The Penalty of Leadership

I saw this in a textbook I read recently, Introduction to Mass Communication by Stanley J. Baran and I thought it’d be nice to share with you. It’s a 1915 Cadillac Motor Car Company Image Advert.

In every field of human endeavor, he that is first must perpetually live in the white light of publicity. Whether the leadership be vested in a man or in a manufactured product, emulation and envy are ever at work. In art, literature, in music, in industry, the reward and the punishment are always the same. The reward is widespread recognition; the punishment, fierce denial and detraction. When a man’s work becomes a standard for the whole world, it also becomes a target for the shafts of the envious few. If his work be merely mediocre, he will be severely left alone- if he achieves a masterpiece, it will set a million tongues wagging.

They're Leaving God Out of Everything! (The God Omission by Tobi Ogunfusika -@cutendpetite)

When I got home last year after school for the Christmas break, I was watching TV one random day. We were flipping through channels trying to look for something entertaining to watch. We stumbled on African Magic and then for a few minutes we were watching the movie. I noticed that some words were censored and I remembered that they started censoring swear words and curse words a while back and I shrugged my head and continued watching the movie. Something very interesting happened there and then, I noticed that the actress whose present words were being censored wasn’t cursing or saying anything wrong, she was not even angry or pissed with anybody in the movie. She was shocked and she said “Jesus” and after a while she said “oh My God”. It was so hard to read her lips considering the fact that it was a Nollywood movie and those words are the usual things we expect when a situation like that comes up in the course of watching a Nigerian movie.

My Addiction (by Ehidiamen U-Mark)

ADDICTION. Whenever the word comes up, it brings to mind images of junkies and alcoholics, passed out on some high. Indeed, as one dictionary puts it “It is a habit or practice, that damages, jeopardizes or shortens one’s life but when ceases causes trauma”. If you are being truthful to yourself, most of you agree with this definition as this is what most of us think about addiction. We hear addiction and all that comes to mind is negatives. Well here’s a shocker, I don’t fully agree with that description. If this were a questionnaire, I would tick the box that says “strongly disagree”.

I would rather align myself with the definition that describes addiction as “the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice that is psychologically or physically habit forming, to such an extent that its cessation causes trauma”. Pause. Now go back and read that sentence, it makes mention of habit forming. I believe that addiction can either be good or bad, positive or negative. ~as we all know, there are always two sides to a story, two sides to a coin and the same can be said for addiction.

Inviting You to the Startup Grind, Lagos

Startup Grind, the popular event series for entrepreneurs and investors announces the opening of its Lagos chapter and its inaugural event to be held March 9th, 2014 at the Iroko’s headquarters in Anthony Village. The featured guest will be a panel of founders of Irokotv, Africa’s largest internet streaming company supporting Nollywood. Tickets are on sale online now for $10/N1500, or at the door.

 More information is available on the event webpage. www.startupgrind.com/lagos

Jason Njoku, co-founder and CEO of iROKOtv has been credited with igniting Nigeria's internet and tech start-up scene, as well as revolutionizing Nollywood's global distribution system. In 2012 he was touted by Forbes Africa as one of Africa's Top Young Millionaires to watch and has also been named as one of London's Top Black Men of Power in Black Enterprise Magazine.

Praying to a God I Don't Trust

So I woke up this morning to the darkness of my room. The darkness that has characterized my life for quite a while now. I stared into nothingness for a while before turning on to my right side to stare at the wall I could not see. Immediately, my brain alerted me that it was time to pray. I sighed. Not again. But by reflex I got up, put my t-shirt on and stepped outside to the corridor and before I could say Jack Robinson, my personal prayer session had begun. I knew I didn't want to but I just felt I should. I had no reason to, I thought. I'm tired of doing this every morning and still nothing has changed. Last I checked, none of my prayers had been answered. Could it be that all this was just fake? That religion is all but a blatant lie? I mean, I had read somewhere that someone said that religion is just man's excuse to explain what he can't comprehend. Nevertheless, I had this scratching feeling deep down that I should banish that thought.

LIFE LESSONS 2: MUM IS NOT ALWAYS RIGHT… by Austin Queensly (@AustinQueensly)

“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry”

                                                                                                                           

James 1:19 (NIV)

‘No! We should stay in this bus until it gets to its park at Oyingbo before getting a tricycle to his house...’ I tried to let my mother see reason. ‘…it will save us time and stress and…’

‘Oh, you forgot about the cost part right’ my mother cut in. ‘Hiring a tricycle from Oyingbo will cost us more money, so let us just forget about it and alight at Ojota bus stop, take a bus to Yaba and from there we can get a tricycle to your brother’s house’

‘Oh…ok mum’…I said resignedly like I always did when I did not want to cause a conflict. There is obviously a flaw in our relationship. You guessed right…Communication!

How to Identify Low Self-Esteem

It's easy to want to teach people how to develop their self-esteem when some folks don't even know where they stand. So, for the next few days or so, I'm going to point out to you how to know where you stand. After now, you'll be able to identify if your self-esteem is low, or high or unhealthy. Here's how to identify low self-esteem:

1. You're always looking to other people for approval. You an never feel adequate and good enough for anything. You live on complements and other's appraisals.
2. Criticisms kill your morale. No one is allowed to say something 'candid' about you. If they do, you'll be downcast till kingdom come.

How to Overcome Pornography: Employ the Aid of Accountability Partners

I’ve always heard that a problem shared is half solved. Well, the statement may not be entirely true but I know that in this context it does apply. What I’m saying in essence is that you should have a group of people you can talk to and you can report your progress to. These people are referred to as accountability partners. You are accountable to them.

Your accountability partners should be friends you can trust, parents who can understand you, your pastor to give you sound spiritual guidance and maybe even fellow addicts who have been able to overcome their own problem too. You may not necessarily hold meetings with these people but you should talk to them regularly. The truth is, the journey out of porn addiction is not easy and there will be time when you will feel dirty again God will seem far away and you will feel unworthy to talk to Him so these are people you can always turn back to. They will advise you and help you through the rough patch.

Your accountability partners will also help you monitor your progress and see how far you’ve come. Remember to be very honest with them, and despite the temptation to try to look good before them, remember that that will not help you either. So you must come clean before them. That is the only way they can help you.

Know Your Weaknesses...Now Work On Them

Until recently I was always an angry person. Anger was my biggest weakness. Not money, not food, not women; anger. I would always easily blow up at the slightest provocation. I would always carry a long face. I only smiled with the people I knew and wasn't always welcoming to strangers. I had other weaknesses but anger was the most notable. And this is simply what today's article is all about. Know what your weakness is or weaknesses are and work on them. This way you become a better person for it.

For example, if your weakness is eating too much, you can meet someone who will help you out.

WHAT I LEARNT FROM A CRICKET by Austin Queensly (@AustinQueensly)

Swoosh! Swish! The water came in from all directions to drown this annoying little pest but it was apparently to no avail. This little thing held on to dear life like it had a family somewhere in its little cricket world. Or it had a job that it made a lot of money from and/or derived fulfillment.

What my fascination with this cricket was, I could not really place. However, reflecting on it a few hours later, I realized that it bordered on ‘pride’; pride that I could not get rid of an insignificant insect/pest easily. I definitely took the scripture from Philippians 3:12b out of context in my determination to get rid of this cricket from what I considered my personal space at least for the moment.

“Finally! Victory!!”… I shouted excitedly when with a final gush, I flushed the cricket down the laundry drain.

Perseverance is a word that has many synonyms and has been used severally by humans when describing themselves and is especially recurrent in resumes and cover letters. But in the real sense of the word, it is a rarity to find humans who possess that attribute regardless of gender, age, or race.

The 'But' Around Your Neck

Hi there guys, it's been quite a while since I last posted on this blog. I've been offline because I and my classmates were on an excursion and I had very little access to the internet. Over the course of the excursion I got to learn very valuable life lessons which I shall be sharing with you lot over the next few days. Today's life lesson s about character and bad behavior.
I decided to title this entry 'the but around your neck'. The inspiration behind it is simple. The person driving us was a nice man. Very kind and friendly 'but' he had a big character flaw that would never make me consider him or refer him for employment to another person. His flaw: he was never willing to be corrected and he always felt he knew too much.
The fact is that no matter how good you think you are,a little 'but' around your neck could spoil who you are and what people see you as. Check yourself. What's you biggest character flaw. When you find it, work consciously towards curing yourself of it.

How to Overcome Pornography: Cut Off Your Sources

The next step to take in overcoming porn addiction after admitting it is a problem that can ruin you and identifying your triggers is to cut off your sources. Cutting off your sources is as practical a step as it gets and it involves a whole lot of self-discipline and self-assurance that you are ready to take your recovery up a notch. It implies that you are ready to be really serious with your recovery from porn addiction.

Cutting off your sources is a simple step. It involves breaking all those DVDs and CDs, using softwares on your computer to block all those sites you usually visit. At this point you really need to build up your self-discipline. Friends can also help you out here. You can ask a friend to put in a password for that software so you won’t be able to access those pornographic sites. You can also deprive yourself of internet services as long as possible to help you curb the addiction and ultimately put it out.

Moreover, if you are the type that gets access through your phone, that is your internet data plan and your BlackBerry subscription supports you in this wise, it is time you let go of that phone. Either you cut off your internet subscription so you can only browse in public places or you change your phone to one that cannot access the internet. This is for your own good and as I said earlier, it requires a whole lot of self-discipline.

At all cost you must sever all ties with things that grant you easy access to the internet and eventually to porn sites.

ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING

In school I have been put in charge of publishing a magazine and I was brainstorming this morning, with my partner, on people to add to our team. A lot of names popped up in my head and I suggested them to my partner but she kindly rejected them and I know why: ATTITUDE. Till forever, this truth remains, a bad attitude will always overshadow good talent. No matter how good you are at doing something, if your attitude is poor and your character deficient, you will hardly made headway in life.

I have come across so many talented people, who I will never take seriously simply because their attitude is distasteful. At the same time I have come across certain people who may not be so bright mentally but their attitude lights them up. They are delightful.

So today, as you go about your activities, remember: ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING, SO PICK A GOOD ONE.

THERE’S NO HAPPINESS IN THE WORLD’S APPLAUSE

I got this idea from Britt Nicole’s song ‘You’ and I think it’s time I penned it down because it has been hovering on my mind for quite some time. The song talks about seeking true love and finding happiness. The truth is that there’s never happiness when you live for the commendations of others and their applause. There is no happiness there. The only true happiness you will ever find is the happiness that comes with knowing that God loves you and would go to any length for you. This true happiness also comes from the satisfaction you get from fulfilling the purpose for which you were created. God created you not to be just another person but because there's a problem out there that He knows you can solve.

Thank You All For Inspiring Me

All my life I have wanted to inspire people and change the world. This drive has been my catalyst for blogging and writing and ever since I started this blog one year ago on January 26, 2013, I have not regretted. Writing to inspire you all has been a constant source of inspiration to me. Each day I don't post here makes me feel empty. I am grateful for all your support and I hope we keep this blogger-reader relationship for a long time. God bless you all.

Diamond Bank Centenary Challenge

You may or may not know about this. It's a good opportunity for you to push forth the Nigerian in you:

Will you like to win an iPad Mini and cash prizes? You’d love that, right?

Enter for the Diamond Bank Centenary challenge and stand the chance to win mouth-watering prizes.

How:

WRITING COMPETITION PROCEDURE:

• Write short article in not more than 100 words on what makes you a true Nigerian
• Send your entries with your name and phone number to diamondgames@diamondbank.com
• Closing date for entries; 7 February 2014 at 11:59 pm
• All entries will be reviewed by our esteemed panel of judges and the five (5) best articles will be selected for the final round.

THE TEST OF FAITH

People are funny. When all is going fine, they are absolutely in love with God. The moment something negative come their way they begin to doubt God’s credibility and question His goodness. I can say this because I once was like that. Few years ago, I would blame God for all my demise because I felt it was His responsibility to see that nothing goes wrong with me and that all works out well perfectly. I never once considered the fact that God knew what He was doing. Every time something bad happened to me (especially financially) I would quote the Bible and ask God why He did not “provide for my needs according to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus”. This used to be my own major attack point. I was not wise enough to understand the rules of life.

When Are You Most Vulnerable to Give in to the Temptations?

We have established the effects that watching porn has on people now we want to look at the times when the temptation to watch it is strongest and when people are most vulnerable to give in to his temptation.

1. When you’re emotionally exhausted. This is one of the easiest times for anyone to fall into temptations. Emotions and performance go together. The better your emotions, the better your performance. Performance here refers the way we do things. When you’re emotionally exhausted, you get edgy easily. You’re too tired and you may not be able to resist much. Therefore, the temptation comes at a time like this.
2. When you are discouraged. It is easy to get

The Whole Point of Progress...A Lesson from 'Da Vinci's Demons'

I am currently re-watching a TV show 'Da Vinci's Demons'. The show is a fictional historical account of the early years of Leonardo da Vinci while he was just a young, troublesome artist and engineer. Da Vinci approached the ruler of Florence at that time, Lorenzo di Medici, and asked for the position of Military Engineer. Lorenzo agreed and appointed da Vinci. Da Vinci's job was to create military weapons for Florence as Rome was planning to attack them in war. Da Vinci proposed a three-stepped canon which would fire in quick succession. If you are well versed in history you would know that da Vinci's dream was almost an impossibility. I mean, we are talking about the 13th century when there was little technological advancement. However, despite the cynicism of everyone around him, save for his close friends, da Vinci embarked on the journey. He was finally able to produce the canon. However, at the first testing, the canon exploded, almost killing him and the royal entourage that came with Lorenzo. This made Lorenzo angry, giving da Vinci a 3-day deadline to put it right if not, he would be hanged.

How to Deal With Difficult People

You will agree with me that people are different. This difference in personalities makes some people compatible while some others aren't. You will also agree with me that no matter where we find ourselves -at work, in school, at home and in public places- we will always come across people who are difficult to relate with. Some of these people are proud while some others just lack good communication skills. You will also agree with me that it is important for you to know how to get along with people so that life can be much easier for you. The more able you are to adapt to people's personalities, the better your chances are at living a freer life. Here's how you can deal with such difficult people: