Many times , we always desire to look at other people for our source of inspiration, our source of motivation , there is sense in it but it doesn't always have to be so. We could all try being our own motivation, we don't always strife for our own success, our own goal but keep lamenting on the unfairness of life.
Definitely, no man is an island and a man who asks doesn't get lost but when you ask "way" too much you position yourself to the world as a confused person. Recently I found myself watching a program "My 600 pound life" and I changed was like "wow! That big?" And the funny thing is that the friends of the lady in question were all telling her to loose weight and watch what she ate blah blah and nothing happened.
Everything changed when she started having pains in her bones and she told herself "I don't want to die", "I don't want to leave my daughter and husband"; not until she told herself her own truth, she looked Inside, tapped from her internal strength and declared "I must loose this fat"; until she motivated herself, she made resolution to fight fat. Most times we keep having the same mistakes, it isn't because no one is advising us but because we aren't ready to change, we are not ready to make a difference, life indeed is a beautiful teacher, the people around you are spectators, you are the only actor in your game, when you begin to motivate yourself to do certain things, you will feel that change in your relationship, your business, your work and everything around you.
That is why the most beautiful thing you can do for yourself is believe in your strength, know your limits, don't push against your reach just because someone out there is telling what you can and can't do, look inside yourself and feel your capacity. It is never going to be easy, all you have to do is be your motivation and soar high, it is in me it is in you.
Follow Princess on Twitter, @adayaeze
Monday, June 9, 2014
#MondayInspiration: Most of us are fraudsters; here's the proof!
When I was younger, I and my brother would plant maize at our backyard and we will visit the spot everyday to water what we planted and in a matter of days we start to see the result of the plantation come out. The maize sprung out from the soil and in a few weeks we went back to the same spot to harvest our maize – we would harvest our maize, take them home and cook. Around this same time, someone bought me a pear and after eating the pear I saw a big pear seed inside of it, I decided to plant the seed the same way I and my brother planted the maize. I left for the back of the house and planted the big round seed; I went there day after days, weeks after weeks; I watered my seed but I never saw it grow; I grew tired and decided to see why my seed wasn’t growing, I didn’t know that in doing that I would be killing my seed. It was until much later I realized that the harvest time for maize and pear are not the same – while you could see the result of maize in a few weeks, you could only see the result of a pear in a few years.
If we never planted maize we would never have had maize to cook several weeks after. This is a principle in life; the seed you don’t plant you will never get the harvest. Many of us want something while we are doing nothing to warrant the things we want – that is what I call ‘Life fraud’. To expect to get money when you have not worked for it or investeded for it is fraud. It is not only ‘Yahoo Yahoo’ boys that are involved in fraud but anyone who expects to get something for nothing. You can have whatever it is that you desire but not on a platter of gold; you must earn it. Whatever you get without earning you get by being dubious. Some Christians will come and preach Favour and Grace to me now but while I believe in the spiritual concept of Favour and Grace I am aware that these two works for you when God has seen your heart and you made a move. If you don’t plant maize don’t expect to reap or cook it.
It is important to know that some of us will plant maize while some will plant pears; the harvest times for the two of them are not the same. You may harvest your maize in a few weeks but you will only see results in your pear several months after. There is something called times and seasons. You must observe this law, while the earth remain, seedtime and harvest time will never cease. Sometimes in life, we get quick results from our investments in life and at other times, we get late results from some other investments, we must realize that the harvest season for every investment we make in life are not the same.
Let us bring it home. In life, seeds that you can plant are in different form. Putting money in the stock market, fixed deposit, and buying real estate are forms of seed. You are likely to reap the harvest in a few months or years. Some years ago, I was broke and in need of financial help but I got none; I was quick to realize that 'nothing goes for nothing'. I walked up to the CEO of a print agency and asked to come work for him for free while he teaches me the art of printing and publishing; he agreed. Its several years after, I don't have to beg for financial assistance anymore because my time with his company was a seed I planted, and the money I get now from people offering me printing jobs is the harvest.
Most of us are fraudsters; here's the proof. Don't ever forget that it is a high level of fraud you are committing if all you do is wait for things to happen to you without you working, earning or deserving them.
Follow Gabriel Olatunji on Twitter, @OLATUNJISPEAKS or send him a mail, olatunjispeaks@gmail.com
If we never planted maize we would never have had maize to cook several weeks after. This is a principle in life; the seed you don’t plant you will never get the harvest. Many of us want something while we are doing nothing to warrant the things we want – that is what I call ‘Life fraud’. To expect to get money when you have not worked for it or investeded for it is fraud. It is not only ‘Yahoo Yahoo’ boys that are involved in fraud but anyone who expects to get something for nothing. You can have whatever it is that you desire but not on a platter of gold; you must earn it. Whatever you get without earning you get by being dubious. Some Christians will come and preach Favour and Grace to me now but while I believe in the spiritual concept of Favour and Grace I am aware that these two works for you when God has seen your heart and you made a move. If you don’t plant maize don’t expect to reap or cook it.
It is important to know that some of us will plant maize while some will plant pears; the harvest times for the two of them are not the same. You may harvest your maize in a few weeks but you will only see results in your pear several months after. There is something called times and seasons. You must observe this law, while the earth remain, seedtime and harvest time will never cease. Sometimes in life, we get quick results from our investments in life and at other times, we get late results from some other investments, we must realize that the harvest season for every investment we make in life are not the same.
Let us bring it home. In life, seeds that you can plant are in different form. Putting money in the stock market, fixed deposit, and buying real estate are forms of seed. You are likely to reap the harvest in a few months or years. Some years ago, I was broke and in need of financial help but I got none; I was quick to realize that 'nothing goes for nothing'. I walked up to the CEO of a print agency and asked to come work for him for free while he teaches me the art of printing and publishing; he agreed. Its several years after, I don't have to beg for financial assistance anymore because my time with his company was a seed I planted, and the money I get now from people offering me printing jobs is the harvest.
Most of us are fraudsters; here's the proof. Don't ever forget that it is a high level of fraud you are committing if all you do is wait for things to happen to you without you working, earning or deserving them.
Follow Gabriel Olatunji on Twitter, @OLATUNJISPEAKS or send him a mail, olatunjispeaks@gmail.com
Monday, June 2, 2014
#MondayInspiration: How a pen and paper can save your relationship,even your life!
Let me tell you what happens in the counseling room, especially when it pertains to therapy. The therapist is seen with a pen and a book while the patient is doing most of the talking; the therapist takes note from the things the patient is saying and at the end of the day the therapist analyses the patient’s situation and prescribes a solution to the patient’s problem using the same pen and book. Most of the problems of our lives can be solved with pen and paper!
I believe that with pen and paper, you can solve your financial problems. How? Write down what you have; what you need to have; calculate how much you need to make weekly or daily for it to happen; list things you can do to generate that type of cash weekly or daily; list names of people that can support you financially, employ you or patronize you; list all possible scenarios where the money can come from. When you are done with that and you look at that paper you will discover that the problem has either been solved or half solved.
I solved the problem of who to marry with pen and paper a long time ago. I had it penned down on paper, in details what my wife would look like; it wasn’t about her looks but her habits, character, skills, faith, beliefs and self esteem – by the time I was done with it I realized most of the women around me which I was confused about weren’t going to be my wife and whenever I was getting close to a lady, I looked at that paper I wrote many years ago and if I cannot match her with the content of that paper, I knew we weren’t going to work.
The problem most of us have is that we are too lazy to write – the solution is too simple; which is why we fail to do it. This is why the problem persists. We want a complicated solution, something so far to reach and exhilarating. Big problems sometimes have simple solutions and until you have tried the simplest solution of all (pen and paper), stop saying you have a problem. Some problems are huge, and using pen and paper doesn’t mean the problem will go away but it means you can get to the root of the problem and offer solutions to them on paper; which can then be implemented in stages.
Statistics have proven that most businesses that fail within the first five years do not have a written business plan. They failed because they didn’t take time to solve their problems on paper first. They got carried away with the beautiful idea and started with enthusiasm but enthusiasm can wane off and plans on paper will always remain. This is the same with failed relationships. You cannot run a relationship successfully without a relationship plan – if you fail to plan, you have planned to fail. In every kingdom there are qualities they look for in people who can attain the Kingship position and no matter how handsome you are, if you lack those basic qualities, you can never be made king. Your life is your own kingdom. You must have your own values and qualities which you cannot negotiate in the life of your ‘executive officers’ especially ‘Executive officer Wife/Husband’. These values and qualities must be written on paper long before you meet these type of people as it makes them recognizable when you see them.
Dr. David Oyedepo said that ‘God gave you brain so you can let Him rest’. We must use our brains; explore all possibilities on paper before assuming that we have a problem. A problem is not yet a problem until it cannot be solved on paper.
Monday, May 26, 2014
#MondayInspiration: There is a fierce lion in the streets, so says thislazy man!
There was a country, full of zombies, each with his/her gifts, talents and ideas. Some were called CEOs, others employees, some job seekers, some students, some parents, some celebrities, some were mere citizens, others were in the class of the rich, some belonged to the poor community. Different communities existed in that colony: the rich, the poor, the famous, the mediocre, the fraudulent, the righteous and the ordinary folk’s community – each man with his own hands or by inheritance determined the community he/she would belong to. In that country every positive community had an opposite which was the negative; because there was a rich community, there was also a poor community, because there was the healthy community there was also the sick community. A lion separated the positive community from the negative community but even with the presence of a lion in the streets people moved from one negative community to the positive one from time to time – poor zombies switched from the poor communities to the rich zones.
In this country lived Zech, he was by inheritance born into the poor, sick and low life community but he kept hearing the tale of how someone moved from their community to the rich, healthy and high-class but he had actually never seen anyone who offered to go along with him to the streets; he had often conducted his poor, sick and low life trade within the confines of his community but deep down in his heart he knew his destiny belonged to the other community even though he was too scared of the lion in the street.
After consulting with the elders of the land about what it took to move to the other side he became discouraged; they told him how difficult it was to get to the other community, how big the lion was and how impossible it was for him to go through the street without encountering the lion. “Do you want to die? If you want to die, then go ahead into the street; be contented with what you have my son”, one of the elders said emphatically. He gave up the idea but every time he slept, his dreams of a better life came back to him; he woke up one morning excited and decided to go into the street even if it meant death. “If I stay here, I’ll surely die but if I go I might be lucky as some others before me”, he said to himself.
He packed all that belonged to him and traded them for cash to prepare for his journey as the custom of anyone leaving the community did; leaving everything behind was one of the reasons people stayed in the community, they could not afford to part with all that they had even though what they had was a tiny fraction of what they could have in their new community. Zech stepped out of the community gate walking carefully hoping that he would not wake up the lion but as he got to an end of the road he heard a ferocious sound like the roar of a lion, he ran back towards his old community but they wouldn’t open the gate for him at the time because they were also afraid of the sound. He summoned courage and every time he got to that junction he would hear noises that felt like the roar of a lion and he would run back to his community gate. Then it occurred to him that he wasn’t making progress, he had to either go or not go regardless of the sound; the next time he got to the junction he heard the sound again and he stayed at a spot trying to catch a glimpse of the lion. After some minutes two zombies approached him from nowhere and led him to the gate, it was the gate of the rich, healthy and high-class community. He thought they were going to feed him to the lion but as they moved he kept seeing affluence, good health, wealth around many more zombies.
He entered into the gate and met with the council of chiefs who were ready to interview him. He didn’t understand what was going on. They told him that every time someone dared to come from the poor, sick and low life community to their junction a sound will automatically be triggered off but it wasn’t the sound of a lion but a gong that sounded like a lion – the sound was to announce the arrival of the latest rich, healthy and high-class zombie and to summon the council of chiefs together for the interview and the induction ceremony. It was that same sound that kept many in the poor community up until when they spoke, said one of the elders.
Zech was amazed at the realization; he was angry at himself and everyone whoever told him that it was impossible to move to the other community.
‘There is a fierce lion in the streets’, so said the lazy man until he stepped out – the situation is not different from what we have here in our own country and community. Many people have what you want to have and that is proof that you can also have those things. Many people are what you want to be and that is proof that you can also be what they are – the sound of lion you hear is only a sound, if you keep moving, if you stay on that junction regardless of the sound you will enter into your place of greatness.
N.B: Bring out the lessons in today’s #MondayInspiration and list them in the comment segment below. We will look through them and the winner will win an airtime of their choice or get their business advertised on next week's #MondayInspiration. Game is only open to residents in Nigeria. Drop your email address and your twitter handle where the airtime will be sent in case you are the winner.
Keep on Keeping on.
Gabriel Olatunji ‘Legend’ is @OLATUNJISPEAKS on Twitter – your Inspirational blogger. You can send him a mail on olatunjispeaks@gmail.com – Let’s Talk.
In this country lived Zech, he was by inheritance born into the poor, sick and low life community but he kept hearing the tale of how someone moved from their community to the rich, healthy and high-class but he had actually never seen anyone who offered to go along with him to the streets; he had often conducted his poor, sick and low life trade within the confines of his community but deep down in his heart he knew his destiny belonged to the other community even though he was too scared of the lion in the street.
After consulting with the elders of the land about what it took to move to the other side he became discouraged; they told him how difficult it was to get to the other community, how big the lion was and how impossible it was for him to go through the street without encountering the lion. “Do you want to die? If you want to die, then go ahead into the street; be contented with what you have my son”, one of the elders said emphatically. He gave up the idea but every time he slept, his dreams of a better life came back to him; he woke up one morning excited and decided to go into the street even if it meant death. “If I stay here, I’ll surely die but if I go I might be lucky as some others before me”, he said to himself.
He packed all that belonged to him and traded them for cash to prepare for his journey as the custom of anyone leaving the community did; leaving everything behind was one of the reasons people stayed in the community, they could not afford to part with all that they had even though what they had was a tiny fraction of what they could have in their new community. Zech stepped out of the community gate walking carefully hoping that he would not wake up the lion but as he got to an end of the road he heard a ferocious sound like the roar of a lion, he ran back towards his old community but they wouldn’t open the gate for him at the time because they were also afraid of the sound. He summoned courage and every time he got to that junction he would hear noises that felt like the roar of a lion and he would run back to his community gate. Then it occurred to him that he wasn’t making progress, he had to either go or not go regardless of the sound; the next time he got to the junction he heard the sound again and he stayed at a spot trying to catch a glimpse of the lion. After some minutes two zombies approached him from nowhere and led him to the gate, it was the gate of the rich, healthy and high-class community. He thought they were going to feed him to the lion but as they moved he kept seeing affluence, good health, wealth around many more zombies.
He entered into the gate and met with the council of chiefs who were ready to interview him. He didn’t understand what was going on. They told him that every time someone dared to come from the poor, sick and low life community to their junction a sound will automatically be triggered off but it wasn’t the sound of a lion but a gong that sounded like a lion – the sound was to announce the arrival of the latest rich, healthy and high-class zombie and to summon the council of chiefs together for the interview and the induction ceremony. It was that same sound that kept many in the poor community up until when they spoke, said one of the elders.
Zech was amazed at the realization; he was angry at himself and everyone whoever told him that it was impossible to move to the other community.
‘There is a fierce lion in the streets’, so said the lazy man until he stepped out – the situation is not different from what we have here in our own country and community. Many people have what you want to have and that is proof that you can also have those things. Many people are what you want to be and that is proof that you can also be what they are – the sound of lion you hear is only a sound, if you keep moving, if you stay on that junction regardless of the sound you will enter into your place of greatness.
N.B: Bring out the lessons in today’s #MondayInspiration and list them in the comment segment below. We will look through them and the winner will win an airtime of their choice or get their business advertised on next week's #MondayInspiration. Game is only open to residents in Nigeria. Drop your email address and your twitter handle where the airtime will be sent in case you are the winner.
Keep on Keeping on.
Gabriel Olatunji ‘Legend’ is @OLATUNJISPEAKS on Twitter – your Inspirational blogger. You can send him a mail on olatunjispeaks@gmail.com – Let’s Talk.
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Gabriel Olatunji 'Legend': There is no point flogging a dead horse – ifa horse is dead, it is dead
There is no point flogging a dead horse; even if you give the horse 1000 strokes of cane it will never bring the horse back – only a Easter miracle like the one we read in the bible can make that happen and since you are not as ‘holy’ as Jesus you had better let the dead horse be.
I can almost swear that you don’t understand my tantrum in the first paragraph of this piece. I just wanted to send your mind on a thinking spree about the ‘many many’ things which have made you sad, things which has been making you cry, relationships which you will love to resuscitate, businesses you will love to restart, people you will love to have back in your life and ideas you will still love to run with.
There is no point flogging a dead horse – if a horse is dead, it is dead. You are not Jesus Christ; stop trying to bring a dead horse back to life. Look at your life at the moment and ask yourself the most sincere question you can ever ask: what are the things that are not working in my life? Be very sincere with yourself; you are not submitting your answer to anybody but yourself which is why you need to be very sincere. There are relationships you have no business going back into, businesses you shouldn’t be thinking about anymore, people you should forgive and move on, ideas you should let go of and activities you need to cut away – dead horses serves as distractions in our lives; they hinder us from moving forward.
It is because you think the dead horse is the most beautiful thing; that’s why you are still trying to resuscitate it – if something once happened to you, it can happen to you again but not when you are still trying to hold on to a dead one. It is time for you to move on! You must get over the fact that the relationship is over, get over the fact that the business is not working, get over the fact that the babe will never change, get over that fact that you may not be what you planned to be – there is a living horse ready to move and waiting to be flogged nearby but you simply have to get over this dead one and assume it never was.
Look carefully at yourself and list out the things that seem dead; don’t waste time in getting over them.
Keep on Keeping on.
Gabriel Olatunji ‘Legend’ is @OLATUNJISPEAKS on Twitter – your Inspirational blogger. You can send him a mail on olatunjispeaks@gmail.com – Let’s Talk.
I can almost swear that you don’t understand my tantrum in the first paragraph of this piece. I just wanted to send your mind on a thinking spree about the ‘many many’ things which have made you sad, things which has been making you cry, relationships which you will love to resuscitate, businesses you will love to restart, people you will love to have back in your life and ideas you will still love to run with.
There is no point flogging a dead horse – if a horse is dead, it is dead. You are not Jesus Christ; stop trying to bring a dead horse back to life. Look at your life at the moment and ask yourself the most sincere question you can ever ask: what are the things that are not working in my life? Be very sincere with yourself; you are not submitting your answer to anybody but yourself which is why you need to be very sincere. There are relationships you have no business going back into, businesses you shouldn’t be thinking about anymore, people you should forgive and move on, ideas you should let go of and activities you need to cut away – dead horses serves as distractions in our lives; they hinder us from moving forward.
It is because you think the dead horse is the most beautiful thing; that’s why you are still trying to resuscitate it – if something once happened to you, it can happen to you again but not when you are still trying to hold on to a dead one. It is time for you to move on! You must get over the fact that the relationship is over, get over the fact that the business is not working, get over the fact that the babe will never change, get over that fact that you may not be what you planned to be – there is a living horse ready to move and waiting to be flogged nearby but you simply have to get over this dead one and assume it never was.
Look carefully at yourself and list out the things that seem dead; don’t waste time in getting over them.
Keep on Keeping on.
Gabriel Olatunji ‘Legend’ is @OLATUNJISPEAKS on Twitter – your Inspirational blogger. You can send him a mail on olatunjispeaks@gmail.com – Let’s Talk.
Friday, May 23, 2014
I'm begging you with everything I've got, keep on keeping on - GabrielOlatunji 'Legend'
What would you be doing if feeding; clothing and all your other financial needs are provided for? This was the question poised to me when I began to ponder on how confused my life seem; how I am involved in too many things and doing far too many things at the same time. I try to justify all of what I’m doing by saying, I’m ‘multi-talented’ and ‘multi-skilled’; but deep down I know I’m no longer happy and it doesn’t seem like I’m doing them for the right reasons.
Mike Murdock, a great speaker said, If you want to kill a man with a dream, give him another dream. This sum up what I have been going through for a while and what many youths of my generation go through. You must understand that you may have the abilities to do multiple things but there is one of them you would rather always do if money wasn’t a problem – that is the one you should give seventy percent of your time to.
It may look slow and financially unprofitable but if you believe in it enough and it makes you happy, don’t stop. I’m begging you with everything I’ve got, keep on keeping on – that is the way to achieve your own greatness. If you have read or heard the story of Linda Ikeji, the famous Nigerian blogger; you will see the similarities in my illustration. She was blogging for four years just for the love and fulfillment it gave without making a dime. By the fifth year, she had become a millionaire.
Money is good, but don’t ever let money alone be the motivation for doing what makes you feel fulfilled. I’m aware that money is the first motivation for some people and that’s how they feel fulfilled – it is not wrong but if money isn’t your own motivation, find that one thing that if your financial needs are taken care of, you will be doing. Face it, and do it big time! Don’t forget, it may not pay off in one month, one year or even four years, but if you are sure about it, do not stop!
Keep on keeping on
Follow the writer on Twitter @OLATUNJISPEAKS or email olatunjispeaks@gmail.com
Mike Murdock, a great speaker said, If you want to kill a man with a dream, give him another dream. This sum up what I have been going through for a while and what many youths of my generation go through. You must understand that you may have the abilities to do multiple things but there is one of them you would rather always do if money wasn’t a problem – that is the one you should give seventy percent of your time to.
It may look slow and financially unprofitable but if you believe in it enough and it makes you happy, don’t stop. I’m begging you with everything I’ve got, keep on keeping on – that is the way to achieve your own greatness. If you have read or heard the story of Linda Ikeji, the famous Nigerian blogger; you will see the similarities in my illustration. She was blogging for four years just for the love and fulfillment it gave without making a dime. By the fifth year, she had become a millionaire.
Money is good, but don’t ever let money alone be the motivation for doing what makes you feel fulfilled. I’m aware that money is the first motivation for some people and that’s how they feel fulfilled – it is not wrong but if money isn’t your own motivation, find that one thing that if your financial needs are taken care of, you will be doing. Face it, and do it big time! Don’t forget, it may not pay off in one month, one year or even four years, but if you are sure about it, do not stop!
Keep on keeping on
Follow the writer on Twitter @OLATUNJISPEAKS or email olatunjispeaks@gmail.com
Friday, May 2, 2014
How to look beyond your fears and do what you want to do - Tosin Kayode
Fear is such a great enemy. I am sure a lot of us have had countable number of experiences that Fear has messed up for us. Fear is so close to us every time, and all we have to do is just permit it.
Fear has no benefit to offer, it only condemns us before we get a chance to prove that we can go through what lies ahead of us. Fear brings about confusion, jittery, and at its peak is failure. Fear can make you lose concentration. It tears down your wall of confidence and accommodates anxiety.
Fear can come up when we are at the brink of doing great exploits and showing to the world that we can make things happen. Fear is often times associated with failure because it would have made our preparation futile by the loss of concentration and we end up doing things the wrong way.
So many people have given up on Life out of Fear, they have resigned to fate when they actually have the power to go for much more than they have. In whatever way or manner that it comes to us, it is an Enemy. Fear wraps round our opportunities and makes them appear impossible to achieve.
I recall some of my chances that got messed up because I had fear; the outcomes were woeful. The only kind of fear I found worth having is the fear of God because it restrains you from going the wrong way. The fear of the future should not deprive us of the joy of the present, there are lots of things that we can change if we try going after what we desire. Some have passion and opportunities for going into good businesses but they have remained daunted by the fear of losing or failing.
Fear is part of life, but we need to learn how to handle it. For some, it may be necessary to push them forward; for some others it is a very bad mix. The good thing is that we can overcome our fears. That’s why we need to recognize them and then summon the courage to fight them. Fear can bring denial; we need to break the cords of fear over our endeavours. What then can you do to overcome fear? What happens when your fears play out in reality?
Maintain an attitude of confidence always, Be determined to Win, never be anxious, keep your eye on the goal. Embrace Hope and focus on success, activate your strong points and understand that no one else can run the race ahead for you, imagine the worst case scenario and be motivated to avoid it. Understand that what confronts you is only a scene from life's drama and surely has an end.
When your Fear plays out in reality, be determined not to allow it overwhelm and drain you, get the good in it and forge ahead, make it a battle to be won!
Look beyond your Fears and do what you want to do!
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
There is Fire on the Nigerian Mountain - Gabriel Olatunji
The problems are many; where do we even want to begin from? So humongous are the problems that many Nigerians have given up hope; they have chosen to accept this lot as their fate and this is obvious in the silence of the citizens to the state of epileptic power supply, glaring corruption, inadequate transportation system, poor and useless policing, poverty and infrastructural deficiencies.
Nigerians no longer care, or so it appears; but one thing Nigerians ask for is that there should be peace; that no 'Boko whatever' kill anyone – you can continue your looting but don’t let us die while you live large and quite frankly I do not think this is too much to ask.
We woke up to the news of Nyanya Bomb blast or is it explosion? I could not look at the pictures because it's probably the most gruesome act I have seen in a while. How did we get here? This has gone on for so long and we need to tame it immediately. As if that was not enough, 200 innocent school girls were also abducted the following morning by enemies of Nigeria and we still live as though everything is normal – Nothing is normal people! There is fire on the Nigerian mountain and nobody seem to bothered.
The most painful part of all of these is the insensitivity of Mr. President and his cohorts. Somebody need to ask Mr President if he would dare attend a rally the next day if his son was one of those who lost his life at the Nyanya explosion in Abuja. Would he have the legs to go and dance at a stupid rally? I don’t hate Mr Jonathan but I don’t love his ways either; even if I want to, he is making it difficult for me to, because no empathetic father will lose his son a day before and go out to celebrate the day after – this is why I do not believe that we have a President that has the competency, the will power, the effrontery and the commitment to combat terrorism and lead Nigeria to greatness.
You may argue the above points, but you cannot argue the glaring truths that this administration has not done anything close to enough. Where or what are the structures or systems put in place to combat terrorism since Mr President has been in charge? I need you to remove your racial and bias microscopic glasses now and think for once that – if you were at the Nyanya motor park a day before the incident and you noticed suspicious activity from some human elements, is there a system put in place that makes it extremely easy for you to report such suspicious act? Before you stop thinking look at it this way, is there no possibility that there was one or two persons who noticed suspicious acts on the day of the explosion or a day before but because there was no adequate provision made for such a person to report such acts, such persons kept mute. In developed countries, you only need to make a simple phone call and in less than three minutes the cops are crawling the area but because we do not have regard for human lives here, we do not take those things as priority.
I disagree with you that Mr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is fighting terrorism and if he is fighting it, he is fighting it wrongly. You cannot win this war without using ‘People Policing’.
Shall we continue like this and assume that the rest of us are safe? No! This is why I am writing this piece and appealing to everyone in government and citizens – there is a lot we can do that we have not yet done; there is a national disaster phone numbers we ought to have that we don’t have yet; there is a swift response squad we ought to have that is not yet in place; there is selfishness, greed and corruption playing Barcelona football on the Nigerian pitch that we need to park the bus against. If you think you are safe because you live in a mountain I urge you to look out the window and you will realize that there is fire on the mountain!
Gabriel Olatunji ‘Legend’ currently lives in Lagos where he runs his business and the inspirational blog, www.olatunjispeaks.com. Tweet at him @OLATUNJISPEAKS
Nigerians no longer care, or so it appears; but one thing Nigerians ask for is that there should be peace; that no 'Boko whatever' kill anyone – you can continue your looting but don’t let us die while you live large and quite frankly I do not think this is too much to ask.
We woke up to the news of Nyanya Bomb blast or is it explosion? I could not look at the pictures because it's probably the most gruesome act I have seen in a while. How did we get here? This has gone on for so long and we need to tame it immediately. As if that was not enough, 200 innocent school girls were also abducted the following morning by enemies of Nigeria and we still live as though everything is normal – Nothing is normal people! There is fire on the Nigerian mountain and nobody seem to bothered.
The most painful part of all of these is the insensitivity of Mr. President and his cohorts. Somebody need to ask Mr President if he would dare attend a rally the next day if his son was one of those who lost his life at the Nyanya explosion in Abuja. Would he have the legs to go and dance at a stupid rally? I don’t hate Mr Jonathan but I don’t love his ways either; even if I want to, he is making it difficult for me to, because no empathetic father will lose his son a day before and go out to celebrate the day after – this is why I do not believe that we have a President that has the competency, the will power, the effrontery and the commitment to combat terrorism and lead Nigeria to greatness.
You may argue the above points, but you cannot argue the glaring truths that this administration has not done anything close to enough. Where or what are the structures or systems put in place to combat terrorism since Mr President has been in charge? I need you to remove your racial and bias microscopic glasses now and think for once that – if you were at the Nyanya motor park a day before the incident and you noticed suspicious activity from some human elements, is there a system put in place that makes it extremely easy for you to report such suspicious act? Before you stop thinking look at it this way, is there no possibility that there was one or two persons who noticed suspicious acts on the day of the explosion or a day before but because there was no adequate provision made for such a person to report such acts, such persons kept mute. In developed countries, you only need to make a simple phone call and in less than three minutes the cops are crawling the area but because we do not have regard for human lives here, we do not take those things as priority.
I disagree with you that Mr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is fighting terrorism and if he is fighting it, he is fighting it wrongly. You cannot win this war without using ‘People Policing’.
Shall we continue like this and assume that the rest of us are safe? No! This is why I am writing this piece and appealing to everyone in government and citizens – there is a lot we can do that we have not yet done; there is a national disaster phone numbers we ought to have that we don’t have yet; there is a swift response squad we ought to have that is not yet in place; there is selfishness, greed and corruption playing Barcelona football on the Nigerian pitch that we need to park the bus against. If you think you are safe because you live in a mountain I urge you to look out the window and you will realize that there is fire on the mountain!
Gabriel Olatunji ‘Legend’ currently lives in Lagos where he runs his business and the inspirational blog, www.olatunjispeaks.com. Tweet at him @OLATUNJISPEAKS
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
7 Reasons Why You Will Never Do Anything Amazing With Your Life
Yeah that's right, you heard me... I'm talking to you... I'm calling you out.
I'm looking you in the eyes (OK well, not really since you are probably reading this article, but figuratively, I am burning a cyclops type hole in your face right now) and telling you that you don't stand a chance.
I'm telling you that if you can read this article, look through this list and not claim it as your own, then you should be a little worried.
Actually, you should be very worried. You should drop everything and immediately question your existence on earth. You should find a mirror, look yourself in the eyes, raise your hand and slap yourself in the face.
Got it? Now repeat that until you come to your senses and continue reading whenever you're ready.
I'm Talkin' Bout Street Skill, Son!
I'm not talking about the study hard, party light, graduate-top-of-your-class skills.
I'm not even talking about the slack-off, skip class, smoke weed, drink and party but still graduate skill-set your $50,000+ diploma has lead you to believe you have.
I'm talking bout step out your door, make some moves, and get-some-shit-done kinds of skills! Some move-out-your-mama's-house, quit your job, say "fuck the world" and then actually go do it kinds of skills.
The kinds of skills you develop in the real world, outside the bubble of your parents protection or the ideological indoctrination that has overwhelmed our entire educational system.
Skills that can be had by anyone willing to pay the price to get them. Skills that are quickly becoming extinct.
I'm talking bout skills that cannot be taught in a classroom or in a textbook. Skills you can only learn by doing; by learning how to fly after jumping off the cliff.
Skills that can only be developed when you find your true self. When you put yourself on the line or otherwise expose yourself to the possibility of failure.
The skills you can only develop when you are willing to risk it all in order to do that one amazing thing.
Skills that up until now, you thought you had.
"Basically, what I am trying to tell you is that, in this game called life, you don't stand a chance...
1) Because You Have Not Failed Enough
Because you are comfortable in your mediocrity; because you choose not to try.
Because it is easier to talk about learning that new (programming?) language as opposed to actually learning it.
Because you think everything is too hard or too complicated so you will just "sit this one out" or maybe you'll "do it tomorrow"!
Because you hate your job but won't get a new one; because it is easy to reject rejection.
Because while you're sitting around failing to try, I am out there trying to fail, challenging myself, learning new things and failing as fast as possible.
Because as I fail, I learn, and then adjust my course to make sure my path is always forward. Like the process of annealing steel, I've been through the fire and pounded into shape. The shape of a sword with polished edges and a razor sharp blade that will cut you in half if you are not equally hardened.
2) Because You Care What Others Think About You
Because you have to fit in.
Because you believe that being different is only cool if you're different in the same way that other people are different.
Because you are afraid to embrace your true self for fear of how the world will see you. You think that because you judge others, this means that those people must, in-turn, be judging you.
Because you care more about the stuff you have as opposed to the things you've done.
Because while you're out spending your money on new outfits, new cars, overpriced meals or nights at the bar, I'll be investing in myself. And while you try to fit in with the world I'll make the world fit in with me.
Because I will recklessly abandon all insecurities and expose my true self to the world. I will become immune to the impact of your opinion and stand naked in a crowd of ideas; comfortable in knowing that while you married the mundane I explored the exceptional.
3) Because You Think You Are Smarter Than You Are
Because you did what everyone else did; you studied what they studied and read what they read.
Because you learned what you had to learn in order to pass their tests and you think that makes you smart.
Because you think learning is only something people do in schools.
Because while you were away at college, I was studying life. Because instead of learning about the world in a classroom I went out and learned it by living.
Because I know more than any piece of paper you could ever frame from a university. Because smart is not what you learn, it's how you live.
Because I might not have a degree but I challenge you to find a topic that I can't talk to you about cohesively.
Because I could pass your tests if I had to, but you couldn't stand for a single second in the face of the tests that life has thrown me. Tests that are not graded on a bell curve or by percentages; tests that are graded by one simple stipulation: survival!
4) Because You Don't Read
Because you read the things you are required to read or nothing at all.
Because you think history is boring and philosophy is stupid.
Because you would rather sit and watch E! or MTV instead of exploring something new, instead of diving head first into the brain of another man in an attempt to better understand the world around you.
Because you refuse to acknowledge that all the power in the world comes from the words of those that lived before us. That anything you desire can be had by searching through the multitude of words that are available to us now more abundantly than ever before.
Because you are probably not reading this article even though you know you should.
Because the people that are reading this already know these things.
Because you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.
5) Because You Lack Curiosity
Because you get your news from copy-cat members of the state-controlled media.
Because you are unwilling to ask this simple question... "What if it's all a lie?" and accept the possibility that maybe it is; that just maybe, the methods of mass media are under direct orders to: keep you distracted.
Because you call me a know-it-all but refuse to call yourself a know-nothing-at-all.
Because I thirst for knowledge, regardless the topic.
Because while you're busy playing Candy Crush or Megalopolis, I am reading about string theory and quantum mechanics.
Because while you waste your time with Tosh.o I am learning how to edit video, build websites and design mobile apps.
Because if we were to go heads-up in a debate, I would crush you. I would make it a point to defeat my own argument; from every imaginable angle; in order to understand everything you might be able to use against me.
Because I would dedicate myself to understanding both sides of the argument so thoroughly that I could argue your side for you and win; even after having just handed you a defeat in the same debate.
6) Because You Don't Ask Enough Questions
Because you do not question authority.
Because you don't question yourself.
Because you don't understand the power of properly placed questioning in life, respectful disagreements and standing up for what you know to be right in the face of someone telling you otherwise. Unable to question reality; stuck in a self imposed survival strategy within a matrix-style monotony.
Because I know that you will give me all the information I need to destroy you by letting you talk.
Because I study human behaviors and you ignore everyone but yourself.
Because I watch how you say the things you say just as closely as I listen to what you say; and you say way too much!
Because control comes, not from spewing your ignorance like some incurable case of logorrhea, but from properly structuring the context of your questions.
Because I study the premise of your argument and destroy it from the ground level before you even get a chance to establish your ideas.
7) Because You Can't Handle The Truth
Because you refuse to admit that you don't even know the things you don't know.
Because there isn't an article online that would make up for all the time you have wasted in life.
Because even if I told you everything could be different tomorrow you would wait until then to begin doing anything about it.
Because even when you think I'm not, I'm aware of my surroundings.
Because you think that since I have not acknowledged you, it means that I have not seen you.
Because, you walk around with your head up your ass, oblivious to the world around you. Blissfully ignorant of the reality that sits so close to your face that if you stuck your tongue out, just once, you would taste it and realize how delicious the truth actually is.
Because you would become an instant addict. Unable to pull yourself from the teat of truth. Finally able to understand your lack of understanding, and then you would see; then you would know that the only thing holding you back from doing something truly amazing, is you.
This article first appeared on Raymmar's website: raymmar.com
Follow Raymmar Tirado on Twitter: www.twitter.com/RayTirado
Would you like to be my friend? Follow @OLATUNJISPEAKS on Twitter and tell me what you like or don’t like about my blog, www.OLATUNJISPEAKS.com
I'm looking you in the eyes (OK well, not really since you are probably reading this article, but figuratively, I am burning a cyclops type hole in your face right now) and telling you that you don't stand a chance.
I'm telling you that if you can read this article, look through this list and not claim it as your own, then you should be a little worried.
Actually, you should be very worried. You should drop everything and immediately question your existence on earth. You should find a mirror, look yourself in the eyes, raise your hand and slap yourself in the face.
Got it? Now repeat that until you come to your senses and continue reading whenever you're ready.
I'm Talkin' Bout Street Skill, Son!
I'm not talking about the study hard, party light, graduate-top-of-your-class skills.
I'm not even talking about the slack-off, skip class, smoke weed, drink and party but still graduate skill-set your $50,000+ diploma has lead you to believe you have.
I'm talking bout step out your door, make some moves, and get-some-shit-done kinds of skills! Some move-out-your-mama's-house, quit your job, say "fuck the world" and then actually go do it kinds of skills.
The kinds of skills you develop in the real world, outside the bubble of your parents protection or the ideological indoctrination that has overwhelmed our entire educational system.
Skills that can be had by anyone willing to pay the price to get them. Skills that are quickly becoming extinct.
I'm talking bout skills that cannot be taught in a classroom or in a textbook. Skills you can only learn by doing; by learning how to fly after jumping off the cliff.
Skills that can only be developed when you find your true self. When you put yourself on the line or otherwise expose yourself to the possibility of failure.
The skills you can only develop when you are willing to risk it all in order to do that one amazing thing.
Skills that up until now, you thought you had.
"Basically, what I am trying to tell you is that, in this game called life, you don't stand a chance...
1) Because You Have Not Failed Enough
Because you are comfortable in your mediocrity; because you choose not to try.
Because it is easier to talk about learning that new (programming?) language as opposed to actually learning it.
Because you think everything is too hard or too complicated so you will just "sit this one out" or maybe you'll "do it tomorrow"!
Because you hate your job but won't get a new one; because it is easy to reject rejection.
Because while you're sitting around failing to try, I am out there trying to fail, challenging myself, learning new things and failing as fast as possible.
Because as I fail, I learn, and then adjust my course to make sure my path is always forward. Like the process of annealing steel, I've been through the fire and pounded into shape. The shape of a sword with polished edges and a razor sharp blade that will cut you in half if you are not equally hardened.
2) Because You Care What Others Think About You
Because you have to fit in.
Because you believe that being different is only cool if you're different in the same way that other people are different.
Because you are afraid to embrace your true self for fear of how the world will see you. You think that because you judge others, this means that those people must, in-turn, be judging you.
Because you care more about the stuff you have as opposed to the things you've done.
Because while you're out spending your money on new outfits, new cars, overpriced meals or nights at the bar, I'll be investing in myself. And while you try to fit in with the world I'll make the world fit in with me.
Because I will recklessly abandon all insecurities and expose my true self to the world. I will become immune to the impact of your opinion and stand naked in a crowd of ideas; comfortable in knowing that while you married the mundane I explored the exceptional.
3) Because You Think You Are Smarter Than You Are
Because you did what everyone else did; you studied what they studied and read what they read.
Because you learned what you had to learn in order to pass their tests and you think that makes you smart.
Because you think learning is only something people do in schools.
Because while you were away at college, I was studying life. Because instead of learning about the world in a classroom I went out and learned it by living.
Because I know more than any piece of paper you could ever frame from a university. Because smart is not what you learn, it's how you live.
Because I might not have a degree but I challenge you to find a topic that I can't talk to you about cohesively.
Because I could pass your tests if I had to, but you couldn't stand for a single second in the face of the tests that life has thrown me. Tests that are not graded on a bell curve or by percentages; tests that are graded by one simple stipulation: survival!
4) Because You Don't Read
Because you read the things you are required to read or nothing at all.
Because you think history is boring and philosophy is stupid.
Because you would rather sit and watch E! or MTV instead of exploring something new, instead of diving head first into the brain of another man in an attempt to better understand the world around you.
Because you refuse to acknowledge that all the power in the world comes from the words of those that lived before us. That anything you desire can be had by searching through the multitude of words that are available to us now more abundantly than ever before.
Because you are probably not reading this article even though you know you should.
Because the people that are reading this already know these things.
Because you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.
5) Because You Lack Curiosity
Because you get your news from copy-cat members of the state-controlled media.
Because you are unwilling to ask this simple question... "What if it's all a lie?" and accept the possibility that maybe it is; that just maybe, the methods of mass media are under direct orders to: keep you distracted.
Because you call me a know-it-all but refuse to call yourself a know-nothing-at-all.
Because I thirst for knowledge, regardless the topic.
Because while you're busy playing Candy Crush or Megalopolis, I am reading about string theory and quantum mechanics.
Because while you waste your time with Tosh.o I am learning how to edit video, build websites and design mobile apps.
Because if we were to go heads-up in a debate, I would crush you. I would make it a point to defeat my own argument; from every imaginable angle; in order to understand everything you might be able to use against me.
Because I would dedicate myself to understanding both sides of the argument so thoroughly that I could argue your side for you and win; even after having just handed you a defeat in the same debate.
6) Because You Don't Ask Enough Questions
Because you do not question authority.
Because you don't question yourself.
Because you don't understand the power of properly placed questioning in life, respectful disagreements and standing up for what you know to be right in the face of someone telling you otherwise. Unable to question reality; stuck in a self imposed survival strategy within a matrix-style monotony.
Because I know that you will give me all the information I need to destroy you by letting you talk.
Because I study human behaviors and you ignore everyone but yourself.
Because I watch how you say the things you say just as closely as I listen to what you say; and you say way too much!
Because control comes, not from spewing your ignorance like some incurable case of logorrhea, but from properly structuring the context of your questions.
Because I study the premise of your argument and destroy it from the ground level before you even get a chance to establish your ideas.
7) Because You Can't Handle The Truth
Because you refuse to admit that you don't even know the things you don't know.
Because there isn't an article online that would make up for all the time you have wasted in life.
Because even if I told you everything could be different tomorrow you would wait until then to begin doing anything about it.
Because even when you think I'm not, I'm aware of my surroundings.
Because you think that since I have not acknowledged you, it means that I have not seen you.
Because, you walk around with your head up your ass, oblivious to the world around you. Blissfully ignorant of the reality that sits so close to your face that if you stuck your tongue out, just once, you would taste it and realize how delicious the truth actually is.
Because you would become an instant addict. Unable to pull yourself from the teat of truth. Finally able to understand your lack of understanding, and then you would see; then you would know that the only thing holding you back from doing something truly amazing, is you.
This article first appeared on Raymmar's website: raymmar.com
Follow Raymmar Tirado on Twitter: www.twitter.com/RayTirado
Would you like to be my friend? Follow @OLATUNJISPEAKS on Twitter and tell me what you like or don’t like about my blog, www.OLATUNJISPEAKS.com
7 Reasons Why You Will Never Do Anything Amazing With Your Life
Yeah that's right, you heard me... I'm talking to you... I'm calling you out.
I'm looking you in the eyes (OK well, not really since you are probably reading this article, but figuratively, I am burning a cyclops type hole in your face right now) and telling you that you don't stand a chance.
I'm telling you that if you can read this article, look through this list and not claim it as your own, then you should be a little worried.
Actually, you should be very worried. You should drop everything and immediately question your existence on earth. You should find a mirror, look yourself in the eyes, raise your hand and slap yourself in the face.
Got it? Now repeat that until you come to your senses and continue reading whenever you're ready.
I'm Talkin' Bout Street Skill, Son!
I'm not talking about the study hard, party light, graduate-top-of-your-class skills.
I'm not even talking about the slack-off, skip class, smoke weed, drink and party but still graduate skill-set your $50,000+ diploma has lead you to believe you have.
I'm talking bout step out your door, make some moves, and get-some-shit-done kinds of skills! Some move-out-your-mama's-house, quit your job, say "fuck the world" and then actually go do it kinds of skills.
The kinds of skills you develop in the real world, outside the bubble of your parents protection or the ideological indoctrination that has overwhelmed our entire educational system.
Skills that can be had by anyone willing to pay the price to get them. Skills that are quickly becoming extinct.
I'm talking bout skills that cannot be taught in a classroom or in a textbook. Skills you can only learn by doing; by learning how to fly after jumping off the cliff.
Skills that can only be developed when you find your true self. When you put yourself on the line or otherwise expose yourself to the possibility of failure.
The skills you can only develop when you are willing to risk it all in order to do that one amazing thing.
Skills that up until now, you thought you had.
"Basically, what I am trying to tell you is that, in this game called life, you don't stand a chance...
1) Because You Have Not Failed Enough
Because you are comfortable in your mediocrity; because you choose not to try.
Because it is easier to talk about learning that new (programming?) language as opposed to actually learning it.
Because you think everything is too hard or too complicated so you will just "sit this one out" or maybe you'll "do it tomorrow"!
Because you hate your job but won't get a new one; because it is easy to reject rejection.
Because while you're sitting around failing to try, I am out there trying to fail, challenging myself, learning new things and failing as fast as possible.
Because as I fail, I learn, and then adjust my course to make sure my path is always forward. Like the process of annealing steel, I've been through the fire and pounded into shape. The shape of a sword with polished edges and a razor sharp blade that will cut you in half if you are not equally hardened.
2) Because You Care What Others Think About You
Because you have to fit in.
Because you believe that being different is only cool if you're different in the same way that other people are different.
Because you are afraid to embrace your true self for fear of how the world will see you. You think that because you judge others, this means that those people must, in-turn, be judging you.
Because you care more about the stuff you have as opposed to the things you've done.
Because while you're out spending your money on new outfits, new cars, overpriced meals or nights at the bar, I'll be investing in myself. And while you try to fit in with the world I'll make the world fit in with me.
Because I will recklessly abandon all insecurities and expose my true self to the world. I will become immune to the impact of your opinion and stand naked in a crowd of ideas; comfortable in knowing that while you married the mundane I explored the exceptional.
3) Because You Think You Are Smarter Than You Are
Because you did what everyone else did; you studied what they studied and read what they read.
Because you learned what you had to learn in order to pass their tests and you think that makes you smart.
Because you think learning is only something people do in schools.
Because while you were away at college, I was studying life. Because instead of learning about the world in a classroom I went out and learned it by living.
Because I know more than any piece of paper you could ever frame from a university. Because smart is not what you learn, it's how you live.
Because I might not have a degree but I challenge you to find a topic that I can't talk to you about cohesively.
Because I could pass your tests if I had to, but you couldn't stand for a single second in the face of the tests that life has thrown me. Tests that are not graded on a bell curve or by percentages; tests that are graded by one simple stipulation: survival!
4) Because You Don't Read
Because you read the things you are required to read or nothing at all.
Because you think history is boring and philosophy is stupid.
Because you would rather sit and watch E! or MTV instead of exploring something new, instead of diving head first into the brain of another man in an attempt to better understand the world around you.
Because you refuse to acknowledge that all the power in the world comes from the words of those that lived before us. That anything you desire can be had by searching through the multitude of words that are available to us now more abundantly than ever before.
Because you are probably not reading this article even though you know you should.
Because the people that are reading this already know these things.
Because you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.
5) Because You Lack Curiosity
Because you get your news from copy-cat members of the state-controlled media.
Because you are unwilling to ask this simple question... "What if it's all a lie?" and accept the possibility that maybe it is; that just maybe, the methods of mass media are under direct orders to: keep you distracted.
Because you call me a know-it-all but refuse to call yourself a know-nothing-at-all.
Because I thirst for knowledge, regardless the topic.
Because while you're busy playing Candy Crush or Megalopolis, I am reading about string theory and quantum mechanics.
Because while you waste your time with Tosh.o I am learning how to edit video, build websites and design mobile apps.
Because if we were to go heads-up in a debate, I would crush you. I would make it a point to defeat my own argument; from every imaginable angle; in order to understand everything you might be able to use against me.
Because I would dedicate myself to understanding both sides of the argument so thoroughly that I could argue your side for you and win; even after having just handed you a defeat in the same debate.
6) Because You Don't Ask Enough Questions
Because you do not question authority.
Because you don't question yourself.
Because you don't understand the power of properly placed questioning in life, respectful disagreements and standing up for what you know to be right in the face of someone telling you otherwise. Unable to question reality; stuck in a self imposed survival strategy within a matrix-style monotony.
Because I know that you will give me all the information I need to destroy you by letting you talk.
Because I study human behaviors and you ignore everyone but yourself.
Because I watch how you say the things you say just as closely as I listen to what you say; and you say way too much!
Because control comes, not from spewing your ignorance like some incurable case of logorrhea, but from properly structuring the context of your questions.
Because I study the premise of your argument and destroy it from the ground level before you even get a chance to establish your ideas.
7) Because You Can't Handle The Truth
Because you refuse to admit that you don't even know the things you don't know.
Because there isn't an article online that would make up for all the time you have wasted in life.
Because even if I told you everything could be different tomorrow you would wait until then to begin doing anything about it.
Because even when you think I'm not, I'm aware of my surroundings.
Because you think that since I have not acknowledged you, it means that I have not seen you.
Because, you walk around with your head up your ass, oblivious to the world around you. Blissfully ignorant of the reality that sits so close to your face that if you stuck your tongue out, just once, you would taste it and realize how delicious the truth actually is.
Because you would become an instant addict. Unable to pull yourself from the teat of truth. Finally able to understand your lack of understanding, and then you would see; then you would know that the only thing holding you back from doing something truly amazing, is you.
This article first appeared on Raymmar's website: raymmar.com
Follow Raymmar Tirado on Twitter: www.twitter.com/RayTirado
I'm looking you in the eyes (OK well, not really since you are probably reading this article, but figuratively, I am burning a cyclops type hole in your face right now) and telling you that you don't stand a chance.
I'm telling you that if you can read this article, look through this list and not claim it as your own, then you should be a little worried.
Actually, you should be very worried. You should drop everything and immediately question your existence on earth. You should find a mirror, look yourself in the eyes, raise your hand and slap yourself in the face.
Got it? Now repeat that until you come to your senses and continue reading whenever you're ready.
I'm Talkin' Bout Street Skill, Son!
I'm not talking about the study hard, party light, graduate-top-of-your-class skills.
I'm not even talking about the slack-off, skip class, smoke weed, drink and party but still graduate skill-set your $50,000+ diploma has lead you to believe you have.
I'm talking bout step out your door, make some moves, and get-some-shit-done kinds of skills! Some move-out-your-mama's-house, quit your job, say "fuck the world" and then actually go do it kinds of skills.
The kinds of skills you develop in the real world, outside the bubble of your parents protection or the ideological indoctrination that has overwhelmed our entire educational system.
Skills that can be had by anyone willing to pay the price to get them. Skills that are quickly becoming extinct.
I'm talking bout skills that cannot be taught in a classroom or in a textbook. Skills you can only learn by doing; by learning how to fly after jumping off the cliff.
Skills that can only be developed when you find your true self. When you put yourself on the line or otherwise expose yourself to the possibility of failure.
The skills you can only develop when you are willing to risk it all in order to do that one amazing thing.
Skills that up until now, you thought you had.
"Basically, what I am trying to tell you is that, in this game called life, you don't stand a chance...
1) Because You Have Not Failed Enough
Because you are comfortable in your mediocrity; because you choose not to try.
Because it is easier to talk about learning that new (programming?) language as opposed to actually learning it.
Because you think everything is too hard or too complicated so you will just "sit this one out" or maybe you'll "do it tomorrow"!
Because you hate your job but won't get a new one; because it is easy to reject rejection.
Because while you're sitting around failing to try, I am out there trying to fail, challenging myself, learning new things and failing as fast as possible.
Because as I fail, I learn, and then adjust my course to make sure my path is always forward. Like the process of annealing steel, I've been through the fire and pounded into shape. The shape of a sword with polished edges and a razor sharp blade that will cut you in half if you are not equally hardened.
2) Because You Care What Others Think About You
Because you have to fit in.
Because you believe that being different is only cool if you're different in the same way that other people are different.
Because you are afraid to embrace your true self for fear of how the world will see you. You think that because you judge others, this means that those people must, in-turn, be judging you.
Because you care more about the stuff you have as opposed to the things you've done.
Because while you're out spending your money on new outfits, new cars, overpriced meals or nights at the bar, I'll be investing in myself. And while you try to fit in with the world I'll make the world fit in with me.
Because I will recklessly abandon all insecurities and expose my true self to the world. I will become immune to the impact of your opinion and stand naked in a crowd of ideas; comfortable in knowing that while you married the mundane I explored the exceptional.
3) Because You Think You Are Smarter Than You Are
Because you did what everyone else did; you studied what they studied and read what they read.
Because you learned what you had to learn in order to pass their tests and you think that makes you smart.
Because you think learning is only something people do in schools.
Because while you were away at college, I was studying life. Because instead of learning about the world in a classroom I went out and learned it by living.
Because I know more than any piece of paper you could ever frame from a university. Because smart is not what you learn, it's how you live.
Because I might not have a degree but I challenge you to find a topic that I can't talk to you about cohesively.
Because I could pass your tests if I had to, but you couldn't stand for a single second in the face of the tests that life has thrown me. Tests that are not graded on a bell curve or by percentages; tests that are graded by one simple stipulation: survival!
4) Because You Don't Read
Because you read the things you are required to read or nothing at all.
Because you think history is boring and philosophy is stupid.
Because you would rather sit and watch E! or MTV instead of exploring something new, instead of diving head first into the brain of another man in an attempt to better understand the world around you.
Because you refuse to acknowledge that all the power in the world comes from the words of those that lived before us. That anything you desire can be had by searching through the multitude of words that are available to us now more abundantly than ever before.
Because you are probably not reading this article even though you know you should.
Because the people that are reading this already know these things.
Because you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.
5) Because You Lack Curiosity
Because you get your news from copy-cat members of the state-controlled media.
Because you are unwilling to ask this simple question... "What if it's all a lie?" and accept the possibility that maybe it is; that just maybe, the methods of mass media are under direct orders to: keep you distracted.
Because you call me a know-it-all but refuse to call yourself a know-nothing-at-all.
Because I thirst for knowledge, regardless the topic.
Because while you're busy playing Candy Crush or Megalopolis, I am reading about string theory and quantum mechanics.
Because while you waste your time with Tosh.o I am learning how to edit video, build websites and design mobile apps.
Because if we were to go heads-up in a debate, I would crush you. I would make it a point to defeat my own argument; from every imaginable angle; in order to understand everything you might be able to use against me.
Because I would dedicate myself to understanding both sides of the argument so thoroughly that I could argue your side for you and win; even after having just handed you a defeat in the same debate.
6) Because You Don't Ask Enough Questions
Because you do not question authority.
Because you don't question yourself.
Because you don't understand the power of properly placed questioning in life, respectful disagreements and standing up for what you know to be right in the face of someone telling you otherwise. Unable to question reality; stuck in a self imposed survival strategy within a matrix-style monotony.
Because I know that you will give me all the information I need to destroy you by letting you talk.
Because I study human behaviors and you ignore everyone but yourself.
Because I watch how you say the things you say just as closely as I listen to what you say; and you say way too much!
Because control comes, not from spewing your ignorance like some incurable case of logorrhea, but from properly structuring the context of your questions.
Because I study the premise of your argument and destroy it from the ground level before you even get a chance to establish your ideas.
7) Because You Can't Handle The Truth
Because you refuse to admit that you don't even know the things you don't know.
Because there isn't an article online that would make up for all the time you have wasted in life.
Because even if I told you everything could be different tomorrow you would wait until then to begin doing anything about it.
Because even when you think I'm not, I'm aware of my surroundings.
Because you think that since I have not acknowledged you, it means that I have not seen you.
Because, you walk around with your head up your ass, oblivious to the world around you. Blissfully ignorant of the reality that sits so close to your face that if you stuck your tongue out, just once, you would taste it and realize how delicious the truth actually is.
Because you would become an instant addict. Unable to pull yourself from the teat of truth. Finally able to understand your lack of understanding, and then you would see; then you would know that the only thing holding you back from doing something truly amazing, is you.
This article first appeared on Raymmar's website: raymmar.com
Follow Raymmar Tirado on Twitter: www.twitter.com/RayTirado
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