Category Archives: My Ideas for Making Nigeria Better
A Buyer’s Feedback About my Audio on Biafran Scientists’ Animal Feeding Innovations!
[Audio Podcast] Amazing Story: How Biafran Scientists Innovated Low Cost Animal Feed (During the Nigerian Civil War) Using Zero Cost Local Ingredients
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A Buyer’s Feedback Within Hours of Getting the 1.5 Hour Long Audio
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=Starts=“Good evening
I really enjoyed the audio lectures you have actually hit the nail on the head and you also strengthen some of my belie(f)s and convictions about running a farm. I would also like to know the names those plants you talked about on the lectures so that I can learn more about them.
Finally I would like to get the PDF or url link to the Indian website that carried out research on alternative feed ingredients for livestock feed production. Thanks a lot. ” – Aliyu Muhammed
Sent from my iPad
=Ends=
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In this audio podcast, Tayo Solagbade, using documented exploits of Biafran scientists during the 1967 – 1970 war as reference, discusses tried & Tested practical ideas for Farm CEOs to deal with feed production hardships they face today!
NB: The price for this audio reverted to N2.5k from midnight of Wednesday 7th September, 2016.
Format: AMR Audio = 6MB [MP3 = 20MB]
Duration: 1.5 hrs
Price: N2.5k
Preview: http://tinyurl.com/biafrafeed
GET FREE AUDIO SAMPLE:
Email your phone number to info at thefarmceo.net and I’ll send you Part 1 (0.5 hrs long) as a gift – along with bank payment details, in case you decide to pay, so I can send you Part 2 (1 hour long).
By way of interest, during the N1k promo period…
A long term client, Alhaji Sanni sent Etisalat airtime to my wife, at my request as payment for the audios.
A day earlier, another client, Azi Bulus had sent MTN airtime to my mother, at my request as payment.
A day after, Aliyu Muhammed – at my suggestion (since he used Diamond bank) – got a friend to do N1k online transfer via GTB to me on his behalf.
This was his first purchase from me, even though he’s been following my work online for a while.
In fact he only recently sent me the following message after reading my article linked below:
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“Good day sir I sent you the link to your article as a reference. I really enjoy your articles even though I have not yet bought any of your products yet. I love your thinking I wish more Africans can think like you not just Nigerians. Best regards.P. S.
thanks a lot for the wonderful articles. Keep it up” – Aliyu Muhammed
Here’s the URL to the article he read:
Conversation with a Nigerian in Diaspora, About Nigeria | SD Nuggets™
http://tayosolagbade.com/sdnuggets/conversation-with-a-nigerian-in-diaspora-about-nigeria
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Get this audio free (N2.5k value) when you buy my popular Feed Formulation Handbook and software (N20.5k).
Contact me for details
Tayo K. Solagbade*
Location Independent Performance Improvement Specialist & Multipreneur
*Best Practice Farm Business Support Specialist & Founder of the MS Excel Heaven Visual Basic Automation Club & Competition
Mobile: +234-803-302-1263 (in Nigeria) or +229-66-122-136 (in Benin Republic)
[Recommended] Why Facebook founder, Zuckerberg arrived Nigeria – unannounced, yesterday (I.e Tue 30/8/2016)
LAGOS—Facebook Founder, Mark Zuckerberg, yesterday, arrived Nigeria unannounced. The 32-year-old tech enterpreneur surprisingly made a sudden visit and inspection of activities at the Co-Creation Hub, Yaba Lagos.
Facebook Founder, Mark Zuckerberg with Nigerian tech entrepreneurs
His arrival to Nigeria is not unconnected to the ‘Facebook for developers’ workshop’ for Nigerian engineers, product managers and partners holding today (Wed 31/8/2016) in Lagos.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/08/facebook-founder-zuckerberg-arrived-nigeria-unannounced/.
PII 029 [Best Practice Parenting]: Could Your Child’s Teacher be Misinformed?
When a “teacher” at a religious retreat, in discussing “Creation” told children that a white couple could NOT produce a black baby, none of them raised any objection.
But when she went on to say a Black couple could equally NOT produce a white baby, 2 siblings – a 13 year old boy and a 10 year old girl – reacted.
The girl tried to stifle a giggle. But she was out in front, so the “teacher” readily noticed, and asked what was funny. She quickly said “Nothing”.
But her brother raised his hand and said “Aunty, black people can give birth to white babies”. The “teacher” promptly told him that was “not possible”, and continued with her lecture.
Later at home, the kids told their father about the incident, and they all laughed.
SCROLL DOWN TO READ FULL ISSUE
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Tayo K. Solagbade* Self-Development/Performance Improvement Specialist *Best Practice Farm Business Support Specialist & Founder of the MS Excel Heaven Visual Basic Automation Club and Competition Mobile: +234-803-302-1263 (in Nigeria) or +229-66-122-136 (in Benin Republic) 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 organizations 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 organizations, 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). In a previous life, before leaving to become self-employed, Tayo served for seven years (October 1994 to December 2001) as a high performing manager in Guinness Nigeria. He rose from Shift Brewer to Training & Technical Development Manager, and later acted in senior roles as Production Manager and Technical Manager. In addition to constantly challenging the status quo and influencing positive work changes, he built a reputation for using self-taught spreadsheet programming skills (starting with Lotus 1-2-3, and later moving to Excel Visual Basic) – in his spare time – to develop Automated Spreadsheet Applications to computerize manual report generation processes in the departments he worked. Over four(4) of his applications were adopted for brewery level reporting. Tayo holds a B.Sc degree in Agricultural Extension Services from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, having graduated top of his class – with Second Class Upper Division honors – in 1992. He is an Associate Member of the UK Institute & Guild of Brewing, a 1997 National Finalist of the Nigerian Institute of Management’s(NIM) Young Managers’ competition, a Certified Psychometric Test Administrator for Psytech UK, innovator of Spontaneous Coaching for Self-Development™ (SCfS-D™), and Founder of the Self-Development Academy (SDAc). 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 The Farm CEO Weekly Newspaper (sent via email to paid subscribers) and his Weekly Performance Improvement IDEAS newsletter. 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. ====
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Why Today’s Extension Specialists/Farm Business Support Providers Need Spreadsheet Automation Skills to Succeed Better!
As a self-taught Excel-Visual Basic (VB) Solutions Developer, I’ve (over the past 2 decades) evolved my own unique approach to using my Spreadsheet Programming skills.
And I realize others who work in the Excel-VB programming industry, especially outside Africa, who are used to the traditional approach adopted by a large majority of developers may find my “model” a bit odd.
However, the truth is my disposition is informed by a need to make a useful impact on those who NEED help, as against joining in with others to do what tens of thousands of us already do.
Do a Google search using varying strings about MS Excel based problem solving, and you’ll come up with countless links to forums and blogs that offer basic to super advanced level solutions for business and even personal use.
Not just that, there are countless offers to be had, of training, both off and on the web, using various formats/channels.
And those offering them are often quite competent, with verifiable credentials as well as demonstrated expertise in form of published works and tutorials (video and text based).
For me, especially when I look at markets outside that which I consider my primary target (i.e Africa), I see a situation in which those needing MS Excel based solutions already enjoy access to an abundance of world class quality experts to choose from.
For that reason, and also because I see major gaps in data recording, analysis and report generation related problem solving, I feel strongly driven to focus my efforts on using my over 2 decades of Spreadsheet Automation expertise to serve clients FIRST within Africa, and then any others elsewhere.
For instance out here in Africa, especially with regard to generic use of MS Excel itself, lots of training/consulting providers abound.
It is however when one wishes to go beyond MANUAL use of MS Excel, to boost productivity by eliminating or drastically cutting down on routine and repititive data handling tasks in Excel use, that the VERY poor awareness of Excel-VB programming and its potential applications, becomes apparent.
I saw this GAP in the corporate world, back when I was using my spreadsheet automation skills, in my spare time, to excel as a high flyer in Guinness Nigeria – while employed as a brewer/manager in the Technical function.
The heights to which I climbed within 6 short years, into senior management positions, as well as the massive name recognition exposure I got as a reward for my efforts in creating value adding apps that transformed workplace productivity, convinced my that custom spreadsheet automation, used correctly, was a potentially powerful weapon for achieving what would otherwise be considered impossible.
I quit my high paying job to pursue that vision in December 2001.
The journey was not smooth, and the market, being non existent at the time, took time, effort, and lots of perseverance/pain to build from nothing I.e ZERO level.
In other words, Excel-VB (or indeed Spreadsheet Programming) as an income earning vocation simply did NOT exist in the Nigerian market when I started out.
I visited the largest/best known business schools (as far back as 2002) who offered MS Excel training up to what they called “Advanced Level”.
Those of them who mentioned Excel-VB at all did so by referring to the “Macro Recorder” – and they never failed to add “Introduction to…” before it.
Simply put, very few of them had ventured seriously into the Excel-VB programming terrain that had become so familiar to me at that time.
And NONE had developed their own range of commercial quality, bullet-proof apps, like those I’ve sold internationally for years now.
So, I found it hard to connect with the facilitators I spoke with.
Indeed, in some cases, I got the distinct impression that they were worried about looking LESS knowledgeable than I was, before bosses/colleagues, so they rarely let me meet with them in the presence of others, if at all they agreed to meet.
This situation forced me to rethink my strategy, and I began to ignore the corporate world, and training opportunities, to instead focus on finding individuals and small businesses who needed custom spreadsheet apps built to solve REAL problems they faced.
The change in my focus led me to eventually get hired to build a range of custom apps for use in a wide variety of industries such as hotels, hospitals, bars/restaurants, fitness clubs, churches, engineering/construction firms, accounting firms, and of course my MOST responsive market: FARM BUSINESSES!
“I found out that Mr. Tayo Solagbade is brilliant in the areas of (Web design/marketing) and Excel VBA” – Ibrahim S. – Environmental Consultant (Handwritten testimonial on Tayo’s Client/Customer Feedback Form)
“That (Tayo Solagbade) is a hard worker is an understatement. It’s part of him. He loves what he does – you can see the passion…Tayo’s heart is to see others empowered and know key success principles that he knows. As Zig Ziglar said, ‘You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.’ Tayo does not hold back, and I see him achieving and accomplishing much in life because he wants others to accomplish theirs too.” – Elvis U. – Leadership Consultant, Speaker, Author and Coach (Handwritten testimonial on Tayo’s Client/Customer Feedback Form)
“Mr. Solagbade is creative and in love with his job. (He) is a very industrious person. Very very committed to his work. He’s always full of ideas and solutions to problems, and for me, he is somebody that can give some great ideas to a business person that is facing some difficulties in any field you may think you are.
I’m in a clinical setting and he has been offering some great solutions to problems we face everyday. I listen to his relations with many of his clients. Some are into Agricultural sector, some are into legal sector, and he has been helping them to improve their practice, and to do better business.
He has a very good customer relationship. He knows how to relate with people, how to talk with people, how to flow with people. And he’s somebody that when you enter into conversation with him, you ke(ep) on talking without having to end it. He’s good…” – Simeon A. – Clinical Audiologist (Video testimonial transcript & Handwritten testimonial on Tayo’s Client/Customer Feedback Form)
That last group (farm owners) have proven to be the most profitable, and after I narrowed down to them (using the Pareto principle), I have since focused my efforts on finding better ways to serve them.
As a matter of fact, despite my deliberate effort to focus on those in Nigeria/Africa, my website contacts database entries from submissions made on my Cost-Saving Farm Business website since I launched it in 2006, reveals that I’ve had enquiries about my range of solutions from farm CEOs and other stakeholders in agribusiness, from all over the world – and I do mean that literally.
Today, some of them have purchased and use my apps.
This is why I noted in an International Agribusiness paper I got paid to write, that Extension Professionals ANYWHERE in the world can dramatically boost their ability to help farm businesses of ALL sizes if they acquire MS Excel-VB (or Spreadsheet) Programming Skills.
Note that I happen to hold a B.Sc degree in Agricultural Extension Services from the University of Ibadan, where I graduated top of my class.
Today, in serving my Farm CEO clients, I function primarily as an Extension Services provider, in supporting them – way beyond use of my apps, to helping them learn how to make the most of their farm operations, using Best Practice Systems.
In other words therefore, I make my above proposal to Extension experts from an informed position!
This is the 21st century.
Farm businesses across the world do NOT have uniform operating procedures, and so it can be a bit hard to build an app that is at once affordable and also suitable to their unique needs in their different markets.
The viable alternative is for Farm CEOs to learn how to mould MS Excel to fill that need they have, using Excel-VB automation. Or to hire an employee or consultant to develop a simple app for them.
However, not all farm CEOs will have the time, training or money to go this route.
But an Extension professional working with government, an NGO or even a university, would most likely be better equipped to do just that.
That’s because s/he would then be able to put that skill to use in serving multiple farm businesses over time.
Many downloadable MS Excel based resources formatted for use by Farm CEOs are wonderful in their usefulness, but the authors often (wrongly) assume the farmer will have (or be willing to go get) Excel proficiency to make error-free use of them.
My experiences indicate that few of the farm owners do (or are)! As a result, more harm than good may end up being done to them.
However, if novice-proof automation interfaces like those I use Excel-VB coding to incorporate into my apps are present, more farm owners and their staff would be able to make use of those same workbook resources with little or no resulting errors.
The need for the workbook template creators in Extension practice to learn Excel-VB programming can therefore NOT be over-emphasized.
If you are an Extension Professional, or a decision maker who works with them, and you’d like to learn more about the ideas I’ve shared in this piece, click here to send me a message.
BELOW: Exceprts from my International Agribusiness Paper
In this paper, we acknowledge efforts made by extension specialists, to develop flexible MS Excel based feed formulation resources for farmers.
We however note that farmers need more time/effort saving, and robust error-resistant solutions, to derive ration formulas that yield profitable performance.
The customizable Excel-VB driven Ration Formulator™ is presented as an example of what is possible.
[Watch a 4 part video tutorial demonstration created for the app here]
The Need to Explore Cheaper, Local Alternative Feed Ingredients, In Formulating Least Cost Diets
Rising prices of major feed ingredients like Maize, Fish Meal and Soya beans as well as dangers associated with aflatoxin complications in use of groundnut cake, have driven many farm business owners to explore alternative feed ingredients.
But in doing so, they also have to enter uncharted territory.
Locally available ingredients which are often cheaper, typically tend to b5e less well documented in terms of their value to animals.
Farmers often have to settle for “typical values” from published reports, or send samples to the laboratory.
Different feed formulation methods exist, such as linear programming, Pearson square, and stochastic programming.
The farmer’s choice of method must be guided by the purpose of the diet s/he aims to formulate.
For instance, catfish and poultry have amino acid needs that vary greatly from that of pigs.
The farmer will have to take that into account in formulating his/her rations. But that can be a tasking process!
Low Cost Automated Feed Formulation is Needed
Software automation can make that process less tasking, and more reliable in terms of accuracy.
But feed formulation so9ftware tend to be pricey (see email excerpt in section 2.0). In addition, some – due to legal requirements – limit ingredients types usable (see sidebar) .
That’s why more farmers now adopt manual Excel formats developed by researchers/extension specialists.
Development of Customizable Excel-VB Driven Feed Formulation Spreadsheet Applications By Extension Specialists
For ration formulation to succeed, derived rations must be cost-effective, and also yield the desired livestock performance. Customizable Excel-VB solutions, featuring intelligent error- handling and intuitive “novice-proof” graphic user interfaces can give such superior benefits
Extension specialists can learn basic Excel-Visual Basic programming, and collaborate with farmers to develop software to achieve the above.
The Excel-VB Driven Ration1 Formulator™ (see Annex 1.0) was developed in 2004 , and regularly updated since then, for farmers with limited budgets, and a need to freely explore locally alternative ingredients.
It is accompanied by a 70 page feed formulation hand book (published in 2002), which explains the improved Pearson Square feed formulation technique on which the application works.
The application has been used mostly for poultry and fish farming feed formulation.
The above Agribusiness Research Paper I got paid to write in December 2013 by a European Union funded NGO based in Holland is titled “Adoption of PC-Based Feed Formulation Methods by Farmers, Feed Manufacturers and Extension Professionals, in South West Nigeria.”
Learn more about it at http://tinyurl.com/AgribizPDF
If a Farm CEO decides to buy my Excel-VB Poultry Farm Manager, I’ll give him/her a PDF GIFT copy of the avove paper, plus my popular Feed Formulation Bundle 100% FREE. The bundle comprises the following:
A. My Excel VB Ration Formulator Software – see videos at www.tinyurl.com/RealRationDemo
B. My Feed Formulation Handbook – see it on sale in my online store at http://www.lulu.com/shop/tayo-solagbade/practical-livestock-feed-formulation-handbook/ebook/product-20817463.html
C. My 30 page Annotated Pictorial Introduction To Livestock Feed Formulation Ingredients
Annotated Pictorial Introduction To Livestock Feed Formulation Ingredients
PS: GET BUILT-IN MS EXCEL SOLUTIONS DEVELOPMENT
Self-Development Academy (SDAc)’s Excel Heaven™ was founded by Tayo K. Solagbade in 2002, as the FIRST provider of On-Demand Preprogrammed Custom Spreadsheet Solutions for individuals and businesses in Nigeria/Africa.
We offer Workbook Auditing/Optimisation and VBA Automation; Custom Spreadsheet Software Development; Sales; Job-Based Spreadsheet Coaching; and Consulting/Advisory Services on effective application of spreadsheets for business use.
Call +234-803-302-1263 (in Nigeria) or +229-66-122-136 (in Benin).
See video demos here.
Visit our Excel Heaven mini-site : here.
[Invitation] Join Tayo’s Excel Heaven Visual Basic Automation Club:
1. Click the link below to download a 9-page MS PowerPoint Slideshow which explains in FULL details what you will be learning – and doing.
here.
2. On the page linked below, you can watch a video version of the above slideshow, and some sample tutorials/demo videos:
here.
Vocationally Skilled Population – Key to African Development!
Update – 23rd December 2019 – new article published titled PII 184: Educate Your Child to Reliably Make Money by Herself, to Meet ANY Needs She Has – Anytime She Wants [HINT: If you are a parent to kids you REALLY LOVE and desire success for, you NEED TO READ THIS!]
[Below: Feature photo of Tanzania’s President Magufuli showing off his sewing skills]
Take a careful look at developed societies (e.g in Europe, Asia, America) and you will notice that possession of income earning (vocational) “skills” is just as valued as acquisition of academic degrees and certifications for paid employment.
Sadly the same cannot be said for Nigeria.
The crazy drive to acquire paper qualification, with little attention to ensuring corresponding real world relevant proficiency has held her, and many other nations in Africa back from developing sustainably.
This is apparent from the massive armies of university products we continue to churn out who often either end up unemployed (even unemployable!) or grossly underemployed.
With this reality facing us, the need for a new educational strategy has been apparent for a long time. But most affected nations out here seem to be at a loss for ideas on what to do and how.
However, a few are gradually narrowing down to doing what matters. And some, with their leaders showing the way.
One Example: Click here to see a photo in which President Magufuli of Tanzania shows off his sewing skills
How many public office holders or politicians in Nigeria possess any income earning vocational skills of this kind?
The truth is very few: and those that do are often NOT proud to show it off like Magufuli is doing here in a SUIT!
This probably explains why many of our political leaders/civil servants have a large appetite for what Fela once described as “Pen Robbery” in one of his hit songs.
We need more “vocationally skilled” leaders (adults/parents/teachers/leaders in politics and business etc) to be raised in Nigeria/Africa, so they can train youths with similar competences, if real sustainable development is to happen.
The report linked below indicates that Tanzania is well on her way to doing just that.
Read: Tanzania starts training tailors as regional ban on second hand clothes loom – By This Is Africa on August 24, 2016
Below are excerpts from a piece I recently sent out via Whatsapp, in which I share ideas based on what I’m doing to give my kids a more balanced exposure to “education”.
Academic education is not enough anymore. Time we spend on it is too much. Half that time is better spent giving income earning vocational education. Unfortunately we have wrong quality of people teaching in our schools.
The best among us who should be involved in teaching feel it is beneath us. So we leave it to the least gifted/competent among us who settle for teaching after failing to secure better options.
Unlike Mrs. Abiola Solagbade, my Montessori trained retired teacher mother, they are NOT motivated. The teaching job is a last resort for them.
They feel no passion to do it – and do it right. Little wonder that they readily cut corners by accepting money to do unethical things like awarding marks not merited. And of course that’s why we have Special Centres and people buying/sell results and certificates.
How can we expect a system like that to produce authentic quality of EDUCATION???
It can’t. It won’t.
Even the child that gets good grades academically without corner cutting suffer major exposure to character deforming display of morals and values by teachers, parents and other adults who openly engage in these shameful acts without suffering any negative consequences.
It would be naïve to assume THAT will not make a lasting impression on the psyche of that child – no matter what lectures you give him/her at home about knowing right from wrong, and the value of honesty, integrity, hard work etc!
What a price to pay!
My kids will learn vocational skills alongside relevant school subjects on a need to know basis based on discussions I’ve had with them about what they would like to do/become in life.
Computer based learning systems with teachers teaching school subjects according to the curriculum for the UK Waec exams equivalent are accessible for interested persons.
People get degrees and other certifications through distance learning. My kids have been trained to leverage technology to acquire Functional Education.
Homeschooling is being embraced worldwide. Wearing school uniform does NOT guarantee learning. Leaving home to attend school is NOT the only way to learn. Especially if you want to get a complete/balanced education.
Kids are being made to spend tooooooo much time in school reading/writing, and tooooooo little time is left for them to Think and Do and make sense/productive use of what they see and are taught.
My kids are being given that balanced mix. Indeed once a child can read and write, the thinking and doing is more important that any other schooling inputs.
That’s why we have many unschooled or poorly schooled people who succeed in life by doing what they are good at. That’s what real education is about: finding out/narrowing down to what you’re good at, then doing it to achieve the success you want in life.
It’s simple. But it works. My life is proof of it. That’s why I’m determined to empower my kids to get a similar kind of education – as against mere (mind-numbing) conventional schooling.
See this Facebook page (https://facebook.com/TemiandOluomasCookies above on which my 2 daughters (supported by their brothers) showcase their baked creations and share insights into the experience based learning they are undergoing.
Finally, the article linked below was published on 27th August 2014 – exactly 2 years ago. We’ve come a LOOOOONG way since then!]
[Note: (a). PMA = Positive Mental Attitude (b). The link to a downloadable PDF version the kids’ project preview]
I share my ideas here to give some insight into what I’m doing.
My kids are getting an important foundation for succeeding anywhere. There’s a lot of verbal coaching and experience sharing that takes place daily, in addition to the experience based learning.
Getting an education is not a competition to see who finishes first or best. Each child’s need will often be unique in some areas.
Parents would be wise to pay attention to what each child needs in this regard. Most teachers/schools don’t. I do – because I have passion and vision to support my kids to overcome the annoyances I’ve encountered in society.
Speaking and writing good English is NOT enough today. Neither is getting 1st Class from the university. Those who are honest with themselves will agree that this is true!
It is said that in order to criticize constructively, one must first of all make genuine effort to understand that which we wish to criticize.
I’ve found that to be quite true.
What I’m doing with my kids with regard to vocational skills development is what all parents today need to do for their kids.
One must NOT wait for schools to come up with money-collecting half baked ones they do. Make out time to find out what appeals to each child and help him/her get started.
It’s never too early to help your child find passion driven purpose in life – and you’ll make your parenting of him/her easier in the process!
Read this article (and watch the video) about how my 13 year old son built his first battery powered toy bike after watching a 3 minute video I downloaded from the web on my Blackberry:
Click here to request a copy of part 3 of the 4 part step by step demonstration video I got my 13 year old son to make, which we plan to sell with a PDF guide online as well as during LIVE workshops I intend to help him organise for interested kids
Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUtfIs0iENE to watch a highlight/promo video I made showing the first battery powered bike he made.
I’m sharing it just to give everyone an idea of the fact that my home IS actually a real world school. We have similar videos for baking bread, pizza, cookies, cakes etc by the kids.
My vision is open my “home-school” (online with short stay on site options) at some point in the future to help other people and their kids learn to use our tried and tested model.
Click here if you would like to be notified when we go LIVE.
[RECOMMENDED] “Why I’ll never wear hair extensions again” – by pop star Jamelia (BBC Report) & “The hair trade’s dirty secret” – by TheGuardian.com]
It was in 2012 that I first watched a documentary revealing shocking details about the source of hair extensions eagerly bought by many Black women.
That video revealed shocking facts highlighted in the BBC sponsored investigative report (featuring an interview of a young female Black Pop Star – Jamelia).
I’ve linked to the full piece below (published via BellaNaija.com in December 2008) which reveals that human hair used is commonly obtained via the following sources…
[NB: At the end of this post, I also link to an unflattering Life and style report, by UK’s The Guardian newspaper titled “The hair trade’s dirty secret”]
1. Religious Sacrifice:
E.g Little Hindu kids have their hair scraped (some crying) as Religious Sacrifice to cure illness or ward off evil
Adult Hindus/the kids’ parents do same.
These religious-practitioner donors, assume their hair gets thrown away.
However, as Jemelia said (which the video I watched 4 years ago confirms): most have no idea their hair gets sold!
That’s why she says: ” to me, it appears to be the ultimate in exploitation.”
I agree 100% with her.
2. White females who cut/sell their hair for money e.g in places like Russia.
3. Corpses(?): Jamelia says someone hinted that some of the hairs could be taken off corpses!
Little wonder that she’s vowed never to wear those extensions again!
Personally, I’ve never liked the idea of pinning another human being’s hair to one’s head in an effort to look “more beautiful” (whatever that means).
All these revelations now justify the position I’ve adopted.
For me, accepting to use such products was simply a sign of a lack of healthy self-esteem or at best mis-orientation.
That’s why I encourage my daughters to LOVE their hair, as it is.
Indeed, I’ve gone a step further to invest time in personally helping them nurture and dress their hair naturally e.g using Sheabutter.
The results have excited my 10 year old girl enough to make her confidently go on outings wearing the “style” I work her hair into.
In the course of doing this I’ve discovered that I actually enjoy exploring creative ways to help my girls make their hair.
Yep. I’m their father, yet I love working on their hair!
So I plan to attend a short hairdressing (NOT hair attaching!) training to formally learn what it involves.
My purpose is however to do it with little or no chemical based hair treatment products.
I believe that by so doing, as a man, I can help my girls see and believe in their natural hair.
If more men would just take interest in helping the females in their lives make the most of their natural hair, they’re likely to feel less psychologically pressured to join the rat race of human hair extension wearing – with it’s attendant risks and indignities!
Read the BBC investigative report/interview:
I’m glad Jamelia had the courage to do, and also say, what many otherwise intelligent women of her kind have failed to do!
Read the full piece below. I’ll see if I can find and add the link to the video I watched in 2012.
The Story Behind Human Hair – By BellaNaija.com (Published in December 2008)
Related Article
The hair trade’s dirty secret | Life and style | The Guardian
Be Willing to ACKNOWLEDGE Good in Others Even If They are Rivals and You’ll Succeed Better
It’s easy to show and voice approval of something or someone you like or admire. We all do it everyday.
But what if you see (read or hear about) a person you dislike (or even hate) do(ing) something good or worth being commended for, what would you do?
Yes…what would YOU do?
Would you be willing to put your feelings about that person you dislike (or even hate) aside, and openly acknowledge or commend him/her for doing that “good/commendable” thing in spite of any reservations you have?
Or would you choose to ignore it, and wait instead for when next s/he will do something you can disagree with, in line with your feelings about him/her.
The proper way to behave in situations like those described above is readily obvious to any person willing to be fair minded and objective.
And that is you would be wise to: put your feelings about him aside, and openly acknowledge or commend him/her.
Indeed, you could even go further and reach out to him/her based on the above, to find ways to mend fences or reduce the differences you have with one another. So much so, that at some point both of you, and/or those you represent or lead may find cause to relate more amicably with one another.
What I have said above can be applied in a variety of social situations – be they formal, informal or non-formal.
Our ability to progress in various areas of our lives as individuals and groups, is greatly dependent on a willingness to be fair and impartial in our routine assessment and interpretation of one another’s words and actions.
Not only should we be willing and determined to exercise restraint in adopting negative mental attitudes towards the other party, we should also be keen to adopt positive perspectives in relating with one another – including SEE and ACKNOWLEDGING the good in the other person(s).
Failure to do that will breed bitterness and resentment, which will over time build up into hate – making it almost impossible for any problems you have to ever be resolved.
And THAT would imply mutually beneficial progress would be difficult to achieve.
Such situations are what result in stagnation in societal development. Some countries today suffer severe lack of developmental advancement due to the problem described here. It exists in their socio-cultural, socio-economic as well as socio-political circles. And it’s killing them as a people – slowly, but surely.
1. I know one country that has this problem.
Indeed virtually every country has it, but in varying degrees.
This country has however kept itself in a leading position in world affairs, for decades, because its people EMBRACE a culture of being willing to SEE and ACKNOWLEDGING the good in the other person(s), even if they do not like him/her for certain faults.
And their actions are often guided by the LOVE they feel for their nation, and their desire to make sure it does NOT fail or fall.
As a result, even when they support or like a certain person, if they see him/her display traits or tendencies that threaten the common good of ALL citizens, majority of them rarely hesitate to call that person out, and subsequently join forces, even with “rivals” against that individual.
That habit has helped that country defeat all forms of adversity for decades.
2. I know ANOTHER country, that despite all it’s hackneyed “potential”, remains a crawling giant right till this day because this sad condition pervades its length and breadth.
Even when the “good/commendable” thing done by the person or group they “dislike (or even hate)” directly benefits ONLY THEM, the people afflicted with this negative mentality are so mean that they will either ignore it, or find ways to misinterpret the motives of the doer(s)!
What a wasteful way to live!
If only the PEOPLE would wake up and see the harm they do to one another…then a GIANT would truly be born in the shape and form of this nation, on the world stage!
[RECOMMENDED] How to Get Audience Attention at the Start of Your Presentation – By Efe Ohwofasa
When I started out in speaking, I did it all wrong!
I did not know what to say or how to connect myself with the audience right from the beginning.
It got to a point during a talk that some members of the audience walked out of the room while some got busy with their phones.
Others began chatting with themselves, and I really felt embarrassed, saying to myself “Oh, it seems these people really do not like me.”
However, I eventually came to the realization that it was not their fault, but mine!
Continue reading:
<a href=”http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Get-Audience-Attention-at-the-Start-of-Your-Presentation&id=9487121″ target=”blank”>http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Get-Audience-Attention-at-the-Start-of-Your-Presentation&id=948712</a>.
[MP3 Audio] The Secret to Succeeding Financially As a Service Provider
Preview: Why it never pays to price yourself cheap, and how to confidently offer fees that make you profitable, to clients you carefully recruit based on their need (ability to pay) for the solution you offer.
Format: MP3 Audio
Duration: 15 minutes
Filesize: 6.9 MB
Author: Tayo K. Solagbade
Web: www.tayosolagbade.com
E-Mail: Tayo at tksola dot com
Target Audience: Tayo Solagbade’s Inner Circle Members
Tip: The ideas discussed here can be successfully adapted for selling products as well.
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