Category Archives: Writing/Blogging

Career Development, Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, General, My DN Travel News, Parenting, Public Speaking, Self-Development, Writing/Blogging

You Can’t Establish Expert Authority with Money

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In some parts of the world, some people get accorded authority status based on unproven wealth they display – and rarely little else. I grew up in a society where it happened (happens!)…a lot. However, authentic expert authority is not achieved by “showing money”. It comes via demonstrating verifiable, value-adding competence. This article provides insights you can use.

What Does It Mean to Be Called an Expert Authority?

An Expert Authority is one who has – by his/her achievements/contributions in a particular field(s) – demonstrated that s/he is a value-adding leader in thought and/or action.

Typically s/he has over a period of time made significant impact on stakeholders in that field. They would formally acknowledge his/her competence, and readily make reference to him/her as a result.

This can be in professional fields, and also in everyday social life.

I’ll start by giving a “non-sensitive” example.

Nelson Mandela is widely recognized as Human Rights icon. His lifetime achievements – including many ideas and thoughts he has expressed – have made the lives of millions better, earning him countless awards.

Mandela is therefore an Authentic Expert Authority on Human Rights.

Anybody Can Show Money – That Will Not Necessarily Confirm Expert Authority Status!

If no means exists to verify them, anyone can make any claims s/he likes – and we would be incapable of checking to determine if it’s the truth or not.

In this regard, developed societies (where personal records dating back to your ancestors can be reliably traced) have an edge over less developed societies.

In such places, people know they can get found out if they make false claims. So they do it less blatantly. But some daring characters still do it :-)

Now, like I said at the start, in certain societies, some “clever” persons cut corners by “buying” authority status. This is typically done by giving monetary and other rewards to “corruptible” key players and stakeholders.

As a result, they get accorded formal attention/recognition despite having limited (sometimes no!) pedigree, and offering little useful value.

Here’s a potentially “sensitive” example…:-)

Imagine a person convicted of looting public funds while in office, a year ago, being given an award on Human Rights in the same country(or indeed elsewhere)?

That’s absurd. But it has happened…many times, in certain societies.

An award confers authority status on the recipient. S/he is assumed by others as being an embodiment of the values and ideals on which the award is based.

One would therefore naturally expect whatever s/he has done (and will do) to be consistent with what the award is about.

A dishonest – and unrepentant – former office holder, conferred with an award meant for persons who protect people’s rights from abuse?
That’s not authentic authority status!
Like I said, money can buy it in some places.

But where things work, that’s rarely possible.

Final Words: To Establish Authentic Expert Authority Status – Prove Yourself Worthy

As an expert in your chosen field, the best way to establish yourself as an authority is to record achievements that make it obvious that YOU ARE!

It does not matter what field you’re in. Start by getting necessary preparation.

Mandela did not need to attend Human Rights school (if anything like that exists). Instead he set a real goal for himself to change the lot of real people.

Then he went out to make it happen. And he put every fiber of his being into doing so.

It took him time, but he eventually made it.

It was however in the course of doing it, that he recorded many achievements, attracting recognition – that eventually won him “Expert Authority” status.

Just as this works in the non-professional field, so it does also for professionals in various areas of endeavors – be it paid employment or business/entrepreneurship.

That includes lawyers, doctors, and experts in all other areas of interest and focus.

To establish authentic authority status amongst your peers, simply record achievements – via your contributions – that show you are indeed worthy.

So, even if you’re in a place where it’s possible to “buy it”, you now know better :-)

Career Development, Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, General, My DN Travel News, Parenting, Public Speaking, Self-Development, Writing/Blogging

Fast-Food Energy: Self-Repairing “Artificial Leaf” Cheaply Generates Electricity from Dirty Water (New Discovery)

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A research team has developed a “self-repairing artificial leaf” that produces electricity from dirty water. This is a milestone achievement, in the drive for sustainable energy. Forward thinking governments of developing countries may find it useful to explore adopting this new technology.

This is a major advancement in efforts to develop alternative – and sustainable – energy sources. It has been featured in the “ACS journal Accounts of Chemical Research”. The research was funded by USA’s National Science Foundation, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, and the Department of Energy.

Artificial Leaves Generate Electricity - 27 Science Fictions That Became Science Facts in 2012

How It Works

This artificial leaf works by mimicking the process of photosynthesis carried out in nature by green plants – which convert water and sunlight into energy and oxygen.

However it does not use the same complex chemical process. It is just a thin slab of silicon (referred to as a “sunlight collector”), coated with catalyst films on either side. The two films generate oxygen and hydrogen gas (on opposite sides).

When placed in water, under sunlight, the catalysts in the device break the water into its hydrogen and oxygen components. As the gases bubble to the surface, they can be easily collected for use as fuel to produce electricity in fuel cells. This is the simple principle on which this innovative device works.

The Relatively inexpensive compounds used to make the catalysts on both sides of the leaf (nickel-molybdenum-zinc generating hydrogen on one side, and cobalt film generating oxygen on the other) are said to be abundant in nature.

That eliminates the potential problem of replenishment as the devise needs to be mass produced.

Potential Applications – Individual homes in Off-Grid Locations

The research team leader is Daniel G. Nocera, Ph.D. (Harvard University’s Patterson Rockwood Professor of Energy). He has suggested that individual homes lacking access to power grids/generating plants would benefit from using this inexpensive alternative.

With less than a quart of drinking water, he explained that the artificial leaf would provide about 100 watts of electricity for an entire day.

The improved version of the leaf was reported in New Orleans on Apr. 8, 2013 (during the “Kavli Foundation Innovations in Chemistry Lecture” at the 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society).

It has been re-designed to utilise dirty or impure, bacteria-contaminated water readily found in nature. The scientists found a way to make the leaf self-healing. Basically, the catalysts now fall apart in a manner that prevents bacteria’s access to smooth surface they need to establish their bio film. “Then the catalyst can heal and re-assemble” said Nocera.

In earlier versions of the leaf, this had not been possible. As a result electricity production got shut down as the bacteria eventually formed their bio film across the smooth surface of the leaf.

This new self-healing property represents a major advancement – especially for the needs of developing societies. There, access to clean and pure water remains an even greater challenge.

Personalized, Fast-Food Energy: A Cheap Energy Generator, Adapted to Tough Local Conditions

Millions of people around the world still lack access to basic power supply via their country’s power grid.

They will benefit from a portable, inexpensive solution like this self-repairing artificial leaf energy generating device.

Nocera stated that “It’s kind of like providing ‘fast-food energy,'” and he pointed out that his team plans to produce lots of inexpensive units that will trade a bit of efficiency for functionality. They will be aimed at getting the job done.

He used the analogy of the transition from “huge mainframe computers to a personal laptop” noting that “This is personalized energy.”

The artificial leaf offers superior benefits to existing alternative energy solutions.

For instance, solar panels are expensive, and can only generate energy when the sun is out. In contrast, the leaf’s hydrogen and oxygen can be stored and used at night.

As Nocera points out, many complicated and expensive alternative energy devices are being developed.

But that is making it difficult for them to get widely adopted on a large scale. A less expensive and simple system that works like the artificial leaf, therefore stands a much better chance of getting widespread usage.

He revealed that the team has plans to further integrate the device, with technologies used to convert hydrogen into liquid fuel, for running portable electric generators or indeed cars.

Final Words: Developing Countries Stand to Beneift The Most

Leaders of developing nations – especially those in Africa, should seriously consider cutting back on money they keep sinking into space projects, and similar “abstract” pursuits.

They would be better off exploring ways to collaborate with Nocera and his team, to get the research solutions working for their rural populations.

Doing so will translate to an immediate improvement in the quality of life enjoyed by their people!

FURTHER READING

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120509123900.htm

 

Entrepreneurship, My DN Travel News, Writing/Blogging

Use Articles for Your Marketing, or Lose Money

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This article should have gone live yesterday – Saturday 6th July 2013 (my 43rd birthday). But since my blog posts auto-publish on my Facebook profile, I felt it would be disrespectful to those who had taken pains to post birthday wishes on my wall. So I auto-scheduled it to publish 0400 today. Thanks a lot. I appreciate you all.

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If you do not currently use articles for your marketing, you could be spending more time, effort and money on marketing than you need to. Articles remain one of the most cost-effective tools for business promotion – and they’ve been used that way for decades. Both online and off the web.

Whether it’s Article Marketing or Guest Blogging – Using Articles for Your Marketing Can Pay Timeless Dividends!

People have access to large volumes of information today. As a result, knowing what is worth paying attention to is now more of a challenge for many.

That’s why they depend on the thought leaders to guide themselves. In every field, experts who are competent function as thought leaders. Others depend on them to review the mass of information/trends, and make some sense of it to share – via writing, speaking, and other methods.

As an expert in your own field, how do you currently do your marketing?

What combination of strategies do you use? Are you focused on serving target audiences online, or off the web – or both? What have you found to be the most effective way to attract such persons?

What do these different strategies you use currently cost you in terms of time, effort and money – compared to the verifiable benefits or returns they yield to you?

Do you know?

I ask these questions simply to challenge you to do a little thinking about the methods you currently employ to achieve your business promotion goal.

Articles Cost Less & Stick Around Much Longer Than Most Other Marketing Media

There is no doubt that not all businesses will benefit equally well from using the same methods.

However, I’ve learnt one thing from years of experience, and also observing others”

It is the fact that articles remain a universally applicable instrument for promoting virtually any kind of product or service.

The major benefits one stands to gain from using articles to promote one’s work, or business, are (among others) its combined low cost, and generally long lasting impact.

Articles enable one achieve “timeless marketing”. Be it on the web, or in print, very often an article has a much longer shelf-life than virtually all other promotional media.

And it often costs next to nothing too!

Useful Places to Publish Your Articles for Marketing Purposes

Despite attempts by some who lack accurate insight to suggest otherwise, article marketing – of the kind done via directories like EzineArticles.com – remains viable – despite Google’s algorithm changes.

So, that’s one place you can go: Articles directories.

Many website owners or content publishers regularly visit EzineArticles.com to pick up articles they use on their websites, and in newsletters they publish.

If your work meets their needs, your articles will get picked up a lot. And you’ll see the result in form of increased traffic back to your site.

This is mainly because in your article by-line (right at the bottom) EzineArticles allows you to insert a promotional block of text, with URLs of your choice.

In addition to that, you have a profile page you setup on their website, and of course people who read your articles may also choose to Google your name.

Another approach is to write Guest Posts – currently a popular strategy used in many industries.

Guest Posts are articles typically published on blogs. You’ll submit them to blog owners to consider publishing on their blogs. Again, you usually get to put in a byline that gains you traffic back to your website.

It of course goes without saying that you will also write and publish articles (and even a newsletter) on your own website or blog.

These you would actively use promote via social media, and to search engines, to get increased name recognition, and credibility.

Final Words: You Don’t Even Have to Write Them Yourself

I realize not everyone will find it easy or convenient to write articles as often as may be required.

More business persons are discovering the advantages of using articles. However due to limited writing proficiency, or a lack of time, they find themselves struggling to do it as often/well as they should.

If your schedule is too tight, you could formally engage a reliable professional (e.g. yours truly!) – to ghost-write articles or even books for you, on your preferred theme(s). You would then only have to make “editorial” input to align what is written with your preferences.

In other cases I’ve seen persons who got started in the above manner, and over time understudied their hired writing expert. And eventually, at some point, they were able to take full ownership of creating new article content.

The truth is each person must settle for what works for him/her. What is crucial is that action be taken to add the use of articles to your marketing arsenal.

Doing so is bound to boost the overall cost-effectiveness of promotional strategies you employ.

What’s more, articles provide a flexible interface, through which most other promotional activities can be given further exposure. As a result, they complement other methods – enabling you to reach a larger number of people.

The long run implication is that your business promotion efforts will cost less. At the same time they’ll get you more marketing exposure, attracting more buyers for your products and services.

At the end of the day, that is what we are all looking for!

And the easier and less expensively we can get it, the more profitable we end up being.

Which is why if you don’t already use it, you really want to give Article Marketing a try!

NB: This article was first published online in July 2013 via Tayo’s 9 year old former flagship website (www.spontaneousdevelopment.com – now defunct), and republished via www.ezinearticles.com

Career Development, Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, General, My DN Travel News, Parenting, Public Speaking, Self-Development, Writing/Blogging

Young People Must Be Taught To Be Original!

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Less than 24 hours ago, I saw one of my most widely read and referenced farm business ideas articles (titled “Producing Good Catfish is Important, But Finding Good Buyers is Imperative!”) subjected to a more malicious level of abuse than I’ve ever seen. Naughty people periodically use other writers’ works without giving credit. When found out, many quickly make amends.I’ve experienced this with some of my articles. But yesterday’s was a new experience!

Before I tell you what happened, let me provide some background.

I’ve Been Writing on Farm Business for Over a Decade

Yesterday 3rd July 2013, was my brother’s birthday. At about 10.38 a.m I arrived in a client’s office in Cotonou, for a Web Marketing Systems development project review meeting.

But just before we started, I pleaded his indulgence to let me call my brother in Abuja, Nigeria, to wish him happy birthday.

We had not spoken since I left Nigeria 3 months before. By the time I was done, I’d learned my new report titled “10 Fruits You Eat, That Leave Useful Peels/Skins Behind” (featuring ideas on using pineapple peels to produce fermented and non-fermented drinks), emailed to him a month ago never arrived.

So I promised to re-send it.

You see, writing on Cost-Saving Farm Business ideas and providing best practice support to farm business owners has been my passion since 2003. And it’s earned me considerable name recognition and credibility. Indeed today, I enjoy the serious attention of farm business owners, and others aspiring, as subscribers to my newsletter, website visitors, and buyers.

Developing Solutions Of Different Kinds to Help Farmers

The challenge many farmers face in finding buyers for their market ready farm products –especially livestock and perishables – has always intrigued me.

For years while in Nigeria, I actively interacted with many farm owners to get an idea of unique challenges they faced, and solutions that could be evolved.

My Feed Formulation Handbook was meant to help farmers acquire the know-how to compound their own rations for their animals. This was in light of the compromised integrity of commercial livestock feed that some found themselves buying.

I got feedback from buyers who expressed the desire avoid manually doing the Pearson square computation for feed formulation.

So I developed an MS Excel-VB driven Ration Formulator software. Both have become quite popular.

The Menace of Content Thieves and Intellectual Property Abusers

In 2009, I wrote the above mentioned article, that attracted serious attention and interest locally and internationally. Various blogs, and websites linked to, or referenced that article via Ezinearticles.com where I published it.

Many such articles have generated pre-qualified sales leads for me. A good number result(ed) in sales of my products, and services (e.g. consultancy).

But as is common with intellectual works, I have found people using my works picked up from Ezinarticles.com without abiding by the terms.

Content publishers know Ezinearticles.com requires that they retain an author’s byine in any article they choose to republish on their website or newsletter.

That’s where we authors post short “marketing” blurbs containing one or two links leading to relevant pages on our websites. It is the small payoff authors gets for sharing their expert knowledge at no charge.

This is meant to be a symbiotic relationship. Sadly, some people – and I’ve seen this a lot in the farm business “category” – prefer to take without giving.

I’ve periodically found my articles reproduced verbatim from Ezinearticles.com, with ONLY my name retained. My entire byline is removed, including any links I added back to my website.

These people feel my work is good enough to be used on their website, and/or social media pages. But they refuse to let me get what is due to me, preferring instead to use my work to generate benefits for themselves alone.

It’s nothing new. Other authors/writers have similar experiences. We do what we can. Sometimes I’ve succeeded in getting abusers to make changes or simply take my work off their websites. Recently, I simply decided to ignore them.

Discovering a More Malicious Form of Intellectual Property Abuse

However yesterday, I encountered a more malicious dimension of abuse.

To generate sales leads based on my expertise on the subject, I had inserted (in line with a Burt Dubin tip) my mobile phone number in the last paragraph of the article.

That simple gimmick led to many people calling to consult me on how to apply the ideas in the article. Then at a point, those phone enquiries fizzled out. They just stopped coming. I didn’t know what to think.

Eventually I put it down to the reduced search engine visibility of article directories, following Google’s repeated algorithm changes.

Then yesterday afternoon, I saw that article reproduced verbatim on a blog run by a young Nigerian chap. As usual, my name was on it, but my byline was not.

However I got really ticked off when I saw that he’d replaced my phone number with his. Exactly where it appeared in the last paragraph of my article!

Less alert readers would naturally assume that that was my number!

Not believing my eyes, I called the number. Sure enough I found myself speaking to a young guy, who identified himself as the website owner.

I casually enquired about the service he was offering, and he readily asked “Do you need help with marketing your farm produce?”(he did not know it was me i.e. author of the article he’d used).

In other words, just what I aimed to do, he was now doing using my write-up – effectively denying me any benefit from my intellectual creation!

Young People Must Be Taught To Treat Intellectual Property With Respect It Deserves

All over the world we have people who steal content and abuse copyright privileges. But only in Nigeria have I consistently found people doing it so callously, with absolute disregard for the damage they do.

I say this without apology. It’s an indisputable FACT.

They abuse a system that encourages competent experts to offer such valuable works in the Internet space at no cost. Failing to see that their actions threaten the continued willingness of such people to share what they know!

This is why today, I write much fewer farm business articles for article marketing online.

Instead, I offer information products for sale to my subscribers and interested website visitors.

My probing questions soon unsettled my young friend. He said:

“There’s too much noise here. Let me call you back later.”

That was 4p.m yesterday. It’s already 10a.m today. And I know I will not be hearing from him.

However I do intend to get him to do the right thing.

If he does not, I WILL put up links to his website here on my blog, along with his name and phone number. Then I’ll inform his website host and Ezinearticles.com via a formal complaint email.

Next, each week that the abused version of my work remains on his website, I will post about it on my Facebook and Twitter profiles, and share widely.

Keeping Quiet Only Emboldens These Cheats and Other Dishonest Individuals

Saying nothing emboldens people who do these things. I refuse to be a silent victim. Anyone who abuses my work in that manner will have me to deal with, if I find out..

Our young people must be taught to develop serious respect for intellectual property.

Many learnt not to do so, from what they saw some irresponsible adults do.

The onus is on us to help them realize that they have within them the capacity, and capability, to produce original ideas and writing.

That will make them discover it’s a more dignifying and fulfilling approach.

Entrepreneurship, My DN Travel News, Writing/Blogging

To Effortlessly Do More, Get Into Flow (Or The Zone)!

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It’s been about 5 years since I wrote my 6,000 (six thousand) word article titled “Become a Habitual Peak Performer: Learn How to Get Into “Flow”(Or…”The Zone”) More Frequently”.

In that article, I explained what getting into flow (or the zone) means. It means entering a state of mind, that facilitates seemingly effortless attainment of optimal performance in an activity.

You basically arrive at an enhanced level of unconscious competence. And this will derive from having achieved a great degree of proficiency in the activity you’re engaged in.

People who get into flow while carrying out a task, often lose track of time. They simply lose themselves in the experience. Quote often, this happens because they derive great enjoyment from doing it. That makes them naturally inclined to get fully immersed in it, at every opportunity.

Your Best Work Will Happen When You Get into Flow

I’ve seen labelling machine operators routinely get into flow while operating their machines. It was always exciting to see man and machine work in such unison.

And they always turned out superbly labelled bottles!

Some people accidentally get into flow while engaged in activities they enjoy. And the exceptional performances they record shock them.

But since they seldom know how they got into that state of mind, they are often unable to reproduce those performances.

That’s sometimes why someone can get called a “flash in the pan” or “one hit wonder”.

The truth could be that s/he simply does not know how to tap into that hidden ability again.

It is for the above reason, that I always encourage people to learn how to DELIBERATELY get into flow.

What Environment Is Best For Getting Into Flow?

Others may differ on this. But what I say here is based on what I’ve achieved – and continue to achieve – in a wide variety of vocations, as a multipreneur.

You can get into flow anywhere, and at anytime, if you train yourself properly to do it. Yes.

Virtually everything you need to do so is right inside you already.

All you need is interest – passionate interest – in the activity or task in question. Then add to that sound knowledge of (and relevant practical experience in doing) it.

Once those are available, all that’s left is DISCIPLINE.

You must be disciplined enough to concentrate hard on doing the task, until you get into flow.

This means you’ll have to psychologically disconnect yourself from your surroundings, until you lose yourself in the activity you wish to complete.

That is the key to getting into flow – literally at will.

Take it from me – I do it all the time.

Getting Into Flow As A Writer/Developer, While Surrounded By LOUD Noises

Some writers (and people in other creative fields e.g. software developers) insist one must seek solitude and quiet in order to produce the best work.

That can be true.

But I always ask: What if your only source of power supply for your laptop, is a place where noisy people and loud music meet? (Yep. Been there and done that – gratefully too!).

Or what if you live with a music fanatic who won’t listen to your plea? Walking out of the house at 12 midnight in search of alternatives (with a client deadline looming) is easier said than done!

I have lived and worked here in Africa for the past 10 years as a writer, and spreadsheet software developer. Rarely have I found space to work free from disturbances, to do my writing.

As one who is married with 3 boys (now aged 14, 12, and 10), and 2 girls (now aged 7 and 3), I’ve worked from home for years.

I’ve never let it affect my work. Why? Well, I badly needed to get paid – which meant finishing it!

So I forced – trained?! – myself to write without difficulty even if surrounded by noise.

Training Yourself to Work Despite Distractions Can Boost Your Productivity

Instead of noise, the major constraint I’ve faced over the years has been poor power supply.

That’s why since moving from Nigeria’s Lagos, to Calavi – here in Benin Republic (where power supply is fairly constant) on 1st April 2013, I’ve dramatically boosted my productivity.

After pushing myself to deliver good output using 4 hours (or less) of power supply most days in Nigeria, I suddenly found myself having electricity almost 24 hours – daily – to work with.

From then on, I’d tasted blood…and nothing has been able to stop me since :-)

That fact has been obvious to my clients, associates and even friends. So much so, that some have asked me: “Tayo, but how do you do it?”

What is most ironic is that very often I don’t even feel like I’ve exerted myself. And that’s because I continued getting myself into flow to do it. It’s an unconscious state of being.

When you’re in flow, you just DO it. You really don’t THINK about doing it.

To Get More Work Done & Still Feel Refreshed And Energised, Get Into Flow!

Whenever I have a writing project, I don’t wait to “feel” like writing. I simply sit down, and start.

By the time I raise my head again from the keyboard, I’m done. And I often feel great – not drained! You can learn to do the same thing.

Remember: To be able to successfully get into flow, and stay there as long as you need to, you must FIRST develop sound competence.

Whatever your vocation – be it writing, software programming, public speaking, or even sports, (as I explained in my article) – apply yourself with dedication to doing whatever it is you do.

Put your heart and soul into doing it. Seize every opportunity you can find to do it, until it becomes second nature. By then you’ll be able to do it, even when you’re woken from sleep!

By the time you get to that level, you’ll have made enough journeys into flow/the zone, to be able to deliberately repeat the process.

I can tell you this, because that’s exactly how I learnt to do it myself!

Career Development, Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, General, My DN Travel News, Parenting, Public Speaking, Self-Development, Writing/Blogging

Sometimes You Need to Act Without Your Intuition (6 Tips)

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This article is a sequel to the piece on my blog titled “How to Establish Truth, and Experience Less Doubt“.

Like I said in that piece, to use your sixth sense simply LISTEN to your deepest feelings, and act on them. However, sometimes those “feelings” may not be distinct enough for you make your mind up.

When that happens, you may have to “walk blind” i.e. face such situations on your own…not knowing what to expect, and letting things play themselves out.

Sometimes you’ll misread positive situations negatively (e.g. paranoia arising from previous bad experiences), or assume a negative situation to be positive (e.g. naivety/wishful thinking).

This “dilemma” is likely to occur less often, as you master use of your 6th sense. But it’s unlikely to ever go away completely – as long as we’re human.

For each person, the situations that cause this dilemma will naturally differ.

What is important is that you work hard to develop reliable real world relevant competence at whatever you do. That will see you through instances when you’re getting mixed signals from your 6th sense.

I Describe Six Real-Life Scenarios in Which Using the 6th Sense Can Be Very Challenging

1. Dealing with Anchorless Social Chameleons

Some years ago, I wrote an article on Emotional Intelligence that ended up being widely syndicated and extensively quoted in published journals online.

In it, I described the positive attributes of a Social Chameleon, as described by Daniel Goleman, author of the book “Emotional Intelligence”. He also mentioned that some people take this ability to the extreme by using it to manipulate others.

They become duplicitous, constantly trying to pretend to be who they are not, in an effort to get what they want from those they relate with.

Goleman described these kinds of persons as ANCHORLESS Social Chameleons. Examples include con men (or women). People who make a living from gaining people’s trust in order to defraud, cheat, or even hurt them.

Have you ever had to relate with that kind of person at work or in your personal life?

They can be so hard to pin down! And some are SO GOOD at what they do, that even when your 6th sense helps you correctly catch them out, they can put up such an act that you end up thinking you were wrong, and apologizing to them!!

Anyone who has been in love with a two-timing partner may understand what I mean:

You had this GREAT relationship everyone admired you for. Yet, every now and then you got a strong feeling your “partner” was not being straight with you. But each time you tried to establish truth by bringing it up, you always came away feeling like a jerk…until one day, you caught him/her red-handed!

2. Scam or Con artists Playing Mind Games

Two-faced people. In certain societies, duplicity is almost an accepted way of life. People learn from an early age to use deception to get what the want.

A person from a society where sincerity and trust rank high (even if with a keenly honed 6th sense), is more likely to get “duped”, if s/he has dealings with someone from a society where duplicity reigns.

Why? Because the use of the 6th sense is always a function of the experiences one is exposed to. In such societies, it will take you time to “train” your 6th sense to competently guide your decision making.

This is why foreigners often tend to be easy prey when they visit such societies. It’s also why the famed 419 Internet fraudsters recorded such great success in the early years, before people LEARNT.

3. Spies and Terrorists Working Undercover

Consider members of terrorist groups who infiltrate societies and organisations. What about men and women who live double lives as spies – working for their countries security agencies?

These people skilfully maintain relationships with different groups of people, while living double lives.

Few suicide bombers’ associates know what they’re involved in – until they made the news!

These people succeed because others rarely use their 6th senses to find them out. Their ability to pass lie detector tests is apparently not fabled. I’ve read that some actually get trained to do that!

4. Wanting “Something” A Bit Too Badly

If you’re too emotionally and/or psychologically tied to a desired outcome, you could misinterpret or become totally dead to signals from your 6th sense.

Sometimes, the other person could be very skilled at “masking” signals s/he gives out, leaving you inadequate “information” to feed your “truth meter”.

We need to watch out, for mixed signals arising from our subconscious unwillingness, to accept the truth our 6th sense may try to tell us.

A lady dating a two timing chap could force herself to believe she’s the only one in his life – despite sensing that the opposite is the case.

One example from a real life experience.

As a desperate start-up seeking clients in 2005, I repeatedly “chased” a rich but mischievous prospective client, who made me jump through many hoops, pretending to be interested.

Each day I was with him, a quiet voice kept telling me he was just “jerking my chain”.

But he looked so fatherly (he was greying) and acted so nice, that I dismissed the thought – repeatedly. I SAW he could afford to pay me – and felt that was enough.

He was interested. What I stupidly failed to note was that he was the kind who liked to cheat others – to get something for nothing. Some people get rich through that means. And that often makes them bad clients. Your 6th sense should help you detect that. I did not apply mine – and I learnt a painful lesson.

After over 5 visits, he had requested (and gotten), from me, a printed 10 page proposal – FREE. This was in addition to picking my brain for hours on end. Then he said he would get in touch with me.

A week later, I learnt through an employee of his that all he got from me had been passed to a nephew of his, who was a web designer, to use in building a website for his company.

So, he’d just used me! That experience taught me to  require a refundable fee payment, to provide proposals or discuss project aspects in depth.

5. Dealing With Temptations in Moments of Weakness

Why didn’t I see that coming? That’s a question I’ve sometimes asked myself many times, after discovering I’ve been taken for a ride.

When you’re having financial challenges, even  “fraudulent” offers you’d normally use your 6th sense to sniff out may tend to “miss” you.

That’s when you start giving bogus email offers you would normally ignore a second look :-)

In such moments of weakness, even situations you would normally handle competently with your 6th sense can become unduly challenging.

People I know to be intelligent and analytical thinkers, have surprised me by responding to fraudulent phone SMS messages that informed them they’d won money, in UK lotteries!

In one instance, after I’d advised that it was a scam offer, one such person went ahead to call the number provided. When she was asked to send money over to get details, she saw I was right.

I’d “seen” enough of (but never replied to) those kinds of SMS messages to become numb to them. But she – like the others – was yet to get that far. They however only acted out of character because they were under financial pressures.

In their normal states of mind, when they were not in need, they would have readily deleted such messages without even reading them.

But as human beings, when bills are mounting, and expected income is delayed, everything that comes our way offering promise of some income suddenly gets our serious attention.

It’s that subtle “wishful thinking” that makes it so hard to stay properly tuned in to our 6th sense.

It takes GREAT mental discipline to fight this feeling when it comes. We must key in to our 6th sense to see such phoney offers for what they are.

6. Getting Carried Away by One’s Success

Sometimes we could just be absent minded. People sometimes get careless when things start going well for them. As a result, they miss signals their 6th sense throws up.

This is why I argue that knowing how your 6th sense works, does not mean you’ll be able to competently use it to reach your goals on a long term basis.

Different situations will occur, requiring you to apply your 6th sense is varying ways. Not all will be familiar to you – meaning you’ll have to guess.

That’s why I offer in this article, real life examples in which the 6th sense was used. Reading them can help you better prepare for what you may face.

You’d Have to Be Psychic to Always Get It Right

Napoleon Hill wrote extensively about using the sixth sense in “Think and Grow Rich”. We were all born with it. Our ancestors were however more aware of that innate ability and put it to great use.

For entrepreneurs, especially those starting out, consider getting a copy of James Cook’s “Start-up Entrepreneur”. I’ve repeatedly referred to it as “The Missing Chapters In Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich”.

Why?

It’s because Cook provides amazingly deep insights on how to deal with adversity, and uncertainty, as a first time start-up.

In that New York Times Bestseller, he shared, based on his personal experiences, practical examples of how he used his “intuition” to choose the right people to work with him as employees, and to detect persons not being straight with him.

But like I said earlier, no one can be perfect in this art. As humans we will sometimes get it wrong.

For instance, had he been perfect in his use of intuition, Cook may probably not have brought in shareholders/board members who later turned around and tried to kick him out of his company!

Over 10 months of boardroom battling took place. Luckily, his 51% ownership, and refusal to give in to their antics enabled him emerge victorious.

Final Words:  When You Struggle To Use Your 6th Sense, See It As a Learning Opportunity

There are times when I feel like someone launched a signal to “jam” my 6th sense “lie/truth detector”!

I simply get mixed messages or none at all.

When that happens, I’ve learnt to – as I said at the start of this piece – walk blind. I simply monitor trends and traits I can use to make up my mind.

Unlike the instant “gut level feeling” the 6th sense gives, this approach may take weeks to yield fruit.

You’ll be exposed to potentially negative outcomes. If any manifest, just dust yourself off, and move on.

In the end, you’ll often emerge tougher. What’s more, my experiences indicate these things sometimes happen for our own good.

We may not be able to use our 6th sense to solve every puzzle or avoid every danger.

There will be times, when our inability to quickly apply our 6th sense, will be meant to help us grow.

When (not if) it happens to you, make the most of it!

Career Development, Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, General, My DN Travel News, Public Speaking, Self-Development, Writing/Blogging

Be Easy to Identify Online

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Success in business (or life in general) requires getting others to trust you. Today, people will readily Google your name to find out more about you. Do you have your first name and surname registered as a domain name i.e. www.firstnamesurname.com? This article explains why your success may depend in-part, on doing that – as well as a few other things.

People contemplating connecting with us, can make up their minds in seconds. Some may be so fickle minded that one small hint of inconsistency in your online profile or presence can make them flee – literally speaking.

That’s Why You Need to “Protect and Nurture Your Google/Online Identity”

A few years ago, I wrote an article on the above theme – based on my observations and experiences.

Googl’ing a person’s name can sometimes throw up links leading to profiles or pages of persons bearing the same first and last names as him/her. Maybe it happens with yours?

If you’ve never Google’d your name – try it now. If other people show up with the same name as yours, it may not be a good thing…for YOU.

I have met a number of people who faced this dilemma, in their business.

I’ve been lucky with my own name though. I have never encountered anyone online bearing the same first and surname combination with me.

Since 2006 I’ve done a lot of heavy content publishing that’s helped me gain reasonable name recognition. But even then, whenever I checked – even way beyond page 10 of Google’s results, I never came across a namesake.

That notwithstanding, a few weeks ago, I decided to register www.tayosolagbade.com to cover that loose end.

And that’s why I’m now writing this piece – especially for persons in business who find they have at least one or more online name sakes.

Persons in Paid Employment Can Also Benefit From Doing This

At first, there is a tendency to think that this may be a non-issue for those who are not in business e.g. employees.

I would however argue that you should consider making it an issue.

It is in your best interest, to ensure your employer (current or prospective) has no difficulty picking you out from amongst your namesakes online.

Ambitious career persons in today’s world, actually purchase their own names as domains.

They then point the URL to profiles on free hosting accounts. Some even purchase cheap hosting and build their resume websites on it.

For Business Persons, It Is Especially Imperative

For instance, I strongly believe that as a person in business, you must aim to dominate (at least) page 1 of Google’s results for your name. At least 80% should be all about YOU.

In my considered opinion, that reduces chances of people mistaking a namesake for me.

Publishing good quality content regularly, via an intelligent web marketing system, can help you gradually achieve that.

One quick and reliable way to boost your claim to your name on the web (and search engines take this into serious consideration), is to register your name as a domain.

That way, you alone get to ultimately use that URL. No one else.

Imagine what would happen if a namesake beat you to it, and registered the domain?

People who meet (or hear/read about) you may Google you (this happens a lot!), and click on the URL for your name, only to discover a different person!

How confused do you think they would be?

It could be worse. For instance, some may not even realise the person they’ve found is NOT you.

If that happens, you’d better hope what they see pleases them. Otherwise, you’re done!

The above could happen to a potential client/buyer who remembers your name but is unable to recall the URL for your company correctly.

If Your Namesake Does Something Bad, It Could Cost You Greatly!

Be you entrepreneur or employee, you can be negatively affected if your name sake has a bad reputation online.

Some namesakes may do naughty things, linking negative reports to their names.

In 2010, I actually interacted with a prospective client who had this problem. A namesake of his showed up on page 1 of Google, with screaming news headlines (from BBC and other websites) describing the namesake as a criminal. Same name. Exact same spelling!

Like I told him “Few people will even bother trying to investigate to verify if it’s really you the news story is about!”…that includes potential clients/employees!

Think about it. When BBC reports a thing, most people accept it as God’s truth.

Yes they do! And that’s why it’s best to consolidate your name recognition online via regular quality content publishing in YOUR NAME.

It’s your best form of defence against inadvertent or deliberate negativity.

Final Words: Protect Yourself!

I’ll therefore end by saying, if you do nothing else, register your name as a domain (preferably top level e.g. dot com) ASAP.

But if you really want to be in control of what happens when people do an online search in your name, adopt a custom Web Marketing System. (Email me via tayo at tksola dot com for details of what it entails – or use this contact form).

You will NOT regret doing it.

My DN Travel News, Writing/Blogging

A Writer Who Does Not Read Is…NOT a Writer!

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A writer who does not read is not one to be taken seriously. My experiences convince me s/he would be boring to “read” …or converse with. Just like most people who don’t read.

As a result, unless s/he is gifted with talent never before seen on this plane, s/he is highly unlikely to make noteworthy impact anywhere.

This article reviews experience based advice from accomplished writers, on the importance of reading.

For the writer seeking notable success, it is an activity that simply cannot be neglected!

Successful Writers Strongly Recommend Reading, for Writers with Ambition

1. Chimamanda Adichie:

I once read a newspaper interview granted by this award winning Nigerian author of Purple Hibiscus and other internationally celebrated works.

She narrated that an aspiring author once asked her for tips on how to become a better writer.

When she asked what books he had read, he replied that he did not have time to read.

That he was too busy writing to do any reading!

She of course pointed out how wrong that mindset was…

How do you expect to be a good writer, if you do not read good writers to LEARN HOW to write better!

2. Zadie Smith:

I never knew her name, until I read on brainpickings.org that she was asked by Guardian in 2010 as one of today’s most celebrated authors, to share her 10 rules on writing.

The first rule on her list challenges the aspiring writer, to “read a lot”, right from childhood. And she advises investing more time in doing that, “than anything else”.

3. Other Great Writers Recommend The Same Thing…Read!

Ernest Hemmingway, David Ogilvy, and many other accomplished writers have also pointed out the need to read in order to write better.

And it’s not reading YOUR own writing…

Instead, read those acknowledged to be competent. Those celebrated as being exceptional.

In other words, just like in any other field or vocation, study the masters.

Those are writers who have reached the peak of achievement in the art of writing.

Emulate their style – varying it where necessary, and adopt what you end up with, to develop what may become your unique style. Something recognizable as yours by your audience.

Two (2) Useful Benefits You Stand to Reap from Reading

1. Wisdom & Insights

Experience-based wisdom and insights from writers who felt they knew enough to write a book(s).

As writers, reading allows us access to insights that would probably elude us otherwise.

Using those insights, we are able to create new volumes of written works that build on what we have read, to deliver even greater insights.

Good writers that we read, often offer tried and tested ideas to get things done, sometimes with less trial and error.  What we learn from such writers, can also help us deal better – for example, psychologically speaking – with challenges we face in life…such as tough times.

Someone once wrote that “Reading strengthens the mind” (James R. Cook – Author of the New York Times Bestseller – The Startup Entrepreneur).

I agree with him.

2. New Knowledge & Education

Some people originate new knowledge and ideas for the rest of us to feed on. They help us take quantum leaps in our thinking, and about what we know.

In reality however, especially today, many who innovate and create, often use what they read (written by others) as “raw materials” for inspiration.

Today, most of us create new works (including our writing) by reflecting on what has been written (in books, on the web etc).

But we do this from new or different perspectives. What we learn in the process then equips us to proceed more intelligently in further exploring a subject or area of interest.

I believe the above is why Dr. Samuel Johnson once wrote as follows:

“A man will turn over half a library in order to make one book” – Samuel Johnson, as in “Boswell’s ‘Life of Johnson’”.

Final Words

Without a healthy reading habit, a writer will gradually find that writing becomes drudgery. As humans, our minds need fodder that can be harvested by reading, to fuel our efforts to write.

So, to write better, read more…and often.

And do as much of it as possible. Otherwise, writing success will elude you.

The following two quotes further underscore the point I’ve made in this article:

“Reading usually precedes writing and the impulse to write is almost always fired by reading. Reading, the love of reading, is what makes you dream of becoming a writer.” – Susan Sontag

“Reading is to the mind, what exercise is to the body” – Sir Richard Steele in “The Tatter”

 

Career Development, Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, General, My DN Travel News, Parenting, Public Speaking, Self-Development, Writing/Blogging

THE FOOL WHO THOUGHT HE WAS WISE (A 14 Year Old’s Useful Short Story On HIV-AIDS Prevention)

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This insightful piece was written by a 14 year old boy – Amaechi O.S – 6 months ago. It was typed by him in MS Word format. The story delivers a powerful message regarding a dangerous misconception some people – especially kids or “uneducated” adults – may have about “how to wear” condoms to prevent HIV infection.

I’ve edited it for spelling, comprehension and grammar but added NOTHING to it, and published it here (i.e.www.tinyurl.com/AmeachiOnHIV). A PDF version is available via a download link at the bottom of this post. Please share it freely – and do let Amaechi have your feedback – if any – in the comments section or via email (see below)

Oh yes, one more thing: Consider this the VERY first guest post I’m publishing on my blog…LOL! And who knows…Amaechi may end up becoming another teenage writing genius – like Bamidele Onibalusi!!

======STORY BEGINS====

There was once a family. They had lived through many generations, and were rich, strong, God fearing people.

But one day, one of their offspring brought disgrace to the family.

His name was Leinad.

Leinad thought he was clever, but often did things that showed he was not very smart.

On that fateful day, armed robbers broke into the house where he lived with his family, and demanded for two million naira.

But they were fair with him, and gave him two options.

They told him to choose between being injected with a syringe containing HIV infected blood, or giving them the two million naira.

“We will be back in five days time”, said the men of the underworld.

After five days they came back asking him if he had made his decision.

He said, “Yes. I want to give you the money”.

“Where is it”, said the men of the under world.

“It is in my room”, he replied.

“Then bring it out now!” they said.

Leinad went to his room, but instead of getting the money, he wore a condom on his manhood, then went back downstairs, and said:

“I want the syringe, I want the syringe man!”

So, they tried to inject him in the buttocks with the syringe.

“No, on my hand” he said.

They injected him and left saying “You did this to yourself!”

But Leinad laughed saying: “Those fools they don’t know that I am wearing a condom”.

Two years later he died of HIV.

======THE END====

Send feedback to: amaechiOS at tksola dot com OR add your comments below…

DOWNLOAD THE PDF VERSION…

This insightful piece was written by a 14 year old boy – Amaechi O.S - 6 months ago. It was typed by him in MS Word format. The story delivers a powerful message regarding a dangerous misconception some people – especially kids or “uneducated” adults - may have about “how to wear” condoms to prevent HIV infection.

My DN Travel News, Writing/Blogging

Write Faster – and Better – Using Regular Physical Exercise

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NB: This article is based on excerpts from my ebook titled “WHY YOU KEEP FAILING TO ACHIEVE  YOUR WRITING GOALS! (10 Habits That Are Holding You Back…And How To Change Them For Good!)”

“The brain is exactly like any other part of the body: it can be strengthened by proper exercise, by proper use. Put your arm in a sling and keep it there for a considerable length of time, and when you take it out, you find that you can’t use it. In the same way, the brain that isn’t used suffers atrophy.” – Thomas Edison

In the above quote, Edison was referring to the need to make regular use of one’s brain for deep creative and analytical thinking. People who form the habit of thinking about things – especially if they also take the time to read as well – will find that over time they become more intellectually productive.

This is true for writers.

In order to write, you have to think about what you want to write e.g. the title to use, the opening, the core message and so on.

It’s this constant requirement for thought and reflection, that trains a writer’s brain to deliver at an increased level of productivity over time.

In other words, regular writing is actually an excellent form of exercise for your brain. And the more often you write, the easier it gets.

And by the way, don’t let anyone mislead you – there is NO best time to write. You can WILL yourself to do it anytime you want.

I am living proof of it.

How regularly do you write? If it’s not often, that could be a reason why you struggle to do it. In order to make progress, write as frequently as possible.

Physical Exercise Boosts Mental Stamina, for Intellectually Demanding Tasks – Like Writing!

But exercising your brain is just one half of the solution you may need. For a mentally tasking vocation like writing, regular physical exercise can boost your productivity many times over.

If you didn’t know, take it from me: Mental exercise can only get you so far. To achieve superior levels of writing productivity, you need physical exercise.

The human body is interesting. Without regular exercise, it tends to settle into a rut – even up “there”. Interestingly however, you may not need more than 10 minutes every day to wake the body up.

Doing more can of course get you greater returns, but 10 minutes of smart non-stressful (daily) exercising alone can do wonders for your brain – and ultimately, your writing.

Can you recall how you felt right after being exposed to some kind of tense encounter or danger e.g. escaping from a stalker, a burning building, or a dangerous dog?

Notice how alert your body, and brain “felt”? How your thoughts and reflexes miraculously became razor sharp?

I have seen a fat person, with seemingly no athletic ability – while under the influence of fear generated adrenaline – scale a height that he would never have consciously attempted, in order to escape from what he considered a dangerous situation.

I left competitive sports about 18 years ago (I played state level handball from the age of 12 till I graduated from the university at 22). Since then, I have tried to do at least 70 push-ups (sometimes adding 50 sit-ups) every day, and rounding up with “Yoga style” stretching exercises.

It usually takes me about 15 minutes. These days, I’m joined by my kids – including their 3 year old sister.

My exercise regimen always leaves me feeling alert and ready to tackle the day’s tasks. I’ve had colleagues and clients comment, many times, on my work related stamina.

And although I no longer work on site, there was a time when I would arrive a hotel client’s premises at 6a.m, to work on a custom MS Excel-VB software development project, and leave at 1.00a.m the next day. I now work mostly from home, but still do such marathon “runs” – when necessary – to meet deadlines.

Regular exercise primes your body with adrenaline and other hormones that enable you deliver optimal performance when necessary.

You develop physical/mental stamina. I’m not a doctor, but I’ve used the above experience based analogies to help you understand how regular exercise, even if done for only a few minutes, can boost your productivity.

I suggest you adopt an exercise regimen that suits you.

If you’re new to it, or it’s been a while since you last did it, start small…and slow.

You’re not competing with anyone. We just need to get more movement going on in your body. So, take it easy!

For those who never used to exercise, this may be a little hard to understand. But once you start doing it, you’ll wonder how you ever got along without it.

LEARN MORE!

Click here to get the full ebook titled “WHY YOU KEEP FAILING TO ACHIEVE  YOUR WRITING GOALS! (10 Habits That Are Holding You Back…And How To Change Them For Good!)“