SOLO DISASTER: How One Man’s Error Results In National Havoc

Leaders can be imported, and leaders can be exported; but for any entity to experience phenomenal change it must nurture leaders. Help does not come from abroad; it begins within. Nations of Africa must stop looking abroad for national development and social change; instead we should look within and nurture our own leaders. Each time we abdicate our leadership responsibilities to imported “leadership commodities”, we deny ourselves the opportunity to experience deep-seated, exponential and spot-on change. Take a cue from Japan that shut her doors and borders on the rest of the world for twenty years only to look within for all the help, ideas, wisdom, strategies and answers that transformed her into a first world nation after the horrible effects of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

It was a time of hardness, denial and great discomfort for the Japanese citizens because nothing was imported and nothing was exported all those years. Whatever they enjoyed or lacked was their own doing, failure to do or refusal to d. they were the architects of their own experience. The results of Japan’s closed door policy: astronomical advancement in technology and manufacturing transforming Japan into a world power and one of the top twenty countries in the world.

Think also of England’s Winston Churchill who stood to rebuff Adolf Hitler and his Nazi militia on their communist agenda. As the Nazis swept across Europe, European nations surrendered leadership and government to the communists. This irresponsible and cowardly act of European national leaders led to what can be arguably seen as a “National Betrayal Epidemic.” Hundreds of thousands of people lost their lives in prison rooms, in torture cells and in inhumane conditions to live in. More, still, lost their homes: their children, their spouses, their family heritage. Majority lost their right to self; the right to make personal choices without the spying eyes of the secret police and their agents. Worst of all, many lost their faith – the very essence of man’s soul. Without faith, man is lost on earth. Vast hordes of European adults, teenagers and children lost their right to choose what their faith was. It was a mental massacre all over Europe; but England chose a different course. And it was Churchill who was at the vantage.  England’s stand to defend her national identity and the future of her citizens was upheld and promoted by Churchill who went to war against Hitler even when the odds were against him. With military support coming later from America and Africa, England was victorious; but it all happened because a leader stood as a watchman over his nation and discharged his duties patriotically.

Reading this, you may not be a Prime Minister or a President of a nation but if you are the leader of a corporation, head over a family, dean of a faculty or facilitator of a non-profit or humanitarian cause, a lot relies on you. Your decision, indecision or wrong decision could writhe havoc that ravages everyone under your influence. Ezekiel Buzi on March 17, 585BC wrote,

“When an army comes against a country, the people of that land choose one of their own to be a watchman. When the watchman sees the enemy coming, he sounds the alarm to warn the people. Then if those who hear the alarm refuse to take action, it is their own fault if they die. They heard the alarm but ignored it, so the responsibility is theirs. If they had listened to the warning, they could have saved their lives. But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn't sound the alarm to warn the people, he is responsible for their captivity. They will die in their sins, but I will hold the watchman responsible for their deaths.”

This is the heart of the matter: for his error, the people bear the havoc. Avoid the solo disaster syndrome.

To your effectiveness,

Adeleke David Adekunle

(Mr. Effectiveness)

DOZING ON DUTY: The beggar who missed out on the alm.

In a commercial ride to Agege, a woman delivered a repertoire of prayers contained mostly of pleas for money to feed. Momentarily, after about 25 minutes, her voice faded into silence. A few minutes later, when I had finally made up my mind to give her some money, I turned my head in her direction only to find her in dreamland! She was top-speed asleep. Even when there was some noise in the vehicle, she didn't twitch a muscle. When the bus ran through rough places, she maintained her state of comfort. Then I thought to myself, “No wonder she is poor. Why won’t she lack when she sleeps at the point of providence?” It took me TUGGING AT HER HAND FIVE TIMES BEFORE SHE SNAPPED OUT OF HER SLUMBER.

Many like the dozing beggar miss out on opportunity because they just didn't know when it came around town. There are three core reasons people miss out on what they seem to really desire: first is distraction; second is insensitivity; third is absence. Distraction by other things that are not what you actually want robs you of the desire of your heart. Insensitivity to the seasons and times of your life denies you of magnificent blessings and opportunities. Absence because you retired or threw in the towel keeps you on the spectator stands while you stand disqualified.

A lot of people actually really want certain things; in fact, they desire it so much that they cry and even pray to God in whom they have no faith. The unfortunate part is that when the desire shows up, they are either entirely absent, grossly distracted or highly insensitive to take delivery of it. Like the dozing beggar, most people are the way they are today, have the trend of negative experiences they are suffering from and live regrettable and dissatisfied lives just because they are asleep when their desire looked them in the eye. They are fast asleep! Such people are plagued by stagnation. In a sleeping state, you can receive nothing!

Don’t sleep on your desire; keep your eyes wide open. Stay awake long enough to receive what you seek when it is to be given to you. You are most vulnerable when you are asleep. Ask Saul Kish, the first king of ancient Israel.

To your effectiveness,

Adeleke David

Mr. Effectiveness 

Glee Star Departs: Cory Monteith kicks the bucket

The passing of popular TV series “Glee” star Cory Monteith who played the role of Finn Hudson in the show came as a shock to not only Hollywood or his parents or his girlfriend and co-star of Glee “Lea Michele” who plays Rachael but also to the world at large.

Everyone who watches glee is a fan of Finn and as soon as the news broke out about his death the whole world was in disarray.

I am myself horrified at the tragic news!

Amid all this, I gleaned a little insight: If you do not take advantage of the opportunities that life presents to you to pursue your life-long dreams, you may never live to see them again. What if "Finn" was never seen in Glee?

You don't have a spare life, make the most of this one life you have. Make all the mistakes you can, take all the opportunities you can, be all you can be!

R.I.P Cory Monteith aka "Finn Hudson".

Glee is incomplete without you!

You were an Icon!

Mr. Effectiveness

See Finn Hudson in "Streetlight People" here

Photos of Finn Hudson

BADDEST GUYS ON THE BLOC

Have you heard about the baddest guys on the bloc?

If you haven’t, then you are stale on the latest. The baddest guys are not just the faces we all know; in fact, they are the ones who call the shots behind the scene. Just as Nigerians easily know that there is a cabal controlling the oil blocks in the Niger Delta, you must realize that there are the baddest guys on the bloc.

In today’s world, we identify good as evil and evil for good. It’s not so much a bad idea, only that there are some extremely naïve people who are far from current civilization. They are archaic and have refused to flow with the change of things. As undergraduates, we often called the most brilliant guys in my class bad guys. They were bad guys not because they did evil but because that was the slang. Likewise, in every field of endeavor, there are some bad guys who do extraordinary things. They are totally exceptional! They are the ones who make all the difference, get all the attention and the finest ladies. Don’t feel bad if you are not one of them; I can give you one simple advice: learn their secrets.

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DON'T HANG YOUR BOOTS

Football matches are rather energetic and loaded with tension. If you watched the UEFA Champions league 2012 final between Bayern Munich of Germany and Chelsea of England on Saturday, 19 May 2012 at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany. It was a nerve-wringling match. I did not know who to suppport but Chelsea came across as a favorite to me because of my desire to see Didier Drogba win a Champions League Final.

The match of course went in favor of Chelsea after penalty shoot-outs: 4-3. It was a day to rejoice after adrenalin had been pumped across the world!

Unlike the very usual, I want to inform you not to hang your boots after any encounter that defines a very important moment in your life. One of the greatest deterrents to lasting greatness has been discovered to be the "comfort zone". This is a when a person refuses to leave a place of success or failure in fear of attempting other ventures and in an attempt to hold on to what was already in his or her gallery.

Here are six important insights that have really affected me.

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LOVE IN TOKYO

It is no longer in vogue, but back in the early 1990’s this was the thing! Whenever a guy and a girl were playing love on the roadside, rather than say they are so in love, the expression was “see love in Tokyo”.

I am not a hard core relationship specialist, but I have some experience and some really profound insight about relationship matters, one of which I want to share with you. We all experience painful moments particularly caused by those that we trusted wholeheartedly. There are many ladies whose hearts bleed continuously because of a beloved who was unfaithful. Many guys carry deep-seated hurt caused by a girl who betrayed their trust. The danger I have so often found is that the aggression and hurt is transferred to other innocent individuals who come the way of these wounded lions and tigers. Without knowing the graveness of their emotional state, they destroy potentially beneficial relationships because of past hurt and negative experiences.

My word to you if you are in this state is to look beyond the experience. You cannot claim to be going forward with your concentration on your rear. You are bound to crash! Take your eyes off the past. Hard as it may seem, it is beneficial for you to progress in life. Bitterness is like holding on to a tree and asking the tree to let go of you. You have to let go, else you may miss out on the real treasure you seek.

If the whole world is cruel, there will always be an exception that perfectly suits you. The day I found that perfect exception, I knew the pain was worth the while. Why do I say this? My emotions had been tried and I had mastered them. See these painful experiences as opportunities to become better in preparation for that special person that will sweep you off your feet.

There is always an exception that perfectly suits your individuality; prepare by first taking your eyes off the past. Next, develop yourself to become such a desirable person. Finally, wait patiently for that special person to cross your path. Listen carefully to the lyrics of this song from Glee; it says “You are the only Exception!”

There is always an exception!

You are an Icon!

To your emotional effectiveness,

Adeleke David

Effectiveness Expert

ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT (EDS)

AFRICAN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT takes a boost as Icon Coaching and Leadership Centre equips fifty shortlisted entrepreneurs in six choice sessions spanning 3 days. Sessions include Business Development, Business Branding, Effective Communication, Effective Marketing and Selling, Career Leadership, and Poise, Etiquette and Panache.