General, My DN Travel News, My Ideas for Making Nigeria Better

When a 3 Hour Journey Takes Half-a-Day Due to Traffic Jams, Some Person(s) Are NOT Doing Their Jobs

June 7, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

From 12 noon to 2.30 p.m yesterday, I had a meeting in Cotonou with a client. Then right after, I took off for Lagos. It’s now 1.51a.m, today 7th June 2014, and I’m typing this from my home in Lagos, Nigeria. A Lagos cab I hired from Mile 2, just dropped me off over ten (10) hours after I left Cotonou’s Seme border!

In other words, it’s taken me almost half a day to complete a journey that normally takes 2 to 3 hours!

Why? Because of some crazily inexplicably terribly massive traffic holdup along the Mile 2 axis!

Thousands of Man hours Wasted Weekly…

The taxi driver that drove us (me and 3 other passengers) from Seme border to Mile 2, explained that people who work at Cotonou and other border towns often return to Lagos, for the weekend, on Friday.

However, he also noted that like me, he’d only heard about how bad the traffic jams often got on such days, but had never experienced it until today.

If other Nigerians on the road felt they deserved a better way to spend their Friday evening, they certainly did not show it.

While we kept lamenting how bad it was that we had to lose so much time sitting and waiting for traffic to move inch by inch, others seemed to even thrive in all the chaos.

And believe me, there was massive C-H-A-O-S!

Nigerians are not known to be patient people. At the slightest sign of a delay with regard to anything they want, they promptly begin exploring alternative ways to achieve their goal.

And that’s not generally a bad thing.

Only that in the case of Nigerians, they often tend not to have any qualms about how they go about it. Both good and not so good methods appeal equally to them. So they begin driving against traffic, creating illegal lanes, and trying to all get in front at the same time.

Until everyone gets stuck, and there’s a jam.

Then untangling themselves becomes a problem. The usual flinging of insults at one another is stepped up to a whole new level. More creative use of adjectives and expletives are employed.

What made it all the more interesting was that we never set eyes on ANY of the "famous" Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officers.

Not even one of them. Or maybe they got tired of the mess and left before we arrived.

I asked the driver why they were not around.

He replied that the LASTMA guys have only one job they recognize as theirs to do. And it has little to do with managing traffic. Instead what interests them is the opportunity to make money by "catching" traffic offenders, towing people’s vehicles and other opportunistic stuff of that kind.

I believe this is one of the reasons Nigeria and Nigerians are such a strange lot.

For me, this experience is one that I am determined NEVER to have again in my life.

Never again will I make the mistake of traveling after 2p.m on Friday to Lagos. Never, ever again will I travel to Lagos without first checking to ascertain the state of traffic along the roads on the Nigerian end.

And if you’re smart, you won’t either. Take it from me, sitting in a taxi for 10 hours can be a most unpleasant and frustrating experience. No one deserves to experience such depravation. It;s a pity the relevant authorities have yet to take concrete steps to eliminate this problem.

Yet it’s causing so much socioeconomic damage. Such a pity.

UPDATE(@0846): I forgot to mention that apart from the extreme form of travel related stress, we also had to contend with serious threats to our physical and financial well being.

Here’s the verbatim text of a phone text message I sent out this morning, that should give you an idea of what we had to contend with:

Can you believe I arrived Mile 2 at 12.30a.m? Crazy (traffic) holdup since 4p.m. It was terrible! Touts were robbing people in dark areas. And we got warnings of (armed robber) ambushes on certain routes. Had to hire Lagos cab N3k to get home. Slept at 3.30 after publishing my website article. Need rest. Coming here so stressful!

And if you’re wondering what happpened to the Police…

Well, that was the exact same question we asked ourselves, each time we saw colourfully decorated – but unmanned -bikes with “POLICE” stickers, parked around the rowdy Mile 2 park area!!!

Career Development, Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, My DN Travel News, My Ideas for Making Nigeria Better, Parenting, Self-Development

Treat People As Though They Were What They Ought To Be (A Management Tip from Johann Von Goethe)

June 5, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

The fact that THAT man or woman is sweeping floors today in your company today, does not mean s/he cannot be the owner of a successful business tomorrow. Actually, s/he could one day become YOUR boss, or indeed the CEO of the company you work for! Countless examples abound!!

Where I come from (Nigeria) people like to say “No condition is permanent”.

History has proven this to be so, many times over.

But some people just refuse to stop judging the ability or competence of others by their looks or appearances.

The fail to realise that it’s what appears on the surface may not accurately represent what lies below it. They fail to avoid being superficial in their thinking.

In case you wonder how this habit/tendency constitutes a problem…

Consider the possibility that a person(s) fond of judging people by outward appearances, are chosen to handle selection of a new set of Graduate Trainees into your company…

Or maybe in your local council, they are to select “youthful talents” to represent the state in some competitive sporting events.

What is likely to happen is that the initial screening stages would be characterised by random assumptions being made about the abilities of the boys and girls who show up or apply – based on how they “look”.

Among other possibilities, a cross-eyed person would be regarded as “potentially dishonest”…even though s/he may have been born that way!

This could result in non-inclusion of some uniquely talented youngsters whose “looks” or unusual style do not impress the “officials”.

If the “problem” is not immediately apparent to you, let me use some notables historical examples to illustrate:

a. We are told that Julius Caesar was an epileptic, yet his name remains etched in history till this day

b. Charles Dickens was lame, but that did not stop him from becoming a successful author

c. Plato was a hunchback, yet today many of us find it apt to quote him on various subjects that he chose to comment on.

d. Collin Powell started as a floor mopper but is today retired having served in one of the most exalted positions in the American Armed Forces and Government.

e. And then there is the story of Helen (in my opinion “Superwoman”) Keller, who was supposed to be multiply handicapped and yet recorded MORE achievements than most “normal” people!

The list goes on – underscoring the fact that people can overcome their (seeming) outward limitations to succeed in ways NOT expected by those who see them.

Maybe I should bring it even closer home.

If YOU were asked to pick from a group of ten(10) people, one person who looks like an International athletics champion…

a. Wwould you pick a skinny, frail looking guy with (seemingly) sunken eyes (which incidentally is the typical appearance of many world champion class long distance runners)

b. Or would you choose the fierce/aggressive looking guy with rippling muscles(a description befitting most short distance/sprint athletes)?

At the risk of sounding presumptuous, I want to say that I am reasonably certain that MANY people would pick someone fitting the latter description!

People generally assume a muscular, person to be more capable of achievment than a slim/skinny looking person – who may NOT necessarily be weak!

That’s why in real life, few sports persons in the sprints can boast of having the phenomenal endurance and stamina possessed and displayed during races by long distance runners.

To those of us who are uninitiated, they however seldom look the part at first glance.

It is only when they demonstrate their innate abilities on the tracks or field that we recognise their genius and THEN begin to believe!

“Genius does not show itself on a person’s face so that others can see it and then respect or recognise him/her for it. That’s why we must NEVER write people off without FIRST (and as often as possible afterward) giving them a FAIR and IMPARTIAL opportunity to SHOW what they can do” – Tayo K. Solagbade

Just as it is with sports, so it is in life.

Sadly, most of us are often initially unwilling to give others a chance, because their “looks” or appearances suggest they CANNOT. As a result, some unlikely geniuses who come our way get sidetracked by our “screening” panels.

Just imagine what would have happened if Helen Keller had never been given a chance to excel like she did. Our world would NOT have enjoyed the blessing of her talents like it has!

We need to learn to stop using people’s outward appearances to JUDGE what they can or cannot do.

It would be so much better – for us, those we assess, and the rest of society – if we focus on “teasing” out people’s FULL potentials so we can draw accurate assessments of the value they can add to us at any point in time.

The following quote, by a very wise man, provides a fitting end to this piece:

“Treat people as though they were what they ought to be, and you help them become what they’re capable of being” – Johann Von Goethe

PS: This article is based on excerpts from an issue of Tayo Solagbade’s Self-Development Digest first published online on 4th February 2008, on spontaneousdevelopment.com.

Career Development, My DN Travel News, Self-Development

5 Ways To Achieve Leadership Success As a Manager

June 4, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

In case you did not know it, being a manager does not automatically make you a leader. To become a leader, a manager must act in ways that bring about desired PROGRESS, by INFLUENCING others.

In this article, I share my personal experience based insights about how to do just that.

At the end, I include a link to Gen. Collin Powell’s excellent paper titled “A Leadership Primer”, from which I gained useful insights to achieve rapid career advancement, as a high performing manager, during my 7 year stay in Guinness Nigeria.

1. Forget What They Teach You In Management Courses.

Okay, maybe you shouldn’t “forget”, but don’t let it hold you back at work.

Management school studies present issues in an orderly manner. Real-life situations often present themselves in the EXACT opposite way, even as they demand YOUR prompt action!

I suggest you identify individuals you look forward to relieving, and focus on studying what they do that makes them competent to occupy their positions.

Also, read books based on real-life studies/true stories about successful career persons. Apply what you learn.

2. Continually Ask Yourself Questions That Remind You Of Your Boss’ Expectations.

Ask yourself what role you need to play to help him/her and the entire team, succeed.

Do this often enough and you will soon be thinking like him/her, and sharing his/her concerns – and taking appropriate action to get the desired results.

It’s only a matter of time before s/he stops “worrying” about following up with you to be sure you’re doing what s/he NEEDS you to do in order that s/he might deliver the results the management expects.

3. Demonstrate(And Act Based On) Keen Awareness Of The Company’s Priorities – And You’ll Get Noticed.

If you can work hard enough to understant WHAT is important to your boss(and/or company), WHY it is important, and HOW you can do YOUR own job to help achieve those important goals, you WILL ALWAYS be a valuable member of the team.

Do this long enough, and s/he(plus “others” who watch) will be unanimous in recommending you for assignments or secondments to higher positions.

4. Master Your Area Of Interest Or Intended Activity – And Word Will Spread About You.

Your demonstrated competence on the job and proficiency in implementing related tasks will boost your chances of doing well when you get the opportunity to act in a higher position.

This is why you MUST work HARD on yourself – relentlessly. In addition, make it your number one priority to gain as deep an understanding/insight as the person you know to be BEST in each area you expect to be responsible for, while on secondment.

For instance, if there is a particular problematic machine whose performance determines how well your department will perform in terms of output, you want to find out ahead of time.

(a) What is required to keep it working with minimal stoppages?

(b) Who the best hand(s) is(are) to get it back in working order if it does stop working?

(c) What alternative options are available to you in the event that it REFUSES to work despite efforts to revive it?

Pssst: Here’s a secret about learning “valuable but hidden insights” from subordinates/others with YEARS of experience…

Many times the old hands, usually in the lower cadres or rungs of the ladder know the answers you seek.

Not because they have more education, but because they’ve been around so long, and seen so much of it happen again and again, with the benefit of also witnessing what solutions worked and WHO came up with them.

Get them on your side, and they will open doors of insider information/pockets of wisdom frequently inaccessible to persons unwilling to get down from their high-horses.

5. Show That You Are NOT Scared Of Taking Tough Decisions, Intelligent Risks And/Or Initiating Change.

Collin Powell once said “Being responsible sometimes means pissing people off.”

To convince decision makers that you can hold important positions, you MUST show that you can take needed decisions/actions – regardless of who is affected.

Also, you must not suppress your creative instincts in doing the things outlined in 1 to 4 above. Successful companies know progress depends on periodically re-inventing themselves internally and externally.

That’s why they value people with the guts to break from established tradition to develop new ways of thinking and doing things – which inevitably help the company.

Actively(and responsibly) explore opportunities to introduce useful change.

Sometimes your instincts will tell you the recommended “way” will not yield the best results, and a different solution would pop into your head. If you have worked hard enough on yourself as suggested above, you will KNOW when it would be right to follow YOUR instincts. Anytime you feel that way, DO IT! When you succeed, the news will get around.

Sometimes you may not succeed :-).

But that would not be bad. You would have learnt something useful. If your boss is smart, s/he will acknowledge you for taking a decision that required courage. Decision makers could even take that to be evidence that you have the makings of someone who can lead others/occupy higher positions(YOUR desired goal)!

Final Words: The following quotes provide a fitting end to all I’ve said in this piece.

Keep them in mind, and apply them always, and you will not go wrong:

‘Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.’- Anonymous

“All successful employers are stalking people who will do the unusual, people who think, people who attract attention by performing more than is expected of them.” — Charles M. Schwab

“Powell’s Rules for Picking People:” Look for intelligence and judgment, and most critically, a capacity to anticipate, to see around corners. Also look for loyalty, integrity, a high energy drive, a balanced ego, and the drive to get things done.

Click here to Download Collin Powell’s Colin Powell’s tips for leadership (NB: This opens into a new browser window and takes you to www.policeone.com/. You’ll see the download link close to the page top when you get there. If you find the font for titles or subtitles in the power point file displays funny characters, simply highlight it and choose Arial or some other common font available on your system)

PS: This article was first published in the Monday 12th June 2006 issue no. 2 of my Monthly Self-Development Digest Newsletter, then hosted on spontaneousdevelopment.com – my former domain (Click here to read “What happened to Spontaneousdevelopment.com”).

Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, My DN Travel News, What Happened to SpontaneousDevelopmentDotCom ?, Writing/Blogging

Problem Solving Content, NOT Domain Names, Determine Web Marketing Success (Plus: FAQs About My Excel-VB Poultry Farm Manager Software)

June 3, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

In this recent article (click to read) I explained why I believe domain names can no longer determine web marketing performance like they used to. Well, the results I’m getting since losing my 9 year old spontaneousdevelopment.com a month ago, are proving me right!

In less than 4 weeks, I’ve re-built my website and re purposed the content onto my 1 year old domain (tayosolagbade.com), AND my sales leads generation – and conversion – has actually increased!

Maybe if my income has been pay per click based, the story would have been different. I cannot say, since I’ve never sold ads on my website.

Instead, my online presence has always been focused on generating quality SALES leads for my unique range of products and services.

Hint: Careful analysis of the sources of these leads, has given me deeper insights into how to maximize the results I’m getting. Want to know what I discovered? Email me via tayo at tksola dot com.

One product that’s getting even more popular by the day, judging from enquiries I keep getting via email, web form and even Facebook, is my Excel-VB Driven Poultry Farm Manager.

Today, I was in a conversation with a prospect who’d emailed me from Owerri in Nigeria about my popular feed formulation handbook. I’d replied that he call me on my mobile line here in Cotonou (+229-66-122-136), and he’d done that this morning.

We spoke for over 10 minutes, during which time I learnt that he was rearing about 1000 birds, and wanted help reducing his feeding costs.

Like so many others, he was buying commercial feed, and that was leaving him with next to nothing in profits by the time sales were done.

From my assessment of his understanding of feed formulation, I told him he would be better off purchasing my handbook (to learn best practice feed formulation and compounding), along with the Ration Formulator software (to put what he learns into practical use).

He agreed, and we discussed prices …etc.

Then he mentioned that he also wanted to be able to measure performance parameters for his birds, like mortality rates etc.

At this point I really began to like the young man. He was really thinking smart.

And that’s something that always excites me. You see, I am keen to connect with business owners who are willing to dig deeper to better understand their operations, so as to get improved results.

I told him that he would find my Poultry Farm Manager app useful for tracking mortality rates and other useful Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) like Hen Day Percentages, Feeding Rates , Feed to Eggs Conversation Ratio (for layers), as well as Feed to Flesh Conversion Ratio (for broilers).

Incidentally, that was not all we’d talked about…he also wanted to know why I shuttle between two countries (as you probably do too)…

During our conversation, he asked my why I was not based in Nigeria, given what I told him was the heavy patronage I was getting from Farm CEOs in Nigeria.

It was a question many before him had asked me.

Since we were on phone, I went ahead and gave him a brief explanation, that was a summary of what I’ve since written in an published some months back.

In case you also wonder, it’s titled "Why I relocated from Nigeria to Benin Republic"(click to read).

We spoke a little longer about this, just before the connection broke (for the 3rd time – each time he’d called back).

About 5 minutes later a phone text message from him arrived that read as follows:

“Tayo,
I need the (Poultry) Management software. Pls. I will also need clarification on how one can separate broiler chicks from layer chicks after hatching your eggs. Or how can one produce broiler chicks and layer chicks? Thanks for your time."

Here’s the email I sent him in response…

====Start of Email Transcript====

Hi John,

Since you want to purchase the Poultry Farm Manager as well, the total investment breakdown is now as follows:

1. Feed Formulation Handbook – N8,000.00

*All handbook buyers get a FREE copy of my 30 page Annotated Pictorial Introduction to Feed Ingredients (N7,500 value) – you get it FREE.

2. Excel-VB driven Ration Formulator – N12,500.00

3. Excel-VB driven Poultry Manager (Mini Monthly version) – N25,000.00

Click the link below to download/view the PDF preview of the Mini Monthly version of the Poultry Farm Manager: I created this mini version following requests from farm owners from within/outside Africa for a less "pricey" version.

<Download link removed – email tayo at tksola dot com if you want it>

You can watch the demonstration video for the original, full fledged version of the Excel Visual Basic driven Poultry Layers Farm Operations Management software (priced at N250k):

http://www.tayosolagbade.com/pfmgr.html

ABOUT PAYMENT….

<text deleted>

Find payment details below:

<Bank details removed – email tayo at tksola dot com if you want them>

Email or SMS me the transaction details if/when you pay, so I can confirm(in case the alert does not come).

PRODUCT DELIVERY DETAILS:

Once your payment is confirmed, I’ll email you the items you’ve paid for, personalized with your name and other details (including your photo, if you send it in).

The Excel-VB Ration Formulator app will be accompanied by a PDF user guide that gives step-by-step instructions on how to use it.

Same applies to the Poultry Farm Manager.

The Feed Formulation handbook will be delivered as a PDF document, as will its accompanying 30 page Annotated Pictorial Introduction to Feed Ingredients.

Recent buyers in Kano, Jos, Uyo and Warri have paid to have me send them physical printed/bound copies of the handbook, and branded DVDs containing the software, complete with tutorial videos etc, via Fed Ex and DHL. If you want that, let me know.

Whatever you choose to buy, I will be accessible by phone/Skype/Facebook chat or email to support you.

Let me know if you have further queries.

You can call me on +229-66-122-1361 (in Cotonou) or +234-803-302-1263 (if I’m in Nigeria).

With kindest regards.

Tayo K. Solagbade

====End of Email Transcript====

Now, just 24 Hours Earlier, I’d email a detailed response to questions sent in by a Tanzanian poultry farmer about my Poultry Farm Manager software!

He’d watched the video I put online, and contacted me via the web form on the video page.

Following my initial response, he sent in a series of questions that I believe others may find my answers to useful.

So, here’s a verbatim transcript of the email I sent to the Poultry Farm CEO in Tanzania, yesterday (2nd June 2014)…

====Start of Email Transcript====

Isaac,

1. You asked: How much is the software in dollars?

Answer:

I always refer prospective international buyer to http://www.coinmill.com or http://www.xe.com

See attached screen shot taken some minutes ago, when I converted N25k to USD using www.coinmill.com

It came to $154.32 USD.

If you wanted to check for N250k, that would be a multiple of 10 i.e. $1,543.2 USD

2. You asked: How will I receive the software after payment

Answer:

2 possibilities…

A. I email it to you in a compressed zipped folder (.zip extension)

In the email will be a download link to a PDF user guide, personalized for your use, with your contact details.

B. If you prefer, I could send it to you on a DVD, with the PDF user guide You cover courier delivery feeds. Last time I checked, delivery to Tanzania was N15k via Fed ex

In my opinion, choose this option only if you’d like to pickup another physical product, like my Feed Formulation & Compounding Video Tutorials, Handbook & Software Bundle.

Otherwise the courier expense overhead would be too great.

The decision is however yours to make.

3. You asked: How do I pay?

Three (3) possibilities:

A. Bank transfer to my USD denominated domiciliary account with…

B. Via Western Union

C. <third option removed for privacy. I regard it as a last option as it involves receiving payment via a 3rd party>

4. You asked: any surety with the software that it has been approved to work for both broiler farmers and layer farmers. Looking forward to hear from you.

Answer:

Not sure what you mean by "approved"…

I have never had to get my apps "approved" for use.

Basically, I expect those who come to me to know what they want.

If they don’t I offer guidance about what would be useful to have for best practice purposes.

If they are convinced, they go on to buy.

If they are NOT convinced, we part ways amicably. :-))

Now, if on the other hand, you meant to ask whether my Poultry Farm Manager has been "proven" to work for broilers and layers, here’s my answer. And it is necessarily a bit long:

Isaac, there’s another app I sell to farmers, which is more popular is the Excel-VB Ration Formulator (See video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99xm1EQJJdo)

It has been bought and used by buyers within and outside Africa since 2004.

During that time I have actively taken feedback from users who were willing to give it, to improve on it.

That’s why it’s evolved into the powerful, yet highly flexible, low cost and user friendly feed formulation resource it is today.

I decided to develop the Ration Formulator when I identified an unmet need for such a solution in the market, through my interaction with Farm CEOs.

The same situation led me to develop the Poultry Farm Manager for a 12,000 layer farm in 2009. The couple who owned the farm hired me to build it for them.

So we sat down to draw up the Functional Requirements Specifications, that ensured the final app did exactly what we agreed was needed to allow daily data recording and report generation for timely decision making.

Since then, I have customized it for use with another farm in South West Nigeria. It was after finishing that project and writing about it on my website that I began getting enquiries from farmers from even the USA.

This made me realize that once again, off-the-shelf apps probably did not meet the needs of farm owners. That was when I chose to put the Poultry Farm Manager software online for sale.

Take a good read through the PDF I sent you, and you’ll see I mentioned that the app was originally built for Layers farms.

However, many of the enquiries I’ve been getting have come from Broiler farm owners – some having both broilers and layers.

That’s why I (as I said in the PDF I sent you) I decided to ADD extra interfaces to capture broiler records and generate corresponding industry relevant Broiler Key Performance Indicators (e.g. Feed to Flesh Conversion Ratio and Feeding Rate).

Anyone who buys the N25k app will find it offers useful value well ABOVE the N25k s/he’s paid. You would be able to use it satisfactorily to do what it promises as spelt out in my PDF.

Simply put, it works. And you have access to my zero cost support 24/7 via phone email, facebook, chat etc, if any issues arise.

This is the trade off I am willing to make, to help interested Farm CEOs.

Those who decide they want the rest of the full app’s features can then let me know.

Anyone who wants special inclusions/modifications will also let me know, and I would supply details of what delivering that would entail.

This is how I work Isaac.

I collaborate with farm owners to develop low cost custom solutions that do what they need them to do.

Over time, with each app, I am able to fine tune the main app, using the feedback I get, to instantly be used by all other businesses. This was how I got my Ration Formulator to be ready-for-use by anyone.

And it was also how I got my Payslip Generator to be the same way (see video at http://www.excelheaven.biz or http://www.excelheaven.tayosolagbade.com)

Personally, I believe most smallholder farm businesses will continue to need the help of extension professionals highly skilled in low cost development of easy-to-use apps, to run their businesses.

A one size fits all solution will then evolve from those efforts. My successes over the years prove this is the way to go.

Hope this helps.

Do let me know if you have any further queries.

Tayo

====End of Email Transcript====

Are you interested in any of the above mentioned products?

Or do you have any questions of your own you want answered with regard to any of my products?

If yes, simply email me via tayo at tksola dot com or fill/submit this web form, to ask me now!

Final Words: What else can a website owner seeking QUALITY sales leads ask for?!

Such great sales conversations with serious prospective buyers happening almost every day of the week. And over 60% actually end up as sales!

Now, if the traffic widget on this blog is anything to go by, I’m getting NOTHING close to what I was getting when this website of mine was hosted on spontaneousdevelopment.com – the 9 year old website.

Yet, this newer domain tayosolagbade.com is harvesting much higher Google generated sales leads within less than ONE month!

Yet, all I do is create new content and deploy via my Web Marketing System online via different channel formats I’ve setup – NONE of which costs me any money.

Wow!

This proves what I’ve learnt over 10 years of studying the results I get online, that NOT everyone needs lots of traffic to make sales.

If you know what you sell, and identify your target audience correctly, then develop and implement an effective strategy for attracting those who fit your target audience profile, you’ll get all the traffic you need!

I can help you setup a similar smart leads generating Web Marketing System for your business. Email me via tayo at tksola dot com or fill/submit this web form, to tell me what you need help with .

Career Development, Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, My DN Travel News, Public Speaking, Self-Development

No. 144: Use Mental Abilities to Solve Your Physical Problems

June 2, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

I’m a keen student of human nature…comparing people from different cultures, especially with regard to how they tackle problems.

Here’s a hard truth I feel compelled t state: I’ve found many Nigerians/Africans unwilling to actively apply their mental abilities to solve everyday problems they face in the physical realm.

Our Culture Influences Our Attitudes Towards Thinking Up Lasting Solutions to Problems

CLICK HERE TO READ FULL ISSUE

Click now to view the latest issue of Tayo Solagbade's Public Speaking IDEAS page

Publication: Weekly Public Speaking IDEAS Newsletter

Date: Monday 2nd June 2014

No:144

Title: Use Mental Abilities to Solve Your Physical Problems

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/sdnuggets

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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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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IMPORTANT NOTE: THIS newsletter is published online on the “reincarnated” version of my Self-Development (SD) Nuggets blog. I continue to put finishing touches to the content. If you encounter ANY bad/dead links, and you can spare the time, email it to me via tayo at tksola dot com. Thanks in advance

No. 144: Use Mental Abilities to Solve Your Physical Problems

I’m a keen student of human nature…comparing people from different cultures, especially with regard to how they tackle problems.

Here’s a hard truth I feel compelled to state: I’ve found many Nigerians/Africans unwilling to actively apply their mental abilities to solve everyday problems they face in the physical realm.

Our Culture Influences Our Attitudes Towards Thinking Up Lasting Solutions to Problems

Out here, even well schooled persons sometimes display an aversion for investing quality THINKING time to evolve more efficient solutions to daily challenges in society.

This is why so much dependence on solutions from foreign cultures (often not directly usable!) exists.

A culture where people are too impatient to stop and think of a better way to solve a problem, is one that will most likely stay stuck with outdated methods for a long time, or keep depending on others.

In contrast, one that encourages – and rewards – people to spend quality time thinking of better ways to do things, will evolve to higher levels…and keep leading others.

Many Business Owners Out Here Are Often In a Hurry…To Do Things They Same Way They’ve Always Done Them!

What I’m saying here relates to stuff as simple as fetching water, cooking etc. It’s nice to use “traditional” ways – sometimes….

But the gas cooker and water pump make life much easier don’t they?

Guess where they were invented? How many “inventions” have WE sent over there? Hmm….

One would imagine that business persons, entrepreneurs especially, can influence a change. But what I’ve seen over the past decade suggests otherwise.

When you ask if they ever thought of a better way to do what they do, they often impatiently respond along the lines of:

“Look I don’t have time for that now. I’m too busy.”

But THAT tends to be the reason why they are always too busy…and rarely have time!

You see, they fail to make out time to THINK up more efficient ways to tackle their challenges. As a result problems mount and KEEP them busy!!

[Remember…life is a matter of percentages. So I am NOT saying ALL Nigerians/Africans are like this!]

Some Examples to Illustrate My Point…

Tell a Nigerian/African business owner that employing an army of “marketers” to find buyers for the 12,000 broilers ready for market may not be a smart way to spend money/time, and s/he might say “I don’t have time for theory!” – e.g. in reference to your suggestion that one marketer use a mix of offline and offline strategies to find high paying medium to long term bulk buyers.

Talk to him/her about using custom software to record data and generate performance indicators for decision making, and s/he’s likely to say “I don’t need it”.

Yet s/he and her staff could spend hours writing down farm data in books or posting them in manual Excel sheets, then struggling to analyse them into something sensible. That is, if they bother at all!

Quite often some give “cost” as an excuse for not buying.

But when cost is okay, and they buy, I’ve found many fail to USE what they buy! They “try” for a while, then dump it and go back to killing fires.

Here’s One Short But True Story, That Should Jolt You Into Taking Me Seriously…

I once had a Nigerian consultant client pay me N100k in full, up front to build an app for his building construction company.

For months later I tried to get a meeting to review the finished product with me, and he NEVER once made himself available.

So I dropped off the app on a CD, with user guide etc…

And till this day he has NEVER called me about it (even though we recently met at a social function, and I mentioned it…to which he just said – smiling in an embarassed manner – “Oh, you mean I never discusssed it with you?“)

“Amazing!”…is what you probably think about the above. “Scary” was what it was for me…!!!

The above is one of many experiences that made me decide to focus on serving Farm Business Owners. More of them use solutions they buy from me, and that gives me something to tell new prospects!

I’ve Seen This Happen Repeatedly: My Conclusion Is That It Boils Down to One’s “Mental Attitude”

This mental attitude “thing” is what made it possible for the “smallish” Bruce Lee, to fell opponents much MUCH bigger than himself, within seconds of combat…becoming a legend in the process.

Any martial arts expert who knows his/her stuff will tell you it’s not size that determines who wins.

And it’s not strength either.

Oh, you can have intelligence, speed, agility and all those other things.

But one thing which can outlast ALL those other strengths in your opponent, is an ability to use your God-given MENTAL abilities to THINK up creative ways to (and keep believing you CAN) WIN.

That’s Why All Experts – Including Farm CEOs and Speaking Professionals – Need to Read Napoleon Hill’s Think & Grow Rich

It offers a timeless proven formula for solving problems in ANY area of life…through the use of a MENTAL approach! Even top sportsperson in the world have used Hill’s formula to succeed for decades…

Here’s a quote I from it, that you may find useful…

“Top coaches, in their search for methods that will give their champions just that little bit extra over and above their regular scientifically devised training programme, are finding new inspiration in the doctrines of the great American expert (Napoleon Hill). They are adapting Napoleon Hill’s technique of mental approach to what is, essentially, a physical problem. Some have taken the PMA Science of Success course so they may apply the principles correctly.”

– Thomas H. Wyngard, an Australian newspaperman, in reference to the record breaking achievements of one time World’s Fastest Woman Swimmer, Dawn Fraser of Australia, who ascribed her success to following Napoleon’s recommendation in Think and Grow Rich, to “go the extra mile” physically, as we as mentally.

Source: Napoleon Hill’s Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude

Final Words: Start Using a Mental Approach to Get Better Results With Your Real-World Physical Problems

No matter what area of your life a problem affects, you’re better off investing quality time to THINK up a lasting solution once and for all.

Or you will end up punishing yourself.

Find effective solutions, and you’ll spend more time enjoying what you do.

a. If you’re a farm owner, this applies not just to producing farm output, but also finding good buyers.

Do you have a well thought out system for doing both?

Or is your approach a haphazard one?

I can help you. Click here to contact me.

b. If you’re an expert-who-speaks (and a Farm CEO should be!), do you have a routine for preparing and presenting your ideas to audiences.

Or again, is it just a haphazard process?

But then, maybe I’m getting ahead of myself here…

I should probably be asking: Do you even know what you can – and should – speak to audiences about?!

If your answer is No, contact Burt Dubin here, about his Speaking Success System. He can help you!

PS: In case you wonder why I say a Farm CEO should also be an expert-speaker, email tayo at tksola dot com and I’ll explain how doing so can earn you EXTRA income in multiple ways!)

*************

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*************

Have a great week :-))

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

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

Tayo K. Solagbade is a Location Independent Performance Improvement Specialist and Multipreneur (i.e. a highly versatile/multi-skilled entrepreneur), with a bias for delivering Best Practice solutions to

Farm Businesses and others.

Since 2002, he has earned multiple streams of income providing individuals and organisations with personal development training and coaching, custom MS Excel-VB solutions, web marketing systems/web hosting,

freelance writing services, and best practice extension support services (for farm business owners).

Tayo is the author of the Self-Development (SD) Bible™ and the popular Livestock Feed Formulation Handbook. He is also the developer of its accompanying Excel-VB driven Ration Formulator™ and the Poultry Farm Manager™ software.

He has delivered talks/papers to audiences in various groups and organisations, including the Centre for Management Development, University of Lagos, Christ Baptist Church, Volunteer Corps, Tantalisers Fast Foods

and others.

In May 2012 he was the Guest Speaker at the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development’s Annual Semester Entrepreneurial Lecture at Yaba College of Technology in Lagos.

On 1st April 2013, Tayo (who reads, write and speaks the French language) relocated to Cotonou, Benin Republic to begin slowly traveling across the West African region.

His key purpose is to deliver talks, seminars

and workshops on his key areas of focus and interest to interested audiences (Email tayo at tksola dot com for details).

When he’s not amazing clients with his superhuman skills (wink), Tayo works as the creative force behind his Daily Self-Development Nuggets blog – on which he also publishes his Weekly Public Speaking IDEAS

newsletter(which he uses to promote Burt Dubin’s Public Speaking Mentoring service to experts working across the African continent).

You can connect with him on Twitter @tksola.com and Facebook.

Visit Tayo Solagbade Dot Com, to download over over 10 performance improvement resources to boost your personal and work related productivity.

====
[IMPORTANT NOTE:====

On 4th May 2014, Tayo’s 9 year old domain (Spontaneousdevelopment dot com), which hosted his website, was taken over by Aplus.net.

Within a few days however, Tayo used his advanced self-taught web development skills to build a SUPERIOR “reincarnation” of it the website http://www.tayosolagbade.com.

But updates are still ongoing to URLs bearing the old domain name in most of the over 1,000 web pages, and blog posts

he’s published.

If you experience any difficulties finding a page or document, email Tayo at tksola dot com.

Click “Tayo, What Happened to SpontaneousDevelopmentDotCom ?” to read a detailed narrative about how the above event occurred :-))

Here’s an article Tayo wrote, to inspire others to defy adversity, and bounce back to even greater reckoning at what they do EVERY time:

Succeed by Emerging from Adversity Like a Phoenix (TayoSolagbade.com launches extra Hosting plan with FREE Web Marketing!)

And he wrote the one below, to explain why losing a domain name, no matter how old NO LONGER determines your online success or otherwise:

A Proven Strategy to Find Profitable Buyers Regardless of Your Domain Name

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

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Burt Dubin works with people who want to be speakers, and with speakers who want to be masters. Click here to visit his website NOW and submit a contact form message telling him what challenges you’re facing, and how you’d like him to help you. Tell him I sent you, and you’ll get a pleasant surprise offer from him.

Burt Dubin’s monthly Speaking Biz Strategies Letter [Signup & get a 7-Part Email Course on “How To Succeed And Get Paid As A Professional Speaker“]

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

1. Top Shelf [Click here]

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Burt Dubin’s latest book: “On Being a Master“

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Discover these secrets of making your programs more interesting and valuable to your clients and audiences now.

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

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Discover how you can produce a precious memento of you and your program. Capture over 44 model pages you can easily adapt for your use. Engage proven principles that add value to the experience of sitting at your feet and learning from you.

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

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—

NEW: Your Practical Feed Formulation (& Compounding) Home Study Video Series Is Now Available

Click here to learn more

FREE TALK: How a Best Operating Process Management Sysem (BOPMS)™Will Earn Your Farm MORE Profits!

Download above PDF

FREE TALK: 3 Zero Cost Strategies to Attract Profitable Buyers for Your Farm Products!

Download above PDF

NEW: Coaching Program for Farm Products Marketing Success

THEY 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).

—————————–

“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).

———————–

Click here to contact Tayo…




SD Nuggets Blog™	New posts from last week that may interest you! *
Public Speaking[Monday]:	No. 143: Why Farm Owners Need Best Practice Education
Entrepreneurship[Tuesday]:	The Secret Formula for Learning ANYTHING You Want (Hint: MAKE YOURSELF A TEACHER’S DELIGHT By DEVELOPING PASSION/ENTHUSIASM FOR LEARNING)
Self-Development [Wednesday]:	A Proven Strategy to Find Profitable Buyers Regardless of Your Domain Name
Entrepreneurship[Thursday]:	Raw Blood from the Abattoir Cannot Be Used as “Blood Meal” for Ration Formulation (Conversation with a Farm CEO learning Best Practice Feed Formulation and Compounding)
General [Friday]:	FREE Excel-VB Livestock Ration Formulator Software for YOU!
Writing/Blogging/Entrepreneurship [Saturday]:	What You Need to Achieve Web Marketing Success (4 Tips)

Burt Dubin’s Public Speaking Mentoring

for Africa Based Experts(PDF…Click!)

Thousands of Man hours Wasted Weekly…

And believe me, there was massive C-H-A-O-S!

What made it all the more interesting was that we never set eyes on ANY of the "famous" Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officers.

I believe this is one of the reasons Nigeria and Nigerians are such a strange lot.

Here’s the verbatim text of a phone text message I sent out this morning, that should give you an idea of what we had to contend with:

And if you’re wondering what happpened to the Police…

Where I come from (Nigeria) people like to say “No condition is permanent”.

Consider the possibility that a person(s) fond of judging people by outward appearances, are chosen to handle selection of a new set of Graduate Trainees into your company…

If the “problem” is not immediately apparent to you, let me use some notables historical examples to illustrate:

The list goes on – underscoring the fact that people can overcome their (seeming) outward limitations to succeed in ways NOT expected by those who see them.

At the risk of sounding presumptuous, I want to say that I am reasonably certain that MANY people would pick someone fitting the latter description!

Just as it is with sports, so it is in life.

We need to learn to stop using people’s outward appearances to JUDGE what they can or cannot do.

1. Forget What They Teach You In Management Courses.

2. Continually Ask Yourself Questions That Remind You Of Your Boss’ Expectations.

3. Demonstrate(And Act Based On) Keen Awareness Of The Company’s Priorities – And You’ll Get Noticed.

4. Master Your Area Of Interest Or Intended Activity – And Word Will Spread About You.

Pssst: Here’s a secret about learning “valuable but hidden insights” from subordinates/others with YEARS of experience…

5. Show That You Are NOT Scared Of Taking Tough Decisions, Intelligent Risks And/Or Initiating Change.

Actively(and responsibly) explore opportunities to introduce useful change.

Sometimes you may not succeed :-).

Final Words: The following quotes provide a fitting end to all I’ve said in this piece.

PS: This article was first published in the Monday 12th June 2006 issue no. 2 of my Monthly Self-Development Digest Newsletter, then hosted on spontaneousdevelopment.com – my former domain (Click here to read “What happened to Spontaneousdevelopment.com”).

Maybe if my income has been pay per click based, the story would have been different. I cannot say, since I’ve never sold ads on my website.

One product that’s getting even more popular by the day, judging from enquiries I keep getting via email, web form and even Facebook, is my Excel-VB Driven Poultry Farm Manager.

Then he mentioned that he also wanted to be able to measure performance parameters for his birds, like mortality rates etc.

Incidentally, that was not all we’d talked about…he also wanted to know why I shuttle between two countries (as you probably do too)…

We spoke a little longer about this, just before the connection broke (for the 3rd time – each time he’d called back).

Here’s the email I sent him in response…

Now, just 24 Hours Earlier, I’d email a detailed response to questions sent in by a Tanzanian poultry farmer about my Poultry Farm Manager software!

So, here’s a verbatim transcript of the email I sent to the Poultry Farm CEO in Tanzania, yesterday (2nd June 2014)…

Are you interested in any of the above mentioned products?

Final Words: What else can a website owner seeking QUALITY sales leads ask for?!

Yet, all I do is create new content and deploy via my Web Marketing System online via different channel formats I’ve setup – NONE of which costs me any money.

I can help you setup a similar smart leads generating Web Marketing System for your business. Email me via tayo at tksola dot com or fill/submit this web form, to tell me what you need help with .

No. 144: Use Mental Abilities to Solve Your Physical Problems

Our Culture Influences Our Attitudes Towards Thinking Up Lasting Solutions to Problems

Many Business Owners Out Here Are Often In a Hurry…To Do Things They Same Way They’ve Always Done Them!

One would imagine that business persons, entrepreneurs especially, can influence a change. But what I’ve seen over the past decade suggests otherwise.

Some Examples to Illustrate My Point…

Here’s One Short But True Story, That Should Jolt You Into Taking Me Seriously…

I’ve Seen This Happen Repeatedly: My Conclusion Is That It Boils Down to One’s “Mental Attitude”

That’s Why All Experts – Including Farm CEOs and Speaking Professionals – Need to Read Napoleon Hill’s Think & Grow Rich

Final Words: Start Using a Mental Approach to Get Better Results With Your Real-World Physical Problems

a. If you’re a farm owner, this applies not just to producing farm output, but also finding good buyers.

b. If you’re an expert-who-speaks (and a Farm CEO should be!), do you have a routine for preparing and presenting your ideas to audiences.

*************

SPECIAL PRODUCT FEATURE

“Inside Speaking Business Success Secrets”

*************

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

==== [IMPORTANT NOTE:====

Here’s an article Tayo wrote, to inspire others to defy adversity, and bounce back to even greater reckoning at what they do EVERY time:

And he wrote the one below, to explain why losing a domain name, no matter how old NO LONGER determines your online success or otherwise:

Useful Resources for Speakers

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

Publications

THEY WROTE…

…a multi-disciplinary blog for people passionate about reaching their goals!

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

====
[IMPORTANT NOTE:====