Category Archives: Parenting

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

Asking Questions Can Stop People From Exploiting You (Lessons From My Seme Border Experience)

March 7, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

I took the picture below, today at the United Bank of Africa (UBA) branch, on the Nigerian side of Seme border. I stood outside because the hall where the ATM machines stood was too hot for me. The air conditioners had broken down, and a long queue of people had built up.

Since I considered myself “highly inflammable”, I felt it was safer to stay out of such a hot area, till my turn came to use the ATM

A Warri based Farm CEO wants to attend my forthcoming Feed Formulation Workshop in Lagos, Nigeria. I had to cash funds he sent me (via ATM), to prepare his workshop pack of printed handbook and CDROMs containing promised PDF ebooks, my Ration Formulator™ software, video tutorials etc.

Why Did I Not Use ATMs Within Benin Republic, You Wonder?

Believe me, I’d have loved to. It would have saved me over 2 hours of to/fro commuting I had to do from Cotonou, to the Nigerian end of the border at Seme, and then back to Cotonou again!

However, since my arrival in this Francophone nation last April, I have been unable to find a single ATM machine with a Mastercard logo on it.

The bank I use (Guaranty Trust Bank) has no branch in Benin. Before travelling, I’d called their support lines,and been assured the Naira Denominated Debit Mastercard issued to me would work “with any ATM Machine in the world.”

Stupidly, I believed them.

Then one day in Cotonou, I visited a branch of UBA, and asked where I could use the ATM.

The lady asked: “Is your card Visa?”

I replied that it was Mastercard.

She then told me the machines would only recognise Visa cards!

Since then I’ve come to learn that in virtually all the Francophone African nations, the ATM machines most widely available have Visa logos on them.

Isn’t is strange that my bank’s people did NOT know that???

So I’m in the process of opening an account with another bank with branches across most countries. In the meantime, I have to visit the border, as explained above, to cash funds sent by buyers.

But that’s not why I’m writing this article.

Asking Questions Can Stop People From Taking Advantage of You!

I’m writing this piece to share a true story that you can learn from, about why it’s good to ask questions.

You see, after I’d cashed the money I needed, I headed back to the Benin Republic end of the border. As usual, I made sure to pass through the relevant passport stamping and yellow card inspection points.

But Today, I Had a Series of Truly Odd Experiences Crossing the Border!

At the Nigerian end, I entered the left side of the Immigration’s container office, and with a few seconds got my passport stamped out, and handed over the N100 payment always demanded.

Next I entered the room on the right, where another immigration officer looked up at me.

I recognised him from a previous encounter (He’d insisted the photo in my passport was of a person who looked much older than me, even though we looked alike. I’d laughed in his face, to his displeasure. Then I told him the person to blame was his colleague at the Immigration Passport office in Ikoyi who took a photo that made me look older!)

I greeted him politely: “Good morning Sir. Nice to see you again.”

He grunted “How are you?” as he inspected my passport and scribbled my details in his journal.

I replied that I was fine. Few seconds later, he was done. Then he looked up and said “N200”

“Huh?” I replied in confusion, wondering what he was asking for.

He said “Pay N200” Mr ehm (looking again at my passport now) “Tayo Kayode Solagbade”.

I knew what to do: PLAY DUMB…

So I said “I don’t understand Sir. Last time you asked me to pay, I told you I’d already paid N100 in the other office, and that normally my details are just recorded here. After I leave here I only pay N200 at the Beninese entry point where my passport is stamped in”.

He said “Last time you said that I let you leave without paying, but it’s not a right you know?”

I replied “Well I’m sorry sir, it’s just that I’ve never had anyone ask me to pay twice before. What I’m familiar with is what I just said.”

Realizing I wasn’t going to give in, he looked away and said: “Okay, forget it. Take your passport.”

“You mean I can go Sir?” I deliberately asked

“Yes, you can go. Have a nice day” he replied impatiently handing my passport to me.

I took it, and thanking him – politely again – left.

As I Walked Towards the Benin Republic Entry Point, I Felt the Worst Was Over. How Wrong I Was!

Just as I passed a post mounted next a barricade to stop cars, a guy dressed in jeans and t-shirt, called out to me. He was standing right next to a uniformed immigration officer who looked at me with disinterest as I responded.

I walked back to him and said: “Yes?”

He said “Can I see your passport?”

Feeling he was an immigration officer not dressed in uniform for some reason, I gave him the passport. He looked at it, then handed it back. Next he asked “Do you have any money on you?”

That got the alarm bells ringing in my head. But again, since we were right next to a uniformed officer I chose to play along. “Not much I replied.”

“How much CFA and Naira?” he pressed

By this time I was getting irritated and it showed on my face. “Why do you want to know?” I asked evasively.

He said: “It’s because of the bad people who carry fake money. That’s why we’re checking. Just let me see what you have on you, and if none of it is fake, you can go.”

I looked over at the uniformed man and he was paying us no attention, even though I knew he could hear us. I dipped my hands in my pockets, and showed him a few one thousand naira bills.

He said “Is that all?”

I replied that I had a few CFA coins. He nodded and said “Okay, sorry to have disturbed you.”

As I Walked Away, I Did Not Know That Yet Another Strange Experience Awaited Me!

Just as I neared the Benin passport stamping post, I heard someone call out to me.

He was not in uniform, and was dressed in jeans and t-shirt, like the guy I’d just finished with.

Now, this individual was not standing next to any post or barricade. It was just a short distance to the Beninese entry post.

“Let me see your passport” he demanded.

Without thinking, I gave it to him, wondering why this unusual set of checks were happening repeatedly.

Suddenly, just as he opened the passport, I saw a hand reach out from behind him and snatch it.

Then the person stepped out smartly dressed in a green guinea brocade. He was a slender, fit looking guy who looked to be in his thirties.

He handed my passport to me and motioned for me to follow him, as he walked briskly away.

I looked back and saw the guy I’d been with quietly step backwards behind a parked trailer.

Now I was totally confused. Before I could say anything the guinea brocade guy said

“How could you just give him your passport like that?” he asked

“I don’t understand why you people behave this way. Why didn’t you ask him for his identification first. Don’t you know those guys are just thieves? If you’d stayed long there, they would have robbed you of all the money you had on you” he finished.

I was opening and closing my mouth like a fish out of water, in a mixture of surprise and confusion.

“I thought he was a non-uniformed operative” I said lamely.

“But you should have confirmed. These guys are everywhere and you people must be careful” he countered, all the while walking briskly towards the Beninese end.

I could not help feeling that once again a guardian angel had been sent to save me, in one of my rare moments of zero street smartness!

As I thought about what had just happened, my encounter with the first guy began to make sense.

His role had apparently been to check if I had money on me!

By getting me to show it to him, the others watching got confirmation of that.

As I walked away, he must have signalled the others down the road to work on me. And I guess this gentleman who’d intervened, had seen the progression of events and decided to act.

“But why are such people being allowed to carry out criminal acts right at the Nigerian end of the border, with all the government and security operatives present?

Would it not have been better to simply round them off, and keep them out, rather than let them rob people under their noses?” I asked.

I rephrased that question twice. He ignored my queries on both occasions. So I shut up, thinking to myself that such absurdities are what make corruption difficult to fight in Nigeria.

A few moments later, we arrived the Benin end.

I thanked him and promised to keep his warning in mind when next I visited the border.

Final Words: Lessons You Can Learn (and Also Teach Your Kids!)

Notice from the story that I successfully used questions, and subtle resistance, to avoid being made to pay more than I was supposed to pay.

But I was later almost fooled by crooks allowed to roam freely within an area that should have been secured against their entry!

That’s to say one should always be alert at all, times, even in a supposedly secure area!

So, Here Are Useful Lessons I Learnt From This Experience, Which I’ll Also Be Sharing With My Kids

This is especially important, in these times that kidnappers and other evil people have gotten more daring and creative in Nigeria.

1. Once a person is not in uniform, asking for his/her identification becomes necessary, before you do whatever s/he asks!

2. In addition, check and ensure that the identification provided is authentic.

3. If you’re not sure how to do that, insist on involving a uniformed officer (in the case of a child s/he should call out to another adult for help).

4. Try checking to also be sure that whoever you call is not party to the arrangement!

5. And lastly, do not let him/her (or them) take you to a corner, or remote or secluded area. Insist on staying in the open, or as close as possible to the officially designated areas with security.

It goes without saying, of course, that no one can be 100% effective at detecting efforts to con him/her.

However, keeping the above points in mind, and staying alert to tell tale signs you observe, can save you.

Lastly, keep your faith in your creator strong. And make sure to do His will at all times.

That way, even if you’re unaware of the bad intentions of those you’re relating with, your God will send a guardian angel to pull you out of there!

It’s happened to me VERY many times.

Believe, and the same will happen to you as well.

PS: By the way, the above final tip, has nothing to do with religion. It works for anyone who truly believes – and acts with faith – IN the creator. That includes even a person who practises NO religion. I’m living proof of that!

Career Development, Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, General, My DN Travel News, My Ideas for Making Nigeria Better, Parenting, Public Speaking, Self-Development, Writing/Blogging

Invitation to Practical Livestock Feed Formulation (& Compounding) Workshop – By Tayo K. Solagbade

March 5, 2014 Tayo Solagbade 1 Comment

This workshop reveals ALL The Secrets needed for ANYONE to become Proficient in Poultry (Even Livestock) Feed Formulation AND Compounding! Two farm business owners (from Warri, and Umuahia), have confirmed their interest. Both are past buyers of my Feed Formulation Handbook and Ration Formulator™ software.

DATE: Saturday 15th March 2014

Time: 11a.m to 5 p.m

Venue: Premises of a Feed Milling company in Oko Oba, Agege, Lagos, Nigeria.

Fee: N35,000 (Thirty Five Thousand Naira)…see item 1., under section B., below for discount option.

A. Seven (7) Practical Benefits to Attendees

1. Manual demonstration of worked examples, practical tips, and illuminating insights into the science of feed formulation using an improved (weighted average based) version of the Pearson Square computation technique.

2. Demonstration of ration formulation using my Excel-VB driven Ration Formulator™ software.

3. Demonstration of practical feed compounding using the ration formulated above.

4. In-depth exposition on critical considerations in selection and use of feedstuffs – including discussion of nutrients/energy values of local feedstuffs, anti-nutritional factors etc

5. Special focus on exploration of low cost alternative feed ingredients to cut feed compounding costs

6. Discussion of nutrient requirements of different poultry and other livestock types (pigs, rabbits etc)

7. Essential features of rations for different groups of livestock and review of Sample/Pre-formulated rations used for production in real-life settings

B. Six (6) Bonuses for Attendees

1. Past buyers of at least N8,000.00 worth of my products get a 40% discount to attend.

2. A CDROM containing a full video of workshop proceedings – you’ll be able to watch and re-watch to reinforce your learning..

3. A printed and bound physical copy of the feed formulation handbook.

4. A CDROM containing the new EXE version of my Ration Formulator™.

5. SPECIAL BONUS: Free Copy of my New Monthly Poultry Farm Manager Software (a N25,000 value)

The CDROM mentioned in 4 above will also contain a fully functional copy of my monthly Poultry Farm Manager.

See full details of the new Poultry Farm Manager’s features in this PDF preview/offer document (click now).

Here’s an article in which I explained why I chose to create the above mini version of the original Poultry Farm Manager app which handles ONE year of farm data (Price = N250K) and is described in THIS Youtube video.

I want to help farm business owners visualize how an Enterprise Information System like the Poultry Farm Manager, can increase their chances of farm business success.

That’s why I’m offering this new app free to attendees who run poultry farms.

To give you further insight of how this app can help you, I’ve published a short story article on my blog about an entrepreneurial couple.

It describes how they used their EIS software, in conjunction with best practice strategies to solve challenging problems in their layer farm.

Click here to read it or go to www.tinyurl.com/FarmBizStory1.

For Further Details About the Workshop…

Email your name, mobile phone number and address to to tayo at tksola dot com

I look forward to meeting you!

Tayo K. Solagbade

Mobile: +229-66-122-136 (in Benin Republic) and +234-803-302-1263 (in Nigeria)

Web: www.boostyourfarmprofits.biz

PS: Unable to make it for the workshop holding on Saturday the 15th March 2014?

If you’d like to know when next another run of the workshop will hold, get in touch using the contact information supplied above.

Career Development, Entrepreneurship, My DN Travel News, Parenting, Self-Development

Conversation between Entrepreneur Parent and His Kids’ Lesson Teacher

February 28, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

How well do you know your child’s teacher(s)? By “know” I mean meeting and engaging him/her in conversation about what s/he thinks education for success in life is about, and how to go about giving it.

I share excerpts from a conversation (online chat) with my kids’ lesson teacher, which reveals why connecting with your child’s teacher(s) in the above manner may be necessary.

If you don’t do it now, you may have to contend, in future, with mis-educated adult kids, failing in life!

==Conversation Begins===

Lesson Teacher: “ Sir, the kids are fond of selling iron rods and I don’t know why.

Me: “What is the problem: Are they doing it during lesson periods?”

Lesson Teacher: “It’s distracting their focus at home and school.”

Me: “I don’t understand. Are they doing it when they are supposed to be in lesson with you…or when they are supposed to be attending classes in school? Or are they failing to do assignments given them during school or lesson periods. Let me know…”

Lesson Teacher: “Ok I will let you know.”

Me: “What did you observe that made you say what you did? I have a reason for asking…Did their mother complain to you?”

Lesson Teacher: “I realised they look for iron rods on street and I’m not comfortable with it.”

Me: “Well, from a SAFETY and SECURITY point of view (with all the kidnapping going on in Nigeria), I do see how it may not be OK. However, I can tell you that I have STRONGLY encouraged them to do what you see them doing, since they told me about it.

But I have always told them to avoid straying away from the neighbourhood, and to ALWAYS move together. This, I’m sure applies mainly to <12 year old’s name> and <10 year old’s name>.”

Lesson Teacher: “Ok sir…You got it exactly.”

Lesson Teacher: “I will call them tonight to find out how they’ve been going about it, and remind them of the need to be careful. Other than that, I am determined to help my kids develop their entrepreneurial instincts and talents.

Indeed, before they clock 15 years, I aim to ensure EACH of them has a micro business s/he is running on the side. Seriously. That’s what our schools are NOT teaching us. And that’s why so many of us have our “certificates”, but can only look for jobs.

We don’t know how to create products and services we can sell if NO jobs are available. I don’t want my kids to end up like that.

Think about the matter you and I are discussing regarding my seeking audience with Mr. <name of my client> about your business idea.

It’s because you’re trying to do something for yourself, since jobs you got are not giving the JOY and satisfaction you want.

I’m trying to kill 2 birds with one stone for my kids.

They learn school work, but they also learn to be entrepreneurial in their thinking and actions. And they learn to value and respect money – by EARNING it, instead of asking their parents all the time, to give them money. See?”

Lesson Teacher: “I understand…But they need proper orientation”

Me: “I don’t understand? Proper orientation…please explain?”

Lesson Teacher: “I mean they should know the value of education alongside the entrepreneur upgrading.”

Me: “I’m glad you expressed this opinion. It’s now obvious you have yet to understand certain IMPORTANT things my friend.

Education must NEVER be considered separate from ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING. The two go together.

My advice to you is this: Google “Sir Ken Robinson” and watch one or more of his videos (e.g. Schools Kill Creativity). There are articles I have written, and others (like Seth Godin, Robert Kiyosaki etc), which explain why what we learn in our schools today is mostly useless to us in life.

Ask yourself: Why are you talking to me about starting a business, and having such a hard time doing so? I would have thought the EDUCATION you got in school would have prepared you for that???

But apparently it did not!

Does that not tell you something is wrong with the education we get? What is education…should it not prepare one to succeed in the real world?

You have a lot to learn. And the first step will be to understand that you have been wrongly oriented about what education really means.

Here’s my advice. Start reading Robert Kiyosaki’s works online. I owned a copy of his book:

http://www.amazon.com/Want-Rich-Happy-Dont-School/dp/0944031595

“If You Want to Be Rich & Happy Don’t Go to School: Ensuring Lifetime Security for Yourself and Your Children.”

It was his first best seller if I recall correctly.

That man is a multi-millionaire. He was an OLODO*in school, while his father was a top educationist in USA!

[NB*: “Olodo” = “Yoruba” word for “dismal performer”]

Robert kept embarrassing the father by doing poorly in school. But today he’s super rich. His father was (often) broke, as a teacher!”

Lesson Teacher: “I understand everything and will Google what you said now.”

Me: This website (linked below) offers a review of Robert Kiyosaki’s book that I just mentioned above. Since you’re unlikely to be able to get the book to read without buying it, I suggest you read the review at http://charlesholmes.net/2013/05/if-you-want-to-be-rich-and-happy-dont-go-to-school-by-robert-kiyosaki/

I am telling you all this because I have SUFFERED greatly for being too focussed on school success and ending up unprepared to succeed in the real world, outside a salary job.

There are fewer and fewer jobs out there today, for people finishing from school. Most people will have to start a small business of their own, no matter how well they perform in school.

And it is those who already know how to find what people will pay them GOOD MONEY for, that will succeed the best.

That’s what my kids are learning.

I challenged them to find a way to make money for themselves. One day they told me they discovered Mallams would pay them for iron** they are able to find.

[NB**: “Iron” here refers to scrap made of iron e.g damaged devices, mechanical parts from cars, and other machines etc]

I encouraged them to continue.

On a certain occasion, I was around when a Mallam came to buy, and I joined them in negotiating a better selling price.

My advice to you: read, and think about what I’ve said.

It’s the key to your success in the new venture you say you wish to start. I have to go offline now on my laptop. Will be on my Blackberry, if you still wish to continue.

(Few minutes later, his next message arrives via my Blackberry app interface)

Lesson Teacher: “I really need you by my side to continue the chat and learn more from you. I am appreciating all (the) fact(s) you are telling me.”

Me: Click the links to the websites I posted above, and READ the information there. It is the key to your mental emancipation or freedom. You need that to truly succeed outside paid employment.

==Conversation Ends===

Final Words: Your Kid’s Teacher May Need YOUR Help…to Teach YOUR Child Better!

NB: I’m assuming here that YOU do not yourself need re-orientation. Otherwise, start with yourself!

This young man, in my estimation, is in his mid to late 30s.

Earlier in January, he came to me saying he was not happy with his employment in the tutoring agency handling my kids’ home coaching.

According to him, the pay was poor, despite the heavy workload.

So he wanted to know how he could pursue his dream of starting his own business.

But he was not sure what he could do to make money.

He just knew he did not want to continue working for an employer, because he felt he would earn better if self-employed.

I told him that since he’s not married and has no dependants, then he’s perfectly positioned to achieve his goal.

That’s a much better way to start. I had the opposite experience – VERY VERY TOUGH!

I explained that he just needs to identify the right business to start, and work hard.

With the exchange we’ve now had above, I’m hopeful the first obstacle to his succeeding with his plans has been (or is in the process of being) removed.

By this I refer to the “employee” mentality or orientation, that conventional schools instil in people.

It makes them think no other way exists for succeeding in life, except to “go to school, study hard, get good grades, and get a good job”.

The realities in today’s world make it obvious jobs are no longer there. Even not-so-good ones!

And THAT is the dilemma that’s facing many young people today.

When they finish school, and discover this truth, they are left confused about what to do next.

If you fail to guide your kids to develop their entrepreneurial instincts AHEAD of time, you may end up doing extra parenting for them when they should already be independent of you.

And it may NOT be a pleasant experience.

I wish you well as you prepare your children with the right educational experiences.

Experiences which equip them with the ability to succeed, regardless of whether they are in paid employment, or out of it.

That – in my considered opinion – is what makes successful parenting.

And you may need to check and ensure your kid’s teacher(s) are on the same wavelength with you, if you want to succeed!

General, My DN Travel News, Parenting

Why You Need to Nurture the Genius In Your Child

February 21, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

Did you know? There IS a genius in your child. This article explains what you must do to AVOID stifling it…so s/he can MANIFEST that inborn genius, which can make society a better place for all of us!

Kids Are Often Fearless and Uninhibited

As I’m yet to conclude arrangements to bring my family to join me, I often find myself thinking of my kids when I see children their age, here in Cotonou.

What always strikes me about kids is their seeming inability to understand they have limitations.

Once convinced about something they basically set out to do it, without even considering possible dangers. They are much less inhibited by fears and worries than adults are.

And that state of mind is one that I consider quite powerful, as it can be deliberately nurtured to make any child manifest the genius s/he has within.

Which brings me to an important point I always want to emphasise when discussing this subject…

Everyone Has a Genius in Him/Her – Including YOU, and YOUR Child

If that is so, how come so many people never do anything exceptional with themselves right into their old age?

The answer is that we are taught to be afraid to nurture and manifest our inborn genius. That which makes us special, different, unique or one of a kind.

Who teaches us to do such a harmful thing to ourselves?

It’s society – as represented by the adults we meet in it when we are born and being raised. The result it that we grow up almost completely disconnected from our geniuses.

Indeed, we are afraid to even look inside of ourselves to discover what we SENSE that we are truly capable of becoming.

We live everyday in almost mortal fear, of being found to think or feel differently from others whose approval we seek!

And even though many times we may feel unhappy, dissatisfied or unfulfilled living that way, we prefer to NOT do anything differently.

Again it’s the fear that controls us.

Yet, as kids, we were also mostly “fearless and without inhibitions”…like kids today are.

Think about it: Until a child has been hurt by putting his/her hand in the open flame, s/he will often pay little attention to warnings against going near fire.

We have seen this happen again and again. New born children pass through the same basic process of experiential learning.

Apparently,even though you and I have learnt to be controlled by our fears and worries, we have NO WAY of passing them to our unborn children!

That’s the only explanation for the fact that newborn kids – worldwide – arrive without them isn’t it?

Wow, that means fear, worry, insecurity and similar saboteurs, that keep us from making the most of ourselves are NOT genetic!

They cannot be transferred via our DNA to our kids!!

That’s why a spineless weakling of a man, can father a child that grows into a fearless warrior.

It goes without saying, that the example of Okonkwo the great warrior, and his father, described in Chinua Achebe’s book, was fictional.

The truth is however that many real life examples, matching the description of Okonkwo’s “weak” father abound in history.

This confirms that every human being is indeed unique. And even with limitations genetic inheritance impose, you CAN do more than your ancestors did!

The key is to explore, discover and embrace your inborn genius.

But What Exactly Will Your Genius Look Like?

In my experience, it will be anything you find that you have a passion for, and/or a deeply enduring interest in.

Something that you will never have difficulty devoting endless hours of effort and attention towards developing mastery.

The best part is just like you have it, and need to find it, so does your child.

It is, of course, possible you may not wish to exert yourself so much, or you feel it’s already too late for you (which it never is!).

In that case, I urge you to at least bear in mind, that your child’s genius is most likely fighting, right now, to show itself.

And it is quite possible that s/he is already giving you subtle signs and signals of the above.

When last did you sit down, and quietly observe any of your kids at play around the house?

What did/do you notice seems to be the child’s major preoccupation most times?

What kinds of requests does s/he typically make of you – if any?

My 10 year old Son Began Giving “Signals”, That I Began Noticing, When He Was About Eight

His passion?

Fiddling with and fixing things – especially electrical stuff.

Initially I just thought it was a passing fancy or temporary obsession.

Then we noticed he began finding and keeping tools like screw drivers, and lots of damaged electrical components, parts of mobile phones/other devices (e.g rechargeable lamps, mobile phones and chargers etc).

He soon had a box filled with them.

Each day, after school he’d sit alone fiddling with his collections.

One day, my wife complained that a plug for a device was not working. Our young genuius-in-the-making overheard her, and quickly came running saying “Wait, let me see!”

The mother handed the plug to him. In a flash he went to his box of parts and soon had the plug opened.

Then about 2 minutes or so later he returned with the plug saying “A wire was loose. I’ve fixed it back. Try now, it should work.”

And he said it with a look of supreme confidence. I was mersmerized!

Sure enough, when his mother plugged the device and pressed the switch, it worked!

Since then, I’ve done all in my power to encourage him to continue.

And that includes buying him a complete electrical toolkit as a Christmas present last December (2013).

I intend to have him attend a hands-on training session with a neighbourhood electrical specialist, who started by self-tutoring. And we’ve already decided he will attend a technical college. It’s only logical.

All of this has boosted his interest and confidence.

And he’s already using some of his tools to fix things around the house!

No one needs to push him to work on these aspects. He is naturally motivated by the passion he has.

This is why I have no doubt that he will make the most of himself this way.

I urge you to do the same for your child, so his/her genius can emerge – to the benefit of himself, the family and society at large!

General, My DN Travel News, Parenting, Self-Development, Writing/Blogging

Success Depends on Your Extracurricular Activities, and Not Just Studying!

February 15, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

Would you focus 100% on your studies, to seal a 1st class degree? Or would you ADD extracurricular activities, and risk missing a sure 1st class? I did the latter and narrowly missed 1st class. But my achievements since then prove I did the right thing. Here’s my story…

Meeting An Old School Mate Who Felt I Did It Wrong

We both graduated from University of Ibadan, in 1992. We had not seen each other since 2005.

During our discussion he recalled that I’d maintained a 1st class Cumulative Grade Point Average (C.G.P.A) right from our first to 3rd year. But he felt my extracurricular activities made me narrowly miss graduating with a 1st class in Agricultural Extension (which would have been a first for the department).

I recalled that I finished with a C.G.P.A of 5.9. First class was 6.0. It was indeed a narrow miss.

He referred to a club I’d joined – the Student’s Farm Research Foundation (SFRF) – in annoyance

To him, that club prevented me from clinching a first class degree. Apparently, from what he said, some of my classmates with whom he’d spoken also felt so.

On my part, I simply smiled and changed the subject.

I doubted I could change his mind. And I was also amused by his inability to see the bigger picture.

But that was understandable. He had become an academic. He naturally still thought in such terms.

I had chosen not to take up the offer of graduate assistantship sent to me by the university, as the best graduating student. (Instead, I accepted Guinness Nigeria’s invitation to become a Graduate Management Trainee/Brewer.)

My experiences have shown me many great benefits of engaging in such extracurricular activities!

I explain below…using 3 main activities I engaged in while on campus

Extracurricular No. 1: Playing Competitive University Handball

The first day I joined the university team in training as a freshman, I won a shirt on the team (NB: I began playing state level competitive handball in my teens, while in secondary school in Kwara state).

NB: In a future article, I’ll elaborate on many benefits university sports persons enjoy (e.g FREE accommodation EVERY year), which make engaging in sports worthwhile. But you must have the discipline to combine it with your studies.

In my final year (1992) I captained both the Independence Hall and University teams. The former I led to win the Inter-Halls Handball competition, while the latter I led, in a severe bashing at the West African Universities Games preliminaries. A bitter-sweet ending for me!

However, despite my heavy involvement in sports, I still graduated top of my class.

Interestingly, I would get an award from the University Sports Council, and my hall of residence in 1992.

Now, my course of study was for for 5 years. I played Handball right from my first year (1987) to my final year (1992) year. Yet, all through to 1989 (my 3rd year), I kept my C.G.P.A in first class range.

So I think it’s safe to say sports did not really prevent me from doing well with my studies.

Extracurricular No, 2: As a Member of Students Farm Research Foundation(SFRF)

In my 3rd year (1989), I joined the Student’s Farm Research Foundation (SFRF) – an innovative, self-funding farm research oriented student group in the University of Ibadan.

Most members were Veterinary Medicine majors. Only about 3 of us were studying Agriculture. Every day, we did practical livestock (poultry, rabbits etc) management – including feeding, feed formulation/ compounding, disease prevention and control.

In my 4th year (1990), I was elected “Sales Coordinator”. I was 20. My job involved purchasing feed ingredients and compounding formulated rations for pullets, layers, broilers, cockerels, and rabbits produced (for sales income) on the SFRF farm. I still remember getting my uncle to teach me how to keep track of money I spent using a simple book keeping notebook.

**Here’s why I remain grateful till today, that I got that involved in SFRF:**

My successes today derive from that exposure – none of which I could have gotten in class, or by studying alone. It was practical and very relevant for me as an Agricultural professional!

One Example:

In 2002, while speaking with some farm owners in Lagos, I discovered they lacked proper feed formulation knowledge and know-how. This made their feeding costs high.

So I decided to write my now popular Practical Feed Formulation Handbook and offer it for sale with practical training to farmers. (See a one chapter PDF preview: http://tinyurl.com/ffhbprv)

2 years later, in 2004, I developed my Excel-VB driven Ration Formulator™ software to accompany the handbook following requests by buyers of the handbook, for a faster and less tasking means of doing the Pearson Computation described in it

Recall my friend said SFRF was responsible for my failure to get 1st class?

Well, maybe. Or maybe not.

The above example however shows that the name recognition and sales I’m getting for my expertise in feed formulation has more than made up for those lost C.G.P.A points!

Extracurricular No. 3: As President of Readers’ Club

Looking back, I think this 3rd extracurricular was the one that really led me to “choke” on my work load.

I quickly earned a number of nicknames from my freshman days.

When results of first year exams came out, colleagues noticed that Matriculation Number 52xx3, repeatedly came out tops in key subjects, with scores often in the 70s to late 80s.

They got curious, and soon found it was mine. From then on, many good naturedly began calling me “Iwe” (Yoruba for “book”) and “Material” (short for “First Class Material).

They did not stop there.

Right through our second year, they would check the results once they were pasted on notice boards, and come to inform me of my scores. Indeed at a point, I did not have to bother going to check when results came out. Someone would just say “Hey material…you scored …%!”

It was great to be on campus in those days. There was so much goodwill amongst the students.

My”book worm” reputation was to later get me into “trouble” of sorts…

In my fourth or final year, I got nominated by classmates to be the pioneer president of a “Readers’ Club launched in the department.

But I knew I already had my hands full with sports, and SFRF.

Try as I could, no one was prepared to pass me over. It seemed they felt my nicknames of “Iwe” and “Material” made me perfect for the job.

So I found myself having to arrange meetings, excursions, and do a variety of other tasks.

That Was When I Began to Feel the Pressure…

My study routine, developed from my first year, began to suffer e.g. I began getting to my room too tired to wake up and study from midnight till 4.00a.m, before hitting the tracks by 5.00a.m.

When the final C.G.P.A was announced, I had no regrets. Instead I let others lament on my behalf

I felt I’d gotten the best of all the worlds I’d been in while on campus.

The merit award from the sports council, and my hall of residence, made me feel I’d achieved a decent balance in my university education.

My Extracurricular Experiences Have REPEATEDLY Helped Me Succeed in Various Ways in Life!

I’ve since discovered over more than 2 decades, that I was right!

My sporting background has continued to help me deliver seemingly superhuman work related performances to the amazement of many older/younger persons.

To succeed in competitive sports mental and physical stamina are things you MUST develop. Add to that a rock hard never-say-die mentality, in the face of pain, difficulty, or any other form of adversity.

I’ve explained in several articles on fitness (like this one) that stamina will help one excel in life.

Stamina – both physical and mental – enables me – seemingly effortlessly – churn out articles/reports, create Excel software, and complete web marketing projects, to meet deadlines.

I’ve also given examples above, of how my SFRF experience provided the basis for developing what is today my most popular, and profitable range of farm business products and services.

If you’ve been reading this blog, you should by now have deduced that my SFRF exposure equipped me to write the 4,000 word agribusiness paper I got paid for in December 2013.

And if all goes well, there’s yet another potential benefit of my SFRF exposure headed my way!

Just today, I emailed the final version of a proposal about entering my Ration Formulator™ for an international competition.

When I clicked “send”, my head felt HOT from over 2 weeks of carefully crafting answers to the questions in the “brief” document provided!

It required most responses pegged to 150/200 words. They wanted no long stories…like this article…LOL! But I got it done :-))

In giving my answers, I made a point of stating that my SFRF experience helped me create the handbook and software innovation.

The proposals will be reviewed and selected by an “expert jury”, and contracts will be awarded to the 20 highest-scoring applicants, who will also be invited to a cross-learning workshop etc.

I gave it my best shot. Who knows…my proposal could just get chosen!

Final Words: The Right Extracurricular Activities Can Make Giving Up a Few C.G.P.A Points Worthwhile

The truth – no matter what anyone chooses to believe – is that over 80% of my increasingly popular software and handbook feed formulation solutions did NOT come from my classroom exposure.

Instead, they came directly from the 3 years I spent as a VERY active member of SFRF.

Indeed, no one has ever asked me about my C.G.P.A score since I graduated!

And that’s why I’d advise my child, ANY DAY, to give up a few C.G.P.A points, if it’s unavoidable, to acquire such life changing extracurricular experiences!

General, My DN Travel News, Parenting, Self-Development

To Succeed, Act with Courage on Your Convictions (Hint: The TRUE Meaning of Valentine’s Day)

February 14, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

I read a story yesterday about St. Valentine and what happened to him, that resulted in celebration of Valentine’s day.

If the story is accurate, then his was not a Romeo and Juliet or romance tale.

Instead St. Valentine bravely died for what he believed.

A law had been passed barring marriage of young people, because the ruler at the time believed married men tended to be less courageous and commited at war, because thoughts of their wives and children made them want to play safe.

So the law aimed to keep young people from wedlock to ensure the right mindset in those recruited to go to the war front.

St. Valentine found himself sympathizing with many young lovers who desperately went around asking priests to marry them. The priests naturally declined, knowing the law forbade it.

One day Valentine began secretly conducting marriage ceremonies for those who came to him.

He knew it was dangerous but he felt convinced it was the right thing to do.

He was eventually found out and ultimately put to death for his actions.

The narrative ends by saying that on the day he was to die, he sent a note to a young lady (daughter of a top officer in government) who’d reportedly regained her eye sight when he prayed for her while he was in prison.

It was not a love letter though. But he signed it with his name thus: “Your Valentine”.

And that was apparently how the use of “Valentine” came to be.

I believe a quick Google search will bring up a more articulate narration of this story behind the Valentine’s day celebration.

However, in this article I’ve chosen to extract a lesson on courage from the story.

St. Valentine believed he had a duty to help people who loved one another fulfill their dreams of getting married.

He searched his heart and knew failing to perform that duty would be wrong.

So he bravely went ahead and acted on his convictions despite being aware of what could come of it.

Today, the whole world celebrates LOVE using his name!

I believe that in our personal and work lives, we can emulate St. Valentine by acting with courage on our convictions to do things right…AND to do the right things!

I also believe that we need to teach our kids, from as early as possible in their lives, to do the same.

If we do so consistently, the world is bound to become a better place over time.

Career Development, General, My DN Travel News, My Ideas for Making Nigeria Better, Parenting, Self-Development, Writing/Blogging

Do You Want a Comprehensive Guide to Private Universities in Benin Republic?

February 12, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

A recent email from one of my newsletter subscribers read (in part) as follows: “Tayo, pls can u guide me on university education in Benin Republic? Ranging from the standard ones to qualifications and range of tuition fee as well as accommodation.”

Sadly, I was only able to send her links to a list of approved universities published on the Nigerian Embassy website, and to the website of a client who is a top decision maker in one of the leading universities here.

In truth, what she wanted was a WHOLE lot of information that cannot be found in one place!

Here’s the detailed response I sent to her…

“I’m not sure what your understanding of my work is, and especially how I operate here in Benin Republic.

The truth is I do not have access to that kind – and volume(!) – of information on private universities here.

Even people who OWN or work in them would struggle to give you all you’ve asked for!

My Suggestions:

1. I have a client: www.nanaarnold.com who is a top decision maker in one of such private universities.

You may contact him via his site to see if he can help you.

Note that you take full responsibility for your subsequent actions in this regard.

2. Check with the Nigerian embassy.

The ambassador once published a list of accredited institutions and their approved courses at http://nigerianembassybenin.org/?page_id=633

You may wish to contact them for additional guidance.

3. I’m an entrepreneur based here.

My work in the area of web marketing/freelance writing brings me in periodic contact with stakeholders in the industry.

I can do a detailed survey of the accredited schools along the lines of your enquiry, and prepare a comprehensive table on which the different institutions can be compared, to aid your decision making.

But that would be a lot of work, and it would be for a professional fee.

Hope this helps

===End of email reply===

After sending the above email, I realized I could have added a 4th suggestion:

4. Consider taking a trip down to Benin Republic for a few days to see things for yourself.

Plan to come in early in the week – say from Tuesday.

You would have possibly printed out the list of approved institutions and courses from the Embassy website. If possible you could visit the Ministry of Education in Nigeria to get the list.

Indeed it is likely they would also be able to give you a more comprehensive list that includes all approved courses offered by EACH institution.

Armed with that, you would then visit Benin Republic, and go to the equivalent ministry of education office here, to obtain get the full contact details of the institutions on your list.

Once you get that, the next step will be to call and/or visit each one to find out the details you want.

If any have website addresses, you could start by checking them out online.

But only START by doing that…do NOT stop there!

My experience however strongly indicates you would be VERY wise to STILL plan a physical visit to each school to establish what they really have to offer.

Or what would be the point of traveling ALL the way down to Benin in the first place, if you then did NOT visit their premises in what is such a small country?

What’s more moving around in Benin is generally not a problem. So you will rarely have to worry about traffic or any other annoyances.

Final Words: “My Comprehensive Guide to Private Universities in Benin Republic” – Coming Soon

I did not like the fact that I was unable to help that email enquirer on such an important matter. Considering that I’m based here, and engaged primarily in freelance writing online and off the web (of articles, reports and guides on different subjects), I believe I should help out in this area.

So, that email has now made me resolve to do the necessary detailed research and investigation to come up with a comprehensive guide to “Private Universities in Benin Republic”.

I’ll offer it as a new information product from my website.

This is because it’s obvious – from what I’ve seen over the past 10 months – that many people (parents and students) looking for reliable and unbiased resources to help them make their choices.

Hopefully, what I come up with will fill that need, to some extent.

If you’d like to be notified when the “Comprehensive Guide to Private Universities in Benin Republic” becomes available, fill and submit this form, to join my mailing list.

Entrepreneurship, Parenting, Self-Development

Anyone – Including Kids In School – Can Achieve Success Via Part Time Entrepreneuring

February 11, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

Photo 1: Wed. Dec. 11, 2013 – My 10, 14, and 12 year old sons, and the 50% pineapple peel based cakes they baked WITHOUT an oven. All they used was the charcoal stove, a heavy metal pot, and flour, sugar etc that I brought ALL the way from Cotonou…LOL!

Now They’re Selling Their Cakes!

Yep. I found out just yesterday afternoon, when I called to speak with them.

Actually, I called to scold them for leaving their rooms, and most of the house disorganized.

Their mother had complained about that the night before.

So I decided to call and speak with the boys. One is a teenager already, while the other 2 are approaching that age, but the restlessness of youth makes their attention span notoriously short.

I started with the 12 year old, asking him why he’d left the sitting room un swept and disorganized. He mumbled a number of excuses.

None of them held water. But I played along.

Then I told him I would call by 10p.m to ask if he’d done his chores. And if he had not, he and I would have issues. He knew what I meant, and promised he would get it done.

I had a similar chat with the 10 year old.

The 14 year old, this time around, was not at fault. He has had to support his mother a lot since I began traveling, and the many different roles he’s playing have made him mature beyond his years.

He’s become extremely capable in terms of handling house hold chores, including cooking.

The teenage excesses still come over him at times, but he’s learning to better manage them.

I told him to follow up with his younger brothers and make sure they did what they’d promised to do.

Just as I was about to end the call, the 10 year old (he’s always the one who leads these initiatives) snatched the mobile from his older brother, and exclaimed: “Tayo, we’re now selling our cakes!”

It was like a repeat of how they told me they had started selling their drinks.

I asked: “Really? Where?”

“In our school. Our classmates bought all the ones we took to school yesterday!” he replied.

“How much do you sell them?” I asked.

“N50!” he replied in an excited voice “They bought everything, and told us to bring more.”

Photo 2: The 14 year old has a finger in his mouth. That’s where most of the first set of cakes they made went…before they recently began selling them…lol!)

As Shown Below I Also Brought Them the Cake Cups I Used In Cotonou

The price he mentioned was one we’d agreed on before I returned to Cotonou. That day we sat down and did simple costing of the inputs, to agree a reasonable selling price for each cup cake.

Our computation came to roughly N55.

Photo 3: Heavy metal pot my kids use for “non-oven” baking of the pineapple peel cakes. I also brought them the Cake Cups I used to make mine back in Cotonou

In Cotonou, I’d seen many people, towards the Christmas celebrations selling similar cake sizes for 150 FCFA.

This amounted to approximately N50.

So we agreed they should try selling the cakes at that price.

I Had No Idea If They Would Find Buyers or How/Where!

I just told them: Try and sell them(just as I did after teaching them to make the drinks)…LOL

For one thing I noticed the first set of cakes they made using my “zero-oven-village-charcoal-stove-baking” method tended to be a bit undercooked.

(That did not however stop them and their sisters from gobbling everything up. They really had fun making cakes with over 3kg of flour I brought with me, plus another 2 kg I bought before I left. All the cakes were eaten up. No attempt was made to sell. Kids!!!! LOL)

I later found the cakes undercooked because they were not keeping the charcoal bricks burning. As a result the heat tended to diminish with time.

So I told them to let each cakes batch stay longer, and to fan the embers for longer periods.

As You Can Imagine, An Oven Would Have Made All This Hassle Unnecessary…

That’s true.

However, the improvisational approach I used helps people – especially kids – discover how to use their creativity to do things inexpensively.

And it also equips them with valuable life skills.

The way I see it, as young Africans, it’s useful for them to know how our traditional cooking “equipment” work.

Who knows where they’ll find themselves in future!

Anyway, considering that they now make sales, and buyers want more, it’s safe to say they’ve now gotten the “Cooking Time” for their cakes right 😉

Next Step: Getting Them to Understand Why They Must Re-Invest – & Save – Money They Make

I told the 10 year old I was pleased with what they had done, and to “Keep it up!”

But he was not done yet…

He quickly cut in to say: “Tayo, tell Mommy to give us N300, so we can buy more flour and sugar, to make more cakes.”

That request reminded me of a mistake they had been making since they began recording sales.

They’d showed me wooden piggy banks they put their money in. But it rarely stayed there. They always found ways to spend it all!

In fact, the last time I spoke with their mother, she complained they got money from her to buy sugar, flour and other ingredients for making the cakes and drinks.

But they never brought home the money from sales. Instead they spent it on snacks right in school!

Since they are kids, this was not surprising, and I expected it.

I told him to give the phone to his mother. Then I told her to give them the money, BUT to demand that they hand over sales they make to her.

The next step I have planned is to sit them down, and explain why they must plough back part of their sales income to purchase materials for the next production.

And I’ll also tell them why they have to save some of what is left.

Final Words: One Thing I Know From Coaching Kids Over The Years…

If you explain it clearly to them, so they see the benefits, you will NOT need to chase them to do it.

For now, I’m letting them enjoy the feeling of being able to make the classmates part with N50 for each of the cakes they make by themselves.

I know it’s a wonderful feeling, and it will inspire them to think of more ways to put their skills to use.

I urge you to do the same for your kids.

Entrepreneurial skills of this kind can prove crucial for their achievement of success in their adult lives.

Children find activities of this kind exciting/challenging, so interest is unlikely to be lacking.

And as shown above, they can do it, while still schooling full time!

1. Involve Your Kids in Your Dream, and They’ll Succeed Too

2. When You’re Not Working, Create a Bigger Dream (Hint: New Product – My Pineapple Peels Based Cakes…Made Without an Oven!)

3. Are Your Kids Ready to Succeed in Your World?

Career Development, Entrepreneurship, Farm Biz, General, My DN Travel News, My Ideas for Making Nigeria Better, Parenting, Public Speaking, Self-Development, Writing/Blogging

You Can Agree to Disagree and Still LOVE (Tribute to my father at 80!)

February 8, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

Photo: My father – Ezekiel Oluwajimi (E.O) Solagbade – cuts his 80th birthday anniversary cake on Tuesday 4th Feb. 2014, with my mom (his wife for 43 years now). Dad is a Civil and Structural Engineer by profession. I absolutely LOVED the cake, because it was beautifully decorated to depict technical drawing tools he uses!

A little history: Before starting his consulting outfit, Dad supervised the construction of some major roads across the country, while with the Ministry of Works – in the 60’s. This meant he had to travel a lot – with my mother.

It was during one of those periods “on the road” that I was born, on 6th July 1970 in a place called New Bussa.

New Bussa used to be in Kwara State, but following the redefinition of state boundaries some years ago, it now falls into Niger State.

(NB: I still have my ORIGINAL birth certificate issued back then. The paper is all brown now, but still very legible.)

Deciding to Visit my “Place of Birth” During my NYSC Service Year (1992/93)

As a student, I’d always filled “New Bussa” in forms while trying to imagine what the place looked like. So, when the time came to go for my one year of mandatory service as a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), I wrote a letter requesting the NYSC directorate to send me to Niger state.

This was in 1992/93 (I’d completed my degree course at the University of Ibadan, in Oyo state, in 1992)

They were glad to approve my request since the scheme had always been intended to promote regional integration. Here was this Tayo Solagbade, Yoruba guy, asking to be posted to Niger state in the middle belt area of the country.

It was perfect…for them…and for me (or so I thought…LOL).

So I Got Deployed to Spend My Service Year in Niger State…In a REAL VILLAGE!

But my place of primary assignment, much as I’d hoped it would be, was NOT New Bussa.

Instead it was a remote Vatsa village (Yes, “THE late”General Vatsa’s village), on the outskirts of the state.

At the time, they were NOT connected to the National Grid!

For a guy raised in the city, this would turn out to be a perfect introduction to REAL village life…and I fell in LOVE with it!

Newspapers typically arrived 3 days late. Yep. And they didn’t always come…LOL!.

Plus, if you were still there by 5 to 6p.m, you would most likely NOT find any commercial transportation to leave…till the next day!

Sitting Out The June 12 Presidential Election Riots

You may recall the June 12 crisis happened during that service year(?)

Well, 4 fellow NYSC members and I were stuck in that village all through that crisis period!

We only heard the little news that filtered in about the elections and the riots that followed.

Then, we began to see lorries carrying the belongings of Igbos who were fleeing from their Northern bases back to their homes in the East.

The Niger State NYSC director would later come around to visit us.

I recall him telling us we were safer where we were(in the village), than we would be if we tried making it back to our various homes in the south.

Well, back then, it turned out he was right.

None of us got harrassed or disturbed by anyone.

We lived amongst the people – who were mostly farm-loving Gwaris.

I made many great friends amongs them – teachers, and students alike. We made friends with Mohammed Vatsa…the late general’s son.

He was the ONLY person (if I recall correctly) who owned a generator (albeit small – the “I pass my neighbour” type) in the entire village at the time. So we used to spend time with him watching films…poor Corpers we were…LOL!

Demonstration of REAL LOVE from a father!

However, I tell this story to paint a picture of what life was like back then, for youth corpers.

Danger was certainly not something that bothered us.

Unlike today when serving outside your region can pose real dangers – for you…sadly.

During that June 12 crisis, my father kept sending messages through a cousin of ours who owned/ran his business in Abuja (Gwagwalada was just about one hour’s drive from the village).

His Experience of the Kano riots in his younger days, made him believe I was in danger. So he kept sending messages, refusing to accept my replies that I was safe and well, until I agreed to move into my cousin’s house in Abuja.

I stayed there for about 2 weeks.

My Dad scolded me when he finally got to speak with me on the phone.

He said “Look anything can happen. You need to take precautions and protect yourself from danger.”

We all (i.e. my siblings and I) enjoyed such protective gestures from him (and my mother).

Nothing compares to it!

Final Words: We (i.e. Dad and I) Do NOT, of Course, Get Along All The Time…

That’s a fact of life.

No two people ever do.

We’ll always have our differences!

Indeed there was a time when Dad and I argued – sometimes quarrelled(!)- quite a bit 😉

But even those interactions have made me better as a person.

I’ve learnt to appreciate that people will periodically hold divergent, uncompromising views from mine…and to be OKAY with it.

The truth is we CAN always agree to disagree!

Here’s wishing my SUPER DAD, many more prosperous years filled with joy, good health, happiness, and MORE grandchildren!!!!

PS: In next Friday’s post on parenting, I’ll share a story about how he found out I was secretly keeping a baby turtle in our home – and gave me a thorough thrashing…LOL!

My DN Travel News, Parenting, Self-Development

Why Your Child May Need a Liberal Arts Education to Succeed

February 7, 2014 Tayo Solagbade Leave a comment

“One of the benefits of a liberal arts education is that it trains the mind to think.” – Albert Einstein

Einstein was a famous “Theoretical Physicist”…who thought up amazing theories, that changed our lives.

Now Here’s Something Many People Miss About Einstein’s Achievements:

You see, he was a SCIENTIST. That means he specialised in the field of science.

…not the arts…like literature, drama, history, music, philosophy, languages etc:

Yet this great scientist – renowned for his achievements in Physics – asserted that a liberal arts education trains the mind to think!

One is (at Least I Am) Tempted to Ask: So What Do Science Subjects Do Then?

Don’t people do plenty of thinking during the study of science in schools and universities?

In truth, thinking of different kinds exist…or happen.

Studying math requires the student to accept certain assumptions in thinking up a solution. It also defines limits within which such thinking is to be done.

In other words, there are rules (sometimes strict ones) guiding thinking, and the outcome to be arrived at.

For instance, in math, physics or chemistry, you have to work with basic assimptions provided, in solving problems.

But in the arts, such as literature, emphasis is placed more on reading up material, then having learners voice their interpretations of the material read.

Rarely is there one particular correct answer.

Instead, different veiws as adopted by the learners, using their unique experiences are accepted, and reviewed for merit.

Very often, the entire class is required to engage in the process of reviewing each individual’s submission. Feed back is provided with a view to helping each person refine the thinking s/he employed to arrive at his/her voiced opinion.

Most importantly, each participant, over time, comes to discover that there is value to be had in patiently waiting to hear others out.

Even when they voice contrary opinions or dissenting views.

They learn that perspectives from which issues on various important subjects in life, can be viewed, can vary greatly from person to person.

And many times they learn that rarely will one answer cover all possible scenarios.

Learners are taught to be comfortable with challenging their own assumptions about issues. They develop a habit of constant self-evaluation.

Rigid views and intolerance, arising from narrow perspectives thus become alien: the mark of truly liberated minds!

It is this kind of mental attitude that a liberal arts education nurtures in those who undergo it.

Some of the greatest people in the world have been those referred to as “thinkers”.

They were often those who spent quality time and effort constantly reflecting on how things were, and how they could be better.

That’s why today, we still find ourselves quoting many of them, many years, decades, even centuries after they passed on.

Examples include Voltaire, Socrates, Plato, Emerson etc.

We all know Einstein came up with amazing theoretical assumptions which were proven to be accurate and on which a lot of our progress was built.

He was able to do that because he knew how to think.

His thinking was not hampered by limitations imposed by traditional society.

I believe this was the reason Sir Ken Robinson, in one of his videos about education, made the point that conventional schools all over the worlds tend to “kill creativity” in people.

We Need to Give People – Our Kids Especially – Real World Relevant Education

A real education has to give equal weight to the arts, the humanities, to physical education. ” — Sir Ken Robinson

“Kids prosper best with a broad curriculum that celebrates their various talents, not just a small range of them. ” — Sir Ken Robinson

View this useful slideshow titled “Quotes from Sir Ken Robinson’s 2013 TED Talk”

He pointed out that relative to other areas, schools put arts at the bottom of the curriculum, ranking them, by implication, least important…and according them the least attention.

The points made above, along with Einstein’s quote, and historical evidence available, indicates that arts are crucial for our evolution and progress.

That’s why I believe we need to
deliberately incorporate more liberal arts, into formal education we provide at all levels of society.

The study of subjects like history, sociology, philosophy, music, dance, drama etc must be made more integral to the completion of formal education in our traditional schools.

This will over time equip learners with the critical thinking skills that societies need, to ensure they can continue evolving/progressing.

My Opinion On This Subject is Based on Personal Experience – NOT Theory (A Confession)

I discovered great pleasure and fulfillment from attending courses in sociology, psychology, and philosophy during my stay in the university. And I came away feeling more knowledgable, even wiser about life, and the world in general from taking those courses.

Yet, I was majoring in Agricultural Extension Services at the time, so I could not afford to puruse further studies in them.

To make up for that loss, I developed a driving need to buy and read any books even remotely related to those subjects.

As a multipreneur, my core competencies are in mainly intellectually demanding vocations, that require considerable creativity and innovative thinking.

I can confidently say my deliberate self-study of the arts has been a crucial ingredient in my ability to succeed in various areas of endeavour as a multipreneur.

As you leave this article, take this thought provoking quote from Sir Ken Robinson with you, as a reminder of why you need to act on what you’ve read here:

“Many highly talented, brilliant, creative people think they’re not — because the thing they were good at at school wasn’t valued, or was actually stigmatized.”

I’ll add to the above quote by saying…

”and that probably includes your own child!”

A. Further Reading

1. This Wikipedia article explains that a “Liberal Arts Education”aims to “produce a virtuous, knowledgeable, and articulate person”.

Doesn’t that remind you of Plato, Socrates and co…?

In the early days, core subjects like “Grammar, rhetoric, and logic” were taught to students.

Today, we are told “areas of literature, languages, philosophy, history, mathematics, psychology, and science” tend to be the focus.

I recommend, strongly, that you read this article.

2. You may also find it useful to read this excellent article titled “Why Study Liberal Arts?” by Richard Sigurdson

He is a former Acting Dean of Arts, The University College of the Cariboo, Kamloops, B.C. Canada.

And he does us ALL a favour by providing a list of questions and answers that help to demystify “Liberal Arts Studies” in terms of their real world relevance/usefulness.

Indeed, his article will help ANYONE understand why Eistein said what he did, about the benefits of a Liberal Arts Education. I urge you to read it.

B. Sir Ken Robinson’s Videos You Can Watch Include:

1. How schools kill creativity(1st video)

2. How to escape education’s death valley (scroll down page to 2nd video)

3. Bring on the learning revolution(scroll down page to 3rd video)

4. Changing Education Paradigms

5. Why is Creativity Important in Education?

C. What Sir Ken Robinson Got Wrong (Huh?)

I always love to present information and education I offer on my website, in a balanced form.

That’s why when I encounter ideas that oppose those I advocate, and I feel they have merit, or are worthy of discussion/consideration, I try to highlight them.

Some people happen to disagree with Sir Ken Robinson. That’s not unexpected. Everyone cannot see things the same way all the time!

And one of them has articulated – very intelligently – the major points and areas they do not see eye to eye with him on this suibject.

I’ve read the article, and I appreciate the points he raised.

But to be fair, most of them actually do NOT prove Robinson is wrong. And I am glad someone was able to make this clarification – in the comments – to the article’s author.

You should read this article too.

If nothing else, it may help you gain a balanced perspective from which to draw your own conclusions.

Remember: What matters most is the impact in the lives of the leaners – who are, very often, our kids.

“A person who cannot “think”, and does not know he cannot “think”, will get himself – and any who depend on the output from his thinking – into lots of trouble!” – Tayo K. Solagbade