I RISE

RICE OR A BETTER NIGERIA
Babatunde Abolade

Perhaps, this is the time Nigerians demanded a better Nigeria from the rulers of the country.

Currently, the political leaders of Nigeria are strategizing and planning the next electioneering process that would shape the next 4 years of the average Nigerian life.

Suddenly, they had become accessible, available and ready to listen to the yearnings and cravings of the people of Nigeria. This is one of the rare opportunities to flip the game and demand a better Nigeria.

But, we had seen this script before. We had been here before. In the script we'd seen, religious leaders, rather than stand for the demands of the people for a good government, stand for their pockets and personal needs. Traditional leaders, rather than demand the needs of the community, demand personal gains and advancements.

What about the people that should stand tall and demand a better use of the commonwealth? Rather than sacrifice today for a better collective tomorrow, we are fighting ourselves for cups of rice and condiments to make a meal.

Rather than we standing by ourselves and demanding a better nation from those that are or would be saddled with the responsibility of administering our collective lots in another 4years or beyond, we are being divided along party lines, while fighting for crumbs.

A better Nigeria, where every Nigerian is equal and entitled to everything Nigeria can offer, based on qualifications and merit is on the plate. Why choose rice rather than that?

When Nigeria works, our lives work and get better. Our destiny is in our hands, let's maximise the moment and occurences to change the trajectory of our future.

We, as a collective, would have no one but ourselves to blame if, in the foreseeable future, we do not have the Nigeria of our dreams; a Nigeria that works for all.

God had blessed Nigeria, may God bless Nigerians with the strength and courage to stand for ourselves, not against ourselves.

STAY PUT
Babatunde Abolade

“Whatever you presume worthwhile and valuable deserves your valuables. If it means so much to you, then give it your all.”

The scenario
Though they are friends, they differ in their perspective and approach to the processes of living and being. Pat, Pet and Put were exposed to the same level of education but what each make of the information impacted made the difference.

Pat believes everything good would come her way in her comfort zone. So, she does nothing but expects all her desires to happen to her by chance. She’s expectant.

Pet lives a pampered life. She lives on the effort and works of others. ‘If they cannot cater for me, they won’t have given birth to me'; she opines. She lives deservedly.

Put keeps on pushing. She believes she can be a better being, hence owns her living and charts the course for her life. Though she stays guided and mentored, she has a handle on her living. She lives deliberately.

Pat and Pet seem cordial. Pat keeps patting Pet in the back as Pet pets Pat in her comfort. Put was however seen by both as unreasonable; wanting more than she deserves.

The outcome of their lives is not unimaginable. Pat remained in her comfort zone and watched life happen to others but herself, Pet became parasitic and burdensome to those that once cared hence being left to wallow in her nothingness, and Put became her dreams as she kept on pushing to better her present.

Think on these:
1. You separate yourself and your dreams; keep pushing.
2. Live life in consonance with your dreams; nothing is more fulfilling.
3. Never allow the present sway you off your pursuit. The present always pass.
4. Be in charge; not the victim.
5. Be impact driven; nothing more.
6. Live so others can live.

Nothing happens until your move. The world eager to have your dream become a solution provider; do not deny us your potency. Stay put and push till it happens.

SIX (6) BASIC WAYS TO MANAGE YOUR FINANCES
Babatunde Abolade

Your finances do not always have to be in shambles; you can man it to maximize it. You are not poor because you do not have; rather, you are poor because you fail to manage the little you have. Adequate financial management helps you maximize your finances.

Today, we will be examining six (6) basic ways you can manage your finances to maximize your living. These ways are too simple it takes a confused mind to complicate them. They are;
1. Have channel(s) of income
2. Write your expenses
3. Gather the fragments
4. Aim your shot
5. Create a financial mould
6. Be disciplined

HAVE CHANNEL(S) OF INCOME: Before you can manage a thing, you must have a bit of control on the thing. To manage your finances, it means that you must earn income. Earning salaries from a paid job, making profit, receiving grants and gifts, etc are some of the ways income is made. Do you have at least a channel of income? If yes, you can manage your finances. But if no, earn income!

WRITE YOUR EXPENSES: The direction of your life is shown and known by the direction of your expenses. Where does your finance go? Document both your expenses to track the progress you make in managing your finances. Be deliberate about your finances; write your expenses.

GATHER THE FRAGMENTS: Many a times that you waste the remnants of your finance. You attached no importance to them. What you fail to realize is the potency little things. Little drops makes an ocean when paid attention to. Rather than scatter the remnants of your finances, gather them and you would amaze yourself. Make use of piggy box; you are not too big to have one!

AIM YOUR SHOT: The challenge many face is that they want to manage their finances with no end in mind. What is your driving force? Why do you want to manage your finances? To what end? Answers to these questions would enable measurement of progress. Set financial goals. You must know ‘why’ you want to manage your finances and apply yourself to the reason. Without a goalpost, there is no goal! Aim your shot.

CREATE A FINANCIAL MOULD: You are an embodiment of habits. Make managing your finances your next habit. Build yourself a financial mould by making a budget and staying true to it. Live within the confines of your set budget. A budgeted life is one on a mission; you are going somewhere to happen. Make yourself happen!

BE DISCIPLINED: Nothing is worthwhile in life without the commitment of discipline. You would derail from the plan; you would even desire to stay off the plan. Be disciplined! Nothing beneficial comes on a platter of gold. Work yourself on achieving your financial goals. Stay disciplined!

Stay committed to the vision. You are some steps away from your desired self. You have come thus far; do not cave in now. Good morning.

GETTING STARTED
Babatunde Abolade

Being wealthy is good, but not knowing where the money goes is frustrating. Mismanaging money is equivalent to not having it. You have to manage your resources to have the resources.

This month, we shall delve in-depth into managing your resources. You cannot be losing your resources and expect that you would live a fulfilled life. You must have a handle on your resources.

The direction of your life is shown by the direction of your resources. What is the direction of your life when your resource is haphazard; disappearing unannounced?

Your life cannot be lived by chance. You must live a deliberate life. Stay with us this month as we examine managing your resources. Good morning.

NOT ENOUGH
Babatunde Abolade

The new year cannot be done as previous ones with an expectation of different results. Mathematicians and statisticians know that the result is same when the formula is unchanged but for when the factors change. The formula is sacrosanct!

You can not live by excuses. Quit excusing your excesses. Excuses are the explanations for your failings; not genuine anyway. You might think I do not know the excuses but I am sure of one; not having enough to start living your dreams.

For your dreams, you do not need to have it all before you start. Just start; with what you have. Your dreams will make you. You are a channel of impact to your world. You will be wet as you deliver. Just do it!

Did I hear you moan 'I have too little to start?' Hmmmmmm! Listen up, what you call too little is anothers' desire. What the other will do with your 'too little' will amaze you. Stop class or status thinking; class is imaginary! Do not allow your qualifications disqualify you from achieving your dreams. Start now!

You are busy staying classy with dry pockets while some are getting their hands dirty and having fat accounts. Stay there! Be acting up! Keep forming! Before you know it, the years are gone and life is laid bare before you with nothing to show for your time. May that not be your story.

What you have is enough to give you a start. Somehow, somewhere along the journey, resources needed will catch up. Keep the dreams big, but start small. Everything big on the outside started bigger on the inside but small on the outside.

Follow the pattern of success. Your style might be different though; the result is the same.

#2019

TOO LATE TO BE TOO EARLY
Babatunde Abolade

Guess you know the year is ticking away already. Did I hear you say 'No, it's only the first month of twelve?' January is almost over! What have you done this year to make for a better year than the previous ones?

Nothing moves until you move. Make a move. Dare to do. Apply yourself to your set targets. Do something. Fill your time with worthy events. Maximize your time. Work steadily towards the goal. Challenge yourself to better your yesterdays. Work at your goals.

You cannot become by merely wishing. Wishes are lame, actions give them wings. Work; rather than merely wish. Sacrifice for your expected end. Pay the price for your goals. You are your doing and your undoing. Do yourself right.

Quit feeling cool; you are not there yet. Dust yourself and go for gold. Your present is another starting point. Aim higher. Better your best. Dare for more.

You can; if you believe you can. You will; if you work at it. No one stops you but you. Everything is possible. You set the bar; set it right. Good morning

#2019

DIRECTION FOR COMING GENERATIONS
Babatunde Abolade

Successors often blame their predecessors for the conditions they face in life. Successors; more particularly children believe that had their parents done much more, they would have been better positioned in life.

Truth be told, the parents did their best for you! Parents offered up their seeming comfort just for you to live better lives than them. Had you considered what they were up against? Yet, they provided you with all they did. I think parents deserve more accolades than we avail them.

Predecessors are ladders upon which successors stand. They are shield against evil for successors. They are foundations on which the lives of successors are built. They are the sacrifices that are offered for successors to indeed succeed.

For today's successors, instead of complaining that you didn't receive enough from your predecessors to make a better life, buckle down to the task. Your life is your own. No one owes you a responsibility for your life. You are responsible for the making of your life; take responsibility!

Strive to thrive! Live so as to leave expected inheritance for your successors. Set the precedence that coming generations would be proud of. What you thought you didn't have of your predecessors, provide for your successors. You would soon become some others predecessors; live to influence them positively.

All you do have implications; set out for the right implications. You can set the records straight. You can be that change agent you desire for coming generations. You can be that turning point. If you commit to being, you will be! Build lasting legacies for the next generation. I know you can; I believe you will! Good morning

#2019

LEGACY FOR POSTERITY
Babatunde Abolade

Growing up, we learnt that education is the best legacy. Unfortunately, instead of questioning what form of education is the best legacy, we rushed to pursue formal education.

It wasn't until we were almost done with tertiary institution that it dawned on us that education goes beyond the four walls of a classroom; to exposure and enlightenment. We had to work on our skills and talents as these makes room in life.

No one is remembered for the grades it makes in a classroom. No one is remembered for mere academic prowess. In fact, when the educational qualifications earn you a job, you still undergoes on the job training. Does that not speak volume?

Go to school; and be the best. Formal education builds your network with people of similar dreams. Formal education avails you the opportunity of meeting people, knowing them over time, and selecting those with almost the same destination as yours. That's why it's structured in departments.

But discovering yourself and living your dreams is the best legacy you can offer posterity. By so doing, you write your name in the sand of time and you make tremendous impact in your world. Your lived dreams will make you.

How committed are you to living your dreams? Are you failing forward; achieving your dreams or you are laid back? Live you dreams whatever it coats. Sometimes you win and celebrate while other times you fail and learn. The more the failings, the more assured the success.

You owe posterity your realised dreams. Pay your dues. Good morning

#2019

OBEY ORDERS
Babatunde Abolade

Life is not meant to be lived on chance. Rather, life is to be lived following established rules and principles. When a life contravenes any of these established principles, such life becomes a disaster.

Living must be deliberate. A successful life must be regimental. Just as in the military setup, life must be lived following orders and decrees. A life lived on obeying instructions progresses much more than one lived haphazardly.

Live your life following established rules in your chosen path. You need not formulate your own rules; just by following established ones, you are almost certain of achieving your goals. Do well to obey!

Was your prior lived years anything short of your expectations? This is not a time for pity party; rather, dust yourself, appreciate the progress made and maximize now to create a positive causative for the future.

I believe you can become the person you desire. I believe you can surpass your set targets. I believe you are able to overcome. I believe in you. But targets, and dreams don't achieve themselves. They must be worked on to turn them to reality.

Work on your targets following orders and your targets will become a reality and provide a pedestal upon which your life would be established and thrive. There is no hard and fast rule to achieving in life than following orders.

Would it be easy on your comfort? No! But I guarantee that it would be worth your commitment. Go obey! Good morning

STAY LIGHT
Babatunde Abolade

Many a times, we are preoccupied with avoidable worries, cares and anxieties that keep us burdened. The accumulated burden becomes weight that we carry about; denying us the ability to latch onto the essentials to living.

Though we have the capacity for new horizons, our ability has been diminished by the weight we carry about. Quite unfortunate! But there is a remedy. We can change the narrative and achieve extraordinary results.

The remedy is to stay light through life. Never be burdened about anything; do your part and believe for the best possible outcome. Worries won't change a thing; rather, you would be hurt. Quit worrying; stay light.

Become a sieve; taking what is necessary for your living at every point in time, and not a funnel; slowly absorbing everything that comes your way. You must know what is needed per time and go for same.

To lead a great life, you must learn a great deal! Don't be tight fi**ed to old knowledge; learn something new. Lean on others. Receive help. Allow others teach you.

Only fools appears to know it all; no one truly does. Stay open to correction and much necessarily instructions. Your life depends on it! The lighter you are this year, the farther you will achieve all you set out to. Stay light; stay afloat. Good morning.

EQUIP YOUR ARSENAL
Babatunde Abolade

Preparation births manifestation. Opportunities are maximized when met with preparation. For the journey this year, you must be equipped.

There are books that must be read. Some had done and documented what you plan to achieve; learn of them by reading their books.

There are courses, lectures, teachings, etc that would be organised in line with your plan; attend, learn, and apply the knowledge as you work on your plans.

There are people around you that had weathered storms of life in your chosen path. Allow them guide you. You are better off being carried on the wings of others than running with your legs.

What others achieve in decades; you can in months. Just by aligning to instructions, you collapse years into months.
Don't experience all by yourself; you would be living a wasted life. Lean on others; you are not an island. Also don't be a pest; have some values to offer.

Life is best lived with the guidance of others. I am a product of it. Constantly add to your arsenal of life, and your life will witness geometric progression. Good morning