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SMART Acronym for People Who Succeed (Incl. Infographic)

December 17, 2013 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

[NB: Post updated – see bottom – on Wed 18th Dec 2013 @2:04pm – causing reset of views counter.] You probably know the popular SMART acronym – a mnemonic – for setting goals and objectives (“S” for Specific, “M” for Measurable etc). I’m not referring to that. Over the past 10 years, I’ve conceived a different SMART acronym, this time in relation to people. Here is my SMART Acronym for People Who Succeed (complete with an infographic)

[Hint: Remember now, we’re NOT talking about SMART project “objectives” here. Its people I’m referring to!]

1. “S” is for “Serious Minded”

How can you tell if a person is serious minded? A simple way is to observe what s/he has interest in doing, as opposed to what s/he is committed to doing.

Consider a business owner who tells you s/he wants more sales in his/her business. Her attitude towards learning what will be needed to make that happen will indicate how serious s/he is.

Many times people express interest in something, but are not prepared to commit the required time, effort and sometimes money, to doing it. That’s why people attend the same business marketing workshop and 6 months later, some have succeeded in growing more business, and others have not!

People who are committed to achieving their set goals never let anything interfere with doing what is necessary to make that happen. Not friends, relatives, habits, hobbies or pleasures of any sort!

People I consider SMART are serious minded about pursuing their valued personal goals.

2. “M” is for “Motivated”

Serious minded people will usually find it easy to be motivated. This is because their commitment to achieving their goal drives them.

A motivated person is one who has found a reason to go out and do something. I often talk about having a Magnificent Obsession – an expression I got from a book I read – about having a major life purpose.

People I consider to be SMART in terms of my definition are men and women who have found their purpose. They wake up KNOWING exactly what they want to do, and where they need to go.

Usually, they would have worked the day before to a point, then upon stopping thought ahead (and even dreamt about) steps they would take from the next day!

Such people “hit the ground running” each morning. SMART people are motivated in that way!

3. “A” is for “Action Oriented”

Jim Rohn wisely noted that “Motivation alone is not enough. Motivate an idiot then you have a motivated idiot”.

Understand the context in which Mr. Rohn made that statement by checking the dictionary meaning of an “idiot”. What I’d call a contemporary definition of an “idiot” is provided at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiot

So, Mr. Rohn was right. An idiot can indeed be motivated and still be unproductive.

But such persons generally occur in the minority in larger society.

So, here we’re looking at normal people who fail to take action despite being motivated. Why? I say it’s because they let their motivation wear off. And how do they do that? It’s by failing to find an anchor for it in their daily lives.

For instance, lots of successful people reveal that they build a vision of their dream on paper and hang where they’ll see it everyday. Then they create a tasks list which they check off at the end of each day, to help them get the feeling of moving closer to achieving their dream.

Anyone who claims to be motivated, and can still find a reason not to follow the above example is definitely NOT action oriented!

4. “R” is for “Results Focused”

Now, someone can be serious minded, and not be motivated to get results that matter.

Don’t believe me? I’ll give you a good example.

I see them everyday. People who are always busy (doing little or nothing worthwhile that is!). You will struggle to get them to give you a few minutes of their time. Always in a hurry they are. Rushing off to meetings, to keep appointments etc. But at the end of each day, or the week, few of the truly important things ever get done!

I used to work with such people. You could agree at this week’s brewery meeting to have Work Instruction drafts written for use in training a new set of operatives coming in. They’d always assure you it’d be done. All week you would chase them via phone, and even visit their offices.

Yet, at the end of the day, nothing…or very little happens. And you may have to do it all yourself, to meet the deadline!

People I call SMART are not like that. They produce results. When they tell you I’ll send you the finished paper in 24 hours, better be ready, because that finished paper WILL arrive by then, if not before!

5. “T” is for “Tenacious”

I use tenacity interchangeably with persistence. And I love the following quote, which, to me, perfectly captures the full meaning:

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence; Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful individuals with talent. Genius will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent” – Ray Kroc (Founder of McDonalds)

Believe me, dear reader. Even with all the moral and financial support in the world, people still fail due to lack of tenacity.

A guy who has money bags backing him, and family root for him to run swim a world record breaking distance can choose to quit before getting to the finish line. And it will often not be that s/he could not finish. Instead, in his/her head the desire to keep going, to refuse to fail, would have died.

When I quit paid employment with Guinness Nigeria, Andy R. Jones, the expatriate brewery head of Guinness Benin in Edo state (apart from what he wrote in Xmas cards sent to me) said – repeatedly – during a departmental send-forth part organised in my honour: “Tayo simply refuses to fail”. And he told stories from the times I worked in the brewery reporting to him.

Basically, I never sat back and let things go wrong. Until the very last second I would come up with new ideas and action steps that could be used co-opt others and try to save things or get more done. Many times I succeeded.

I did not know Andy Jones was taking note of my actions!

So you see, people I call SMART, never give up.

They are tenacious with a vengeance.

They don’t know when they are beaten.

Nor do they accept to back down.

In fact, I would say they have what Burt Dubin calls bulldog blood.

And guess what? You get the transfusion(of bulldog blood that is) simply by reading the words and believing, then taking ACTION, until you get what you want!

Final Words

These above described 5 key qualities must be consistently demonstrated by an individual, if s/he is to qualify to be called SMART by me.

Err…but who exactly am I, to go around changing definitions up on people, and dictating whether or not they can be called SMART?

Indeed, why should anyone take this my new application of a well known acronym seriously?

My answer: I have no idea!

Except of course you consider the fact that I happen to consistently achieve exceptional performance levels in virtually every area of endeavour I venture. And I have done so, consistently, for more than the last 2 decades of my life!

I achieved that level of reckoning by being SMART in paid employment – as described above. That was about 12 years ago.

Today, I’ve already recorded similar superlative levels of performance, as an entrepreneur. And it’s attracting the same kinds of feedback and commentary that I got while earning a salary.

Once again, the common element that runs through it all is my diligent commitment to being SMART in line with my definition.

To top it off, those who have been coached by me get infected with this virus of mine too

As a result, they subsequently go on to record success levels that surprise those who know them and even themselves. I have many testimonials, hand written to me, from teenagers, to young people in their early twenties, who just had to let me know!

They became SMART, as per my above definition, and their lives were changed for the better.

You can achieve similar results for yourself, if you feel you need such. Simply read and re-read the 5 different description of the SMART acronym’s components.

And then put what you learn to use.

It’s simple to understand, but may not be easy to do.

Yet if you see it through, you’ll never look back again. And those who know you will regard you with amazement!

UPDATE (Wednesday 18th December 2013 @2:04pm Cotonou): My SMART Acronym Does Not Aim to (& Cannot) Replace or Contradict The Original SMART Acronym!

I touched on the above fact at the start of THIS article, when I first published it yesterday p.m. But experience has taught me it pays to CLARIFY properly. Some people are experts at jumping to VERY wrong conclusions!

My “SMART” acronym is not meant to invalidate the standard, original acronym we all know and use in setting goals and objectives. That original SMART acronym is powerfully useful, and I LOVE using it.

What I have done is to conceive of one to be applied to PEOPLE. That’s all. Just a little change in perspective, based on something people already use.

So, just like you would check for each of the 5 components (S, M, A, R, and T) in a goal or objective, I would check for each of the 5 qualities I’ve described for my SMART acronym in people.

Guess what?

9.9 times out of 10 I have found that people who have those qualities tend to succeed more often. And that is what this is all about. A “gauge” of sorts that anyone can apply to check him/herself for “success readiness”!

But I’ve presented my idea DELIBERATELY in this manner, seemingly contradicting what people know, just to raise eyebrows – and in the process get their attention…hee hee hee :-))

Hopefully, I’ve gotten some people thinking and talking.

If any person(s) have been “upset” by this article (which would be surprising, since the “SMART” acronym is not anyone’s relative or private property!), I’d suggest taking a chilled bottle of Coke, and letting off steam please. It’s Xmas season! Thank YOU :-))

=======WHAT PEOPLE WROTE=========

“(Tayo Solagbade) is amazing and I think he is going to produce some impressive results online…” – click here to read full comment by Patrick Meninga (US based 6 figure income blogger who gained fame for building a $2,000 per month adsense website and selling it for $200,000).

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“Tayo, I honestly believe you are one of those who will succeed at anything he does. Your commitment and effort has been outstanding….Thanks for all your hard work since I’ve been here – you will be sorely missed. I don’t need to wish you good luck, you have the ability to make your own luck. – Andy”(R. Jones)*

*Operations Manager, Guinness Nigeria Plc Benin Brewery, December 2001 (Handwritten comments in farewell/xmas cards sent to Tayo Solagbade following his resignation to start his own business).

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“From:”Obadiaru, Osawemwenze” <email address deleted >

To:”Tayo Solagbade” <email address deleted >

Subject: Greetings from Benin!!!!

Date: Mon, 8 Apr 2002 14:27:30 +0100

Uncle (Tayo),

Greetings to you from your boy. How are you doing?…All
is well here in Benin and everybody is really been bugged again by this ISO audit thing.

All the same you have set a standard, that nobody will dare to go below. I really miss
you sir, your words of encouragement, your pressures, your drive, your humor and
every thing about you. But in consolation, I try so hard to follow your footsteps, which
I have been doing little by little, and I am sometimes amazed at the things I do.

…I look
up to you, and really desire to someday dedicate a major success in my life to you, for
the little while I spent with you has been a turning point in my life. I will always be

grateful to you.

Keep the flag flying sir. Regards

Osas

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“To Mr. Tayo Solagbade.

I appreciate all your effort. It is through you I knew the difference between Schooling and Education and its also through you that I knew that mathematics as a subject can be answered in many ways. I am very grateful.” – Ifeanyi Okeke, SS3 Student, Volunteer Corps (VC) Tutoring Project: Handwritten Comment in memoirs section of VC Year Book published in 2003.

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“To Mr Tayo Solagbade…you made me understand what the world speaks.” – Adepoju Samson, SS3 Student, Volunteer Corps (VC) Tutoring Project: Handwritten Comment in memoirs section of VC Year Book published in 2003.

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“Mr Tayo Solagbade…he has educated me so that he had touched that thing in me that motivates me.” – , SS3 Student, Volunteer Corps (VC) Tutoring Project: Handwritten Comment in memoirs section of VC Year Book published in 2003.

“The speaker, Mr Solagbade, is an authority in his field. (He is) an achiever who is able to carry his audience along with him in his message/speech” – Baker A.T, Confidential Secretary, Centre for Management Development(CMD), Management Village,Shangisha, Lagos.

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“There’s a lot more to learn (experience wise) from the speaker(Tayo Solagbade)…Honestly, he gave so much within a short time. I learnt a lot without writing much. It’s amazing!” – Management Trainee, Tantalisers (Fast Foods Restaurant), Festac Headquarters, Lagos.

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“Your (talk) encourages people not to depend on sycophancy to achieve their aims. People are also encouraged to leave the level of mediocrity. One needs to look inwards and make use of one’s potentials to reach the greatest heights. I hope this
is not the last session we will be having with you” – Ezemba C.I (Miss), Teacher, Corona Schools

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“The (talk) is very (useful for) those who want to up-grade themselves. The older generation who think they have come to the end of their career would find it very very useful to rejuvenate their attitude, interest and empower themselves to greater goals.” – E.C. Sarsal, Corona Schools

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“The Ten Ways for Self-Development would go a long way (in) improving teaching/learning situation(s).” – Cynthia Nwosu (Mrs.), Corona Schools

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“It was an interesting (talk), and the speaker spoke well, with a lot of experiences that (were) so educative.” – Emmanuel (Mrs.), Corona Primary School Victoria Island

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“Mr Tayo Solagbade is a very good motivator. I really appreciated him but the time was short.” – S.E. Atkins, Corona Schools

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“(The talk was) ‘very useful’ (and the speaker was) ‘excellent’…Good insight for the much needed Human Revolution to drive creativity in this nation.” – Oma Williams, Director, Centre for Management Development(CMD), Management Village,Shangisha, Lagos.

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“A very worthwhile exercise. The package can however be improved by making it organisation specific.” – C. I. Okeke, AD/Research Consulting, Centre for Management Development(CMD), Management Village,Shangisha, Lagos.

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“The speaker, to me, is quite an inspiration to the young generation” – Nwaokokoh Eddy Azuka, Confidential Secretary, Centre for Management Development(CMD), Management Village,Shangisha, Lagos.

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“This is a celebration of Change Management, quite an appropriate and timely presentation at CMD to Stimulate Change.” – Binuyo, Francis A. (Mr.), MDO I, Centre for Management Development(CMD), Management Village, Shangisha, Lagos.

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“Well this is my first seminar and I think I have gained a lot…I am on NAPEP attachment to the centre for a while, but generally speaking I think you are good and can go even above the sky. I wish I could get in touch with you for more lectures (on) Self-Development, as regards Career Development or probably Personal Development.” – Sanwo Pamela A., Unemployed Graduate, Centre for Management Development(CMD), Management Village,Shangisha, Lagos.

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“The presentation content and style was nice.” – Adjekophori Peter, Management Trainee, Tantalisers (Fast Foods Restaurant), Festac Headquarters, Lagos.

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“The training course and approach used was a good and kind of unique one, – talking about the mind map.” – Odunlami Olaitan. O. Management Trainee, Tantalisers (Fast Foods Restaurant), Festac Headquarters, Lagos.

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“The practical real life experiences (made) the seminar more realistic…The seminar fuels my heart to develop myself the more.” – Kemi, Management Trainee, Tantalisers (Fast Foods Restaurant), Festac Headquarters, Lagos.

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“The training was a new dimension to the act of personal effectiveness, was less of theory but of tested and proven principles. Keep it up!“- Oluwakemi, Management Trainee, Tantalisers (Fast Foods Restaurant), Festac Headquarters, Lagos.

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“This is an academy that will go a long way in helping to develop the youths of this country. Keep up the good work.” – Alake Oluwayemisi, Management Trainee, Tantalisers (Fast Foods Restaurant), Festac Headquarters, Lagos.

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“(Tayo Solagbade) is a very good speaker who was able to communicate his (ideas) effectively without boring me and wasting no time. Within the short time he spent, he gave loaded and relevant information/(ideas) which were superb.” – Management Trainee, Tantalisers (Fast Foods Restaurant), Festac Headquarters, Lagos.

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“The presenter was superb. He dealt with the topic extensively, citing real life experiences that (were) personal to him.” – Management Trainee, Tantalisers (Fast Foods Restaurant), Festac Headquarters, Lagos.

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“The facilitator (Tayo Solagbade) has done so well, and he has made me to feel that the sky is not my limit but the start, if I can apply all the personal effectiveness principles appropriately.” – Onifade Olajide, – Management Trainee, Tantalisers (Fast Foods Restaurant), Festac Headquarters, Lagos.

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“I was very impressed with the speaker (Tayo Solagbade), his integrity, method of delivery and what he had to say. This should not stop here. I personally need access to those books and if pointed in that direction will be happy. Also, I will be happy if (I can be shown) ways to apply oneself to the concept of Self Development as regards my job as a teacher, that will help me to be a better time manager.” – Teacher, Corona Primary School, Ikoyi, Lagos.

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“I am really impressed and I think I have to wake up.” – Teacher, Corona School Branch

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“It has been a very useful session which can make people or employees wake up from lethargy. It is a wake-up call for continual hope and rejuvenation for speed to higher ground to life aspiration.” – Teacher, Corona School Branch

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“I observed that you are a real model of a saying that when a child washes his/her hands well he/she will eat on the same table with a king.” – School Nurse, Corona School Branch

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“I have observed that you are sacrificing your time to help mankind explore new grounds and live a happier life. More grease to your elbows.” – Eke N. (Mrs), Corona School Branch

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“This talk/seminar is very good and realistic. Someone who wants to be an achiever should adopt and practice these ten ways.” – M. O. Ihonor – Head Teacher, Corona School Branch

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“…The Ten Ways on Self-Development inspire me to the marrow, and henceforth are going to be (the) guiding ideologies, principles and work concepts in my life.” – Oduye Olumuyiwa, Corona School

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“(The talk) is an eye opener and very important tool that can be used to become great. I think I buy your ideas too. Thanks a lot.” – Mrs. Atere F.O. – Secretary, Corona School

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“The general comment I will like to make is that I can call this seminar a vision seminar. So my comment is that you can make this vision a wider vision by having a complete textbook on it.” – Assistant Teacher, Corona School

Farm Biz, My DN Travel News, Public Speaking

No. 120: Creativity is Not Genetic (Farmers Have It, & So Do You!)

December 16, 2013 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

It does not matter if no one in your family, or village, ever created anything noteworthy. Neither does it matter if others in your field think it’s a waste of time being creative. As a child of the omnipotent creator, you have the ability to create and innovate. Used wisely, it can help you achieve your dreams, and even change the world for the better!

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Home | Subscribe | About | Contact

Publication: Weekly Public Speaking IDEAS Newsletter

Date: Monday 16th December 2013

No:120

Title: Creativity is Not Genetic (Farmers Have It, & So Do You!)

Author & Publisher: Tayo K. Solagbade [Tel: +234-803-302-1263 (in Nigeria) or +229-66-122-136 (in Benin Republic) ]

Blog URL: http://www.spontaneousdevelopment.com/blog

Archive (E-mail version started 14th May 2012): Click here to view

Archive (Blog version started 24th September 2011): Click here

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Click here to view the download page:

Can’t find it? No problem. E-mail me via tayo at tksola dot com and I’ll send you another. Not yet a subscriber? Click here to signup.

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NB: This newsletter is published every Monday. Point your browser to www.spontaneousdevelopment.com/sdnuggets to read at least ONE new post added to my SD Nuggets blog on a different category from Tuesday till Saturday (sometimes even Sundays) in line with this publishing schedule

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No. 120: Creativity is Not Genetic (Farmers Have It, & So Do You!)

Virtually Everything We Use Today is a Product of Human Creativity

Right now, you’re most likely reading these words on a mobile phone, laptop or desktop computer, via an Internet connection. And this is happening regardless of your physical location.

The devices used to achieve that are products of creative ideas conceived by some people. The clothes we wear today, the shoes, cars we drive, airplane we travel in.
All those modern day wonders and conveniences. It took some ordinary persons like you and me, thinking creatively, to bring them to life.

In the Intellectual Field, Creativity Provides Food for the Mind and Soul

Magical personalities have graced this plane with their presence. They made lasting impact on our lives through their creative thoughts, words and works. Examples I especially love to use are Zig Ziglar (the best example of a Motivational Speaker I’ve ever seen) and Jim Rohn (Recognised as the World’s Foremost Business Philosopher).

Years after their departure, their words remain relevant. When we read them, we often wonder (at least I do!): “Wow. How did he think of saying it so perfectly?!”

Those two men operated at a superior level of creativity to their peers.

Just like Burt Dubin is in entirely superior class of his own…as far as the business of Public Speaking & Mentoring of Public Speakers is concerned.

Take it from me: I’ve done a careful comparison of the most “visible” experts in that area for over 10 years. And I know Burt is right out in front.

If you think I’m saying this because I’m his agent across Africa, think again.

Here, let me help you: Go and read some of my articles from when I’d never even had any direct contact with him…like this one published on Ezinearticles.com way back in 2006 (Burt and I teamed up in 2011).

What Sets Burt Dubin Apart from Other Public Speaking Coaches/Mentors/Trainers?

I’ve always referred to him, just as I have to Dan Kennedy, Terry Dean and others whose works have influenced me.

But with Burt, it’s been his mastery of Public Speaking and Business Marketing acumen that have always stood out for me!

That, as well as the superior level of creativity he passionately brings to bear. The depth or wisdom and hands-on expertise he possesses is unmatched.

I make a simple statement of fact, dear reader. No exaggeration.

It might interest you to know that many who undergo Burt’s mentoring, along with others who are his colleagues, call him a “master”. Hmm…some food for thought there if you’re trying to choose a mentor :-))

Are You Scared of Owning Your Creativity

By owning their creativity, the above mentioned achievers have (are) impacted (impacting) the world.

But what about you? Are you doing the same? Or are you afraid?

I can ask you that question today, because I conquered my fear when I was 27 years old, and a green-horned duty shift brewer, on my first night shift in Guinness Nigeria, Benin Brewery, Edo State..

That night, I found myself facing an army of brewing and bottling hall operatives unable to work for over 5 hours! This happened because I made a calculator error for an important beer additive that resulted in beer that could not be bottled.

So, while I waited for the next available tank to be processed, the men had to sit idle. It was terrible. And I felt that way too. I could already see my boss looking sternly at me and asking “But Tayo, it’s just a simply percentage estimation!”

Yeah, it was simple. But it was also prone a lot of errors since we used a hand held calculator. I’d expressed that concern before my turn came to go alone on night shift. But the senior brewer had told me “Look, you cannot computerize everything”.

So I let it go. And the worst that could happen did happen! [Click to read full article in a new window. I titled it “How To Turn A Major Blunder At Work Into A Career Advancement Opportunity“. Then I later re-titled it “Failire is a Shrewd Instructor…Listen to it, and You’ll be Better Off“]

My Fear of Getting Criticised and of Letting My Creativity Loose, Died That Night in 1997!

I leant a hard lesson that night: to never ignore anything my intuition (or what Burt Dubin calls “Inner Voice”) tells me.

By the end of the year, I’d developed 4 other applications that totally eliminated the need for manual recording or report preparation in the brewing department.

Most of those achievements happened between late 1997 and 1998, and I did it all in my spare time. That’s including writing a management research paper that I presented at the National Finals of Nigerian Institute of Management’s Young Managers’ Competition (placing 5th overall – after I badly flopped in my presentation!).

By way of interest, my paper got special mention from the judges of that event for a concept I developed for mass balancing in beer waste estimation. I called it TWUF™ i.e. Total Waste Unaccounted For. I’d actually used it to successfully uncover an apparent (false) beer waste problem at the filler machine in the packaging department. More on that in a future article.

My career in the company took off right after that. By the time I left to start my business, I’d done even more, gotten promoted, sent on overseas training, and successfully acted in Senior Management roles.

Creativity Based Success Leaves a Trail

A careful look at my disposition as an entrepreneur will reveal I’ve stayed true to my decision about never letting my fears get the better of my creativity.

That’s why today, I’ve created a range of sophisticated, yet low cost Custom Excel-VB driven software, to serve smallholder farmers e.g my popular feed formulation handbook, its accompanying Excel-VB driven Ration Formulator, the Poultry Layer Farm Manager etc.

This group, especially in my part of the world, has hitherto been grossly neglected by developers – who tend to chase big companies etc.

I found a way to develop solutions that solve pressing problems faced by such farmers, and now offer it in an easy-to-replicate manner. When I started out, many people told me I was wasting my time.

I ignored them.

Instead, I used my creativity to make my solutions appealing to other industries as well. As a result, over the years, I’ve built Excel-VB driven customizable software for hospitals, hotels, fitness clubs, medical clinics and so on.

All the while, I kept my eyes firmly fixed on my primary target audience: Farm Business Owners.

By the time some of them began “biting” at my marketing “bait”, I had success stories from those other industries to show them. It was only a matter of time before one of them paid. And since then, it’s been a wonderful experience having these farm owners/enthusiasts from across the world reach out to me for help. I am truly living my dream!

To Achieve This level of Reckoning, I Have Had to Fearlessly Own My Creativity!

I had to believe I had it in me. And that it had nothing to do with my genes, and everything to do with how I think!

But this message is not about me, or about Burt Dubin…or the others mentioned.

It is aimed at anyone who may feel they have nothing to offer the world. Those who believe they can only be assistants to others who make things happen.

Know this: You can impact the world from your own small corner in it!

So, as an Expert in Your Field, I Challenge You to Approach 2014 With a New Focus and Drive

Aim to develop a more unique and original approach to doing what you do. It should be one that can help not just you, but also your peers and industry. As a farm business owner, you can conduct on-farm trials to lower feeding costs etc. Document what you learn in a way that others can comprehend.

What if you were to share that “Indigenous Knowledge” via a little blog of your own?

You’d be surprised. Farmers in other parts of the world could be excited to learn that new technique you use to cheaply feed your broilers or catfish!

And who knows what could come of it? A funding organisation could invite you to give a lecture on the discoveries you’re making!

Look at the attention I’m getting (in and out of Africa) just by providing information products and custom software for farm businesses. I don’t even have a farm of my own – but I’m adding value to farm businesses!

If I can do it, then a farm business owner willing to be creative can do it even better!

All we need is a willingness to use our God-given creativity. With the power of the Internet, never has it been easier to achieve the foregoing, than now!

Have a lovely week!

Tayo K. Solagbade*

Self-Development/Performance Improvement Specialist

*Sole Agent For Burt Dubin’s Speaker Mentoring Service In Africa

Mobile: +234-803-302-1263 (in Nigeria) or +229-66-122-136 (in Benin Republic)

http://www.spontaneousdevelopment.com

Self-Development/Performance Enhancement Specialist – Tayo Solagbade – works as a multipreneurial freelance writer providing zero risk article and report writing support for website owners, while travelling slowly across West Africa as a Location Independent Multipreneur.

He’s presently based in Benin Republic, where he’s preparing an English-French Language Guide, City Travel Guides, and a Commercial Rabbit Farming Guide.

In a previous life, before leaving to become self-employed, Tayo served for seven years as a high performing manager in Guinness Nigeria. He rose from Shift Brewer, to Training & Technical Development Manager, then later acted in senior management roles as Production Manager and Technical Manager.

When he’s not amazing clients with his superhuman skills (wink), Tayo works as the creative force behind his Self-Development Nuggets™ blog, and Public Speaking IDEAS newsletter (which he publishes to promote Burt Dubin’s Public Speaking Mentoring service to experts working across the African continent).

For a limited time, Tayo is available to speak to your group or organization for a moderate fee. Send e-mail to tayo at tksola dot com. You can also visit www.tksola.com to learn more.

Connect with him on Twitter @tksola.com and Facebook.

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THEY WROTE…

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*Operations Manager, Guinness Nigeria Plc Benin Brewery, December 2001 (Handwritten comments in farewell/xmas cards sent to Tayo Solagbade following his resignation to start his own business).

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“From:”Obadiaru, Osawemwenze” <email address deleted >

To:”Tayo Solagbade” <email address deleted >

Subject: Greetings from Benin!!!!

Date: Mon, 8 Apr 2002 14:27:30 +0100

Uncle (Tayo),

Greetings to you from your boy. How are you doing?…All
is well here in Benin and everybody is really been bugged again by this ISO audit thing.

…I look
up to you, and really desire to someday dedicate a major success in my life to you, for
the little while I spent with you has been a turning point in my life. I will always be

grateful to you.

Keep the flag flying sir. Regards

Osas

———————–

“To Mr. Tayo Solagbade.

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“The Ten Ways for Self-Development would go a long way (in) improving teaching/learning situation(s).” – Cynthia Nwosu (Mrs.), Corona Schools

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“It was an interesting (talk), and the speaker spoke well, with a lot of experiences that (were) so educative.” – Emmanuel (Mrs.), Corona Primary School Victoria Island

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“Mr Tayo Solagbade is a very good motivator. I really appreciated him but the time was short.” – S.E. Atkins, Corona Schools

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“The presentation content and style was nice.” – Adjekophori Peter, Management Trainee, Tantalisers (Fast Foods Restaurant), Festac Headquarters, Lagos.

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“I am really impressed and I think I have to wake up.” – Teacher, Corona School Branch

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“I observed that you are a real model of a saying that when a child washes his/her hands well he/she will eat on the same table with a king.” – School Nurse, Corona School Branch

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“I have observed that you are sacrificing your time to help mankind explore new grounds and live a happier life. More grease to your elbows.” – Eke N. (Mrs), Corona School Branch

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“This talk/seminar is very good and realistic. Someone who wants to be an achiever should adopt and practice these ten ways.” – M. O. Ihonor – Head Teacher, Corona School Branch

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“(The talk) is an eye opener and very important tool that can be used to become great. I think I buy your ideas too. Thanks a lot.” – Mrs. Atere F.O. – Secretary, Corona School

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Click here to contact Tayo…

SD Nuggets Blog™	New posts from last week that may interest you! *
Public Speaking [Monday]:	No. 120: Creativity is Not Genetic (Farmers Have It, & So Do You!)
Entrepreneurship [Tuesday]:	Always Be a Dignified Professional (Especially When a Client Is In a Hurry and/or Demands Lower Fees!)
Self-Development [Wednesday]:	To Succeed, You Need to Treat Money With Respect
Parenting [Thursday]:	Involve Your Kids in Your Dream, and They’ll Succeed Too
Career Development [Friday]:	How to Help Your Employees Produce Better Results
Career Development [Saturday]:	How to Help Your Employees Produce Better Results – Part 2 of 2
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Career Development, Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, My DN Travel News

How to Help Your Employees Produce Better Results – Part 2 of 2

December 14, 2013 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

This is Part 2 of 2 of this Career Development article. Click here to read Part 1 of 2.

6. Endorse ‘Leading” And Make “Bossing” Unfashionable:

Make it obvious that “No bosses” are wanted in your workplace, and that only leaders are welcome. The difference between these two types of people is that the former seek to dominate others, in a bid to get them to deliver results, while the latter aim to inspire others to perform.

7. Advocate Intelligent Mistake Making:

I’ve said this in a past article. Discard the “Shoot the messenger” mentality – if it exists in any form.

Aim to m ake it safe for people to make mistakes. If you allow a blame culture to take root in your workplace, people will hide their mistakes, and rarely own up – causing major problems. Mistakes that do not get stopped via corrective feedback to those responsible, will get repeated and lead to customer complaints, losses/wastes etc.

If you want people to develop on the job, you must be willing to accept that they will make mistakes on the job – because they are human!

Your role will be to help them learn from those mistakes and work hard to avoid repeating them. Anytime a person fails or makes a mistake, s/he must be made to identity and understand the cause. S/he must learn to use failure as a learning platform.

It’s simple common sense. For some strange reason, people keep repeating this mistake. That’s why I consider it worth repeating periodically!

8. Create Micro-Businesses:

Get individual departments to see themselves as mini businesses within the larger company.

Department heads can choose to regard the different units within their departments as micro businesses within each departmental mini business.

Each micro business will have a mission, which would basically be to achieve a result or complete a task that is required for other micro business(es), and the mini business to achieve their own goals…which are all linked to the organisation’s overall purpose.

At each level (Macro, Mini and Micro), the relevant team members would decide on their individual mission statements. They could draw from what they have to do within the bigger departmental unit.

This will give members a more tangible indication of what is required of them, making them better able to understand what they need to do and why.

9. When Introducing Change(s), Ensure Those Affected UNDERSTAND Why:

How do you go about introducing/implementing change that you deem necessary?

When people do not understand why the way they work – for instance – is being changed, they can resist it in subtle ways, that can hurt the company.

Take pains to explain to team members – especially those affected (positively or negatively) by it – why the change is being made. They will ‘feel” involved and understand the thinking behind the decision. Over time, their appreciation of management’s expectations from them (and its “thinking”) in relation to their jobs will improve.

10. Make Open & Honest Communication A Well Advertised Policy:

In many organisations – especially those with large workforces – sometimes the majority of employees tend to hold the (mistaken?) belief that the company’s profits are exorbitant, and that management is unjust and unfair.

This is what causes the typical situation where employees unions maintain a confrontational posture towards the company’s leadership – viewing decisions/policies with suspicion etc.

It would help if you – and others in senior/leadership positions – make a conscious effort to formally (and informally) communicate management’s positive sides.

More importantly, your actions should inspire trust and confidence amongst the workforce. Employees should for instance not (or no longer?) have to contend with what someone once described as “closed doors and tense, guarded statements“.

As one poster I came across on a factory wall once put it : “Limited Information or No Information = NEGATIVE information“.

When the employees speak with one member of the senior management team about “what’s going on”, the information s/he gives must be reasonably consistent with what another “senior” person would supply at any other time on the same subject.

Final Words

Central to all that I have said above is the need to create an atmosphere of mutual trust, respect and appreciation between and among everyone in the company.

Make your people feel recognised – and reward them when possible – for the effort they make every day to do their jobs well.

Doing this, in addition to applying other ideas like those outlined above, is very likely to make your employees deliver more value on their jobs, everyday they come in – without need for threats, or financial incentives of any sort.

Career Development, Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, My DN Travel News

How to Help Your Employees Produce Better Results

December 13, 2013 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

Do you want your employees to always put in their best efforts at work? This article offers ideas you can use to “subtly” make them do that. Your company’s success depends on applying them correctly.

Hint: You Need to Establish a Workplace Performance Improvement Philosophy

Now the above is just a phrase, but a lot goes into doing it. Yet, if you do it right, your employees will surprise you by willingly – and enthusiastically – doing their jobs daily. Indeed, some will readily take up more work (!) as the need to do so becomes obvious. And they would do so without being asked.

I say this from years of successfully getting people (in and out of paid employment) to unconsciously do what I want,using the ideas discussed below!

What follows are ten (10) steps you can take to achieve similar results in your company.

NB: The original article on which this new version is based, was published on this static html page on 18th September 2007.

1. Promote Creativity:

Setup a workplace atmosphere that stimulate creativity. One way is to actively engage employees’s minds by involving them in crucial decision making about issues concerning the way they do their jobs.

Additionally, requesting their contributions towards solving problems affecting their jobs – and recognizing/rewarding them accordingly – would stimulate creativity.

Invite them to make and/or send in ideas/suggestions. Be receptive to them as they do so. Apply tact in rejecting “bad ideas” to avoid withdrawal.

2. Discourage “Blame”:

Tell them what you want without hurting their feelings. Make sure to discourage blame. Encourage everyone to focus on problem analysis/solving for improved productivity. For instance challenge them to ask WHAT went wrong and WHY – and not “WHO DID IT?”

Those who make mistakes will consequently not fear admitting it. As a result, those mistakes will rarely be repeated – at least not by the same person!

What’s more where people readily own up when they get things wrong, problem solving progresses faster, and often ends successfully.

3. Entrench Informal On-The-Job Coaching:

What is your mental attitude about each employee’s ability? Do you believe they can be coached to improve? Or have you given up on them as “hopeless”?

I suggest you adopt the former attitude because NO one human being can come to you as a perfect employee.

You must guide those who work with you to work better in a manner that benefits the company. Provide (and encourage) spontaneous job-based coaching to complement whatever formal training they are exposed to.

Latch on to any opportunity to carryout informal coaching of your subordinates and other employees. Do this with regard to helping them understand how management utilizes the information they document, and why it is so important for documentation to be accurate and complete.

4. Employ Multi-dimensional Peer Pressure To Enhance Best Practices:

You could tactfully/subtly use peer pressure to inspire positive attitudinal changes amongst the workforce.

For instance, it is normal in most workplaces, to have “star” workers and average workers. Find a way to make the “star” worker share (or “infect” others with) his/her expertise, knowledge and positive work ethics.

With proper encouragement, you will find that such individuals readily develop the instinct to help others perform better on the job.

The other average workers are likely to already “recognize/respect” the “star” worker. They would consequently appreciate his/her efforts to help them. Properly done, this strategy can greatly reduce the amount of direct effort you and other “leaders” expend to get improved on-the-job performances.

5. Insist That Everyone See The Big Picture:

Demand that employees always remember to view their jobs from a broader perspective and not narrow into their micro activities.

Task each individual in a specific unit for instance to study what goes on in their units – even though s/he does not have to work there (yet). They should make it their business to know/understand what the next man’s job involves.

This is important because many times they have to interface with the person on the other side of the fence in doing their own jobs. If they understand what his/her job entails they will more readily appreciate how their actions (or inactions) can affect the person.

Getting them to do this will break down the mental barriers that many people build, because they work in physically separate divisions or sections. Communication will happens more effectively, making workplace activities proceed more successfully…to the company’s benefit.

The second and concluding part of this post (which discusses the 5 remaining steps you can take), will appear on this blog tomorrow.

My DN Travel News, Parenting

Involve Your Kids in Your Dream, and They’ll Succeed Too

December 12, 2013 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

When I graduated from university, I found myself wondering why a lot of stuff I was learning to function in the real world, were not taught to me earlier. Experience with other kids, and mine convince me I would have had no problems grasping most of it. For instance, it was not until I went on my one year of compulsory national youth service (NYSC), that I learnt how to open and operate a bank account for the first time. After that, strange job aptitude tests confronted me!

The Exact Experience(s) May Vary Across Individuals and Societies.

Many people will at least agree that some things they learned to do after “finishing school” (what ever that means!), could have been introduced to them earlier.

When students go on internships (called “Industrial Attachment” in Nigeria ), the idea is usually to give them a taste of the real world – in the students’ chosen fields.

However that objective is not always achieved. For instance, students – with the support and cooperation of their parents – may arrange for the child to spend that period in an environment unrelated to his/her formal studies. Typically, it would be a prestigious organisation that pays attractive sums for such temporary assignees.

When such students graduate, the parents may again “arrange” a good job for him/her.

But When Parents Help A Child Too Much, a Dependency May Result When S/he Grows Up

The adult child could become unable to make things happen in life by him/herself!

And that would – in my opinion – be Parenting failure! e.g like a former Lion cub now grown up, seeking the mother’s company to go hunting!

Parents need to expose their kids as early as possible to the realities of the environment they are destined to operate in. Helping them understand what’s happening will equip them to make better sense of the real world. They will use what they learn to take intelligent decisions, towards achieving their own goals.

The benefits they experience will make them do the same thing for their own kids too.

Any parent who thinks his/her job ends with putting food on the table, and paying school fees, needs to think again!

Your most important job as a parent is to prepare that “green-horned” version of YOU to function successfully in society as an adult.

One of the best ways to do that is to involve our kids in a real world dream building exercises directed by us, as parents. Share your dream with them. Let them know relevant plans you have, and find a way to add something they are passionate about into the mix.

Then, as often as possible, take definite action to progress the implementation of that dream.

Each time you do, let the kids know what you’ve done. Then assign tasks you know are likely to excite them, so they can contribute their bit. As time goes on you’ll find they’ll begin coming up with their own initiatives, to take things forward, and will call your attention to it.

Apart from bringing you closer to your kids, this will help your kids learn a lot from you e.g. about planning for and achieving goals in the real world.

And they’ll also learn how you keep the family going e.g paying the bills; planning how to save to buy an important household appliance etc.

By the time they have to do something similar on their own, it won’t be an altogether new experience for them. Even better, when they converse with their peers, they’ll be better informed, and offer useful input – earning respect, and prestige.

That’s one of the strategies I’ve used with my kids for years now. And the benefits have been worth it.

Here’s One Dream We’re Currently Working: My Home Based Brew-Pub Farm Products Products Development (12 photos)

My kids recently informed me they now sell the pineapple PEEL drinks I taught them to make, in the school they attend.

In another week from now, I’ll join them in Nigeria, and will be teaching tem how to make my pineapple peel cakes – without an oven.

When my Home Based Farm Products Brew-Pub opens in a few weeks (if my plans go well), I’ll be using more standard equipment.

But I’m keen to show my kids how to do it using such crude tools because I know it will nurture their creative instincts, and they’ll try many other things.

That’s the key to coaching kids to be creative!

The funds I need to rent the larger property I need for the home based pub have been secured (via successful completion of an international agribusiness research paper, for which I’m being paid).

Once I fix up the place (which will also be home for me and family, when they join me), I’ll launch the brew-pub,

The 12 Photos Below, Show How I’ve progressed With My Pineapple Peels Based Products concept.

I’ve had this dream since 1998!

With time, I’ll be adding products from my intended Rabbit farming micro-business to it.

The roasted rabbit meats that will be sold with drinks at the pub are just one aspect. Another will be the useful handicrafts, that I and my kids will be making using the by-products e.g. rabbits pelt

Read this recent article I wrote about my dream (and how I plan to involve my kids even further).

Entrepreneurship, My DN Travel News, Self-Development

To Succeed, You Need to Treat Money With Respect

December 11, 2013 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

“If it is true that money talks, the only word we ever heard it say is: ‘Goodbye’.” – Anon.

Probably no other group of people understand the foregoing statement better than entrepreneurs – especially start-ups. With few exceptions, entrepreneurs often find themselves tormented with perpetual cash shortages, or outright outages.

This happens at various stages of their businesses, not just during the start-up phase.

That’s why a good number tend to experience prolonged periods of highs and lows, mainly due to cash limitations, which plague their enterprises. Those able to weather those storms emerge, often at a higher plane of achievement compared to others.

There is almost no suffering as painful as that arising from prolonged lack of access to cash.

James R. Cook rightly noted (in his book “The Startup Entrepreneur”) that many who failed in business, often quit trying due to the terrifying experience of lack of cash.

Yet, he also notes that there is a direct correlation between the degree of suffering a person goes through, and the eventual heights of success they achieve.

The greater the suffering, the greater the degree of successes achieved. Little wonder that history shows that many highly successful entrepreneurs endured great suffering arising from lack of money.

Does Running Short of Cash Mean an Entrepreneur is Incompetent?

Not necessarily.

Most businesses at some point or the other find they need cash infusion of some sort. Some may not need it at the start. But maybe due to rapid growth of demand, they might discover later on that they lack financial capacity to continue.

At that point, they’ll have to seek funding from outside sources.

For the solo entrepreneur, it often just happens. When you’re on your own, finding cash to meet all your business needs may not always be straight forward. Especially when your business is not yet fully established.

Unless you inherited wealth from a relative, or won the lottery, you’re likely to encounter shortage of funds every now and then.

But judging from results achieved by those who have passed that road, you need only take persistent intelligent action, with faith, to overcome it.

Is There a Way to Avoid Cash Shortages?

“No great enterprise will ever begin if all obstacles must first be overcome” – Napoleon Hill

As long as it does not occur because you mismanaged the little you have, I’d say no. Short of cutting corners anyway.

If my studies of the history of other entrepreneurs are anything to go by, it seems to be a necessary ingredient for success. In other words the repeated exposure to that potentially traumatizing experience is actually designed to teach us something.

Many highly successful entrepreneurs have attributed their success, in no small part, to the extreme cash shortages they had to endure and creatively overcome.

It made them think harder, and aim to maximize value they got for every unit of money they spent. They learnt to be frugal in their spending decisions. Without the lack of cash, the urge to do this, would most likely have been less.

“I have become thoroughly convinced that lack of money is just an excuse – and all the sage, expert advice about making certain your business is adequately capitalized is a bunch of hooey” – Dan Kennedy (Millionaire Entrepreneur/ Author of “How to succeed in Business by breaking all the rules”)

Tayo Solagbade’s note: For those of non-Americans who may not know what that strange word means, I checked the dictionary, and found that “hooey” is: “i.e. foolish talk or nonsense”…not surprisingly :-)) Get your copy of this book here.

Dan Kennedy pointed out that being adequately capitalized can actually be a curse. He added that having to struggle to find cash to make your business work will often be they key to your success. You simply need to mentally adjust yourself to it, instead of lamenting about it.

My Personal Experiences Confirm This

Yes. 31st December 2013 will make it 12 full years since I became an entrepreneur. During this time I have passed through countless heartbreaking struggles to achieve my entrepreneurial dream. That dream was hatched over 3 years before I quit my high paying job with Guinness Nigeria.

Looking back, I can tell you that my greatest periods of personal growth, and development, were those trying times when I ran out of cash, and/or had limited funds to work with.

**The thing is that experience (of shortage of cash) is rarely ever one-off.**

It goes away, and comes back again – the frequency seeming to differ for each person. Like Napoleon Hill said, it appears certain unseen forces use such unpleasant experiences to teach us lessons we badly need to learn.

Such periods of intense anxiety and suffering, caused by perpetual cash shortages, taught me to look inwards and seek low to zero cost ways to do anything. Before I decide to spend money, I make sure I exhaust possible alternative options to get it done without spending, or at a lower price.(And I help my clients to do this too – using custom Excel software I build for them).

This habit is deeply ingrained in me, because I have had times when I lamented spending in situations that I could have gotten something done free.

It’s why I’m taking my time in setting up my home based brew-pub products (e.g. my low cost pineapple peel based drinks and cakes – baked without oven).

Those who do not understand what this is about, have never experienced prolonged periods of lack of cash as severe as that described here.

Such an experience teaches you to treat money with respect!

“I lacked capital. Because of this I was forced to keep down overhead and watch every expenditure…In fact, I feel if I had had all the money I wanted when I founded my present business, it never would have become as big as it is. I would never have found it necessary to make such a close study of details to promote the efficiency of the organization.” – Harvey Firestone

1. What Happens If/When You Run Out of Cash?

2. Is Your Self-Confidence Directly Proportional to the Size of Your Bank Account?

Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, My DN Travel News

Always Be a Dignified Professional (Especially When a Client Is In a Hurry and/or Demands Lower Fees!)

December 10, 2013 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

A South African poultry broiler farm business owner contacted me via my website last week. And he was in a BIG hurry:

“Hi, Could you please send me the Excel trial Version of Broiler Chicken management software. Let me know also the price of the system please. I need this urgently. Regards, Molefe (surname removed for privacy)”.

First he sent a web contact form message from the video page for my EXCEL-VB POULTRY FARM MANAGER and BOPMS™ EXPLANATION.

Then he sent another from my Excel Heaven custom software development website.

First, I Called Him on Phone to Make Sure He Was REAL

And I always to do that at my own expense. In the past, I got a lot of phony requests. That taught me to avoid wasting energy responding to email requests from “ghosts” :-))

Recent buyers of my Excel-VB Ration Formulator™ and/or Feed Formulation handbook, got called by me (e.g. in Nigeria and Tanzania). I wanted to speak with them to ensure they understood what I was selling, and to also understand what their needs were.

Anytime I do this, and get the impression my product will not solve that person’s problem, I do not hesitate in advising him/her accordingly.

Sure it may mean no sale for me. But I prefer that to having an angry or resentful buyer afterwards.

This is why today I enjoy cordial relations with most of my past buyers. And many of them gladly helped me complete the questionnaire survey for my recently concluded agribusiness research paper.

Speaking With the South African Broiler Farm Owner

I told him my application in the video was built for a layer’s farm, and that did not have an app ready for use with a broiler farm.

If he wanted that, I would need to “have a formal question/answer session” with him. This would help me get a proper feel for his unique farm situation, to accurately determine his needs.

Only then would I be able to determine what the required investment will be.

You see, he kept hammering on the cost saying “send me the price!” That bothered me. As did his repeated insistence that he wanted the app “urgently”.

I don’t do “rush jobs” as a rule, in this area of my work i.e. farm business custom software development.

The only exception is when I already have an app built, which can be easily customized to suit the client’s need (e.g my Ration Formulator, the Poultry Layer Farm Manager or the Payslip Generator).

I told him I would do him an email once our conversation ended.

Here’s an Excerpt from the Email I Sent Him

===Email Excerpt continues===

“…My service involves developing custom applications to help smallholder farmers manage their farms more intelligently.

The video you watched is of an app I built for a large poultry layer farm in Ekiti state, South West Nigeria. In 2009, I built a similar one for a 12,000 layer farm in Ogun State, also in South West Nigeria.

The one you saw is quite sophisticated, and at a cost of N250, 000 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira). A scaled down and therefore less pricey version (missing some features) of it will probably be best for smaller farms.

Please note that it is NOT an accounting application.

Yes, it does income and expense recording and reports weekly, monthly and annually.

However it’s main purpose is to record daily operations data so as to auto-generate Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for determining how well the animals are doing on a DAILY basis. Automated charts are plotted for KPIs like feeding rates, Hen Day Percentage, Mortality Rate; Feed to Egg conversion ration.

The trend of the charted data quickly tells you if there’s anything to worry about. And you can then take corrective action.

I call my applications of this kind “Enterprise Information Systems (EIS).

For a broiler operation, feeding rate, feed to flesh conversion ratio, mortality rate, growth rate would be the KPIs to measure.

However we still have to get a good idea of how your farm operates so we know how you’ll compile data to post into the app.

There is a paper based recording form that often gets modified for use on each different farm.

If I may offer some advice: avoid focussing on how much just yet. Slow down and think of what exactly you want software to do for you.

There’s so much you can do that can help you manage your farm with LESS EFFORT, and at less cost. That’s what I help farm owners achieve.

Here’s what I propose: I’ll send you a short questionnaire tomorrow, which you can fill and return to me. Then using your responses, I’ll give you more specific answers, including a recommendation on the kind of solution, and the required investment.

If the above agrees with you, just do me a reply saying so, and I’ll send you the questionnaire.

Thanks for your interest in my work.

===Email Excerpt Ends===

And Here’s the Response He Sent…

24 hours Later, I Sent Him This Email(Below)…and an MS Excel Workbook (Linked Below)…

Click here to download a duplicate version of the Excel based Functional Requirements Specification (FRS) and Questionnaire Workbook I sent to him.

Note (below) how I stated my delivery duration towards the bottom of the FRS.

Without getting his responses to my FRS and questionnaire, I could not know if I could deliver in less than my standard “30 working days“.

So, it was up to him to respond with the answers I requested.

I’ve not heard from him since then.

Final Words: My Main Reason for Sharing this Story

Take it from me: Letting a client or prospect hurry you in doing your work, will rarely be a smart move.

What’s more, when a prospect does not want to “pay a heck of money”, AND at the same time wants the solution delivered “urgently“, YOUR best interests, as the provider, will be in danger if you accept!

My advice: NEVER change your pricing or delivery schedule, until you have enough information from the prospective buyer to guide you. And when you do get the information, make sure you request a reward (and working conditions) consistent with the value you know you will deliver.

Otherwise, not only will you look unprofessional, but you could also shoot yourself in the foot in terms of overall profitability.

Do not let any prospect or client make you jump through hoops.

Act like a dignified professional, and you’ll always be treated with respect. PLUS, you’ll protect yourself from exploitation.

PS: I should add that the above bit of advice originated, NOT from me, but from Herman Holtz, who was widely regarded as the Consultant’s Consultant.

In his book “How to Succeed as an Independent Consultant“, he stated “Be a Dignified Professional – Always” as Rule Number 2 in “The Initial Meeting with the New Client or Prospect“.

I urge you to abide by it!

My DN Travel News, Public Speaking, Self-Development

No. 119: How to Achieve Success in Any Field (True Story)

December 9, 2013 Tayo Solagbade 4 Comments

This true story demonstrates how FAITH, persistently applied, can help you succeed in any field – including Writing, and Public Speaking. I share it not to brag, but to (hopefully) inspire others to do what I’ve done, or even better.

“Nothing in life is more wonderful than faith – the one great moving force which we can neither weigh in the balance nor test in the crucible.” – Sir William Osler, British Medical Journal, 1910

On Wednesday 4th December 2013, my entrepreneurial career as a Performance Improvement Specialist, with a bias for Best Practice Farm Business Support, moved to a new – and international – level.

Click here to download the print-ready PDF ebook version and read OFFLINE…

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Home | Subscribe | About | Contact

Publication: Weekly Public Speaking IDEAS Newsletter

Date: Monday 9th December 2013

No:119

Title: How to Achieve Success in Any Field (True Story)

Author & Publisher: Tayo K. Solagbade [Tel: +234-803-302-1263 (in Nigeria) or +229-66-122-136 (in Benin Republic) ]

Blog URL: http://www.tayosolagbade.com/blog

Archive (E-mail version started 14th May 2012): Click here to view

Archive (Blog version started 24th September 2011): Click here

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Can’t find it? No problem. E-mail me via tayo at tksola dot com and I’ll send you another. Not yet a subscriber? Click here to signup.

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NB: This newsletter is published every Monday. Point your browser to www.tayosolagbade.com/sdnuggets to read at least ONE new post added to my SD Nuggets blog on a different category from Tuesday till Saturday (sometimes even Sundays) in line with this publishing schedule

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No. 119: How to Achieve Success in Any Field (True Story)

“Nothing in life is more wonderful than faith – the one great moving force which we can neither weigh in the balance nor test in the crucible.” – Sir William Osler, British Medical Journal, 1910

On Wednesday 4th December 2013, my entrepreneurial career as a Performance Improvement Specialist, with a bias for Best Practice Farm Business Support, moved to a new – and international – level.

That day, I received email confirmation that my 4,000 word case study paper (advocating the use of low cost customizable Excel-VB driven software, for feed formulation by farmers) had been accepted by the international organization that commissioned me to write it.

Since 3rd October 2013 (over 2 months ago, when I announced it in issue 111 of my newsletter) until 3rd December 2013 (i.e. just few days ago), I worked many MANY MANY long hours writing that paper.

The process required traveling to Nigeria for 2 weeks to conduct questionnaire surveys with Farm CEOs.

All the while, I kept doing ALL my other work – including responding to prospects and client requests, and of course publishing at least ONE new article on my blog daily.

On Saturday 16th November 2013, I worked 13 straight hours (from 9a.m to about 10.30p.m) to finish the paper.

I then emailed it to my friend and co-author, Professor Idowu Oladele, who is Director of the School of Agricultural Sciences at South Africa’s North West University.

The final submission deadline was Sunday17th November 2013.

Over a period of about 2 hours the next morning (Sunday), we discussed and agreed modifications – on phone – mainly the arrangement. Later that day, he submitted the paper via email.

On Thursday 28th November, we got an email requesting changes. And it had to be re-submitted latest by Tuesday 3rd December 2013.

The problem? One reviewer summed it up by saying the paper was…“unreadable” due to the “chaotic organisation” of its contents.

Oops..:-)))

But it was a good sign. The paper had NOT been rejected.

Instead they wanted the content presented in a more “friendly” manner for easy comprehension, and even suggested an outline for the entire paper.

That inspired me!

I studied the reviewer’s comments further, and realized the need to not just rearrange the paper’s contents into the new structure, but to re-write it with a smarter focus.

And so, for the next 4 days I worked round the clock completely re-writing the paper in more detail, to fit into the section titles and sub-titles requested.

I recall some people making snide remarks to my face (others behind my back…but I got to hear through the grapevine…LOL) that “all that writing was a waste of time”.

Hmm…how shortsighted some people can be. Much earlier, when I’d announced in an article, that my proposal had been accepted, some said I was counting my eggs before they were hatched.

“Why not wait till the paper gets accepted before you say anything to anyone?” they queried.

They did not understand what it meant to have “absolute and unquestioning faith”.

They now (hopefully) know better: the paper has indeed been accepted!

But no one EVER does it alone!

No one. Not even Superman.

At some point we’ll all need help, no matter how strong or brilliant we are.

I’ve gotten lots of help over the years, especially from my wonderful family members, and a few great friends.

I continue to thank them all.

And I also thank YOU, my dear readers (including Farm Business CEOs who helped complete my questionnaire), for supporting me through your interest in my work :-))

Now, You May Wonder: Just How Does All This Relate to Public Speaking?

I’ll tell you.

Over ten years ago, I read Burt Dubin’s article titled “Why and How to Get Published” for the first time. It opened my eyes to the multi-faceted rewards that writing as an expert can yield.

And I do mean MULTI-FACETED!

Since 2001, I’ve diligently applied the tips in Burt’s article, adapting them to suit my unique market.

Today, not only does my writing earn me direct income in a variety of ways, it has also gotten me massive marketing exposure. What’s more, I’ve successfully used it to build powerful name recognition.

Burt noted that if opportunities in conventional media are slow in coming, you can self-publish.

I took that to heart and started writing articles on my website. Later I began article marketing via Ezinearticles.com. Then I began self-publishing my books using Print-On-Demand publishing.

I knew that if I did it right, the opportunity to get published in more formal circles would eventually come.

The signs began to appear some years back. For instance, in 2009, a university in India wrote me for permission to use my 10 item Employee Morale Gauge™ quiz article in their journal (see item 14 on sales page for journal titled “Employee Morale: Concepts And Cases”).

Later on in 2010, I discovered some college term papers published online on the subject of Emotional Intelligence, quoted from my article on Emotional Intelligence(Screen shot below was taken on 9th Dec. 2013 at 11.20a.m)

On a few occasions I ran into my article on Habitual Peak Performance translated into other languages (e.g. French etc).

More recently, I saw in Google, that a UK company had created a PDF version of my Employee Moral Gauge Quiz, and made it available for download by clients from its website. There’s an introduction in it, which explains why and how to use the quiz…and also credits me as the author of the instrument (Screen shot below was taken on 9th Dec. 2013 at 11.32a.m)

As you can see from all the above, Burt Dubin really knows his stuff.

And hundreds of successful highly paid experts-who-speak, mentored by him for well over 2 decades agree on this!

My Published International Agribusiness Case Study Paper Will Open Doors of Speaking Opportunities

By getting published internationally in a medium serving my target audience (extension specialists, policy makers in agriculture and farm business owners), my credibility as an expert-speaker in agribusiness is bound to get a boost.

Meeting planners are more likely to consider me a credible “expert-speaker” to address their members.

I’ll have to do the leg work of course. But the published paper will make it easier ;-))

Guess what? The above benefits, are just a few of those Burt Dubin promised you’ll get, if you apply the ideas in his earlier mentioned article!

NB: By the way, note – in the above screen shot – that Burt started by saying: “Why get your words and ideas published?”

So don’t forget to publish your ideas too!e

I do that all the time.

My most recent ideas have to do with my new Pineapple Peels Based Cakes…which I baked without an oven!

[They don’t look so aestetically pleasing. This was my very first try, and I improvised A LOT…including baking with NO oven. Read more here!}

Then there’s the new bottle I found for my pineapple peel based drink – which now enables me pasteurize the drink:

[NB: These are 2 different views of the fermented version of my drink – based on a new recipe.]

…and of course I have my plan to open hopefully in a couple of weeks – here in Benin Republic – a home based farm-products brew-pub, to sell my drinks and cakes from.

Read my article titled ‘When You’re Not Working, Create a Bigger Dream (Hint: New Product – My Pineapple Peels Based Cakes…Made Without an Oven!) | SD Nuggets™‘ for FULL details:-))

Final Words: Absolute and Unquestioning Faith Will Get You ANYWHERE You Want to Go – Including Public Speaking Heaven!

Here’s one truth many people seem not to know (or care to remember):

“All human beings, regardless of religious inclination, are capable of applying faith and reaping the rewards from doing so. It is NOT, and will NEVER be, the exclusive preserve of any group of people, be they religious or otherwise.” – Tayo K. Solagbade

This means, dear expert-who-speaks that you, and I, are truly capable of achieving miraculous things, if we can only have true faith!

I therefore hope my example will help YOU realize that hard work, honesty and BLIND FAITH, which recognizes NO FAILURE will bring you success.

PS: By the way, did you click to read Burt Dubin’s article yet?

If not click “Why and How to Get Published” now. That article contains tested ideas for getting everything I’ve said above to work for YOU!

Have a lovely week!

Tayo K. Solagbade*

Self-Development/Performance Improvement Specialist

*Sole Agent For Burt Dubin’s Speaker Mentoring Service In Africa

Mobile: +234-803-302-1263 (in Nigeria) or +229-66-122-136 (in Benin Republic)

http://www.tayosolagbade.com

He’s presently based in Benin Republic, where he’s preparing an English-French Language Guide, City Travel Guides, and a Commercial Rabbit Farming Guide.

For a limited time, Tayo is available to speak to your group or organization for a moderate fee. Send e-mail to tayo at tksola dot com. You can also visit www.tksola.com to learn more.

Connect with him on Twitter @tksola.com and Facebook.

==================

Useful Resources for Speakers

Get Burt’s mentoring :

[Click here]

Burt’s Flagship Album

This is the product to own if you can own only one. Why? Because in it you discover principles of platform mastership available to you nowhere else at any price.

With its Money back if not delighted Guarantee hardly any are returned.

Find out why

Presentation Magic

Presentation Magic Manual with new pages added plus 3 audio CDs.

more information

How To Create a Great Program Manual

This is a reprise of the historic presentation that launched the Speaking Success System.

No copy of this 2 CD program and 50 page Learning Guide has ever been returned.

more information

Download above PDF

Download above PDF

THEY WROTE…

—————————–

*Operations Manager, Guinness Nigeria Plc Benin Brewery, December 2001 (Handwritten comments in farewell/xmas cards sent to Tayo Solagbade following his resignation to start his own business).

———————–

“From:”Obadiaru, Osawemwenze” <email address deleted >

To:”Tayo Solagbade” <email address deleted >

Subject: Greetings from Benin!!!!

Date: Mon, 8 Apr 2002 14:27:30 +0100

Uncle (Tayo),

Greetings to you from your boy. How are you doing?…All
is well here in Benin and everybody is really been bugged again by this ISO audit thing.

…I look
up to you, and really desire to someday dedicate a major success in my life to you, for
the little while I spent with you has been a turning point in my life. I will always be

grateful to you.

Keep the flag flying sir. Regards

Osas

———————–

“To Mr. Tayo Solagbade.

—————————-

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“The Ten Ways for Self-Development would go a long way (in) improving teaching/learning situation(s).” – Cynthia Nwosu (Mrs.), Corona Schools

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“It was an interesting (talk), and the speaker spoke well, with a lot of experiences that (were) so educative.” – Emmanuel (Mrs.), Corona Primary School Victoria Island

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“Mr Tayo Solagbade is a very good motivator. I really appreciated him but the time was short.” – S.E. Atkins, Corona Schools

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“The presentation content and style was nice.” – Adjekophori Peter, Management Trainee, Tantalisers (Fast Foods Restaurant), Festac Headquarters, Lagos.

————–

“I am really impressed and I think I have to wake up.” – Teacher, Corona School Branch

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“I observed that you are a real model of a saying that when a child washes his/her hands well he/she will eat on the same table with a king.” – School Nurse, Corona School Branch

————–

“I have observed that you are sacrificing your time to help mankind explore new grounds and live a happier life. More grease to your elbows.” – Eke N. (Mrs), Corona School Branch

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“This talk/seminar is very good and realistic. Someone who wants to be an achiever should adopt and practice these ten ways.” – M. O. Ihonor – Head Teacher, Corona School Branch

————–

“(The talk) is an eye opener and very important tool that can be used to become great. I think I buy your ideas too. Thanks a lot.” – Mrs. Atere F.O. – Secretary, Corona School

————–

Click here to contact Tayo…

SD Nuggets Blog™	New posts from last week that may interest you! *
Public Speaking[Monday]:	No. 118: Speak to Impact, and Your Audience Will Be Impressed
Entrepreneurship [Tuesday]:	Achieve Superior Success by Letting Your Work Speak for You
Self-Development [Wednesday]:	Being Ruthlessly Focused Does NOT Make You Callous!
Career Development [Thursday]:	Fun Strategy for Quickly Improving Language Skills
Parenting [Friday]:	Are Your Kids Ready to Succeed in Your World?
Writing/Blogging [Saturday]:	When You’re Not Working, Create a Bigger Dream (Hint: New Product – My Pineapple Peels Based Cakes…Made Without an Oven!)
Want me to write for you? Click here…

Career Development, Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, General, My DN Travel News, My Ideas for Making Nigeria Better, Parenting, Public Speaking, Self-Development, Writing/Blogging

When You’re Not Working, Create a Bigger Dream (Hint: New Product – My Pineapple Peels Based Cakes…Made Without an Oven!)

December 7, 2013 Tayo Solagbade 3 Comments

When I’m not hammering away at my laptop keyboard, writing articles, reports and books…or building custom Excel-VB software, I’m likely to be found sleeping, or working to progress further towards my ultimate dream.

That dream is to own what I call a Home-Based Farm-Products-Brew-Pub.

And I’ve nursed it since 1999, when I still worked in Guinness Nigeria.

If you’ve been reading my blog, you know about my Pineapple peel based drink(see photos, and a free talk offer) . Read more about it here(i.e. a presentation).

The drinks you see in the photo below, have been pasteurized using a home-based method I learnt online.

[NB: These are 2 different views of the fermented version of my drink – based on a new recipe.]

You see, I believe PATIENCE is key, in developing food based products.

It’s taken me about 3 months of searching. But I’ve found what I consider the perfect bottle for my Pineapple based drink (see above photo).

Apart from enabling me deliver the kind of product volume I want, it also has a cap that allows me pasteurize the drink inside.

It was important for me to ensure I could do that, so bottles don’t go exploding in people’s faces.

That was why I patiently kept searching for a cost-effective way, that would enable me keep the product affordable for most people.

My New Product: Pineapple Peels Based Cakes…These Ones Baked Without an Oven!

I’ve never baked anything in my life. Not cake or bread. Nothing.

But the idea of my brew-pub having its own unique food product, to go with the drink had tickled my fancy for months.

A few days ago, I decided to play around with cake and bread baking. I went online and did lots of reading, and watched many videos.

Then yesterday, I purchased baking materials from Tokpa market, and stayed indoors ALL day, using my beloved Pineapple peels, to bake home-made cakes (I’ll get around to bread baking later).

BUT, I did it all, without using an oven!

Yes. No oven. Don’t believe me? Just wait. I’ll be writing a special PDF report on that before the year runs out.

I know the cakes don’t look so aestetically pleasing, but you must understand that this was my very first try. And believe me when I say I improvised A LOT!

The most important point to note is that what I’ve done, shows I can operate this business even from a village, using locally available materials!

In the meantime, now that my trials with different processes have succeeded (the cakes taste delicious, and are almost 50% cheaper to make!), I intend to use proper equipment to offer the drinks and cakes for sale from my brew-pub.

Virtually 100% of the pineapple peels I use do NOT go to waste!

That’s true. They end up in the drinks and cake – implying massive cost-saving production potential!

But I don’t just put the peels into the products.

To get the right flavour and appearance, I have found certain processing steps need to be taken. And all are cost-effective.

I was in Calavi this afternoon, to drop off a drink bottle, with 2 cup cakes, for my friend Moumouni Toure.

He was not in, so I left them with his brother. And I also gave out some to my neighbours where I live.

But I made it clear that I will not be selling them for now.

Nope. Responding to individual orders at this stage would not be worth my time/effort and I would be unable to cope. Even worse, it would definitely affect my ability to do my other work.

When the pub opens, anyone who wants them can come over. For now, that’s what’s likely to work best for me.

With time, I’ll decide what flavours, packaging and operating procedure will be most profitable to adopt.

NB: One probable exception would be people willing to place bulk orders. I could possibly make out time to fulfill such.

For now, the next step is to get the laboratory analysis of the drinks – and cakes – done

This is so I can tell people – with confidence – what exactly they’re eating or drinking.

I’m an internationally certified brewer, with 7 years of experience working in a globally recognised brewing multinational.

Everything I do, no matter how small my plan for this project is, must reflect that.

Suffice to say, for now, that pineapple peels being the base ingredient, contains considerable amounts of useful nutrients.

Some are described in my report titled “10 Fruits You Eat That Leave Useful Peels/Skins Behind” (Click to download it).

In the next few weeks, I intend to secure bigger living quarters, with the front end functioning as the brew-pub, here in Benin Republic.

I should add that this will be a FULL family business.

Like I noted in yesterday’s article on my blog my kids already make a version of this drink, that they sell in their school in Lagos.

So when they join me here, they’ll fit in instantly.

That’s why I told my friend Moumouni, in an SMS today, that with improvements I’ve now made, this business is DESTINED TO MAKE MY KIDS RICH!

And when (NOT IF) that happens, I – along with my wonderful wife Nkechi – will be the PROUDEST parents in the world!!

My DN Travel News, Parenting

Are Your Kids Ready to Succeed in Your World?

December 6, 2013 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

A few days ago I spoke with my wife and kids in Lagos, on phone. While speaking with my 10 year old boy, he suddenly exclaimed “Tayo, we’ve started selling the pineapple peels drink in our school”! “Really? How much?” I asked. He replied “N50” (fifty naira).

By the time I hung up, I was on cloud nine: Coaching my kids was yielding more wonderful results!

It was not the money that pleased me. It was the fact that on their own, they developed a plan and acted on it, to do something productive – by themselves. That’s a sign of true empowerment!

Painful post-school experiences convinced me to nurture the creative and entrepreneurial instincts of my kids from a very early age.

If you’ve been reading my parenting articles for a while, you know I’m not a fan of the traditional schooling system. Learners get told things, and are rarely challenged to learn by discovery (i.e. by thinking for themselves).

Many parents passed through that system. That’s why most see nothing wrong with it. Those who do see its severe shortcomings are few, and many lack courage to speak out against it.

I’m an exception. That’s why I write about it.

Not surprisingly, many relatives, friends and associates fail to see it like I do.

I’m focussed on “immunizing” my kids against the damaging impact of the school system.

Tip: Watch this video of a high school student who gives his teacher a lesson on the right way to teach.

To do this, I demonstrate through my achievements, that what I’m saying is right. This is why I have a habit of letting them know about the positive and negative real world experiences I have in running my business. I share the painful stories with them and end with relevant warnings or tips.

That continually alerts them – mentally – to the realities of the outside world, while still in school.

I also involve them in creative pursuits. For instance, my 3 boys have been coached to think up original short stories by themselves.

The purpose is to encourage them to engage in imagination and creative thinking. Rather than simply attend school and read story books written by others, I challenge them to create theirs, and let me see.

So, now and then I come home and get bombarded with sheets scribbled with ramblings of all kinds. Funny enough, two years on, and one of their stories – edited for spelling, grammar and clarity, by me – is now live on this blog!

I’ve also tried to push each child in the direction of his/her natural talent that I identified.

The 10 year old has been especially forthcoming. Some weeks back, I wrote about how he used my dead laptop battery, to devise a home-made rechargeable lamp.

It was in September, that I visited home, and taught them the technique I developed, to make drinks from pineapple peels (obtained free from pineapple vendors).

They took to it instantly.

But when I tried to get them to sell it, they came back discouraged. Some people had apparently laughed at them saying the drink looked like sand mixed with water!

I told them rejection was a necessary ingredient for success. That it did not mean no one would buy. They apparently took what I said to heart, and have now found willing buyers in their school. Wow!

Interestingly, these crafty boys of mine later connived to hide the money they made from their mother!

Imagine that? They got her to buy kerosene to fuel the stove for making their drink, but hid their sales from her!

When I told her that they told me they’d been making sales, she could not believe it. “No they can’t be”! How can I buy fuel and sugar they use, and they then hide away the money made?” she exclaimed.

I promised her I would talk to the boys about it.

Pssst: The boys actually let on that they knew their mom would take the money from them, and insist on saving it for them…which they did not fancy :-))

They meant no harm, and just wanted to enjoy spending what they’d earned.

It goes without saying, of course, that they must now learn how to account for theirs costs, and also how to give back, and save.

It’s a process. They are young. They will learn.

Final Words: Your kids will enter YOUR world when they become adults – Will they be ready?

In summary, our kids need us to provide them real-world relevant guidance to succeed in adulthood.

Let’s avoid making the serious mistake of thinking formal schooling can do that adequately for them.

Another thing…

Your children will need you – more than the money or toys you can give them.

No matter how busy you get, you have a duty to help them develop the competence to function in YOUR world, just as well as you do, if not better!

Otherwise, what would be the point of the many years of experience you already have under your belt?

If you truly love them, you will make yourself available to them, as a real-life success coach!

1. “S” is for “Serious Minded”

2. “M” is for “Motivated”

3. “A” is for “Action Oriented”

4. “R” is for “Results Focused”

5. “T” is for “Tenacious”

Final Words

UPDATE (Wednesday 18th December 2013 @2:04pm Cotonou): My SMART Acronym Does Not Aim to (& Cannot) Replace or Contradict The Original SMART Acronym!

=======WHAT PEOPLE WROTE=========

Have You Downloaded Your Gifts?

No. 120: Creativity is Not Genetic (Farmers Have It, & So Do You!)

Virtually Everything We Use Today is a Product of Human Creativity

In the Intellectual Field, Creativity Provides Food for the Mind and Soul

Just like Burt Dubin is in entirely superior class of his own…as far as the business of Public Speaking & Mentoring of Public Speakers is concerned.

What Sets Burt Dubin Apart from Other Public Speaking Coaches/Mentors/Trainers?

But with Burt, it’s been his mastery of Public Speaking and Business Marketing acumen that have always stood out for me!

Are You Scared of Owning Your Creativity

My Fear of Getting Criticised and of Letting My Creativity Loose, Died That Night in 1997!

Creativity Based Success Leaves a Trail

To Achieve This level of Reckoning, I Have Had to Fearlessly Own My Creativity!

So, as an Expert in Your Field, I Challenge You to Approach 2014 With a New Focus and Drive

Useful Resources for Speakers

Get Burt’s mentoring at any of the 3 levels below:

Publications

THEY WROTE…

Burt Dubin’s Public Speaking Mentoring for Africa Based Experts(PDF…Click!)

6. Endorse ‘Leading” And Make “Bossing” Unfashionable:

7. Advocate Intelligent Mistake Making:

8. Create Micro-Businesses:

9. When Introducing Change(s), Ensure Those Affected UNDERSTAND Why:

10. Make Open & Honest Communication A Well Advertised Policy:

Final Words

Hint: You Need to Establish a Workplace Performance Improvement Philosophy

What follows are ten (10) steps you can take to achieve similar results in your company.

1. Promote Creativity:

2. Discourage “Blame”:

3. Entrench Informal On-The-Job Coaching:

4. Employ Multi-dimensional Peer Pressure To Enhance Best Practices:

5. Insist That Everyone See The Big Picture:

The Exact Experience(s) May Vary Across Individuals and Societies.

But When Parents Help A Child Too Much, a Dependency May Result When S/he Grows Up

Any parent who thinks his/her job ends with putting food on the table, and paying school fees, needs to think again!

Here’s One Dream We’re Currently Working: My Home Based Brew-Pub Farm Products Products Development (12 photos)

When my Home Based Farm Products Brew-Pub opens in a few weeks (if my plans go well), I’ll be using more standard equipment.

The 12 Photos Below, Show How I’ve progressed With My Pineapple Peels Based Products concept.

I’ve had this dream since 1998!

There is almost no suffering as painful as that arising from prolonged lack of access to cash.

Does Running Short of Cash Mean an Entrepreneur is Incompetent?

Is There a Way to Avoid Cash Shortages?

My Personal Experiences Confirm This

The thing is that experience (of shortage of cash) is rarely ever one-off.

Those who do not understand what this is about, have never experienced prolonged periods of lack of cash as severe as that described here.

Related Article

First he sent a web contact form message from the video page for my EXCEL-VB POULTRY FARM MANAGER and BOPMS™ EXPLANATION.

Then he sent another from my Excel Heaven custom software development website.

First, I Called Him on Phone to Make Sure He Was REAL

Speaking With the South African Broiler Farm Owner

I don’t do “rush jobs” as a rule, in this area of my work i.e. farm business custom software development.

Here’s an Excerpt from the Email I Sent Him

And Here’s the Response He Sent…

24 hours Later, I Sent Him This Email(Below)…and an MS Excel Workbook (Linked Below)…

Click here to download a duplicate version of the Excel based Functional Requirements Specification (FRS) and Questionnaire Workbook I sent to him.

Note (below) how I stated my delivery duration towards the bottom of the FRS.

Final Words: My Main Reason for Sharing this Story

PS: I should add that the above bit of advice originated, NOT from me, but from Herman Holtz, who was widely regarded as the Consultant’s Consultant.

Have You Downloaded Your Gifts?

No. 119: How to Achieve Success in Any Field (True Story)

On Saturday 16th November 2013, I worked 13 straight hours (from 9a.m to about 10.30p.m) to finish the paper.

But it was a good sign. The paper had NOT been rejected.

I recall some people making snide remarks to my face (others behind my back…but I got to hear through the grapevine…LOL) that “all that writing was a waste of time”.

But no one EVER does it alone!

Now, You May Wonder: Just How Does All This Relate to Public Speaking?

Burt noted that if opportunities in conventional media are slow in coming, you can self-publish.

My Published International Agribusiness Case Study Paper Will Open Doors of Speaking Opportunities

NB: By the way, note – in the above screen shot – that Burt started by saying: “Why get your words and ideas published?”

Final Words: Absolute and Unquestioning Faith Will Get You ANYWHERE You Want to Go – Including Public Speaking Heaven!

PS: By the way, did you click to read Burt Dubin’s article yet?

Useful Resources for Speakers

Get Burt’s mentoring :

THEY WROTE…

That dream is to own what I call a Home-Based Farm-Products-Brew-Pub.

Burt Dubin’s Public Speaking Mentoring

for Africa Based Experts(PDF…Click!)

**The thing is that experience (of shortage of cash) is rarely ever one-off.**