#PrincessTalks: How to celebrate Christmas the right way

My favorite time of the year, the allure, the joy on everybody's face, that sparkle of happiness, the period of giving and sharing. To so many that’s how they see Christmas but to some others, they see a period of reckless spending and abandonment, a period to show off what they think they have and what they don't have, to the boys a period to get the best automobile they can't afford and dole out all the cash on girls who don't even care, while to the girls a period to get the expensive 'nothings' ( hair, clothes, shoes) and compete with one another, ensuring they don't spend a day at home without places to trip in and off. Well after all this is 'our' idea of a fun Christmas, our over exaggerated cheer, the delight of having a reason to club all night, the glory of our blings and sparkle, these are all Fun but the irony is that we spend so much energy trying to pull this off but in the ending ' do we achieve anything spectacular? No.
Come to think of it, even those who barely eat half a square meal join in this extravagant splendor. Yea, it is cool to have Fun but at least measure your pocket rate, enough of the excess liquors, excess everything and plan for a meaningful Christmas.

First it doesn't have to be all about spending rather invest on something great, even if you have to spend then spend wisely. Secondly, do something that will create insights on different issues or something you ought to have done but kept pushing out. Read a book or visit your families, this is the time to show them you care and if you must give out gifts, get something with a whole lots of meaning(cards, frames) it doesn't have to be so very expensive before it gets appreciated. If you must go out then you could try the Christmas carols that is coming forth.
Merry Christmas........



Written by Princess Obi - Follow on Twitter, @adayaeze

6 Things You Need To Do If You Want To Retire Early

1. Determine how you will live during early retirement.

You need to really think about how you want to spend your retirement in order to determine how you will reach early retirement. Will you be traveling the world? Will you move to a cheaper foreign country? Will you have children? Will you have grandchildren? How will you pay for anything medical that arises?

2. Figure out how much you will realistically spend in retirement.

For some reason, most think that they will spend less when they are in retirement. However, that is not always the case. You will have more free time and therefore will have more time to possibly spend money. Also, you will have to start paying for your own health insurance if it is currently being covered by your employer. The cost of this may shock you if you are not used to it.

3. Figure out how much you need to save in order to retire early.

Of course, the big factor of whether or not you can retire early is whether you actually have enough retirement funds. You need to figure out exactly how much you need to retire and how you can stretch that amount for decades to come. For example, if you want to retire in 10 years at the age of 35, you need to figure out exactly how much you need to survive in order to stretch your retirement funds for almost another 50 or 60 years.

4. Start making as much money as you can.

One way to reach early retirement is to make as much money as you realistically can. Definitely do not engage in anything illegal, but try to get as many promotions and pay raises as you can. Work hard and know what your next step to reach that next pay level is.

This is where certain people aren’t interested in early retirement. Do you want a lifelong job that you love? Or do you want a job that will allow you to retire early? Usually it will be hard to have both.

There are many fields that you may be interested in to make more money. You can go into engineering, sales, certain financial sector jobs and more. Or you could work a day job and earn extra income on the side as well.

5. Look for passive income.

If your goal is early retirement and you no longer want to work, you may want to look into making monthly income through passive sources. This way you are still bringing in money each month, but all that is required from you is occasional maintenance.

Ideas for passive income include rental properties, investing in dividend-paying stocks, and more.

6. Cut your expenses.

If you want to reach retirement as soon as possible, then you may want to make as much as you can, and also cut your expenses as much as you can. Doing both at the same time can drastically increase your savings rate.

Look for any expenses that you can cut out of your budget. I am a firm believer of enjoying your money but also saving it. So, cutting your expenses does not mean that you need to cut everything out in your life that you enjoy. It means that you need to find a healthy medium.

There are many ways for you to get a better value for your money: ask for discounts, use coupons, buy quality items, and so on. Do you really need a 5,000 square foot home? Analyze anything and everything in your life. I’m sure there is something that you can cut out of your budget.

By Michelle S of LifeHack.org

Gabriel Olatunji 'Legend': Where did my 2013 go? #MondayInspiration

Gabriel Olatunji 'Legend'



So I started 2013 on a very high note, with lots of cash in the pocket, lofty visions and goals and the desire to be much more than this – the end of 2013 is here already and the question on the lips is, “where did my 2013 go”. It went where you wanted it to go!

I remember that one of my most important goal for the year was to meet ‘the woman’ (if I haven’t met her already), ask her out, get engaged and prepare for marriage in 2014 but that is still a dream. Have I not been meeting women? Of course I have been meeting a lot of them but I have not met ‘the woman’ or maybe I haven’t discovered her. Most of the desirable women in town are either in a relationship or there’s a certain clause that is making it impossible. So in terms of relationship, I am asking myself, ‘where did my 2013 go?’ I also believe that there is a type of man I need to become to get a type of woman and until I do my part, that goal might remain a dream.

I started a business while I was entering this year and the business ran down due to many unforeseen circumstances. We are presently reviving the business and by God’s grace everything is looking good and now when I look at my life, business-wise I am asking myself, ‘where did my 2013 go?’

I was suppose to have fixed the car so much so that those who knew the car will no longer recognize it by the end of the year but as I am speaking to you right now, Nigeria's V.I.O has just towed the car away for parking on the streets. So if I think about the car, I want to ask ‘where did my 2013 go?’

My goal was to read a number of books this year and I started this year by investing thousands of naira on different types of books, especially biographies but it’s a shame that I have not covered as much as I had envisaged. Where in God’s name did my 2013 go?

Does this mean this year has not been the best year ever? Depending on your definition of the best year ever, I have learnt some of the most important lessons this year – I have met some of the best people this year – I have made some of the best mistakes this year – I know a better way to live in 2014 because of 2013 – I have and I have published one of the best books to come out of the planet this year. I am presently in press working tirelessly to make my first personally published book come out before my birthday on January 5th, 2014.

Sit back, get a pen and a book; write down your failures in 2013, write out your successes too and ask yourself why you couldn’t achieve more. Then, FIX it! 2014 has to be better for you. If marriage is what you want in 2014, you must marry. If you want a conglomerate, you must start running your business or businesses like one. If you want personal development, you must commit yourself to learning and get accountable to a mentor. Whatever it is that you want in 2014, you must write out what it takes to achieve it and get it done.

20 Inspirational Quotes From The Richest Africans

OLATUNJISPEAKS.com



We bring to you 20 inspirational quotes from the richest men in Africa;

1. If you don’t have ambition, you shouldn’t be alive. – Aliko Dangote


2. Every morning when I wake up, I make up my mind to solve as many problems, before retiring home. – Aliko Dangote


3. As you start out in life, it is important that you know at least something about everything, but as you get older it is important that you know everything about something. – Johann Rupert


4. The harder you work, the luckier you get. – Mike Adenuga


5. In Life, you don’t get anywhere or do anything you hope to without some sort of sacrifice. – Stephen Saad


6. I think there are a lot of people with family connections but who are actually nowhere. If you are hardworking and determined, you will make it and that’s the bottom line. I don’t believe in an easy way through. – Isabel Dos Santos


7. One has to set high standards… I can never be happy with mediocre performance. – Patrice Motsepe


8. Money is not my objective. – Desmond Sacco


9. I own quite a lot and I have worked very hard for it. – Sudhir Ruparelia


10. In today’s world, paradoxically, it is the boldest action that is often the safest. Remaining where you are in a world that is changing so rapidly is in fact the most dangerous of all places to be in. – Hakeem Belo- Osagie


11. Failure is a good thing – Hakeem Belo-Osagie


12. It’s essential to draw up a “things to do” list on a daily basis and set priorities in executing them, making sure that any unfinished task get posted to the next day’s list. – Folorunsho Alakija


13. I grew up in poverty, but I always saw it as a challenge. The good thing is that you can surmount a challenge if you are willing to pay the price. The price is hard work. – Reginald Mengi


14. People in Tanzania look at my wealth and think I must be sunbathing and playing golf all day. But I work really hard. I put in a hundred hours a week. It’s a never stopped game. You can never say I’ve worked hard enough now. – Mohammed Dewji


15. A vision on its own is not enough. Hard work & dedication is required to make that vision a reality – Strive Masiyiwa


16. Today is the beginning of the Rest of your Life! You are the Pilot of your life! Lock in your destination; take off to it, from where you are! – Vimal Shah


17. In business you have to know when to retire, before someone knocks you out.” – Lauritz (Laurie) Dippenaar


18. In whatever you do, strive to be the best at it – Aliko Dangote


19. Whether you’re a farmer, builder or engineer, the opportunities are equal: Just add a little? innovation – Strive Masiyiwa


20. Entrepreneurship without skills limits your growth potential – Strive Masiyiwa

Venus Williams: How I Started at the Bottom and Became Successful

By: Krystle Crossman



Tennis pro and fashion enthusiast Venus Williams wrote a candid piece recently about how she came to be so good at what she does. She said that there is really no easy way to get there. It may look like all of a sudden you come out of nowhere and are a huge success, but in reality all professionals come from the bottom and work their way up.

Williams jokes that when asked how she became successful she answers:

• Get Oracene Price and Richard Williams to be your mom and Dad


• Work your butt off and you even get to enjoy that most of the time


• Lift the trophy and show those pearly whites!

The tennis sensations then gets a little serious and says:

“But in all seriousness, one thing that all champions in life have in common is that they started at the bottom. No one started out great, and I think that is what people forget. In order to be successful, there is a lot of hard work, dedication and sacrifice that goes into it.”

She says that it seems that a lot of people don’t seem to remember that people do not become sensations overnight. When you start out from the bottom you need to learn the basics and that can take a lot of time. Some people do start out with natural talent, but it is not something that they can instantly take to the bank. Williams said that you need to make sure that you are trying to go pro in is something that you really love because you are going to be practicing a lot and it will consume your life.

Williams says that she lives and breathes tennis and does not mind having to do all the hard work to get to where she is because she loves it. She recommends that parents start their kids out at sports early on in life so that they can get a feel for what they like and will have plenty of time to develop their skills. They will not only learn about how to play the sport but will learn other lessons that they can use off the field as well. They will learn teamwork, friendship, and most of all, discipline.

University student creates T Shirt that can resist any stain & isresistant to water (LOOK)

By Racheal Ogbu



Forget Lekki’s colourful water that over time compulsory dyes your clothes a different colour. Forget clumsy moments and bad days when stains are unavoidable. Even if you are just plain too lazy to wash, a new invention is here to thee rescue.

University student Patel from San Francisco has invented the Silic shirt that can resist any spills and splashes including Coca-Cola, tomato ketchup, mustard,  milkshakes, beer, ink and even red wine.

According to reports,  the clothing is made from  polyester, which has been infused with a combination of chemicals that make it  resistant to water but it feels exactly like a t shirt. After testing his method, the business student  created a page about the invention, named Silic, on crowdfunding website Kickstarter.

HOW DOES SILIC REPEL  WATER?

The material in the Silic shirt has billions  of silica particles bonded to the fibres on a microscopic level.

This means they won’t irritate the skin.

When water-based liquids hit the surface of  this material they form a 150-degree sphere and roll off.

According to Patel’s Kickstarter page, there  are certain steps wearers have to take to make sure the T-shirts stays  waterproof.

These include not using fabric softener in a  machine wash, no bleaching or washing with colours and no ironing.

Patel also advises wearers not to dry clean  the shirt.

To reactivate the water repellency,  the  T-shirt must also be put through a tumble dryer on a low heat at  least once  every three washes.

CREATE YOUR OWN INVENTION

6 Valuable Life Lessons Shared By A 17 Year Old Boy

By Alejandra Valero



It’s never too early to start. That’s what I learned from Bilaal Rajan a 17-year-old who has helped raised money for many different causes. At the age of 4 Bilaal started out selling fruit door-to-door in his neighborhood to raise funds for the victims of the earthquakes in a province of India. He is a globally recognized motivational speaker, published author, tireless fundraiser, and UNICEF Canada Ambassador. Last October, he spoke during the Fifth Global Summit of Values.

Here are 6 important lessons Bilaal Rajan shared and how we can apply them to our lives today.

Bilaal Rajan’s Life Lessons



1. Have goals

If you know where you want to go, you can get there. A very important thing in your personal and professional life is to set goals. Take time aside from your busy schedule to establish your goals. Once you have an idea of what they look like you can start finding ways to get there, and of course if you have a destination, it’s easier to get going.

Plus: If you write them down and place them somewhere you can see them every day, when you get up and go to sleep, you’ll keep them in mind and this will help you stay focused and motivated.



2. Think before you act

Very often we may do or say things and then regret doing so. Instead, think twice before you say or do something. To double-check use the THINK acronym. Ask yourself, is what I am about to say, True, Helpful, Important, Necessary, Kind? If you answered yes, to each and every one then proceed. If your answer is no, you might want to stop before your actions turn into regrets.



3. Listen hard, don’t hardly listen

It’s so easy to get distracted nowadays, but listening to someone is the real way to connect. People can tell if you are really paying attention. Your ability to listen is something you can work on and it is a great way to show someone how much you care about them.

Next time you are speaking to a person really focus on the conversation and set aside your distractions. Begin by putting your phone away and resist the temptation on reading every notification you get, it can always wait until later.



4. The importance of urgency

Leaving everything for tomorrow is not a good habit. It’s very common to start a project 1 hour before the deadline, the downside is that you get so stressed and hurried to finish when you could have spared the anxiety by completing it weeks ago.

If you want to be less stressed and more relaxed, you can schedule things in order to finish them on time without the pressure.

A very helpful tool is to write down all your “to do’s”, and then categorize them in A, B and C, according to their deadline and their importance to you. Recognising that A is extremely important, B is important and C is somewhat important, you can then plan accordingly.



5. Strength in numbers

A group of people can make a difference, but the strength of the numbers is not only in the actual number of individuals but in the organization and direction that drives them. If everybody is pulling to a different side then there will be hardly any movement, but if they share the same direction they can conquer any mountain together.

So don’t be afraid to have a vision and share it with your group, this is the key to building strength in any community or organization.



6. Visualize

The power of the mind is incredible, so a good tactic is to visualize what you want to achieve. For just a few minutes close your eyes, then picture yourself where you want to be and feel like you are already there. Repeat this action each and every morning.

It’s never too early to start, so why not start today.



Source: Addicted2Success

I had my first relationship in 2010 - #MondayInspiration by GabrielOlatunji 'Legend'

[caption id="attachment_692" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Gabriel Olatunji 'Legend'[/caption]

I am aware that if most people don’t read anything on this blog they read MondayInspiration by Gabriel Olatunji ‘Legend’. I know many people read it for different reasons, some to pick out my mistakes, some to write an 18 page letter suggesting how to write on that topic – just like a former President wrote (And I have begged una to write for the blog but una refuse), some to criticize ‘unconstructively’ and some others to sincerely be inspired regardless of the shortcomings of the article. I have not written today’s MondayInspiration so as to ‘wash’ you guys, I just wanted to do something flexible today. Must we be writing '20 secrets of success’ everyday? If that’s what we keep doing when are we going to have time to enjoy the success?

In the spirit of Christmas I am writing you this letter from my heart to tell you how much you mean to me and how you have changed my life. In 2013, I have seen raw success and I have had my share of many failures but there is one thing you guys have taught me and that is ‘constitency’. Am a man that gets tired of things easily even when I still love such things but every time I get tired of writing MondayInspiration there’s always someone, somewhere who is asking why I haven’t posted it yet. It gives me great pleasure that you guys read this piece. Who am I that I should write and you should read? But you guys have looked beyond the little me and have digested every single piece with passion to the extent that someone usually says to me at every event I have attended in the last few weeks, ‘I read all your write-ups, they are great – keep it up’. That gives me goose pimples and makes me shy.

I had my first relationship in 2010 and as much as I love the woman in question it didn’t last for more than a year – I had waited so long to enter into a relationship because I had told myself that the first woman I date will be my wife – I failed in this regard and I have hastily dated another babe which didn’t lead anywhere also. I have started many things and stopped but this is something I can’t stop even if I want to. I love to inspire people too much that I can’t even help it at times. I found something that I want to continually do and it is bringing to my life all the things I lost or wanted.

What’s my point? Don’t enter 2014 without finding that thing you will want to do for the rest of your life!

See you next week! Don't forget to read iUncensored by me on Wednesday.



We are thinking of having a ‘Love Feast’ in the Spirit of Christmas. There will be food, drinks, exchange of gifts with total strangers, insights, games, music, dance and lots of inspiration – if you will love to be part of it kindly buzz me and let’s see how it pans out. Like I always say, Terms and Conditions apply! Plus only for a few people. You can write me on olatunjispeaks@gmail.com | call 07066556843 | PING: 238F261F | DM: @OLATUNJISPEAKS

ELC2013 Video: Watch Sam Adeyemi, Fela Durotoye, Joke Silva, Omojuwa,Ezekwesili, Paul Enenche, more at #ELC2013

I have often been asked if leaders are born or are made and my response has always been the same, 'all leaders are born but they must be made'. ELC2013 is the gathering where great leaders were made.

This is the insightful visuals of all the conference speakers from the recently concluded Excellence in Leadership Conference(ELC2013) organized by Daystar Christian Centre in Lagos, Nigeria. Speakers include Sam Adeyemi, Nike Adeyemi, Fela Durotoye, Paul Enenche, Oby Ezekwesili, Japheth Omojuwa, Joke Silva, Victor Mbanisi, Chika Chkwumerije, Eniola Ajayi and Femi Olaleye.

Watch below and be made!

Sam Adeyemi | President, Success Power International | Corruption-Free Leadership


Nike Adeyemi | President, Real Woman Foundation | Family



Fela Durotoye | CEO, Gemstone Group | Corruption-Free Leadership



Paul Enenche | Founder, Dunamis TV | Corruption-Free Leadership



Japheth Omojuwa | Founder, Omojuwa.com | Media



Oby Ezekwesili | Founding Director, Transparency International | Government



Joke Silva | Director, Lufodo Academy | Entertainment



Victor Mbanisi | Chairman/CEO, Banex Group Limited | Economy



Chika Chukwumerije | Award-winning Sports Administrator | Sports



Eniola Ajayi | Commissioner for Environment, Ekiti State | Education



Femi Olaleye | MD/CEO, Optimal Healthcare Limited | Science & Technology


NB: To order for the complete DVDs/CDs and for online bookings, visit pneumapublishing.net

#PrincessTalks: What will you be remembered for?

Princess Obi



December 6th saw the death of a man, a man whose name is synonymous with greatness, a man who fought for his people, a man of inspiration, a noble man. The whole world mourn for this giant, countries, presidents, celebrities and more, all dropping an eulogy of praise and memoirs of a life well lived. Then I looked at myself and asked, 'what will I be remembered for?' How many people will stand by and say, ‘she was that and she did that’?

Let us look inside our inner being, asking the same question. A life worth celebrating is a life worth living, how many people can firmly stand and blow that trumpet of praise for you. Success and greatness are all we dream about but how many people work towards it? So many people never had the opportunity to see or interact with this giant but his name has been etched in the sand of time and in the words we will talk about.

Challenge yourself today, live a virtuous life, help someone others, start somewhere and you just might end up making a whole lot of difference in people life. A great man once said ' if today you have not done      something different, something new, you are a day behind and am so sure nobody wants to see tomorrow with today's mistake. We could try being the next great thing for the world to see, is all about looking inside, searching deep in your heart, tapping from our source of greatness to make a difference for ourselves and people around us. Like our elders say ' some were born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them. Whatever category we fall in, let us leave a life worth talking about, worth celebrating, a life to be remembered for something tangible, something worthwhile...



Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of OLATUNJISPEAKS.com.

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How to live within your means

Know your income and expenses

The first thing you need to know is what comes in and what goes out. Make a list of any and all income you have from your job, side work, pension or anywhere else. Then make a list of every bill you have, from rent to car payment (don’t forget bills that may not arrive monthly, like car insurance). These are your fixed expenses – the ones you have a limited control over.

The difference between your income and fixed expenses is what is left for the expenses you can control – your variable and discretionary expenses.

Most of us have sufficient income to cover our fixed expenses. After all, we wouldn’t have taken on obligations we couldn’t pay. It is the variable and discretionary expenses that so often get out of control.

Track your expenses

A spending plan, otherwise known as a budget, is the single best way to ensure you live within your means.

A spending plan is exactly what the name implies: It lays out what you plan to spend. To keep a tab on your progress, or lack thereof, you’ll need to track your money as you spend it. This used to involve the laborious process of writing down everything you spent, dividing the expenditures into categories, adding them up, and comparing those totals with your plan. These days, online budgeting services make the process easy.

If you want to live within your means and reach your goals, you have to track where your money is going. It is the only way to nip problems in the bud.

Separate wants and needs

When it comes to shopping, knowing the difference between a want and a need will help keep you out of debt.

Before you make a purchase, ask yourself if you really need it. If you don’t, wait before you buy it. I use the 48-hour rule. If I see something I want to buy but don’t think I absolutely need, I’ll wait 48 hours before I buy it. More often than not, I change my mind.

Don’t compete

Don’t fall victim to the “keeping up with the Joneses” mentality. Sure, your friends or neighbours might drive nicer cars, have the newest technology or take expensive vacations, but that doesn’t mean you have to do the same.

Think of it this way: Your neighbour might have financed that Mercedes, put the new flat-screen on his credit card, and taken out a personal loan to pay for a vacation. You’re not a lemming; don’t follow the group off a cliff.

Cut down on expenses

If you’re still struggling to live within your means, take a hard look at your expenses. There is probably something you can cut out or at least cut down on. For example: Gym membership, hair and nail salons, cable TV, cell-phone bills and shopping trips.

Go through your bills and cancel any service you don’t use frequently. For the stuff you do use, call the provider and see if you can get a better deal.

Boost your income

If all else fails, boost your income. The simplest and most gratifying way is to make more from your current job by getting a raise. If that’s not in the cards and you routinely find yourself struggling to make ends meet, it’s time to look for a better-paying job.

You have no right to complain about being underpaid if you’re not at least looking for better alternatives.

Of course, there are many other ways to increase your income, from selling your stuff to side jobs to turning a hobby into a business. Where there is a will, there is usually a way.

Don’t deprive yourself

While this is the last tip, it is the most important.

You can live within your means and still enjoy life. The trick? Substituting imagination for money. Think about what you really enjoy, then find a way to get it for less.

Source: MoneyTalkNews



Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of OLATUNJISPEAKS.com.

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How to Make 2014 Your Most Productive Year Ever

by Kentin Waits



Have you ever noticed that our to-do lists are getting longer, our distractions are getting more high-tech, but our days aren’t adding any more hours?

Well, high demands require innovative solutions. If you need some creative strategies for getting more done in 2014, here are seven ways to power up and boost your productivity.

1. Create actionable lists

For me, lists are the drivers that document and propel my personal productivity. Without them, I’d be covered in sticky notes and wondering where I parked my car. But not all lists are created equal. The best to-do lists prioritize tasks, include supportive or prerequisite tasks, and are precise and actionable.

For example, instead of “open an IRA,” break that rather large task down into more actionable steps and get specific.The first step might be to research traditional vs. Roth IRAs. The second: Decide on the type of IRA and research three potential providers and their corresponding fund choices.

The third step or task might be to choose a provider and make your investment selections. Dividing larger to-do’s into actionable and specific tasks helps get things done by promoting incremental progress each and every day.

2. Stop multitasking!

Yes, this one deserves an exclamation point. Multitasking gets a lot of good press in our professional lives and in popular culture, but it’s not the best strategy for accomplishing every set of tasks we face.

Instead of trying to juggle three or four to-do’s simultaneously and risking mediocre results with each, focus your attention on one task at a time. Giving a single activity our laser-like attention helps us see opportunities, catch mistakes, and create efficiencies that would otherwise be the casualties of multitasking.

3. Quarter your day

Dividing the block of our waking hours into quarters can help us create mini-itineraries, each with its own goal or set of goals. A rough quarterly schedule might include a specific set of priorities for 7 to 11 a.m., another set for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and so on. Beyond the normal to-do’s like commute, work, prepare dinner, etc., focus on one or two of those “I’ve really been meaning to … ” tasks that can be reasonably accomplished in each block of time. By day’s end, you’ll have worked through at least four to-do’s and kept a healthy, consistent pace.

4. Un-silo your activities

From the solitary experience of driving in our cars to work to working out at the gym, modern life is filled with siloed activity where we’re performing a single task to the exclusion of all others. But it hasn’t always been this way.

Not so long ago, the lines between our activities were happily blurred. For instance, gardening was a food production chore but it was also a chance to socialize with neighbors, get some exercise, and spend time with our kids. Rural life was centered on complementing activity that wasn’t so much multitasking as it was task-blending. And it worked like a charm.

Today, we can accomplish more by taking a critical look at our siloed tasks and rethinking our approach. Consider those activities that naturally fit together. Could you turn that solitary daily commute into a carpool and network with co-workers? How about scrapping the gym membership and strengthening social ties by bicycling with friends and family instead? Maybe you could pick up an elderly parent or neighbor the next time you go grocery shopping and provide broader value for you and for them.

5. Plan one major project each month

We all have those lingering not-so-much-fun projects that we tend to put off month after month. Cleaning the garage, turning that spare bedroom into a home office, making a will, or updating our resumes and LinkedIn profiles all seem to get kicked down the road.

Make 2014 the year you tackle these hangers-on by knocking them out 30 days at a time. Choose one major project at the beginning of each month and resolve to complete it by month’s end.

But be tactical. A month of heavy traveling for work probably isn’t the best month to build your home office, but it could be the perfect time to update your resume, tend to your LinkedIn profile, and focus on building your professional network.

6. Derail distractions

There’s hidden irony in the electronic devices we’re surrounded by every day. They’re designed to make our lives easier and more productive, but they often have a profoundly opposite effect. Phone calls, audible email notifications, texts and IMs create a competing expectancy that divides our attention and dulls our effectiveness.

As surreal as it may feel to turn off that smartphone or set your online status to “busy,” carve out time in your day for uninterrupted work. Even a single hour of distraction-free focus can be enormously productive.

7. Review and reward

Sure, completing a task is its own reward, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for a few bonuses here and there. Reviewing progress and rewarding success are key pieces of productivity. As you complete a project or check each item off your long list of to-do’s, take a moment to acknowledge your progress and reward yourself with a day off, a lunch out, or an extra long afternoon coffee break.

Remember, boosting productivity is one part strategy, one part discipline, and one part psychology. Positive reinforcement doesn’t hurt.

Increasing your personal productivity doesn’t have to be painful and finding the time doesn’t require staying up until the wee hours of the morning. With some basic planning, a few solid strategies, and the motivation that success brings, you can become a powerhouse of productivity in 2014.

What methods do you use to boost your productivity at work or at home? Share your comments below



Source: MoneyTalkNews



Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of OLATUNJISPEAKS.com.

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Funke Egbemode set to launch second book! Mark, Tambuwal, Anyim,Uduaghan, Kalu to grace the occassion

Gabriel Olatunji 'Legend'



The only reason why you will not know Funke Egbemode will be due to your unfamiliarity with the Nigerian dailies. The celebrated columnist has been writing on matters that pertains to love and relationships for decades now and she is set to launch her second book titled, 'Conversations with my country'. The book which is a compilation of Mrs Egbemode's well-read columns in Nigeria's national newspapers will be launched on December 12, 2013 at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos State, starting from 10am.



Eminent Nigerians are expected to grace the launch, amongst them are the President of the Senate, Dr. David Mark; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal; and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius anyim.
Also expected at the high profile event are the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, who is the Chief Presenter; the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashoa (SAN), who is the Host Governor; and the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Famfa Oil, Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija, who is the Guest Speaker. A former Governor of Abia State and Chairman of Slok Group of Companies, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, is the Chief Host.
Egbemode, whose columns attract wide readership, has several years of qualitative journalism experience spanning The Punch, ThisDay, Daily Independent and the Sun Newspapers among others.

Mrs Funke Egbemode had previously published a book that was also culled from her writings, but that had taken the route of relationship and love matters as opposed to this new work which is about Nigeria.
She is at present the General Editor of the Sun newspaper titles.

Getting it right in Relationships! No more Trials and Errors #Conference

by 'Tayo Ojo



One of the reasons people give when breaking up from a relationship is 'We are no longer in love'. For most people this is not true; when the excitement is gone in a relationship, it is difficult to find a reason to stay. So most relationship breakup for lack of excitement not love.
A facebook group named RELATIONSHIP CHECK started out in 2011 by giving expert advice on your relationship issues and helps you to find out what other people think about it.
@RelationshipCk also gives relationship tips you will never find anywhere else.

They have put together a conference where certain relationship issues will be addressed expressly.

We believe a new set of Nigerians is evolving, a set of people who are motivated and living to the fullness of their potentials. These people are products of homes where members are not just co-habitats but a place where love is not only felt but lived.

Such homes are products of marriages built by a man and a woman who have found themselves as companions and have grown in love  and understanding. Such marriages are products of solid RELATIONSHIPS void of TRIALS and ERRORS.

This Classic Conference holds this Saturday December 14, 2013, At Calabar Kitchen, 23 Adeniran Ogunsanya, Opp Visafone, Surulere, Lagos. Time is 10am

To attend, register by sending your Name,Email,phone No & Sex to RelationshipCheck@gmail.com
Limited Seats Available.
Enquiries: 08029739512 08055421462

The No.1 Reason Why People Fail And 9 Ways To Change It

Robert Spadinger



It can be really annoying and frustrating. You get up early, you roll up your sleeves, you are working really hard all day long, day after day… yet, it is not working out for you.

It seems like, no matter what you do, you are not moving forward and you are not enjoying the success you deserve.

But why?  What’s wrong here?

Maybe you are just spinning your wheels

There are thousands of hard-working people who never succeed. Why? Because it is not so much the amount of work you are doing that counts most, but the quality of your work.

You could carry a big stone from A to B and then back to A and again to B… This could go on for hours, days and weeks. But, do you think, this would get you anywhere? Of course not.

But that’s more or less what so many people do in their personal careers. They focus on minor tasks that don’t really matter and no matter how many hours they put in, no significant results will show up.

I know, sometimes it’s tough to focus on those crucial, all important tasks

We do what we are used to do. We prefer to remain in our comfort zone. When we have the choice between 2 different tasks, we tend to pick the easier one.

But, unfortunately , that’s also the recipe for failure.

Make it a habit to focus on your most important tasks first

You know what those all important tasks are. I’m talking about those things that help you to really move forward, to take your business to the next level… and to make success inevitable.

But,  those secondary tasks are usually much easier, oftentimes they are also more fun and at the end of the day they provide you with the illusion that you got a a hell lot of work done and that you should be proud of yourself.

The truth is, you will NEVER get everything done and that’s absolutely normal. However, instead of focusing on secondary and even less important tasks you should make it a habit to focus 100% on your most important tasks and tackle those other tasks only once you are finished with your primary tasks.

It is not at all as difficult as you may think

Yes, breaking old habits and establishing new ones is always a bit of a challenge – but only at the very beginning.

You can get used to pretty much anything in life and it doesn’t take much longer than 3-4 weeks to adopt a new habit. And I promise, the habit of focusing on your primary tasks first will change your entire life and it will almost guarantee your success.

Here are 9 simple steps that will help you to establish the habit of  “completing your most important tasks first before doing anything else” fun and easy:

1: Identify your most important tasks

I’m sure, you already know what those most important tasks are in your case. Oftentimes, those are the tasks you like the least. The tasks that require you to step outside your comfort zone. The tasks you may be a bit afraid to tackle…

2: Make a list of your most important tasks

Make a list of your priority tasks for the next 3 months, for the following month and for the following week.

Also, at the end of each day make a list of your primary tasks and action steps for the following day.

3: Make the decision to tackle your most important task first

Before going to bed, promise to yourself to focus 100% on your most important task first thing in the morning. Make the commitment that no matter how you feel in the morning, whether you are motivated or not, whether there are tons of emails in your inbox… that you will jump on this top priority task as soon as your work day starts.

4: Visualize yourself performing this task easily and successfully.

Imagine, feel and visualize how much fun you have and how good it feels once your task is completed. This is an excellent way to prepare your subconscious mind to already get going while you are asleep. When you wake up in the morning, a part of you has already been working on your #1 task and it will be much easier for you to complete it.

5: Don’t think too much, just do it

The mind can be very tricky when it comes to performing those sorts of tasks that lie outside our comfort zone. If you spend too much time weighing your options, you may find all kinds of excuses why it would be better to do something different. Don’t think too much, just get going. Take action and get started.

6: Don’t worry about doing a perfect job

When you need to do something you are not used to, your performance will probably be mediocre. And that’s perfectly ok.

So, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. It is still better to do a mediocre job than doing nothing at all.

7: Push through those critical first 10-15 minutes

It could very well be that you don’t feel the slightest drive and motivation to get started with your priority task. That’s normal and that’s the reason why people procrastinate.

But, there is a simple trick to get around this lack of motivation. Commit to get started and to push through those first 10-15 minutes. 10-15 minutes is nothing and you can do it even if you have zero motivation.

Don’t think too much, don’t dwell on your lack of motivation. Just jump into your tasks and do at least something.

After those 10-15 minutes, your creativity suddenly starts flowing, ideas are coming, you feel the drive and motivation… and you are simply enjoying the process.

8: Enjoy your achievement

Once you are finished with your priority task, realize how good it feels. Enjoy your achievement and be proud of yourself.  This will fuel you with even more energy and motivation for your remaining tasks.

9: Make it a habit

You have done a great job so far, but you didn’t create a new habit yet. So, I’m pretty sure, over the next few days you will encounter once again a situation where the temptation is huge to focus on one of those easier, less important tasks.

That’s normal, establishing a new habit takes some time – typically 3-4 weeks. Just keep on going and know that it is getting easier with every day and that after only 3-4 weeks you will have created a habit that will completely change your life and make success almost inevitable.



Source: Addicted2Success



Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of OLATUNJISPEAKS.com.

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Gabriel Olatunji Legend: Who will be the world’s next Mandela?Searching for a new Mandela #MondayInspiration

Gabriel Olatunji Legend

[caption id="attachment_372" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Nelson Mandela[/caption]

I was not fortunate to hear the news of the global icon’s death the night it was announced; I had slept off early as I was a little under the weather. I woke up to see Blackberry display pictures, tweets, broadcasts, Facebook messages and eulogizing the world leader. In the words of Uncle Dele Momodu, Nelson Mandela remained the world’s greatest iconic figure for decades. Can you dispute that?

How can one man die and the whole world shook? Who in God’s name is the man and what makes him so great? Madiba, as fondly called was the leader of the African National Congress (ANC) – ANC started as an anti-apartheid organization. They fought for the rights of South Africans under the Apartheid regime, mostly using force. Mandela who was a foremost leader of the party was arrested after years of disguising and fighting the regime. They constantly organized protests and strike action before he was arrested and these actions continued even while he was in prison. It is notable that Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison because he chose to dedicate his life to the freedom of his people. He was offered release from prison if only he will let go of his beliefs and go back into the society as a regular citizen but he said he could not be totally free if ANC was not free. Do not forget that what he was fighting for was the emancipation of black people in South Africa, the freedom of black people to own properties and businesses, the freedom of black people to contest and win elections and equality of black and white folks.

I have not written this piece to give you the biography of Mandela but to ask you a critical question that has been on my mind since I heard this news. Who will be the world’s next Mandela?



How many of us have the capacity to forgive like Mandela did?

If you were Mandela what would happen to the leaders of the Apartheid regime and all white folks in the country when you become President? Most likely, they will all be assassinated. Mandela had the capacity to forgive a sin that was committed against him in freedom and in prison for over 50 years. These days when your girlfriend angrily tells you that you are stupid, you do not wait for the next moment before you break-up with her even when she has apologized. You lack the spirit of forgiveness and you may never become a ‘Mandela’ (Great man).

Mandela was released from prison; he forgave every single one who had offended him and his party. He changed from fighting with force to using dialogue and negotiation. He became the president of South Africa and he only served one term of 5 years. He didn’t seek a second term or a third term. If you were Mandela, won’t you remain as the President of South Africa till death do you part? And do you think he would not have lost his value and also the opportunity to become the world’s greatest iconic figure of our time. Mandela doesn’t need a visa to enter any country; he has a name that opens doors even without his signature. Such people don’t beg for things, people beg them to take things.

Nelson Mandela had the opportunity of being free from prison atleast 5 times but he chose to remain behind the bars because he could not stand being free while his fellow compatriots and black people are still oppressed, victimized and stigmatized by the minority (white folks) and the ruling class. He wanted equality for ALL and he wouldn’t leave the prison cell until these demands are met. So, I ask again, if you were Mandela will you spend 27 years for a people you do not know their names or house address? You won’t! That is why you may never be our next ‘Mandela’. Until you are ready to die for a cause you are not ready for greatness. What ‘cause’ are you presently working on that will not only benefit you and your immediate family? If you are not presently working on such a ‘cause’ you are far from being our next Mandela.

I want you to critically look at the greatness of Madiba and highlight what makes him so great. He had his own character flaws especially in his relationships with women and marriages but that didn’t stop him from being a great leader.

As we go on a search for a new Mandela may I poach to you that you can be the next Mandela, yes you. You can be the next Mandela to your spouse, your family, your community, your friend, your boyfriend or girlfriend and your country. Be the person who thinks of other people first before considering one’s self, be the person who can sacrifice their lifetime to making their spouse happy, be the person who will not fix the front of his house alone but neighboring houses and perhaps the whole street, be the man or woman who will forgive a sin of injustice that probably ought not to be forgiven – if you will most likely send your wife packing for infidelity after a genuine apology, you aren’t going to be our next ‘Mandela’.

Will you be the world’s next 'Mandela'?





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Chuba Ezekwesili: Dealing with the 'Photocopy Mentality' in Nigeria

By Chuba Ezekwesili



Several weeks ago, I stared at my screen, mouth agape as I read my most recent article….on a stranger’s blog. However, this copy of my work had no attributions. Nothing. Even personal life references had been scrubbed off. My article had been blatantly plagiarized. For me, the act signified more than just stealing; it reflected a disturbing trend in today’s society.

We speak often on how the youthfulness of the Nigerian population proliferates creativity, innovation and ingenuity. Theoretically true, but an incisive and brutal look at the creation of ideas and works in Nigeria shows an unfortunate tendency towards the habit of copying. Duplication of fashion, business ideas and literary work has become rampant.  Once one person gets a whiff that some new form of business is raking in cash, be rest assured that it will have numerous other copies in no time. Once Shawarma became the ‘selling snack’, every single food vendor began to offer it. Give it enough time and suya sellers on the corners might start offering Shawarma. Business centers were once the rage because people heard the money was in it. ‘Gardens’ where beer and fish can be purchased have become the popular business in Abuja. Other numerous gossip blogs sprang up once Linda Ikeji’s blog reached financial success. Clearly, the proclivity to copy seems predominant today.

Now there’s actually nothing wrong with this. It’s normal to expect that a profit-making market with free entry and exit will experience flooding of competition. However, the problem with these scenarios is the prevalence of what I like to refer to as the ‘photocopy mentality’. I’d like to assume the term’s self-explanatory nature shields it from further explanation, so I’ll jump straight to its issue. The problem with photocopies is that they’re never better than the original; at worse, inferior, and at best, the same. For example, a photocopy of one’s Driver’s License will never pass for the original. Likewise, simply copying someone else’s idea does little to improve the idea. It changes nothing, innovates nothing and creates nothing. It simply saturates the market with another version of itself. And since mediocrity cannot compete with mediocrity, the status quo remains the same. Such occurrence defeats one of the purposes of competition; which is to engender improvement. This is where it’s important that we change the way we see the act of copying.

The act of copying a work should be a process rather than the product itself. TEDx Speaker, Steven Johnson emphasizes that copying is “not about creation but about creating. The process is more important than the final product. A process in which copying can play an important part, because it allows us to stand on the shoulders of giants and to create something beyond your own capacities.” Copying has been integral to the emergence of a significant number of innovations as it cuts down the process of improvement as well as the cost of R&D (Research and Development). As a process, it takes existing creations and improves them. For example, all the products that made Steve Jobs famous already existed before he unveiled his iteration of them. All it took was the ability to copy and improve on the ideas.

There’s a much larger lesson to this. In order for African countries to truly catch up with developed economies, they have to do more than copy ideas. They have to innovate and find ways to optimize the potential of these ideas in Africa. It stops being enough that Africa attempts to reach convergence through the replication of production methods, technologies and institutions of developed countries. Africa needs to find ‘African’ insights to these issues using existing ideas, methods and technologies. Even China recognizes this given that their  “ultimate goal is the ability to innovate independently. Chinese firms have realized that they cannot just purchase core technologies; they must create them on their own” says Mark Purdy of Harvard Business Review. Likewise, in a nation like Nigeria saturated with jobless graduates, differentiating oneself becomes imperative. Having a degree from a university only keeps one at the common denominator level of being a photocopy and well…no one notices photocopies.

Hence, it is imperative that one breaks out of the rote-learning mentality bequeathed to the general populace by an obdurately outdated education system. Start by thinking of ways to improve already established structures though observing, critiquing and brainstorming. As highlighted above, photocopies are never improvements, they’re merely copies. Simply being a photocopy takes one nowhere, individually or collectively as a society. Instead, taking an idea and coming up with some thing different – maybe even better – drives society forward. Now if only my plagiarizer realized this and sat down to write something worth reading, we’d all be the better for it…or at least, I would.



Source: NaijaNomics



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