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THE PLUS FACTOR


Over time, I started reading many books but am yet to finish some of them. Yesterday, I started reading "Power of the Plus Factor" by Norman Vincent Peale and so far, it's been an interesting experience. I'll be sharing with all summarily, the lessons learnt from the book, I guess it will help me finish reading it. Pls come along with me.


There's a force, a power, an energy (invisible, intangible, but completely real) within everyone that has the capacity to make him/her extraordinary, stronger, more confident, better balanced, more energetic, more resilient and more capable of coping. That force lies very deep within, it's latent, and is present in its potential form; it needs to be understood, then activated.


There are 4 preliminary things to do to make this factor to be activated in you:

1) Discover that the Plus factor is no myth, no abstraction but a reality that has been recognised and used by wise men and women for centuries.

2) Accept that the Plus factor is already planted inside of you, waiting to be released.

3) Decide you want it to become operative. You must want it intensely, urgently, ardently, and you must want it NOW!

4) Know that the Plus factor makes its appearance in a person's life in proportion as that person is in harmony with God and His universal laws.


I look forward to learning and sharing more with you.


Enjoy your day!

The Burden of Freedom

This is the title of a book I read some years ago written by Dr Myles Munroe. This post is just an introduction; we'll talk more about it in subsequent posts.


I remember when I was much younger and very much under my parents, I was 'denied' of certain things and I had restrictions as to where to go, what to do with my time, etc, then I always told myself that soon, I would be free. I looked forward to the day I would own my home, make my decisions, and just do what I liked.

When I became 'free' after I got married and had a family, I discovered that there was more to life than doing what I liked. RESPONSIBILITY was the key word that stood me in the face, making decisions of various degrees and magnitudes and facing the consequences of those decisions for new home were things I had to face.

There is indeed a burden in being free..... more gist to come.

TO DO LIST!

This is the current craze in my organization. Every member of staff is expected to send in his/her to in before a particular time daily. It has clearly increased individual as well as overall organizational effectiveness right from the day we started it.


If you often struggle with staying on task, one way of combating this is by making lists. This article lists 7 things to remember about to-do lists. I know you’ve heard time and time again that you need to make lists. Here’s why it’s important to have a to do list.


1. It will help you to remember what you have to do today.

Because it is documented, it becomes a reference tool and one hardly forgets what one is expected to do in the course of the day.


2. A to do list keeps you on task.

Sometimes you get distracted by things such as forums, games, or chatting when you’re supposed to be finishing a project.
One surefire way to combat that is to keep that to do list in front of you to serve as a gentle reminder before you go to that non business related/personal forum and spend hours reading the posts.


3. When you complete the items on your to do list you feel a sense of accomplishment.

I don’t know about you, but I get a warm and fuzzy feeling when I can tick items off of the to-do list.
Even when I have completed a "small" task it makes me feel good to know that there’s one less thing that I have to do.


4. A to do list should be recorded somewhere. It doesn’t count if the list exists in your head. You are guaranteed to forget something.

Write it down, put it on your pda, use outlook, do whatever you have to do to get your to do list recorded.


5. A to do list is never set in stone.

It’s just a guide for the day, week, month or year. You should always allow room for the unexpected to happen. You could get sick or there could be a dire emergency with one of your clients. You may have to work overtime on your job. You could get stuck in traffic. Always allow a cushion for these sort of things.


6. Your to do list should be realistic.

If you work a full time job and are running a business, don’t put too many things on your daily to do list or you’ll feel discouraged when you don’t get all of the things accomplished on your list.


7. Make sure to include some time for fun in your to-do list.

You should always schedule at least one hour of "me time" on your to do list. This could be your time to exercise, read or write in your journal/blog. It’s important to have down time so you don’t get stressed out.


These are just a few ways to manage your time better. I hope you find them useful especially at this time of the year that you're full of energy and revving to go as far as achieving your goals is concerned.

All the best!

The Power of Association


" Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits."- I cor 15:33

Associations are so powerful. I am a product of associations which i've been involved with over the years. I've met with people who started out with wrong associations but by conscious endeavour, took their future in their hands and changed their circle of influence by changing their friends. A man can extrapolate where his life is going by merely looking at the people he constantly spends time with. An association one gets involved with without one's choice is the family to which one is born and raised; and it goes a long way in determining one's core personality. I was raised by strict parents, but it paid off.

Within my immediate family, I had my elder sister whose life modelled what I unconsciously followed, we attended the same primary, secondary and University; we shared our victories, triumphs, failures and challenges. Our friendship affected my way of thinking and so influenced my choice of friends as I grew up.

I acknowledge as I thankfully remember a special group of friends I had in my University days, we called ourselves "GPs"; we were in the same class, shared the same values, had discussions as well as prayer meetings together. We also helped each other to see the picture of our desired future. We regularly spent time speaking into existence our desired future. Today, we're all happily married, doing well in our careers and not far from what we saw ourselves as haven achieved by now - Funto Olude, Sunkanmi Dele-Ojomo, Titi Adeyemo, Jumoke Adams, Yetunde
Adigun, Foluso Ilevbare and Gbemi Olaniyan. You ladies made my stay in Pharmacy school enjoyable. I also have some friends who mean so much to me - the Ogunfayos, Mogajis and Asaolus; you are real friends. I appreciate you.

I've been opportuned to be associated with people who have challenged me to improve myself, to be dissatisfied with the status quo; Chief among them is my Sweetheart, lover, husband, father of my children and best friend, Adeolu; He's been my friend since I was in Secondary School, he has played the greatest human role in my life. He listened, he smiled, he believed in me when I didn't even know our friendship was going to be 'upgraded'. He took and still takes my friends as his own. He's got such a contagious, not forceful influence on anyone he's associated with.

Lastly, to Jehovah who rules and reigns in the affairs of men. My association with Him is the reason why i see a flash of light in my path whenever i'm about entering a pit. He so amazes me with the way he orchestrates man's life to meet certain people at some time, to narrowly miss some and to severe relationships with some others when that chapter is due for closure. He's the master planner who had our lives all worked out before we were all born.

HAVE YOU MET HIM?

He's the youngest, cutest and finest boy in the Akinyemi family.

His names? Araoluwa (God's Wonder), Aminoluwa (God's Sign), Obaloluwa (God is king).....etc

Born on October 1, 2007, his birth is a testimony.

We prayed for him to come and God celebrated his coming to the earth.

God gave our country hope and a physical confirmation of the inevitability of the birth of a new Nigeria (www.newnigeriaclub.net/beulah)

I pray that this new year, God will answer your prayers with resounding testimonies.

Enjoy!

DO IT EARLY!

It's indeed important to follow one's passion. Late last year, my parents came over to Lagos for a wedding and as usual, I had a “gisting” session with my Dad. I asked him questions about his work and he went ahead to tell me about his "latest love - farming", he had recently made some hundreds of thousands of naira on farming within a short while. In order to give us a background, my Dad is a Medical Doctor, a Specialist Pediatrician who has been practicing for well over 30 years. He's been really committed to it over the years and has gotten several awards, locally and nationally. He has also been running his own private practice for over 20 years and it's obvious he's very good in Medicine. His hospital is located in his home town and most of the work he does is humanitarian, everybody knows and claims to be related to him, so he doesn't get to make much money from Medical practice. However, he has always loved farming but didn't visualize possibilities of making it big in it, now, he sees the possibilities, but he's in his sixties, and I’m sure he would be thinking, "if only I had blown this bigger much earlier".

I was reminded again of a lesson I’d learnt before which I’ll like to share with all.

Knowing your passion is one thing; following it early is another. Looking back now, I can say he had always loved farming; he has a small poultry, a snailry, a plantain, banana and cocoa plantation, all these have never been for commercial purposes, he enjoyed doing them, it was obvious anytime he talked about it; his face lit anytime he spoke about farming; only recently did he think of employing people to run it for commercial purposes.

When one has a passion or an interest and follows it, there will be a time to derive economic value for it; there’s no phase of human endeavor that one can’t money from doing. There’s no use pushing what comes naturally to you till later, you might not see now how you’ll make money from it; all I’ll say is “Keep doing it!”

HE KEPT ME!!!

It happened to me in September, 2002....


I've been toying with the idea of writing this article since I started this blog but I kept pushing it until we had a sex pure centric meeting with Praise Fowowe a few days ago and then, that was it! I knew that nothing just happens, sharing it might help someone.


I finished from UI as a pharmacist in 2001 and had my 1yr internship programme in Military hospital, Yaba; by September, I was meant to have rounded up and go for NYSC but I had been involved with Forever Living Products business a few months before then; I was doing very well and had gotten bonuses and promotions; at that time, I was really close to another level of promotion but it had to do with a summation of purchases made by myself and my down lines; I had spoken to my down lines and they had given me the worth of purchases made but I needed to collate their receipts to ensure that I had the required points. I had a down line in Mende who I had spoken with earlier in the day who had told me she would be home for 7pm, I had to make it to her place that night else I would lose the promotion and benefits. You won’t believe I got to her house and didn’t meet her. I left very upset as I headed for the nearest cab that took me out of Mende.


I got down from the cab (harbor works bus stop), considered the option of crossing the pedestrian bridge but decided against it cos it was getting late, then moved forward and made to cross the express when a guy grabbed my arm from behind and dragged me to a shed (looked like a vulcanizer's shed). I prayed very loudly, they tried shutting me up, I didn't budge, I got there to discover that he had a partner, they took my phone (then, na Samsung blue eye dey reign) and threw the SIM away, (un)fortunately, I forgot to take some money with me when I left home that morning so I barely had any money on me. Then they told me to take off my clothes!! That was it; at that point, I knew that that was one thing I would not do. SEX before marriage? Forget it! God had kept me for 24years and I had a few months to my wedding; I wasn’t ready to lose my virginity just yet. I screamed out loudly and pleaded with them not to destroy my life; because my voice was so loud, one of them had to move towards the main road so as not to attract the attention of passersby. So, I had one person to contend with, then he threatened to tear my clothes (I had a long top and skirt on), when I wasn't cooperating, he started beating me. My God! He gave me some deafening and resounding slaps and beat me mercilessly. He pulled my feet off the ground and hit me badly; his plan was to beat me to submission. At that point, I told myself that this couldn't be happening to me. I then remembered something I had learnt from my fiancé and that was, ‘what’s the worst that can happen in this situation?’ To me, rape was not an option, death was the worst and I braced myself for it. I asked him if he had a knife or a gun and if he did; he should just use it on me because I was ready to die there and then rather than be violated. I had already pictured my obituary in the papers and felt that if my family mourned me for a while, they would recover. He was as determined in having his way as I was in my effort to resist him.


Suddenly, he stopped. I jumped on my feet. He then asked if I was married, I said NO but that my wedding was some months away. Thinking aloud, he said he didn’t believe he wasn’t going to have his way with me. He then said I should go give a testimony in church cos it seemed really strange to him. He helped me with my bag and shoes which had flown in different directions. I ran on barefoot towards the next stop and took a cab to the apartment which I shared with my elder sister. I went straight to my wardrobe (after mumbling a greeting to my sister) to get money to pay the cab guy when she saw the back of my clothes (very dirty and slightly torn), she screamed, asking me what happened to me. It was at that point that the thoughts came rushing through my mind afresh; how close I had come, to rape, to death. At that point, I broke down and wept profusely, my body shaking very visibly. She held me and comforted me. After that, I took a bath and TRIED to sleep.


I didn’t feel the physical effect of the experience until the next morning when I could hardly get up from bed: I had aches, pains and bruises all over my body. I couldn’t go anywhere for a whole week, but during that week, different scary thoughts flowed through my mind, like, ‘what if the second guy was with him and I had been overpowered? What if I had been shot dead and everyone was looking for me and my dead body had been found under the bridge? I was at a loss for words as I gave God thanks.


I wondered at how persistent I was in protecting my ‘valuables’ against defilement, even to the point that I was willing to give up my life, I never thought I could be that assertive in the face of ‘blows’; I believe God honored this decision I made to keep myself till I married by stepping in on my behalf.


Of course, I did give my testimony in Church because God kept me!


Lessons I learnt from the experience

• Values are things about you that will not change irrespective of price or condition (good or adverse)
• If you believe, you will not be ashamed
• You are a lot stronger (within and without) than you think
• Never give up in the face of adversity
• Until you are willing to die for something, you are not worthy to live for anything.


I’d like to have your comments on what you learnt from my story, it will help someone.

SURROUNDED!

I believe strongly and it’s happening already, that this year is going to be one of my busiest so far. Right from Jan 1 when we had the New Naija launch till date, everyday has been eventful.

I thought of what title to give this post, had a couple of options, till I decided to choose ‘Surrounded’. Indeed, I’M SURROUNDED!!!

On Saturday, I was home all day, had to do some house cleaning, change my hairstyle….. My husband had one or two meetings during the day but got back around past 6pm. My hairdresser was scheduled to come and braid my hair for 2pm, but didn’t show up until 4.30pm and lasted till after 9pm. At about 7.30pm, a cousin of mine rushed in to tell us that armed robbers were inside our estate and they were currently ‘operating’ on the block opposite ours. Immediately, I muttered a prayer, reminding myself that I’m God’s child with a covenant of protection, and that we dwell in the SECRET PLACE of the most high where no robber can locate us. Shortly after, they left the estate after making away with mobile phones, money, and jewelry from some flats. Nobody in the estate was hurt. There were security men on duty at the gate who were hit with a gun as they gained access into the estate. Hmmm…..”Except the Lord watches over a house, the watchmen watch in vain”.

Yesterday morning, I had an appointment in Ikoyi to take pictures for International passport and had to go with my daughter and son. We finished and headed for home. As we turned in at the major junction towards berger from the express, we came face to face with about 4 armed robbers in a car who were shooting in the air and coming towards us; almost immediately, a bike man signaled to my driver who made a quick U turn, moved forward and parked off the express. They moved in the same direction as us, but soon drove past us. It was like a movie; things could have turned out much differently, those bullets being shot in the air could have hit anyone; they were facing us but we were not hurt.

I also heard about a junior friend who boarded a bus occupied by ritualists but they dropped her off when they saw her with a bible.

I got home and recounted these events and knew better than to say ‘why all these?’ I rejoiced and reminded myself, that as for me, my family and everyone that is linked to me in anyway, and you……..yes, you, are SURROUNDED!

Encouragement for the week!

I sat on my desk today as i thought of what i could write on, my day had been extremely busy and my thoughts were far from flowing. But here's a little something for us for the new week.

Don't spend major time with minor people. If there are people in your life that continually disappoint you, break promises, stomp on your dreams, are too judgmental, have different values and don't give their backing during difficult times...that is not a friend.

To have a friend, be a friend. Sometimes in life as you grow, your friends will either grow or go. Surround yourself with people who reflect values, goals, interests and lifestyle.

When I think of any of my successes, I am thankful to GOD from whom all blessings flow, and to my family and friends that enrich my life.

At first you think you're going to be alone, but after a while new people show up in your life that make your life so much sweeter and easier to endure.

Remember what your elders used to say, “Birds of a feather flock together. If you're an eagle, don't hang around chickens: Chickens Can’t Fly!

Have a fulfilled week!

BUT WHY?

Why in God's name will a man raise his hands to beat his wife? It's a regular feature in some homes. Some people are quick though to raise the point that wife battering is common in men who get drunk regularly. But I think it's not very true.

While growing up, I had a neighbor who had regular episodes of beating his wife every other day. I remember vividly one morning when i was neatly dressed in my school uniform and headed for my dad's car (was in primary school then), I saw my neighbor’s wife run out of the house in her panties only! The husband was hot on her heels ready to really beat her up seriously. Almost immediately after, their four children came out arguing and taking sides, ready to fight too. It was an ugly sight, looking back now; my heart bleeds for the children, two of which later became victims of teenage pregnancy.

A number of people have anger problem and very few have been able to manage the problem. Self control is a strong virtue which every man who will lead or head a home must possess. A very interesting and encouraging point is that self control can be learnt and developed. I know one person who used to be so hot tempered that his younger ones dared not stand within a short radius from him whenever he was angry because he would ‘land’ them hot slaps! Without a willingness to change followed by corresponding actions, the wife would today be his punching bag. In my University days, I once saw one of the hottest ‘chics’ on campus one day as she was led to her room by a few friends; she was a sorry sight – bloodshot eyes, swollen face….. I later learnt that she was beaten by her boyfriend and that it was a regular occurrence but that it had never been as bad as it was that day. She was reported to have sworn that she would never go back to the guy again. To my surprise, the week after, they were back together again. Na wah o, I wondered why the guy constantly beat the girl and why she always went back to him. They were not married ke, so why could she not walk away finally? It’s rather appalling.

I believe strongly that no man has an excuse for beating his wife, or are some men truly justified for this action? Some women are reputed for constantly provoking and infuriating their husbands by using cutting remarks and statements on them (verbal weapon) while the husbands handle them physically. I’ve heard a marriage counselor say that you can know a man who is likely to beat his wife by the way he treats animals or even inanimate objects when he’s angry. Ladies, don’t let love blind you to those aggressive tendencies, shine your eyes!

Like I usually tell my younger friends, I’ll end this by saying, “May you marry your own!”