I woke up this morning and saw a link from a friend - Ayobami Oladejo. He has just been named the world’s greatest business mind. And virtually all the news media covered the story. World what?…some people  might say. How can this be? You may still be thinking in your mind.  But that is the truth. The guy has just won the award. And you too can do the same at this moment. I have just won the award myself. Surprised? Watch the video on this page. Then, remember to create your own link.

Everyone has what it takes to become the world greatest business mind. You just need start by believing in yourself. Yeah…the starting point is for you to believe that you can indeed be the world greatest mind. What is it that you want to achieve in life? What is your dream? Do you believe they are within your reach?

One thing you have to remind  yourself every time is that every major achievement in life starts with a dream. The whole world started with a dream by God. There is nothing in existence today that has not passed through the dream stage. Some years ago, I read that Bill Clinton was asked what he would like to become when he was about age 3. His reply? Your guess is as correct as mine. He did not mince word in his response. He replied that he would like to become the president of United States of America. No wonder, he became one of the most celebrated presidents United States has ever produced.

I am sure someone will be saying that can only happen in America. What about the likes of our own Pat Utomi (Leap Frog, Lagos Business School and Bank PhB), Bishop Oyedepo (Living Faith Church), Bose Ayeni (Tantalisers), Bunmi Oni (formerly of Cadbury Nigeria), Sunny Ojeagbase (SuccessDigest), Ayo Arowolo (Moneywise Club), Larry Izamoje (Brila FM)? These are people who have achieved so much in their fields. Their dreams have come true. There is nothing you can achieve in life without starting with a dream.

DREAMS can then be said to be an important foundation upon which all achievements are built. Through dreams, we determine indirectly what our future becomes. PICTURES mean Pick-Your-Future. So, do you think you can become the world’s greatest business mind? Start today to determine the course of your life by dictating the pictures you allow to stay in your mind.  You may need to watch the video on this page again.

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Technorati Tags: business

My congratulations, therefore, go to everyone who still believes in hope and especially those whose dreams have been brought back to life. While we are still celebrating, I believe this is a good time to examine some of the lessons from this history-making victory. We all need to look beyond the euphoria and see the values that we can replicate in our lives. So, what are the basic lessons that are available to us all?

1. Obama had a dream: What is it that you want to do? Every major achievement in life starts with a dream. The whole world started with a dream by God. There is nothing in existence today that has not passed through the dream stage. Obama started the race to “White House” with a dream. Today, he did not only achieve his dream but also create history.  He became the first Black American president of the United States. There is nothing you can achieve in life without starting with a dream. DREAM is an important foundation upon which all achievements are built. Through dreams, we determine indirectly what our future becomes. We pick our future with our dreams. The question now is, what pictures are in your mind? You can start today to determine the course of your life by dictating the pictures you allow to stay in your mind.

2. Obama had a plan: If you do not know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else. Obama did not only have a dream, he was clear in his mind of how he was going to achieve his dream. His plan was so clear that many would have been surprised if he had not achieved his dream. Everybody could easily identify with his dream and plans. As such, people knew exactly how to come in. The saying that no one plans to fail is not really true. Once you fail to plan, you are definitely planning to fail. No one can effectively achieve an objective that he or she does not have clearly defined. We have got to think things through, decide what we want, and write out our plan. Dr. Stephen R. Covey suggests, “begin with the end in mind.”

3. Obama Prepared:- God believes in preparation. Obama run the most sophisticated election campaign in the world. Things didnt just emerge. A lot of efforts went into preparation. The campaign machine put into place didn’t appear from no where. It was the result of hours put into preparation. If Jesus Christ had to spend 30 years in the carpenter’s workshop preparing for a 3 1/2 ministry, we all have no excuse. We have to take this value serious if we are to turn our dreams into reality. God appreciates preparation and it shows in everything HE does.

4. Obama Performed: David Schwartz argues, “the only way to start, is to start.” The best laid-down plans, the most comprehensive preparation, can still lead to nothing unless we endeavour to take the necessary action. Obama followed through on the plan plans. He followed the months of preparation with corresponding actions.  No matter how strong and promising our plans and preparation are, once we fail to act, we would still be heading no where. The action step does not have to be perfect.

Dr. Norman Vincent Peale observed, “If you put off everything until you’re sure of it, you’ll get nothing done.” The Bible confirmed this in Ecclesiastes 11:4 “He that observeth the wind shall not show; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap”.  History was not in favour of Obama but he still went ahead to pursue his dreams. Nobody gave him the chance of becoming Democratic Presidential Nominee not to talk ot becoming the 44th President of the United States.  So, do like NIKE suggests…Just Do IT.

5. Persist: – Will the road ahead be smooth? Will there be any adversity on the way? Obama’s road to white house was full of so many rough times. There were definitely challenges on the way but he persisted. The difference between the successful person and the one stalked by failure is not the adversity, everybody has that. The difference is your response – your attitude to the challenges you meet on your way. Do we regroup and hit it hard again, or do we just lay it down and quit? Many times we have made a u-turn when our success is actually around the corner.

Calvin Coolidge said, ”

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”

Failure is never an end. It should be seen as a bend towards another destination. Setbacks should be seen as the foundations upon which we build future success or the final excuse for failure. The decision is yours. Nearly everyone who develops an idea works it until it looks impossible and then gets discouraged. That is not the place to become discouraged. It is often at this point that many only see the obstacle and no longer sees their idea. They give in to discouragement, opposition and obstacles not knowing breakthrough is on the horizon. If only they were persistent.

It is therefore normal for someone to have obstacles before success. Even the dictionary puts the word obstacle before success. Obstacles are there to strengthen us and offer progressive measurement of our growing strength. Discouragement sets in when we misunderstand the purpose of obstacles. Persistence is a conscious decision. So, let us train ourselves to be persistent persons.

These are just some of the lessons I am applying to my life. Have you learnt anything? Use the comment below to share your thought and let’s us put hand together to create the world we all can believe in. We will succeed.

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Technorati Tags: Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States, Obama, Stephen R. Covey

Motivations to hold on came from the pictures of future I carry within me and the desire to succeed. What will happen to all the dreams? The great plans? My aspirations for the year? My community development work with the youth – led initiatives I was working on before the start of service year? The questions were countless and it was as if I would not be able to provide the solutions. Almost everybody around me at that time did not know the solution either. Nobody, I mean, really knew what lies ahead.

Waking up the following morning, I discovered that I had joy unlimited – the joy of seeing my dreams achieved. There and there, I decided to effect the change that would lead to the fulfilment of my dreams. I made up my mind to secure a placement first within the city and then sort out things with the State Director much later. He was the only person everybody believed could do anything to the posting.

My dreams paved way for action and the actions to the result – redeployment to the city. In a matter of days, I got a new place in the city and was able to effect the desired change of location. The roads seemed too far but the passion derived from the dreams saw me through. This experience taught me two great lessons as regards life. “If you want the rainbow in life, you have to be willing to put up with the rain!” and “If you really want to live, you would better start at once to try!”

Sometimes, patience, perseverance and time are the simplest ingredients to achieving your personal success. If you really think about it, most great achievements were not born until lots of time, enormous patience (with yourself) and unwavering perseverance prevail. So, let us now consider few people whose simplified formula for success: “P.P.T.”, (Patience, Perseverance and Time) spawned great products! Every minute somewhere in the country a “Tantalizers’” fast food centre is satisfying people’s need. Can you imagine a business which opened its door (or “Arches”) some few years ago still so strong today with so many outlets across the nation? Well, its founder Bose Ayeni, sure did. Mrs. Ayeni, was no inventor. But she recognised a great idea when she saw one.

From being a mother and no job in view, she started packaging few businesses with a monthly allowance she got from her husband – Mr. Folu Ayeni. She discovered an opening in the Fast Food Business and that happened to be a meeting of interest and opportunity. Tantalizers did not take off on a easy as funding became a hard nut to crack. Finally! It took a loan from a friend to kick start the dream eventually. But the truth is that Tantalizers would have started anyway though it would be more painful. Bose Ayeni is a simple woman with a simple plan to achieve huge success. Today, Tantalizers is being listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Chances are you are reading this article in a room with the use of lighting. Well, you can thank Thomas Edison for that. Did you know that history had it that Edison failed over 9,000 (that is thousand) times before perfecting the light bulb! How many of us would have thrown in the “proverbial” towel at 20 failures, 150 failures or at the 8000th failure? In my opinion, Thomas Edison’s picture should be under the definition “perseverance” in Webster’s dictionary! I believe you are in agreement with my suggestion. After Edison had invented and produced the light bulb, a reporter asked him how it felt to fail over 9,000 times. Edison replied, “I was glad I found 9,000 ways not to invent the light bulb!” From this point forward Edison went on to receive 1,093 patents, more than any other person in U.S. history. Wow!!!

I am sure of us would say that the examples do not apply to you. What about Ubong Essien (Achievers’ manual), Austin Okere (Computer Warehouse Group), Biodun Shobanjo: Jewel of Advertising, Fola Adeola (Guaranty Bank & Fate Foundation), Jimoh Ibrahim (Global Fleet Group and NICON Group), Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State and the Sweet Sensation Stories? As you can see, the common traits between Bose Ayeni, Thomas Edison and all the people mentioned above is simple and direct: Belief, Perseverance, Patience and Time. Whatever it is you are trying to achieve in your precious and valuable life, I am convinced these traits must be present. Especially, belief! If you do not believe, you will not achieve. So, don’t give up now. Give it one more trial and you will succeed. Push the right buttons.

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Technorati Tags: dream, success, Thomas Edison

Branson’s idiosyncratic approach to business and his risk-taking personal life made him a British folk hero as well as one of his nation’s wealthiest men. Under Branson’s supervision the Virgin group fostered creativity among its employees and allowed the Virgin brand to evolve and diversify with the marketplace.

Branson overcame dyslexia as a child and began to show his entrepreneurial talents early. Born into a middle-class English family, he displayed both a natural intelligence and a competitive spirit on the playing field. His first business ventures included growing Christmas trees and breeding birds. As he reported in his autobiography, “Losing My Virginity,” chafing under authority Branson left boarding school at age 16. At the time his headmaster reportedly told him, “Branson, I predict that you will either go to prison or become a millionaire.”

In 1966 Branson launched Student, a youth-oriented magazine. As the editor Branson interviewed John Lennon, Mick Jagger, Vanessa Redgrave, and other celebrities. He also started the Student Advisory Center, a nonprofit referral service for troubled youth. In 1970 local authorities charged the center with obscenity for using the words “venereal disease” in its promotional material. Branson was successful in getting the charges dropped, setting a precedent for his future battles with authority.

After selling Student to a larger company in 1970, Branson started a mail-order record company, Virgin Mail. The following year he opened a retail store, which by 1972 had become a chain of 14 shops around the United Kingdom. Charged with evading purchase taxes on import record sales, Branson escaped prosecution by paying an out-of-court settlement. Saddled with $90,000 in fines and debts, a sobered Branson expanded his chain of stores and purchased a small castle in Wales, turning it into a recording studio.

His next project was to launch a record company of his own. With his cousin Simon Draper as the creative director and Nik Powell as the business manager, Branson inaugurated Virgin Records in 1973. Among the label’s first releases was Mike Oldfield’s album Tubular Bells, which topped the U.S. charts in 1974 and sold more than 13 million copies. Virgin had suddenly become one of the most successful independent record companies in the United Kingdom. Despite his image as a “hippie capitalist” dabbling in business, Branson proved an astute negotiator from the start, signing his artists to long contracts, acquiring worldwide rights to recordings, and owning copyrights for as long as possible.

After its impressive start Virgin Records entered a stagnant period in the mid-1970s. Branson failed to sign such established acts as the Rolling Stones and had to rely on Oldfield’s sales to keep the label profitable. Matters did not begin to improve until Virgin signed the Sex Pistols in 1977. Undaunted by the punk band’s controversial image Branson sold 100,000 copies of the single “God Save the Queen” in one week. Virgin did not pull out of the doldrums until it released Culture Club’s debut album in 1982.

The phenomenal popularity of the lead singer Boy George helped the band to sell 1.4 million albums in the United Kingdom the following year. Hit albums and singles from Phil Collins and the Human League also did well for Virgin. The label quadrupled its size in four years. Branson used his earnings to launch a Virgin American record label and to invest in new ventures, including Virgin Vision (a film and video distribution company), Virgin Games (a computer games publisher), Virgin Rags (a clothing line), Vanson Property (a property development company), and several London-area nightclubs.

In February 1984 Branson was approached by the American attorney Randolph Fields with an offer to invest in a new transatlantic airline. Despite the objections of his business partners, Branson was immediately intrigued by the possibility. Rather than adopt Fields’s initial idea of an all-businessclass airline, Branson envisioned a low-cost carrier that would compete with People Express. The decision to pursue the project caused ill feelings with Draper and other Virgin staff members and met with disfavor with Branson’s bankers. It was something of a personal triumph for Branson when, on June 22, 1984, Virgin-Atlantic Airways embarked on its maiden flight between London’s Gatwick Airport and Newark, New Jersey.

From a single leased aircraft Virgin-Atlantic slowly grew during the 1980s, adding routes to Los Angeles and Tokyo while seeking access to London’s Heathrow Airport. Branson emphasized his company’s commitment to service by talking with customers during flights. He was even known to dress as a flight attendant and serve refreshments. To help promote the airline Branson began to raise his media profile by performing promotional stunts and feats of daring. In 1985 he was rescued off the coast of Ireland when his powerboat Virgin Atlantic Challenger crashed during an attempt to break the transatlantic speed record.

A year later Branson succeeded in breaking the record with Virgin Atlantic Challenger II. In 1987 Branson set out with the aeronaut Per Lindstrand on a transatlantic hot-air balloon trip, crashing into the Irish Sea after making it across the ocean. The pair completed the first successful transpacific hot-air balloon ride in 1991, although they ended the trip stranded on a frozen Canadian lake before being rescued. Such death-defying adventures won Virgin invaluable publicity and emphasized Branson’s image as a fearless risk taker.

Not all of Branson’s corporate moves turned out as he had hoped. In 1985 Branson took Virgin public, attracting 100,000 applications for shares. While he gained greater financial stability, Branson disliked the restraints of working with a board of directors. “Previously, I had always felt confident about any decision we made, but now that Virgin was a publicly quoted company, I began to lose faith in myself,” he recalled. “I felt uneasy about making the rapid decisions I had always made and wondered whether every decision should be formally ratified and minuted at a board meeting.”

Branson fought with the board over paying out large dividends rather than reinvesting profits in new projects, as Virgin had previously done. The October 1987 stock market crash helped to convince Branson to buy back his company. He announced Virgin’s management buyout in July 1988 and began to seek investors, including the British retailer W. H. Smith and the Japanese media company Fujisankei, for joint ventures. These relationships were especially important in establishing a chain of Virgin Megastores, which were devoted to music as well as other Virgin consumer items, across Europe, North America, and Japan. In 1988, Branson launched Virgin Hotels and a new music division, Virgin Classics.

Download this free book – “Secrets of the science of getting rich!” It is my gift to you.

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Technorati Tags: Richard Branson, business, Virgin, Virgin brand, science of getting rich

I have decided to use this medium to answer one of the questions raised – how can one look inward without having the means to do so? God does not make mistake. As such, HE has created everyone with something unique. There was something going on in his mind when he created you. Your responsibility is to look inward and discover this God-given ability.

This will not come to you on a platter of gold as you have have to make a conscious effort to achieve this. U still remember one of Newton’s laws of motion? Nothing moves until you move. This same law still exists today and governs most, if not all, of all that happens to us in life. You know what? Everyone can not work in paid employment. Someone of us have to start a business even if it means you are using your house as the office. The earlier we accept this reality the better for us.

Heard of Fela Durotoye? He pulled out of what a lot of people seemly call a comfort zone to start his business – VIP Consulting. Today, the company stands as one of the best in the industry. What is his success secret? I may be wrong but I believe his determination to pursue his dream is one of the critical success factor.  Friends, you have what it takes to do whatsoever you want to do. It might stretch you and require that you apply your heart to discipline but it is worth all the effort.

I would like to leave you with this, create a picture of a desired future and carve for yourself the plans that will take you there. Someone said, when the heart of a man decides on a destination, his mind will design the map to take him there. Meanwhile, find below some of my previous posts that I think will be helpful to you.

• Cause or Effect: The Choice is Yours
• Think Big
• You are only limited by your imagination
• Leverage your own time
• Stay at it
• Make Things happen

 Decide today to live your life the way you want. 

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Emmanuel: hello

Prosper: flegz.com rocks

Emmanuel: can you spare 30 mins

Prosper: hello. I was away from my desk for a while

Emmanuel: Can I know you?

Prosper: I’m Onogberie Prosper

Emmanuel: hm..

Prosper: hail from Ozoro Delta State and ofcourse very Nigerian

Emmanuel: is that all you want us to know?

Prosper: I’m also a business man

Emmanuel: great?

Prosper: in the Online Industry

Emmanuel: that brings me to the second question, What do you do?

Prosper: I’m a web developer by skill

Emmanuel: listening

Prosper: and I’m into e-commerce

Emmanuel: e-commerce? what do you mean by e-commerce

Prosper: business electronically

Emmanuel: What lead you into business?

Prosper: well. i kind of saw it as an inevitable end for every man. i mean I see people work for the Gov. and then retire to start their own

Emmanuel: hm..

Prosper: people work for “ABC…” and same thing happening so I mean

Emmanuel: listening

Prosper: it was kind of the future for me. However

Emmanuel: go on

Prosper: It really got stronger when Alumni of O.A.U started coming around to do seminars on Entrepreneurship and Business, when I read rich dad poor dad

Emmanuel: that is great

Prosper: and Visited Business week, I saw then that it’s actually possible to start while young and better for a fact

Emmanuel: great. what was your first business experience? and how did it go?

Prosper: ahh

Emmanuel: what was your first shot at business?

Prosper: ok. First business experience was an opportunity I saw for Building websites for all the lecturers in O.A.U for a very negligible fee

Emmanuel: whao! websites for all lecturers in OAU

Prosper: I was a really funny experience

Emmanuel: how did it go?

Prosper: cause partly It was borne out of the fact that I could see schools like MIT and Stanford had lecturers with webpages and O.A.U didn’t have any. So, I thought it would be nice to do one for them but…

Emmanuel: that is really great

Prosper: I guess the Lecturers weren’t all seeing things the way I saw it

Emmanuel: IC :-d

Prosper: I got turned down and Ignoredand in Occations where i was refered by other lecturers

Emmanuel: hen hen

Prosper: they made me feel really bad about my Idea

Emmanuel: You mean lecturers actually turned you down

Prosper: yea. they did. i think the only ones who encouraged me was Dr. Fakoya

Emmanuel: ah

Prosper: from Health Sciences. He actually asked me to design for their faculty but err

Emmanuel: and u did?

Prosper: the project got tangled in Faculty Politics. So, I didn’t get to do any successfully but it was a great experience all the same

Emmanuel: cool. What projects are you currently involved with?

Prosper: wew. ok I’m currently working on five projects – three of them are electronic Market Square’s

Emmanuel: listening

Prosper: clients and two are personal projects

Emmanuel: what is electronic market square about?

Prosper: Electronic Market Square is a web development outfit

Emmanuel: listening

Prosper: it handles the design and implementation of web applications and wedsite design

Emmanuel: how do you source for your clients?

Prosper: I hard source for projects as a matter of fact. I haven’t sourced for Projects like others do

I get the through referrals – Referral by Clients

Emmanuel: referral?

Prosper: and mostly through locally outsourced projects. Yea. You know people you’ve worked for and those you’ve worked with

Emmanuel: alr8

Prosper: and most times our work speaks for us

Emmanuel: by the way, I heard you are the brain behind www.flegz.com. Can you tell us more about this noble project

Prosper: oh yea. that’s one of the personal projects i was talking about. There was a day i was trying to get the up-to-date prices of computer hardware

Emmanuel: hen hen. How has it been threading this entrepreneurship route?

Prosper: and I found out that Guardian which was the traditional route were not putting up the prices anymore so i set out to get the problem solved which resulted in flegz.cm

Emmanuel: this is great. so, it is about solving a problem?

Prosper: primarily it is about solving problems

Emmanuel: cool

Prosper and partly fun

Emmanuel: k. Any challenge(s) so far on the way?

Prosper: oh yea lots

Emmanuel: This is a follow up to the question I asked earlier “how has it been threading this entrepreneurship route?”

Prosper: particularly getting the right partners on long term projects. it’s been a whole rollercoaster of learning

Emmanuel: What do you think is the cause of this?

Prosper: which?

Emmanuel: I mean not being able to get the right partners for long time projects

Prosper: well, I think the environment which we live has made people think in a particular wayfor instance

Emmanuel: hen hen. I dont understand. can you be more explicit?

Prosper: people look more at the money they want to make than the problems they can solve

Emmanuel: hm…I guess I understand now. I once had the same problem

Prosper: when for a fact every problem well solved earns you money

Emmanuel: alr8. What do you have to say to fellow youths who want to start their business?

Prosper: Information is Power. Get information and be open to learn new things every day plus. Never let setbacks stop you from achieving your goals

Emmanuel: hm…

Prosper: The African Child’s only limitations are they think they are limited

Emmanuel: this reminds me of the sayings “every man is only limited in his thought”

Prosper: very true Tosin. very true

Emmanuel: Thanks very much for your time Prosper

Prosper: anytime

Emmanuel: and I hope my reader(s) will have one or two thing(s) to learn from your story

Prosper: i do hope so too

Emmanuel: we would call on you soon.

Prosper: my pleasure

Emmanuel: thanks

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We left school in 2002 and my friend (and project partner) went ahead to establish an ICT firm despite plea from all quarters to take up an employment. Today, the company is doing great and have clients in some West African countries. I can still remember the days in 2002 when it seemed that the company was destined to collapse.

Things were so hard that he was finding it hard to pay our bills. It was in fact difficult to maintain his GSM bills at that time. He had to result to offering every service one could think of in ICT to survive. He just got involved in everything called ICT. Today, his office sits on the 4th floor of a building on Allen Avenue, Ikeja.

What is his secret?

He believed in himself and never gave up.

He made up his mind to give it all it takes and today he is doing what he really wants to do. I had a discussion with him some few weeks back on the opportunities that abound in Nigeria and I was amazed by his determination to implement every business idea that has ever come to his mind. His monthly revenue stands at an average of 10 million naira per month and he is still not satisfied with his current success. In September 2007, when the company will be 5 years, he would be stepping down as the CEO to pursue another project of his.

My friend’s story is just another proof that we can all achieve our dreams. The beginning might be rough but if we stay at it, we would have courses to smile pretty soon. What is it that you want to do? Are you currently working on a business project now and it seemed you are not getting support from all quarters? Dont loose give up now. You only need to reassure yourself once more that you are doing what you really want to do. Stay with your plan and the whole world would soon come to celebrate with you. You are destined to succeed!

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