The Nation Newspaper

Category: Jobs

  • Commonsense in present day entrepreneurs

    People say commonsense is like a deodorant. Interestingly, those who need it most never use it. Over the time, I have seen that business fundamental and its principles do not change. It is the entrepreneurs who need to apply commonsense and change with the times.

    My experience with twenty five startups entrepreneurs monthly gave me a clear authority to summarise young startups NOT ready to succeed in this age and time because of below three reasons:

    – Failure to understand that, there is no replacement for hard work.

    – Failure to acquire right skills and experience in area of exploration.

    – Failure to apply common sense in their activities of the business.

    Let me quickly share my personal experience with Femi Williams. Femi, by the way, is a graduate of Economics from University of Lagos. According to him, he invested just N25,000 into gaming show while he was still in UNILAG. The business made good income and saw him through school.

    For a business that was generating N65, 000 monthly, I mean what else can you ask for? If not to expand. Unfortunately, this young undergraduate entrepreneur graduated, went for service and came back to the street to seek for white collar jobs?

    Femi was still looking for job after two years of graduation. Of course, he met me for counseling and I only asked him ONE question: Do you want to start a life or just be in an office environment? He took him five minutes to answer me, by saying he want to start a life immediately. At that point, I realised he knows what he wanted, then I took him back to his entrepreneurial foundation to get the gaming business on track. He registered a business name, opened a current account and makes a minimum of N8, 000 monthly.

    Presently, a commercial bank is ready to loan him N1,000,000 to expand the business to Lagos State University.

    In conclusion, every entrepreneur must desire to think, start small and grow with time. After all, time and chance define success. Remember, commonsense is the most limited of all natural resources. Always use your third eye in business.

    Also find below an article that better elucidate on the subject under discussion. Bon apetit!

  • Why commonsense is key to successful management

    “Nothing astonishes men so much as common sense and plain dealing.”
    – Ralph Waldo Emerson

    I often say management is hard but not complex.

    Much of effective management involves common sense.  But just because something is common sense doesn’t mean it’s commonly practiced.  If management truly were easy, which it’s not, we’d never see national employee engagement levels hovering persistently around 30 percent. Which we do?

    Keep in mind in this post I’m not talking about managing business activities as sophisticated, let’s say, as engineering culture change, or developing a cutting-edge new product, or altering the strategic direction of a company.  I’m talking about nuts-and-bolts day-to-day management.  I’m talking about managing your fundamental operations effectively, as all successful companies have to.  Which always involves one thing: getting the best out of your people on an ongoing basis.

    In this context, following are four thoughts on effective management. They’re almost embarrassingly simple, yet the reality is they’re by no means always practiced.   But if they are, it’s a good bet your results will be good.

    Most people like to be treated the way you like to be treated – In terms of attitude, motivation and productivity, the vast majority of employees respond best to fair, decent management treatment.  They’ll work hardest when treated that way.  Why wouldn’t they?

    Recommended by Forbes

    Treating people decently doesn’t mean you don’t have high expectations of them – Expect the best from people and don’t settle hastily or lazily for less.  In a word (or two), expect excellence.  To be sure, your employees won’t all be superstars.  But they are all capable of giving superior effort.

    Set clear, fair goals and hold people to them – Formalize your expectations with well-conceived goals and objectives that employees understand and buy into.  Clear goals reflect clear thinking.  Accountability is fundamental yet often neglected, even among senior managers, as studies show.  Yet isn’t the job of management to hold people accountable for very specific results?  Sure it is.

    Do your best to be a “stand-up guy” (or woman) – For this one I have a story.  It involves what I feel was, in my decades in management, the best compliment I ever received.  It was definitely the compliment that pleased me the most, and one of the few that after all these years I actually remember.  This was the situation: A new boss of mine, an SVP who’d come from another company, was for her own understanding trying to get a handle on how others in our organization perceived me.  (I was relatively new to executive ranks, though I’d been with the company over a decade.)  So my new boss happened to ask one of our division heads, a longtime SVP whom I had great respect for.  He was a no-nonsense executive known for his ability to run large divisions efficiently and effectively, no small task.  As my new boss later related it to me, when she asked the tough old division head for his opinion of me, he thought it over for a minute, then nodded and said simply, “He’s a stand-up guy.”  No doubt I had, and still have, several hundred significant faults, but at least I could be counted on to be trusted.  If I said something, I meant it.  This was a big Fortune 500 company, and over the years I worked with many very smart people, and many times, as the saying goes, I wasn’t the brightest bulb or the sharpest tack in the room.  I know that, and have long since accepted it.  But I wasn’t duplicitous or political.  As the estimable Mr. Emerson would say, I tried to be “plain dealing” in my dealings with people.  Over time people came to understand that, and in the long run I strongly believe it was of value in my management of others.

    So that’s it.  Four common-sense thoughts. Nothing hard to grasp, to be sure.  All pretty simple.  But all pretty effective when it comes to getting the best out of others, which is after all the core of management.

     

  • Means to meet wants

    Life is in phases, men are in sizes! 

    There is no doubt about the phrase because many people today see life as not being fair to them expecting manners to fall from heaven for them.

    A philosopher once compared two words that look alike but they are different, “suffering” and “offering”. That is, if you want to live a suffering-free life, then you must be ready to offer something, no matter the competition.

    Stanford MBA School, Professor Jeffrey Pfeiffer, in a research on success and power identified focus as one of the main factors that determines a successful person.

    Sounds generic but Pfeiffer cites the example of a young LBJ turning down a lucrative oil investment because he knew, down the road, being allied with oil companies could hurt his chance at sitting in the oval office.

    It is no doubt that he was thinking way ahead and making decisions aligned with his goals.

    Note, most successful CEOs tend to stay in one industry and at one company because energy is not diverted and a strong base is established.

    Now the question is, do you desire to live a successful life? If your answer is yes, then you must programme your mind, and hack your body to stay in a positive state, a state of action taking throughout the day.

    According to Prof Pfeiffer, “One of the biggest pitfalls in the modern society is to fall in to the trap of going on autopilot, to be walking dead and do what everyone else are doing. Most of us are too busy reacting and responding to the environment and what’s happening around us. While we should act and take charge of our own world, and our own reality. We forget to stay focused and we forget about our goals.”

    Action

    As an entrepreneur, though not there, but my sustaining factor is creating a powerful belief system both for myself and about myself.

    Ask any successful person what their number one rule for succeeding is. They all believe in themselves and what they’re doing, and they are not afraid to say it. If you don’t believe in yourself, why would anyone else?

    When people ask you about your goals in life, don’t be afraid to say it out loud. If you have high goals, they might laugh and look at you funny. But if you’re insecure about your goals, you will make insecure decisions that will lead you nowhere. Go against the grain, stand out. After all, how many people in the world today are actually living the dream?

    Be determined and believe in yourself. People will respect you for having the guts for going after what you truly desire.

    Years back, I shared in the believe that my success can only come if I travel abroad but later, I told myself, since I have nobody who will give me millions to travel abroad and there is no job out there, then what can I do because I must not beg from friends to eat. Then I looked inward, I found where my strength lies.

    The first step to living and achieving your dream is to believe it and imagine it. When you believe in your mind that you’ve already achieved your goals you will develop a sense of certainty. That certainty will lead to action steps, when you know what the outcome is going to be it’s much easier to pick out the actions that are necessary to get there.

    But there is need for you to guard your day-to-day decisions because that will lead you to take the appropriate actions to reach your goals. Have a purpose with life, act according to your values, and don’t let people tell you what to do or how things should be.

    When you start to make more conscious decisions, you will start to think about if this is going to take you closer to your goals or drift you further away. While you are taking the decision, you must bury your ego and get along if you want to be successful. Alliances and allies are far more likely to be beneficial on an everyday basis. Ego can be a huge enemy even when you know what the smart move is.

    It is a great advantage to be able to swallow your pride and lose the battle in order to win the war.

    Finally, you must write down your goals and invest in yourself. A wise man was once asked what the best possible investment someone could make. His answer was short, sweet and simple: “Invest In Yourself.”

    Go get it.

    It is never too late to start all over again if you are not happy about yesterday but you must submerge your ego and get along.

    No matter how old you are, where you are from or what you do for a living, we all share something in common — a desire to be successful!

  • ‘At The Job Show, every job is for free!’

    ‘At The Job Show, every job is for free!’

    The story of Eyikogbe Olusegun Michael, 27 years plus, is quite an interesting one.

    A young man of a very humble background with a deep Christian root, he has never had tried to do anything against his value judgment no matter the temptation.

    As such, when he finished his Ordinary Diploma Programme in Computer Science at the Yaba Collect of Technology (YabaTech), Lagos, rather than get desperate as many of his contemporaries suggested, he tried as best he could not to fall prey to any of the job scams around.

    He circulated his CVs around friends and families hoping help could come from somewhere but it never did.

    It was a long wait indeed until, providence smiled on him in form of a friend, who told him about The Job Show and his job hunting search cam e to a fruitful end.

    He shares his story.

    “At this juncture, I think it won’t be really out of place to use this medium to say a very big thank you to The Job Show crew, most importantly to Mr. Bimbo for helping me to secure my present job.

    “Thanks to The Job Show, I secured my job without paying agent fee, no charges, nothing. It’s totally free.

    “I have been in dire need of job since year 2013 without luck. I had been praying to God for a miracle. So, thankfully, in the year 2014 a friend of mine, Temitope Rasheed, a colleague in the same department, at Yaba Tech, introduced me to a radio programme called The Job Show. The first time I listened to the programme, which comes up every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at City FM by 2.30 to3.00 then, but runs every Wednesday 10am, I was unable to get a call through. So, I made up my mind to listen to the next one that was when I was able to talk to Mr. Bimbo and he asked me to send my CV and visit www.thejobshow.net. After this, I received a message from them acknowledging receipt of my CV. That was how I got a pin, which connected me to him (Mr. Bimbo). After talking to him on BB, he asked me to come and see him in his office with a copy of my CV and that was all. Subsequently, he commented on my CV and directed me to the HR Department of Consolidated Hallmark Insurance. Thankfully, after some hours of interview, that was how I became a staff of this insurance company till date since January 28th 2014.

    “Although the job I do is not directly related what I studied in school but I’m quite fulfilled. I’m presently an Underwriter with the company. The company is an avenue to learn and it’s perfect for me. There’s growth prospect here.

    ”I really can’t thank Mr. Bimbo and his crew enough. I pray God bless your hand work and I want to use this medium to advice all unemployed youths out there never to give up in life. It’s true that in the search for that dream job of yours, you may have encountered so many things must important our ladies and still you are unable to get the job. But please don’t give up. Hold on to your God. He will surely connect you to your helper. I never believed I could find myself where I’m today. But I believe when all hope is lost, God raises a helper for this generation through The Job Show through his servant, Mr. Bimbo. We should always be informed, instead of engaging our self in a negative way. There’s a popular saying that ‘show me your friend and I will tell you who you are.’ This should always be our watchword, irrespective of the bad society, with hard work and hope in God we will get to our promised land.

     

    Eyikogbe Olusegun Michael: 0802 093 5850

  • Don’t sabotage your job interview

    In our business, we often get asked how to stand out from the crowd and be noticed. Equally as important, people should also ask how to avoid being noticed for the wrong things. Below are ten examples of how people have absolutely sabotaged their own job interview. These stories, unsealed from our job seekers’ hall of shame, are true, but the details have been changed to protect the embarrassed.

    Number 10 – The Job-Seeker Umbilical Cord – There are things to bring to an interview—a stellar resume, stories that showcase your expertise. There are things to leave home—like your mother. The candidate who had Mom wait in the lobby during the interview obviously didn’t get that memo.

    Number 9 – Little Johnny’s Veto – Major career moves do impact the family, but not everyone should have veto power. With an offer in hand, a candidate told a recruiter, “I need to discuss this with my son” (a conversation that, by the way, should have occurred before this point). Turns out 8-year-old Johnny said no.

    Number 8 – Rambling On…and On… – A candidate, brought in for a 30-minute interview, talked nonstop for 20 minutes on the first question, ignoring the subtle signs (interviewers shifting in their chairs) and then also missed the more blatant signals (interviewers looking at their watches) to wrap up. At the end of the filibuster, the candidate said, “Oh, wait, I forgot what my point was.” In short: make a point and be economical with words.

    Number 7 – Treating A Receptionist Poorly – You won’t believe the number of job opportunities that are killed because of rudeness to a receptionist. And if you do think the interviewer was inconsiderate or difficult, don’t say so on your cell phone as you are having your parking validated by the receptionist.

    Number 6 – No Filter – There are so many ways for you to get into trouble – by words and deed. One candidate who had a glass eye enthusiastically offered an impromptu show and tell – popping his glass eye out of its socket and showing it to his potential employer. Or the candidate, who over a breakfast interview, ate all of his pancakes – with this hands. The point is obvious: think before you act.

    Number 5 – “What I Meant to Say…” – Everything you say in an interview makes an impression—good or bad. Woe to the candidate, who while interviewing for a job with Pepsi, said he was a bit parched … and asked for a Coke. Or, another candidate, up for a job at Yahoo!, who was stumped by a question, and said definitively, “I’ll Google that one.” And then there was the candidate who met with the CEO of a large fast-food chain, who at the close of what had been a great interview asked, “You don’t really eat this stuff, do you?”

    Number 4 – Dressing for Failure – Clothing failures abound! There’s the candidate who showed up in an outfit meant for “Dancing with the Stars,” not “Auditing with the Accountants.” Or the person who, looking to calm his nerves, ordered a Bloody Mary on his inbound flight and spilled it all over himself during turbulence. Then he was late for the interview because he needed to buy another shirt. Ditto the guy who wore jeans and a t-shirt on the plane, and packed his suit in luggage that got lost.

    Number 3 – Wardrobe Malfunction – You’d think smart, capable people would know enough to put their pants on. Not so with the guy who, during a video interview, had to get up quickly to shut the door when his dog started barking. Waist up, he was all Brooks Brothers; waist down, only boxers. Or, the person, wearing the Canali suit he bought 20 pounds ago, who blew out the back of his slacks as he sat down in the reception area. He promptly asked the receptionist for a stapler and went into a side office, where an unmistakable “click…click…click…” was heard, as he performed sewing triage.

    Number 2 – Wasting People’s Time – After two months of multiple interviews with senior management in different cities, concluding with a board meeting, and a lucrative job offer, a senior executive shook hands on the deal. On the first day of work, though, he was a no-show. When the CEO finally reached him, he was on en route to an ashram in Nepal—he just didn’t think he was “evolved” enough to take the position. Your time is valuable—and so is everyone else’s. If you are fortunate enough to get the job, take it seriously.

    And the Number 1 Thing That Will Absolutely Sabotage Your Interview – Resume “Creativity” – If you didn’t really go to Harvard… if your degree is in interpretive dance and not finance … or if that six months of community service you brag about on your resume was actually time served in prison (yes, these are real stories)… people will find out. And if you think it’s hilarious to post your mug shot, after the bachelor party ended with a drunken disorderly, on Facebook, know that the “information highway” runs in all directions.

    Out of millions of interviews conducted each year, these stories are the outrageous outliers. But they do bring up some valid points for everyone to consider—be prepared, think before you speak, dress for success, and consider what could go wrong as well as what will go right. Sounds like common sense but, as the saying goes, “Common sense isn’t so common.”

     

  • 25 things I learned about life by age 25

    When I turned 25 a few months ago, I wrote down some of the things I’ve learned over my short time on earth. The last year has been a crazy roller-coaster ride which has enabled me to see certain things like never before Last year during this time, I was working at what I would consider my “dream job” — well, before I discovered my current “job” (I don’t think I can even call it a job).

    Over the last year, I’ve tried to learn from people who have “made it” in life — entrepreneurs, figureheads, lawyers, bankers and even politicians. I’ve realized that there is no formula to success in life, but there are definitely lessons that can be learned to help along the journey. I came up with the following list which I hope to someday come back to — but for now, I think it’s a pretty accurate depiction of how I think. So without further adieu:

    1. Take risks when you’re young. The older you become, the harder it gets. But they should always be calculated.
    2. The most important thing you learn in school is how to learn. Once you master that, nothing will stand in your way. Never stop learning.
    3. I would rather say that I tried and failed than live a life of regret. You miss every shot you don’t take.
    4. Dream big. Life is too short to only be mediocre.
    5. Music is the cheapest and simplest cure to life’s problems. Queue up your favourite play list, put on some headphones, and take a walk. You’ll instantly feel better.
    6. Drink. Drink lots of water. It makes you think more creatively. Oh, and wine too, very optional.
    7. Join clubs and put yourself in as many different social settings as possible. It will help you understand people and make you a better communicator.
    8. Start your own business as young as possible. Even if it’s a lemonade stand, it will teach you business lessons you’ll use for the rest of your life.
    9. If you’re going to fail, fail fast and make it public. Don’t drag it on. Then pick yourself back up. Knowing that others watched you fail will encourage you to prove them wrong.
    10. Meet lots of different people. Life is serendipitous in many ways, and you never know what can happen.
    11. When life throws lemons at you, make lemonade. Then pour it for all your friends. Be optimistic. It spreads like wild fire.
    12. Success does not lead to happiness. You need to be happy first before you can become successful. Find what makes you happy. Don’t stop until you find it.
    13. Many people don’t want to start businesses because they are scared. Successful entrepreneurs got to where they are because they were willing to tread where others wouldn’t. If you’re too scared to leave your 9-5 job, entrepreneurship is not meant for you.
    14. Surround yourself with people way smarter than you. That is the only way you will be challenged to grow.
    15. Only those who are with you during the struggles deserve to be with you when you celebrate the successes.
    16. Pick and choose your battles carefully. There are only 24 hours in a day. If something isn’t worth your time, just say no … or outsource it to India 😉 (Thank you, “4 Hour Workweek.”)
    17. The most important asset to invest in is yourself. Take classes to make yourself a better person and never stop learning. Buy books. Lots of them.
    18. True friends will never question why you disappeared off the face of the earth. They will be there for you unconditionally.
    19. The more comfortable you are with a job you don’t want to be doing, the harder it will become to leave it and chase your dreams. Learn what you can, then go change the world.
    20. A dream job does not exist. You have to create it.
    21. Travel as much as you can. You will come back with a wider perspective of the world and more ideas on how to change it.
    22. “Thank You” — the most powerful two words in the English dictionary.
    23. God gave us all a purpose. Don’t settle until you find yours. I didn’t think mine was to sit in front of computer screens and trade foreign exchange, so I kept looking.
    24. The world may seem big and scary. But the older you get, the more you realise that everything is man-made. Nothing is set in stone. Don’t stick with the status quo.
    25. Life is not easy. But having the right support group with you during your journey goes a long, long way.

     

    Fung, is Chief Executive Officer, Tunez

  • ‘I got a job in less than 90 days!’

    ‘I got a job in less than 90 days!’

    Mr. Awaritoma Ogheneovo Chris, 29 years, who hails from oil-rich Niger Delta, Delta State to be precise, has lived in Lagos for sometime now. A young man who is always looking out for opportunities, he didn’t exercise any fear when his NYSC call-up letter said he had to go to Kaduna State for the compulsory one year service.

    A 2009 graduate of B.Sc Economics Education from the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), he had no qualms at all when he was posted to teach at the Kurmin-Jibrin Secondary School, in Kadaroko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where he taught the wards Physical and Health Education.

    Of course, he lived in Kaduna and soon left for Lagos after his NYSC.

    Chris, who easily describes himself as a teacher at heart, subsequently landed a teaching job shortly after he returned from Youth service in 2011.

    Ever willing to explore new frontiers of life, he took up an offer at a microfinance bank. But unfortunately for him, the job hardly lasted because of the regulatory headwinds which affected majority of the Mfbs at the time.

    Thankfully, with the little funds in his savings, he decided to set up shop as a saloon operator and retailer of beauty and cosmetics products somewhere around Egbeda, an uptown district of Lagos. But as with all startups, he could hardly take the business to the next level. He failed in business. With no job and no business to fall back on, ever restless, he soon began a search for a new job which he so badly needed to keep body and soul together.

    He tells his story himself:

    “My job hunting experience spanned few months. I was actually listening to Topradio Fm sometime in July or so. I had just finished listening to a programme on air when the continuity announcer said listeners should  stay glue to the station because the next programme on air was or had something to do with those looking for jobs. Naturally, I was interested because I was out of job and badly needed one at that point in time.

    “As you know, the major characteristic of our labour market is underemployment. As experience have shown, it is becoming increasingly difficult for a school leaver to find a decent job. One wonders why the government is performing poorly in the area of employment generation. In fact, it has done little or nothing about labour in Nigeria. Perhaps privatisation can help us get efficiency from our utilities. I rate the government on a minus scale. So much for the digression.

    “As I said, after listening to the show that day, I became a fan. By and large, after about three months of listening to the programme I heard about a vacancy that I was well suited for and decided to apply.

    “Without paying my way or offering any gratification whatsoever, I landed my present job at Stone Ridge Montessori Schools, Ajah, Lagos.

    “I give kudos to the organisers of the show. They are examples of those who are qualified to be global citizens. The Job Show has given people like me a LIFE. I thank God and The Job Show for helping me get my present job which I’m happy about. The Job Show is a most perfect of how to be your brother’s keeper.

    “Mr. Bimbo is doing a very great job and I pray God reward him abundantly because aroun here, especially these days it’s rare to find people who show concern for other people’s problem. It is very rare these days.

    “Job seekers should continue to listen to The Job Show. They should not lose hope because The Job Show has given them the platform for them to be seen, their voices to be heard and their request granted.

     

    Mr. Awaritoma Ogheneovo Chris

    0703 388 6210

  • Want to find your passion? Learn from the story of Hansel and Gretel

    Want to find your passion? Learn from the story of Hansel and Gretel

    In the beginning, there’s not enough food to go round because of famine. As a result  people starved as such only few among family members could feed. One night, the children overheard their parents talk about abandoning them in the forest in order for them to be able to fend for themselves.

    Fortunately, Hansel had a plan. He sneaked outside to collect a bunch of pebbles, placing them in his pocket before going to bed. The next morning, Hansel and Gretel were sent on an errand to collect firewood in the forest. Their parents reassured them that they’ll get picked up before night falls. As they walked away from the house, Hansel secretly dropped  one pebble at a time until they went deeper into the forest.

    By night time, the wolves were howling and naturally, Gretel feared for their lives. They got lost at this point, and the wolves’ yellow eyes gnawed at them like they were some ‘dinner’ to be eaten up!

    “Let’s make a fire,” Hansel suggested. Once the flames burst up, they see a strange line of dots glistening. It turns out the pebbles that Hansel dropped earlier was reflecting the light from the fire. Thankfully, the trail of pebbles provided a sense of direction, allowing Hansel and Gretel to find their way home.

    What are the pebbles you’ve experienced?

    In your own life, you’ve been leaving behind a trail of pebbles all along as well. Do you ever catch yourself thinking, “I don’t know what to do with my life?”

    There is a way to find your passion.

    And what do we do in response? We just go about performing mundane tasks day-by-day, thinking that maybe a fantastic idea will sprout out of the ground and give us a sense of direction. Someday, we’ll just figure it all out. Of course, this rarely (if ever) happens.

    And the worst part is, before we know it, years have gone by. Instead of just coasting, look for the pebbles in your life. Chances are, you’ll be able to find some things in your past experiences that provide direction for the future. For example, maybe when you look back you notice that you spend a lot of free time looking at books on building design. Maybe architecture is a big interest in your life.

    And no, it doesn’t mean you have to run off and suddenly become an architect! What it does mean is that this is something worth investigating. You could enroll in an introductory class on architecture, or talk to architects about their experiences. Why not do both?

    If there’s something that you’re interested in, look into it more. You don’t have to (and shouldn’t) jump something right away. Investigate a bit more into the pebbles to see how far along you should follow them.

    Your pebbles are a reflection of you

    Pebbles can also relate to the way you act. Overtime, these tendencies come out over and over again. It’s interesting how people can observe things about us that would never have occurred in our heads. They take notice of something and then might make a comment in passing:

    • “You’re really good at connecting with people.”
    • “You always seem to read what I’m thinking!”
    • “Whoa, have you ever thought of doing ____?”

    When various people make comments like this, there’s something going on. Listen when this happens. Looking forward, it seems difficult to figure out what we should be doing, or whether we’re making the right decisions. But when we pursue something that almost comes naturally, it almost seems blindingly obvious.

    As Steve Jobs once said, “You can only connect the dots looking backward.”

    In a world of choices, there are so many possibilities out there and we’re forced to choose without ever finding our passion. As a result, we find ourselves hopping from one thing to another. Other times, external pressures or current trends cause us to make decisions that we normally wouldn’t have done. After all, if your friends are doing something, it’s easier to follow along right?

    Sometimes, we have interests, passions, or skills that we don’t even realize. Someone might say, “How’d you do that?” And we might shrug, figuring that if we can do something, it must come easily to everyone else. If you have people come to you for help on something or are surprised that something you can do so well, pay attention. You could learn something about yourself that everyone already knew.

    What are the pebbles in your own life? Do they form a trail and lead you somewhere?

    Culled from Lifehack.org

     

  • Enter Durosinmi-Etti:The Superman of Lagos State

    Enter Durosinmi-Etti:The Superman of Lagos State

    Superman is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books. Superman is the hero of heroes; the incorruptible ideal by which we, as the human race, should strive to be. He’s the icon that other superheroes look up to. He’s long since permeated the stories he stars in and has become an instantly recognisable symbol across the globe regardless of race, creed, gender, or sexuality. He’s a reminder that no matter how dire things look, no matter how dark and pessimistic things will get — and they will — there’s always something greater to strive towards. People consider him hope for tomorrow, because he’s strong enough to make it happen; rescuing any situation you can think of.

    Things don’t just happen, people make them happen. After four months of solely running the affairs of the state without a cabinet, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode officially constituted his cabinet with the swearing-in of 23 commissioners and 14 Special Advisers. I never took much interest in the cabinet, but immediately Mr. Ambode announced Mr. Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti as the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, I was overwhelmed with joy and soon began to imagine how this man will arrest a global problem in a state of 24million people that generates more than 14% of the country’s revenue and yet poverty, frustration and idleness looms everywhere in Lagos.

    Still thinking, if the ministry will be responsible for Establishment and Maintenance of Job Registration Centres across the State, Registration of unemployed youths in the State, Skill Acquisition programmes for unskilled applicants, Re-orientation programme for graduate applicants in both Private and Public Sector and Establishment and managing of the Job web portal or a different responsibility entirely.

    Whenever the name Nigeria is mentioned, the state Lagos comes to mind immediately. Outside the glamour and well-deserved popularity, the state is the most economically important state of the country and is arguably the largest urban area.

    Lagos is an extraordinary state: A place where people come with the hope of making their dreams and goals come true. It is a place rich in opportunities and advantages that helps the average Nigerian to become successful, a place where people can start afresh. I may not be wrong if I say that; the ample opportunities in Lagos is a major reason for the large influx of people to the Centre of Excellence.

    Undoubtedly, there are so many problems in Lagos: like overpopulation, housing, insecurity and most importantly, unemployment. The rate of joblessness in Lagos state leaves me worry without a clear focus. However, I must commend the Commissioner for accepting this offer.

    According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) the nation’s unemployment rate, in the second quarter (Q2) of 2015, rose to 8.2 per cent from the 7.5 per cent rate, which was recorded in the preceding quarter. This brings to three the consecutive percentage rise in unemployment rate in the country, since the third quarter of 2014. With Kano and Lagos leading in youth unemployment in Nigeria. About 74 percent of the registered unemployed persons are youths in the age bracket of 15 and 34 years, the adults between ages 35 and 44 represent about 17.24 percent while the elderly of aged 45 to 70 constitute about 9 per cent.

    Friends, it will only take a real-life superman with ideas, creativity, innovation and a passionate Commissioner to reduce this high rate of joblessness in Lagos; otherwise I see problems that will give rise to insecurity and put the country’s economy at further risks.

    Everyone has a dream; everyone will choose to settle in a place best for their development. Everyone knows that the Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment is new and over 10 million eyes are on the Commissioner to roll out his risky burger (plans) for consumption. Trust me, I receive an average of 75 calls daily from job seekers seeking too find out the time and date the Commissioner will address them. My shows on Topradio90:9fm, City105.1fm, Unilag103.1fm, Fresh105.9fm and in South Africa has not made me a superman because I do not have the resources to flourish in that circle. However, Mr. Commissioner must consider these few guilds below as the new Superman with a Super job in Lagos:

    Get a superman look

    Every superman needs to look passionate. The mind is powerful and therefore having a good, optimistic attitude is bound to have a positive impact. If you think spending time on your appearance for tea party is now then you need to reassess. It takes a passionate man to get down from his car in traffic and take okada to watch how Manchester United will always beat Arsenal. Mr. Commissioner must be passionate about white collar job seekers and young entrepreneurs with great ideas without funds.

    Get a superman job

    In our lives, we will probably spend more time with our colleagues than we spend with our mates. So you have to show us you love this office, by spending more time with unemployed Lagosians and engaging them physically. Feel their thoughts, encourage them and give them hope. Don’t be far away. With over five years experience in dealing with job seekers, I have met four job seekers that almost committed suicide. Mr. Commissioner please put a channel to communicate with them directly.

    Get a superman budget

    Money, money, money; a big player in empowerment. Thank God for Governor Amobode’s N25billion funds promised during his campaign. This budget can reduce unemployment rate by 50% automatically if properly considered.

    Get a superman team

    Where would superman have been without a good team? Every good guy needs other good guys. It is only a good team that can take your office to the next level, very unforgettable era. Sometimes it feels like all the right partners are hiding somewhere far, far away. To find right and genuine partners, be open-minded. Mr. Commissioner please do not fly alone; get reliable stakeholders with practical solutions.

    A real superman is always loyal, never takes credit but always rescues the situation and come out victorious. Mr. Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, you are the superman of Lagos state to rescue us from joblessness.

    We are here waiting, counting and observing before another election year. To whom much is given, much is expected. Readers I invite you to come enjoy this week’s offering. Bon appetit!

  • CBN workers donate N40m hall to group

    CBN workers donate N40m hall to group

    Workers of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), through the ‘CBN Staff Alms Fund’ have inaugurated a N40 million multipurpose hall for the Spinal Cord Injuries Association of Nigeria (SCIAN). The hall was meant to enable SCIAN members rent, generate income and enhance their welfare.

    The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele inuagurated the project located in Festac, in Lagos.

    Represented at the ceremony by CBN Director, Human Resources Department, Chizoba Victoria Mojekwu, he said through  their personal and individual contributions to the ‘CBN Staff Alms Fund’, the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the fund approved the request to build a multipurpose hall for SCIAN and conveyed same to the promoters.

    According to him, the CBN Staff Alms Fund was established as a result of an initiative to collectively address the nagging issues of street begging, and the destitute in major cities of Lagos and Abuja. Other branches of CBN, he added, later keyed into this project by establishing  similar Funds in their locations.

    According to him, five projects have been concluded under the CBN Staff Alms Fund since its inception. The SCIAN Chairman, Obioma Ononogbu commended the CBN for the gesture.

    “The CBN team visited our centre from a contact made by a friend of the centre. At that meeting, the team expressed their interest in assisting SCIAN. We encourage staff of union of other corporate bodies to emulate this laudable gesture of CBN staff, “ he said.