BUSSINESS AND LIFE IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Business and life in the 21st century
We live in a world that is characterized with “Three C’s namely Competition, Change and Complexities. If any one of us must live and do businesses in today’s world must be ready to embrace and tactfully understand these powerful 3C’s to achieve unlimited success.
Amazingly we all dread and detest change but you will agree with this wise saying that “One cannot keep doing the same thing and expect different results. If you want to experience a full life full of possibilities and opportunities, then you must be ready to attempt and do the unusual as this is what is required to stay on top in today’s world. Look at our world today, science and technology as impacted almost every aspect of our personal and business life. The introduction of the personal computer and the internet is no doubt transforming the way we go about life today and guess what you must not be left out of the enormous opportunity to be live your best life now.
It’s indeed a big world out there, a big world full of enormous opportunities and possibilities to be your unlimited best in every aspect of life and business. Think about this, How easy it is to be “average”. The ranks of the mediocre are crowded with status-quo thinkers and predictable workers. How rare are those who live differently!
Now, indeed you can be productive, relevant, secured and wealthy in today’s world, all that is required is to develop some certain personal qualities that make up the traits of leadership and vigorously apply timeless principles that would bring about the desired change you want to see in your life. It’s so sad that many people go through life hoping for the best, however you need more than a hope to live successfully today, you need a plan and a right course of action to maximize every opportunities that life will present to you.
In the school of life and business in the 21st century, you need four innate, personal tools that will consistently guarantee immense success and significance that you seek passionately. The deployment of these four innate tools have been used by great business thinkers like Bill gates who is the richest man in the world today, Albert Einstein, Barrack Obama, Aliko Dangote, Helen Keller who was blind and deaf but became an Elder state woman, writer and a lecturer in her time. These four innate tools are
1 Dream
2 Initiative
3 Creativity
4 Excellence
Dream: Friends you need to realize that all things in this life are created twice, their is first the mental creation before the physical creation. That is why the scripture says that “ Where there is no vision the people perish” if you really want to be super successful and be productive in all aspect of your life then the starting point is you need to develop the capacity to see beyond the realities of your life. Your circumstances are not the conclusions of your life. Eyes that look are many but eyes that see are few. Celebrated men and women in our world today have learnt to go inside of themselves to draw inspiration and deep revelation from their rich resources of their mind. The starting point to dreaming is to first of all on a daily basis change and upgrade your thoughts to world-class regularly. Change your thoughts and you change your world.
“One philosopher states that the purpose of our life on earth is to learn that our thoughts have power. William James wrote that the greatest discovery of this century is that by changing our thoughts, we can change our lives. We are constantly thinking, and every thought is filled with creative power. We are constantly creating, but more of it is done unconsciously. The purpose of a dream is to get us in to conscious creating.
A dream is not the images you experience when you sleep but it is an “ IDEA, A PLAN, AN AGENDA, A GOAL “ which you have deliberately determined to pursue in other to make your life and business a phenomenal success.
A whack on the side of the head is a book on how to break the inertia and unlock your mind for innovative thinking. By adopting a creative outlook, as Roger von Oech, the author of the book, points out, we open ourselves to new possibilities and change. But that requires thinking outside the prisons of common boundaries. It requires a Dream.
Friends my submission to you today is that on a regular basis, take out time to unleash your imagination and see the great things you want to have, experience in your lifetime and stop seeing and focusing on your present circumstances because “imagination is everything,” wrote Albert Einstein. When you are dreaming, think about a world where, “With God, anything is possible.”
Color outside the lines. Look at people who are having, being, doing, and creating what you want to create as role models. The illustration is simply this, You Think – You Do – You Become
”Nothing limits achievement like small thinking; nothing expands possibilities like unleashed imagination”
Initiative: Go to the ant, you slacker! Observe its ways and become wise. Without leader, administrator, or ruler, it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food during harvest
I have always wondered what on earth is the difference between a rich man and a poor one, and my discovery after a long while revealed to me is in their taking initiative and daring to do the impossible. They don’t wait for their ship to sail to them rather they swim to meet up their ship. Dear friends, the only way to grow and succeed in the 21st century is to constantly develop the ability on daily basis to act out and do that thing you ought to do even when it isn’t sure that you will succeed.
A dreamer is someone who sees the opportunities around and makes the most of them by taking action. He or she does today what others are not doing in order to have what others will not have tomorrow. That’s why I agree with the wise words of Dwight Roosevelt which says that “Do what you can with what you have right where you are”.
Everyone has what it takes to start something, no matter how small; therefore, don’t hesitate to start with what you have now. Start doing something with what you have because until you take steps nothing takes shape. The Chinese proverbs says, “Don’t be afraid of doing slowly but only be afraid of standing still.” A great life and business can’t be realized without making things happen.
Creativity: One great thing that will differentiate your life and business to attract favour, influence, resources and great relationships that will pace you is creativity. A lot of people today are drab, mediocre and live average lives all because the lack creativity.
“One good idea is all you need to start a fortune. Business breakthrough come from finding faster, cheaper, better and easier ways to perform a task. “Brian Tracy
We need on a daily basis to be original, make new discoveries, work out new concepts, and possess the idea of doing common things in uncommon ways. I dare you today to do things differently in your life and business approach. Take out time to do the analysis of your present reality and work out a new course of action as to what you need to do to become a phenomenal success and a role model to others, it’s time for us to start thinking outside the box and unleash the power of our imagination and move out of the things we are used to as we stretch ourselves to new boundaries of possibilities and opportunities Even the sky is not your limit as you dare to be creative in the way you live and do business.
Excellence: one great quality that is lacking today in our world is the capacity to do things in an unusual way. In order to survive in today’s world we need to develop the passion for unlimited quality in every sphere of our influence. Excellence is the habit of doing the best with best resources to achieve the best. As someone said,” Those who always deliver on quality never go unnoticed.” The habit of excellence prevents you from being an apostle of mediocrity who does things shabbily but it makes you do things better today than you did yesterday. It is true that little things make for excellence, but excellent is not a little thing. See thou a man diligent in his ways, such man will stand before kings and not with mere men. My submission to you is to go and do beyond your current efforts in your quest to live a full life in this 21st century.
Aristotle said, we are what we repeatedly do. Excellence therefore isn’t an act but a habit. In a nutshell you need to daily place a demand on yourself to find ways of doing things in a different manner so as to attract more opportunities in to your life and business.
I leave you with this African proverb that never seizes to inspire me,” “Every morning in Africa, a GAZELLE wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest LION or it will be killed. Every morning a LION wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest GAZELLE or it will starve to death. It doesn’t matter whether you are a LION or a GAZELLE . . . When the sun comes up, you’d better be running.”

Tunde Solanke is a Keynote Speaker, Trainer, Seminar Leader and an Event Manager
08034882336, 08183055276. E-MAIL= tundesolanke@gmail.com, solanketunde@ymail.com http://tundesolankespeaks.blogspot.com/

SUCCESS, MOTIVATION,& PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Decision Making
From the classic mega best seller "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill, a study of the five hundred wealthiest men of the United States found that their ability to make decisions was key to their success. He found that successful people were quick to make decisions and slow if ever to change, where unsuccessful people were slow to make decisions but quick to change. Here is one of my favourite word picture stories to illustrate the need to make good decisions:
Life is like a river for many people, they just jump in the river of life without ever deciding where they want to end up, so they quickly get caught up in the current, current events, current challenges, and current fears. And then they come to the forks in the rivers, they don't consciously decide which way to go, they just go with the flow of the river, the flow of the majority instead of being directed by their own values and goals. As a result the feel out of control but continue to drift downstream until one day the sound of the ragging water wakes them up and they realize they are 5 feet from the falls and they are in a boat with no oars. It's too late. They are going to take a fall. It may be a financial set-back or the break up of a relationship or maybe even a health problem. In almost all of the cases the fall could have been prevented by making better decisions up stream.
The currents of life are carrying people directly to the falls because they are not making thoughtful decisions according to their values and goals. One of the biggest problems is too many try to figure out their decision in their head. It is nearly impossible to get a good objective view of the decision you need to make in your head. We are too easily caught up in emotions and feelings that change day by day. One of the most effective ways to solve problems is to write it down, have a good look at the issue, ponder it for a couple of days and apply the exercise below to make the decision. Below is an awesome simple exercise to apply to any decision that you may need to make. Indecision when a decision needs to be made can lead to much unwanted stress and anxiety. Total the results from the exercise and I assure you that you see the answer staring right in front of you and you will not get stressed and have anxiety that only clouds the situation.
1 - Does this decision bring you closer or further away from your goal? Answer: Yes or no
2 - What is your gut feeling, listen to that inner voice? Answer: Yes or no
3 - Weight the pros and cons, create a 2 column chart and list as many positives and negatives you can.
Positives (Pros)
Negatives (Cons)
4 - Hindsight is always 20/20. Reflect back and think about how have similar situations worked out in the past. Answer: Positive or Negative
5 - Look at the circumstances surrounding this decision.

A) Are doors open or closed? Answer: Yes or no
B) Do I have the emotions to deal with this? Answer: Yes or no

6 - Probably the most important is to seek counsel. I cannot emphasize the importance of this enough. Humble yourself and get some advice. Seek out those who have experience and success regarding your decision and get some feedback. An ancient proverb says "Listen to advice and accept instruction and in the end you will be wise.
My Decision: ___________________________________.
I have heard a wise man once say that "God's will for you is what you would do if you had all the facts". I don’t want you to analyze until you are paralyzed, but for any major decision it is wise to take some time and be considerate and thoughtful regarding your decision and I think you will find this little 6 step process very valuable.
Webster's dictionary defines decision as the quality of being positive and firm, a decisive result! Decision comes from the Latin root "ci-dere" which literally means to cut from. It means when we decide to do something then we need to cut away all other possibilities. When you say that you are going to quit smoking then that's it, you're finished. You have made a positive and firm decision.
Remember the story of Hernan Cortes who sailed from Cuba to Mexico in 1519 with plans to conquer the Aztec empire. He succeeded in conquering the Aztecs but found many other great challenges and difficulties. Many of his crew wanted to sail back to Cuba when Cortes made the decision to burn the ships. This left them no other opportunity but to succeed in this new land which they did forming the little town now called Veracruz. Maybe you have some decisions where you need to burn the ships. Make a wise decision and cut away all possibilities from turning back and you will succeed.
"Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen"
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

CAREER GUIDANCE

Sound career options rely on three (3) significant steps.
You must have SELF-AWARENESS of who YOU ARE and what you like to do including HOBBIES, SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, and SCHOOL SUBJECTS, INTEREST, VALUE, GOALS, WORK ACTIVITIES, SKILLS and ABILITIES. You will do best at what you really like to do. Knowing you are and what you like will help you decide what you want to do in the world of work.

You must also INVESTIGATE career opportunities by learning about the REQUIREMENTS, DEMANDS, WORKING CONDITIONS, SALARIES and EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS. Knowing about the wide range of working environments will allow you to relate what you know about yourself to the many occupation available.

After you have chosen a field, you must PREPARE to enter your career area by creating a realistic set of GOALS, and a PLAN to attain them. Your plan will include the EDUCATION and TRAINING necessary to reach your CAREER GOALS.

IDENTIFYING THE RIGHT CAREER PATH
The first thing in the identifications mode is to synchronize yourself with what is being said or read by meditating and drawing inspiration from within. (PS 35:27-28, 3RD JOHN 1VS2). God is delighted in you succeeding and walking in the consciousness of God’s delight in me when realities of your life are contrary always pays off.

Things you experience when you are in the wrong career (Prov 12vs 11) &Mat 25-15

 You lose drive easily.
 Lack of enthusiasm in your present field.ie its no more trendy. E.g. music in Nigeria.
 Engaging in mediocre performance and not a Top Flier.
 Doing what is necessary to get by and not going the extra mile.
 Hastiness and passionate about Friday

HANDLING FAILURE

The power of failure

Don’t be worried about failing, be a glorious failure rather than a tired and timid traveller on a trouble- freed road - Robert Carrey

In our world today, when we see successful people, we often assume that they got all the breaks, that they were always in the right place at the right time; that they never failed, had never been rejected. If the truth were known, very few people accomplished anything worth while the first time, they attempted it. Even the most successful people generally have a checkerboard career of both success and failure. Please dear reader; understand thus that successful people experience failure almost a s often as unsuccessful people. On the average, successful people fail two out every five attempts, while unsuccessful people fail three out of five attempts. The figures are close. Friends its alright to fail and much more failure is common to all, infact we all fail everyday.

Now what is failure? Failure is the condition of not achieving the desired result or ends; the condition of being found insufficient or falling shorts, so when we fail we have proved ourselves to be deficient, unsuccessful and undependable. We can learn so many things from our failures if only we can use the lens of these five factors about failure;

Failure is inevitable

Failure reminds of me that I am not God i.e. we are ordinary, fallible falling people.

Failure helps me find God and see things through his eyes

Failure can be Gods warning that I am stuck in a rut and need to change something

Failure is an essential part of success, you can separate success from failure, they are two sides of the same coin.

No one learns to make right decisions without making wrong ones.

Dear reader, its okay to fail and failure is a part of life – part of learning.

Many years ago, a young writer interviewed the legendary IBM president Thomas J. Watson and asked him the formular for success. Watson said double your rate of failure, don’t think failure is the enemy of success; failure is teacher – a harsh one perhaps, but the best. But always identify the causes of failure when you fail. Arthur Gordon was the interviewer and became a nationally known author and editor because of a new perspective on failure. Moreover in the school of failure, I identify six key principles.

God knows we will fail

He allows us to fail

He is with us when we fail and if our involves he is ready to forgive

he understand the potential value of our failure

he sees beyond our failure

So live with this that failure need to be futile or final, the difficulties, set back of life are intended to make us better not bitter. We can either groan through life grow through it. Failure should be a stepping stone, not mill-stone. Abraham Lincoln.

My verdict today is let God turn your set backs in to come backs and also you can get it right after you’ve got it wrong.

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e:mial: puremotivation2005@yahoo.com

Babatunde solanke

President: APEX TRAINING {NIGERIA}