Extraordinary People are PERSISTENT!

Leadership Series #4: EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE ARE PERSISTENT!

Perhaps the greatest testimony of a persistent persons remain Abraham Lincoln, 16^th President of the United States of America. “He successfully led his country through its greatest constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War-preserving the Union while ending slavery, and promoting economic and financial modernization. Reared in a poor family on the western frontier, Lincoln was self-educated…each time a general failed, Lincoln substituted another until finally Grant (Ullyses S. Grant) succeeded in 1865 to win the war…His Gettysburg Address of 1863 became the most quoted speech in American history…Lincoln has been consistently ranked by scholars and public as one of the three greatest U.S. presidents.” Whao! For a man who lost many elections before he finally made it as the 16^th President of the United States! He stood against slavery until slavery crumbled in the US, he believed in the Unity of his country in the face of secessionists everywhere and won the Civil War. That’s persistence!

I love the following two quotes about persistence:

“Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “Press On” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” - Calvin Coolidge

“Too many of us wait to do the perfect thing, with the result we do nothing. The way to get ahead is to start now. While many of us are waiting until conditions are “just right” before we go ahead, others are stumbling along, fortunately ignorant of the dangers that beset them. By the time we are, in our superior wisdom, decided to make a start, we discover that those who have gone fearlessly on before, have, in their blundering way, travelled a considerable distance. If you start now, you will know a lot next year that you don’t know now, and that you will not know next year, if you wait.”- The William Feather Magazine

You and I would do well if we heed these quotes. Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. It’s the key to becoming an extraordinary person!

Bankole Olubamise, Aug 14, 2012

Extraordinary People Bend Reality!

Leadership Series #3: EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE DEFY REALITY!

On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. stood on the steps at the Lincoln memorial in Washington, D.C. and delivered a speech to more than 250,000 people.

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character…” The “I have a dream speech” defied the reality of Dr Martin’s day, where blacks were considered second and third class citizens of America!  That speech defied the status quo and changed history. Today a Black man is the President of the United States!

Extraordinary people defy reality and change history of their family, their community and their nation. Sir Edmund Hilary became the conqueror of Mount Everest because he defied the reality that many have died trying. The American Astronauts defied reality when the landed on the moon. Their first steps became a giant leap for mankind.

Only extraordinary people take one step and history is changed forever. No single Olympian has ever defended the 100 and 200 meters record, but Usain Bolt of Jamaica defied reality and became a living legend! When you defy reality of your birth, circumstances of your village and the negative news about your people, culture and nation, history will bow to you. Today I challenge you to be an extraordinary person, defy your reality and change history!

Bankole Olubamise, 11 Aug, 2012.

Extraordinary People are FOCUSED ON GOALS

 Leadership Series #2: EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE ARE FOCUSED ON GOALS!

'Success is goals, and all else is commentary'. All successful people are intensely goal oriented. They know what they want and they are focused single-mindedly on achieving it, every single day! Says Brian Tracy, one of the top motivational speakers of this generation.

Why not he should know! He left school at 18 without graduating. His first job was as a dishwasher in a small hotel. From there he moved to washing cars, then floors,  becoming a janitor, then to sawmills, dug wells, worked on farm and ranches. He graduated to construction  labourer on tall buildings and later itinerant farm labourer during harvest sleeping in barns and eating from the farmers family. But one day, he took out a piece of paper and wrote down an outrageous goal for himself-to earn $1,000 per month in selling door-to-door and office-to-office. 30 days later, his life changed! Within eighteen months he moved from worrying about his next meal to “walking around with a pocket full of $20 bills”.

GOALS set up your life to succeed. To be a great leader, you must be focused on your goals in life. Having goals-daily, weekly, monthly and yearly helps you to focus your life’s energy system. Goals help you to take control of your life, rather than others running your life for you. “The regular and systematic practice of goal-setting will take you from poverty to prosperity, from frustration to fulfilment, from underachievement to success to and satisfaction” says Brian Tracy in his book, Goals: How to Get Everything You Want –Faster than You Thought Possible.

As an extraordinary leader your eyes must be on your VISION as we said in the first series. To achieve that vision you need to set and focus on daily, weekly and monthly goals that will take you there.  To be focused means to be single-minded about something or let me show you a mnemonics of FOCUS:

Following carefully established patterns and principles

Overcoming subtle distractions

Culturally relevant without compromise

Using time strategically and judiciously

Seeking God’s supernatural empowerment.

Assignment: Today as you rise up, get a notepad; write down your goals for today, next week and month. Let it guide your day. Focus on those goals no matter what they are, you will achieve more with goals than without. Practice this daily for the next month and your life will take a new dimension!

 Bankole Olubamise, Aug 10, 2012.

Extraordinary People Have VISION

What is the difference between ordinary and extraordinary people?

Leadership Series #1: EXTRAORDINARY PEOPLE HAVE VISION- A PICTURE OF A DESIRED FUTURE!

Born in January 1943, to a family of tenant farmers, she started working at age 3, as she joined the family on the cotton fields with her own sack(pillowcase)! “This would be the first in a long series of ‘impossible jobs’ at which the little girl would excel, despite being told you can’t...  She had always idolized her older brother, a navy man, and hoped that she would find a way to follow in his footsteps. “

Please meet, Brigadier General Sherian Grace Cadoria, first Black female non-traditional line general, first female Africa-American General in the history of the US Army, first woman to command an all-male battalion in Vietnam, first to lead a criminal investigation brigade, first woman director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the first woman admitted to the elite army schools, the Command and General Staff College and the US Army War College and inductee of the Horatio  Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, breaking all barriers of race, colour and sex on her way!  Just because she wanted to be like her idol!

Vision separates ordinary from extraordinary people! After almost 20 years of leadership study and research, I have come to the irrevocable conclusion that Africa and indeed Nigeria’s major problem is leadership, especially VISIONLESS Leadership. There is no greater disease than this in Africa!

Africa is the only continent of the world with an average of 9 months of rain per year,  yet we are hungry! 70% of the world’s mineral resources are mined in Africa, yet we live with and celebrate fake products! 774 local government and 37 state administrators in Nigeria receive monthly huge allocations for which they did not work, yet their people lament every month! Until we have and develop leaders with Vision, this lamentation will continue, but this needs not be so!

Assignment: Stop whatever you are doing for ten minutes!

a.      Get a plain sheet of paper and write ten things you would like to do!

b.      Before you go to bed look at that list and cross out seven that is not too compelling!

c.       The next day look at your list, cross out two that you really can’t be bothered about.

d.      The last on your list is your current vision. Develop a picture of it and hang it around your home and office/school. Carry it with you everywhere you go!

A man/woman with a vision is very dangerous person. NOTHING on earth can stop such a person! With your vision in your heart, you are on your way to becoming an EXTRAORDINARY person!

Bankole Olubamise, Aug 9, 2012.

Tips For A Financially Safe Retirement

Top 10 Tips For A Financially Safe Retirement by Tim Begany 

A robust and predictable income is a big concern for retirees. They need to know how to generate enough cash to maintain their lifestyle without exposing their assets to too much risk. Social Security is obviously a key source of steady cash for retirees and some also have a pension, an increasingly rare employer-sponsored retirement plan that pays out like clockwork. Here are 10 other ways for retired folks to obtain reliable income while keeping risk in check.

1. An Immediate Fixed Annuity
If you wanted the predictability of Social Security or a pension, you might go to an insurance company for an immediate fixed annuity- a contract for a guaranteed income stream for a specified time. As "immediate" suggests, the contract starts paying you virtually right away, usually the month after purchase and monthly thereafter.

2. Systematic Withdrawals
Since you typically can't get your money back from an annuity once it starts paying out, you might simply put the money in an investment account with a systematic withdrawal plan. Such a plan can be established in nonretirement and retirement accounts with a form instructing the investment company what sum to distribute monthly, quarterly or annually. You keep control of your money but you don't get the guarantee of an annuity.

3. Bonds
Bonds represent debt. So if you buy a bond, it means somebody owes you money and is regularly paying you interest. When assembled into a properly diversified portfolio, the safest bonds like those issued by the federal government, government agencies, and financially sound corporations can be a crucial source of dependable retirement income. (To learn more about bonds, check out our Bond Basics Tutorial.)

4. Dividend-Paying Stocks
Unlike bonds, stocks represent ownership and company owners may get regularly-scheduled dividends. Not all companies pay dividends, though, and dividends can be stopped if a company gets into financial trouble. Plus, stock prices sometimes plunge. That's why retirees who buy stocks for income should probably limit their exposure to this strategy and stick with large, very stable companies with a history of paying dividends.

5. Life Insurance
Life insurance really isn't meant to be a retirement plan, but it can be a welcome additional income source for retirees who find they're a bit short each month. The safest policy for the job is one like whole life or universal life that builds cash value on a schedule. People generally access the cash via loan or periodic withdrawal. The catch: loans and withdrawals reduce the policy death benefit by a like amount.

6. Home Equity
Relying too heavily on home equity to fund your retirement can be dangerous because home values could drop suddenly and reduce or wipe out your equity. Like life insurance, it might be better to think of home equity more as a backup plan. You can access it by selling your home or taking out some sort of home equity loan.

7. Income Property
Retired or not, it's nice to get that check each month when you rent out a home or sell one to someone and hold their mortgage (just like a bank). But it's not so fun if the renter or homeowner doesn't pay you. And remember, if you're a landlord, you're on the hook for property taxes and costs for upkeep. (For more, check out Simple Ways To Invest In Real Estate.)

8. Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
If you like real estate but aren't into being a landlord or mortgage holder, consider investing in REITs - companies that buy, sell and manage commercial properties like malls and apartments. REIT shares, which are purchased directly on securities exchanges or indirectly through mutual funds, pay high monthly or quarterly dividends and are liquid. But they can be volatile like regular stocks, so it's best not to overdo them. 

9. Savings Account and CD Interest
When it comes to generating income, there's nothing safer or more reliable. While this strategy obviously isn't viable when CDs and savings accounts pay 2%, 1% or even less, it can be a fine option when interest rates are reasonable.

10. Part-Time Employment
Retirees often want to stay active and involved. Working part-time can be a good way to do that while earning extra income. And the only thing at risk is some time.

The Bottom Line
The nice thing about most of these 10 methods is they can be mixed and matched to suit your personality. However, knowing exactly what to do and getting just the right mix can be a bit complicated, so don't hesitate to consult a qualified financial professional for guidance. (For more retirement tips, see 5 Ways To Fund Your Retirement.)

                              

by Tim Begany (Contact Author | Biography)

What Does It Really Mean To Take Up The Cross And Follow Christ?

What Does It Really Mean To Take Up The Cross And Follow Christ?

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"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it." (Luke 9:23, 24)

 WHAT IT MEANS IN PRACTICAL TERMS TO LOSE ONE'S LIFE:

· Being willing to suffer the pain and humiliation of the cross. (Hebrews 11:26; 12:1, 2; 13:13)

· Being willing to forgive and embrace those who sin against you and see what they meant for harm as sent from God for good. (Genesis 50:20; Acts 7:60; Philippians 1:15-18)

· Being willing to be separated from those you love. (Matthew 10:37, 38; Luke 14:26)

· Being willing to be dependent on others. (Acts 20:4, 5; 2 Timothy 1:16; 4:9-13, 21)

· Being willing to face the loneliness that sometimes comes with dedication to Christian service. (Philippians 2:19-21; 2 Timothy 1:15; 4:10, 16)

· Being willing to keep walking faithfully, one step at a time, through the desert of the soul, when it seems God has abandoned you. (Job 23:8-17; Psalm 42; 84:5-7)

· Being willing to accomplish what God calls you to do. (Isaiah 6:8; 50:7; Acts 20:24; 26:19; 1 Corinthians 15:58; 2 Timothy 4:7)

· Being willing to surrender all to God and not strike back at those who oppose you. (Luke 6:27-36; 1 Peter 2:20-23)

WHAT IT MEANS IN PRACTICAL TERMS TO SAVE ONE'S LIFE: "It is getting up in the morning, going to work, coming home, going through the drill, playing some golf on the weekends, going to church, and taking a vacation now and then." In other words, "IT IS LIVING LIFE AND KEEPING ONE'S DISCRETIONARY TIME FOR ONE'S SELF."

 ARE YOU IN FACT TAKING UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOWING JESUS? If you are, then "your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:5-8)

—culled from Facts of the Matter

Seven costly pro athlete screw-ups

By Mark Riddix, Investopedia.comMar 10, 1:58 pm EST

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Almost 80 percent of National Football League players are flirting with bankruptcy two years after they retire, according to Sports Illustrated. NBA players aren’t faring much better. 60 percent of former National Basketball Association players end up broke within five years of retirement. Athletes squander millions of dollars due to bad decisions, lavish spending and poor financial planning. Here is a list of athletes that have lost their fortunes through some of the biggest financial blunders of all time.

Scottie Pippen

Known more for his on court defense than his off court business sense, former Chicago Bulls star Scottie Pippen lost $120 million in career earnings due to poor financial planning and bad business ideas. Air Jordan’s sidekick blew $27 million on bad investments and spent $4.3 million on a Gulfstream II corporate jet.

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Evander Holyfield

Four-time boxing champ Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield reportedly made over $250 million in cash during his boxing career, but despite this he reportedly is flat broke. Holyfield lost all his money by making “smart” business decisions look really foolish. You thought buying a house was a smart move? It normally is, but not when you buy a house the size of Rhode Island. Holyfield bought a $20 million house with over 54,000 square feet and 109 rooms. The house has 11 bedrooms, 17 bathrooms, a movie theater, a bowling alley and an Olympic-size swimming pool. Imagine how much it must cost to cut the grass on all 235 acres! You could buy a Range Rover with the electric bill payment alone.

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Lenny Dykstra

Former New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies star Lenny “Nails” Dykstra was a success on the baseball diamond, but in the business field Dykstra has struck out. Dykstra’s failed businesses include car washes, a magazine company, real estate investing and a stock trading website. According to Dykstra’s July 2009 bankruptcy filing, he owed more than $30 million to creditors, including his $18.5 million purchase of Wayne Gretzky’s home. The amazing part is that after two foreclosed homes and numerous failed businesses Dykstra is offering the investment advice that led him into bankruptcy for a mere $899 a year! In the investment world, it is often said that past history does not dictate future performance. Nevertheless, it’s pretty clear Dykstra isn’t the guy to go to for advice.

Latrell Sprewell

Look up the word “shortsighted” in the dictionary and you will see a picture of Latrell Sprewell. He famously turned down a $21 million contract because he said it wasn’t enough money to feed his family. Sprewell, who made over $96 million during his career, lost his $1.5 million dollar Italian yacht, named “Milwaukee’s Best”, in 2007. According to MSNBC, a U.S. marshal seized the yacht after Sprewell defaulted on his mortgage. His $5.4 million house went into foreclosure in May 2008. Don’t blame Sprewell for turning down the three-year, $21 million contract though. I mean really, who could live off a measly $7 million a year?

John Daly

Two-time PGA major champ John Daly gambled away between $50 and $60 million in career earnings, according to his 2006 autobiography. Daly once lost $1.65 million in five hours playing the slot machines at a casino. If you think that’s impressive, there’s more. Daly blew $1.2 million in a mere two hours and 30 minutes at a casino in Las Vegas. He just had his $1.6 million house foreclosed on. Did Daly quit gambling after blowing so much cash at the casino tables? Not by a long shot. Instead, he decided to downgrade from the $5,000 slot machines to the $100 and $500 machines. It looks in John Daly’s world, that is considered sound financial planning.

Jack Clark

Former professional baseball slugger Jack Clark was driven into bankruptcy in 1992 by his appetite for luxury cars. According to his bankruptcy filing, he owned 18 luxury automobiles, including a $700,000 Ferrari and a Rolls Royce. Clark was trying to pay 17 car notes simultaneously, and whenever he got bored with a car he would get rid of it and just buy another one. He ended up losing million-dollar homes and his drag-racing business because of his extravagant spending habits, but despite one of the most publicized bankruptcies in baseball, Clark reportedly got back on his feet in the late ’90s.

Mike Tyson

The king of them all is boxer Mike Tyson, who squandered a $350 million to $400 million dollar fortune. So what did “Iron” Mike spend his fortune on? Everything. He dropped half a million dollars on a 420-horsepower Bentley Continental SC with lamb’s wool rugs, a phone and a removable glass roof. It is one of only 73 Bentley Continental SCs ever built. The sad part is that’s not even the only Bentley that Tyson owned! He spent over $4.5 million dollars on cars alone. Throw in a $2 million dollar bathtub and $140,000 for two Bengal tigers and you can see why Tyson’s fortune is down for the count. He filed for bankruptcy in 2003.