Ghana
marks her 53rd year of Independence today.
Formerly known as Gold Coast, this country has passed through a lot and is coming out shining
like Gold.
Nigeria and indeed other African countries have a lot to
learn from the Golden experience of Ghana. Visionary Leadership is
vital to the development of any people.
Am visiting the place of my birth and am glad with the decisions I made a couple of years ago. I am convinced and have known that any body can go from the narrowest slum street to the greatest pinnacle in life. The favor of God being with you, what you need is a passionate dream,a dogged determination and information…yes lots of information. You can read yourself out of any hole you find yourself in. Don’t go complaining and blaming everyone,circumstances and fate..everyone but yourself. Take charge of your life today! The principles of Delayed gratification never hurt anyone. You can either Pay now and play later or Play now and pay later. It’s a big choice you have to make, whether consciously or unconsciously. The world is at your feet. Your tomorrow is bright. Don’t eat it today by making wrong choices. Even if you lie on a small bed,dream big dreams. Yes,even if you live in a narrow slum street,think globally. You are unstoppable. Keep Hope alive!
As I walked in for my pediatrics clinical exams 2 days ago, I prayed silently. I was quite apprehensive as I wondered what case I would meet and who would be my examiner. Would my patient be co-operative? Will I have time to finish the exam and type down a diagnosis before the time was up? My fears were rested in a couple of minutes as my patient was assigned to me.
She was a cute 3 years old but her health challenge was obvious. Her left eye was almost bulging out with a tumor of the retinal part of her eye (Retinoblastoma). As I interacted with the mother, my heart really went out to the little girl especially knowing the fact that due to how late they presented, the tumor was so advanced that the treatment for her condition would be surgical removal of all the contents of the affected eye socket(exenteration) therefore leaving her blind on one eye. I felt it wasn’t fair that this little innocent angel would start out in life already blind in one eye.
However I was consoled by knowing that she could rise above her challenges and that there was something worse than being blind in the eye and that is the BLINDNESS OF THE MIND.
I was confident of this fact because as a freshman in the University, I was privileged to live for about a year in the same room with a middle aged man who was blind on both eyes. He was quite a jolly-good fellow who had made up his mind to make something out of his life despite his physical challenge. We all fondly called him “Oga John”.
He tape-recorded his lectures and got us to help him do the same for his textbooks and print materials. How did he write his exams? He carried an old type-writer to every exam or test he ever had in that Institution and with it he typed away. We served as his mirror to make sure he looked great. He would even laugh at us whenever there was no light and we tripped over things because he had mastered his environment without light. I was glad when he graduated with honors.
Through him, I was also privileged to meet other physically challenged people. On several occasions, he would come across a blind beggar and recognize the voice as one of his Classmates at the Primary School for the Blind. He would call out greeting them but knowing that he had taken his destiny in his hands. For him, blindness of the eye could not stop him because he had a vision, yes, albeit, not physical, he had a vision of the mind because he wasn’t blind in the mind. Such was his attitude that among his friends were Government officials in his state, Student Union Leadership, town hall executives, Dean of his faculty, lecturers and of course his fellow students.
3 years later,I was privileged to speak at a Rehabilitation centre & home for the Physically challenged. I cited Oga John’s Story as an example and many of them were inspired in no small measure.
One may be blind in the eye but something far worse is to be blind in the mind. If you tell a blind man that there is a ditch 20 meters ahead of him, he will understand and change his direction but a man who is blind in the mind may even go ahead and walk into it.
Leadership by people who are blind in the mind is obviously one without VISION. What better definition could there be? Such a Leadership will fall into the ditch but that’s not all: the real tragedy is that they will also lead their followers into the same ditch they fall. No wonder, the Holy Book asks “Can the Blind, lead the Blind?”
A Nation, Company or any organization that has no vision is headed for the ditch and it is only matter of time.
Listening to Cobhams Asuquo’s Music, last night, was so refreshing. In case, you don’t know him, he is a multiple award winning Nigerian Music professional with a powerful vision-no, not physical vision (He is blind in both eyes). He is very inspiring.
There have also been many other individuals in History who have gone ahead to prove to their generation that the Blindness of the eye is not the same as that of the Mind. Time fails me to tell you the stories of the likes of Helen Keller, who was a great speaker, activist, author and lecturer; Stevie Wonder, a musician of great repute; Louis Braille, who later invented the Braille for blind people and of course Governor David Paterson, who made history by becoming New York’s first Black and first physically Blind Governor in 2008.
Despite the fact that the burden of Blindness of the eye is quite high in some parts of Africa today, no thanks to Onchocerciasis, yet the real problem that has really plagued the continent for years is lack of vision. As high impact leaders and creative entrepreneurs, we must create clear cut visions and see farther than where we stand from the eyes of our mind. We can make a change in our continent. We can make a definite impact. Let’s Keep Hope alive.
Egwim Ndubuisi is the founder of New Dimension International and winner Aspiring Young Entrepreneur Award (Withworth London). HE speaks to Young Africans in Conferences and Workshops and writes for a series of Publications. Check him out on his website at
http://www.NewDimensionLife.com
The game of football is one that arouses all manner of passion from its fans all over the world.
One of the high moments is whenever a player succeeds in getting the ball into the goal post of the other team and then the field really erupts in unbridled excitement and shouts of “ït’s a goal!”
Just for a while, imagine a game of football without a goal post or basketball without a Rim or even Golf without a Cup (hole).
If these games will make no sense without set goals, then why should anyone want to live,run a business or lead an organisation with a goal-less approach, knowing full well that life is not a game but serious business.
It’s important that we sit down and set clear goals, dream bright dreams, cast great visions and aspirations for the next year. The beginning of the year offers us the best opportunity to garner momentum to launch into a new dimension of impact and fulfillment.
I went through my written down 2006 end of the year goals for 2007. I look back in amazement today as I discovered that most of the dreams, visions and goals I had written down had materialized that same year and some later. I even took some for granted.
It’s a funny thing, even strange; but the truth is that life will give you exactly what you persistently ask for and not a dime more. No wonder Master Jesus kept insisting that we ask and we shall receive, we seek and we shall find, we knock and the door will be opened to us. He insists that we have not really asked for anything in His name.
Don’t be carried away totally by the festivities that accompany the yuletide. Enjoy the moment, celebrate the season but never forget to sit down and commit to paper your goals and plans for the incoming year.
Setting SMART Goals
Whatever you dream or aspire to be is fine but it is not a Goal yet, until you commit it to paper (Physical or digital). Write the Vison.Make it clear!
A very simple way to check the viability of your goals is the SMART goal check method. If you have been in management or any form of Leadership, you probably have come across the mnemonic-SMART.
• S-Specific
• M-Measurable
• A-Attainable
• R-Realistic
• T-Time bound
Check your Goals for these:
SPECIFIC GOALS:
Are your goals Specific. By specific, I mean the What, Why and How of the goal.
What- refers to the action you want to take: Write Study, Learn, Start, Build, Develop, Lead, Organize, Discover, and Make. Examples: I will write a new book, I will study French, I will learn Web design, I will start a Charitable Organization for Prisoners, I will build a new library, I will organize a Youth Conference, and I will make a million dollars.
Why- refers to your motive. This will be your primary motivation. Motivation =motive + action. It is the reason behind the action that drives you. An example of Specific Why is this: I want to lose 10kg in 2010 so that I can be healthier and live longer. When you have a strong enough WHY, you will find a HOW somehow. If you say you want to lose weight in next year, that’s not a SMART goal. It’s not specific. If you declare, you want to make a lot of money by 2010, it is not specific. It is not SMART. A specific goal will be more like, “I will lose 10kg in 2010”or I will increase my annual income by $100,000 in 2010.
How: The how of your goal ensure it’s not just a dream but a real goal. It includes step by step details on how you are going to achieve the goal. How are you going to achieve the goal? Example: I want to lose 10kg in 2010 by jogging for 30 minutes every morning and watching my diet. Is your goal specific?
MEASURABLE GOALS:
Great people and organizations measure their goals and results objectively. Without measurement, there can hardly be any objectivity. If you don’t measure, you might deceive yourself into believing that you are progressing towards achieving your goals while you are busy running around in circles. On the other hand, you might be depressed at your apparent failure, not knowing that you actually improved.
Let your goals be measurable. It is even better to set sub-goals that are measurable within each main goal. For example, you might want to read 24 personal development books in 2010. 24 is a measure. It’s better than saying I want to read a lot of books. A better way is to have a goal of reading 2 books every month in order to enable you reach your final goal of 24 books. Is your goal measurable?
ATTAINABLE GOALS:
The word Attain comes from the Latin word “atingere’ meaning to “reach to” and also “tangere”-“to touch”.
While I don’t believe in setting uninspiring, impotent goals that that will not motivate me, I also believe in setting Attainable goals. Don’t set Untouchable goals that will only frustrate you.
While it is great to dream and everything is possible through God, you must realize that even great dreamers like Joseph in the Bible didn’t jump to their dream palace in one night. There is always a process. If you are still a freshman in the University with no political background, a goal of becoming the next Governor of your state in the next year’s election sounds quite unattainable. What do you think,duh?
REALISITIC GOALS:
Most Cynics are gonna love this one. All our lives growing up, we have had people telling us-“Wake up!”, “Stop daydreaming!”, “Be realistic, and grow up!” Your dreams are like your wings that allow you fly beyond your present circumstances but there seems to always be a good supply of dream killers who are more than willing to clip your wings. They have the capacity to propel you to a height of achievement and impact you only dreamed of. I believe it’s great to dream.
But no matter how beautiful a dream is, it is not yet a goal. As much as I believe in dreaming big dreams and daring for more, I still think our goals should be do-able.
Our training, resources, and relationships should be able to realize our goals without breaking us. The idea is to stretch yourself and your imagination, not to break you.
TIME-BOUND GOALS:
This is a very vital ingredient in the goal setting soup. If the goal is specific, measurable, attainable and realistic but not time-bound, then it can best be described as a dream.
Let your goals be time-bound, not just as a whole but in segments. A salesman may set a goal like this: I want to get 100 new clients for my company in 2010 by December 31, 2010 (specific time).
Subgoal: Get at least 10 new clients by the end of every month.
Take Action!
If you set the best goals and do not take action, you will just keep riding on your wishy horses. Until you start taking action on those beautiful goals you set, they will just remain wishes, a long wish list which a beggar will gladly ride if only they were horses. Get moving! Act Now! I wish you a Golden year. Keep hope alive!
Egwim Ndubuisi
www.NewDimensionLife.com
Compliments of the season. I hope you are enjoying the holidays. It is also very important that you thoughtfully and prayerfully map out plans for next year. Set goals that will motivate you all the way through the new year. A happy golden jubilee year for all Nigerians. Young people never forget that you are the hope of your nation. Keep thinking of and acting out creative plans that will make a difference in your society. I wish you a beautiful year. Keep hope alive!
The UN General Assembly has declared 2010 as the International year of youth. This year, It will commence of August 12 which marks the annual world youth day. This year’s theme: Dialogue and Mutual understanding. Ideals to be promoted include but are not limited to Peace, Respect for human rights and freedom, solidarity and active participation towards the realisation of the millenium developmental goals. I believe African youth have what it takes to make a difference in their societies. In the midst of armed conflicts, dire hunger and extreme poverty in our continent, let us strive to contribute our own quota whether physically,financially,intellectually,socially or otherwise. We can make a difference. We can touch our world. Let us be instruments of peace. Keep hope alive! Please share this freely with any african youth you can reach. Thanks.
Egwim Ndubuisi
2.Pay your school fees and Sponsor yourself
If you are from a financially challenged background and tuition and expenses have been a problem for you, then you are likely going to be interested in Why and How you can set up a Business that you can run part time while working at your studies.
In the course of my speaking to Young people in seminars and conferences, I have come across a number of people who are suddenly passionate and very interested in starting their business when they are already in their final year. There is nothing wrong with that but if you are still in your early years in school, this may be your best time to start looking out for business ideas and opportunities. You may discover that you will not need to keep running to Daddy for any little need and if you do well, you could even contribute to other people’s welfare and also financially back causes you support; through wise and consistent giving.
However, being in final year or even being a Post-graduate student does not stop you. It may interest you to know that Google Inc which is a billion dollar Internet company was started by two Post-Graduate students with no money in their dormitory room at Stanford University. What Larry Page and Sergey Brin started in their dormitory rooms is today a massive Billion Dollar company serving hundreds of millions of Internet users all over the world.
The Enterprise you start on school, if wisely run; will go a long way in making your stay in school more comfortable and also keep you in a good financial state. You can even start making investments from your business into other ventures and Investment vehicles; after all there is no rule that you have to get a job before you can start investing. I made my first Stock market profit as a 2nd year student, though I started investing in the stock market even before I became an Undergraduate. Apart from the Stock Market, you may invest into other areas with a percentage of the cash from your enterprise.
3.Large Network and Great Market potential
The third reason why I think you may wasn’t to start a Campus Enterprise is because the University campus is a great place for building networks, meeting new friends and making profitable connections. It is a place where the children of the poor, middle class and the rich get to live together and share the same classes and rooms. You never can tell who you are sitting next to and that’s why you cannot afford to go about with a chip on your shoulders treating people without respect. Even a nobody today can become a Somebody tomorrow. At the time of writing this, I have just submitted a proposal for a multi-million naira web design and e-campaign solution contract for a Governorship Aspirant. The link for the job came from someone who had been my former room-mate on campus. He happened to know the Governorship Aspirant and when a website was needed for the campaign, who do you think he called for the job? I believe you are smart enough to also figure out this one but I will tell you the answer-Me, of course!
The campus setting also offers a large market opportunity because of the thousands of students in one location at the same time. An average campus has thousands of young people who likely have dispensable income. This is a market potential that cannot be ignored and proves profitable when well tapped. If you are able to provide an essential product or service to a percentage of that large market on campus, then you will be smiling to your bank.
Shoot me with your feedbacks
Today is World AIDS day. It is another opportunity for African Youth to recommit to the fight gainst AIDS. HIV/AIDS has ravaged Africa but more so the Youth of Africa. Check out this article on alert.org
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/fromthefield/218926/dfbd7c6b62d978688a7424a6777b506c.htm
Remember,the fight is in our hands!
I will be speaking in the WINNERS ENTREPRENEURS CONFERENCE on 5th-6th Dec alongside Chiefo Ejiofobiri of Oceanic Bank Manager and founder Lapidoth D Foundation,Joe C.David of Perdec Institute of Entrepreneurship and Sabina Mcfoy,founder International Institute of Entrepreneurship.Venue is White Hosue UNEC,ENUGU. Wish me well!
A couple of days ago marked the one year anniversary to the day I was awarded the Aspiring Young Entrepreneur Award in the Youth Entrepreneurship Awards by WithWorth Consultancy London. To mark it, I have started a series for Campus Entrepreneurs. Invite your friends and anyone that might be interested.
This is a new series especially for Students,Undergraduates and gennerally for anyone living on a campus or campus-like environment. I hope to finsih the 9 reasons pretty soon. Most of it is based on personal experience. I will enjoy your feedback.
9 Reasons to start a Campus Enterprise.
“
Entrepreneurship will become a core skill which all our young people will need to exploit the opportunities emerging from science and technology, culture and communications”.
Tony Blair (British Prime Minster: 1997-20xx)
Why start a business as an Undergraduate? Why bother launching a Campus Enterprise instead of just working to graduate and then embracing the plum and juicy high paying job that are out there waiting for you? Wake Up! The rules are fast changing. With the current trend in Global finances, the rising levels of unemployment globally and the fall in Income of many families, there is a need to begin to think differently and to face harsh realities with courage and a determination to win.
A tertiary institution is often referred to as an Ivory Tower. I did a little research on that word and I discovered it is just a translation of the French word tour d’ ivoire. According to Microsoft Encarta Dictionary, this word actually means:
Separation from real-life problems: a state or situation in which somebody is sheltered from the practicalities or difficulties of ordinary life.
This is such a fitting description for most of our Universities these days. Many of them are actually a shelter from the realities and practicalities of life, a center for dreaming and where illusions can be fostered. While this may be great for learning and for drawing inspiration for the greater things of life, there is also a need to bridge the gap between the seemingly fortified academic Ivory Towers and the real wild world out there.
An average Undergraduate being sponsored by his parents or Guardians in school, has most times, not really understood the realities of the world out there. It doesn’t cross his mind that it might be possible not to land a juicy job immediately he is through with school. He listens to the news and the rising levels of Unemployment and he thinks those folks out there don’t have good grades, they are not as smart as I am. So he thinks nothing of acquiring entrepreneurial skills or trying to build the creative muscles of his mind. He only waits for the month end to reach so that he can ask for his minimum wage (stipend) from Daddy, Mummy, Uncle, or Aunty as the case might be Wake Up! The rules have changed.
1.Get the Real Picture
One of the reasons you may want to start a Business even while studying as an undergraduate is that it will give you an idea, a real picture of the world you are about to step into. You enter a new level of maturity as the CEO of your own company even as a student. You enter a new dimension of responsibility when you have to learn how balance your time for academic work, your enterprise and other commitment. You get a new understanding of how to respect people especially when they are your present and potential customers. Even if your business is tiny and is hardly enough to foot your bills, keep at it for you will gain something far more than financial benefits. You will get the real picture. It will make you wiser and more responsible. It will make you more of a people person and some of the Interpersonal skills you build running your tiny Campus Enterprise may come in handy later in life to run your mega-corporation or you may even discover that people out there are more willing to pay for those skills than any scholastic or technical knowledge.
“Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises”.
Demosthenes (A Greek orator).
Even before I launched my first company, I had already tried my hands on a number of small enterprises to enable me keep soul and body