From a guy's perspective, it doesn't suggest that he is serious.
But when he introduces you to his family esp mum & dad, then it is serious.

An introduction to his friends might just be because you're presentable enough for him to show you off.
You might still be only his sex-mate after that.

@poster, didn't you learn about 'full stop' and other punctuation marks in school?

These guys (Celtel) have probably faced company-sinking problems (financial, management, take-over threats and bids)
The fact that they are still afloat besides and beyond these problems shows how rugged they really are.
Several other companies might have folded up or turned to either Glo or MTN to buy them out.
Can you guys see beyond the name-changes please!

Everyone is hitting out at Celtel (now Zain)
No one is acknowledging the survival instinct of the company. Too bad and too lame for most of the posters.
Behind the name changes, a lot of consolidation, re-investments and re-branding has been going on.
I do not see a bad network. I see a company with nine lives that despite the odds have managed to stay afloat.
And if I may add, I am neither a Celtel staff nor use their lines. I work for a rival company but I admire their (Zain) tenacity.

Na so people wey no even need the shoes go kolobi am!
This na naija!

niyoo
Thanks for challenging me.
ICAN, CISA & NOW CFA? Very impressive.
Leaves me to figure out what I want for myself

niyooo:


This just occured to me, why is it that some people give their all to achieve something and don't while others playfully gloss over that same thing and achieve it easily? Is it because of "Gods' Grace"? (for those that are religiously inclined), is it fate? Is it just another trick that life plays on us all from time to time? For example, why did any of the 'thiefing' governors that planned to be the President of Nigeria not make it and the one that was already going back to dust his old books to go back to the chalk and board "your reward is in heaven" profession get yanked out to be the president? I have my own view on why it is so. What is yours?

My guy, there is something such as favour.
Joseph the Dreamer had it. How else did he, a foreigner became a prime minister, next to pharoah?
Did he work harder than everyone else in his time? No.

Prophet Daniel had it.
How else was he promoted to his level, higher than all the other King's advisers and administering a third of the kingdom of Persia?
Also a foreign land?
Was he wiser than everyone else in his tme? If so, to whom did he attribute his wisdom? God.
These guys were extremely stubborn individuals who were willing to die for what they believed in.


I also believe in such thing as destiny.
I do not think that Oprah Winfrey work harder than all the women in the USA, yet she is up there!
She has been the most powerful celebrity in the USA (and perhaps the world) for a long time, with multiple earnings to match that profile.

Neither do I think that Brad Pitt and his beau, Angelina Jolie put in extra efforts in their mad popularity rating right now.

I do not think that Roman Abramovich (Chelsea's owner) is smarter than anyone here.
I think that opportunity met the man. The man met opportunity, whatever. I believe in destiny!
After all, unlike most of us, he was orphaned early and had a very hard childhood.
Our own IBB was also orphaned early but see how powerful he became today.

We are not all presented with equal opportunities just like we are not evenly gifted.
Everyone has a script written for him or her to play and that is why Christ famously said that 'we would always have the poor among us'.
We all pray and strive not to be among 'the poor' and this is why I often advocate that we try to reach out to help those we fare better than.

Does it mean that we should then sit down, relax and resign our lives to destiny?
No. Life is a struggle. Some are born Great, others achieve Greatness yet some others have Greatness thrusted upon them.

I think some of the people I mentioned above had Geatness enthrusted upon them. l
Ditto the Yar'adua you mentioned above and even OBJ with his multiple terms as Head of State.
However, rags to riches stories still exist.
And rags to riches are made every day!

Who knows, by working hard, the likes of us might persuade the God of Favour to smile on us.


All I know is that one day . . . it takes one day for a man's script to be re-written.
It takes one day for a man to forget all his days of strugle (just like it takes one day for him to lose it all)

Whatever be the case, we will keep struggling.
And hoping that our lives get better

I will also add that there is no established route to success; it could be via academics, sports, professional exams, chance opportunity, mishap, business, loss, prayer, chance stumble, whatever
Everyone has his script and his route lined out for him or her.

To discover what works for you and which is your route is the beginning of success.
It may not be making a lot of money, it may not be being a leader over many but whatever it is, everyone is relevant one way or another.

Are you looking at the wrong direction?
Do you think you may have been focusing on the wrong things?
Do you think you need to appraise your life, where you've been headed?

I think you should do it now?
I did one yesterday evening and I think it should be a continuous thing.

Cheers!

@niyoo
Congrats!
CFA? Ain't that nice. Very audacious step to improve oneself.
But tell me, do you have a Finance (or Accounting) background?
Do you work in a Finance environnment already?

I ask this 'cause I am currently in a crisis of figuring out what professional exam that may take my career to the next level.
I've worked in the telecoms environ or almost 4 years now, basically in commercial job functions like Customer Care, Sales, Marketing etc.
Now I'm basically involved in Corporate Accounts Management, International Corporate Sales & Business Development all rolled into one.

My concern is that the above job funtions do not have any credible certification to back it up just like the Accountants have their ACCA and/or CFA.
Or perhaps, i do not know of any
So I've been groping around seeking for a reliable professional certiication to give me a shot beyond earning salary
Anyone with suggestions?


@Alfaprime
I didn't comment on your initial post of work-life balance 'cause I was not yet ready to talk then.
But my submission is the same I had the first time I read it.
I am in an industry where I work 8am-5pm.
Notice that I hadly submit any post after 5pm?   Right!
That is because I do not joke with my out-of-office time.

I leave the office immediately it is time to go home. No sentiments attached.
Hence I try to finish as much as I can before closing time ( work no dey finish na?!)
So I guess that I am not in your category.

Even at that, I have to beat Lagos terrible traffic.
Usually gets around my area between 6pm or 6:30pm.
But alas! A greater part of my off-office time is either spent in church (weekly church programs), making me often get home by 8:00pm
Or when not attending a weekly church program, I herd straight home to watch one of my classic movie collections!

I hadly go anywhere else beyond work and church.
So I guess I lead a triangular life! (or is it point-to-point lifestyle? ) Lol!


@Kuwena
I didn't really want to be the first to respond to your series of 'humility' posts.
I guess I have generated way too much controversy with you on the thread already.

However, I think that Alfa's post on the issue unties my tongue. I share the same view with his.
I've gone through the Bible several times and through some bits of history studying the lives of notably & presumably humble but great peronalities.
I have never heard any of them personally talk about his or her 'humility' or strive towards being 'humble'.
It's usually left for others to judge.

So I guess that you are perhaps, the only 'humble' person I know who openly talks about that personal endowment.

I guess my last post was damn too long!
It's not for lazy mindz anyway

izi-n-bizi:


We can achieve whatever we put our minds to pending what we are willing to sacrifice

This statement is so true!
Especially the latter part.
Depending on whether we can make the sacrifice or not, we can achieve whatever we want.
The hard part is making the sacrifice.
This is where character is defined. And destiny made.

The question is what can you afford to sacrifice?
Friend? Friends? Family? Comfort?
Love? Your soul?
Your left-eye? Your mum's head?
Your only child? Hours of hardwork? Cheating?
Can you kill people? Can you kill shame? Can you kill yourself? etc
Or remain ordinary?

Greatness is never for the fainthearted!
The question of 'morals' comes into play, one way or another.
What you choose to guide and/or dictate your morals also comes into play.

How much pain that you are willing to take comes into play.
How much that you are willing to give up comes into play.
How far that you are willing to go is ultimately tested.

But the truth is, whatever dictates your guiding principles, motivation, etc, whether (good, evil or levels of it?), you are ultimately tested!
You make choices and you are responsible for the choices you make .  .  .

You will be faced with situations where you may consider making compromises or not, quit or continue, kill or even not to kill, make friends or lose them, live or die!

Die hard? You can call it that.
Life is either full of 'Die Hard' choices or you live ordinary

izi-n-bizi:


Life is so about "Energy Trade" - energy mustered from process A is expended on Process B. So question becomes, what is my paramount need and what do I trade for it.

This could form a course work in the University.
Or even a career part, 'cause it is loaded!
But definitely not with our present curricula in our various institutions that teach us paper craps!
And teach us nothing about common sense.

izi-n-bizi:


For me, I consider spirituality as the ultimate  energy hub which controls other forms of energy via broadcast from the realm of the unknown to that which is known, so I endeavor trading all in my pursuit of spirtual perfection,  and this becomes equally very profitable materially.

Everything physical has a spiritual dimension.
The seen comes from the unseen.
The known from the unknown.
And even in the spiritual realm, there are levels of knowledge and levels of awareness depending on your heirarchy, what you do and what each spirit is exposed to.
Even spirits do not know it all.
Every hierarchy, spirit, throne or thing pointing to one Godhead who reigns over Good, Evil and all.


Your last two statements begs questions:
What do you mean by 'trading all'?
What is 'all'?
How much of 'all' are you willing the trade?
How do you go about trading it?

Finally, can anyone ever attain 'spiritual perfection'?
Ain't we by nature imperfect?
Are there levels of 'perfection'?

Will you become 'normal' in trying to attain 'spiritual perfection'? (I'm pretty sure that the answer to this is 'No' )
Is 'attaining spiritual perfection' a journey or a destination?

Guy, I am simply a 'student' who is trying to learn more via posing challenging questions.
I beg to learn from the few that knows.


However, Izi! You made points up there!
_{(sometimes I wonder where you've been all these while and the depth of what you know )}

You know that one can write books on those topics that you hinted above, even 'bestsellers'?
That is if one understands the depth of what you just wrote.
And if one can seperate one point from another (or even attempt to link the connections if any )

What you wrote is absolutely spiritual (as well as physical)
I don't even want to go into all that because it takes a lifetime of learning, practice and being to attain a level of perfection in anything.
Not to talk of 'spiritual perfection'
That one is an absurd ambition.

Besides, as regards the spiritual realm and its understanding, no man knows enough.
Not even spirits themselves.
There are only levels of knowledge and levels of understanding varying from one humanbeing or spirit to another.

And yes, the spiritual controls the physical.

But I guess, this discuss is not for every mind.

@poster
It's not just a Naija thing!
It's a world thing! Did you notice the impact he had on the Germans yesterday?
No one else has been able to pull such a crowd except the Pope.
The Guy is simply a phenomenon to the chagrin of the Republicans and skeptics!

First of all, I would like to say a 'thank you' to Alfa fo changing the course of the thread.
Been off for a while due to other demands.
When I came back, I had to watch a little to see where we were going.
And it never seemed clear until Alfa's post.
It became more animated with Izi's post
And what can I say about Kuwena's post? an icing on the cake.
Gonna go now . . . respond to issues later.

@ opokonwa

I am Glad at the good news you broke now if it is true.

I want him to have a regular Jersey in Chelsea's first team.

If he masters that position, He may be the next Oliseh.

I pray He works on his Character.

Mr. opokonwa, I love people who talks to issue without being too sentimental.

I have tried to communicate my mind without being too critical.

Issues must be our drive in this assembly, not sentiments.

I really appreciate you sir.

Ha Oga!

The honour is mine!

The good news for Mikel is that his weekly takehome pay now increases from 40,000pounds to 80,000pounds (in a new contract).
Furthermore, he replaces Claude Makelele as a regular in the defensive midfield position.

Mournho may have changed his playing style from the more entertaining & flair style to the less entertaining but more defensive style, however the former Chelsea coach has groomed Mikel to replace Makelele, who is currently too old to retain the shirt.

So I think Mikel may not be least bothered by all these analogy we are making here as long as his weekly pay increases and he makes Scolari's regular shirt.

Now, ain't that good news for both him and the national team in future?
Nigeria may be able to use him in that position permanently in future.

But it doesn't change the fact that we still prefer to build character rather than personalities in the future Super Eagles.
And coach Samson Siasia is doing just that.

all sorts of 'mini mani moe' solutions to love

kai!
Now that is a blow!
Who else would be a natural forward for these boys?!
Osaze can try but he is not as devastating as Uche
If Messi can be released by his club and Ronaldinho by his club, why not Uche?
Oh boy! This beats me!
I didn't flinch when Mikel was excluded from the list but now, Uche, Nigeria may really miss him!

Are you joking or are you serious?

dayokanu:


If a player is bigger than National team it should be Messi, Kanu, Ronaldinho, Kaka, C.Ronaldo or world class players whom have proven themselves at the highest level not some mediocre but overrated players like Mikel, Titus Bramble, Djemba Djemba, and others

Even those names you mentioned above cannot be bigger than their national call-ups!

Messi cannot be bigger than Maradona, Redondo et al
Kanu cannot be bigger than the Okochas, Yekinis et al
Ronaldinho cannot be bigger than the Peles, Socrates, Ronaldo et al
(Don't even mention Kaka! )
C.Ronaldo cannot be greater than the Eusebios, Luis Figos et al

The national call-up is about history, about heritage and love for one's roots.
It's an opportunity to say 'thank you'. 'I am grateful' and not an opportunity to act like 'one is too big'.

No player can act bigger than his country's team. This is afterall a team game and not tennis or boxing.

davidif:

@okponkowa or whatever
I knew who they were and a lot of football fans know who they were, if you didn't know who they were just say it. Djorkaeff was at Inter milan then and Zidane got to the champs league final with Juventus that year so please don't talk like you know everything. In fact, this guy did well at Euro '96 in England where they took France to the semi's.

@daviduf or whatever

Please, if you want to argue, do so with some dignity.
Stop talking as though you want to fight anyone who has a different view from you   I do and unapologetically so!

Being in Inter Milan doesn't guarantee that any player is a star just like being in Chelsea.
Djorkaeff has never been an exceptional player or striker, so stop over-rating him.

Zidane may have gotten to the champs final with Juventus but was not the genuis the world discovered at France '98. Right or wrong?!
Zidane was not even the playmaker in that Juve team so stop overplaying his status before France '98.
He was just a good professional like all other professionals in that team.
All that changed in France '98.

So please! stop acting like you know everything yourself!
Furthermore! stop acting like your own opinion reigns supreme!

Whether the Nigerian Under-23 team drops out of the Group stage (which I am confident they won't) or not, no player is too big to answer national call ups and certainly not Mikel Obi.
Let us identify a clear case of indiscipline and over-rated self ego when we see one.
Mikel Obi probably thought that he was bigger than the Under-23 boys and it probably got to his head (perhaps after playing for the Super eagles and lacing boots with the likes of Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Michael  Essien).
But pride goes befoore a fall!
A player cannot be greater than his country so let him continue warming the bench at Chelsea while his more humble compatriots get international exposure.

It's time I changed department in my workplace

Yes, it did pay some dividends considering the fact that they had some players named Youri Djorkaeff and ZINEDINE ZIDANE.

I wonder what this guy is talking about?
Who knew Youri Djorkaeff and ZINEDINE ZIDANE before France '98?

Yes these where professional players alright but it took that tournament for the whole world to herald them!

You are talking about a past that you already know it's future.
These 'relatively unknowns' that Siasia is trying to expose can become better that a Youri Djorkaeff or even as good as a Zidane tomorrow.
Quit whinning about the non-inclusion of Mikel.
I am a Chelsea fan. I love Mikel.
But what Siasia is doing for our football is the best thing that happened to Nigerian football; DISCIPLINE AND EXPOSURE

@poster
You need assurance?
Oya go ahead! Mumu go marry someone and risk making ids who will just come into the world and suffer.
You will even face the agony of watching them suffer!
AAs full everywhere! You've just not searched enough!

She simply asked you to be 'Mugu 3'
And you are here saying that 'you're perfect for each other'
Get real man!

Nigeria is without leaders.
Everyone is leading himself/herself while trying so much not to be caught at the wrong end of the law.
So who cares?
It has been like that for the past 8 years and person never kpeme

The same poster again!
Please give us a real case study!

@poster
Give us a real case study.
What is the age difference between you and the girl (or guy)?

Oh boy! If you wan rhyme, go to the peoms section.

An ideal lady is someone that I'm so compartible with that it would seem that we were kind of 'twins'.

Now I'm beginning to appreciate my girl:
Comes to cook for me at least twice every week with her own money even though she knows I can afford it.
And you need to see the quality & creativity in the cooking. Too good for tv!
Twice or thrice I've even complained of too much meat in just one dish.

Comes and cleans up my apartment almost every weekend.
Yet I can afford a cleaner.

Often apologises and usually uses the words 'I am sorry' whenever she senses she is wrong and I am pissed.
Rare for most people.

Offers to do my laundry though I often refuse.
She is afterall, not a slave.

Cries almost anytime we quarrel or anytime I pull a bitter stunt on our r/lshp.

Stays out late almost every night just to spend time with me.

Has had to put up with unimaginable and even scary attitudes from me.
Too scary to post.

Yet she is a professional who is not doing badly on her own.

I don't know if I'm worth it.
I guess I'm just lucky.

Nigerians?!
We are suckers for prophecy incuding me!

If you ask me, I would neither condemn nor approve of the prophecy.
The so-called prophetess, where is the source of her own power?
Is her own marriage successful?

Go and seek out your own prophet or prophetess but bobbs!
I tire for all these prophecies o!

Please pray about it!
Go for counselling and prayers with your pastor, reverend father or whoever and seek other consels
But a word of caution; do not turn your back on your family!

owee:

Wow Am beginning to feel this thread again. With Opoks! and Kuwena's constants exchanges its a sure place to be now.

Guy you dey craze!
If you don't have anything positive or even intelligent to contribute, why don't you scram!

People like you have no opinion of their own
Only tag along on other people's shoulders as a reason to live!