfy answering the question why. My question about the why is that do we go to school for the right reasons or do we just want to acquire another degree so that we can be employable.

I searched through this and read books even those I had read before without much understanding, now things make more sense and meaning because of the obvious happenings and trend. The educated are not always the richest not because they don’t know, but because the answer to the question why is unknown or rather left unattended to. Some people just want to keep obtaining certificates upon certificates even those they would never use, well go for them. If the skills those education brought are useless or would not utilized in any capacity and you know that before attaining it, then why the education? I have heard of a story about someone after getting his Bachelor’s degree he lamented saying that was his biggest mistake, of another that was forced against his will towards getting a degrees and at the end he just tendered the certificate to his parents because he didn’t want it in the first place, since his parents wanted it they can have it to pursue their plans. I have seen a Harvard graduate I did not envy. Getting the right reasons matters a lot. As it is now no one can force you to getting any education you don’t want, just get your reasons right and make the vital decisions for yourself.

The one problem I noticed; we go to school to acquire skills from what have been since time immemorial; basic knowledge as it is but as of today the world has changed from what was obtainable then. The question is has our present day school system changed to accommodate what is obtainable today? The answer is an obvious no… In the days of our father it was so great to go to school, it almost became a prerequisite for greatness then, because when you graduate, you automatically get a job and oh! The sky is your limit. It was so good then that even a high school graduate was admired talk less of a university graduate. The school systems train them to be good employees, which is passed on to us today. Well, the shocking thing today is that it is no big deal if you have a university degree; the question is what has the degree brought you, every household has about of two graduates and yet to see results. Today competition is so fierce in every aspect of living, everything around us just want to get us spending, the rate of crime is increasing even from the educated people with knowledge obtained from school that cannot be converted into having money in their pockets or bank accounts, they source for other means thereby making innocent people victims. One can only imagine what a developed mind as a graduate can scheme of.

This is a wake up call, this age is not like what use to be, things have changed, there are other skill that are relevant to us that we don’t know than to following the trend. Basic knowledge are fundamental and obtained, what happens from there on, how is the education you are getting now relevant to you in the long run in true value. When we were much younger, we got a passion about keeping our grades up probably because we either get a carrot or a stick for our performances in school and at home. Now that we are grown what is our passion? Converting our skills, talents, knowledge etc. into use that translates to economic value in monetary terms is one of such passion, don’t say it doesn’t matter. Without money in your pocket you’ll know a smile is expensive. Can education really guarantee having knowledge about money itself? Why did you get that extra certification? Oh! I can’t take any offer below 100k, was it because of a better pay you went for that certificate, the reason you needed a promotion or a new job with better pay, again lots of question to answer….. For what it’s worth if the education obtained can not bring about skills that can be converted to useful values, you probably have not thought of why you got that education. Were you thinking about yourself the whole time or just doing it for an employer to favor you? Was it for the short term or long term.

Well, there are several answers to the question of why and it resides within us as individuals, just as we have different goals in life. The one skill that we must possess is the Entrepreneurial mindset to perceive things differently even while in school. With this at the back of your mind you would not be getting certified in other to be a better employee but to be independent of running after someone you call boss, then you would be doing it for yourself and for a greater purpose. One thing we must understand is that we learn in different forms; the reason why you prefer a T.V station to another is because of what you are learning, the seminar you attended is learning, that conference you attended is learning, some you pay for and some are free, we learn from the books we read. Not until we are awarded a certificate, but then how we choose from these forms of learning and how they matter to us in life is the question at hand. To me, life is much more than go to school, get a job, get married, raise children and what else – wait for death. Life is a gift; it should be maximized and enjoyed because there is not a second chance at it.

I would say about most of my colleagues and probably the people within my graduating group that no one among us is rich yet and no one poor yet, none of us can really say “I have arrived”, but the gap would show in the kind of education we get after our university degree, how those education affects us and how we use them directly in our lives. The bottom line is that you should think about the usefulness of that education from the view point of “what’s in it for me” and not for the sake of an employer or a reason to advocate for a bigger pay. The truth is that you can never be satisfied in the real sense if you did not do it for yourself. Think about it…

Entrepreneurship goes beyond being self-employed, it goes beyond getting a store and start selling; it is developing your mind to see opportunities and maximizing them. Our learning should not be because we want to be employable; it should be to develop our mind. You should know by now that employer’s demands are unending. I was stunned to see a job vacancy requesting for 23 years of working experience, I wondered what is left of someone after working for 23 years; even for the post of an MD it is absurd! With much work experience one should be getting business appointments and great deals and not applying for yet another job. Youngsters should grow with a vision that makes for independence instead of hoping to work for others and then retire at an old age still dependent, this time on their children.

A profound statement a friend shared with me was that his father told him, “Going by the opportunities we had, our children most not meet us still earning salary”. This is profound and challenging; it breaks me each time it resounds in my head and I am forced to think of what next to do. The trend must be broken, it’s now the natural order to get a job, retire and expect big retirement benefit. Little wonder why America records the highest number of millionaires, not because they are career mindful but because they are entrepreneurship mindful. Youngsters over there can’t wait to be 18 so they can be independent and make things happen for themselves, over here… let’s not say.

The one thing you should put at the back of our mind is that no one is watching after you but you, you have to decide for yourself so that you won’t be pushed around. I know a man that resigned in his place of work because of a new offer; he resumed the new place and soon was relieved of his duty, only to be left to himself, this time on nothing to fall on. I tell you he wasn’t looking nice when I saw him, no one really care about you. You just have to stand up for yourself, get the right and useful education for the right reasons and live life to the max.

This write up may seem controversial, in all, the decision is yours; you should make you mind because you are responsible for yourself after been educated this much. Let not the time spent in school seem a waste, you are not in any competition with getting certified as your colleagues if it is of no use to you. Have you ever wondered why dropouts make it? The thing is that they did not just dropout but got another education, they learnt something else which was not thought in school. Entrepreneurship it is, it’s an important skill that makes even our education meaningful, they had a reason that was justified because they were challenged to see things differently, that’s why they made it and are still making it than the educated. What is your reason, why did you study Accounting and not Computer Science or French…, why are you getting chartered or obtaining masters, is it because everyone is doing it? Well, only you have the answers, but be sure to answer the question why before taking the next course.

Tell a friend.

I need a break!

I’m writing of a break in terms of opportunities, not as in vacation. I find it tough to blog about this because it is my downtime; however, I hope you pick something from it. As at this day I have not landed a job. Opportunities are few, even at that they come and go. I believed and exploited some but did not yield as expected; we will get back to you only to be forgotten, spend money and time on follow ups, yet no results. Disappointment here and there, what more can I do, I think to myself…

 

This in turn reflects in my finances, there came a time I was cash trapped, I resolved to liquefy some of my stocks to raise fund. I got to the registrars quickly asked for my dividend history and statements of account; even got excited that I had some unpaid dividend I didn’t know about of over 15k. I needed to verify my certificates and was charged for irregular signature, asked to get a bankers confirmation from my Bank, which I did only to hear again that my account was not matured enough for the transaction I want to use it for… Disappointments again! This time it didn’t shock me, just like a lady with countless heartbreak, what will excite her again about men, I wonder! I just smiled through as I was about the master of it, but hope makes a difference.

 

 

I know for sure things would change and whatever the situation is it is still for good that is my hope, I just need to brace up and prepare for my next break. Some say opportunity comes but once, I am writing to give you hope because those ideas have been influenced overtime and in reality. Opportunities come as often as we can identify one, in most times we have to create them or position ourselves for them, in that wise opportunities are not as few as though; the real issue is how we handle them to produce in our lives. Opportunities show in everything we do from the moment we leave our homes to places of work, meeting and interacting with people, the pleasantries we share and up to appreciating the values added to our lives by saying thank you, on a daily basis we encounter opportunities.

 

Opportunities exist and time will bring others, it is as certain as sunrise and sunset, disappointment come with some but that doesn’t mean you won’t get another. One thing is that they come for a change to be established in your life, if you are left unchanged or worst off then you need to check yourself. Most probably you were not receptive or not applying it to maturity. More so not all opportunities are meant for us to exploit, you may just be a channel to reach those whom the break apply. When you see an opportunity that doesn’t apply to you, its best you talk about it, by so doing you may be impacting on the lives of the people around you. It could be a training, seminar, job vacancy, crusade etc that you may not paying attention to, make for someone that would need it, information is the vehicle opportunities ride on to reach its recipients.

 

Often, opportunities come that may not be timely, probably late or impromptu. Fine, that one is gone, what are you doing now that would help you take hold of your next break? Firstly; are you expecting it, because it will come? Next; Are you equipping yourself, attending seminars, developing yourself, acquiring need skill, bracing up to make yourself relevant for that next break. It could be exactly what you need to open other better and more viable opportunities, it could be that one moment that would make other moments meaningful. Whatever you went through has brought you to you solution, you have experienced enough not to have a proof, don’t give up yet! This one shot may give meaning to all other shots that failed, it could be the major shot, be sure to keep your hope, aspirations and faith alive in anticipation.

 

This is the hope that wakes me up everyday. Every new day is another opportunity to make it right, my expectations are always high with excitements and I wish to influence your thoughts with this. A major strength I develop is that I refuse to be subdued by the present; whatever it is can only get better. Instead, I take from the past to build the future. To establish an understanding; yesterday is the past, today is the present and tomorrow is the future.

 

In the past we have positive scores like; strength, understanding, good counsel, etc. More so there are negative scores like; betrayals, hurts, disappointments, downtimes and even failures, all these account for our experiences. The gain in it is that you don’t allow your emotions to play because it weakens you, relating to mastering your emotion is the ability to distance yourself from the present moments and think objectively about the past and future. What we obtain from the negative scores are lessons learnt, forget those things that may eat you up or weaken you in the past, extract the positive scores, add experiences of those that have gone before you to build the future with this you can ascertain or predict future happenings and how you take hold of opportunities. In the past lies what we are known for, what we have done and ofcourse what we are capable of doing pending on how we have developed with time.

 

As you prepare for that break, paint the future, dream big, modify it everyday with the knowledge you obtain to precision, to something attainable and manageable. The future holds a lot and we are alive today to take hold of it and fulfill our purpose on earth.

 

Remember your tomorrow starts today…. Godbless

IT’S A NEW DAWN INDEED!

As the Yoruba’s would say “ile ti mo” lol… it’s a new dawn for the people of Edo State, right about now I am feeling so proud, you know, I am a native of Edo state…. Yeah! Actually I witnessed the election in the state and saw everything; the ciaos, how persons were killed and election manipulated in favor of the ruling party. Christ!

 

People lamented that their mandate was stolen and it seemed like nothing could be done in that respect. Nonetheless we are seeing results now as the right governor has been enthroned. In life we get cheated at times and feel so weak to fight, even so there are certain things we can always leverage on to bring us our rightful position. There are lots of lessons to learn from this triumph though not extensive in this piece, we definitely have our own lesson to add from this experience, however let’s examine the points below.

 

1.      Never give up

Believe in your course and you will win. After the election in Edo state, people lamented, market women wept and there was ciaos, we were virtually on house arrest even after the election, when it was all manipulated we thought it was over, but hey! The visioner says NEVER! When you feel deprived or cheated of a good course, the first thing is believe in your course and be a fighter, NEVER GIVE UP. This is non-negotiable if you really desire you place. Your perseverance would always produce, it has never failed and it won’t fail when it’s your turn. Continuing in a course of action without regards to oppositions, previous failure or setback, that is your perseverance.

 

 

2.      Your credibility matters

The Individual in question has credibility in his resume no doubt; I have seen him in action face to face where he fought for the course of causal workers that were treated unjustly in a company when he was the Nigerian Labor Congress Boss, I tell you since then I believed him. He has a lot in his resume coupled with good relationship even before he thought of becoming a politician. Here is what I want to ask; are you considering what you are doing today, because it would surely count in the future. Who are you today and what are you known for, what purpose are you fulfilling today, in what capacity do you function and most especially are you doing it well and for good? Can you be vouched for even after you are not there, what are you known for in your family, place of work, what perception do people have about you in their heart, some say it doesn’t make, oh! It would soon matter when you need it the most. When your name is mentioned what comes to the minds of people that know and how you attract other people.

 

From the day you discover yourself you should be careful of what you represent. The president elect of the United State of America; Barack Obama had to prove himself for 21 months before the election day, during which his past life was under evaluation for any loophole or shortcomings. If what you stand for today is not for good it won’t be long your friends, people you depend on rebuffs you when you need them the most.

 

So go around make promises you can’t keep, treat humans unjustly and step on people’s toes like it doesn’t matter because you just stepped on your face anyway, on your integrity and credibility you don’t care, you just stepped on your values and personality, on the real stuff you are made of you just garbage like it doesn’t matter, but remember that your tomorrow starts today, soon you would ask yourself what have you lived for. If you have a dream or would ever have one be mindful of what you represent today.

 

3.      Leverage on people

This is a very powerful point to leverage on. The People (others) should be considered in everything you do, not in the direction of trying to please them because it’s impossible to please everyone (don’t even try), but live right and be at peace with men. In the highlights of the election in April 2007, Adams Oshiomole advised people to cast their vote not minding what he knew would happen, he encouraged the people and placed them in front, after all said and done now he is empowered and he is giving it to the people that made him. Build a strong force around yourself that people will be willing to fight for you when you don’t have the strength or don’t even want to fight. There are people in this world by virtue of what they have done or been; people are willing to die in their place, would you say the same about yourself, what figure do you stand for?

 

 

4.      Lies always stink no matter how long

In this case it took 18 months for the truth to come alive, the thing about lies is that it stinks, the right thing is always the truth and that is what you represent. There is an axiom that says “if you have to lie make it short”, but compare it with an 18 months old lies, a period long enough for a woman to conceive and give birth, yet the truth found its way out. In my opinion, it is better not to say anything than to lie. The gravity of this kind is even too strong trying to deceive a people united against you, the truth just got served. No matter how long, the truth remains the truth. We should relate it in our affairs and live right and the verdict would be in our favor.

 

5.      What you make happen is what would be

Some believe what would be would be, that is true if you fold your hands and be a spectator in your affair. When you are fully involved in events, happenings, and engineering your affairs, you can make whatever, what you want it to be.  People almost gave up on what the Adams could do, they thought it was over. When they were empowered by the determination of the visioner they rose up and stood for what they wanted, at last it produced a desired result. Stand up against what you don’t want and can’t tolerate. Don’t fold arms and watch be a player in your affairs, don’t take whatever comes if it is less than expected or can’t be accepted, make what must be what you want.

 

The lesson drawn from this is that you should watch your back and the things we do cause tomorrow is not any far. Watch what you stand for, make people believe you and stand with you not minding the worse thing that can happen, never settle for less or think of giving in to any demands. Believe in your course, Stand your ground and you will surely win…

 

Ciao, till next time

A New Nigeria

Another independence anniversary, Nigeria at 48, everyone has a thing or two to talk about our great country since its independence. You will agree with me that things have changed in the past one year. Positive thinking is now the key, as there are people who are corrupting the name Nigeria, some others are moving towards nations building and I tell you the latter group out-numbers the former in their millions.

 

Truth be told, the light has come, people are beginning to see clearly, becoming more independent in their approach and taking their shots, believing in a course and pursuing it no matter what. Nigerians are rising up and not depending on government to do all. A New Nigeria is emerging and you just have to be on the train.

 

The idea is for every individual to transform their thinking pattern, their perception, operating with a contributor’s frame of mind, beginning to see their inputs as either building or destroying the nation, taking conscious actions towards doing the right thing for right courses. However, everyone cannot be agents of change because there are those that benefit from the said corrupt practice, nonetheless, they are out-numbered.

 

 

I attended ‘The Platform’ held @ TBS Lagos, powered by the Covenant Christian Centre. The gathering was awesome, great speakers drawing from in-depth knowledge, experiences and how they attained to their height. Sharing tips on how they got started with zero naira capital. Talking about virtues they leveraged on.

 

These are Nigerian entrepreneurs made in Nigeria doing legitimate business been brought together to be sources of inspiration to the youths and wannabe entrepreneurs. There were question and answer section after each speaker and most questions were directed at start up capital. Leke Alder of Alder consulting, a speaker at the event asked one of the questioner how much he needed for his business and the young man was quick to say 5million naira, lol… I like the response Leke Alder gave, he said to the young man; you would be breaking Divine Protocol which is impossible to break if you get the money and gave a quote from the bible saying “He that is faithful in that which is least….(Luke 16:10)

 

Bishop David Oyedepo placed the icing on the cake with his depth of wisdom, saying “You cannot start climbing a tree from the top” added that “the best place to begin anything is from the beginning” what an insight! The issue is to start small with the idea and grow fast, because if you are not faithful in little things you would likewise not be faithful in big things, starting small is the true test that sustains any venture. He went on to talk about the blessing of God in our business and reasons for our blessedness. The blessings of the Lord in our affairs make the difference and a high flier. This is just a paraphrased version, get the CD for details.

 

My question now to individuals is:

 

What are you doing to cause the needed change?

 

What are your contributions towards nation building?

 

Are you diligent and honest in your daily activities?

 

If as an individual you have positive answers to the above questions then we are going somewhere. Together we cannot be broken, our individual intrinsic-worth needs to be harnessed and brought to limelight.

 

 

In undertaking this desired state, Spirituality is Absolute. One thing that was evident amongst the speakers at the event was that they all spoke from a divine source. Though it was organized by a Christian Community, it was meant to be more of business; way forward in entrepreneurial development than preaching as in a church setting. Infact, amongst the speakers Robert H. Keller III did to ensure he wasn’t preaching, at interval he would say ‘I don’t want to preach’. We need to connect to our source (God) to show us the way to go about our activities, how we can live a better life, how we can arrive at a milestone because we are only living for his sake; we are carrying out his assignment on earth. God is supreme, he is one; we should have no choice to serve him, how we serve him may differ but he is indispensable in our life.

 

 

Nigeria is moving on, complainers are neglected; people are beginning to work out something for themselves. If individuals are stable in their lives, the government would have said to be doing well because they have added to it by providing the enabling environment for success. Government is about the welfare of the people, ensuring economical stability, security etc, now individuals are contributing to government by been law abiding and not waiting to be served, adding to government by paying taxes and fulfilling their national obligation as they fall due.

 

In no small way, the one way we can achieve as a nation is by been a better citizen first, by that you influence your family, community and it translates to national change, a desired Nigeria to behold. The train is moving; why don’t you come on board by making a choice today if you haven’t, that you would be a better person, a better citizen. Individually, we can be the change we want to see in the nation; of course it would be evident in the nation if harnessed.

 

Nigeria needs you to set that corner stone that would add to strength of others to build a New Nigeria. Your effort is not little; if positive it is needed. With the concept of synergy when summed up it would course a greater effect.

 

An anonymous quote says “the first thing to do to make a dream come alive is to wake up”. It’s time to give meaning to our dreams through our contributions, lets WAKE UP, its time….

 

More on blogging…

 

 

As said in my last post, am a beginner in this world (blogging), it fascinates me a great deal and I ask myself why am I just getting to know about it? Well I guess I would regret it more if I don’t start now that I have found out. Just nursing the thought that I am now a blogger give me some kind of serenity inside, I don’t know what it is but it makes me okay and want to smile… It gives me great joy inside largely to the fact that I have found something I can leverage on for easy sharing of my thought. As said in the conference, if you ever kept a diary, having a blog is no difference, even better you can inspire people with you postings/articles.

 

When you start blogging you would be amazed at a number of things that would interest you and would like to share. You would like to have your computer always on around you or have a writing pad with you everywhere you go because you don’t know what would inspire you to put something down. It is interesting cause it is happening to me, I am so conscious to activities around me so as to bring to writing my experiences. Among my hobbies I have writing listed, ever since I ask myself what is it I have really done with writing that I have to call it my hobby, oh! Is it because I have a good handwriting or what? Now that this avenue is opened to me I can explore… what an opportunity to embrace.

 

In line with my passion, greatly I love to see people do well, even if in the same situation with the one in need, I still see myself better and feel I can help. I always believe in it and it has not failed me. I believe if I should be in a capsized boat I would even save people instead of looking for whom to save me. I love to give a word to someone to make for advancement. The word of God says day unto day uttereth speech… (Ps 19:2a) there is a word for that situation there is something you are not saying to get the right answers. This is my enthusiasm to improve the life of the people I am privilege to encounter. In that other that would be my core in this blog, to bring to my readers inspirational for advancement, relating issues to the word of God and giving you a path to chart as I am graced to be of inspiration.

 

A phenomenon I noticed is that most bloggers are entrepreneurs. Yesssss! Based on the information that comes our way and the things we have tested and tried. On our experiences the things we share is the thing we do or practice. Readers would not be left in the dark so we talk on entrepreneurship for life improvement and nation building, how you can be financially free and out of the rat race. A lot would be discussed Business, Finance, Fashion, Trends, Entertainment etc. it would never be a dull moment each time you read cause a word most stick, guaranteed…..lol.

 

Till next time. take care!

WoW! I’m just starting

Did you hear about the Nigerian Bloggers Conference and could not make it there? Wow! Sorry to say that you missed, I couldn’t have traded that for the world. I only got to read about the conference a day to the conference day and said to myself I must be there. It was a great event; we met at the banquet hall of Elomaz hotel, Maryland. I had a great opportunity to meet with brains, people with insights, people with a voice of their own, a people with like minds coming together to establish an industry and something to be reckon with. We had great discussion session stating from a beginners perspective, what is blogging? Friendly terms were used and explained. I was an occasion of see people in the business, bloggers and blog readers and it was good to see all this firsthand at the premier conference.

 

 

 

Prior to now, I read blogs with great interest and wonder when I would have my inputs, I had many unanswered questions from ‘how do I get started with blogging’, ‘appropriate domain name’ etc, all were comfortably answered at the conference. As a beginner in a place like this I got contacts with web designers, web host and a whole number of blog addresses to visit. The conference increased my confidence and now I’m testing my aptitude by running a free platform with wordpress, hoping to host a domain soon.

 

 

The industry is getting recognition as it can be operated anywhere and time, Nigerians in Diaspora are really into blogging even more than Nigerian at home. Who will tell our story for us? All people see about Nigeria is corruption, this is an avenue to distinguish yourself in the midst of the said corruption, gain a positive image for yourself which invariable translate to developing a people, a Nation and together affect the way people see Nigeria and Nigerians. I tell you, it is a noble course, choose an area of interest and be recognized for it. If we cannot show case the positive aspect of our dear country I tell you more bad news would reach the world faster than you think.

 

 

Let us rise up as there is enough room to accommodate prospective bloggers. It is a media and publishing business like owning a newspaper outfit but better because it’s your voice, peoples comment and more. It gives you insights about issues and makes you a researcher, enables you develop your skill, gives you an identity and more. This is my first post, I have taken my first bold step and I am using this to invite you into this venture. I am burning with ideas and it can only get better… watch out for more!!!