Are you ready for your winter? Can you say that you are better equipped to face your winter? It is not a question of “if” winter will come but rather a question of “when”. What you do today will determine the kind of experience you will have in winter. I will like to share a story I read some years ago. The story may be old but I keep seeing new applications each time I re-read it. So, join me on this storylane…

One summer day, a lazy grasshopper was chirping and sitting and playing games, just as he did every day. A hard-working ant passed by, carrying a huge leaf that he was taking back to the ant’s nest. The grassshopper said to the ant, “All you ants do is to work all day. You should be more like me and play, play, play.”

The ant replied, ” I’m storing food for the winter season. You should be working, for just the same reason. What will you eat when the weather gets cold? How will you feed your hungry household?” The grasshopper laughed, “All you ants do is work and worry. Slow down, don’t be in a such a hurry. Just look around, there’s plenty of food; don’t give me advice, that’s just plain rude.”

The ant kept working, the grasshopper kept playing, and winter soon came. The ant had prepared for the winter and had enough food stored in the nest to last through the cold, harsh winter weather. Now that winter had arrived, the grasshopper couldn’t find any food and soon became very hungry. He soon remembered the hard-working ant he had made fun of in the summer. The grasshopper went to the ant’s nest and asked for food.

The ant, who was still busy working at keeping the food clean and dry, said, “I toiled to save food for the winter freeze, while you spent the summer playing in ease. I stored just enough food for the winter, it’s true, but I can’t feed you all winter, or I’ll starve too.”

The ant, however, gave the grasshoper a few crumbs, but the grasshopper was cold, miserable, and hungry all winter. The next summer, the grasshopper worked hard to store food for the upcoming winter. That next winter, the grasshopper was well fed and happy! He learned to think ahead and plan for the future.

Can you pick any lesson(s) from this story? If not, I would suggest that you go back and read it again until the message sinks. However, I will like to share some of the lessons I have been able to pick from the story.

Lesson 1:

Winter is inevitable. Every human being and business will go through a winter period. The only difference is the timing. You might be going through your winter time while your friend’s winter is much later.  So, PLAN. 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. The ant’s main objective was to ensure that he had enough food in winter. This he planned to achieve. Likewise, you and I have to think things through, decide on the kind of lifestyle we want irrespective of circumstance, and write out our plan to achieve it.

“the depth of your plan determines the length of your success,” Rev’d Sam Adeyemi

So, if you really need to succeed, you need to embrace planning as part of your life. You need to plan very well so that you can sweat less. Only then can we do as Dr. Stephen R. Covey suggests, “begin with the end in mind.”

Lesson 2:

The  next important lesson is that the Ant prepared for the winter. There is no easy way out. There are basically two types of pain available – pain of discipline and pain of regret. So choose the one you want. You can either choose to be the ant or the grasshopper. The ball is in your court. Commit to learn new trade, study, practice, take that lecture, attend that seminar and go for that course.

Exercise, listen to those tapes, nurture a relationship, read that book (especially those written by people who have gone ahead in your chosen field). Someone somewhere has passed through your current path in your business or career. His/her experience has been packaged in a book / CD and is within your reach. Instead of you charting the course all over, grab the book/CD, digest the content therein and apply it to the situation at hand. You will be surprised at easy things will turn out to be. The important thing is to do something today that will make the path smoother tomorrow.

Lesson 3:

The ant did not stop at preparation. The ant performed. He worked every day during summer to gather his food. David Schwartz made this simple but profound statement,

“the only way to start, is to start.“

The simple fact is that the best laid plans, the most comprehensive preparation, can still lead to nothing unless you endeavour to take the necessary action. No matter how strong and promising your plans and preparation are, once ye fail to act, you would still be heading no where. The action step does not have to be perfect. They just  have to be taking you towards achieving your plan.

Dr. Norman Vincent Peale observed,

“If you put off everything until you’re sure of it, you’ll get nothing done.”

One of my favourite passage in the Bible - Ecclesiastes 11:4 - even confirms this,

“He that observeth the wind shall not show; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap”.

The truth is that nothing would be achieved until you set out to act. We would only continue to make matter worse. The need to act the plans does not only become necessary but important. Nike – one of the top kit manufacturing company in the world – has the right idea in her simple slogan, “Do it!” So, I advice that you change your motto to “DO IT” now.

Lesson 4:

The ant was persistent. Discouragement came from grasshopper painting picture of a better way to live. But the ant did not let go of his goal / plan. Will the road ahead be smooth? Will there be any adversity on the way? Yes… The difference between the successful person and the one stalked by failure is not the adversity – everybody has that. What do you do when you are faced with obstacle on the way? Do you regroup and hit it hard again, or do you just lay it down and quit? Many people have made a u-turn when success is actually around the corner.

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

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Why would a bank that is laying off some staff announce payment of bonus to the remaining staff if indeed the focus is on cutting cost?  The response of the CEO was shocking. He said, “the only way to keep their best staff is to pay them high bonus“.  What is the difference between the ones laid off and those that received bonus? The difference? The people who are seemed to be successful – those living their dreams – are those that have learnt to manage their future. They live not at the mercies of others. They are in charge of their destiny.

How do you take charge of your destiny? Manage your future and mind your business. I am not not saying that you should resign from your job or rather that you should start your own business now. Very few people are cut out for business. So, I will definitely not advise you to take that route if business is not passion. The challenge is for you to really be in charge. You don’t have to keep worrying that your job security depends on the whims or moods of your current boss. The kind of live you have always wanted to live is within your reach. You can even transform your current job into that dream job.

The starting point is to control what happens in your career. You must take charge of your work life. You will have to fire your boss mentally. You will have to determine your own value. You will be setting your own goals. You have to be in charge of selecting the skills you wish to attain. You will also have your own personal work plan.You may need to do the following:

• Write your own job description: Write a brief description of your job. However, do not align yourself with a certain company, profession or specialization. Reflect on what you do each day and each week.
• Give yourself a performance review: Find out what other people with the same job description earn. Also find out the skills that are valued in this certain field.
• Define alternate courses: After you have done the two steps above, you will realize that there are alternate courses available to you. Brainstorm about all the other fields and occupations that would suit the job description that you created.
• Put your plan into writing: Develop your own plan for your work life. Remember that your future plans should not hinder the alternate courses you have defined. Note down the new skills you need to acquire.

Where you are today is a direct reflection of the words, thoughts and actions you took days, months and years ago. No matter how much you continue to blame your parents, teachers, where you grew up, television, the government or anything else, the truth is that nobody got you where you are today but yourself. The longer you choose not to take responsibility for your live, the longer you will be living uninspired lives that you do not love.

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Technorati Tags: start your own business, job security, dream job

I am glad we all made it to this new year. So, I will like to use this medium to say Happy New Year and to thank you for your constant visit to this blog. Your visit and comments last year were source of encouragement and gives me more motivation to keep updating this blog. However, if you feel there are some things that need improvement, do visit the contact me page and send me an email. I would be glad to hear from you.

As we start this great year, I will like to share with you one secret that can help you live your dreams / goals in 2009. You might have heard a lie that only selected few can succeed in life. Someone might have told you specifically that it will be hard for your business to succeed. They might have even pointed your attention to other businesses that are failing. Don’t believe that lie. The fact that other businesses are failing does not mean yours have to. Also, the fact the other people are loosing their jobs does not translate to you loosing yours. What then is the secret? Turn everything you have got into seed.

As long as you have seeds, you can create your world. The most interesting thing is that God has given everyone seeds to sow. God has based this world on the Law of Sowing and Reaping. If you want to reap yam tubers, the only way out is to plant yam seeds. You can not plant corn and expect to harvest cassava. What you plant is what you will receive. So, if you want to experience success in your business or career, you have to plant the right seeds. And this has to be on a daily basis. Planting your seed only once is not enough. You have to ensure that you keep putting your seed into the ground no matter what demands it places on you.

Words are seeds. Pay close attention to words coming out of your mouth every minute. If the first thing that comes out of your mouth each time your family members ask you for money is that you don’t have money, the truth is that you will definitely not have money. Rather than speak about your present situation, speak the future you desire into existence. What you are facing now might be the exact opposite of what you want. You might even be finding it hard to make a single sale but keep sowing your word seed. Don’t let negative word come out of your mouth. Guard your speech. Never speak of yourself in a discouraged or discouraging way. Always speak in terms of advancement. Water the seed of the future you desire.

Thoughts are also seeds. What you allow to go through your mind consistently will ultimately rule your world. Control your thought and you would control your world. Everything around you can be turned to seeds. You might feel and complain that you deserve more than you are being paid now at your place of employment. Your complain from now till eternity will not change anything. The power to change your world lies with you. See your work place as a fertile ground that needs your seeds. If anything needs to be done in the office, be the first person to take up the responsibility.

It may even be your business that is not giving the kind of returns that you expect. Instead of complaining, seek to offer your customers quality service.

Give your boss / customers more USE VALUE that the CASH VALUE you collect from him / them. Turn everything you have to seeds.

Learn to recognise the seeds God has given you and cultivate them. Once you cultivate your seed, the Law of Growth sets into place. Your wealth and dominion are tied to seeds. Value seeds! When you disrespect your seed, you will have to EAT from someone’s harvest and it will be at a cost. Start today to sow your seeds.

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Technorati Tags: Law of Sowing and Reaping, Law of Growth

Compliments of the season. As we get set for the new year, I will want us to take a look at an important question…”where do you see yourself or your business in 5 years?”. If you can not answer this question in 5 seconds, then you need to sit down right now and take a look at your life or business. Some years back, in my final year on campus, five of us were faced with this same question. We were about to graduate from the university and the future stared at us.

Each of us shared our picture of where we would be in 5 years. Looking back today (about 7 years after), I am proud to say that we have achieved everything that we shared at that time.  Now, take a look outside your office now…Spend the next 5 mins watching people pass before you. How many do you think out of those passing before you have specific goals in their life? Do you think they have any specific thing they are pursuing with vigour? I am sure if we decide to take a survey now, we would find very little. This is exactly why many achieve little.

Many people’s paychecks are not large enough to pay their bills because they have no goals. They have no concrete plans on how to improve their life or expand their knowledge so as to increase their value to the society. They wake up each day with their ship heading nowhere.This season is a time to set yourself free and set goals for your life and business.

All tangibles objects began as goals or ideas in the mind of people. So, if you will achieve anything in life, it must be first exist in the form of an idea or goal. This is the starting point. Get out of the camp of many that just exist from day to day, week to week or even year to year without goal or a picture of what they want to achieve in life.

Spend this festive period to design a five-year goal for your life and business. Find half an hour when you know you will be free of all distractions. Use it to make a list of all goals that come to mind.  Include the most outrageous goals you can imagine. Don’t worry about whether the goals are realistics or unrealistics at this point. Just write down everything that comes to mind. After you have written down all your goals, now go over the list and carefully pick out the five which are the most important to you.

Be careful not to fall into the situation where your goals concern only your business or your career. Think of your marriage (even if you are still single), your friends and other important areas where you feel you can improve your life. Write these 5 down on a set of cards and paste them where you can see them everyday. You may need to put one of the cards in your wallet. Just ensure that your goals are visible to you. The result? Your life will always be focused on specific goals. And you will be making progress in all important areas of your life with a steady and consistent pace. Start today and carve out a goal for your life and business.

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Technorati Tags: business, goals, career

I have received series of emails from people asking for advice on choosing a business school. So, I decided to use this medium to answer one of the questions raised. If you are considering pursuing an MBA programme, then read on. Going for an MBA programme might mean sacrificing your present salary throughout the period you would be in school. It may mean you having to fall back only on your savings or investment to meet the financial demand that an MBA programme would place on you. Do you think you have all it takes? Do you have the strength to put in the required sacrifice?

Studying for an MBA is one sort of sacrifice and the weight may be heavy. The truth is that some of the people you are leaving behind at work might have moved up the career ladder before you finish. The result? They would be earning more money than they were earning when you left them and you might not be able to measure up in the immediate. You need to sit down and decide if it is worth it trading your present salary and briefcase for a backpack and student loans?

The thought of going back to school conjures up serene campuses, summer vacations, and a laid-back lifestyle. After several years of 60-hour workweeks, heading back to class might sound like a much-needed two-year break. And, hey, it seems MBA grads can command six-figure salaries. What’s not to like? Should you go for it? Only you can decide that and your dreams / goals should form the basis of your decision. Consider the following questions and be sincere in your answers.

Where Do You Want to Be in Three / Five Years? The first step in deciding whether or not to strap on your backpack and head back to school is to figure out what you want to get out of an MBA program. Business school can mean a heavy investment in time and money — two years for most full-time programs, give or take a year for executive MBAs and part-time students. Ask yourself first how business school will help you meet your goals, then consider what you’ll be bringing to the mix.

Do You Need an MBA to Get There? It’s important to investigate the skills needed for the particular type of position you want. You may be surprised to find out that while an MBA may be an important factor in fields like investment banking and consulting, it would not automatically guarantee you an interview in some industries. But if you’re looking to move to a completely different career, an MBA can definitely facilitate the switch.

Having considered the two questions raised above, do you still feel you need that MBA? Does it worth it to trade your present salary to achieve your goal? If you are yet to answer the tqo questions, go over them again and ensure that you are sincere. This is about your life and only you alone understand that dreams you have. Weigh your options and go for IT if it would move you towards your goals. Decide today to follow your passion.

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Technorati Tags: money, student loans, MBA, investment, business school, goal

Millions each day (if not more) are afflicted with and effected by the habit of procrastination. How many times have we all said, “Oh, I’ll do it tomorrow”? Procrastination kills dreams faster than you can even have them. When we procrastinate, we take no action and consequently – nothing is born. There is need for you to take action irrespective of what you want. No obstacle is big enough to stop you from living your dream. God has deposited in you everything you need. No matter how big your goal is or the challenge on the road, you can achieve it if only you will take the first step today.

SO, GET STARTED NOW…Guess what? Tomorrow never comes. Yeah, it never does. Tomorrow only appears in the mind. Have you ever considered the fact that the tomorrow you were talking about yesterday is the today you are in now. I used to get frozen in my tracks, when it comes to reaching for my dreams. The idea of starting and running a successful business seemed so daunting that I didn’t know where to start… There was always something “more important” or “necessary” to do and my vision took a backseat… day after day after day. But I took the bull by the horn. I moved towards my goal. I started a business part-time but I ensured that I keep moving towards my goal. The steps may be small but I am definitely not stagnant.

I bet you know what I’m talking about too. You too can make the decision today to move towards your dream. First, have a clear picture of what you actually want. Then, make a commitment to do something in line with your goal every day. Give it everything you have got and ensure that you DO SOMETHING about it! It doesn’t matter how poorly you do it. Like Nike suggests, “Just Do It“.

Will you still watch your dream pass you by? Make a commitment to getting started today. This is YOUR season if ONLY you will decide to face your challenge and go for your goal. Remember, excuses will take you no where. Take ACTION NOW.

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Technorati Tags: Start a business, goal, procrastination, dream, successful business, dream

1. Make the commitment to reach your goal: “One person with a commitment is worth a hundred who only have an interest.” Mary Crowley. Your goal is worth nothing without your commitment to follow through on it. Lack of commitment is one of the reasons why many people do not [achieve their goals. Many have great goals and even wonderful plans to achieve the goals. But without a personal commitment, nothing will be achieved. You need to constantly remind yourself that nobody can achieve your goal for you. Your employees or your boss is only working at achieving his goals. So, how committed are you to your goals?

2. Be accountable: Commit yourself to detailed accountability. Look for someone that you respect and share your goals with the person. If possible, get a mentor that you know would be interested in you. Remember that mentors are not there to help you achieve your goals. They are to ensure that you remain on the right track. But I bet you this is worth much more than you can quantify. Also, develop the habbit of recording your progress toward your goals every night, and list the six most important things you need to do the next day. This daily discipline is not only key to reaching your goals but also gives you motivation to keep going.

3. Build your life on a sold foundation of honesty: A life and / or business built on strong character, integrity, trust, love, and loyalty is definitely going to succeed. The progress may not be visible but it will pay off. This foundation will give you an honest shot at reaching any goal you have set properly.

4. Break your intermediate and long-range goals into small bits: Imagine that your goal is to have a certain amount of turnover in your business within the next one year. While this is may be a great goal, the implication is that you will have to wait till the end of the year before you know if you achieve your goal or not. But if you break it down into monthly turnover, this is easy to measure. Moreover, you will be able to know on time if you are close to your goal or not.

5. Be prepared for change: Something are definitely not within your control. The foreign exchange flunctuation, radical changes in oil prices, weather, inflation, interest rates, government policies etc. are things that you can not control.  So, you have to consider this when setting your goals. Stick with your decision to move toward a goal – but be willing to change your direction to get there as conditions and circumstances demand.

6. Share your “give-up” goals: I can not over-emphasise the importance of sharing your goals with people. While this will help you stay on your toes, it will also do you much good. Assume that your goal is to give up drinking, being rude, or even procrastinating, you will surely see people that will encourage you. They can even help you track your action towards achieving your goals. So, don’t keep your goals to yourself only. Share it and get the help that you need.

7. Become a team player: Nobody is created an island. If God could create Eve and bring her to Adam, then you definitely need people. I have not seen any person who became successful alone. Just take a look around you. The people they are working with may not be visible but I bet you there is little they can achieve without the support they get from their team. One thing you need to consider when in working in team is what you are going to add to others. Focus on how you can help others achieve their dreams. The people you may be working with may even be your employees. Just have it in mind that they have their goals that they are trying to achieve. And if they can’t get to achieve their personal goals working with you, they will leave you and you might have to start over again. Always remember: “You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want. Zig Ziglar”

8. See yourself reaching your goal: The main reason why you set your goals is because you want to achieve them. It is, therefore, important that believe in yourself. Constantly put the goal before you.  In your imagination, see yourself achieving whatsoever goal you have set for yourself. Can you see yourself receiving that diploma, getting that job or promotion, making that speech, moving into the home of your dreams, achieving that weight-loss goal, hitting that turnover target? This is necessary if you will achieve your goals.

9. Document your achievement: One reason why you have to do this is the effect it has on you. Every time that you reach a goal, your confidence will grow. See your achievement motivates you to work towards achieving bigger and better things. After accomplishing any goal, make it a habit of recording it in your Journal, Weekly Planner or Palm Pilot.

10. Give yourself no other option: Challenges will come on the way. They are there to refine you. But whether you will achieve your goals depends on how you respond to tough circumstances. Most people give up when all that they need is just to try one more time. They give up when they would have hit their target in the next attempt. Join the league of the few that succeed because they did not give in. Give yourself no other option.

Above all, remember, what you get by reaching your destination is not nearly as important as what you become by reaching your goals – what you will become is the winner you were born to be! The first step is to know where you are going. If you do not know where you are going, you will undoubtedly end up somewhere else. You can do better, you can achieve more, you can be the best God has created you to be. So, start now to make your dreams happen!

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Technorati Tags: goal, business, achieve your goal, accountability, mentor, team player, dreams

The businessman then asked, “what do you do with the rest of your time?” The fisherman said, “I play with my children, take siesta with my wife, and stroll into the village each evening where I play with my friends. I have a full and busy life”. The businessman smiled, “I have MBA – that is degree in business administration – and I could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats and eventually you would have a fleet. Then instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you would sell directly to the processor eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would, ofcourse, need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to city where you would run your entreprise. 

So, the fisherman now asked, “but how long will all this take?” The business replied, “fifteen to twenty years.” “But what then?” asked the fisherman.  The businessman laughed, “That is the best part. When the time is right you sell your stock to the public and you become very rich. You would make millions”. “Millions? But then what?” asked the fisherman. “Then you would retire, move to a small coastal fishing village where you could sleep late, fish a little, play with your children, take siesta with your wife and stroll to the village in the evening where you could play with your friend.” With just the hint of a twinkle in his eye, the fisherman said, “why should I go through this process since I am already doing that right now?”.

This may sound like a fairy tale but I want you to read that story again and put yourself in place of the businessman. Too often those of us that are heavily involved in the business world are in danger of loosing out on our most important asset – family.  I once pointed out the importance of developing family relationship in one of my previous write-ups. I will like to point out one or two things again today. One thing we need to constantly remind ourselves is that when it comes to it, relationships are more important to us than anything else. When we are faced with challenges on the way, our family and friends are those that will be there to cheer us up.

No matter how successful you may be, if you loose your family on the way, you are not far from failure. This applies to you even if you are the most powerful man on earth as long as you do not have no time for your family or friends. Imagine yourself just coming from a business trip, you had just sealed that business deal, and you say to your son, “do you fancy going to the cinema this weekend?” and he replied, “do you mind if we don’t, Dad – I said I would go out with some friends”. How would you feel? Remember that you constantly tell yourself that you are doing everything for your family…But what is the use of being successful if you loose your family?

While work is very important, you would definitely crave for success in the area of relationships when you grow older. So, watch it. Don’t allow your family to leave before you realise it. Start today to strike a balance. While you focus on building your career or expanding that business, set time aside to build the relationships that are important to you. You can start by setting aside a day out of the week which you will invest into the relationships that matter to you. Start with your family and then extend it to your friends. See this as a business appointment. If possible, switch off your phone throughout the time you would be with your family. What are you waiting for? Take out your diary and fix the appointment now…

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Here are some way to do this in an effective way.

1. Attain a high level of expertise: Before you start promoting yourself, it is important that you take pains to obtain extra skills and that you possess a high level of expertise. You need to stand out in your field if you are to get and keep business. Seek out new training courses and mentors. Find a way to get your name out there without looking like you’re trying too hard.
2. Speak in front of an audience: When you get a chance to speak in front of an audience in a conference, meeting or even just a get-together, use the opportunity to promote your skills and knowledge – and your business.  Speak on any subject relevant to your line of business where you have knowledge. This will not only increase your confidence in public speaking, but will also advance your popularity and help you begin to develop a good reputation.
3. Find a way to publish: You can start by writing articles related to your line of business in newsletters or periodicals. You can also write a column where readers can post their questions and problems and you can provide solutions to those problems. Eventually, you could also write a book on the subject. Once that book is a success, your reputation will be solid.

For the complete list of ways in which you can promote yourself, visit morebusiness.

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Technorati Tags: business

The most common form of stress that managers experience is the feeling of being overwhelmed with far too much to do and having too little time to do it in. In fact, “time poverty“ is the biggest single problem facing most business managers. We simply do not have enough time to fulfill all our responsibilities.

Because of budget limitations, staff cutbacks, downsizing, and competitive pressures, individual managers are forced to take on more and more work, all of which appears to be indispensable to the smooth functioning of our company or department. Brian Tracy provides some insights into how to deal with these overwhelm.

Become An Expert:
The solution to this problem of work overload is for you to become an expert on time management. There is probably no other skill that you can learn that will give you a “bigger bang for the buck” than to become extremely knowledgeable and experienced in using time management practices.

Be Open to New Ideas:
The most foolish manager of all is either the manager who feels that he has no time to learn about time management or, even worse, the manager who, while being overwhelmed with work, feels that he already knows all that he needs to know about the subject.

Never Stop Learning:
The fact is that you can study time management and take time management courses for your entire business life and you will still never learn everything you need to know to get the most out of yourself while doing your job in the most efficient way.

The Keys to Time Management:
The two indispensable keys to time management are:

1. the ability to set priorities; and
2. the ability to concentrate single-mindedly on one thing at a time.

Since there is never enough time to do everything that needs to be done, you must be continually setting priorities on your activities. Perhaps the very best question that you can memorize and repeat, over and over, is, “what is the most valuable use of my time right now?”

The Best Question of All:
This question, “what is the most valuable use of my time right now?“ will do more to keep you on track, hour by hour, than any other single question in the list of time management strategies.

Start With Your Top Tasks
The natural tendency for all of us is to major in minors and to give in to the temptation to clear up small things first. After all, small things are easier and they are often more fun than the big, important things that represent the most valuable use of your time.

However, the self-discipline of organizing your work and focusing on your highest value tasks is the starting point of getting your time under control and lowering your stress levels.

Action Exercises
Here are two things you can do immediately to get your time under control. First, make a decision today to become an expert on time management. Read the books, listen to the audio programs, and take a time management course. Then, practice, practice, practice every day until you master time management skills.

Second, set clear priorities on your work each day, before you begin. Then, discipline yourself to start on your most important task and stay at that until it is complete. This will relieve you much of your stress immediately.

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Technorati Tags: goal, business, business managers, time management

The moment you make up your mind that you are going to business school, you are faced with the finance challenge. Always remember that you may not have access to your salary through out the period you are in school except your company is sponsoring you. So, what are the finance options available to you? You may need to consider waiting till you have enough money in your savings account otherwise you may consider exploring the options you have from federal loans to private loans, scholarships to corporate sponsorships.

I will like to break down financing to three chapters—life before an MBA, life during business school, and the aftermath with rewards but, likely, a lot of debt if you go the loan route. Before you embark on the path of getting an MBA, you have to ensure that you put your financial house in order. If you have existing existing consumer debt, your first step is to ensure that you pay them off and avoid incurring any other major expenses.

Financial aid options vary from school to school. So once you decide on which school you want to attend, your best bet is to visit the financial aid office or check out the school’s website. For instance, some business schools have arrangement with Banks in which students (both international and domestic) can borrow the total expected student budget without a co-signer. But consider the implication of the debt you will have to pay after your MBA program before you sign the agreement.

Going into debt isn’t the only way to get your MBA. There are a host of MBA scholarships and fellowships that are available. You can do a web search to see what kinds of scholarships are out there. I believe you will find great help from the respective school financial aid office. Once you’ve secured your loans, your main concern during school is proper debt management which means making intelligent spending habits. Once you graduate, you’ll soon have to start paying back those loans. And the payback options available vary.

With proper planning and research, you can find a myriad of ways to finance your MBA. Do you see MBA as an investment? Is it the kind of investment you want to make at this stage of your life? “One of the intangibles that is difficult to measure—in purely quantitative terms—is: How do you put a price on the kinds of opportunities that are available to you, after you have this credential, that weren’t available to you before you went to school? That’s what really makes you with an MBA different from who you were before your MBA program.”

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Technorati Tags: MBA, MBA Graduate, business school, MBA scholarships

Life is beautiful and gives everyone what he demands. You might be wondering why things seem not to be working the way you want since you have been made to believe that EVERYBODY DESERVES EVERYTHING GOOD IN LIFE – things would just fall into place i.e. go to school, get a good degree & grade and you would get a good job or start that business and you would soon be a success.

Most people have soon found out that there is more to it than mere getting a good grade or having a beautiful business idea. The alarming number of graduates who finished with at least second class upper who are still searching for jobs and the death rate of business start-ups within their first 5 years of existence have confirmed this.

The presently system does have its challenges & limitations but the major problem is the limitation you have placed on yourself. Life is operated based on the principle of SEED and SOWING. For everything you want in life, there has to be a corresponding action from your part. Anything that comes cheap in life is fake. You would soon discover the price you have to pay.

You can create what you want in life but you have to be willing to pay the price. If it means you have to read a book or attend a seminar, please do it even if you will have to cut short the money you spend on snacks so as to be able to afford the seminar fee. You would definitely be happy you did at the end of the day. No matter what your situation is right now, you probably need to follow the advice of Robert Heilbroner, “Develop your VISION, stand on the edge of time and gaze into the future“. So, rise us to the challenge, Step Out and Pay the Price. The world is waiting for your manifestation.

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Technorati Tags: business, business idea, business start-ups

• Quality rating of your life on a scale of 1 through 100, with 100 being the best possible life
• Realities of your life, including responsibilities, funds available to start a business, expenses
• Things that make you happy
• Things that make you unhappy

Your Ideal Life

This is a snapshot of your “ideal” life, in a very brief, bulleted list. And remember, the sky’s the limit, so don’t be afraid of being bold or maybe even a little grandiose. Factor in things like family time, hobbies, charity work, early retirement – anything that gets you really excited.

Your Loves: What You Really Like Doing

Think about the types of things that you love to do, whether at work, at home, or at your local soup kitchen. List these things out briefly. And don’t worry if some themes are starting to repeat in each section, that just means you have some really focused ideas about what you want in life!

Your Skills & Capabilities: What You Do Well

List the abilities, experience and strengths you can build on to attain that ideal life. Bear in mind that your skills need not be strictly from your professional life – list skills developed in your personal life as well. It may be a combination of skills that leads you to a business startup that’s best suited to fit your needs.

Your Track Record: What You Have Experience Doing

List those accomplishments in your professional and personal life of which you’re most proud. Pay particular attention to successes you’ve had that would be helpful in starting a business and managing it successfully.

This is just some section of the write-up. Click here for the full write-up.

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Technorati Tags: finances, start a business, business startup, business

I took the GMAT examination in October 2005 and scored a 650 (90th Percentile). This is not a bad score considering the fact that I studied for the GMAT without the assistance of an expensive test prep class over the course of 21 days. I submited my applications to 3 top Business Schools without the help of any admission consultant. If you are like me that may not be able to afford the fees of admission consultant, I have put up my experience together online at MBAXPLOIT.

I believe that this will serve as a study guide for future GMAT test takers, MBA applicants and MBAs. You do not need to purchase expensive test prep services to do well on the GMAT nor do u need to secure the help of a MBA admission consultant to get admission to your DREAM school!

On this blog, you will find:

• A repository of useful articles for Business School applicants. The articles are aimed to help you with all aspects of starting your business school application to getting MBA admission.
• A collection of relevant website links and resources about Business School Application. You look through these resources right away or bookmark them for future references.
• Fresh content is added regularly which will include interviews with fellow MBAs, current & future MBA applicants. You will also get how-to instructional articles with current hot topics like deciding on which MBA is right for you, preparing for your GMAT examination and to completing your MBA application.

How to use this site
I shared my experience and those of others on the journey to an MBA and life after. Using this website, you would be able to model your study schedule. Feel free to use this website in any capacity that suits your study needs. Also, be sure to explore the links to other resources that I would be providing on this website – they were very helpful in my MBA application.

Meanwhile, I am recommending that you start with the following write-ups

• Do you need an MBA?
• Starting your MBA journey?
• Starting Your MBA journey II
• Recommended Books

All the best in your MBA applications.

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Technorati Tags: MBA, GMAT, MBA applicants, MBA admission consultant

Below are some checklists that can help you to take the right decision in your quest to becoming your own boss.

1. Have a crystal clear plan.
Do you have a clear idea as to what you want to do next? You must know exactly what you want to do. Is this going to be the same as what you are doing? Or you are starting something afresh that is completely different from what you used to do? Write down your ideas and evaluate the feasibility of your business ideas. Ideally, pick an idea you like most and what you feel is the most profitable.

2. Have a reserve of 6-12 months in your bank account.
Before you embark on your journey to be your own boss, prepare a fund of at least 6 months’ expenses. Some people prefer a 12-month fund reserve. The reserve will help you in meeting your daily expenses while you are just starting out. Remember, it is most likely that you will receive no regular wages within this period. Having sufficient fund as this can remove a lot of stress from you.

3. Support from your partners or friends.
When your plan to be on your own fails or you face a temporary setback, do you have someone to run to for support? It is almost guaranteed that you will be caught in a situation that can force you to give up. This is the time when you need solid support from someone who cares about you. You need this kind of support to carry on. You need someone to carry your burden with you. Identify the person who can give you 100% support while you’re on this journey. The person can be your spouse, partners, close friends or even your mentors. For me, my wife is the biggest inspiration and supporter. Whenever I feel like giving up, she gives me the courage to stay at it.

4. Tools and resources.
Do you have the necessary resources you need to start out? Can you work from home instead, or you need to rent an office? For instance, one of my startups – Nairahost is currently being run from home. You also need to decide if you need to hire people to help you, part time or full time? Do you need any special tool or machine for your business? If yes, where do you source for it? By asking these questions, you can prepare a list of tools and resources that you need to carry out your tasks more efficiently and effectively.

5. Acquire knowledge.
If you’re starting out in a new area, how do you acquire knowledge in this area? Knowledge increases your probability of success and helps you to avoid unnecessary mistakes. Knowledge can be obtained through government agencies, support groups, workshops, books, the Internet, business mentors and coaches. Just ensure you equip yourself for what lies ahead.

Do you still have the desire to launch forth?  Look through the above checklists again and act on your dreams.

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Technorati Tags: job, business ideas, business, business mentors

1. When you first think about networking, make sure you are absolutely clear about what you are hoping to achieve. Knowing your own goals is just as important as finding people to help you to reach them.
2. Make a list of your strengths to remind yourself of the skills, experience, and knowledge you have to offer others.
3. Try to build your networks before you need to ask others for help. This will show that you are interested in building helpful alliances rather than just looking out for your own interests.
4. Put together an action plan of who you intend to contact when, and which events might be useful to attend. Keep track of your plan and your progress so that you can  change tack if you need to.
5. Think about how you can market yourself as well as network. Take a step back and see yourself as a ‘brand’ for a few minutes. What is it that set you apart from others?

I hope this helps.

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Technorati Tags: business, networking

Commitment, drive, perseverance and support from family and friends will go a long way towards transforming your business idea into reality and will be especially important during the early days. I will be sharing some tips that will help you decide whether you have what it takes to set up a new business. Take a look at these day-to-day reality check before you finalise your plan of starting a business and then outline the skills and qualities that you think you will need.

The day-to-day reality check:

Setting up your own business requires your full commitment. Here are some of the challenges you need to think about. Another valuable way to find out about the day-to-day realities of running a business is to talk to people who are in business already.

Personal sacrifice: The physical and emotional demands of starting up in business should not be underestimated. Starting a business is a life-changing event and will require hard work and long hours, especially in the early stages.

Financial insecurity: There can be times of financial uncertainty and this may have a knock-on effect for both you and your family. For example, you may have to forgo holidays. You may have invested personal savings or used your family home as security and in the worst case scenario you risk losing your investment or even your home.

Loss of company perks: Setting up your own business means that you will no longer be able to take advantage of the usual benefits associated with a permanent job. This includes the loss of “safety net” benefits such as pension rights, sick pay, paid holiday and other company perks.

Pressure on close relationships: You will need the support of your family and friends. So, ensure that they are aware from the outset of the effect starting up a business will have on your life and it is crucial that they are right behind you. Their emotional backing may also need to be complemented by a practical “hands on” approach. Discussing these issues before they arise will help.

Isolation: Being your own boss can be a satisfying experience. However, shouldering all the responsibility for the success of the business can prove lonely. Unless you develop a network of contacts, there will be no one there to bounce ideas off.

Are you ready to start a business? What do you think? Do you think you have all it takes? Do you think you are ready for the challenges ahead? Let us learn from your experience.

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Technorati Tags: business, attitude, financial status, business idea, Starting a business

Does the statement below describes who you are,

“Yes, I’d like to be a consultant, but that means I’d have to go back to school and finish my degree. That would take years!” “Sure, I’d love to switch careers, but this job has security; I don’t think I could take the risk.” “It would be fun to try and market my own product, but I don’t know how to get started.” “I really want to start that business but I don’t have the resources I need”

You keep piling up the excuses like dirty dishes in a sink. You always have a reason not to act on your goal; it feels like it would take too long, cost too much, require too many sacrifices to get from point A to point B. Whether it’s going back to school, starting your own business or changing career, you would always be tempted to put it off until another time. Maybe when my wife gets a job, maybe when the children grow up, maybe when I retire. Maybe, maybe, maybe!How do you overcome the fear of starting? You reach big goals by taking small steps! While you keep thinking that the time required is too long, those days and years will pass you by whether you pursue your goal or not! You have got to follow through on your goals. Give yourself no other option. It is going to place a demand on you. It might mean that you cut yourself off from some activities but I tell you it is worth your time. Make up your mind right now to make each day count. So, take the first small step!

I have decided to take the small steps. What about you? Will you start it right away? Drop your comment and let me know what you decide.

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Technorati Tags: job, career, business, starting your own business, changing career, goals, pursue your goal

The water then melted the salt thereby relieving the beast of it burden. The unhappy merchant returned home and loaded the donkey a second tie. The donkey thought to itself,

“I am sick of carrying things especially salt. If I keep falling into the water, I can keep getting rid of this load.“

This second time as the donkey approached the slope, it intentionally lost its footing and fell in. By this time, the merchant had caught on to the donkey’s trick. On the next journey, he loaded the animal with sponges. When the donkey fell into the stream, it found himself struggling under a load that had more than doubled in weight.

Do you see yourself as this donkey and your employer as the merchant? It is time you changed your attitude to work. If only the donkey had realised the importance of its work, it would have hauled the load proudly know the salt was going to be used for a good cause. Every worker can have the power of higher purpose irrespective of the kind of work that you do but the choice is yours. Choose to work for a cause and not for a living.

By the way, how do you think you can improve your attitude to work? Drop your comment below and share your experience.

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Technorati Tags: job, employer

Starting and running a small business is not just about working for yourself, it’s also about having the necessary management skills, industry expertise, technical skills, finance and of course a long-term vision to grow and succeed. With the economy still on track and the number of entrepreneurs on the rise, you won’t be alone if you decide to take the plunge this year.

Although thousands of employees dream of escaping the nine to five grind and become their own boss, many are still unsure of what sort of business they want to start and how they can ensure their new venture is a success.

So, I have come up with a list of different types of business you may want to start up in the next few weeks, with comprehensive advice on how to run your new firm. If you fancy being anything from an estate agent to a personal trainer, you can actually make your business profitable.

Web Hosting: This is indeed one of the easiest businesses to start right now. With little or no capital, you can pick up a reseller plan from a reliable web hosting provider from within your location. Visit Starting a Profitable Web hosting business for details.

Web designer:  This is one niche where there is high demand right now. You only need to have the basic skills and should be able to work with PHP and MySQL. You will also be able to get many clients if you can design custom wordpress themes. The starting point is for you to create a blog for yourself to show what you can do. You may also need to join forums where you can easily market your skills to others.

Consultancy: Helping other people run their business may seem daunting at first, but many budding entrepreneurs have the skills and experience to become first class consultants.

Clothes shop: With such a wide range of clothes shops out there, you have a several options when trying to tap into this huge market.

Outside catering: Whether its catering for a major sporting event or a low-key wedding, the need for food and drink at gatherings does not go out of fashion. Find out how to set up your own catering company.

Gift shop: Boosted by the tourist trade, gift shops can be a very popular business to own. Why not get wrapped up in the idea and start up your own? Remember Valentine is around the corner. You may be able to make some money…

Driving school: Whether it took you two attempts or 20 to pass your driving test, you wouldn’t have got there without a driving instructor. If you can put up with the exams and novice drivers, this line of work can be rewarding.

Photography business: When your school photo was being taken, you probably gave little thought to the fact that the photographer would soon be off to another job, maybe a wedding, to make ends meet. If you have a passion for photography, get a clear picture of what is involved in setting up your own firm. I was involved at one time or the other in this business. If you need more help, contact me )

Day nursery: With both parents increasingly keen to return to work after having children, day nurseries are also vital to many families who can’t afford to give up a regular income to stay at home. You really need to network and let people know that you are available for this. You are definitely going to make some money from this if you manage it well.

Restaurant: Whether you are celebrating a special occasion or just don’t fancy cooking, eating out is big business with a huge variety of restaurants now inhabiting Lagos streets. This is one business you should consider starting if you have the required capital.

I would be sharing some insights on how you can start out on your own with little capital. Stay tuned. Meanwhile, just make up your mind to do something with your time from this moment. You will succeed.

NB: Write-up sponsored by Nairahost – Nigeria’s leading web hosting company

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Technorati Tags: business opportunities, small business, technical skills, entrepreneurs, personal trainer, reliable web hosting, custom wordpress themes, consultants, photography