[NB: This is a transcript of my New Year audio message]

This is Tayo Solagbade, and I want to challenge your thoughts a bit in this short audio clip I’m doing, with regard to the issue of jobs availability, unemployment locally in Nigeria, in Africa, and loss of jobs by people who are Africans based abroad in diaspora, and who are being probably sent home, losing their jobs and having to return home after decades working overseas.

And the fact that they were told "Oh because there are no jobs" so there’s nothing esle to keep them there, and they have to return home, because those economies in Europe and America can no longer support them, and are trying to provide for their own citizens – the native citizens…

All of those theories…that’s why I’m doing this audio:

I want to pass a message to the individual who fits any of those descriptions…

Maybe you’re somebody locally in Nigeria or Africa who cannot find a job, lost your job, are looking for a new job, or a better job…

Or you’re somebody who has been abroad, and you’ve lost your job, cannot find a job, are looking for a job…

Wherever you may be operating from or may have been operating from, I just want to tell you something:

The truth of the matter is that what your experiences and circumstances turn out to be in life, will be 99% within your contol!

I am not God – of course! – and I am NOT a magician.

But I am telling you this because it is the way I have lived my life, and I’ve seen the results every day: My life is a miracle, and my life is proof that the Creator will reward those who put in the effort to make themselves better, with faith and persistence.

So I want to tell you, that no matter what anybody is writing in the papers, on the Internet, or saying on radio or TV, the truth is that YOU are the master of the ship of YOUR life!

This is NOT a motivational talk. I am going to give you specific ideas you should take and apply in your life, if you know you don’t want to be one of those sorry statistics they’re gonna reel out at the end of the year saying "Oh it was a rough and tough year for people".

The truth of the matter is this: Because you are a child of God, YOU and WEALTH have an affinity for each other.

Understand that unless you do not have faith in YOUR Creator, that is the only reason you will accept that there is going to be a gloomy year: "Er this year is going to be a gloomy year, because of the lack of oil…"

All of that is just "story". It does NOT apply to everybody. It applies to those who accept it as their reality.

If you don’t accept it as your reality, and you take ACTION to make it NOT be your reality, it will NOT be your reality.

Now specifically, what I wanna tell you is this:

You need skills – and you need to acquire and develop skills that the market in which you are going to function – or the market you want to target – will appreciate enough to pay you profitably for.

If you are NOT willing to do that, then FORGET about dealing with hard times or winning in hard times or overcoming hard times.

You must be willing to adapt by acquiring and developing skills, knowledge and attitudes that will help you flourish and overcome any adversity or changes in your fortunes that may occur…

Because life is NOT a straight line graph. Life is not a bed of roses. We know this and yet we behave as if we expect it to be like that.

You cannot say you want to be successful, in spite of fluctuations in fortunes of societies and people around you, and then you still sit around doing what you were doing last year, 2 years ago.

You have to be willing to study trends, anticipate changes, and adjust yourself accordingly to make the most of waves that are going to come your way – or get thrown your way by life.

So skills are the key to your survival.

When I talk about skills (I mean) skills in any area of endeavour whatsoever. Whatever your talents, whatever your abilities are, you need to be able to identify skills that are marketable, that can make people pay you money to apply those skills for them – to their benefit.

Okay?

If you’re able to do that, you will never have a problem. Yes there will be ups and downs, but you will always have the answer.

You will always know that all you need to do is to apply yourself, make changes to your strategy, and still apply yourself again, and you will get the results you want.

I’m gonna give you a specific example.

For Africans in particular…as a matter of fact, for anybody anywhere in the world, the truth of the matter is that the Internet, PC and Internet technology, in conjunction with the use of smart phone technology and all of that – all the telecoms resources that we have today, that make this world such a rapidly changing marketplace.

If you can find a way to link what you do to the use of PC and Internet resources, you are going to succeed no matter the area of endeavour you are in.

It’s just going to be a matter of you using your creativity.

Specifically, if you can find a way to help people solve problems they have in:

a. the use of PC and Internet technology

b. the use of PC and Internet technology to achieve their offline goals.

If you can do one of those 2 things, you will not have a problem finding income that you need to live well, even in the hardest of times.

If you’re somebody that is creative, then you can develop solutions that are digital that people can buy from you, and that has nothing to do with what you studied. It has nothing to do with whether or not you’re in paid employment. You can do this at night, and resume at work by 8 and still do it when you get home at night again.

This is the thing. You need to stop thinking conventional. You’ve got to be able to think outside the box – in fact just get rid of the box completely!

If you’re unwilling to do this, then expect your road to be rough in 2016 and beyond.

But if you’re willing to think the way I’m talking about, then I assure you nobody can stop you from growing your brand, no matter what area of endeavour you’re in.

And you will always find yourself thanking God, living a life that is glorifying to him, because people will be asking you: "What is your secret?"

Because even when people are complaining, you will not be complaining , you will be giving thanks. You will be expressing gratitude.

So, don’t let anybody tell you that there is one gloomy prediction that is going to apply to you. It is a decision you can take. You have the power in your hand to decide how your future will be – with faith in God, and with the willingness to apply yourself with persistence.

If you do these things I describe in this audio, or those that you find when you check out my website – www.tayosolagbade.com – your story will be different from others.

To get a copy of the MP3 recording from which this transcript was made, click here to send me a web form request.