Work habits to make one succeed

It doesn’t matter whether you are just starting out on your career or if you have years of experience

Behind you – making sure you have the right attitude and approach is vital.

And having the right attitude does not come about by accident; it comes from establishing the very

 best working practices and habits.

When I am looking to employ or promote people, one of the key qualities I always look 

for is a thirst for excellence. The very best people, in any walk of life, are those who are constantly \

challenging

 themselves and are setting themselves new targets.

And if you want to be one of those characters who is always looking to move forward and better 

themselves then you need to have the kind of working habits in place that will lead to success. 

Here are a few examples:

There is an old saying that if you’re standing still, you’re going backwards, and this is especially 

true in career terms. Are you somebody who is happy with your current skill set, or do you 

actively look to improve? If it is the latter, then you are exactly the sort of person most bosses

 look for. Put yourself forward for training courses, learn new skills – the more you push yourself and 

expand your skill set, the more valuable you become to your current and potential employers.

Commercially minded

This is basically about being proactive and removing yourself from your individual bubble. Think

 about the wider aims of the business you work for. Where could things improve, where could even

 more value be added? By having the overall vision of the business in your head, you will find

 new ways to generate revenue, brand awareness, or any other goals senior managers might have.

Ownership

There is nothing better for a manager than to see his or her employees actively taking ownership 

of projects. Equally, nobody wants to be seen as someone who passes the buck. If something falls 

under your remit, ensure you are the one who sees it through – even if you inevitably have to delegate 

certain aspects of it.

I have spoken before about having the ability to ignore what I call the ‘noise’. This means being able to

 prioritise between the essential and non-essential, and focusing your energies on things that add the

 most value. Too many employees tend to get caught up in the ‘nice to have’ activities rather than 

things which are more critical to the business. The other advantage of prioritising your workload is that 

the quality ends up being far better. If you have ten things you need to get done, I would much 

rather you produced outstanding results on the most important ones, rather than mediocre results on all ten.

Self-reflection

Throughout my career I have always been in the habit of regularly assessing my work and personal 

performance. At regular intervals I will analyse what I’ve done, how my businesses have performed 

and what I need to do differently. By having this ability to reflect — and sometimes criticise yourself —

 you are making sure lessons are learnt every step of the way.

Source: yahoo

Argentina’s poverty risks rise — World Bank

Argentina risks quadrupling its poverty level as the economy stalls, 

the World Bank has said.

Bloomberg News reported on Friday, that those living on $4-$10 per day, or 33 per cent of Argentina’s

 population as of 2012, are vulnerable to falling into poverty in the case of an adverse shock, according to 

the World Bank’s 2015-2018 report on the South American nation.

The poverty rate for the country’s 43 million people may increase to more than 40 per cent from about 

11 per cent, it said.

“Strengthening macroeconomic resilience, improving the business environment, and boosting investor

 confidence will be critical to fostering investment and expanding and sustaining the employment

 thereby generated,” the report said.

Argentina defaulted on its international bonds July 30 after a United States judge blocked a 

$539m interest payment until the government pays so-called holdouts from a 2001 default in full. 

South America’s second-largest economy contracted in the first quarter while the annual inflation 

rate is about 40 per cent.

The greatest vulnerability to poverty arises in periods of economic crises or prolonged sluggish growth, 

which reduces employment and earnings and limit the ability of the government to finance social programs

 that directly support the poor, according to the World Bank report dated August 7 and made public last week.

The institution approved lending Argentina as much as $4.8bn through 2018 as the nation’s reserves dwindle.

Economy Ministry press official Jesica Rey didn’t respond to an e-mail from Bloomberg News seeking 

comment on the report.

About half of the 2,400 people interviewed in a September 2-9 Management & Fit poll said Argentina’s

economic conditions will be worse or much worse in the coming months. Fifty-two percen

 considered employment as their main concern, the Argentine consulting firm’s survey showed.

Argentina will receive $1bn to $1.2bn per year in loans for social development, the Washington-based

 lender said September 9 in an e-mailed statement. The World Bank’s IFC will also invest $1.7bn

 in export-oriented private companies ranging from agribusiness, energy and infrastructure to

 financial institutions.

WHY?? Godfathers everywhere, where are the godmothers?

 

“There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.” – Madeline Albright, Former US Secretary of State in her Keynote speech at the Celebrating Inspiration luncheon with the WNBA’s All-Decade Team, 2006

I have enjoyed many privileges of speaking to and engaging Women of various ages, classes and sizes at different fora and usually, in my openings, I would pose a quick ques­tion to the audience; “Can all the women in this room who believe they were MADE BY WOMEN please indicate by a show of hands?” I most often will see just a few hands lost in the crowd jostling for attention. And then I switch the question, “Where are the Women who were MADE BY MEN?” Then, PRONTO, there’ll be hands, palms and fingers in plenty, many of their owners smiling, with almost a feeling of certain superiority and maybe a sense of guilt too.
I have been bothered for a while now and I have made effort to lead this conversation in my public and private spaces but before we head along on this dialogue, YES, I was made by WOMEN but a few Men kick started the process.
As I grew up from my university days as a Student Union Leader up until I graduated and chose the path of social entrepreneurship, I have observed that Men have deliberately invested in grooming their Boys into Men. One Governor today is probably a “product” of some ex- Gov­ernor or some other Political God Father, a hugely Successful Business Leader who sits atop a conglomerate as CEO has either been mentored by an older man somewhere or has been empowered through his Men­tor’s influence or perhaps affluence to attain such enviable feat. Everywhere one turns, the older men have a retinue of younger men in their kitty to whom they owe their continued relevance. They mentor, support, teach and create opportunities for the next generation of men and thereby lives their dreams in these young Men. There are so many God Fathers in Nigeria, where are the God Mothers? The Men are making the Boys, Dear Nigerian Women, where are your Girls?
I’m afraid Nigerian Women are not doing the same aside from only a handful, and forgive me, you may not agree but I write from a standpoint of an informed young woman who has stayed involved and carefully observed this process and I am ready and will­ing to debate this position.
I am a emerging Nigerian Leader and Enter­prise Powerhouse {we were taught to confess positive abi, so shout amen if you dream that for yourself or your daughter}. I  wasn’t born with accomplishments around my neck and having lived 3 decades on earth and in Nigeria, I feel grateful for a few achievements here and there. I owe my education through school, quality upbringing, a strong personal value orientation of humility, respect and the indomi­table will to achieve remarkable success to my Mother. I owe my education through Life and every other thing I have become to other well spirited Nigerian Women. EVERYTHING. Women who are comfortable in their own skin and do not feel threatened by a young woman with zeal and determination. Women who have their own biological children but continue to see reason to develop other people’s children, women who know that there is nothing anyone can do to stop an idea whose time has come and some of the ones I give personal credit include Folorunsho Alakija, Funke Egbemode, Jumoke Adenowo, Iquo Ukoh, Adesuwa Oyenokwe, Tara Fela Durotoye, Adeola Azeez, Bola Adesola, Yemi Keri, Wilma Aguele, Osayi Alile Oruene, Oby Ezekwesili, Audrey Joe Ezigbo and Joe Okei Odumakin. I describe, discuss and analyse my Mentors with such gusto, exhilaration and delight. I do not value the mentoring of these formidable women of the new school because of any material rewards I receive from them. I am a result of their chastisements, love and deep commit­ment to replicate themselves and hand down greatness in practical terms to myself and other young Women.
I wonder how many more accomplished women under 35 Nigeria can produce in the coming years if the women Leaders in Govern­ment, Private Sector, Civil Society etc will make a modicum of investment in some young girl/ woman somewhere. It takes no skin off your nose Ma and it doesn’t diminish you in any manner whatsoever.
At 30, I am mentoring girls who are pro­gressing sporadically, their successes may beat mine in a few years to come and I feel happy and the better for it. Gbemisola Osadua, now 23, worked directly with me as an intern in an organisation I founded 7years ago. Today, and I state this with all sense of humility and mod­esty, under my tutelage, she has become one force to reckon with in our generation; the first female to ever run as President of Students’ Union Government of the University of Ibadan. At that miniature level of student politics, Gbemi secured more support and buy in from more boys than girls. She did not win but her male counterparts remain in absolute awe of her till date and I organized a victory party for her after their elections. I stayed on the phone with her many hours as she sobbed and taught and encouraged her to assume the Martin Luther King position of a forerunner who may not clinch the ultimate prize but would have inspired others to go for the jugular. Today, Gbemisola is a final year Law Student and now Chairperson of the Euro Africa Youth Parliament House Committee on Constitu­tional Policy in Germany. An indefatigable leader, under her watch and mentoring, a girl, Ifeoluwa Egunjobi contested for the position of the Speaker of the Students Parliament in UI and WON. More girls in UI as a result of Gbemisola’s courage, responsibility, ambition and intellect now believe that women who have the capacity and competence can lead effectively especially when their fellow women give of themselves and take ownership of the aspirations of one another.
Gbemi is one of the many girls I mentor and more Nigerian women must take time to listen to and invest their time, resources, money, network of friends and associates in the younger women.
Designer bags are excit­ing but they are not sustainable. The rate at which our generation has
embraced
indepen­dence, entrepreneurship and leadership, it will be difficult to set the next generation of women aside.
You are 45 today, Minister for ABC or D, MD of that Company or the other, Wife of the Governor
 of State A, General Manager or HOD of Department Q, one day, you’d be just a memory for some people
so please do your best to be a good one because there is a place called TOMORROW when the
 younger woman you despised few years ago would be the one occupying the position you currently have.
It will be a shame that she may never make reference to you, you may never touch her life and
 those of many others, there will be a new Louis Vuitton or Chanel Bag in vogue, the one you had 15years ago would be stale, there would be several new models of your Toyota Prado SUV, you won’t be invited to deliver speeches at many events anymore as much as before because a new set of successful women with inspiring fresh stories would have emerged, that young reporter won’t consider you
for an interview because you treated her with contempt the last time she came close so you also r
arely or never get into the newspa­per. Life would have happened to you. You would not be doling out contracts anymore, so our people would have moved on to the next one, hence your phone wouldn’t ring as much as it used to. So, please pick our phone calls now. And guess what,
even if your money doesn’t finish, you still cannot live forever.
You can start now. You can build a legacy an army, a circle of young, strong women into whom you pour yourself often, to whom you make yourself accessible; sometimes it’s not your money we want,
a simple line of encour­agement or guide on ways to run a business or advice on how to deal with
sexual harassment at work or a word of prayer. You may give a book sometimes. You can also give money to those who need it if you have some extra cash. I understand not all the young women are ready
to learn and give honour and I believe in service and respecting my elders. Please don’t give up on them and don’t use them as a yardstick to judge all of us. Please don’t spoon feed us too. Spoon feeding in the long run teaches us nothing but the shape of the spoon. And if you cannot give anything, just be kind. Smile. I recommend that all progressive and advancing Nigerian Women should make time to attend and participate in The Sun Women Leadership Summit co-hosted with Delta State Government from October 8th – 10th 2014, there we can meet and continue this discus­sion.When you leave a legacy of powerful  and successful women who sidestepped their chal­lenges
 and fulfilled their destinies because you gave what other women were too afraid or too arrogant
to give, you will go to heaven like Elijah. Without seeing death.

7 Disadvantage of Being Handsome

1. Assumed to be a player- Women assume you’re a player for no reason. They’ll take you less seriously and question your motives the whole time. Its like infidelity is written all over you. Ladies make sentences like “who are you sleeping with now?” Like WTF.
2. Attracting useless women - Sure you attract more girls, but with the quantity comes a drop in quality. You’ll constantly run into useless superficial women with no substance while the ones with substance are not phased or impressed by your looks. And trust me we don’t always like the pretty ones.
3. Amebor - Everyone’s in your business and wants to know who you’re sleeping with. Iya Basira on the street even warns her daughters never to cross your gate. On campus your name is on the lips of everyone, to make matters worse just be a little popular and you’re on every campus magazine. The amount of attention this person attracted troubled and confused her quite a bit. Everyone would know what you have done, not because of what you did but what you look like.
4. Older Women– Older women are pushy and aggressive and don’t know when to turn it off. The worst part is the boldest ones are the ugliest more condemned cargo. You have a flock of obasanjo looking women constantly making you uncomfortable. The worst is they’re openly biased towards you and will talk about you to everyone creating a lot of awkward tension and unwanted attention. Some would be like “Let me take care of you like a son”, biko does that involve servicing some parts..
5. G/ys– g*y men stare at men the way men stare at women. It’s annoying and infuriating and makes me want to fight but I’m not on so i refrain. Either way the worst part about it is g*y men staring or trying to talk to you. So when a guy you think is straight glances at your arm or chest. Abomination. Once i got asked out by a g*y dude, i had to stylishly turn him down, we’re great friends though.
6. Jealous Girlfriend - Your girlfriend or wife is always jealous, if she catches you smiling at a lady it’s almost equal to you sleeping with someone else. She feels so insecure, checks your phone, knows your plans and wants to follow you out on guys night. No matter how much you try to assure her, she still finds a reason not to trust you.
   Guys who calm to be handsome on NL come and add yours …
7. No Trust– People would not believe you when you tell them that you are broke or you don’t have a girl friend.

Wow!! Davido is so Mature, See his Message to Wizkid

Like you already know, Wizkid nicodemus-ly dropped his album yesterday on iTunes which catapulted itself to

 the peak of the charts in less than 24hours. As fans and industry associates came out baring their support and

 showering him with accolades via social media platforms, one superstar who couldn’t afford to be M.I.A would

 be Davido {OBO himself} who allegedly claims to be a big fan of his and was reportedly spatting over some 

unnecessities with the Starboy just recently. Apparently, Davido was sincere when he went on a programme

 to say there’s no beef as he’d bared his mind over the matter and long moved on. He further confirmed this with a congratulatory gesture.

Cool FM’s 16th anniversary bash holds on Oct. 1

Cool FM 96.9 is rolling out the drums to celebrate its 16thanniversary in grand style.According to a state­ment from the platform, the celebra­tions will be marked with a flurry  OAPs and fans and a cinema hangout session with OAPs, guests and fans at the Genesis Cinemas.of activities in a week long activities, which will include a football friendly match between

Among others the event would also include an exclusive party host­ing employees,
guests
and fans at Rhapsody’s, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Currently, Cool FM has more than 892,000 online visitors and followers, with more than
one mil­lion listeners monthly. The platform has won awards including Celebrity Media Awards’
Most Popular Radio Stationand Nigerian Broadcast­ers Award for Best Radio Station among others.
Meanwhile, Cool FM will also celebrate its sister-station, Nigeria Info, as it marks its t
hird year an­niversary on the same day.
Cool FM is one of Nigeria’s premier radio stations broadcasting in major cities across the
 country 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Launched on October 1, 1998, in Lagos,
it has out-stations
 in Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano.

IG of police -- Ban on police road-blocks/check-points still in force

The police road blocks in Lagos is so annoying. And according to this press release signed 

by the Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, the ban on the road blocks is still in force. 

Guess the police officers we see on the roads didn't get the memo. Find the press release below..

The Inspector-General of Police, Acting IGP Suleiman Abba, has stated unequivocally that the order banning the setting up of Police road-blocks nationwide is still strictly in force. In a directive issued to all Commands and Formations of the Force, the IGP warned that all semblances of Police road-blocks and permanent check-points reportedly re-emerging in some parts of the country, especially in the South-East, South-South and South-West geo-political zones of Nigeria should immediately be dismantled.

The IGP who described the trend as a serious violation of subsisting order on road-blocks warned that severe sanctions await any Police Commands, Formations and personnel who violate the order.

While charging the Command Commissioners of Police and Heads of Formations to ensure total compliance with this order, the IGP further orders extensive visibility patrol and effective surveillance on our roads.