WHERE WILL YOU BE AT 65 ?

By Deolu Akinyemi

It’s after midnight as usual, it’s been a really long day. Ever since I made up my mind to be in more circulation and leave my comfort zone, lagos for a while, I have experienced new things. The journey has been long and tedious, but somehow I feel a grace of God upon my life guiding and protecting me. All of a sudden, it started jumping out of the bible to me that even Jesus did not restrict himself to one town, but was all over the place moving from city to city doing good.

Even though Jesus was going about doing good, it would amaze you that his greatest opposition were not demons, but rather pharisees and saducees - the so called scholars and learned men who you would expect to know better. Everytime the wind of change looms around, the people most likely to be left behind are those who have tasted of an old fading glory or the people who have had a not so successful experience. They have done something close before, and their mind sets into a framework that will take too much to unfreeze. They end up missing out big time on what was prepared for them, and stones rise up in their stead. Let me crack a little bit of the code and take it home to you - those who have sown and not reap, are likely not to sow again and certainly not reap, even though the rain were better the next year. Those who failed in business before, are likely to be scared of the opportunity that was meant to bring them success. Those who took part in clubfreedom, are likely to look at Holidays and Cash with the same mindset and hence never benefit. Those go high on the employee ladder are likely to be too smart to ever resign and start business. People are regularly held back by their old glory successes, or by their previous failures.

If you are not ready to hear the truth, I advice that you leave this site now and not read this post. Today, I will bare it to you as it is. I hope you know already though, and have only been comforting yourself. The odds are stacked against our ever becoming someone significant at the ripe old age of 65. The statistics I got from the so called developed world shocks me, and I am afraid for the future of many in my generation. Where will you be at 65? Will you be dead, broke or wealthy? What are you doing to guarantee your confession?

Statistics show the following.

54% of the population will need some sort of Social Security / help from the Government.

24% will be dead.

16% will still need to work.

5% will be financially independent.

Only 1% will be truly wealthy / financially free. (Source NMFS)

What do these numbers mean? They mean that in a random sample of 100 people, anyone you pick is 24 times more likely to be dead than wealthy. It means that 16 out of every 100 people will still need to work to keep themselves. It means that 54 out of 100 people will be financially dependent, either on the government, their spouse or their kids. It means that 5 out of every 100 people will be financially independent, but not free. These financially independent people are termed to have annual incomes of over $35,000/annum. It also means that only 1 out of 100 will become financially free. Take a quick look around you and survey 100 people around you, think about it, at 65 where will they be?

A further research was done to ascertain what the makeup of the financially free was. This research revealed as well, that 74% of the people who make up that 1% are actually entrepreneurs, 10% were CEOs, 9% Professionals and about 7% others. This means that if you are not involved in business, the chances are extremely low that you will be among the top 1%.

With these realizations, what is your game plan? What are you involved in that has the capacity to position you to be wealthy? Let’s stop kidding ourselves, success is not easy, if 1% of the most entrepreneurial nation in the world become financially free at 65, we should expect a lot of work. I’m reading a book that has an apt definition of a moron, he defines a moron as someone who wakes up early in the morning, goes to work, comes back in the evenning, rests and goes back to work again in the morning. This person is probably not finding his job fulfilling, but he engages in the moronic mindset of going and coming either because he thinks there are no options or he/she needs to pay the bills.

Are you stuck on your 9-5pm? Or are you one of those intelligent consultants with sufficient reason to throw down a good workable idea? Are you hoping that one day your ship will dock? Are you taking a swing at your golf balls with your golf club and hoping the ball will land in the right place? Are you hoping that your life will change? Are you hoping that things will just happen to set you up for the greatness you desired? Wake up and smell the coffee, the odds are stacked against you and against us all. Nothing just happens, what happens are the things we make happen. If your future will be bright, you need to start building it today. Stop listening to naysayers whose most reliable source of data is an unknown missinformed friends. Stop living your life at par with someone that doesn’t have a plan? The best time to prepare is not when it’s urgent, it’s now, long before the world knows that the odds are not in their favour.

So at 65 where will you be? Can you show me how?

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SURVIVING A FINANCIAL CRISIS

Jay and Mary had been married five years. When they had their first child, Mary quit her job to be a stay-at-home mom. They felt confident that Jay's job as a sales representative would bring in enough money to provide for their family. They were living their dream—until Jay's company took a financial dive and began to downsize. Mary knew something was wrong when Jay arrived home early one day. He told her the news: He'd been laid off his job with only a two-month severance package.
The couple was devastated. They had no other income and little savings. They didn't have enough money to survive. Mary panicked, which caused Jay to reactive negatively. They became tense and argumentative. Jay felt as if he was letting down his family for not being able to provide financially for them.
After one especially tense discussion, Mary went into their bedroom to pray and felt God tell her she needed to encourage Jay, to let him know she had complete confidence in him. Then she recalled the Bible verse: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7, KJV). She realized her panic wasn't helping the situation; it was making it worse.
So Mary approached Jay and apologized for her reaction to their financial situation. The tension dissipated and together they were able to form a game plan.
The first thing they decided to do was quit spending money. They realized it would be easy for them to go into a denial mode and continue spending, assuming Jay would find another job before the severance package ran out. Instead, they opted to spend only on their immediate needs such as diapers and food, and cut back on unnecessary expenditures such as going out to eat. They also agreed not to use their credit cards, knowing how easy it would be to run up the balance and deceive themselves into thinking they'd pay it off once Jay found another job.
Next, Jay and Mary made a list of what bills needed to be paid first and stuck to the list. They prioritized their bills into essential and nonessential categories. They paid the essential, or survival, bills first—their mortgage payments, utilities, and food. Then they made their car payments and paid the auto and medical insurance. With the remaining money, they concentrated on the nonessential bills—those that have no immediate consequences if paid late: credit cards, medical bills, newspaper and magazine subscriptions, life insurance, health club, and clothing.
They discovered by paying their survival bills first, they were able to stretch their money further.
The next step Jay and Mary took was to contact their creditors, including their mortgage and auto lenders, to update them on the situation. By communicating with their creditors, they discovered most were willing to work with them. They were able to establish a repayment plan they could afford, which allowed them to make partial payments and not be considered delinquent.
To ensure their creditors were on the same page as they were, Jay and Mary took notes of each conversation, listing the date and person with whom they spoke. Then they asked for their agreement terms to be sent to them in writing before they sent any money.
Finally, they joined their church's special financial planning program, as well as a debt management company, which helped them reduce their payments and lower their interest rates.
In the meantime, Jay continued aggressively seeking new employment. He was able to receive unemployment, and by the ninth month of being without work, Jay found a new job. Jay and Mary knew it was going to take time to catch up on their past due bills, but they were able to avoid bankruptcy.
How to survive it.
• Have a constant savings.
• Pray to God to help you cope with it.
• Don’t overspend your income.
• Communicate with your creditors on repayment plan.
• Join a special financial planning program and dept management company.

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How to successfully manage your employees

Hire wisely
Most businesses hire bodies for particular jobs rather than people to help build a future. Your business is only as good as each individual employee’s contribution to its functioning. Therefore, look for the three I’s when you hire: intelligence, initiative and integrity.
For every position, from receptionist to packing clerk, hire only the best you can find. Conversely, if you have current employees who are not performing well, consider whether they are a wise investment of your money.

Build a team, not your ego
Many employers let their egos dominate their interactions with their employees. Stop the pattern. Instead, trust your employees to do their jobs. Make each employees feel that they are an invaluable member of the company team.
Let each employee know they are an integral parts of the company’s end product. Set the example for positive interaction at all times between members of the team even when ideas or performance must be corrected.

Reward well
When you get good employees, reward them financially and emotionally. Be sure their pay is at least market rate. Take time often to acknowledge each employee’s contribution. The two biggest loyalty builders are two simple words- thank you.

Be hands on
Know each employee’s job and how to do it. This not only gives you an automatic reserve employee and trainer (yourself), but has an added bonus. If you show an employee that you are willing to learn his job, you are communicating that you believe their work is worthwhile and valuable.

Make your employees versatile
In a small company, every employee should know how to do at least two jobs, particularly on the technical and service sides. For critical tasks, at least three employees should know how to do each job. Thus, you always have an on-the –premises reserve who can step in when needed.

Give away tasks but not ultimate leadership
What is it you do best? Are you the ideal man, the best salesman in your company, the organizer? Find your best talent and then delegate all other tasks to your employees. Train them appropriately to do their job, let them know you have confidence in their ability to perform well, and then let them do their jobs.
Adding responsibility with confidence will increase your employee’s willingness to work and their pride in the company’s end result .At the same time, you must maintain ultimate leadership. In any well run ship, the captain makes final decisions and you are still the captain, albeit a benign one.

Communicate
You must talk with your employees, solicit their suggestions and positively correct their mistakes. Conversely, you must create an atmosphere where employees are willing and able to talk with you. The two best sources of information on how your business is doing and how to improve it are employees and your customers. Pay attention to both.

Give your best and encourage the same in your employees
Pride in the company and its product or service always begins at the top. If you give a half effort or let a sloppily produced product to go out the door to a client, you are sending a message to your employees that you do not respect your clients or your work.
Your employees will adopt that view as well. If you set the example of giving the extra effort, pitching in when needed, caring about your fellow team members, working as a unit to be the best in your particular business, and taking care of the bottom line, your employees worth having and keeping will follow suit.

Encourage innovation and creation
Give your employees a stake in the future. Once a month, have a meeting where the employees make suggestions on how to improve your product, service, efficiency, or bottom line. Give positive encouragement for the process.

Have a second in command
No general goes into battle without a major who can take over if he is felled by a bullet. You are your business’ general and must act accordingly. Find someone you trust within your company who has the same goals ideals and a similar business style. Train him/her appropriately. Let others know he/she has your confidence and authority when you are gone.

CAN I KNOW YOU ?

By Deolu Akinyemi

I decided to dust up one of my audios yesterday, and I’ve been listening to it since then. It’s an audio by Harvey Mackay, and it’s about building powerful networking relationships. Contrary to popular opinion, it’s an area where I believe I have serious room for improvement. Peter Drucker once said - “More business decisions occur over lunch and dinner than at any other time, yet no MBA courses are given on the subject”. Since there is no course or formal training on networking, it’s knowledge we must all invest in getting, and a life course we must all sit… and before this sounds like mere education, please know sincerely that I am building my network, and I’ll like to get to know YOU better.
If you are thinking, I’m an employee, what do I need to network and build powerful relationships for? Well, be sure that you will not be an employee for life, even if you want to be. The age of collecting 35yrs service award golden wristwatch is far gone, and even if you have that temperament, you’ll have to retire someday - Either to read newspapers and earn passive income, or to engage in one hobby or the other, either way, you’ll still need people, so why not start building those relationships now.
Harvey Mackay talked about a one day course he attended in UCLA - 77 Reasons why you should fly first class. As much as it sounded interesting and funny to me, I could identify with it. You are not worth more than your network, in fact your networth is your network. Before we plunge headlong into how to network, who to network and the right objectives for networking, let’s first understand what Networking is, and what it is not.
So what is networking? According to ‘The Networking Book’ by Jessica Lipnack and Jeffrey Stamps, ‘Networking is people connecting with people, linking ideas and resources.’ The book ‘Power Networking, 55 Secrets for Personal & Professional Success’ states that networking is not: 1) Selling; 2) Using people for your gain; 3) Coercing or manipulating someone to do what you want; 4) Putting friends, neighbors, associates on the spot; or 5) Badgering people about your business.
Networking is not a shotgun quick fix approach to getting to know people so that you can convert them to business tomorrow, it’s a gradual building of relationships with people with the interest of knowing them, and exchanging value with them over time. Real networking is longterm relationship building with people linking ideas and resources for the greater good of both parties.
Here are a few key thoughts on networking
1. Establish Relationships
Typically try to know people well. Don’t just network for the purpose of business, be genuinely interested in people. No one cares what you know until they know how much you care. Harvey Mackay says they have 66 questions their employees have to know about their clients that will stun the CIA. We need to know details about our network or clients, also about our employees, and people.
2. Be Generous
Many people establish relationships because of what they can get, that’s not good enough. Look not only at what you can get, but also at what you can give. How can you help? How can you add value.
“The currency of real networking is not greed but generosity” - Keith Ferrazzi
3. Reach out to Strangers
If you are in a crowd and you stay to yourself, then you isolate yourself. Every stranger is an opportunity to meet one more person. Every flight is an opportunity to interact with one more person. Every training is more valuable for it’s network than it’s information. If you go for a seminar, bond with someone, learn the art of listening, and of introducing yourself.
In Creativity Cafe, “Strangers are just friends who haven’t yet met!” - Peter Rosen
4. Be Honest
Don’t cun your way into a relationship. Be honest about your true intentions, don’t schedule a meeting to interview someone if you really want the person to interview you for a job. If you need help be upfront and straightfoward, don’t be discovered to be phony. Honesty is still the best policy, and integrity and trust are still the universally accepted capital for business.

5. Network Selectively
“You never know, someone might say yes” - that’s marketing for dummies, not intelligent people. Don’t go around networking every tom dick and harry. Be selective. Take time to build a profile for the type of people who what you have to offer will appeal to, or who you can be of genuine help to. Speak to people predisposed to what you have to offer, not just anybody that breathes.
“A friend of the whole world, will come to ruin” - The Holy Bible.
6. Reciprocate
Networking is a two way street. So if someone has assisted you, make it a priority to help her down the road. However, do not expect something for someone just because you did something for her. Sometimes that person may not be in the position to help you. However, personally I believe that if you help someone out of the goodness of your heart, it is the ‘order of the universe’ that someone will help you one day. And remember, it has been said, that it is better to give than to receive.
“Give and it will come back to you, in good measure, shaken together, and running over, shall me give to your bossom” - The Holy Bible.
7. Value contacts ahead of contracts
When relationships and contracts clash, go for relationships. Business deals are really relationships between people. People will do business with you because the know you, like you, or trust you. Get a Rolodex (I just learnt that one, it’s a device that is used to store contacts), George bush, and Clinton had some of the best disciplines known ever of keeping people fresh in their minds, that’s why they became president. Keep people fresh in your mind, know them, know about them.
8. Find a Creative way to stay in touch
We met before is an acquaintance, not a relationship. Relationships are cultivated, nourished, developed. It requires calling, mailing, sending sms, and visiting. It requires knowing birthdays, staying in touch, helping out, linking up.
If I score myself on networking, with you for example, I certainly am not doing well. I have however identified this, and I want to really be better. I want to be top 5 Networkers in Nigeria. I want to know people, deeply, to support them, help them and connect them. I’m not doing poorly, but I have great room for improvement. There are so many people that check this site daily for example that never say a word, never drop a comment, just come in, share it with friends and walk. I need you, all of you. Get in touch with me, let me know you, let’s build a relationship. I’m tired of counting hits, I want to count people, people that I know well, people I can help and people that can support me.
It’s the right season and time… our future, the future of our nation and of our children, depend on our abilities to connect today. What are you doing about your network?

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TWO TRAVELLING ANGELS

keep reading to the bottom of the page -- don't
stop at the feet (You'll see).
Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night
in the home of a wealthy family.
The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guest room.
Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement.
As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. 
When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, 
'Things aren't always what they seem.' 
The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. 
After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest. 
When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. 
Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field. 
The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel how could you have let this happen? 
The first man had everything, yet you helped him, she accused. 
The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die. 
'Things aren't always what they seem,' the older angel replied. 
'When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I 
noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. 
Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the 
wall so he wouldn't find it.'
'Then last night as we slept in the farmer’s bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave him 
the cow instead.Things aren't always what they seem.' 

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WE NEED BOTH BLESSINGS AND DIFFICULTIES

You need both blessings and difficulties, because one without the other is neither.
People who live in affluence for all of life (such as many people in Nigeria) can easily become so accustomed to wealth, blessings, and prosperity that they can easily forget what blessings they actually have. However, if those possessions are taken away, those people will certainly look at life with a new perspective, realizing how much they really had.
You don't realize how much you have until you don't have it anymore.
God knows the importance of balance; that is, the importance of having both blessings and difficulties. There are several scriptures that speak about this balance. For example in 1 Peter 4:13, we are told: Rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. Notice how we participate both in suffering and in joy.
Similarly, in 2 Corinthians 1:7, Paul wrote this to the church in Corinth: And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. They experienced both suffering and comfort.
Don't become too comfortable with what you have, because when you forget that the things you have are a blessing from God and when you start to assume that they are guaranteed possessions, it is quite possible that God will take them away from you in order to teach you that you need both blessings and difficulties, because one without the other is neither.
The people who hear God's voice best are the ones who know his word most.
Jesus said to his followers, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32). If we hold to his teaching, meaning live in it, abide in it, and follow it, then we will know the truth. That's exactly the way hearing from God works. When we abide in his word, we will know his voice, which is truth.
All of scripture is God talking to his people. So, in order to hear from God, you must know scripture.
God has given us scripture, and he calls it his word. It is the word of God. And we refer to it as God's word. So, how do you know when God's talking to you? Because he talks through his word.
In order to hear God talking to you, you must know his word. The more you know his word, the better you'll hear his voice.

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NAFDAC BANS 22 NIGERIAN,INDIAN COMPANIES

By Victor Sam
Published: Wednesday, 22 Oct 2008
The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control on Tuesday, banned from any further operations in the country, 22 national and Indian companies.
It also blacklisted 40 other brand of drugs from further production and sale within Nigeria, asking people never to buy and consume such drugs.
It said the companies had indulged over time in the forgery of NAFDAC registration numbers and those of other companies to sell their fake and substandard products.
The Director-General of the agency, Prof Dora Akunyili, stated these during a meeting with the new Country Representative of United Nations Children’s Education Fund, Dr. Suomi Sakai, in Abuja.
She said the companies would never be allowed to do business again in Nigeria because ‘they have refused over time to stop the forgery of NAFDAC registration numbers’.
Akunyili said the Indian companies would ‘never be allowed again in Nigeria because despite entreaties, they were hell-bent on producing drugs that would kill millions of Nigerians.’
She said, “NAFDAC has just released a list of additional companies which have indulged in producing and selling fake products to Nigerians.
“They have over the years, forged NAFDAC registration numbers and also copied the registration number of other products to perpetuate their criminal acts.
Henceforth, those companies and drugs would never be allowed to be sold and consumed in Nigeria again and by next week we will begin the mopping up of these drugs and companies.”
The banned Nigerian pharmaceutical companies are Medicare Pharma Limited, Maza-Maza, Lagos; O’Nell Pharma and Healthcare Limited, Baptist Church Street, Lagos; Food and Pharma Limited, Ijora, Lagos; and, Sped Pharmacy Limited, Fegge, Onitsha.
Others are Nexus Pharma Limited, Idumota, Lagos; M/S Sanchuks Global Associates Limited, Onitsha; and, M/S Tmoore Int’l Co. Nig. Limited, Kano.
The India companies banned are Empree Medicament (I) Pvt, Honga; Baader Schullz Laboratory; S.I.R. Pharma Pvt Limited; M/S Europa Biocare P Limited; and Alpa Laboratory Limited.
Meanwhile, the director-general, said on Tuesday in Abuja that more than 100,000 applications were received for less than 1,000 vacancies declared by the agency recently.
Akunyili told the News Agency of Nigeria that the number would not deter the agency from employing qualified professionals that would prosecute the war against fake drugs.

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