THE FATE OF THE NIGERIAN YOUTH

Nigeria a great land of diverse cultures and people, a land filled with Milk and Honey, like the cannan Land, the most populous black nation in the world, the most religious and with large mass of land, blessed with Oil and various National Resources and the greatest Resource, the Human Resource…

The vision 2020 is a vision the Nigerian Government has set their focus on, but without the end of corruption and without youth empowerment, it can’t be fully achieved, it won’t take another Fela Anikulapo Kuti or another Great Activist to do it, but You and I, because, even the anti-graft bodies cannot put an end to it, the man that tried to do something about corruption though he was politically motivated was hewed down by the same corrupt politicians that used him to achieve their political aim.

Someone once asked me what lies ahead of the Nigerian Youth? and I said More Unemployment, if not high rate of poverty, and even worse government except we put an end to all the child play, when I voiced this out, I was accused of being a pessimist, Not that I don’t believe in the Nigerian dream but change is the pathway of achieving the Nigerian dream…

I said Change.

If you dont change our mindset as youths,the future is not sure.

Let’s look at the Nigerian youth today and figure their sense of responsibility towards the Nigerian Dream, the ratio is below

40% OF THE NIGERIAN YOUTH = Believe fraud (Yahoozee) / looting of government funds is their easiest way to wealth (Going into politics for the sake of looting government funds) and other dubious means to wealth…

25% OF THE NIGERIAN YOUTH = Believe travelling abroad for greener pastures is their easiest way to wealth, thereby causing capital flight.

20% OF THE NIGERIAN YOUTH = Believe Education is their easiest way to wealth

(Due to lack of job/Unemployment after schooling, this spot soon drops below)

10% OF THE NIGERIAN YOUTH=

10% OF THE NIGERIAN YOUTH = Believes a change or rather being employed/ starting out as an entrepreneur is the easiest way to wealth (This group’s ratio soon goes down due to economic sabotage or Lack of Funds to manage the business)

5% OF THE NIGERIAN YOUTH = Believes in the Nigerian Dream, a dream that one day Nigeria will have a place for them too (some in this group are graduates, secondary school leavers etc) but they have this conviction of the Nigerian dream and they ignore all the evil means to wealth and the cleave to the Nigerian dream…..

The dream of taking Nigeria to High …. The dream that one day the things we don’t have would be past and the things we have would speak for us.

In the above listed group, where do you belong as a Nigerian youth?

Leadership is not meant to be measured by age but by vision. We have millions of Obamers in Nigeria but they can’t manifest their dreams because of the current state of the country and leaders who refuse to shift away from the seat of power (The same Old Politician way rule Nigeria before) The leaders who see the youth as miscreants that can be used as political thugs, leaders who are suppose to be elders but metamorphosis into political god fathers who remain as top dogs after elections and torment the young and vibrant politicians in power.

Take a walk, go out in the street and see what I am talking about, the security guards at the gate of your banks and offices, that mechanic guy who fix your car, the petrol attendant at the filling station, that wise igbo boy selling on the traffic, that lady who always bring Agege bread to your office in the morning, that creative hair dresser, fashion designer, the technician, plumber name them, so many of them, Nigerian youth with highly technical skills; All image not withstanding the bad economic and unfavorable leadership policies, the Nigerian youth still strive on and storm the weather, given an ideal situation the Nigerian youth is dynamic, intelligent and creative. Yes talk about spots, music, the art world, academics, entrepreneur etc both at home and abroad.

Please any where you find a Nigeria youth in need. Assist he or she, for you will be glad you did.

GREAT NIGERIAN YOUTH WHEN WILL THOU ARISE AND NOT LET THE DREAM OF OUR FATHERS DIE

Youth of Nigeria you have no problem, you are already blessed, been born as a Nigeria is enough for you to be grateful to GOD, all you need to do, is to know and find out

What did live have for you?

What do you want from live

And what do you want to give back to live; By the time you have answers to all these three live related attribute, then you are ready to be a GREAT NIGERIA YOUTH. Don’t fail the Nigeria dream, let’s stand and say YES to the Nigerian Dream. 

Writing by Adewole Olanrewaju

The tragedy behind racism

Racism has a significant impact both on the individuals who experience it and the wider community. Research shows that there are significant links between experiences of racism and discrimination and poor Physical and mental health,reduced productivity and reduced life expectancy.

 Australians told us about how they feel about racism:

It makes me feel like I am lower than everyone else, an intruder who is not part of this society.
It offends me, angers me, frustrates me, but most of all it saddens me.
Dirty. As a white Aussie who speaks English as a first language I am not the recipient of direct racism but I deplore its effects on our society and get sick and tired of seeing friends and peers, who do experience racism, struggle.
It reduces us all. We are all made less, and our cohesiveness is lessened by it.

What are the Main Causes of Racism?

 Instinctive reaction for species protection- It is natural to relate to those who are similar in our own image and likeness and too feel comfortable with those that look and reflect who we are in appearance and behaviour. Humans naturally feel threatened when things we cherish most such as our culture, territory, family, and our identity are in danger of being harmed. Racism is what a humans natural reaction in order to protect all of this. Anything that is not the same as one group of people is immediately perceived as inferior and prejudice (forming your own opinion on a person).

Fear of loss and displacement (FEAR)-  Humans naturally seek to protect their own kind, which means they fear for any loss of what makes them who they are; it can be anything including our jobs, status, territory, possessions, personal significance and even our own identity. Humans fear being replaced by anyone who is seen as more appealing and desirable than what they are. When someone is replaced by a person who is better than what they are which makes them feel unworthy. Fear is one of the biggest contributors of racism especially from loss, which causes a person to see difference between the two people and is seen as threatening of what as what they see as their rights.

Ignorance (The condition of being uneducated, unaware or uniformed)-  What continues racism is ignorance in the world. If a person grows up doing a particular thing their whole lives and everyone else around them does the same thing, it is seen to be right even if it is morally wrong it may be to another human being that does not share the same outlook on life. A group of people will not see anything wrong with their actions because they see their actions as correct. The only way to stop this ignorance is through education and awareness of their actions and what the consequences may be. Until a person’s ignorance is educated, it will continue to thrive racism.
Lack of self love, feeling of unworthiness and desire to feel superior- People who are the most racist tend to be people who lack confidence, self esteem and most of all self love.  A racist person throws all their negative feelings onto others that are seen as weak and vulnerable. When a person truly loves himself or herself and appreciates who they are as a person, they can appreciate others as well. Racism comes from the feeling of being worthless, being victimised, and lacking the opportunities others may have.  These feelings of being a ‘failure’ means that person needs a scapegoat to make themselves feel better; usually this being a person that is weaker than the racist. Racist human beings tend to feel insignificant, isolated, wronged and unloved, and they feel comfort in blaming others. A cause of racism is not a social act but is an individual act. The causes of racism begins with an individual person and can only be fixed by addressing an individuals actions.

What are the Effects of Racism?

Racism can have a great negative impact on the life of a person and community and victims of racism are always angry and unforgiven.they can be violent and bitter.it can destroy the self esteem of a person and also destroy communities.it creates divisions within the society.

A studey was carried out in 2009 and was  shown that the effects of racism creates discrimination and mental disorders.

The study  finds also that  black people may have poorer mental health as a result of two mechanisms:Firstly,chronic exposure to racial discrimination which leads to more experiencies of daily discrimination and secondly,it results in an accumulation of daily negative events across various domains of life,from family,friends,health and financies.

 Think about the last time you left the house. Did strangers on the street acknowledge your presence with a smile, or avert their glance? Chances are that the answer depended on your age, gender, and, of course, your race.A whole world of a person can change from experiencing discrimination and they can become depressed,anxious and unwell mentally.

Racism is bad,devilish and wicked.stay away from it or it will kill you

Written by Justin Christopher

Germany reports disappearance of 130,000 asylum seekers

Germany does not know the whereabouts of 130,000 asylum seekers who were registered last year, officials say.

The migrants did not appear at reception centres to which they had been directed, the government said in a written reply to a question.
This may be because they have moved to a different country, gone underground or registered several times.
Those missing represent about 13% of about 1.1 million asylum seekers registered in Germany in 2015.
A spokesman for the interior ministry said a series of measures approved by parliament on Sunday would help address the missing migrants problem.These measures are plans for migrants to be issued with an identity document on arriving in Germany so that the authorities can store personal data under a common database

Malcolm X's Favorite Slain Revolutionary

Malcolm X called him the most impressive black man ever to walk the African continent. Just six months after becoming the first prime minister of the newly independent Republic of the Congo (later called the Democratic Republic of the Congo), and two days before John F. Kennedy’s inauguration in January 1961, Patrice Lumumba was shot down by a firing squad. But Lumumba’s surprising path and sudden death serve as a powerful reminder that for political leaders in many parts of the world, true reform has only one major prerequisite: survival.
Few countries today are as troubled as the Congo, a land of 68 million nestled near the center of sub-Saharan Africa. Belgian invaders looted the country for almost a century, during perhaps the most brutal colonization in Africa. But Congo, rich in mineral resources like rubber, was once poised to be an African success story, thanks in no small part to the man his people called by one name: Lumumba. Lumumba went from being a political prisoner to being his country’s prime minister at the tender age of 34.
 Tall, wiry and intellectual, Lumumba grew up in a Catholic family in the Congolese countryside, working as a postal worker and beer salesman before risking his stable, middle-class life to join the anticolonial independence movement. He was quickly embraced as a leader of the movement, only to be imprisoned in late 1959 as the Congo was about to gain independence. But popular pressure forced his release, and nine months into his 69-month sentence, Lumumba went from being a political prisoner to being his country’s prime minister at the tender age of 34.

Lumumba led a poor Congo, where nearly half the population was undernourished. He had high hopes for enacting the agrarian reform necessary to feed his people, and that was just the beginning of his ambitious plans. Then, just three months into his term, Lumumba was deposed, in a move orchestrated by a cadre of great powers: the U.S. via the CIA, which had planned to poison his toothpaste on orders from President Eisenhower; England with the connivance of MI6 and Belguim, the Congo’s former landlord. The reason? A significant crime in the Cold War heyday: making nice with the Soviets, who, it should be noted, Lumumba leaned toward because of Western hostilities arising from the possibility that he might find common cause with the Communists.
“Even the jungle wanted him dead,” Joseph Conrad wrote of Kurtz, the Belgian ivory trader who ventures deep into the Congo in Heart of Darkness. It was as true for Lumumba as it was for Kurtz.
What followed was a coup by future despot Colonel Joseph Mobutu. Lumumba was arrested, beaten and trucked to a location where, with Belgian approval, he was put to death by a firing squad. According to one report, Lumumba was shot multiple times, and his body was dissolved in acid by Belgian military officials who wanted to prevent a full investigation. Mobutu took over the Congo, renamed it Zaire and looted it to the tune of $5 billion over the next 30 years. And it wasn’t until 2002 that the Belgium Government apologized to the Congolese people for its role in Lumumba’s assassination.
Lumumba lives on in the hearts of many people in Congo, but his lesson — like that of so many slain revolutionaries — may not be what he hoped for or expected. Being bold, principled and even on the right side of history will not lead your people into the promised land, nor will it make you the next George Washington, Nelson Mandela or Fidel Castro. If, however, you’re willing to adapt and persevere, the rest may take care of itself. And if not, someone may just take care of you.


Compiled By Eugene Robinson 

THREE REASONS MANY CHRISTIANS ARE POOR

Written by Dr Daniel Olukoya

THREE REASONS MANY CHRISTIANS ARE POOR:

1. God will not give you what will kill you. It is like a small boy watching his daddy shaving and he says, “Daddy, give me the blade, give me the blade.” No matter how he loves the child, he will not give him the blade. So your spiritual level and your level of brokenness may be too low for God to entrust wealth to you. That is why the Bible says, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness and all other things shall be added unto you.” They are automatic addition. Here comes the first question to you in this message. “Can you confirm in your spirit that the kingdom is in you? Are you a broken Christian? That is the first poverty-destroying weapon

God may be looking at you and He is saying, “If I give this my child fifty million naira, will he not backslide?” If God sees that anger, greed, dishonesty, lying, are still in your life, He will not give you His prosperity. Get the kingdom first; submit the whole of your life to God and then you will never be forsaken. The Bible says that God never forsakes the righteous but you have to be righteous to have that privilege. There are many people now who are very serious with the Lord because they are poor. But when money comes, they would become irregular. God can see. Many are praying, “O Lord, promote my husband,” and God is saying, “When I have not promoted the man, he is running after strange women, when he is promoted, he will now build castles for them and abandon you completely. Why don’t you let us get him saved first?”

There are people who were working and praying hard when they did not have a fan in their house and at night mosquitoes came and by the time they slapped themselves thrice, they would stand up to pray. But now they got the fan and split air conditioner, they over sleep. God does not want that. Many forget the household of God immediately they obtain contracts. They would not be seen again in the church until the money is gone. Before then when you call a prayer point like: “Let every contract be released now, in the name of Jesus, they would pray and shake their heads. But when they get it, the next place you would see them is the VIP lounge at the airport with very starched clothes, sitting down and eating meat pie and drinking tea as early as 6.30 am. But when they were looking for it, it was dry fast everyday.

Many who used to come early to church when they had no cars now come late to church in spite of the fact that God has blessed them with cars and drivers. And when you ask them why they come late to church, they would say, “That foolish driver did not wake up on time to bring me to church.” But when there was no car and driver, they got to church before everybody, swept the floor, joined the prayer warriors, and then settled down before service. God sees all these.

Some people were praying very well when they had no job. But now that they have a job, they forget their spiritual duties because of over- time. Some prayed and fasted to get a job and by 5.00 am., they have arrived at the office. But when it is service days, you see them strolling in one hour late. God normally allows that which keeps a man from Him to be withdrawn so that He can get his attention. God has had to withdraw cars, houses and comfort from people in order to save their souls. So, check your life today. Are you broken to the level where God can commit the riches of the Gentiles into your hands? Do you have clean hands, a kind of hand that God will place this sort of riches on? This is the first headache of the Almighty when it comes to prosperity.

2. Proverbs 11: 24 says, “There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat. And he that watereth shall be watered also himself.” And Luke 6: 38 says, “Give, and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, and shaken together and running over, shall men give into your bosom.” This is an area where the devil has blinded the eyes of many believers. Many pray that they want prosperity, but how is the prosperity going to come when they have sown no seed. It is like a student praying to pass his examination when he has read nothing. It is like a woman praying to get pregnant without a husband or without a man. You must sow a seed. It is that seed that the Lord will multiply for you. Someone who wants prosperity should do more than tithing. Some people have been writing me letters asking: “What should we tithe? Is it the gross pay or the net pay?” It is better for you to over pay than to under pay. If God is asking you for a tithe and you say, “O God, take 20 per cent or 15 per cent, it is better for you to owe me than for me to owe you.” You must not treat God as a beggar. You treat God as a beggar when you give Him the extra that you don’t need. If you cannot be generous with the Almighty when things are hard for you, you would not be able to give when there is abundance. Sowing in the time of famine attracts abundant blessings and prosperity. Remember the story of the woman in Mark chapter 12, who just threw in some coins and God said, “This one has contributed more money than every other person.” So, if you find it hard to give a tenth unto God, of the money that belongs to you, you are inviting poverty. If you completely forget to pay your tithe and your offerings, you are inviting poverty. If you feel or believe that the tithe and offerings you give are too much, you are inviting poverty. If God gives you 20,000 naira and you find it difficult to pay 2,000 as tithe, you are writing to poverty. Wise believers double the tithe. Also, they sow a big seed and challenge the Lord. Giving to God is sacrifice. You have not started giving to God until you feel the pinch. Many are so tight-fisted when it comes to financing God’s work. Tithe borrowers are looking for trouble too. It is foolish to borrow your tithe because the repercussion can be grievous and it is also an insult to God. 

3. Psalm 78:41 says, “Yea they turned back and tempted God and limited the Holy one of Israel.” The third reason is that many of us limit God. Many limit God by the way they talk and act. Many do not believe that God can do something outside their normal salary or income. So, anytime they pray, they focus their attention on what appears to be obvious. They are not on the look out for the miraculous or supernatural. They limit God completely. That is why sometimes when you ask some people, “How are you?” They would answer “rough.” Negative and inferior thinking invites poverty. You should not limit God. The Bible says that with God, nothing shall be impossible. It is only in our dictionary we find the word impossible or difficult.

WAY OUT

When you check your life and you find out that the spirit of poverty is in control, then you need to resist it. Think now about your finances. If you have cheated God, ask for forgiveness. Take a positive stand on what you will do in God’s house. If you have things that you have stored up somewhere and you know that you don’t really need them. Sell them off and put the money into God’s work. The last step to take is an aggressive one. It is to pray poverty destroying prayers. You must pray against the spirit of poverty with holy aggression. Some sicknesses are not ordinary. They are just ladders of poverty and you need to break them to pieces.

PRAYER POINTS

1. You heaven that has become brass, break open and bring rain, in the name of Jesus.

2. Every poverty, I break your control, in the name of Jesus.

3. Lay your hands on your eyes and pray like this: O Lord, anoint my eyes to see the hidden riches of the world, in the name of Jesus.

4. Lay hand on your head and pray this: O Lord, advertise your prosperity in my life, in Jesus’ name.
5.Yoke of poverty upon my life.die by fire

Your destiny lies within your mouth

So many people just don't understand the power of life and death which is in our mouths. Going about issuing words of death without any concern whatsoever. I hope that I can give deeper insight on this powerful teaching for all who hath an ear to hear. From experience: I had learned this the hard way in life. I have destroyed every relationship I have had; because of my deadly tongue. I have killed people inside because of my poisonous words. I had brought curses upon my relationships, finances, jobs, health and continuing strongholds in my life. All because the "little member" called the tongue! Praise be to God he has opened my eyes to see this truth! Please take great heed to what the Lord through me is about to tell...
It is my personal belief from experienced to say that: A person brings more sin on their life from their words, then any other way or action that could cause sin,(Psalm 39;1). I would have to say that our Lord would agree with me for it is him that said: "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man”,(Matt 15;18-20) I have noticed from myself and other's we tend to praise and bless God one minute and then sometime during the day we curse men. Like it's nothing, James 3;9
. Example: Your reading and praying before you go to work and then while in a traffic jam on your way to work, your yelling and name calling because of the person in front of you won't move fast enough or get out of your way. Just one of many examples. Which we will have to stand accountable before the Lord for "every idle word that men shall speak" on that great day of judgement. I have noticed that every time I lied, I had to lie again, just to cover up the last lie. That it just a repeated pattern for someone who has lied, not knowing that it is an abomination and that God hates a lying tongue. Heaping sin and great judgment upon myself. When we cut people down and attack them with our words, we are sticking them in the heart with a sword,Prov 12;18. Killing them with one word at a time. Not only killing them; but killing our own selves as well. That is the number one reason in America and other countries that people end up alone over the most. Because of our big mouths! It is our mouths that brings forth our fruit. We have to learn to start speaking positive words over ourselves and others. God cannot stress this to you enough: that you will eat the fruits of your lips in this life. If a person says things about themselves or others they will start believing the very words they profess! That is just a fact! "I'm stupid", "I just can't keep anybody", "I got cancer I just know it", "I will never be good for anybody", "I can't never get a good job", "I'm ugly", "Lord, I'm no good for your kingdom", "I can never get ahead" and the list goes on and on... Well, your right! The disciple James from experience tells us that: "And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell
. Our little tongue is so powerful that it cannot only destroy our whole body; it can also destroy the very course of nature laid out for our life's, bringing death unto us and everything in our life's as well and the ending result is hell,1 Peter 3;10! Just think back on your own experiences. If your wan God's healing's, blessing's and favor's; than you had better start speaking them over your life's! Speak those things as though they were ,Romance 4;17And when you speak and pray in faith, you shall have whatsoever you ask for,John 11;22. The scriptures are full teachings on the power of the tongue; but this is just a short list that gives enough insight on this topic. Bottom line: watch what you say! Begin today forming habits of positive speaking over your life and the life's of others. For it is in your mouth that brings forth the fruit in life,Prov 12;14.

Everlastingly in the Kingdom,

Written by Apostle Justin Thomley

Teach your children about financial independence

Do u Want your children to develop good money habits for life? Then teach them well from the start. Use these tips from parents and top personal finance experts as your lesson plan.To help your kids master essential money skills—and some day break free from you—devote time to financial home schooling. Parents are the biggest influence on their children’s financial habits, more so than work experience or financial literacy courses.

 Here are 6 Ways to Teach Your Kids to Be Financially Independent

1. Tie a “No” Today to a “Yes” Tomorrow

“My wife and I have three children, ages 6, 4, and 2. While they are still a little young for in-depth money lessons, we make a point to involve them in family finances and try to make talking about financial responsibility and independence a part of our daily life. This usually happens in a thousand little, ordinary ways. An instance that comes to mind is when my four-year-old son asked if we could go to a local pizza and games restaurant that he loves. I said no, but went on to explain to him that it costs a lot of money for our family to enjoy an evening there. I reminded him of our vacation in a few months and said we were saving up so that we can have a lot of fun on our trip. It was a good way to teach him about the important principle of delayed gratification and the lesson that sometimes you have to say ‘no’ to things you want now, to enjoy better things in the future.” —John Schmoll 

 

2. Let Them Make Spending Mistakes.

 “From the time our children were three or four years old, we’ve given them opportunities to earn money by doing chores and projects. When we’re out shopping, they can bring their own money and spend it however they’d like (within reason!). Not only do they learn money management skills, but this helps prevent the ‘gimme’ attitude. If a child sees something they want and asks if we can buy it, I always respond, ‘Do you have enough money for it?’ It also gives them the chance to make money mistakes. They’ve learned valuable lessons when they’ve purchased cheap items that broke almost immediately, and we’ve had great discussions on how to make wise purchases. We’d much rather they made $3 mistakes when they are little to hopefully prevent some $3,000 and $30,000 mistakes down the road.” — Crystal Paine,author of Say Goodbye to Survival Mode?

 

3. Show Them That Work is Rewarding

“’I get an M&M mama?’ my talkative toddler asks. I reply, ‘Yes, if you complete the job.’ Even at 2 1/2 years old, I’m attempting to lay financial foundations in my son’s life. At this age, he doesn’t care a thing in the world about real money, but when I break out the M&Ms he knows I mean business. That’s because chocolate is a special treat reserved for a reward. At this stage, candy talks, and I can teach my son about finances with food. He is learning that when he uses the potty, picks up after himself, or helps me with a chore, he is paid for his work in delicious, color-coated chocolate candies. He’s beginning to understand that hard work is rewarded. That’s a trait my parents instilled in me, and I desire to pass along. Cash and chore charts will eventually replace sweets, but until then, candy paychecks are perfectly fine by him. Coins just don’t taste as good.” — Kim Anderson

 

4. Break Out the 24-Hour Rule

“I’m blown away that my teenage daughter still remembers going to the flea market together years ago and learning a cool buying lesson from her mom. (As all us moms know, this is a rare and exotic occurrence!) Though I liked a pair of earrings, I waited a day to think it over, knowing that they would likely still be there if I changed my mind. Sure enough, after a day of thinking about it, I realized they weren’t all that special and that I’d rather wait to get something that I loved. To this day, whenever my daughter and I are out shopping and can’t make a decision, we invoke the ’24 Hour Rule.’” —Beth Kobliner

 

5. Talk About Debt, Too

“My two boys aren’t quite old enough for serious money lessons yet, but one thing I’m excited to teach them early on is the importance of smartly managing debt. If they want to buy something on their own, like a toy, they’ll have three choices: 1) Buy it now, 2) Save to buy it later, or 3) Borrow money from us. If they choose to borrow, they’ll have payment terms and interest just like a regular loan. My hope is that they can learn the consequences of debt, both good and bad, before it has any real-world implications for them and without the lectures and scare tactics. Then they’ll have the skills and experience to make smarter choices once they’re out on their own.” — Matt Becker

6. Make Them Work for Wants

“A key factor in reaching financial independence is what you spend. Some spending is needed and necessary. But it’s the ‘wants’ that can get people in trouble. Therefore, when our kids ask for a non-essential item, we reply with a two-step plan: 1. First, wait a week. If you still want it, we’ll get it then (most times the ‘want’ goes away by the end of the first day); 2. If you still want it after the week passes, you have to work around the house to earn half of the purchase price—even if you have enough in savings to pay for it. The second step forces them to think if the amount of work required to purchase the item is worth it to them. If they follow through with the required work, then we know that they’re serious about the purchase, rather than just expressing a fleeting, short-term desire.Several times the “acquiring of money to pay for the thing” becomes almost exciting as the actual purchase.” — Kevin McKinley

 

  culled from http://time.com

How to become a better writer

Do you enjoy writing? Does it come naturally to you? Do colleagues praise you for your crisp, articulate, Nobel Laureate-worthy email updates?
Congratulations! Because if you work in an office or run your own business, you’re likely to spend about a quarter of your workday doing one thing:
Writing.
Here are 6 ways to become a better writer, right away.
(The kind of writer whose words get results.)

1. Get Clear

Before you sit down to write (anything), ask yourself: Why am I writing?
What’s the desired outcome that you want with this particular piece of writing?
Are you writing to brighten someone’s morning? Motivate your team to head back into the ring after a crushing defeat? Encourage folks to say “yes” to your new meeting time?
The best writing tends to have one clear, ringing intention. Choose it—and commit.

2. Get to the Point

In the business world, brevity is gold. (Related:Are your emails too long?probably)
If you’re struggling to get to the point, take a moment to think about the person (or people) that you’re writing to, and create a roadmap for yourself by filling in the following statements:
The reason I am writing is:
What I want you to know is:
What I want you to do is:
Get those three points down pat. Then refer to them as you write to keep yourself on track.

3. Strip it Down

Albert Einstein once said, “If you can't explain it to a six-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself.”
Imagine that you’re writing for an audience of little kids—impatient, easily distracted, with zero tolerance for jargon.
You can practice—out in the real world—by having actual conversations with kids. Try explaining to a toddler what you do for a living, for starters. You’ll see, very quickly, if your elevator pitch is clear and intriguing—or not. (If not? Here are my tips for how to tell people what to do —and be remembered.)

4. Write From Your Happy Place

Ever notice how when you’re stressed out and trying to “force” yourself to write something amazing, it almost never works?
Research shows that getting yourself into a happy, relaxed state—think: taking a shower—is the key to creativity-on-command. When your body is experiencing a rush of dopamine, that’s when those a-ha! moments (“Ooh! I’ve got the perfect title for my presentation!”) tend to happen.
Can’t take a shower at work? No worries. There are plenty of other ways to get into your happy place before you sit down to write. Play energizing music, light a scented candle, bounce on an exercise ball—whatever it takes to help you unclench and relax!

5. Give Yourself a Time Limit

For most people, the longer you fuss over a piece of writing, the worse it gets.
When you have a clear reason for writing and feel happy and relaxed (see tip #4), your first draft is usually best. There’s no need to endlessly chew it over.
Clearing out your inbox, for example? Give yourself a time limit—say, two minutes per email—to prevent yourself from slipping into analysis-paralysis.
(You can set up a “smart playlist" in iTunes comprised entirely of two-minute songs, to keep yourself rockin’ along. When the song changes—hit “send” and move on!)

6. Ask, “What Would My Hero Write?”

If you’re struggling with a sensitive piece of writing where hitting the right emotional tone is essential, try channeling one of your personal heroes.
“What would Mister Rogers write in this situation?” “What would the Dalai Lama say?” “How would Richard Branson handle this email chain?”

7. Close Strong

Lost in a sea of never-ending email threads? Questions building upon questions, never leading to decisive action?
Try taking a decisive stance, rather than wrapping up your writing with an open-ended prompt.
Think: “In my opinion, the following approach is the best choice. If you agree, write back to say ‘yes,’ and I’ll get started.”
Not: “So, what do you guys think? I’m open to everyone’s input!”

Say it Out Loud

Whenever possible, read your writing out loud.
Does it sound like it was written by a human being or a cyborg? Are you stumbling over excessively long sentences? Catch any typos or duplicate words? If so, tweak and read it out loud again.
If reading aloud isn’t possible—because you don’t want to disturb your colleagues—try lightly tapping a finger on your desk or thigh as you silently read each word in your head. (It’s bizarre, but it works almost as well as reading out loud.)

Written by Alexandra Franzen

Alexandra Franzen is an author and communication expert who helps creative people become clear and confident writers.Her specialty is Helping you find the right words to get noticed, get hired and get others excited about your ideas—immediately.

Seven Keys to Unlocking the Power of Your Vision

Habakkuk 2:2 is the major verse in the Bible when it comes to talking about writing a vision. I have witnessed people who get excited when they hear this verse proclaimed by a pastor or teacher. They will shout, give their neighbors high five and dance around with great enthusiasm upon the declaration of this word.

It is sad to report that after hearing this powerful verse proclaimed many people still do not make the effort or take the time to write their personal and/or family vision. It sounds inspiring and motivating to hear a teacher or preacher proclaim, “Write the vision and make it plain…”  But, it is another story when it comes to actually writing out and implementing it.
I have discovered that it takes more than just hearing an inspirational message, reading a book or attending a weekend seminar about vision. It takes a concentrated effort to take the time to write your vision and an unwavering commitment to implement it.
I remember as if it was yesterday, one evening after my family had gone to bed, I went to my study room in the basement to ask God some serious questions about my life’s direction. As I began to tell Him the most pressing questions on my heart, I was led to read the book of Habakkuk. After reading the book of Habakkuk several times, it hit me like a ton of bricks that I needed a written vision from God to implement in my life, marriage and family.
After spending quality time studying and meditating on Habakkuk 2:1-4, I extrapolated seven keys to unlocking the power of God’s vision for your life.
1.  Vision is revealed to the person in position to listen.
In order for you to unlock the power of your vision, you must get alone with God to listen for His directions. Your place can be a room in the basement, the living room after everyone is asleep, an early morning walk or a quiet place in the park. Your time alone with Him must be uninterrupted. Put away your mobile devices, turn off the television, close your Facebook page and tell your family and friends not to disturb you.
2.  Vision must be written down.
After you have spent time seeking God, write down in explicit details what He reveals to you. Write it in the present tense, as though it has already happened.  A written vision gives you the correct directions and coordinates you need to follow to get to your desired destination. It gives you the inspiration and motivation you need to push through life’s toughest challenges.
3.  Vision must be made plain.
You need to write your vision in plain, simple to understand language that even a fifth grader can grasp it. Creating a vision that is clear and simple to understand eliminates confusion that can hinder your progress.  A vision that is plain will energize and ignite an excitement in everyone that is connected to it and they will run with it in eager anticipation.
4.  Vision must be posted.
Once you have written your vision and made it plain, now it is time to post it so that everyone connected to it can read it. Your posted vision statement is your constant reminder of what is possible in your life, family and/or marriage if you follow its directions. It becomes your motivator to overcome life’s discouragements, distractions and disappointments that comes against your vision. 
5.  Vision overcomes obstacles.
Do not think because God gives you a clear vision that everything is going to be smooth sailing. You are going to encounter some steep challenges and you will hit some unforeseeable turbulence.  But, a vision from God gives you the strength and courage to pursue it with an aggressive offensive attack that empowers you to overcome any obstacle that stands in your way.
6.  Vision will manifest itself in God’s time.
Please do not rush your vision. Be patient. When you make your own plans to manifest your vision, you force those plans into your own timetable and can possibly delay or detour your destiny. Visions manifest when God determines the right time.
7.  Vision must be lived by faith.
The more you focus your attention on your vision the more your faith grows. Taking slow and steady faith steps on your vision journey opens the door for opportunities to succeed. If you choose to activate your faith, you will courageously move forward in following your promised path that leads to vision success.
If you implement these seven keys, your vision will powerfully impact in your life, family and everyone connected to you.

Written by Bernard Haynes 
www.leadtoimpact.com

Bernard Haynes is the CEO of Lead to Impact, a vision empowerment company.He is also the author of Vision Impact!, Goals Matter! and It's In You to Win. He love to teach and train individuals and organizations using my inspirational, interactive and instructional EmPowershops.

Gianni Infantino elected AS new Fifa president

Gianni Infantino has been voted in as the New FIFA president and he has vowed to lead soccer's world governing body out of years of corruption and scandal after being elected to succeed Sepp Blatter.
 Mr Infantino, the current secretary general of UEFA, received 115 out of a possible 207 votes in the second round of voting in Zuric.

According to Infantino, "We will restore the image of FIFA and the respect of FIFA, and everyone in the world will be proud of us," Mr Infantino told the extraordinary FIFA Congress in Zurich in an emotional speech.
"I want to work with all of you together in order to restore and rebuild a new era of FIFA where we can put again football at the centre of the stage.
"FIFA has gone through sad times, moments of crisis, but those times are over.
"We need to implement the reform and implement good governance and transparency. We also need to have respect."
The Swiss-Italian lawyer outpolled three other candidates, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa of Bahrain, Prince Ali al-Hussein of Jordan and Jerome Champagne, a former French diplomat.

CBN targets N203 black market rate to Dollar next week

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is targeting a N200 to dollar exchange rate in the parallel market as early as next week, according to reports
The Naira which on Friday traded at N330 to a dollar in the parallel market is expected to appreciate speedily, as impact of the CBN’s measures to stabilize the currency volatility in the parallel market begin to materialize.
President, Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), said the N330 rate in the parallel market is an improvement from last week’s rate when the naira exchanged for N391 to dollar.
The strident calls by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and some foreign interest for Nigeria to devalue its currency and the artificial spike in forex rate created by Bureau De Change operators appears to have tanked. This has been linked to a complex and integrated currency management approaches deployed by the CBN.

FROM AFRICA WITH LOVE

AFRICAN SUGAR CRAFT

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THE LEKKI-AJAH INTERNATIONAL CAKE FAIR (1).
AFRICA'S PREMIER SHOWCASE FOR CAKES AND SUGAR CRAFT .
Theme: FROM AFRICA WITH LOVE
Featuring:
*300 Captivating made in Africa Cakes and Sugar Pieces
* 200 Top Africa Sugar Crafters
* 100 Top Industries Companies
* 50 African Cultures on display
* 10 African Countries Represented
* 5 European, Asian and American contingent
* One Continent - Africa

Highlights:
*Exhibitions * Trade Fair * Workshops * Conferences * Awards
Date: Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th march, 2016
Time: 9am - 6pm daily
Venue: Oakwood Park (formerly Protea) Hotel, Lekki- Epe Expressway, Lekki, Lagos.
Workshop Fee: N2,000 or $8 each
Entry Fee: N1,000 or $4 (b4 Feb 29th) Payment into:Mel Cakes and More. Ecobank - Acc No 0652003058.
Enquiries: +2347010354380, +2348037119629, +2348029990605.
THE FUTURE IS HERE!!!