I am not sure how many of you on my mailing list know what it feels like to endure YEARS of VERY erratic power supply on a daily basis from your country’s power company.
That’s what Nigerians in Nigeria endure daily.
During my visits to Ghana (in 2005) and Cameroon (in 1999 and 2001) most people did not believe that in Nigeria, a person may go WEEKS without power – even as his neighbor continues having it!
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At about 8pm this past Wednesday(20/08/14), I had a 10 minute phone conversation with Hakim, an Algerian Phd Student who’d contacted me (from Algeria) via my website about my Ration Formulator. By the end of the call, I sent him a 3 day time limited demo of the app, for him to test run. However, 24 hours later, he replied that he could not formulate a ration.
This article now offers a verbatim version of the notes I sent to Hakim – for use by others who may be interested in the Excel-VB driven Ration Formulator.
Hakim.
Thank you for your message.
I took my time to deliberately interact with the copy of the app’s demo I sent you, JUST to be sure it works OK. And I can confirm that it does.So I ask:
Did you download and unzip, then CAREFULLY read the through the 4 large JPEG diagrammatic step-by-step guides I sent you?If YES, you should not have a problem using it, because they contain easy to follow instructions of how to use the app.
You must keep in mind that you need to FIRST understand how the app works BEFORE you can make successful use of it.My Ration Formulator has been sold to buyers within and outside Africa since 2004. It has evolved to incorporate improvements that make it Excel-novice proof and VERY user friendly, based on feedback from past buyers.
Therefore what you got is actually a superior version of what I began with a decade ago.It does NOT matter how you know how to do ration formulation. (You cannot enter formulas or modify formulas in my app. There is no need to. Simply post your data and use the controls provided to generate the formula you want.)
What matters is that you give the app what it needs to generate a ration formula you want. Then if you want to check if the app’s result is CORRECT, use YOUR OWN method of deriving ration formula to DOUBLE CHECK and verify if what the app gives you is CORRECT or not.
This is what many other buyers have done, and even used to evaluate ration formulas given to them by university professors – with success!
However, my over 2 decades of experience developing apps for use by busy, working adults, who often are pressed for time, has taught me to make my user guides as easy to comprehend as possible.
And I also learnt to present the user guides in as many different formats as possible. The ones I sent you are the ones most people used to make up their minds in the past.
In light of the challenges you seem to have getting up to speed with using the app, I refer you to ALL of the guide resources now…
1. VIDEO TUTORIALS/DEMONSTRATION:
The following videos detail the sequence of steps to follow in order to use the app successfully, and correctly.
Pay careful attention to what is demonstrated, then use what you learn.A. Starting up the app
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8B1yX8e-GYB. Updating the feed ingredients table
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwm2evN7x50C. Computing Feed Formula
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YWbqmh0MpA2013 UPGRADE version – In January 2013, I sent out FREE copies of the improved version of the app, with features demonstrated in the videos below. Those features also appear in the PDF and JPEG images attached to this email.
D. Free Upgrade version that Stores and Exports Your Derived Formulas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99xm1EQJJdoE. Free Upgrade version that Enables Ration Formulation 7 Additional Rows of Feed Ingredients
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChaF2MP0zEkThe above videos are found in my Youtube channel at:
youtube.com/user/TKSolagbadeSDAc2. Detailed 20 page PDF User Guide Document: See attached to this email
File name = screenshots_RATIONFORMULATOR.pdf (place it in same location as the app)
http://tayosolagbade.com/sdnuggets/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/screenshots_RATIONFORMULATOR.pdf
3. ANNOTATED SCREENSHOT IMAGE GUIDES
If you did NOT download them using the 2nd link in the email I sent yesterday, find them attached as individual files to this email as follows:
A. guide-1-nutrient composition table.jpg
http://tayosolagbade.com/sdnuggets/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/guide-1.jpg
B. guide-2-Computing a Ration Formula Using the Excel-VB Driven App.jpg
http://tayosolagbade.com/sdnuggets/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/guide-2.jpg
C. guide-3-Error Handling to Ensure You Get Reliable Ration Formulas
http://tayosolagbade.com/sdnuggets/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/guide-3.jpg
D. guide-4-The App Generates THIS Print-Ready Pearson Square Formula and Diagram Page.jpg
http://tayosolagbade.com/sdnuggets/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/guide-4.jpgIf you wish, you can click the "STORE THIS FORMULA…" button on the spreadsheet, to load a stored formula that I already prepared, and try making changes to it, to get a feel for how the app works.
NB: See 2 additional screen shot images (PNG) I created to support the 2013 upgrade version
E. rf-flyers1.png http://tayosolagbade.com/sdnuggets/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/rf-flyers1.png
F. rf-flyers2.png http://tayosolagbade.com/sdnuggets/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/rf-flyers2.png
Note that you have to understand the requirements for making successful use of it. And those are explained in the video as well as the JPEG image guides and also my PDF screen shot tutorial guide.
If you DO NOT take the pains to patiently study the various guides and understand how the app works, and how you are to use it to get the desired ration formula, you will encounter difficulties.
However, if you still need help, I offer you a SECOND OPTION below…
While you do the above, you can also take me up on the offer below. Your choice…
If you wish, I am prepared to get ANY data you have from you, and record a video in which I use YOUR supplied data to generate a ration formula for you.
In other words, you can tell me what you wish to achieve (say you have your own ingredients with their respective nutrient compositions, and you want to derive a ration using those materials with a particular protein content %, Energy content etc.
Simply send me ALL the data you wish to use in deriving that ration formula, and I will record a video of myself posting the data you sent me into the app, and then go on to demonstrate how to use the app, working with YOUR data posted into it, to generate the ration formula.
Of course, we will be assuming here that the data you send me will include ingredients with the right combination of nutrient values to enable derivation of the desired ration formula.
Note that if you choose to have me do the above, I WILL subsequently put up the finished video on my channel (and website) for others to watch, so they can learn.
If this additional option appeals to you, send me the data required to make it happen, and I’ll get back to you within 24 to 48 hours with a link to the new video, and I will also email you a spreadsheet containing the final ration computation table generated.
FINAL WORDS: I always support all my buyers to make successful use of my products.
So many people have purchased this app, and I maintain contact with most of them till this day.
Many actually call to discuss alternative cheaper ingredient types they can use in formulating rations with my app.In other words, it works for them. It will work for you if you take the pains to learn how it works and use it as recommended.
Like I said above, if that option interests you, send me your data and I’ll do a recording showing how to use them with my app.With kindest regards,
TayoPS: If it happens that you have specific additional needs that the app does NOT currently cater for "as is", that would be a different matter. In such a case, I offer a development service to "extend" or "customize" the app to more than it currently does, or to do what it does differently to suit a buyer’s peculiar needs.
PPS: In anticipation of the possibility that some other prospective buyer in future may have similar challenges to yours, excerpts from the above email to you will be published as a new article on my blog. And I’ll subsequently email the link to such a person to read and act upon. This is why I NEVER find it hard to invest quality time and energy to address requests for information/support from anyone. 99% of the time, I end up better off, because I come away with NEW and USEFUL content to offer on my website.
Do let me know if you have any further queries.
This afternoon I created a detailed 3 part video demonstration in which I used his data to formulate a ration towards set of target nutrient values he specified.
I will be uploading them tomorrow after which I will email him the links and publish a blog post with the videos on this blog.
As you can see, I’ve used this exchange with Hakim to begin creating an additional library of useful resources to further promote my Ration Formulator to new buyers.
This approach is what I have always used, with great results to show, over the past decade.
To succeed at what you do, I recommend you adopt a similar strategy.
"There are no quick wins in business. It takes years to become an overnight success." – Richard Branson.
Since 2002, when I began offering unconventional Excel-VB (& other solutions) in Nigeria’s difficult socio-economic enviroment, I’ve grown my success by creatively applying ideas advocated by Richard Branson, and other authentic achievers.
It gave me the confidence I needed to strike out on my own, with my unique brand of smartly priced, yet high profile products and services.
And it has repeatedly enabled me "out market" and "out perform" bigger rivals to win profitable clients/buyers…without needing to spend big. In fact at zero cost sometimes!
I must stress however, that the key to profiting by learning from those who have succeeded (like Branson), is to be willing to CREATIVELY adapt what you learn to suit what will often be your UNIQUE needs.
"Focus on long-term progress, rather than rapid growth, and you’re more likely to go the distance." – Richard Branson
Learn more on the above theme from THE master himself – Sir Richard Branson in the article linked below titled "Business is an Endurance Race"
http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/business-is-an-endurance-race
Photo taken: Wednesday 23rd July 2014 outside a little cafe I periodically work from in Benin Republic’s Cotonou.
I took the above photo just after completing web marketing projects for 2 new clients in Cotonou: a 22 year old private university & a start-up multidisciplinary consulting firm.
Then I checked myself into a hotel to finish off editing and proof reading my new book (Kukuru Danger™: get FREE 20 page PDF preview from here).
(Hint: They’d NOT wanted email download links sent to them, and instead paid for courier delivery of the DVD version. I help such buyers save over N6,000 in courier fees by crossing over to dispatch packages from Fedex or DHL offices in Lagos).
Since getting here in Lagos, I’ve continued working on a new Web Marketing System I’m building for an Ota-Ogun State based NGO client.
Soon, I’ll return to Cotonou…
I AM living my dream.
And I NOW offer to help YOU (& also YOUR kids) do the same!
This article, and the image flyer above are precursors to the launch of my Personal Achievement Coaching (PAC)™ Program’s “Learning Products” – STAY TUNED!
Acquire Self-Development skills. Create The Future You Want™ – www.tayosolagbade.com
I’ve been accused of being arrogant several times – especially during my startup years. Some "critics" actually said MY arrogance was why I struggled in business back then. They told me to "humble" myself, so I could be "elevated". I laughed at such suggestions back then. And I still do today. Here’s why…
Indeed, based on extensive reflection, I have come to realize people often said these things to me, because they were NOT comfortable with the self-assured manner I spoke about my intentions and achievements.
Here’s the answer I always gave (and still give!) to those who accused me in this manner – whether to my face, or behind my back:
"I do not interprete speaking/acting self-confidently, the way I do, as arrogance. I speak/act that way because I KNOW who I am, and what I can do – if given a FAIR and IMPARTIAL opportunity, or what is called a LEVEL playing field, where there is no cheating (i.e. "Ojoro" or "Magomago"), or bad belle, or booby traps!"
And in virtually all cases, though sometimes after repeated failures, I achieved ALL OF THEM.
How come?
Well, it was mainly because I worked in an environment that was relatively (though not totally) devoid of devious manipulation by those with ulterior motives.
Neither could they set booby traps that could have created an unfair and impartial atmosphere, which could have limited my ability to achieve.
And that was why the head of the Guinness brewery I worked in, who had known me for less than 12 months, came to believe so greatly in me.
So much so, that he made very positive & flattering comments verbally, and on paper about me during send-forth ceremonies, after I quit my job to go into business for myself.
Among others things, he wrote that he honestly believed I was "…one of those who will succeed at anything he does".
He also wrote that he did not need to wish me good luck because he believed I could create my own luck!"
Wow. I’m sure you will agree that he must have seen me achieve some impressive results, in spite of obstacles I faced, to make him so SURE about me!
Ali was not into the business of massaging egos! He always spoke his mind and without apology to anyone.
For this reason, the press nicknamed him the "Louisville lip".
But guess what?
Americans did not punish him for being himself.
Instead, they challenged him to PROVE himself, and provided a fair and impartial opportunity for him to do so. Today, he is a living legend, known and loved by many, the world over.
On one occasion, when he appeared on TV, some individual phoned in to tell Bash Ali that he was "too arrogant; needed to humble himself; and should "give his life to Christ" etc.
I could not help asking:” What on earth was THAT about?!"
In Nigeria today, one has to endure exposure to all that negativity in order to still achieve one’s goals.
ONLY my indomitable will, and hunger to achieve, helped me survive so many attempts made to "pull-me-down" over the decade I was based in Nigeria, as a self-employed professional.
I have had relatives set me up, and then withdraw from an agreed arrangement when they knew I was most vulnerable.
I have even had a client use my name (without my knowledge) in a manner that cast me in a negative light on the Internet.
It took me over 2 weeks to get him to remove the offending document after I discovered this abuse by accident, while surfing the net.
Yet, in spite of all the above, I have today established myself as a reliable service provider in my areas of entrepreneurial focus – and it shows in my constantly growing client base – and increasing client profiles!
I should add that my success has grown even faster in the last 17 months, following my decision to relocate to Benin Republic.
The irony of it all is however the fact that over 90% of my buyers/clients today are persons based in Nigeria, who readily send payment to me, without knowing me in person, or meeting me in the flesh!
NB: This article is based on Tayo K. Solagbade’s original write-up which was first published online on 16 February 2010 via his 9 year old former primary domain name – www.spontaneousdevelopment.com.
I like Facebook a lot, but I’ve had to develop a strategy to beat its habit of sometimes inadvertently “hiding” potentially useful information from those who most need it. A good example is the amazingly educative story told on 18th August 2014 by the award winning Nigerian writer, Charles Ayo Dada on his Facebook wall.
He titled it:
“HOW I MADE MY FIRST MILLION AS A WRITER SELLING BOOKS…”
In the PDF version I’ve created, I’ve added this subtitle:
“A True Story About Potentially Traumatizing Sales & Marketing Dilemmas Book Authors Face in Nigeria”
But I knew that not all those who needed to read it, used the Internet, talk less Facebook. I also knew that even those who did use the web were not all connected with Charles on that platform.
What was more, I knew that even some of those who were connected with Charles on Facebook, would NOT (possibly NEVER) see that particular post, due to Facebook’s “habit” of burying old posts under new feeds that follow.
And that was why offering Charles’ story in a PDF format that people can download, print out and share in digital or print format instantly made sense to me.
This is why I strongly advocate that those who use it for business promotion LEARN how to mould Facebook’s “abilities” to suit their purposes, instead of letting it force THEM into its mould.
By the time you read this, will have sent it to Charles via email/Facebook and also posted THIS download link (i.e. http://tinyurl.com/Charles1stMillion) to it in the comments for the original “Story” post of Facebook, for interested others to download.
So, in case you read this and the link does NOT work, you can contact Charles for a copy via his Facebook profile, or email me via tayo at tksola dot com, so I can send it to you as an email attachment.
Answer…
If you’ve been following my work, you know I have a habit of identifying potentially useful content and repackaging it to be accessible by a wider audience.
Examples include the growing number of videos and audios that I have created PDF and Power Point text based transcripts of.
I recently wrote a new personal philosophy paper (in 2013 – see screen shot/download link below). It explains why I go out of my way to create these resources, on behalf of others. and share FREELY to others.
In the above paper, I noted that many in my part of the world – Africa, and especially Nigeria – often lack good Internet connectivity speeds. As a result, they are unable to conveniently watch videos or listen to/download audios – which can be quite large.
Consequently, for anyone who really wishes to successfully reach them with a message, s/he needs to employ an intelligent mix of media and formats.
That approach has helped me connect better with prospective buyers of my products and services and also close more sales. And it has also made public service information and education I offer reach those who really need them.
It is this expertise I possess, that I put at the disposal of others who I identify to offer material that can benefit others.
Since not everyone has the skills I possess, I contribute my own bit by using my expertise to help them represent the useful content they offer in other formats, to reach more people.
Hopefully this PDF version will help to achieve that goal. I urge you to share it via email and in print to as many as you know will benefit from reading it.
Charles has done us all a great service by writing this story.
Those about to venture into this vocation, and indeed those already engaged in it will find useful wisdom to take away from it.
I wish you well!
Well, it’s so as to avoid incurring any content copyright related penalties from search engines etc. You see this time around the repackaged information was ALREADY published in TEXT form online – specifically on Facebook, a very popular platform.
That means the search engines already linked it with the author’s name – Charles – and his profile. Putting up the verbatim text in my PDF version on my domain could sent wrong signals.
In fact you will notice, when you download the PDF that I did not even bother to append my name to it.
These days, it’s better to be safe than sorry…LOL!!!
I’ve already linked to the PDF personal philosophy paper that lists other similar resources I’ve created in the past. Once again I link to it HERE – click and read it, to better understand my purpose.
This is what I do. I am a Self-Development/Performance Improvement Specialist.
Helping others make the most of themselves is a passion of mine.
I need NO incentive from anyone to do it. I also require no “thanks” for doing it.
All I ask is that you share with others, and make the most of what you learn!
I recently read an appeal posted as a comment by a young MBA student on a millionaire’s Facebook page, asking the latter to consider investing in a business idea he had. My heart went out to young man, because I knew he needed to be told a (potentially) painful truth.
Don’t get me wrong. If there is a chance of getting a millionaire to buy into your business vision, by all means go ahead.
However, do NOT (and this is important) make the mistake of assuming that without some money bag backing you, success will be impossible.
Here’s why:
In reality, persistently harsh times make it much harder to raise funds today, than used to be the case.
Those who are millionaires or money bags, often built their fortunes by making smart investment decisions. This means they will naturally be on the lookout for proven and reliable opportunities to invest in.
People tend to get so self-focused, that they forget this.
Just as YOU are asking THAT money bag (or potential investor) to put his/her money in your new venture, so many others are most likely asking the same of him/her at the same time!
The question to ask yourself is this: Have you carefully reviewed your offer to be sure the potential investor will be convinced choosing yours will yield worthwhile returns on his/her investment – compared to others?
Sentiment tends to make many who seek funding blind themselves to doing an objective appraisal of the useful value their business ideas can deliver.
And this is often the reason many of them get frustrated due to inevitable rejection by those they approach.
This is the approach I have found from experience works best.
And if you truly believe in your idea, you will have NO problems investing the time and effort needed to try implementing it on your own.
I say this as one who started out in 2002 with funds from my last job, and lost it all within ONE year due to lack of experience, despite my passion and education. But persistence and determination kept me going, in pursuit of my vision.
I drank from the wells of wisdom of many successful entrepreneurs (locally and internationally) who chose to share what they knew. With time, I gained powerful experience based insights that led me to discover ways to attract others to GLADLY put down their money towards execution of plans and projects I conceived.
And that brings me to the main message I have for you. It has to do with getting the capital you need to achieve your valued goal.
You see, I’ve discovered that one can always get the funds one needs, if one is willing to put in time and effort required.
Taking action to begin on your own actually tends to inspire confidence in the minds of those who may have the means to support you. It would assure them you truly BELIEVE in yourself, and your dream.
That can often convince them that you are WORTHY of support.
Kennedy is the author of "How to Succeed in Business by Breaking All the Rules: A Plan for Entrepreneurs" – among others.
Cook is the author of "The Start-up Entrepreneur (How You Can Succeed in Building Your Own Company" – a New York Times Bestseller.
Hint: Google will tell you more about both men, and their excellent books. But you can also read issue Issue 155 of my weekly newsletter(click), in which I say a little more about Dan Kennedy’s book.
No it’s not.
In fact, a growing number of people are accepting it as a realistic way to achieve their business financing goals.
That’s why, for the young MBA student (mentioned at the start of this piece), I was not surprised to read at least 2 persons who posted responses advising him to do what I’ve proposed above.
i.e “start where you are with what you have, to get some essential experience under your belt FIRST”.
Instead, you will need to take diligent personal action to record results that inspire enough confidence in any person(s) you approach.
Hopefully, he will heed the wise counsel they’ve given him. Especisally if the millionnaire’s response does not come as and when he’s expecting it.
1. Why Lack of Capital Cannot Hold Your Business Back
2. If You Lack Capital, Intelligent Multipreneuring Can Help You Succeed
Last Friday (15th August 2014) a.m., at Mr. Biggs’ Maryland outlet in Lagos-Nigeria, I met – for the FIRST time ever in 2 years – with Enuenwemba Chukuyenum (Chuks) – a past buyer of my Ration Formulator app.
We shook hands, hugged, then held each other like old friends (see photo below), while my 15 year old son (who accompanied me as part of coaching I’m giving him) took a photo of us!
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"It should be encouraging to know that practically all great fortunes began in the form of compensation for personal services, or from sale of ideas. What else, except ideas and personal services, would one not possessed of property have to give in return for riches?" – Napoleon Hill in "Think & Grow Rich"
Business marketing is more competitive today than ever before! Except you are a monopoly or you enjoy exclusive distribution/sales rights, you WILL have to compete DAILY with others who do what you do for every NAIRA the customer wishes to spend.
Would it be reasonable to expect customers to choose to buy from you, when NOTHING significantly differentiates you – in a positive sense that is – from competitors who offer similar products and services? I doubt any CEO will say "YES"!
Let me use an analogy to drive this home. Think, for instance, about why YOU as a person typically choose to buy groceries from a particular store, and not another one. Even when the price and quality are the same, the fact that you get more courteous and personalized service from the former, could make you prefer to keep going back there. AND you would even refer others to the same place!
As a business owner, becoming the preferred choice of potential customers will naturally appeal to you. But you are NOT likely to achieve that desirable goal if you keep doing the same thing your competitors (and/or others in your industry) are doing – especially in terms of marketing and advertising.
Discounts, promos and other incentive programs are not bad, but it is only when creatively combined with unique offers that potential customers find useful, (and which competitors find hard to duplicate), that you GAIN a competitive advantage – leading to increased sales leads!
The unique offer I refer to will be one that gives buyers in the market place a COMPELLING reason to buy from you, even when your price is higher than that of other sellers!
Without the above, most of your marketing/advertising will amount to calculated gambling with limited chance of yielding sustainable results.
One proven way to build the needed credibility that will make buyers prefer you is to embark on diligent provision of accurate and HELPFUL information that:
a. Empowers potential buyers to make better informed buying decisions.
b. Simultaneously demonstrates you have the expertise to facilitate that process, should they choose to buy from you.
It’s so obvious, that I often wonder why many business owners out here still do not see it!
Once people come to ASSOCIATE your name and/or that of your company with such helpful information and other resources you provide, they are more likely to think of you when eventually they have a need related to your products/services offer.
To get started using this strategy, simply decide on the channel(s) you will use to reach out to potential buyers, with your HELPFUL information. Communication media like print newspapers, TV and radio readily come to mind and are often preferred by most people.
The truth is however that compared to a "web marketing system", those traditional channels are not just expensive, but they also have much shorter shelf-lives.
The above combine to help you achieve your goal of getting name/brand credibility.
The best part is you do NOT have to part with money to make use of them. All you need is an Internet Connection!
So, I urge you to try them before spending your hard earned money on more expensive alternatives.(Googling each of the aforementioned phrases could yield some ideas – but I also offer some of my own further down.)
Note that if you set up your web marketing system FIRST, any other communication channels (TV etc) you choose to use, will benefit from that. This is because your listeners, readers or viewers can be referred to your online system, increasing your chances of having those of them who go there, become customers!
LEARN MORE:
1. A Massive Blind Spot That’s Making Some Facebook Business Page Owners Miss Getting NEW Fans
2. Potential Benefits of Promoting Your Business Online Via Articles, Newsletter and Facebook Marketing
3. To Make More Profitable Sales, Educate Your Prospects and Clients
4. Make a Greater Impact – Improve the Quality of Your Facebook Conversations
5. Start Controlling Your Site and Saving Money, Using the Joomla Content Management System
6. Does Your Website JUSTIFY the Money You Spend
1. This article was first published online on 7th February 2011, in Issue No. 59 of the Self-Development Digest Newsletter, which has since been replaced by my Self-Development (SD) Nuggets blog.
2. The author (Tayo K. Solagbade)’s byline in the above linked syndicated articles may still have URLs pointing to my former 9 year old spontaneousdevelopment.com primary domain name. Work continues to update such links following the loss of that domain on 4th May 2014.
Every January, many people announce new year resolutions, but by December achieve little or nothing. I’ve had some intriguing characters PAY me to teach them web design, or Excel-VB, ONLY to leave wondering why I’m chasing them to attend agreed sessions: Funny world indeed! This article explains why you must make procrastination your enemy, and how to defeat it.
Back in school, many of us learned sciences. We drew pictures of the butterfly’s life cycle as it occurs during metamorphosis. But how many actually got to see the entire cycle take place IN REAL LIFE?
I’m not sure about you, but I never got to see a real-life butterfly’s metamorphosis(i.e. from the eggs to the larva – or caterpillar – to the pupa, and then into the adult butterfly) take place, till I left school!
And when I did learn it, it was by accident. Briefly, I took a caterpillar into my bedroom one day, and placed it on a leafy branch(broken off the adult orange tree from which I picked the caterpillar), which was set in a bottle of water.
Upon noticing this, I searched all over the table on which the bottle was placed thinking it had fallen off. Until I discovered, under the table top, in a corner joining the table top to the frame, the butterfly pupa covered in its cotton like cocoon!
I promptly put a mosquito net around the table, so that when the adult butterfly hatched/emerged from the pupa, it did not fly off before I was able to see it.
My apologies to the reader if you did not do much biology or Integrated Science in school, where the reproductive cycles of some lower animals might have been covered.
The point I made in the first paragraph is that sometimes, in our conventional schools, learners are forced to memorize photos, diagrams and sketches of the animals or organisms they are taught about in class – without being shown real life examples.
Is it not funny that this learning should have happened for me the other way round, considering that parents send their kids to school to acquire knowledge that they can then come to apply in the real world?
I honestly believe that is why Robert Kiyosaki’s ideas for educational reform are so worthy of consideration by any serious parents or educational practitioners.
Question is how many of us will take action to use those ideas to make a difference in the lives of the kids we raise, teach or coach?
The children in many conventional schools are seldom taken outdoors into the real word (nor are they encouraged or challenged to go out of their way after class) to see the real thing.
Instead they are made to read about the activity, and learn to say it as they read it, instead of describing it as they felt while they DOING it. Now, the irony of this poor teaching method is that when one DOES make effort to get a “real” life experience, recalling all the important aspects of that particular process becomes considerably easier. Thus the need for “cramming” is more or less removed.
The answer I always get every time is “No”. The reason: “You’ve done it many times before”.
And there lies my point. Once we get into the habit of gaining real-life experiences relevant to any new area of knowledge we wish to explore, we will find that our resultant understanding would be comprehensive – and we would no longer need to do so much “cramming”!
Back to goals achievement. Some people attend seminars or workshops, and read books on starting up their businesses but never really start anything worthwhile. Such people in effect become professional students.
They keep attending seminars, reading books, “start” to make the plans, then stop. They never really begin.
Then there are those who do start, but learn from a book/seminar that they need to make some changes in order for their business to move to the next level. However, instead of doing it, they keep procrastinating – and end up never achieving their full potential.
It is the same thing for people in paid employment who desire career advancement, but fail to take the needed actions to improve themselves. Ditto for the one who wants to lose weight but cannot find the will power to deny THAT urge to eat between meals or “miss” exercising regularly etc.
For those able to take action towards achieving the desired end, they ultimately “grow up” to reach higher levels. And go on to achieve authentic success. That’s why some entrepreneurs always seem to be growing in their ability to take their businesses to a higher level, while some others always appear stagnant.
“There is a great deal of difference between having knowledge and applying it. The teacher asked. “What is Agriculture?” The pupil replied, “Agriculture is just like farming, but farming is doing it.” – W.F. Weiherman
In a separate article, I wrote about people who record a measure of achievement, and promptly assume they have arrived at the pinnacle of success in their chosen area of endeavour.
Not only is this a faulty notion to have, but it is also potentially damaging, because it leads directly to mediocrity – a state of mind whereby ability and performance that can STILL be significantly improved upon, is continually celebrated as if nothing else is left to be done.
Any one who wishes to achieve goals that are worth celebrating, and that others will acknowledge as worthwhile, needs to rid him/herself of mediocre thinking. The mediocre is the one who does a little, and thinks there is nothing left to be done.
Also, a person who desires success needs to perpetually HUNGER for knowledge that will better equip him/her to achieve that success.
In other words, s/he cannot be averse to LEARNING new things.
“Once at a public gathering, Einstein found himself sitting next to a teenager who failed to recognize the world-renowned theorist at his side. Delightedly Einstein engaged the boy in conversation, and after a while, the boy naively asked: “What do you do for a living?” With typical modesty, Einstein replied, “I study physics.” “What, at your age!” the boy responded incredulously, “I finished that two years ago!” – Edward Hoffman, Editor, The Book of Fathers’ Wisdom Birch Lane Press
Some people – like the boy in the above quote – learn a little bit about something, and immediately assume there’s nothing left to learn. In our society, we have people who finish from university and conclude that they’ve done all the studying they need to do.
One amusing thing they do to show this is to throw away their university notes!
I have never regretted keeping my university notes for instance, because most of the stuff I wrote in the management research paper (Statistical Process Control and Target Setting) that got me to the National Finals of the Nigerian Institute of Management’s Young Managers’ Competition in 1997, (5 full years after I left the university) came from studying some of the concepts in those books.
You need to decide to stick with the target dates you set for achievement of each objective.
Use a checklist if necessary (e.g like my Planned Activity Tracking Sheet), and tick off each item as you achieve it. You will get a good feeling just from seeing a growing number of ticks on it! That feeling, over time, will encourage you to do more.
And before you know it, you will have a string of successes behind you, that can be a source of inspiration to others around you, who procrastinate, to break the habit once and for all 
This week, I continue my call on experts-who-speak in the education “industry” to offer programs to influence school curriculums towards better equipping students to succeed in the real world.
I offer a FREE preview of my new book, which is based on the same theme, for interested experts to review.
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