Happy Eid-El-Maulud!

I am happily wishing all our Moslem brothers and sisters around the world a happy Eid-El-Maulud celebration in advance. As you celebrate the Birth of Prophet Mohammed, born 571 C.E, we enjoin you to remember that the period calls for sober reflection – a time for supplication and giving of alms to the poor and less privileged members of our society in accordance with the tenets of the Holy Quran

HAVE A DEMON FREE DAY!!!!!!

A woman just returned from a trip and as soon as she stepped into the house, after the usual welcome thingies, she asked her younger child, a 6-year-old boy, if everything was alright in the two days she's been away.
"Ha, mummy, Praise God!" he said, "In fact, I want to give a testimony at Church on Sunday! A strange thing happened when u left... Alright ke, hmmn, everything was not alright o". Slightly curious, the mum asked, "so what happened sweetie?"

"Soon after you left on Friday, Mark from next door came to see Sandra. We were in the sitting room watching Cartoon Network and I slept off.But when I awoke, I couldn't find them both. I searched everywhere: kitchen, toilets, garden and still I didn't find them. I became scared... and then I heard some murmur coming from your room.
"It was dark inside and I couldn't see them well at first from the door. But I guess Sandra was mad at something because her eyes were gleaming. Then I think she was feeling sick and nearly fainted and Mark started breathing in her mouth, just like we were taught in Physical Exercise Class. And then it got serious because he started having trouble getting her mouth and kept trying to hold her head in place and all that.

"She must have nearly died because he started to feel her heart! He had trouble finding it and he started feeling all over her body, inside her clothes to find it! At a point he even started using his mouth, looking for it all over: her thighs and all!

By then Sandra was so sick, she was just moaning and moving here and there. Mark too was becoming infected and he started grunting like Balu the bear in Jungle Book...!
"Then I saw it, Mummy, I saw it! I saw the demon that possessed them all the while.
A black, thick, snake-like demon came out of Mark 's pants, standing strong and rude! They paused for a second, and then Sandra got brave and decided to bite it to death.

It was a fierce battle as she struggled with it. It kept going in and out of her mouth and Mark was cursing softly all the while. Eventually, the demon surrendered and started bleeding white...

"Then, Sandra tugged it several times and slapped it...I don't know why she did something that silly, because... the demon got angry and strong again! Then Mark and Sandra joined forces and started squashing it between them. They squashed and squashed again. It was so bad! Mark was growling this time like an enraged gorilla and Sandra kept saying all sorts.

For some time she kept blaming Mark for the trouble saying, "Oh Mark, you've killed me, you've finished me, I'm finished" some times, she was begging God for more power, "Oh Lord, Oh God, give it to me, give it to me !" And truly, after a long while, the demon died, bleeding a creamier white this time. "They just lay there tired. Mark and Sandra... and were just talking in low tones.

Suddenly, I think the snake-bite became worrisome, and Sandra became sick again. Mark started to look for her heart once again and then, oh my God, the demon resurrected! This time, it was Sandra who took charge. She put it right under her and started sitting on it. It was biting her and she kept yelling and jumping and sitting and Mark was then begging for God to intervene.

He just sat there holding Sandra and calling God several times. Truly God was faithful and The Demon finally died. Sandra slumped across Mark and they both fainted there for a long time! "When they awoke, Sandra said she was concerned about something and Mark brought a rubber hood out. He said truly, they should have used it. Maybe they would have just strangled the demon instead...

"Mummy, I must give testimony in Church on Sunday! If not for God...imagine! And I must say, you have a brave daughter in Sandra!"

Our Attitude Determines our Altitude

According to Mac Anderson and Sam Parker, The 212° concept is one of the most powerful communication concepts that exist today: At 211 degrees...water is hot. At 212 degrees...it boils. And with boiling water, comes steam. And steam can power a locomotive. And, it's that one extra degree that...makes all the difference. And, of course, so many times, in business and in life, it's that one extra degree of effort that separates the good from the great. An interesting thing about the 212° idea is that we can use it to fit both our individual and corporate needs. It may be 212° attitude we will like to reinforce, or 212°, leadership, or quality. “In many ways, we're all alike. However, one little thing makes a big difference. The little difference is...attitude!” if only it were possible for positive attitudes to be transmitted intravenously, the world would have been less rancorous and organizations would reach higher altitudes in the achievement of their corporate objectives. Unfortunately, that is not so.

One thing that has been proven many times is...a culture of excellence will not happen on its own! It takes a lot of work and a lot of continuous reinforcement. “Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success”…..Pablo Picasso. No doubt, this may sound like simple, common sense stuff to some of us, but to do it right… it's anything but simple. It takes a plan, a commitment, and a call to action. .


QUOTE FOR THE DAY…….”We see our customers as invited guests to a party, and we are the hosts. It's our job every day to make every important aspect of the customer experience a little bit better.” -Jeff Bezos

Laugh it off! Enjoy!

"An American lawyer and a Nigerian are sitting next to each other on a long flight. The lawyer believes that Nigerians are so dumb that he could put something over on them easily...So the lawyer asks if the Nigerian would like to play a fun game. The Nigerian is tired and just wants to take a nap, so he politely declines and tries to catch a few winks. The American lawyer persists, and says that the game is a lot of fun. I ask you a question, and if you don't know the answer, you pay me only $5; you ask me one, and if I don't know the answer, I will pay you $500, he says. This catches the Nigerian's attention and to keep the lawyer quiet, he agrees to play the game. The lawyer asks the first question. 'What's the distance from The Earth to the Moon?' The Nigerian doesn't say a word, reaches in his pocket pulls out a five-dollar bill, and hands it to the lawyer. Now, it's the Nigerian's turn. He asks the lawyer, 'What goes up a hill with three legs, and
comes down with four?' The lawyer uses his laptop and searches all references he could find on the Net. He sends e-mails to all the smart friends he knows, all to no avail. After one hour of searching he finally gives up. He wakes up the Nigerian and hands him $500. The Nigerian pockets the $500 and goes right back to sleep. The lawyer is going nuts not knowing the answer. He wakes the Nigerian up and asks, 'Well, so what goes up a hill with three legs and comes down with four?' The Nigerian reaches in his pocket, hands the lawyer $5 and goes back to sleep.

WHO IS THE DADDY?

A father put his three year old daughter to bed, told her a story listened to her prayer which she ended by saying: 'God bless Mommy, God bless Daddy, God bless Grandma, and good-bye Grandpa.'

The father asked, 'Why did you say good-bye grandpa?'

The little girl said, 'I don't know daddy, it just seemed like the thing to say.'

The next day grandpa died. The father thought it was a strange coincidence.

A few months later the father put the girl to bed and listened to her prayers which went like this: 'God bless Mommy, God Bless Daddy and Good-bye Grandma.'

The next day the grandmother died.

'Oh my gosh' thought the father, 'this kid is in contact with the other side.'

Several weeks later when the girl was going to bed the dad heard her say: 'God bless Mommy and good-bye Daddy.'

He practically went into shock. He couldn't sleep all night and got up at the crack of dawn to go to his office. He was nervous as a cat all day, had lunch sent in and watched the clock. He figured if he could get by until midnight he would be okay.

He felt safe in the office, so instead of going home at the end of the day he stayed there, drinking coffee, looking at his watch and jumping at every sound. Finally midnight arrived; he breathed a sigh of relief and went home.

When he got home his wife asked, 'I've never seen you work so late, what's the matter?'

He said, 'I don't want to talk about it, I've just spent the worst day of my life.'

She replied, 'you think you had a bad day, you'll never believe what happened to me. This morning the gardener dropped dead in our backyard while I was watching!

WHO’S THE DADDY?

How do you perceive Change- a blessing or a curse?

Spencer Johnson is known for his 1998 motivational book- Who Moved my Cheese? A Motivational speaker and Medical Consultant, Spencer seeks to describe change in peoples’ work and life in that award winning book.
The story in this book is centred on four characters- two mice, "Sniff" and "Scurry", and two little people, “Hem" and "Haw" as well as their respective reactions to change. They lived in a maze, a representation of our environment, and looked for cheese, representing happiness and success. Initially without cheese, each group, the mice and humans paired off, travel the lengthy corridor searching for cheese. One day both groups chanced upon a cheese-filled corridor in "Cheese Station C". They were delighted at their discovery and soon established routines around their daily intake of cheese slowly becoming arrogant in the process.
One day Sniff and Scurry arrived at Cheese Station C to find no cheese left but they were not surprised. Noticing the cheese supply was dwindling, they had mentally prepared themselves for the arduous, but inevitable task of finding more cheese beforehand. They left Cheese Station C behind and began their hunt for new cheese together. Later that day, Hem and Haw arrived at Cheese Station C only to find the same thing, no cheese. Angered and annoyed, Hem demanded "who moved my cheese?" Unprepared, the humans had counted on the cheese supply to be constant. After verifying that the cheese was indeed gone and ranting at the unfairness of the situation, both headed home hungry. Returning the next day, Hem and Haw found the same cheeseless station. Realising the gravity of the situation at hand, Haw proposed a search for new cheese, but Hem, dead set in his victimized mindset, punctured the proposal.
In the meantime, Sniff and Scurry had found "Cheese Station N", a new supply of cheese. Back at Cheese Station C, Hem and Haw, affected by their lack of cheese; blame each other for their predicament. Hoping to change, Haw again proposes a search for new cheese. Hem however, comforted by his old routine and afraid of the unknown, again discarded the idea. After many days in denial, including a search for cheese behind the wall of Cheese Station C, the humans remained without cheese. One day, realizing his debilitating fear, Haw began laughing at the situation. Realizing he should move on, Haw entered the maze, but not before chiseling "If You Do Not Change, You Can Become Extinct" on the wall of Cheese Station C for his friend to ponder.
Still fearful of his trek, Haw scribbled "What Would You Do If You Weren't Afraid?" on the wall and, after thinking about it, began his journey. Still with worry, perhaps he had waited too long to begin his search, Haw found some scattered cheese and continued his search. Slowly losing his denial, Haw realised that the cheese had not suddenly disappeared, but had dwindled from continual eating, and that the older cheese was not as tasty and had been moldy. After a let down, an empty cheese station, Haw began worrying about the unknown again. Brushing aside his fears, Haw's new mindset allowed him to again enjoy life; he had even begun to smile again and was realizing "when you move beyond your fear, you feel free." After another empty cheese station, Haw decided to go back for Hem with the few bits of new cheese he has managed to find.
Uncompromising, Hem turned away the new cheese to his friend's dismay. With knowledge acquired along the way, Haw headed back into the maze. Still going deeper into the maze, impelled by bits of new cheese here and there, Haw left a trail of writings on the wall, hopeful that his friend would be aided by them in his search for new cheese. Still traveling, Haw one day came across Cheese Station N abundant with cheese, some varieties strange to him; he had found what he was looking for. After eating, Haw reflected on his experience. Pondering a return to his old friend, Haw decided to let Hem find his own way. Finding the largest wall in Cheese Station N, he wrote:
Change Happens (The Cheese keeps changing position)
Anticipate Change (Get Ready For The Cheese To Move)
Monitor Change (Smell The Cheese Often So You Know When It Is Getting Old)
Adapt To Change Quickly (The Quicker You Let Go Of Old Cheese, The Sooner You Can Enjoy New Cheese)
Change (Move With The Cheese)
Enjoy Change! (Savour The Adventure And Enjoy The Taste Of New Cheese!)
Be Ready To Change Quickly And Enjoy It Again & Again (They Keep Moving The Cheese.)

Indeed, Change can be a blessing; it can also be a curse! It will be a blessing if we understand the nature of cheese and the role it plays in our lives. Like Sniff and Scurry, some of us are non-analytical and nonjudgmental. We just want cheese and are willing to do whatever it takes to get it. Some others are however like Hem and Haw the "little people," they have an entirely different relationship with cheese. It's not just sustenance to them; it's their self-image. Their lives and belief systems are built around the cheese they've found.

How do you perceive the “cheese”? What do you make of your job and your career path? How quickly are you adapting to change? These are mind tickling questions you alone can answer; and as you do, may I wish you a happy and more productive Labour life time.

Passionately taking on added responsibilities

According to a story, an elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer contractor of his plans to leave the house building and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family.
He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by. The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house a personal favor.
The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career. When the carpenter finished his work the employer came to inspect the house. He handed the front-door key to the carpenter. ‘This is your house,’ he said, ‘my gift to you.’ The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into building. Then, with shock we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we’d do it much differently. But we cannot go back. You are the carpenter.
Indeed, there is an uncanny recompense that life throws at every individual: to the slothful – misery, to the diligent- bounty. No wonder it is often said that people are the architect of their destinies and as one makes his bed, so will he lie on it. Never has it been said that the slothful ever rode the crest of the waves to success. To succeed in life, one needs to diligently prepare and equip oneself with the necessary skills, competencies and brawn which oftentimes, are grasped by willingly accepting to do menial and odd jobs which in the end, usually avails the individual such invaluable experiences that usually, in the end, become the treasure chest for success. Besides possessing the required skills, one needs to be equally passionate about whatever kind of work one is engaged in – for without passion, interest fast wanes – manifesting in reduced output to total unproductiveness.

No doubt, the above story is a clear testimony to the fact that whatever one sowed, that will one certainly reap. Many a times, in the course of our careers, we are assigned extra responsibilities in addition to our routine jobs - often with crushing deadlines that we grumble and whine. And because we usually have the penchant to consider such added responsibilities as burdens; not our core responsibility and therefore would not likely be held accountable if we failed, we usually do not put in our best in the discharge of such duties and in the end we produce mediocre jobs. Sadly, when we do so, we unwittingly deprive ourselves the opportunity of acquiring useful experiences and competencies accruable from performing such duties which easily can catapult us into higher and strategic positions of authority in our places of work.
As we all know, promotions to higher positions are based on many considerations amongst which are the possession of requisite skills, demonstrable and relevant job competence/experience and ability for balanced and informed decision-making etc. Whenever an opportunity to move people up the corporate ladder occurs, which often are few, the first consideration usually is the competency of the candidates being considered for the opening. Thus, discerning managers, instead of shying away, embrace such new or added challenges willingly, and passionately discharging them creditably, thus, enhancing their positions. No wonder therefore, such Managers make the promotion list every year. Such, is one of the benefits being passionate about our jobs usually yields to those who exhibit it doggedly in the daily performance of their duties.
Clearly, with the unfolding uncertainty currently pervading the banking sector, the future is sure only for those who have prepared themselves adequately and are passionate about taking on new roles and challenges. Responsibilities will no longer be handed on a platter of gold. It will belong to those who are able to prove their mettle In their respective areas. Therefore, Managers and indeed all staff should learn from the above story and bestir themselves to willingly accepting to go passionately, the extra mile, with customer satisfaction as the ultimate objective in mind.
Each day we accept new or added responsibilities, we plant a foot firmly on the rungs of the corporate ladder with our gaze on the top. For, accordingly to a popular axiom, - 'Life is a do-it-yourself project,' our attitudes and the choices we make today, determine the height we will climb tomorrow. Therefore, climb wisely and with passion. Remember, great service happens in a moment, moment by moment.

SAVE FOR THE FUTURE

Savings means cutting cost or economizing. it is good for everybody including people that are not working.Savings entails preserving money for future use.It is quite different from investing money.We should always bear in mind that a day will come when one will have a need to meet but can not be earning.It is advisable to make hay now while the sun is shining. We should use the time when we can earn to raise funds for the time when we can not be earning.

Goodluck to everyone!

It is said that man proposes but God disposes.Sometime in January, 2010, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Nigeria, Vincent Ogbulafor, was said to have urged the then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to wait for God’s intervention as power belongs to God.This statement was made on the heels of repeated calls by eminent Nigerians, Civil Society organizations, media chiefs and other bodies across the country, that President Umaru Yar’Adua, who has been away in Saudi Arabia on medical attention, in the last 2-3 months, should hand over power to Vice President Jonathan in acting capacity.
Ogbulafor, in a statement titled “Goodwill message from the Peoples’ Democratic Party to the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, GCON,” said: “Furthermore, the words of the Holy Scripture in Psalm 62:11 are apt for this moment, that ‘God has spoken once, twice, I have heard this: That power belongs to God.’”

Truly, power belongs to God and His time is always the best.God has finally given Jonathan the exulted position. He was finally sworn in yesterday as the acting president of the republic of Nigeria.Goodluck to everyone!

politics in africa

Democracy is the way forward for African nations.It is a genuine means of electing leaders and all categories of government.It gives the hopeless and the less priviledged the opportunity of casting their votes to elect the candidate of their choice during election.
The western world have perfected their electoral processes while african countries are still making mockery of it. Killings and thuggery have characterised the political scene in africa.It is very disheartening that more than 50% of africans are living below poverty level and yet,their governments do not seem to give a damn. They continue to loot their treasuries and sipphoning public funds to the developed world.
Africans should wake up to fight these oppressors through a peaceful means.We cannot continue to pretend all is well when in the actually fact, most people are walking corpse.

strange things

Alot of strang things are happening around the world and that`s to prove that the end time is near. what could have made a young Nigerian graduate to shot himself dead recently is something nobody could guess. Suicide is unafrican but the rate in this part of the world is increasing to an alarming proportion.A secondary school student in Nigeria killed himself because he failed an examination.Unbelieveable!
Oh! what is happening to our youths. There is morale decadence every where and we cannot help but beckon on God to come to our rescue. There is hope!

Tips & bits

Achieving success in organisations and business ventures nowadays depend so much on teamwork and collective knowledge. Many innovative developments come from knowledge sharing. Sharing knowledge and ideas among one another could be a trigger for innovation and experience has shown that knowledgeable people do share their expertise.