HALF-FULL vs HALF-EMPTY

Nndewo enyi,

Don’t be scared, it is “hello friends” in Igbo language, South-Eastern zone of Nigeria. Hope you had a nice weekend? I wish you a great week ahead. Hopefully, this week will bring us closer to the realization of our dreams.

Let’s consider one of what we had always known today: half-full versus half-empty. This is a lesson from the life of any container; be it a bottle, cup, drum and even tank. Let us dig further.

Half-Full means believing that there is room for improvement, a cup being half-full means the situation is viewed from a positive angle. Considering that the cup is half-full gladdens one’s heart to endure till it eventually gets full. If the situation is deteriorating and it is seen as half-full, one would do everything to salvage the situation. Half-full is positive in outlook and disposition.

Half-Empty is depressing in itself; it means that you are seeing it from the negative perspective. When one considers it as being half-empty, one might assume that it will be completely depleted in minutes so one can afford to leave it to rot away.

How many things have you considered half-full? How many things have you considered half-empty? Let’s be positive to everything. You have the opportunity to be positive, even to situations that injured you! That does not sound good, right? Be positive to what makes you laugh and also receptive to what you would not ordinarily like as well. Life is a mix of both.

Your judgment of being half-full or half-empty is from the same source. Your perspective to your situation makes you see it as a learning process or as awful lesson and this, in turn, determines what you make out of it.

Enjoy your week.

Best regards,

Read More

FAITHFUL vs SMARTNESS

Hello friends,

I am sorry to be sending this week’s discussion late. It is due to circumstances beyond my control.

Let us consider something pivotal to our future. Faithful is when someone is dedicated, someone does everything wholeheartedly, someone is truthful to a fault. The faithful person throws himself into the project being handled, the faithful person do not retreat no matter how difficult the terrain is. Such people are sticklers for great feats.

In the Yoruba culture, the pigeon is used to symbolize faithfulness, a proverb goes thus, “Eyele oni ba onile je, ko ba onile mu, ko wa di ojo isoro ko peyin da” meaning the Pigeon will not feast with you and depart in the day of trouble. A smart person is the person that wants to cheat the system, someone who does not believe in learning the hard way. The smart person wants the short route to success. The smart person has got a new coinage in this era of proverbial, “enito mo way, lo mo iwe” meaning the person that knows the way is knowledgeable. The smart person is regarded, most times, as a cheat when caught with attached consequences. Nevertheless, some people had gone scout-free but it is not the best, it’s risky.

Read More

EDIFYING WORDS VERSUS BABBLING

I throway Salute,

This is the pidgin version of saying; with all due respect.

Welcome to the month of March, it seems we started the year some weeks ago but it is running out fast. Hope you are fine? I hope you had a fun-filled weekend. God in His mercies will rescue our land from all form of insurgence.

Today, we would be considering what is already known. Let’s discuss edifying words versus babbling. Edifying words are the words that appease, lead, guide, encourage and stir up people’s mind towards positive thinking. People who speaks edifying words are always sought for advises, they are sought for solutions and they are endeared to many.

Babbling is a situation that when people are yelled at, speaking to people without caution, one does not care about whose ox is gored. People who are involved in babbling usually scare people away, people hate them, people who babble do not get the desired result and they depress others most times. The Yoruba people have a way of describing people with edifying words as “oro Ire”.

I would encourage you for this week and every day of life to have edifying words, it is one of the mighty instruments that would change the world. We can start it now, we can imbibe this culture now and we can continually do it.

Let’s choose to edify others whenever we have the opportunity.

Best wishes in March.

Read More

TOKEN VS BULKY

Eyin temi,

This is the Yoruba saying that means, My Own People. It is with joy that I am dropping these few lines again today. I hope we had a nice weekend? Hopeful of a great week! I wish you the very best and it shall be a blessed week for us all.

Let’s look at today’s title, token of appreciation vs bulky appreciation.

Token of appreciation is when one gives in bit to the society, to the parents especially and to the needy. This is this saying in Yoruba, “ko to nkan niso ni dahun” meaning it is not sufficient that turns one to a tightfisted person. In the little, we have, we have to know how to share. People assume that they cannot help because they do not earn what is sufficient for them, friends do not help friends financially because they assert that their pay is meagre and children consider that their parents are comfortable enough to take care of themselves.

Bulky appreciation is the assumption that one day; one would pay back all that one owes his parents, friends, colleagues, and in fact, to one’s religious affiliation. We are encouraged to think big everyday but this thought do not materialize immediately. There would be a need to sacrifice greatly till one gets to such point. This quote from Kevin Heath says, "Small and Random acts of kindness can make the world of difference in someone's life".

In that little, learn to share with others with a token regularly; that token makes a lot of sense; that little might be remembered forever if given at that time. Who knows the span of life to determine if that person would still be alive till you become very great for the person to enjoy your benevolence. I have often seen many people who became great and wished their parents could enjoy the wealth they have made but alas, they are dead. Let’s learn to appreciate with token and not keep waiting endlessly for the days when we would appreciate in bulk.

I will appreciate you always with my token.

Enjoy your week.

Best regards,

Read More

BEGINNING VS END

Ewe so,

This is the way Ijebu people of Western Nigeria ask, how do you do? I am asking as well, how do you do? How was the weekend? Hope you enjoyed it.

Today, we would be considering what we have always known with little or no difference but just as a reminder so that we would guard our lives, our thoughts and actions.

The beginning is when you are starting something, a career, a marriage, an academic program. The beginning is usually very humble and simple. Many people spite those who are either beginning or attempting to begin. The beginning requires a lot of sacrifice, one must be resolved to start.

Read More

CAREFUL vs CAREFREE

Country People,

Let me come in the Nigerian parlance of greeting people in pidgin “country People”. I welcome you to another week. I hope everything is fine with you, work, school, family and loved ones? I am good and I give all glory to God. I want us to consider something fundamental this week, I hope you will find it interesting, are you careful or carefree?

Careful is when you are systematic in your approach, being careful is when you exercise caution; carefulness is when you don’t want to miss anything out. A careful person could be tagged a perfectionist by some people, a careful person does not commit mistakes anyhow. When something goes wrong with a careful person, a lot of people would sympathize with him or her because they are sure they really went out of hand.

Carefree on the other side is when you hardly care, you do all spontaneously. Nothing matters to a carefree person; just getting solutions when things go wrong is the mindset of a carefree person. I remember going to a hall of residence in a University and I found out that majority of the windows close to the door had broken nets. Basically, many of these boys are carefree as such they prefer to break the net, open the door and gain access to the room than keeping the key to the room carefully.

Being carefree is a challenge for many families; men burden their wives; women turn their husbands to nagging people. Let’s train our children right from the beginning. Let us not turn caution to the wind, being careful does not mean there would be no accident but it guarantees it’s reduction and being carefree does not equally mean everything would be mistakes.

Being careful is cheaper and safer while being carefree is expensive and wasteful. Being careful can prevent geriatric medical treatment as a result of what we eat and drink while being carefree opens the door to many terminal diseases.

Join me in creating a careful world where we cherish orderliness.

Best regards

Read More

On Your Feet vs On Your Seat

Hello Chaps,


It is an opportunity reaching you through this medium. I hope you will find this few lines helpful as we advance in our lives.

Since, we are youths, it will be relevant for us to do a discussion around this, today, let’s consider being on your feet and on your seat.

“On your mark, set go” is a phrase for those who are ready and willing to partake in a race. For them to be able to do this, they are on their feet! When we look at those who want to learn something from someone more knowledgeable, in our computer days, we go to the person who would be seated while we remain on our feet! Something keeps us restless at night, we would stand up on our feet, attempting to figure the way out of it.

On your seat is usually associated with old people: grandpa armchair tells a parable about the man who had labour when he had the strength and he is now relaxed. It could also connote being comfortable, complacent etc.

For someone who is on his seat, he could also be busy, doing some productive things but when you are on your feet, you will definitely be at alert. Now that we have strength, let us be on our feet, let’s be ready to move and attain heights, an age is coming wherein compulsorily, we would stick to our seats.  An old person once said, “I used all my strength when I was young and now I am not doing anything again. She was once on her feet and now on her seat.

There are heights to conquer, let’s go conquer, remember, we are more than conquerors (dependent on many factors resident within us)

Advancingly yours,

Read More

PROTECTIVE LEADERSHIP VS IMPERIL LEADERSHIP

Hi,

I am happy coming your way today. I was on about to reach you last week because I am currently writing examinations. Unfortunately, nobody asked why I was mute, thank God for the opportunity to come your way in our short weekly gist. I am looking at leadership again today because that is the stage of life in which many of us are already or will be entering into shortly. It will be beneficial to know what it entails from the beginning. Let’s examine this: Protective leadership vs Imperil leadership.

Protective leadership is the form of leadership that stands for the subordinates, protective leadership is what a husband does to his wife to keep her from all dangers, protective leadership, in fact, makes some bosses get punished for their subordinates, protective leadership is when the interest of your team is paramount within you as a leader. Even when the sky is falling, the protective leader will make everything be in your best interest, he shields you from the heat of the business, he gets the first hit of the hammer and ensures the impact is reduced on you.

Imperil leadership is when the boss seeks to exonerate himself from any danger within the team, the Nigerian slogan, “On Your Own: OYO” is what he keeps mentioning. Instead of fighting for the general welfare of the team, he keeps his own interest, he wants to keep his job, such leaders are for themselves, by themselves and with themselves. They do not resolve issues but escalate issues for subordinates. These are the type of leaders that threatens subordinates, these are the leaders who want to show their “position”, these are the leaders who send mails and copy everyone, and these are the leaders who send queries by the second.

The protective leader eventually gets loyal, committed and dedicated team because they know that he would keep them from all “official” evil, they are sure that they would not be left to grope in the dark and they are sure that he would help them to achieve their collective goal.

As from the imperil leaders, people do not like him, in and out of the job, he might keep the job but not his integrity. He would then discover that he is “On His Own”. Even when your subordinates are relieved of their jobs, it does not add a dime to the imperil leaders salary. The organization sees this as a shortcoming on the part of such leaders. Let’s be a protective boss who share the pains and the gains of the corporate environment with our subordinates and not someone who will endanger his subordinates.

I pledge to always be a Protective boss, what about you?

Enjoy your new week.

Read More

Hands vs Legs

Hello,

It is a great opportunity coming your way again. I hope I am neither boring you or clogging your mailbox weekly?

 Let's see things from the perspective of a baby this week.


The hands are appended to the shoulders, the wrist adorned with watches, bracklets, bangles and all sorts. The fingers with wedding bands and other decorative rings according to the discretion of each individual.

  The legs is the source of movement for other parts of the body. The legs hinged on the waist, sometimes adorned with anklet by women, some toe-rings that is believed to be a charm however it is now fashionable. It is the source of livelihood for footballers.

The lesson of today, in the development of a baby, from the first day on earth, a baby would be carried. The baby seeks support by extending his hands to someone. The baby wants and gets support, care and security via his hands. A Yoruba adage supports this by saying, it's a child that stretch forward his hands that is carried, "Omo to ba sipa ni a gbe" The leg is the last part of a baby's body that gets strengthened. The timing varies from seven months to two years in some extreme cases. The baby does not learn taking to his or her heels early.

Let's learn to hold tight, to care, to seek security in the hands of our loved ones. Let's learn to stay close and not always take to our heels. Taking to our heels damages our relationship, it does not help to resolve issues and in fact, deepens issues.

  Please lend a helping hand, please be a shoulder to cry on.

Please do not walk out of this relationship & do not walk out of my life.

Enjoy the week.

Cheers!

Read More

Have a Sweet Day!

It's a pleasure welcoming you into a new week.

Defeats remain us that we are human but let's be rest assured of a victorious outcome of past defeats. Let us not be weary, let's not wane but let us keep our energy at it's best for there are many strides to make this week.

That strenght to excel lies within you, those who are have succeed had obstacles to those heights but with patience and perseverance, they made it.

You and I have all it takes to be successful and to also be the best. Remember, many people are looking up to you.

In all, have a Sweet Day!

Read More

Motivation​al Talk vs Sermon

Pleasant week wishes to you from me.

This title is an interesting one but I want us to ruminate on it together.

The thin line between motivational talk and Sermon is getting thiner daily, does it mean people no more know the difference or they have merged it?

Sermons are suppose to purely religious, while motivational talks are to gear up, encourage and incite and they have principles that apply to all human regardless of religious affinity. There could be sermons with some elements of motivational talk but it should not be mixed up. The scriptures should be interpreted on broader perspective beyond motivational talk.

As for motivational, any audience will accept it, use the principles and succeed.

The thrust of this explanation is to implore you to GET IT RIGHT & DO IT RIGHT. There is no need to muddle things up or trying to do things without clarity. Getting it right might not be a day's job but it will be good to get it right before showcasing it.

In all you do, do it to the best of your ability.

Have a great week.

Read More

Works to Imaginatio​n, Imaginatio​n into Creativity

Hi,

During Inyanya’s birthday, the maker of the cake designed it based on his song, ‘All I want is your Waist”

This is the end product, watch your words for it could translate to another person’s creativity which is not always positive but negative.

That is the picture above.

Kind regards

Read More

Consistenc​y vs Inconsiste​ncy

Welcome to a new week.

Consistency is about being steady, being unshaking and persisting but inconsistency is associated with doubting, timidity and lack of focus. There are many people who had nothing but through consistency they had made great impact in life and made money while someone who had started on a great note without consistency would soon go into oblivion and would not be reckoned with in that field of human endeavor.

Let's learn from the Yoruba saying, "Alagbede to n lu irin loju kan na, oni oun to n wa" meaning the smith that is striking a metal at the same spot is in search of something. Be focused, steady, resolved to persist and you will emerge powerful at the end of the race.

Great people of impact are consistent people.

Best wishes,

Read More

New vs Tokunbo

Hello,

It is another Monday morning when I come your way in comparison.

What is it that we are comparing? Brand new vs Tokunbo.

Brand new is buying something new from the manufacturer, unraveling it by oneself after purchase while tokunbo is using something that had been previously used by someone. I remember a joke by a friend about tokunbo, it goes thus, "ur car na tokunbo, ur cloth na Acube, ur phone na london used & you want your GF a virgin. Bros u sure say ur brain sef no be followcome?" New products are cheaper on the long run, while tokunbo products are more expensive.

The long run cost should make us exercise patience in the procurement of things. We would avoid lots of headache associated with tokunbo things. Poverty makes us compare the two state of any product, believing tokunbo is of higher quality.

Things come in grades as such lower grades of new products makes one feel higher grades of tokunbo is better. Let us pray for sufficiency to afford new items always. Remember the saying, "whatever you gain at the corner, you will lose at the bend".

Have a swell week.

Read More

Grateful versus Challenges

Hello,

This is another week that leads to the first day in December.

As customary, November is a month of thanksgiving and this brings the question to bare, Are you being grateful? Grateful for the accomplishments, the disappointments, the increase, the decrease and everything in general.

Considering your challenges is a situation when you roll call of events for the year is the disappointments not the accomplishments, the decrease and not the increase and everything. Can you just see the difference in the two situations? It is just a twist and you have the opportunity of either seeing the cup as half full or half empty. It is a left to us to be grateful for small goodies received than always just waiting to be grateful for mighty goodies.

Draw a careful list of all the challenges you have and outline all the things you are grateful for, this will make you see that there are many things that are skipped when we get depressed. Write down your challenges, keep the piece of paper wherein it is written somewhere, then go to it after some months and you will see that there are answers to it from time-to-time.

Be grateful to God and men, leave your challenges to God and he would send men to help you. This will make you know that you need to be grateful for everything.

Expect and move into the new month with a heart of gratitude.

With love and best wishes always.

Read More