₦airaland Forum

Just as noted
"Newcastle United bans players from shaking hands as string of Italian matches are held behind closed doors"

It is no longer news that the much dreaded Corona Virus currently ravaging the world has made its debut into Lagos, Nigeria. Many have continued to question Nigeria’s readiness to combat the world epidemic. Incurable optimists have also not stopped to refer anyone who cares to listen to Nigeria’s management and gallant fight of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in 2014.
The head of Nigeria’s National Centre for Disease Control, Chikwe Ihekweazu says the country is more than capable of dealing with Coronavirus. He pointed out the fact that the case was identified and the patient confined within 48 hours shows a green light on the country’s readiness. With much information already within cyberspace about signs, symptoms, prevention, and control of the virus, here are some of the ways the entry of COVID-19’s entry into the country may change our lives.

1. Wash Hands more often
Washing hands has been identified as one of the simplest but highly effective ways of preventing the spread of the virus. We saw the awareness of hand wash during the Ebola crisis in 2014. Schools, hospitals, companies positioned hand washing materials at their entrance. It is important to note that hand washing will prevent the spread of various kinds of infections. We, therefore, should not campaign the washing of hand as a means to just contain Coronavirus but as a permanent way of life even when the disease has been stamped out. Schools, places of worship, and other public places should continue to encourage hand washing.

2. Schools and social events could be affected
Just as we witnessed during the Ebola virus outbreak where schools’ holiday was extended, schools and social events may shut down or also heavily regulated. Concerts, festivals, sporting events, and religious gatherings may be heavily controlled to decrease social contact among persons of all ages.

3. Handshake? Go wash up first!
An average Nigerian may not be able to count how many handshakes he receives in a day. With this new development, handshakes may become unnecessary. Greetings may turn to a hi from afar. You can never be too careful.

4. Restricted traveling and movement
In other developed climes, video conferencing, conference calls, online meetings, small-sized parties and working from home are norms. Over here, we travel several miles to attend meetings, attend interviews and parties. The outbreak may reduce traveling and movements and even encourage working from home. Just imagine being in a BRT bus in Lagos with an average of 50 passengers and somebody from the back start sneezing uncontrollably with no handkerchief or tissue in sight.

5. Staying informed and increased alertness
The Nigerian spirit is that of “nothing dey happen” especially when the news is still afar off and in faraway nations. At the moment, everyone is trying to stay alert for information. It is however important that we avoid dubious sources of information and stick with trusted sources like the federal ministry of Health, State ministries of health and relevant agencies.
At the moment, we must continue to have faith in the Nigerian system and our ability to contain the disease. We must keep away from anything capable of causing panic and spreading the virus.

Source: http://loftycentre.com.ng/2020/02/28/5-significant-ways-corona-virus-disease-may-change-our-lives/

This cracked me up really. Everyone can pick one or two things I guess.

Ekakamba:
Stop being bias OP.

You dropped hacks for the employed homies, what about hacks for the unemployed homies?

What's good for the goose is also good for the .................?

There is so much noise and distractions eating up your time every day and if you fail to do something about it, you will end up doing a lot yet achieving little. Here are eight practical steps you can take to smash your most important goals every single day. They are tested and guaranteed to deliver great results.

1. Organize your To-dos
For you to be able to glowingly tell yourself that you had a most productive day, you should be sure that you attended to the most important things. There is a difference between achieving a lot and achieving the things that matter most. You also shouldn’t make the mistake of loading your day with limitless to-dos. Instead, identify only three of your most important tasks, do them firsts and put the list where you can always see and remember.

2. Go for “Stand through meetings”
In the corporate world, a lot of time is wasted in the name of meetings and chats. To curb this, you don’t have to sit through all meetings. If you expect it to be brief, embrace stand up meetings. This will make people get to the point quickly and move on to do other important things.

3. Learn to say NO
It is unimaginable how some people allow the most productive part of their days to be stolen by never-ending requests by colleagues and friends without being able to say no only to end the day feeling terrible because of the many personal goals left unachieved. You must learn to say NO when it matters. You must be brave enough to say no without any feeling of regret. You have to say NO to people to restore balance to your life. It is better to say NO than saying YES when you know you won’t be able to do a great job.

4. Make commute time productive
According to Businessday.ng, commuters in Lagos spend an average of 30 long hours in traffic weekly. That is an average of 6 hours per day. There is, therefore, no doubt that a lot of productive hours are spent in traffic. The best way to turn this around is to work while in transit especially in the morning on your way to work. You can seize the time to make and reply to emails, prepare your presentation slides, make work calls and put things in place, etc.

5. Regulate phone use
No doubt, some people’s tool of work is their phone. However, if you can do without your phone for a good period during work hour, it is better. Even when you work with your phone, you can still restrict certain services and distractions. Phones have a lot of distractions. When notifications keep streaming in, you will be more than tempted to take a look and the next time you raise your head from your phone maybe be an hour later after checking through several social media posts. You must be disciplined with your phone usage.

6. Specify communication mode per time
You can make use of your social media platforms to indicate your preferred mode of communication. For example, you can indicate a specified period when you can be called and when you will be free enough to respond to messages on your WhatsApp profile. Your mail signature can indicate that you don’t check emails between a specified time.

7. Clear your desk
In the school of increase, the order is the principal. Having a cramped desk with all sorts of files and documents is stressful to the eye and even to the mind. It is distracting too. Ensure that your table is not cramped by organizing it at all times by putting things where they ought to be

8. Delegate
One thing about never ready men is that they rarely delegate. They hold every responsibility to their chest and only end up producing excuses instead of results. The “I’ll do it myself” folks load their plates with lots of work without getting anything tangible done. Delegating responsibility to people get them more committed to the job, it is less stress to you and ultimately more result.

In all, the crux of the whole matter is to help you DO. Nothing guarantees productivity like doing. You must continue to take actions that will deliver results.
Can you stand through meetings?
Source: http://loftycentre.com.ng/2020/02/20/8-great-productivity-hacks-to-smash-your-to-dos/

That was so close. A near death experience. There is much to learn for all. No case must be left for chances.

This made me laugh real hard.
The experience is real. I can relate.

NACE13:
That walkman CD player and palito got me laughing real hard. I remember that Wyclef's Album whenever I "steal" my big brother's walkman. You have to hold it upright in its flat position,else it will start "skipping".
I remember those dudes asking my sister out; they will send me to give her the usual val card, chocolate and teddy bear with N20, N50 for " transport" as per my own fee for co-operating.

I used that same money to buy Palito. I remember buying it N100.

Damn! I am just typing and smiling

I have a gift for you. Download here, let me know if you like it and I will make a specially branded edition for you. You will like it

http://loftycentre.com.ng/2020/02/12/the-best-gifts-for-your-val-going-down-memory-lane/

Happy val.

Chinwe4real:
Okay.

I've never in my twenty three years of existing, received a valentine gift.

I've always being the giver.

This year, no more.

5. Valentine card (winks)
With a hundred or fifty naira in those days, you will land this and then you address it to the supposed love of your life. There are now sophisticatedly looking cards and gifts that will be branded and carry just the same or better effect.
One of the morals of this post as readers will be quick to point out is that nothing lasts forever. Nothing in this world is worth dying for. No doubt, many have lost their lives in the pursuit of these mundane things. However, it is also important that we live in the moment. Just never forget to know where to draw the line and what to do to strike a balance.

Which other old stuff comes to your mind? Share with us.
Source: http://loftycentre.com.ng/2020/02/12/the-best-gifts-for-your-val-going-down-memory-lane/

4. Look well, it is an MTN SIM pack. Many people, both male and female sacrificed their home training for it back then. When MTN arrived in Nigeria, this was a gold mine. I remember buying mine for #38,000. An MTN SIM is now not more than a hundred naira and you can get it free in most places. Back then, you buy SIM first and then go on to save for another couple of months before you buy a phone. Now imagine getting it as a gift.
Now that we live in an age where data subscription is life, you can go for a year sub or even six months. E go make sense.

3. Here comes the all-time blessed Palito radio.
When your budget is quite low, say like #500, you go for a palito radio. Never mind that the earpiece sounds like an empty drum, you will still enjoy the value off the product. We need add that the earpiece can last twenty years lol. The advent of smart phones sent all these kind of stuffs into oblivion.

2. Okay, Okay, say no more. Did you meet any of these first generational ‘hand set?’ Them Siemens, Alcatel, Erickson, Sendo lols. If you land any of these stuffs in those days, it’s a big one. The antenna on them make them unique, they can’t stay in your pocket no doubt. Some even find a way to attach a rope. You remember?
Anyways, it is 2020, just get him or her an iPhone 11 or something.

We won’t ask anyone to stay off, not even those born in early 2000s but those who have been around for a while can relate better. In this post we will explore gifts that made our day back in the days and the corresponding gifts that fit into today’s age.

1. A walk man CD player
Did you play such songs as Wyclef Jean’s Diallo on this device or TLC’s no scrub or any of Celine Dion’s over one thousand songs (lol). Guys those days don’t mind the heavy load this makes. With the baggy jean and oversize shirts, it’s a bang. This days, its apple’s ear pod to the rescue.

CanadaOrBust:
#1 lesson: The Supreme Court can be TOTALLY WRONG or TOTALLY COMPROMISED or BOTH!!

Absolutely not untrue.

The Supreme Court verdict of Tuesday, January 14, 2020 was a rude shock to the political space in Nigeria. In a very unlikely term, the Supreme Court declared Senator Hope Uzodinma of APC the winner of the election as against INEC’s declaration of Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha of the people’s Democratic Party as the winner of the March 9, 2019 governorship election.
While the case continues to gather dust bothering on the justification, legality and historical implication of the verdict, the PDP has gone spiritual by declaring a 7day fasting and prayer. Whether God will do something about the verdict is something we should get our fingers crossed for and see how it goes.
However, it is important that we pay attention to some salient lessons to learn for our lives and our personal development. Out of many things to learn, here are 5 points we consider to be of extreme importance.
1. Even the surest things of life have the capacity to shock you.
When father Mbaka on 31st December at the Adoration ground declared a prophecy or if you like, a prediction that Hope Uzodinma will become the governor of Imo state, even the deaf and dumb wanted to argue the possibility. The Ihedioha's camp wasted no time in declaring the prophecy as a beer parlor declaration reminding whoever cared to listen that the Tribunal thought and declared otherwise with the appeal court affirming the Tribunal’s position. They wondered what angel or demon will write the judgment that will give the APC such victory. They were not too far from common reasoning because the man in question didn’t come second or third but fourth position according to INEC's declaration but the rest as they say is history. No doubt, even the seemingly surest things in this life have the capacity to shock you. Don’t bet your life against anything.

2. Always make the best of the time you have
As soon as Emeka Ihedioha was sworn in, the dailies were daily filled with one news or the other about him. Most times, it was about how he was pulling down or reversing one thing or the other done or put in place by his predecessor. The Imolites are in the best position to judge in whose interest those efforts were made but it is clear that you are not to toy with whatever moment you have to do and to undo what you ought to do. Make best of it as if you don’t have tomorrow and as if you will never have another chance. Whatever Ihedioha did within the eight months he spent in office is what will continually be speak for him and judged good or bad.

3. What do you want to be remembered for?
In whatever level of the ladder you are in life, you must have that question of what you want to be remembered for answered. Life as we have mentioned, has the capacity to shock you. Life in its typical nature of conspiracy can give to you in one month what you think will take you four years of waiting. You must therefore stay ready. Oh, the motto of boys scout comes to mind, be ready.
Have your answers ready and live with your answers in mind. What you will do when you become the president of Nigeria should be obvious now that you are just a head of a department at your office.

4. Anything is possible!
Sometimes, the audacity of politicians is amazing. You can’t take their audacity to believe away from them. Consider the contestants during the last general elections, the way some of them boast of emerging as the winner when there is even no assurance they will have up to a thousand vote was surprising. It is simple, they believe that anything is possible. If anything is not possible, Governor Yahaya Bello should never have smelt piloting the affairs of Kogi State for a day.
It is this mantra that Hope Uzodinma must have rode on to leave the tribunal and 'storm' the court of appeal and eventually the Supreme Court. Indeed, as the case may be, 2+2 can be equal to anything. In short, anything is possible for those who have the audacity to believe.

5. In life, even against the odds, you must have the hope to win.
In the game of life, don’t play if you don’t have the hope to win. Even when the odds are stacked against you, you must keep your hope alive. Even against hope, you must have hope. Life will be meaningless without hope. Without hope there is no reason to rise up and go to work, there is no risen to even wake up from bed. Keep that hope alive, you will always need it. To have hope, you must continue to have hope.
Life is all about time and chance. Make the best of the time you have now!
Add your own lessons and let us learn together.

Source: http://loftycentre.com.ng/2020/02/09/5-important-lessons-to-learn-from-uzodinma-ihediohas-supreme-court-verdict/

Religion, Religion, Religion. Na wa!

Does anyone know what the 'victim' mean in this line?

Attempt by journalists to speak with the victim after he was taken to ‘B’ Division police station was not granted.

4. VIDEOS
Developing the CEO within You

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6taNjZCzQ1I

The Best Business Advice on Donny Deutsch Show from the CEO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-ZZyDBoRx0

Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Address

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF8uR6Z6KLc

RSA ANIMATE: Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc

5. Magazines
www.entrepreneur.com
www.fortune.com
www.forbes.com
www.inc.com

3. APP

FLIPBOARD: There are no doubt thousands of apps out there for budding entrepreneurs and star up in business but flipboard stands out for its simplicity and its capacity to aggregate articles and news on your field of interest. When you sign up, you just need to choose entrepreneurship and flipboard will take it up from there. Flipboard will feed you with the best content on your field of interest.

Download Flipboard on google playstore & ios appstore

2. WEBSITE

Test and experiment your ideas on experiment board with an All-in-one Lean startup and customer Development software. You will be able to identify customer needs, validate your products and quantify how close you are to a product that will grow into a sustainable business.

Visit https://javelin.com/beta

Five free resources to help you in business

1. BOOK
NOVUS, a free business book by Leke Alder
Download from store.lekealder.com/download/NovusbyLekeAlder.pdf

There is a great deal of romance surrounding the notion of being an entrepreneur. You will need to critically consider your role in your business. If your honest response to the following pointers is positive, then we may say that you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur.

1. Are you persistent with a great deal of drive and stamina?
2. Do you see problems as opportunities?
3. Do you have a good intuitive sense and thrive on new ideas?
4. Do you tend to rebel against authority?
5. Have you always wanted to be your own boss?
6. Do you have a strong desire to succeed?
7. Are you not afraid of making mistakes and learning from your mistakes?

It will be good you take time to seek advice from business advisers and small business owners and budding entrepreneurs. You will need to be detailed about how much money you will need. Also note that for you to succeed, you must be good with money, be good with people, be good promoter of products and services and be good to yourself.

On products, you must do your market research thoroughly and be sure your products and services are something people will be willing to pay for. You will be several steps ahead of competition if you conduct researches, products and services evaluation and marketing campaigns.

On people, you can’t go far without people! You can’t afford to be a lone ranger. That saying is true, that if you want to go far, go with people. You must be able to network with potential customers, suppliers, new investors and even with those in government.

In all honesty, you will have a lot of failures. It will be your proof that you are making efforts. Just make sure that in your failing, you are failing forward not failing to quit. In your failings too, don’t ever fail to admit your mistakes.

Source: http://loftycentre.com.ng/2020/02/01/a-crash-course-on-entrepreneurship-how-to-develop-what-it-takes-to-be-a-successful-entrepreneur/

What is doing without commensurate results?
What is being busy without being productive?
What is working without tangible output?
What could be the missing code and the game changer? Love!

Productivity starts with love! What do you love to do? What excites you? What stirs you up and can get your attention without you checking what the time is? That is where your creative potential will thrive most. Your ability to harness this department of your life is key to making the best of life. This is where the saying “do what you love” comes from.

Love is the most potent creative force. It is why a mathematician can spend ten hours solving a mathematical puzzle, and a literature enthusiast will wonder what the mathematician is about when such ten hours can be invested in books by Shakespeare.

Love is a producer, it is why we originally make love to produce children and to also create something that will outlive us as in corporations and life-changing movements. Love must be involved.
So, while you have always heard that you should do what you love, doing what you love must lead you to create something that transcends you, something that will live beyond you.

Adapted from #LifeDynamics, a new life enhancing book on growth and productivity. Get a free copy on http://loftycentre.com.ng/download/life-dynamics-leke-ademola-kay/

source: loftycentre.com.ng