| “The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.” 1 Corinthians 16:19. Consider also Col 4:5, Phm1:2
Each time I consider the above scripture, I must confess that it registers as a portion of the scripture that one does not need to take lightly. Though we have this pleasant couple, being mentioned in other portions of scriptures, it is not surprising that we eventually have an insight into their dedication to the Lord from the above scripture. The statement ‘church in their house’ does not necessarily suppose that they had a building set apart for ‘churchly’ activities but that their very home itself is a venue where the things pertaining to God i.e. our very being, his word, prayer, etc was being given free course. It is challenging because these days we could afford to surrender all we wanted outside our house but the house itself becomes a private affair where we limit things of God. Acts 16:32 – 34. Jesus laid an emphasis on the home. The home was as much relevant as the places he went to preach. The daughter of Jairus, Peter’s mother, Matthew, etc all had the experience of having their homes turned into a meeting ground of some sort. The home of the jailor, Cornelius, etc in the book of Acts was equally not spared. Our homes could be known for many things but it should not be strange to the things of God. We understand through the Grace of God that God dwells in the believer and not in buildings made by human hands. If we truly understand this, then our homes, workplaces, farmland, leisure room, playground, etc is not immune to God’s mighty outpouring if only we would allow it – Acts 17:24 – 28. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost was not in a mighty cathedral or on the revival ground but on the roof of one place – a home – Acts 2:2 – 4. For the sake of privacy, certain things have been murdered in some homes. No matter the place, God moves. Therefore, our homes ought not to be left out as a place where the glorious heritage we have been called into as believers could be demonstrated. As a believer, my prayers ought not to feel more effective because of the churchly environment I find myself. The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous man availeth much. It starts and ends with the state of the person and not the name of the location – John 4:21 – 24. In some homes, it may seem like killing the ‘atmosphere’ to raise a song of praise or word of prayer. I mean why bring it home, we could always go to church. For others it has become the issue of we all know to do but nobody does. I have sometimes wondered why it is difficult to raise a prayer, a song, a word in the midst of fellow believers. Is it that we have all become so familiar with the word we just pay lip service to it. I would to God the homes turn into a revival ground of some sort. I heard a lovely testimony at a time I would love to share with you of a beloved sister in the Lord who was cooking and felt pressed. She just had to let out praise to God and this while cooking. Her neighbour who lay on the sick bed heard and got healed. If our glorious salvation was ushered in at the barn of a home how much more should our homes be open to God? It might seem strange at first. It might go against the norm or standard but gradually we would be able to make it go beyond routine for us to continue in fellowship with the father and with ourselves even in our homes just as in any other place. Our homes are not immune to the miraculous move of God – Acts 9:11; Mark 2:4. Our homes could be designated as a prayer fortress Acts 12:12. I remember the story of a man entering a room in the house of a brother and the man without being told exclaimed that this must be a prayer room. There was such a mighty presence that words could not explain. The church is the body of believers. It is not a building. Our homes could serve as a meeting ground for the church of God – Acts 2:16 – 18. Purpose to have a meeting at home regularly. It does not need to be rigid. You do not need to be ordained at church to have one. It could just be prayers for an hour or raising a song. You do not need to wait to get to church – Act 5:42, Acts 2:46. The church is you. Cheers. -Dr. Bolaji Akanni |
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| When an amazing man named George Dawson died years ago, he left an indelible legacy that can, in many, dramatically impact the lives of each of us. His is a legacy of perseverance, dedication and a refusal to be stymied by the fear of failure.George Dawson was 103 years old when he died; he was 98 when he took his first step to learn how to read. He didn’t care what others thought or said. He didn’t care about those who asked why he would pursue such a goal at such an advanced age. He didn’t care that in whatever classroom he would sit he would be the focal point, the object of curiosity, stares and whispers; may be even the object of nasty jokes. He didn’t even care that he might not be able to do it and could fall flat on his face. He just knew it was something he wanted, and despite the obstacles, it was something he had to pursue, no matter how much he feared what might, or might not happen.
“I never would have known if I could do it if I hadn’t at least tried to do it” he said once. Dawson tried and succeeded and eventually went on to write a book: life is so good, sharing tidbit of wisdom while outlining his incredible life journey, a journey that kept him out of school as a boy because he had to work to support his family. But even at 98, he took the first step to realize a long-cherished dream. The kind of step that so many of us never take, can’t take, won’t take simply because we are frozen in the paralyzing grip of fear, more specifically, the fear of failure. All of us can learn a life-changing lesson from Dawson: who was a glowing testament to the power of perseverance, an example of success against odds. He didn’t just learn to read, he became a model and an inspiration for all those who don’t have the courage to take the first step and simply try, more specifically frozen in the paralyzing grip of fear. The fear of failure prevents you from doing that great thing you wish to do. If you trace the history of any successful person, you’ll probably find a string of failure, disappointment and rejection that infiltrated their lives before there was a celebration of triumph. So there is nothing wrong with a bit of failure, as long as you’re not overwhelmed by it, consumed by it or paralyzed by it. BOTTOM LINE; how will you ever know what’s yours to have if you never take the first step to find out what’s within your reach? If you have a dream, live it. If you have a hope, chase it. If you have a desire to succeed, don’t let the fear of failure prevent it. Let’s meet at the acme. – AOD Oluwafemi |
Every time we spend money, we are making a choice whether we are aware of it or not. Each choice takes us down a certain road or destination. Each spending choice we make has financial consequences, either now or further down the road. Most people are not aware of this fact, hence they do not take time to think through those spending choices and weigh the financial consequences to see if they are heading the right direction or moving towards the desired consequence. According to Rich Dad (in Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki), with every dollar we spend, we make the choice to remain poor, middle class or become rich. This means we are voting each time we spend, we are voting for an outcome.
We spend according to our money reflex, money habits, feelings and emotions. We are hardly aware at the conscious level that a transaction is taking place, a choice is being made and consequences are sure to follow. There is a consequence for every choice we make. Some refer to it as Law of Consequences or Law of Sowing and Reaping. You cannot break this law no matter how highly connected you are, nor get a waiver because of ignorance. You cannot sow bad seeds and pray for crop failure. Each seed will germinate and bear fruits according to its kind. It is a trap many have fallen into without being aware.
Most of us think in the short term. We are only concerned about the here and now. The reality is that most consequences show up further down the road. They hardly manifest immediately. Very often, we are not aware what the consequences of our actions are, hence when they show up we are unable to link it to actions we took in times past. That time delay between actions and consequences makes us feel we have gotten away with our financial recklessness whereas the consequences are waiting for us down the road. This is the main reason we do not consider the consequences when we take actions. It is very easy to fall into this trap, when we make dumb choices and seem to get away with it. When the consequence is not swift, we tend to continue doing the wrong things.
When I was in secondary school up to when I started working after graduating from the University, I was always having issues with peeling palms. The skin of my palms was always peeling off. I did not link it to the detergent I was using to do my laundry. This went on for years and years until I became aware that my palms were reacting to the detergent. The moment I linked the effect to the cause, I changed the detergent I was using and my palms have stopped peeling since then. Until we link our current financial situation to the way we handled money in the past, we may not be motivated to change our money habits so as to change our financial reality down the road.
We spend most of our money on stuff, things that are here today, gone tomorrow. Buying stuff makes us feel good, lifts our spirit, makes us feel we are in step with current trends. The latest phones, gizmos, fashion, latest cars etc. We hardly stop to consider the impact of our spending 5 to 10 years down the road. We get so caught up with the present that we leave tomorrow to take care of itself, and it usually does. We end up perpetually broke and overweight etc. If you have been working for more than 10 years and still depend on pay day to live normally, it means you have been spending money on wrong things, stuff rather than assets.
The best way to escape this trap is to adopt strategic thinking – think long term, think ahead. See beyond your nose, lift up your eyes and look further down the road. Develop short term and long term financial goals. Have a plan and save to invest in assets. Assets generate cash flow. That means the more assets you accumulate, the stronger your cash flow. This means you have multiple sources of income. You don’t depend solely on one source.
The more you spend on stuff, the less you have available to spend on assets. You have to change your sequence of spending, save and spend what is left, rather than spend and save what is left. This means you have to pay yourself first, take your monthly savings first before paying your bills and other expenditure. It is from your savings you invest in assets to generate cash flow. If you are totally clueless what to invest in, you can put your money in money market instruments like fixed deposits, treasury bills, bonds etc where you get fixed but predictable returns. At the same time, you need to invest in your personal growth, development and financial education. This puts you in position to know what to invest in, and the ability to work your plan when you are ready to start.
Taking a long term view allows you to make better choices, weighing the consequences and its impact on your expected outcomes. If you have a one year and 5 year financial goals and plan, it is easy to see whether you are on track or veering off. We get bombarded with demands and pressures to accumulate more stuff from all directions, aso ebi, new shoes, jewellery, new fashion, latest phone, laptop, iPad, TV, game console, gizmos etc. It does not matter if we own a similar item already or if we can do without it for a season until we can truly afford it without jeopardizing our financial goals.
When we don’t think through our choices, we leave the outcome to chance. It takes discipline and courage to say NO, delay gratification and follow our plan. There are financial consequences for every spend decision we make. We are creating our financial future whether are are aware or not. We are making a choice either to be poor, middle class or rich.
– Usiere Uko is editor of www.financialfreedominspiration.com and author of Practical Steps to Financial Freedom and Independence – www.amazon.com/Practical-Steps-Financial-Freedom-Independence/dp/147006832X .
| Recently, my friend and his family came over to Dubai for a vacation. My first meeting with them was at a water park where they were hanging out with other friends and families. When I got there my friend offered me some refreshments but I mildly declined. I didn’t think it was wise to make him spend money on me. As a “big boy” I felt I should pay for my refreshment. Moreso, my friend has offered to take me on fully sponsored dinner cum boat cruise latter in the day.
The next day, we met again for a dinner at my friend’s luxury holiday apartment at the Hilton. Whilst we were having dinner, my friend decided to extend the departure date for his wife and children by a day but the authorities refused. Disappointed, he began to lament how he had paid a total of $15,000.00 to cover the holiday for his wife, three young children and nanny, not knowing he could have got the package for as low as $4,000.00, feeding and accommodation inclusive. Much as I felt bad that a lot of money had gone down the drain, it dawned on me that I should not have starved myself at the water park since all expenses had been paid. I sold myself short. Just as I sold myself short based on my ignorance, as Christians, we sometimes do likewise. Many times we forget that the death of Jesus Christ on the cross ( John 19:30) paid all the expenses so that we can live an all-round successful life (Rom.8:32-33). “Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust.” (2 Pet.1:3-4 The Message). The verses above highlight these five salient points;
I want to encourage you to be steadfast and not sell yourself short. You have all things in Christ. May you to enjoy the bounties made available to you by the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, even as you grow in the knowledge of who he has made us to be (2Peter 1:3). -Emeka Ofia |
David Welsh was determined to be a lawyer. The only problem was that he had dyslexia, a learning disability that causes letters to appear exactly the opposite of the way they should.
In elementary school, David’s parents spent long hours reading his class assignments to him. He dictated his answers to them, and they typed them out. No doubt, many shook their heads at David’s dream to become an attorney.
David entered Westminster College and taped his classes on a recorder rather than taking notes. He typed all of his examination. David graduated from College. No doubt several shook their heads at his ambition to enter law school.
But David Welsh is a positive thinker. He entered the University of Tulsa Law School and recorded every lecture, listening to each again and again. He spent hours in the legal library reading his assignments, painstakingly working through them word by word. He dictated term papers and even dictated exam answers, all at his own expense.
David Welsh eventually made it as an attorney. Was it hard? Yes! Were there problems? Absolutely.
Many told him he couldn’t do it. But his dream was to become an attorney, and he was willing to do what was necessary to make that dream come true.
Are you still doubting the possibility of that dream of yours coming to reality? Read the story of David Welsh again. If you were this young man, would you have given up on your dream of becoming a lawyer?
If you pay a closer attention to the story of David, you will discover that what made it possible for him to accomplish his dream was his ability to communicate with others. You cannot rule out the power of communication if you really want your dreams to come true.
According to a wise man “Communicating when it really matters – with colleagues, at meetings, during disagreements, at negotiations – requires skills, thoughtfulness, and an ability to take responsibility for others’ understanding. Communication is not something that should be left to chance.”
Dear reader, do you want to master the art of communicating effectively? Do you want to stand out to be counted and be recognized? Do you want to position yourself for promotion to the next level? Do you want to be a leader and not a boss? If yes, then master the art of effective communication.
To our success!
Uju Onyechere
Achieving a goal is essentially a promise kept. Setting a goal, be it financial or otherwise means committing to take the steps required to see it to its fulfilment. You break down your goal to action steps and follow through. You do what you said you will do. This is the stuff achieving goals and fulfilling dreams are made of. It speaks of integrity – oneness. Walking your talk, saying what you mean, and meaning what you said. The moment you give your word, it is as good as done. You can take it to the bank.
We often underestimate the importance of keeping promises. We often take promises lightly, to the point of not meaning what we say. Sometimes we make promises knowing full well we do not intend to keep it. In negotiations, this is referred to as “bad faith”. It happens often in negotiations between unions and management or government. After strike and negotiations, a deal is signed and sealed, but problem is the promise is not kept. Years later, the same issue that was signed and sealed gives birth to another strike, another season of promises and more damage inflicted on both sides.
We often think that we can break promises we make to others and keep the promises we make to ourselves. It does not work that way. A promise is a promise. When we make a promise and do not follow through, our sub conscious mind comes to the conclusion that we are not serious. When we then make a promise to ourselves – lose weight, save a certain amount a month etc, it believes we are not serious too. So what happens is that there is no unity within us. Our mind sets a goal, our sub conscious minds says you must be joking, our body is confused, like a driver taking directions from two bosses. The car goes in a zigzag fashion. That is the key reason we do not follow through. We exercise for two days, and return to status quo the third day. We save one month, and then spend what we saved the next. We take one step forward and then one step backward. We lack integrity – oneness. There is no unity within us. We are not promise keepers.
The magnet and a nail are both made of same stuff – carbon steel. Their physical and chemical (molecular) composition is identical. The difference lies in the arrangement of the molecular structure. In the magnet, all the north poles are pointed in one direction, resulting in a strong magnetic force field. In the nail, the north poles are aligned haphazardly, resulting in the magnetic forces cancelling out resulting in zero net magnetic force.
Another interesting phenomenon is that while the nail is attached to the magnet, it becomes a magnet itself, attracting every metal that comes within range of its new found magnetic force field. During this time, the magnetic field of the magnet forces the nails’ structure to line up properly, effectively becoming a magnet itself. Sadly, when the magnet is taken away, the magnetic force ebbs, and the nail returns to its disorderly existence.
That is what happens when we lack integrity. Like the nail, we are all over the place. We say one thing and do something else. We no longer trust ourselves. We begin to doubt ourselves. We don’t take ourselves seriously. It becomes a maybe. We set a goal, but we know deep down we may not follow through. We start but we do not finish. We litter the landscape with abandoned projects and unfinished businesses. This is the stuff New Year Resolutions are made of. A wish list – an empty annual ritual which has become the butt of jokes.
When we come to the realization that promises are made to be kept, we start to slow down on making promises, and step up on keeping promises. We under-promise and over-deliver. We think before we promise or commit. We are not afraid to say NO. When we start to value our words, when our word becomes our bond, we think through before we speak. We refrain from promising and actually do, than promise and not do.
It starts by making small promises and keeping them, then making slightly bigger promises and keeping them. Your body, soul and spirit become one and move in one direction. When you say yes, you mean it from bottom of your heart to the depths of your soul. As you start keeping promises, your confidence and self esteem begins to grow. Your words become powerful, because they surely come to pass. It is simply a matter of time. When you say you want to lose 10kg, it is a done deal. You give it your all, and never back off until you cross the finish line. When you say you will save N10,000 from your salary every month, you just do it, come rain and high water. When you say you will read a book on investment, you actually seek out the book, buy it and read it to the last page. When you get to this point, you are virtually unstoppable. You are a promise keeper. Your word carries power. When you promise, your word is good enough. People can depend on your word because you always follow through. You do not have to swear, or show proof. Your cheque does not have to clear first before the goods are released. Your word is good enough. It is good enough for others. It is good enough for you.
-Usiere Uko is editor of www.financialfreedominspiration.com and author of Practical Steps to Financial Freedom and Independence – www.amazon.com/Practical-Steps-Financial-Freedom-Independence/dp/147006832X .
At the age of 12 his father sent for him and other members of the family to join him in United States, a land they did not know, and whose language they did not speak. His immediate experience in the foreign land was not palatable as he was laughed at by classmates who thought he was stupid because he could not speak English.
But focusing on his studies squarely, he was soon earning ‘As’ in mathematics, sciences, and surprisingly English. He earned a scholarship to Harvard Medical School upon graduation with highflying performance.
As a young physician he saw some of the first known cases of AIDS. His pioneering work with “cocktails” of protease inhibitors and other antiviral drugs has brought about remarkable recoveries, and raised hope that the virus may someday be eliminated.
David Ho, Director of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Centre, was chosen by Time Magazine as its 1996 “Man of the Year” for his scientific feats.
Dear friend, one thing you must imbibe is the spirit of focus. If you don’t have it, go and do everything to get it, including praying and fasting. Have you not noticed that the men and women in our case studies were able to overcome rejections and achieve what they set their mind to achieve because they were focused? They were people who knew what they wanted and gunned for it.
I remember reading the story of Marshall Field in the all time classic
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. A book that was an outcome of thirty years of research work on personal achievement. Little wonder it became one of the best books to have been written by man. Majority of the motivational books we have today were inspired by this great book. If you have not read it, please do so as soon as possible. If you have read it, go back to it. Back to Marshall Field.
The morning after the great Chicago fire, a group of merchants stood on State Street, looking at the smoking remains of what had been their stores. They went into a conference to decide if they would try to rebuild, or leave Chicago and start over in a more promising section of the country. They reached a decision – all except one – to leave Chicago. Marshall Field decided to stay and rebuild. The store was built, a towering monument to the power of determination.
That childhood dreams could become possible if you work towards it. No matter the beginning, what matters is how you end the book of your personal achievement.
To our success!
-Uju Onyechere
Two freight trains collided one day, and a young man named George was so struck by the tragic loss of property, that he became determined to prevent another such accident. The result was that George invented the air brake.
As he set out to demonstrate the superiority of his air brake over the then-used and dangerous hand brakes, he met with strong resistance. Most railroad executives took the attitude of Commodore Vanderbilt, who said after hearing George’s explanation, “Do you mean to tell me that you expect to stop a train with wind? I have no time to waste on…fools.”
George Westinghouse did not give up, however, even when his invention was rejected as being an “impossible idea.” Instead, he went on to invent a railroad “frog” –an invention that appealed to railroad officials. Over time, his happy customers agreed to give the air brake a try and to have it thoroughly tested in their railway operations. Taken together, Westinghouse’s system of railway signaling and the air brake did more to improve the safety record of trains than virtually any other invention for decades to come.
When I hear the word rejection, something in me reacts automatically. I mean check out this statement again
“Do you mean to tell me that you expect to stop a train with wind? I have no time to waste on…fools.” This statement coming from an expert, an authority or a mentor is enough to kill a dream. But the essence of these series is to let you know that no one is qualified to give a final verdict on your dream. No one.
I have said it here previously and I think it’s worth repeating. If you come up with something new and everyone acknowledges it without any criticism, then it’s a clear indication that you have to go back to drawing board. For how can everyone see the world from the same perspective? It’s not possible.
That you attracted such comments means you are doing something. Yours truly is not preaching the idea of anyone foolishly following an idea that is obviously not going to make any impact to its logical conclusion. Of course you should know when to draw the line. But the truth is that some will not see anything good from others. A reason why the man acclaimed to be the man of the century by
Time magazine Albert Einstein said, “Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.” Albert Einstein wouldn’t have made that comment without having a taste of it. Remember he was a scientist and so is likely to have had his own share of rejections.
Now dear reader, do you still believe that anything is impossible? Do you believe that you are capable of making a difference in this world? Yes you! If anybody can, it’s you. Just decide to start in your community. A difference made there will gradually spread across the globe. So start immediately without any further procrastination.
To our success!
-Uju Onyechere
As simple as this question sounds, many of us do not have an idea of what we really want. At age 35, I had no clue. At age 40, I was beginning to have an idea, but I was all over the place. I was not sure. Now 6 years later, I am crystal clear what I really want. It might change later, but for now, I am not double minded. If you wake me up 2am in the morning and ask me what I want, I will tell you without blinking. I am tempted to tag the 15 plus years I wandered in cluelessness and financial wilderness – the wasted years. I have come to realize that they are not indeed wasted. Who I am today and the passion I feel about this subject is as a result of the pain of those years of going round in circles. I feel I have a duty to warn others that we do not have to wander 40 years (age 20 – 60) in the financial wilderness. There is a better and shorter route to our promised land instead of the traditional aimless wandering, retiring poor and wondering what our life is about. You may have noticed that a disproportionate number of retirees die within 10 years of retirement. Without a job, they start to wonder what is there to live for. Their job was their life, literally.
One amazing thing I have discovered is that when you know what you really want, you start to move towards it – often unconsciously. Scientists, psychologists, motivational speakers and folks in the personal development industry have all come to one conclusion – we move in the direction of our expectations. It should not be amazing, because the Bible stated clearly that the expectations of the righteous shall not be cut off (Proverbs 23:18, 24:14). If you aim for nothing, you will achieve it. If you are going nowhere, you will get there surely. If you don’t know what you want, you will have no clue what you will get.
When it comes to personal finances (as in other areas of our lives), we need clear unambiguous goals. It has to be explicit. You have to know what you really want, and why. How do you know when you get there, if you don’t know what you really want?
How do you see yourself in the next 5, 10, 15, 20years? Which city do you want to be living in? What kind of house do you want to live in? Do you have a clear picture? What type of car do you want to ride in? What income do you want to earn per month, per year? What will you do with the money? Which lives do you want to impact? What problem do you want to solve? How will the world become better because you achieved your goals and dreams? What impact do you want to make? How do you want to be remembered? What do you want written on your tombstone? At what age do you want to take a bow? How do you want to be at that age? – Bedridden? Using a walking stick? Overweight? Fit and agile? What do you really want?
God has given us the awesome power of imagination to create the future we desire. We have the power of memory to replay the past, and imagination to pre-play the future. Only humans have this ability. What are we using our imagination for? To imagine vain things?
We can literally use our imagination the way children use Lego blocks to create things – to create a compelling future, the future of our dreams. We have the power to declare things, and they will come to pass. We have the power to plan and get to work. We have the power to focus and persevere in the face of adverse circumstances. We have the power to rise up each time we fall. What more do we want?
What is your dream?
What are your goals?
What do you really want?
God has given us a blank cheque to write what we really want, what have we written?
What have we done with our power to choose?
After all is said and done, the expectations of the righteous, whatever that is, will surely come to pass. It will become a self fulfilling prophecy.
-Usiere Uko is editor of www.financialfreedominspiration.com and author of Practical Steps to Financial Freedom and Independence – www.amazon.com/Practical-Steps-Financial-Freedom-Independence/dp/147006832X .
| The Brooklyn Bridge, which links Brooklyn to Manhattan Island, is one of the most famous bridges in the world. At the time it was first conceived in 1883, however, bridge-building experts throughout the world told the designer, a creative engineer by the name of John Roebling, that his idea wouldn’t work.
Roebling convinced his son Washington, who was also an engineer, that his idea had merit. The two of them developed the concept, resolved the problems others had forecasted, and enthusiastically hired a crew to build their bridge. After only a few months of building, a tragic on-site accident took John’s life and severely injured Washington, who became unable to walk. Everyone thought the project would have to be abandoned, since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew the dynamics of building the bridge. Washington, however, could still think, and he had a burning desire to see the bridge finished. As he lay in his hospital bed, he had an idea. He would communicate with the engineers by using one finger to tap out code on his wife’s arm what he wanted her to tell them. Washington tapped out his instructions for 13 years until the bridge was built! This world is ruled by communication. You must know how to communicate your ideas and dreams to the outside world. And everybody needs to master the art of communication. If you are a very good communicator, you will be able to take or been asked to take leadership positions wherever you found yourself. You don’t necessarily need to take up training in communication skills for the sake of making money. There are times it could save your life. The story is told about a white community worker in a black village. He was coming down from a mountain and tripped. Within some seconds he found himself at the foot of the mountain unable to help himself. Fortunately for him, the villagers were coming back from the farm when the accident happened. He called for their assistance. When they inquired what happened, he said, “As I was descending from the clevity with such an excessive velocity, I suddenly lost my center of gravity and I was precipitated under mechamadized trophel.” When he finished everybody looked at each other and left him to his fate. They could not understand what he was talking about. You must have good communication skills to be qualified for that promotion in the work place. Position yourself as a problem solver and you discover that when there is an opening in your organization, your name will be first to come to mind. You must have good communication skills to be able to market your ideas to others. Learn the art of communication that fits what you are doing. If none exist, create one. Washington Roebling did. To our Success! -Uju Onyechere |