₦airaland Forum

babatundeizbad:
Nice. But still, nothing new.

I agree that these points may not be entirely new but some business owners and top executives still make these mistakes

This article is a divergence from the norm. Over time you must have read books and articles on business success or attended seminars where you are taught how to succeed in business. This article is different. It is straight hard talk based on Donald Keough's Ten Commandments for Business Failure. Donald Keough, a former president of the Coca-Cola company tells you how to fail. Hear him:

"After a long time in business, I've never been able to develop a set of rules or a step-by-step formula that will guarantee success in anything, much less in a field as dynamic and changing as business. What I can do however is talk about how to lose. I guarantee that anyone who follows my formula will be a highly successful loser".

Below are highlights of ten blunders most business owners make all the time:

◾Quit Taking Risks


It's tempting to remain in the comfort zone and quit taking risks when you've recorded some success in your business. When you quit taking risks because you do not want to make mistakes, you're one step away from failing. Mistakes even huge and costly ones are the price you have to pay if you want to remain in business for long. Innovation remains the hallmark of any successful business venture.

◾Be inflexible

Your ability to adapt to changing situations will determine how long you will remain in business. If you are not dynamic and flexible, you would soon out of business.

◾Isolate Yourself

Another sure step to failure is to isolate yourself from staff, managers, customers and distributors. Just sit in the comfort of your well-furnished office with several Personal Assistants, Secretaries and a "do-not-disturb" sign on your door. You'll be the last to know when things are going wrong. It is important that you go round to see how your workers are doing, try to know the names of the people who work with you, answer your own phone and even make your own coffee.

◾Assume Infallibility

When you shy away from your mistakes, you're on the brink of failure. If you pass the buck, blame the economy, the weather and everyone else except you, you're on the road to ruining your business.

◾Play the game close to the foul line

Never achieve success by destroying your own values and principles. Let your customers, staff and the board of directors know you for the right thing.

◾Don't take time to think

Don't fall to the temptation of just focusing on the huge paperwork on your desk. Take time to think things through. When there's a mistake, analyse and evaluate objectively to know the reasons for your mistake. Remember being busy is not the same as being effective.

◾Put all your faith in experts and outside consultants

If you rely heavily on outside expertise taking in the opinion of experts and consultants hook, line and sinker, failure may not be far away. Take responsibility for the future of your business. Do not delegate important decisions to outsiders.

The three other tips are available on www.bookconvo.com. These three tips could set you apart from your competitors.

This article is a divergence from the norm. Over time you must have read books and articles on business success or attended seminars where you are taught how to succeed in business. This article is different. It is straight hard talk based on Donald Keough's Ten Commandments for Business Failure. Donald Keough, a former president of the Coca-Cola company tells you how to fail. Hear him:

"After a long time in business, I've never been able to develop a set of rules or a step-by-step formula that will guarantee success in anything, much less in a field as dynamic and changing as business. What I can do however is talk about how to lose. I guarantee that anyone who follows my formula will be a highly successful loser".

Below are highlights of ten blunders most business owners make all the time:

◾Quit Taking Risks

It's tempting to remain in the comfort zone and quit taking risks when you've recorded some success in your business. When you quit taking risks because you do not want to make mistakes, you're one step away from failing. Mistakes even huge and costly ones are the price you have to pay if you want to remain in business for long. Innovation remains the hallmark of any successful business venture.

◾Be inflexible

Your ability to adapt to changing situations will determine how long you will remain in business. If you are not dynamic and flexible, you would soon out of business.

◾Isolate Yourself

Another sure step to failure is to isolate yourself from staff, managers, customers and distributors. Just sit in the comfort of your well-furnished office with several Personal Assistants, Secretaries and a "do-not-disturb" sign on your door. You'll be the last to know when things are going wrong. It is important that you go round to see how your workers are doing, try to know the names of the people who work with you, answer your own phone and even make your own coffee.

◾Assume Infallibility

When you shy away from your mistakes, you're on the brink of failure. If you pass the buck, blame the economy, the weather and everyone else except you, you're on the road to ruining your business.

◾Play the game close to the foul line

Never achieve success by destroying your own values and principles. Let your customers, staff and the board of directors know you for the right thing.

◾Don't take time to think

Don't fall to the temptation of just focusing on the huge paperwork on your desk. Take time to think things through. When there's a mistake, analyse and evaluate objectively to know the reasons for your mistake. Remember being busy is not the same as being effective.

◾Put all your faith in experts and outside consultants

If you rely heavily on outside expertise taking in the opinion of experts and consultants hook, line and sinker, failure may not be far away. Take responsibility for the future of your business. Do not delegate important decisions to outsiders.


Visit www.bookconvo.com for the three other important tips. Your knowledge of the three other tips may set you apart from your competitors.

funny you

HURUCHI:
Last price #1000

I have a fairly used baby car seat for sale. The brand is Babytrend. It's as it is in the picture below. Price is 6, 000 call 08084244904

Have you been tinkering with the idea of setting up a bookshop? Whether your idea is borne out of pure love for books or you're just out to make money, you'll find these tips helpful.

1. Location must be strategic

First, you have to bear in mind that at present, Nigeria does not have an impressive reading populace. In my years of book retailing, I have come to realise that those who love to read are often so consumed by their everyday work routine that they hardly find time to read let alone visit bookshops. Thus, it is important that you carefully select the location of your bookshop. I strongly advise that you consider an area with a lot of leg traffic like a major bus stop, or a shop situated opposite the main gate of a tertiary institution, or the main road of a middle-class neighbourhood. The ideal shop should also have some frontage where you could display books and magazines with catchy titles. This is almost like "putting the books to their noses". The whole idea is to enhance visibility and patronage.

2. Identify your niche

Like in every other business, you must know your target market. Your target market would determine the kind of books you'll stock. For instance, a bookshop close to a university may find it appropriate to deal in textbooks and other academic materials since the target audience is the university community comprising students, lecturers etc. A bookshop close to a church with a large congregation may deal in Christian literature and self-help/motivational books. And if you're setting up shop in a highbrow or elitist neighbourhood, you may consider titles relating to business, wealth management, fitness, health and well-being; some popular foreign magazines (e.g Time magazine) and some modern African literature with Caucasian appeal would also not be a bad idea.

3. Ambience

The character and atmosphere of your shop must be appealing. A relaxed ambience would go a long way in attracting patronage. That is the secret behind the success of the malls springing up in major Nigerian cities. People like to shop where the atmosphere is relaxing. You should consider this when setting up your shop.\

It is also important to guard against your books getting dusty. Dusty books are generally not appealing. Make use of transparent plastic covers. This would enable you sell them as new no matter how long they stay on the shelf.

4. Use the Internet to your advantage

Alongside your physical shop, you should also consider having an online presence. This may entail opening an online bookstore with door-to-door delivery service. You may also feature on your website e-version of popular books or other downloadable content. Join major online book forums like goodreads, amazon and bookconvo for book ratings, pricing and to keep abreast of best selling authors and titles.

5. Pricing

A lot of factors come into play when setting prices- rent cost, electricity charges, and labour cost to mention a few. It is therefore important to source your books from publishers and major dealers to be able to sell at fair market rates. Bookconvo Resources offers consultancy services in this regard. You may visit www.bookconvo.com or send an email to bookconvoresources@gmail.com.

Seek the kingdom of God first
Seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness before seeking worldly things and pleasure which in most instances come with anxiety and unbearable level of distress. Obedience to God’s commandments should be the ultimate reason for the thirst and aspiration of every heart.
◾Shun or ignore ignorance.
William Shakespeare once wrote that ignorance is the curse of God while knowledge is the wing wherewith we fly to heaven. It’s a sad thing to allow the mind waste away as a result of lack of requisite study. To acquire knowledge, one must study. Unfortunately, most people of our society nowadays are more in tuned to money and pleasure giving involvements rather than acquiring lifelong knowledge. Remember that 2 Peter 1: 2 says that grace and peace is multiplied unto us through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus Christ our Lord. So, I urge you to begin to find out the extent of your ignorance as from now on in order to ascertain what you know from that you do not know.
◾Always Be Prayerful and Exercise Faith
A Christian should pray as well as watch (focus on the Holy Spirit) at all times. Prayer is the only way one can reach God’s throne under any circumstance. It is the act of communing with God. To pray without exercising faith will only result in mere imagination, double mindedness and unsure expectation. A Christian should pray always in the spirit and not by emotional sentiments.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen - Heb. 11:1. So, next time you are about to pray, believe that the Almighty Lord and God, the invincible creator of all things sees and hears every word that has come out of your purified and sanctified heart. The lesson is, “ find the courage to thank God for giving you the opportunity to be humble enough to realize that He alone can provide solution(s) to every of your request; for that’s why we pray to Him.”
◾Praise and Thank God in all seasons
Praise means to call God His names and titles. There are innumerable reasons why a Christian should praise and worship God at all times. Praise and worship Him in truth and spirit for His unending mercy, unfailing love, protection, provision, e.t.c. Praise him when you are happy, praise him when life seems too difficult and unpleasant to bear, praise him just because you want to acknowledge his sovereignty, praise him in all situations; good or bad.
It is in the holy atmosphere of praise and worship that healing, miracles and transformation of the soul begin to manifest, and God’s glory starts cleansing and changing our canal nature into the nature and character of Christ. So, dear friend, offer God the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving and see what He does in your life.
◾Don’t think negatively of yourself
Whenever your heart condemns you, know that God is greater than your heart and that His mercy will prevail over judgment. Friend, hold on to God’s mercy and promises and never allow your heart ache as a result of your negative reasoning which are in most cases buttress by physical and logical facts weigh the promises and unending mercy of God down in your life. Psychologists believe that we have between 60, 000 and 70, 000 thoughts a day and approximately 80% of those thoughts are negative or self damaging.
Negative thoughts about us are in most cases self- talks which are detrimental to one’s self esteem and block God’s divinely given visions. Always remember what God has said in His word; JEREMIAH 29: 11- “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
This discourse is getting interesting, and by the grace of God, this discourse will continue by next week. The peace of the Almighty God is with you throughout this week in Jesus’ name. Amen.

You can also share with others @ www.bookconvo.com - an online book and lifestyle blog

for more enlightening articles visit www.bookconvo.com

This is the concluding part of the article "Emotional Infidelity: A Threat to Marriages" (see link to the previous article-https://www.nairaland.com/2101843/emotional-infidelity-threat-marriages ). I shall be discussing the steps to overcoming pain and distrust arising from an emotional affair.


STEPS TO HEALING

While it is true that problematic marriages are vulnerable to affairs whether sexual or emotional, it is important to stress that affairs can happen even in marriages without problems. Thus, a hurting spouse may begin to wonder why her partner has feelings for or puts another person ahead of her especially when she thinks they are having a great marriage. (Permit me to use feminine pronouns in this article for the hurting spouse just for ease of reference. It is not my intention to pin the subject down to a particular gender. Anyone can stray).

Don't start to blame yourself. That's not the first step in the healing process. You may not have done anything wrong.

1. [b]Get into some long serious talk (For the Hurting Spouse)

When you discover your spouse is emotionally entangled with someone else, don't rail or shout. Be calm. Seek a convenient time (e.g when the kids are in bed )for some serious talk. That's the first step. Tell him what you have observed with details like name of the 3rd party, the flirty conversations, and the excessive calling or chatting. The straying spouse may want to trivialise the issue with phrases like "we're just friends", "I was only trying to help her", "it's nothing serious". Simply turn the tables around and ask if he would be pleased if you do the same. If he apologises, you may ask why he did it but I can assure you he may not be able to give any convincing answer. It could just be that the 3rd party is giving him more attention and stroking his ego.

2. Stop Contact with the 3rd party (For the Straying Spouse)

This would involve blocking the 3rd party from your social networking platforms. If the 3rd party is a work friend simply begin to limit your discussions to work matters. Place small photographs of your spouse and kids on your desk. Put on your wedding band. Stop the lunch time walk and talk. Put a call through to your spouse while the 3rd party is within earshot. He or she will get your message.

3. Take Responsibility (Both Partners)

Both partners must take responsibility. Consider those things you two should have done better e.g appreciating each other, giving each other more attention, spicing up your sex lives, surprise gifts etc.

Conclusion

If your spouse has had an emotional affair you need time to get past the pain and mistrust even after he must have apologised and promised never to do it again. You must come to the understanding that though he genuinely loves you, he is not immune from having an affair. This understanding is very important. It is this understanding that will help you treasure and greatly value each other. With time, you will begin to trust him again.

Please visit www.bookconvo.com. Your visit would be highly appreciated.

Have you picked up your permanent voter cards (PVCs)?

The happenings on the political scene in the wake of the February elections bring to mind a tale that has been constantly re-told over the years.

There was once a powerful seer in a certain village. He had so much wisdom and powers that he could see into the past and even the future. News of his exploits soon spread to neighbouring villages and people came to him from far and near for solutions to their problems.

His exploits soon became a source of worry to other seers who had been in the trade long before him. They conspired to put him to test using the nza (a very tiny bird). The plan was to march to his house the following morning with the nza enclosed in someone’s palm. They would then ask him to tell them if the nza was dead or alive. If he said it was alive, the one holding the nza would simply squeeze life out of the bird; if he said it was dead, the seer holding the nza would let the bird fly to disprove him and show that he was not as powerful as claimed.

When the test was put to the powerful seer, he paused for a while, cast a slow glance at the group and said, “the life and death of the nza is in your hands, not mine”.

On radio, television, online social media, at roadside newspaper stands, in offices, homes, and public buses, I hear and read the endless rants and banters over the coming elections. Underlying these are deep-seated frustrations, pains, and yearnings of the people for a better Nigeria. Unfortunately, these emotionally charged conversations remain what they are- mere talk.

Until we become politically conscious enough to be bothered about those representing our wards, councils, constituencies, senatorial districts at the Federal, State and Local levels, we will continue to have the kind of Nigeria we are presently in. On a visit to my local government secretariat recently, I was alarmed at the many permanent voter cards (PVCs) lying at the INEC office in the local government secretariat. They are yet to be collected. These uncollected cards belong to the same people ranting day in day out. You will be amazed at the plethora of excuses they put up for not having picked up their cards. Is it not time we shunned political aparthy?

The quality of leaders we have will inform the quality of life we enjoy. Be wary of political jobbers who come with the same well-rehearsed phrases “good roads, good healthcare, economic development, security of lives and property, free education at all levels...” without clear roadmaps for achieving them. Chief Obafemi Awolowo wrote the book “Path to Nigerian Freedom” in 1947 even before he held any political office.

Check the profile of those seeking your votes. What are their ideologies? What developmental roles have they played in their respective communities before their political ambition? Beware of “cosmetic politicians”. Those who have lived all their lives abroad and in major Nigerian cities and are completely disconnected from the realities in the hinterlands. They spend the best part of their tenure figuring out what the needs of the people are while enriching themselves. They grope in the dark embarking on white elephant projects and awarding contracts that have no bearing on the people's lives. Before we know it another election year has come and the cycle continues.

Ask questions. Purge yourself of ethnic, religious and other primordial sentiments. Elect your leaders but while at it do not elect yourself into helplessness.

5minsmadness:
..

So, like, can I discuss my marital problems with an unattractive work friend?

see question . From experience, it is best to keep your marital problems out of the work place. There are other avenues you can explore if you want a solution to your problems. You can start by talking with your spouse. Most problems are better solved between you.

MarvellousGod:
Wonderful article. .. learnt something

I'm glad you learnt something.

There is a dangerous virus quietly eating up marriages today. It is called emotional infidelity. It is worse than sexual infidelity because a straying spouse may be having an affair without even knowing it. The ubiquitous nature of online social networking via bbm, watsapp, instagram, facebook, provides a safe meeting point and helps nurture such affairs.

A woman narrated her experience sometime ago. Her husband of seven years had become so aloof that he was no longer interested in sex. At first, she thought it was the pressure of work but later discovered that he had been involved in excessive chatting and texting with a particular female colleague. She was heartbroken even though there was nothing to show that they had been sexually involved.

The straying spouse lives in denial and under the misconception that infidelity only occurs where there is a sexual relationship. Most emotional affairs occur at work places especially where the work environment is less than perfect. It is soothing to have a work friend with whom one discusses the day to day frustrations. However, it is potentially dangerous if you find yourself discussing your marital problems with an attractive work friend of the opposite sex.

If you find yourself spending more time texting and chatting with this work friend even after office hours or you find yourself dressing up for him or her, looking forward to seeing him each day, you may be having an emotional affair.

Emotional infidelity drains you of the energy, time and resources that you should have channelled into your marriage to make it great.

Here are a few tips for preventing an emotional affair. It is best to nip it in the bud before it rears its head.

1.Be open about your marital status. Don't hesitate to drop hints whenever necessary in conversations simply to pass the message that you are "unavailable". You could have a small photograph of your spouse or kids on your desk if your office policy permits. You may also display family pictures on your social media pages.

2.Avoid discussing your marital problems with an attractive work friend of the opposite sex.

3.Shun all online social media activities once you are home. Spend quality time with your spouse. Be home both physically and emotionally.

For more interesting articles, stories and reviews visit www.bookconvo.com

Elections are coming now. It's all strategy

The Minister of Petroleum has just announced reduction in price of PMS from 97 naira per litre to 87 naira per litre. Source NTA News

As I was preparing for work one morning, I suddenly realised I had run out of sugar for the morning tea. I quickly dashed out to Mama Iyabo's shop, a small provision store down the street. The shop is a sort of succour in emergency situations such as this, not only to me but to other residents of the street. As dingy as it is, that shop has basic daily needs and is the home of Mama Iyabo, her husband and children. It opens as early as 5.00 am and closes as late as 12.00 midnight.

So on this fateful morning, I met the family outside the shop. After the usual "E karo" greetings, I requested for sugar. While waiting I suddenly overheard Baba Iyabo saying to himself, "I wish I had the sum of10 Million Naira now". That statement caught me off-guard. Then I probed, "Baba, what would you do with the money?". He replied "I will simply pack my things and head back to the village. I'm tired". I felt for him and wished I could tell him that money does not fall from the skies. I wish I could remind him of the popular saying that "He who counts money in his sleep should wake up and work harder to avert imminent hunger".

Story had it that he once worked in one of those defunct old generation banks in the '80s and commanded a lot of respect as he was financially buoyant at the time. He lived extravagantly lavishing money on women, throwing needless parties and lending money to people indiscriminately. Now he is in mid-fifties totally broke and living on his wife's meagre earnings.

That incident drew me into a realm of sober reflection and I believe it should also strike a chord in anyone who is serious about the future. In about 20 years I would be as old as Baba Iyabo. I don't want to end up like him. Though I do not throw needless parties or dress extravagantly, I believe there are aspects of spending I need to control.

Here's how you can maximise your resources this year for a secured future.

1. SAVE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN

The importance of saving can not be overemphasised. No matter how meagre your earnings or salary, you must create a savings window. The best way to save is to deduct your savings at source just as your employer deducts your taxes and cooperative dues even before you receive an alert. Your employer is oblivious of the fact that you have pressing needs and would make necessary deductions even without recourse to you. If you do not trust your ability to save as soon as you earn, talk to your bank. You can give your bank a mandate to deduct a certain sum of money each month to be credited into an another account with no withdrawal accessories like the ATM card.

2. CREATE ANOTHER STREAM OF INCOME

Just as it is important to save, it is equally important to create another stream of income. If your regular job is not so time consuming, you can think of other kinds of business you can engage in. However, I must sound a note of warning: NEVER ENGAGE IN ANY BUSINESS YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT, NO MATTER THE PROMISE OF RETURN. If it would involve another person managing the business for you and you'll only be a financier, do not venture. I'm talking from experience. In the alternative, you can consider investing in treasury bills, stocks, and real estate. The returns may not be huge but your saving is considerably safe. Consult professionals in this field for advice.

3. CUT BACK ON SPENDING

Someone once said "if you buy what you do not need today, you will borrow to buy what you need tomorrow". We are in an age where money is easily spent. On your computer screen, there are numerous ads from different online stores urging you to buy items you already own. They've made it so easy that payment can be made at the click of your mouse. Don't be carried away by an item's appeal. The message is this: IF YOU DO NOT NEED IT, DO NOT BUY IT. Also don't be shy to say no to friends and relations who come for financial aid especially when you strongly believe that the demand is frivolous. Show genuine concern by helping them explore alternative ways of solving their financial problems. Money is not the answer to all man's problems.

2015 is just beginning. You can make the necessary adjustments for a successful financial year. I strongly recommend the book "Richest Man in Babylon" by George Clason. For more interesting articles, visit www.bookstomydoor.com

As I was preparing for work one morning, I suddenly realised I had run out of sugar for the morning tea. I quickly dashed out to Mama Iyabo's shop, a small provision store down the street. The shop is a sort of succour in emergency situations such as this, not only to me but to other residents of the street. As dingy as it is, that shop has basic daily needs and is the home of Mama Iyabo, her husband and children. It opens as early as 5.00 am and closes as late as 12.00 midnight.

So on this fateful morning, I met the family outside the shop. After the usual "E karo" greetings, I requested for sugar. While waiting I suddenly overheard Baba Iyabo saying to himself, "I wish I had the sum of10 Million Naira now". That statement caught me off-guard. Then I probed, "Baba, what would you do with the money?". He replied "I will simply pack my things and head back to the village. I'm tired". I felt for him and wished I could tell him that money does not fall from the skies. I wish I could remind him of the popular saying that "He who counts money in his sleep should wake up and work harder to avert imminent hunger".

Story had it that he once worked in one of those defunct old generation banks in the '80s and commanded a lot of respect as he was financially buoyant at the time. He lived extravagantly lavishing money on women, throwing needless parties and lending money to people indiscriminately. Now he is in mid-fifties totally broke and living on his wife's meagre earnings.

That incident drew me into a realm of sober reflection and I believe it should also strike a chord in anyone who is serious about the future. In about 20 years I would be as old as Baba Iyabo. I don't want to end up like him. Though I do not throw needless parties or dress extravagantly, I believe there are aspects of spending I need to control.

Here's how you can maximise your resources this year for a secured future.

1. SAVE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN

The importance of saving can not be overemphasised. No matter how meagre your earnings or salary, you must create a savings window. The best way to save is to deduct your savings at source just as your employer deducts your taxes and cooperative dues even before you receive an alert. Your employer is oblivious of the fact that you have pressing needs and would make necessary deductions even without recourse to you. If you do not trust your ability to save as soon as you earn, talk to your bank. You can give your bank a mandate to deduct a certain sum of money each month to be credited into an another account with no withdrawal accessories like the ATM card.

2. CREATE ANOTHER STREAM OF INCOME

Just as it is important to save, it is equally important to create another stream of income. If your regular job is not so time consuming, you can think of other kinds of business you can engage in. However, I must sound a note of warning: NEVER ENGAGE IN ANY BUSINESS YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT, NO MATTER THE PROMISE OF RETURN. If it would involve another person managing the business for you and you'll only be a financier, do not venture. I'm talking from experience. In the alternative, you can consider investing in treasury bills, stocks, and real estate. The returns may not be huge but your saving is considerably safe. Consult professionals in this field for advice.

3. CUT BACK ON SPENDING

Someone once said "if you buy what you do not need today, you will borrow to buy what you need tomorrow". We are in an age where money is easily spent. On your computer screen, there are numerous ads from different online stores urging you to buy items you already own. They've made it so easy that payment can be made at the click of your mouse. Don't be carried away by an item's appeal. The message is this: IF YOU DO NOT NEED IT, DO NOT BUY IT. Also don't be shy to say no to friends and relations who come for financial aid especially when you strongly believe that the demand is frivolous. Show genuine concern by helping them explore alternative ways of solving their financial problems. Money is not the answer to all man's problems.

2015 is just beginning. You can make the necessary adjustments for a successful financial year. I strongly recommend the book "Richest Man in Babylon" by George Clason. Visit www.bookconvo.com

Funjosh:
Different communities with different culture. But this one look strange

Very strange I must confess. Fear gripped me when I heard it.