BLACK FRIDAY PARANIOA


I remember back in 2014, during the annual Black Friday shopping ceremony (yes, it's a ceremonious event like Sallah and Christmas... Hold on, I'll come back to that), one of the top online shopping malls publicized their returns and the figure they announced was edging close to hundreds of millions of dollars. I remember getting just one item - a watch.
One particular scenario I'd like to forget though, was the crash of a long friendship. Friend A, a shopaholic had "access" to Friend B's bank card. Friend A had tried convincing Friend B of the gains and thrills of Black Friday, but she had made it clear that all she wanted was a handbag.
She got the handbag alright, but the Black Friday thrill seeker friend ensure she got more than just a handbag. She ran purchases of over N50k, after a discounted handbag purchase of N7k from Alibaba e-commerce store. It was a nasty scenario; one which would only leave you wondering why some people are just discount zombies.
"Black Friday" or "Shopping holiday" if you like, started in the United States as a post-Thanksgiving ceremony. The shopping holiday sees retail stores offer a significant discount to customers and it has for really long time, been the busiest day retail day of the year. Some customers camp outside their favourite stores, just to be among the first to be attended to.
Now, if you like conspiracy theories, stay with me. If you run a retail store, how would you orchestrate your store's black Friday sales? Would you run at a loss every November because of Black Friday or would be clever about the whole process? If you think retail stores both online and offline make no profit, or run at a loss because of Black, Yellow or White Friday, then think again.
Market research shows November as the happiest month of retailers, and their profits peak highest on the same month than any other month. Now, shouldn't all the discounts they've offered drop their profit margin? Think about "Trade Secrets". Trade secrets are an important, but invisible component of a company's intellectual property (IP).
A company's trade secret's contribution to its value, measured as its market capitalization, can be major. Call me paranoid, but I know that a lot of strategic pricing technicalities are involved in Black Friday sales, and even in coming months after the consumed Black Friday. Believe me, "Somebody's gotta pay!"
A quick Black Friday conspiracy theory.
Pay attention now; will you? I sell handmade shoes and I make 13% profit on each sale. Black Friday comes and I reduce my profit percentage to 6.5%, leaving you my customer jumping for joy. And for some items, I make a meagre 1.5 to 2% profit but they're flash sale items. The amount of customers who rush the items, mean I make more profit than I would on a normal day. Even though in coming months, I'll be putting an almost unnoticeable hike in item prices.
I don't only make my profit, I make more. The only difference? Returns are spread over a longer period of time - We're talking months here.
So don't call me a non-believer in discounts when I say Black Friday is simply customer bait. In the words of a mentor, “Keep your credit/debit cards out of sight. Don’t disrespect your budget because of seductive deals. Be steadfast. The scam will soon be over”.
Happy Black Friday.



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ONCE UPON A LOVELY TIME IN LAGOS

Lagos! – The land of opportunities. One of the skills needed to survive in “Lasgidi” is the opportunity recognition skill. A few weeks ago, the conductor had joined “Lady-in-red” and I, in holy… sorry, monetary matrimony. I had told her I was running late for work, and she had to leave the whole N1k for me. I remember she gave me one look like “Is this one normal?”

I told her I was just kidding and asked where she was headed.
“Lekki” she replied with her sweet “beggy beggy” voice. I don’t want to start sharing my contact extraction skills (it’s called competitive advantage) but I collected her number. She wouldn’t tell me her name though, so of course you already know what I saved it with. We had chatted on WhatsApp, about four five times and had agreed to meet today at Ikeja City Mall.
The D-Day *inserts soundtrack*
It was a lovely Saturday morning. Two birds were chirping on my window, like they were gossiping about me. I had woken up early, freshened up, but I had to wait until the end of the environmental cleaning exercise before heading out. Stupid something. With all the environmental, is Lagos now as clean as London? Mtchew!
I used my roll-on, sprayed my perfume, and wore my Adidas sneakers. My “hypoed” white t-shirt and deep blue jean were also not looking bad.
“Mans not hot!” I said, as I flipped my shades on and removed myself from the front of the mirror. Just as I stepped out of my apartment, my phone rang.
“Hello there” I said with a wide grin on my face.
“Hi dear. How are you?”
“I’m fine o. And you?” I continued walking towards the bus park.
“I’m ok. So I just wanted to tell you that I’m at Magodo with a friend. When you’re at ICM, call me. I’ll start coming over.”
“Oh okay then. I want to make a quick stop at Computer Village, and I’ll be heading to ICM from there. Okay?”
“Alright. No problem.”
“So you still won’t tell me your name?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll tell you when we see.”
I and the shirtless bus conductor, who was yelling “Ikeja! Under bridge Ikeja!” almost accidentally did a chest bump but I quickly avoided him. Suddenly, another bus conductor grabbed my hand, and pulled me frantically towards his bus. The one I just avoided caught up, and pulled me by my other hand back to his bus.
“Are you mad?!” I shouted as I jerked my hand off the hijacker’s, and climbed into the shirtless conductor’s bus. I was the last passenger, and in forty minutes, I was at computer village. I held my properties close as I entered Computer Village. You can’t be careless here. Earlier this year, boys moved my friend’s phone while his earpiece was plugged in. One music track ended and bros was waiting for the next track.
Reports have it that he’s still waiting
Paul, who was excited to see me, was just hailing me, left right and center. I told him I had a meeting to attend, and quickly dropped my Blackberry Z10. I added N70k and picked the iPhone 6S we’d already discussed over the phone. “Perfect timing for my date” I smiled as the thought flashed across my mind. Paul helped set my new phone up, and transferred my SIM and memory card.
“Bros, your money con remain five thous…”
I didn’t wait for the rest of Paul’s rambling. I zoomed out of Computer Village and was quickly inside the bus to ICM. The guy sitting beside me gave me a tract. I took a quick glance “Signs Of The End Times!”. If there was ever any time I was going to read tracts, not today. I was busy imagining and rehearsing my date with Lady-in-red.
Few minutes later, the same guy asked me how he could get to Ojodu Berger from Alausa Secretariat. I realized he was holding a brown envelope, so I described.
“Shoprite! Shoprite!!” The bus conductor shouted.
“O wa o!” I responded and alighted (I wonder why they call the whole mall “Shoprite” anyway). Three seconds after the bus moved, I realized.
“My change! My change!!” I shouted but the bus had gone too far. N400 was gone just like that. “Ooh! See what over-excitement has caused now!” I murmured, ensuring nobody saw me running after the bus.
Something felt odd...
I felt my pocket and my wallet was intact. I was just about breathing a sigh of relief when I realized my new phone wasn’t in my pocket.
Jesus!, The Tract Guy!!!



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WHO IS ZHOU QUNFEI?!

Don’t tell me she’s one Asian woman. Of course, the name already gives that away. So, do you know who she is? Before I give you her summarized profile (trust me, she has a very bulky one), let me just give us a quick reminder – Never ever allow your background put your back to the ground.
Zhou Qunfei was born in 1970 at Xiangxiang, Hunan province, china (you don’t necessarily have to pronounce it. Lol!... Just keep reading). She was the youngest of three children and from a very wretched family – calling her family ‘poor’ is disrespect to the word ‘poor’. Just before she was born, her father, a former soldier, became partially blind and challenged in an industrial accident in the ‘60s. He was (before the accident) a skilled craftsman who ‘supported’ his family by repairing bicycles, making bamboo chairs and baskets. Zhou lost her mother when she was five.
As a child, she suggested the family ventured into animal husbandry, and it became a business that helped her family raise small profit for sustenance. She’s the only one amongst her siblings to attend secondary school and her teachers described her as a "hard-working and talented” student. Her father couldn’t cope financially and she had to drop out at age 16. She had to move in with her uncle's family to become a migrant worker in Shenzhen, (Shezen’s economic state was like what Lagos is now).
Hardly had she settled in Shenzhen that she began to volunteer to work from one place to another. She was at the same time taking part time courses at Shenzhen University, so she ensured the places she worked were in the University’s vicinity. She studied many subjects and passed the examinations to be certified for accounting, computer operations, customs processing, and even became licensed for driving commercial vehicles (something like a female ‘danfo’ driver) at the age of 21.
She said her dream was to become a huge fashion designer but she wanted to start her own firm. (Now this is where her profile gets interesting) Zhou got a job working in a small family company where watch parts were being made and after just three months on the job, she decided to quit. Her reason – She didn’t like the working conditions and every other worker’s dispensation towards work. The factory chief read her resignation letter and was moved to promote her instead.
By the time the factory closed down in 1993, she had already saved around $3,000. She used this as the capital to start her own company. She was scared but her cousin encouraged her. The company started in a three bedroom apartment, with her brother, sister, their spouses, and two cousins as the workers. She had, and still has a hands-on approach to getting things done. Destiny came smiling in 2001 with the advent of mobile phones. Her company won the contract to produce phone screens and she had to sell her personal belongings to ensure they delivered a job void of any form of error/complain.
Zhou Qunfei is presently the wealthiest woman in china. She’s the owner of Lens Technology - the producer of screens for clients like Apple, Samsung, HTC, Nokia, Huawei, and so on. Her present staff strength is 60,000 and her factories are in 13 different locations across china. Her firm produces around 1 billion pieces of glass for smartphones, TVs, and apple watches. 90% of smartphones in the world uses Lens Technology product (yes, including your smartphone too).
“I’ve had to sell my house twice to pay my workers” she said in an interview.
When asked what her secret to success is, her simple reply was: “I have a very high desire to learn. I learn from almost everything”.
That poor girl from Xiangxiang is presently the 17th richest woman in the world. She’s 46 and has a net worth of $7 billion.
Don’t forget the reminder – “Never ever let your background put your back to the ground”.

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HEADACHE 101


Asides the pain of course, headaches can be very nasty and annoying. They sometimes come unannounced and can be really frustrating, especially when you feel they’re starting to overstay their welcome. Sometimes, you can hypothetically trace the cause of a headache, and sometimes, they’re like professional assassins – Traceless (Lol!).

 They can affect your productivity, your mood and even your relationships.
All over the world, headaches aren’t taken as serious as many other health related discomforts, as many people believe it’s solely a sign of stress. But that’s a wrong notion, and that might be the first thing you want know about headaches. As much as Headaches are usually the body’s response to a risk factor, it is safe to say that not all headaches are ‘just” headaches.
So, let’s put a magnifying glass on headaches. Shall we?
What exactly is a headache? Simple! When your head aches *ducks from slippers*. Basically, it’s the symptom of a sharp or throbbing pain in the head or neck.
Quickly below, are a few cool… or uncool facts about headaches, which may allow you have a more precise approach to tackling the situation next time around (yes, don’t be overly spiritual. I can bet there will be a next time, if you’re not currently experiencing it).
There are two major kinds of headaches – Primary and Secondary headaches. While primary headaches may cause significant discomfort or pain, they are often benign, and not dangerous. They are caused by stress, eye muscle strain, inflammation, illness, sleeplessness, hunger (I know you can relate), your environment, and your spouse (I included this myself).
Secondary headaches on the other hand are mostly caused by an underlying disease like a head injury, growing tumours, brain bleed, vascular disorder or an infection. They are often “red flags” to a more pressing concern that’s happening in the body, and they may be dangerous. Good news is though – 90% of all headaches are primary headaches.
What’s going on inside when you’re experiencing a headache?
What do you think? Your cells are having a concert on your head… just kidding. Your brain is the main culprit for the pain you feel during a headache. The pain comes from a mix of signals between the brain blood, nearby nerves, and blood vessels. Once this happens, next thing, your head muscles flare up and send pain signals to your brain, which in turn sends the signal to your CNS.
Types of headaches include: Hormone headaches (happens to women during their periods, pregnancy, and menopause, due to changing hormonal levels), Sinus headaches (most times come with an infection like running nose, etc.), Cluster headaches (affects men more than women, and can visit for 2 weeks to 2/3months, only to “travel” for up to a year before coming back), then give it up for their most popular sibling – Migraine (can last for hours or days; it depends. It accompanies illness or can be a sign of an underlying illness. It’s most times, the nastiest of them all).
As opposed to self-medication which is the norm, checking in with your doctor should follow, after you suffer a headache (don’t give me that side eye). You should follow their prescriptions for pain relievers and other medications. The best way though, is the preventive route, which can mostly be achieved via QLA (Quality Lifestyle Adjustment).

I’ll be back; I need a glass of water.

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DO IT FOR FREE; USE THE BAIT!

Heath Ledger’s popular statement – If you're really good at something, never do it for free has become a mantra for quite a number of business people, and I think there’s always a caveat to the statement, because everyone (including a business owner) loves free things. So guys, please let’s understand that the statement is really technical and I’ll explain what I mean.

I don’t have any issue whatsoever with putting a FEE on what you could have done for FREE, because it is totally correct when turning your passion to a profitable business. Whatever makes you tick should make you rich. Meaning, whatever you’re really good at, and passionate about, should be what puts food on your table and money in your bank account.

With that out of the way, always remember the importance of the free stuff, from the stage when you’re trying to grapple unto the ladder, to when you’re sitting pretty on top of the wall. Imagine if Mark, seeing how fast Facebook was growing, were to put a subscription fee on Facebook. I’m sure the Facebook experience wouldn’t be what we have now. I can assure you of that (there are currently 2.07 billion monthly users of the platform).

One very deep example of the gains embedded in giving out (seemingly) free stuff which took the whole world aback, happened on February 12, 2017 when Chance the Rapper (You can check him out on Google) went back home with three Grammy Awards without a single sold track.

As if winning three straight Grammy awards on the third time of asking wasn’t bizarre enough, Chance the Rapper (very funny name though) became the first music artiste to win a Grammy with neither an album, nor a record label representation. (No label like Agege bread. Lol!). What then did he win a whole 3 Grammy awards for?

He won them for his “Mix-tape” titled: Colouring Book (Yeup! A bloody mixtape)

The 23-year old went on to become the first rapper to win a Grammy off a mixtape. Reviews of “Colouring Book Mix-tape” showed that listeners rated it better than many other Mixtapes, EPs and even albums, (including albums of some popular names in hip-hop) as people genuinely appreciated the depth and effort that went into the production by him and his group (why won’t they appreciate, when they didn’t pay a dime for it? Lol!)

After the release of the mix-tape in May 2016, he allowed people to stream it online for free. Chance the Rapper went on to bag seven nominations for his mix-tape, Coloring Book, which was directed, produced, and streamed to the web, all from his home town; Chicago. It was the first streaming-only mix-tape to win a Grammy.

Sometimes, people won’t know your real value until you allow them have a taste of it. Don’t worry, if there’s real value, they won’t taste and walk away. They will actually taste and come rushing back, screaming “Take my money!”. In 2014, a popular American record label refused to sign Chance, saying he wasn’t a risk they were ready to take. Now his CV is not on the same level. But how many would he have gotten to appreciate his art if he had put a price on the mixtape?

Just wondering…

Doing what you do best for free strategically, (once in a while) is a major secret to business success. Everyone with a business to handle should know this. No wonder those with (FREE) platforms on the internet control the tides of the revenue generated online.

Give that valuable stuff out for free (emphasis on “valuable”) and watch how it sends people your way, who are ready to break their wallets for it.


Hope this helps.



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IS IT YOUR MONEY?



As much as I’ve said I won’t be saying anything about this religious topic, since it doesn’t affect the generality of religions as a whole, here we are, with you reading what might not be your business after all. I think that’s the point of this article – A subtle reminder to me, the writer; to you, the reader; and to everyone else, to stick our noses where it belongs.
I’m a Christian, and if you make your research right, Christianity is the most diverse religion in the world. I mean you can’t name it all. We have the Anglican, the Catholic, the Pentecostal, the Baptist, the Adventist, the Methodist, I could go on and on, all under the same canopy of Christianity. So first of all, you need to understand that our doctrines might be quite different, even if we fall under the same religion. Capiché?
Second of all, when you sit down and try to tell people about their religion, bear it in mind that they may not be one of those who sit down and take in all what religious leaders say, hook, line and sinker. They may make their personal researches too. I also would also would like you to respect my intelligence, and don’t label me gullible because I do something in the name of religion, and you don’t. Doesn’t make you any wiser or smarter.
Now, to those talking about paying or not paying tithe, I have three quick questions:
1. Is it your money?
2. Is it your money?
3. Is it your money?
Now, after answering these three questions (someone said the questions look the same. I don’t care) understand that Tithing is a religious responsibility in Christianity, just as Judaism has Tzedakah, and Islam has Zakat. Now, also understand that in religion, if you eat "Arguments" for dinner, you can easily make one question give birth to three others. Let me make it practical and tell you pay tithes.
1. What percentage of my income should I pay as tithe? (66.5321%. You didn't know?)
2. What exactly is the tithe used for? (Monthly purchase of Private Jets; of course)
3. Am I going to hell if don't pay tithe? (Do I look like I'm the one with the register?)
See, let me help you out a bit. I said in one of my previous articles, that everything we know, we learnt. So, if as a Christian, you grew up with a doctrine that says "Paying of tithe is a waste of money"; you'll always see those paying tithe as one of the problems of Christianity (knowing fully well that God said he hates wastage). You get the logic?
Brethren and "Sistren", if you have the mixture of conviction, deep level of research, and the application of common sense, you can almost never go wrong on any controversial issue. If you take the deeper understanding of... (backspaced because I promised myself not to quote any bible verse). It is wrong to force people to conform to your doctrine(s).
If you go to any church where you're forced or threatened to pay tithes, I wonder why you'restill sitting down there.
If I don't pay tithe, I don't pay tithe, not because of what anyone says in Church, on social media, and not 'cos family and friends don't pay. I don't pay because I've given myself to deep research, I've applied my common sense, and I feel a deep sense of conviction in my spirit that I'm a hundred percent correct... And if I do pay tithes, it's because of the same reason.
Rather than sit down in front of your phone camera, and form one "yeye" online religious revolutionary, calling people "sheeple" for what they do or do not do, why not encourage them to give themselves to deep research and stop doing things cos that's what "they" said is right? Why not understand that some people are paying, or not paying tithe because that's where deep research, application of common sense, and personal conviction brought them.
After all said and done, when people tell you they pay tithe and you feel pained on their behalf, because that means one more private jet for the MOG, take a deep breath, take a cup of tea, and take a quick glance at the title of this post. Yup!
Is It Your Money?



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SECRETS, LOVE AND TRUST

From time to time, I always remember the story Simi told me a couple of years ago. How could I forget? Simi was someone with one of the most intriguing stories I've heard. Her story sounded like something you'd only stumble on, in movies or some sort of fiction, only a mischievous writer could come up with. How open should you be with a prospective spouse?

She was an orphan, who had been forced into early motherhood, as she had to take responsibility for her three younger siblings. She was just in her first year in the University, and thanks to her level of exposure and information; she had resorted to a “by any means necessary” way of life. She juggled two businesses by day and joined up with fellow hookers by night. She kept her night life a secret and not even Lizzy, her best friend knew what she was up to at night. She graduated with a 2.1 and sponsored her siblings through school.

“She did what she had to do”.

She had met Roland soon after securing a job with ABC multinational Oil and Gas Company and he was her supervisor. She was the hardest worker in the room, so he’d rather work with her, than any other person on the team. Feelings crept in and they started going out. Over time, Simi had familiarized herself over various phone calls, with Roland’s parents. Three and half years later, he proposed.

They had talked about their past – Roland told her how he battled with masturbation and kleptomania during his teenage years. She had also told him about the death of her parents and how she managed to raise three kids all by herself. Also, how she used to be sexually attracted to both genders, into her early twenties. They both knew all that there was to know… except a minute detail. She didn’t tell Roland about her past “Night Life”.

Every time she came close to spilling it, her courage would fail her. “Some parts of the past are better left hidden away.” she’ll tell herself and shrug off the urge to tell him. Roland now owned his own oil and gas company, but Simi still worked with ABC Oil and Gas Company. The future was looking good for the intending couple. Roland’s parents were both based in the States, after his Mum threatened to come back if his Dad didn’t come join her.

Simi was to finally meet her prospective in-laws for the first time. They had travelled down. Roland drove her to their abode in Magodo. The house looked magnificent and everything had a touch of class… but there was a problem. A huge problem, in fact. Right there on the wall, staring at her was an image of someone that took her right back to her night life – Her sugar daddy back in the days. He had met her at Allen Avenue and he played a significant role in her life.

Ten months of a lot of s3x, a lot of money, and a lot of lies. Oh, and it didn’t go without three abortions too. The part of her past she believed was dead and buried, was all up, right in her face. Roland’s parents would make their way down the stairs any minute now, and the ground had better swallowed her up, than shamelessly sit down in front of “Papa D”.

"When opening up to a partner, is it right to leave some parts of your past out?"

"If you find out a filthy past about your partner, would you feel betrayed?"

"Would you rather lie and keep a loved one, or say the truth and lose them?"


"Can trust, when broken, ever be rebuilt like new?"


Secrets, Love and Trust.



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MARY AND THE CURSED CROSS


“Hail Mary, full of grace, the lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen!”

I stood up, dragged out the little box from under my bed, and jacked it open. The revolver lay still in there, reflecting the little moonlight that penetrated into the room. I checked the little black pouch containing the bullets, and they were intact – Perfect! I dislodged the chamber and seeded the bullets into it, spinning it shut, just as soon as I was done.

This ends now!

I exited the room to the realization that everywhere was pitch-black. I hadn’t noticed how dark it was, as I had scrambled my way up earlier, locking my room shut as soon as I jumped up the stairs. I began descending the stairs, one slow step after the other. I had a torch in one hand, and a revolver in another. My heart beat so fast, it scared me. I could literally feel blood flow through my veins.

“Baam!” something fell from the ceiling.

The loud thud made me miss a step, and I came sliding down the stairs on my back. I winced in pain as a broken piece of wood sliced through the left side of my lower back. I was now bleeding on my right leg, my right temple and my back, but that was the least of my worries. I scrambled for my torch, and immediately pointed it towards the direction of what fell from the ceiling.

“Sarah! Oh my God!” I shrieked at the sight of what was staring at me. Her eyes looked blank and reflective. Half of her neck was viciously ripped off; her left hand was missing. Even though she was covered in a pool of blood, I could see that she was eviscerated. I couldn’t tell if it was just me, or her intestines looked like they were still moving.

Something moved quickly across the ceiling.

“MARY?!!” I yelled as I tried to follow the movement with the light from my torch. I couldn’t catch up. I knew whatever that was, crawling on the ceiling, wasn’t Mary. Abigail had found the golden, ancient looking cross this morning on the farm. It looked like it had been there for decades. She had suddenly developed an abnormal affection towards it all morning.

By mid-day, she had begun behaving strangely, cuddling the cross and talking to it. By evening, Sarah and Mary tried separating their mum from her discovery, only to realize how pale she looked, and her eyeballs were totally black. Something had taken over Abigail. She attacked our daughters, and it took their courage, and stab of wood to the head for her to let go of Mary’s throat.

One way or the other, Mary had touched the cross, and was cursed too. She had hit me on the head with a goblet as I tried to wrestle Sarah from her grasp, and scratched my right leg, as I bolted for the revolver in my room. I’ll be calling the Priest tomorrow morning, but I’ve got to survive this night first. Whatever it ta…

…Mary jumped out of nowhere!

She grabbed my throat, shouting wildly as she continuously tried to gnaw at my face. Her face was covered with blood, her jaw was missing, and her tongue was so long, it flapped against the back of my neck. Both my torch and revolver had fallen. Air stuck in my throat, and my lungs began to expand. I fought her off, with every ounce of strength in me.

She was inhumanely strong.

I was feeling faint already. In one instant, as I was backing up against the wall, I stepped on Sarah’s blood, slipped, and fell. She almost took a big bite of my face, but I quickly turned away. There it was! Reflecting sympathetically, the last ray of hope I had of making it out of my house alive. I grabbed the revolver, and just as I did, Mary bit my left ear off. I screamed.

I pointed the muzzle in between the black holes that used to be her eyes.

 “Forgive me Mary!” I whispered as I pulled back the hammer, and squeezed the trigger.

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THE FIGHTER

I smile now as I remember back in 2012, the younger Jaybee in his twenties, labelled the ambitious kid by everyone who knew him then. He always wondered why people referred to him as "T-Money" but apparently, kid was all about the money. If it was not making money, it wasn't making sense. So kid always looked out for ways by which more money could be made. He was always up all night, trying to get lucky...

...I gotta digress quickly.

Let me ask you quick question - Ever heard a song, and your immediate reaction was "Mhen, this song is crap!"... Only to catch yourself singing the same song much later? Or have you ever listened to a song that made you feel energetic or gloomy? Also, have you ever listened to a song in another language, without a single idea of what the singer was saying, but you totally connected with it?

MUSIC!

Ever wondered why MUSIC is said to be the food of the SOUL? It is simply because music has the ability to transcend your physicality, connecting with seamless fluidity with your spirituality. Music can be a weapon, an antidote, a means of provoking the spiritual, a means of preserving history, a cultural pointer, a distraction, an indicator, and so much more. Music has more to it than meets the eye (and ears. Lol!)

Health researches put the revenues from "Digital Drugs" at about half of what typical "drugs" rake in. DD's are simply binaural beats that alter the brain's wave patterns, inducing an altered state of consciousness. Using DD results in a high. Practically the same effect as using any typical "drug". Ever seen people die with headphones on, blood, unexplainably oozing out of their noses and mouths? That's DD abuse.

Sorry for the graphic illustration.

The point here is - If you've ever heard the saying "Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it flows the issues of life" (it's a biblical verse - Proverbs 4:23) then, don't you for once think that the kind of music you expose yourself to, is an exemption. If an American president can say the cause of increased gangterism and public violence towards LGBT, was a rapper's music, then don't think he's totally delusional.

We may have little or no control over what we hear, but we've got to be more intentional about what we listen to; especially these days when music is implemented as a drill to bore more holes into the already severely perforated morality. There is more to music than meets the eye (and ears). Have you ever been singing a song in your mind, only for someone else to sing it out loud? 

Let's watch what goes in, as they form the ingredients to produce what comes out.

You thought I forgot I started with a story. Right? Back to the story. So, young Jaybee had invested in some seemingly sure deals that had nosedived and crashed. He felt so bad, it was eating him up deep inside. With no one physically available to talk to, Jaybee was strolling on the edge of depression. Suddenly, he stumbled on a song that came to the rescue.

Excerpts of the Lyrics:

"...Until the referee rings the bell
Until both your eyes start to swell
Until the crowd goes home
What we gonna do y'all?

Give 'em hell, turn their heads
Gonna live life till we're dead.
Give me scars, give me pain
Then just say to me, say to me, say to me
There goes a fighter, there goes a fighter
Here comes a fighter
That's what they'll say to me, say to me
Say to me, this one's a fighter"

My fav genre of music is rap and back in 2012, Gym Class Heroes' THE FIGHTER served a higher purpose than just entertainment. Till today, it's more than just a song to me. That song was my "bounce back" song.

Be intentional about your music.

Cheers!

Mature Minds Talk
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MY SURPRISE LAGOS WEDDING

It was a lovely Monday morning. The African sun had strolled out early and had begun her catwalk on her cloudy runway in all her elegance. It was my first day at work, and I was determined to make a superb first impression. I was dressed up in my whitish white shirt and slim fit blue trouser. I checked myself out in the mirror, and I was looking like fresh bread, straight outta the oven.

I smiled, gave myself a peck, grabbed my keys and my laptop bag, and whispered "Leggo!" as I stepped onto the street of Lagos, straight to the bus park. Oh the keys? I meant the keys to my simple self contain apartment in the heart of Ojuelegba. I took a quick glance at my watch - 6:50am. Nice! I felt a bit uneasy, being only the second person in the 14-Seater bus that wouldn't move an inch until it was full.

Little did I know that I was heading to my own surprise wedding.

"CMS! CMS!! Two hundred. CMS!!!" The bus conductor screamed at the top of his voice. "Oga enter. One bus just commot now" I sighed and climbed into the bus. Not long after, passengers started coming in, in ones and twos. "Enter with your change o. Five hundred, One thousand, ma wole o (Don't enter). Na Monday morning be this o." The bus conductor gave his quick instructions and continued yelling "CMS! CMS!!"

The last two passengers made their way into the bus - A guy, and a lady. The guy was well built; like a bouncer and the moment he stepped into the bus, it went down a bit, acknowledging his weight. The lady looked like a half cast; her red gown was nicely cut and her natural hair was dark and well packed. "All these team naturalistas" I thought to myself. The driver made his way into his seat, kissed the positive and negative wires under the steering wheel together and the bus coughed to life.

As we journeyed from Ojuelegba to CMS, the baby on the back of the woman sitting right in front of me began playfully trying to drag my phone. On a normal day, I would play with his cheeks or make funny faces but not today. Today, he only constituted a distraction from my focus - "Lady-in-Red", seated at the far end, two seats away. So baby, please free me and let me strategically stare without getting caught.

We had just passed Costain, and were now on Carter Bridge, when the bus conductor, who was typically hanging from the door of the bus, leaned in. He looked angry but like most others, it probably was his face's default setting. "Yes, your money from the front" he motioned, meaning it was time to collect the bus fares. On impulse, I wanted to pay for "Lady-in-red" but thanks to my strict feeding budget, I couldn't.

That would mean no lunch meal. Probably just enough to buy snacks and a bottle of coke and I don't like what I hate - Hunger. So I rebuked the thought and brought out my N500 note. The conductor took the cash and continued his grumbling about warning everyone in the bus about not having change. Everyone ignored him. The two women in the front kept chorusing "Conductor; change o!"

An hour later, We got to the last stop at CMS and everyone alighted from the bus. The conductor sorted everyone's change, still grumbling "Shebi I don tell una say make una enter with Change!". Lo and behold, a couple of seconds later, I was standing next to "Lady-in-Red", both our hands stretched expectantly towards the bus conductor.

The conductor took a quick glance at both our faces, I couldn't tell if it was just me, or he actually had a mischievous smile on his face but before either of us could say Jack, he squeezed a One Thousand Naira note into Lady-in-Red's hand and shouted "Give this bros three hundred naira. I don join una together."

We looked at each, then looked up at him, as he was still hanging from the door of the bus, and it was as if he was admiring us both. He hit the top of the bus twice, and shouted "Oya! Go on!"... Just as the bus made to zoom off, I kid you not, this guy, with a wide grin on his face waved at us and shouted "Happy Married Life o!".

We looked at each other, probably wondering how long this new surprise marriage would last. I'll leave the rest to your imagination but just so you know that it was a really hungry first day at work.

Hehehe.

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THE 4TH IDIOT


“Life is too short to….”

Since the emergence of that phrase in the early years of the millennium, it has been one of the most adopted phrases, used to provide reasons to do… or not to do something. A quick instance – When people ask me why I don’t really watch Indian movies, my response is “life is too short to watch a movie for 5 hours (I exaggerate. I know. Bite me). Indians are so skilled in strategically embedding music videos in movies.

Am I the only one who skips it past the singing and dancing part?

Just sitting to write now, I remember one Indian movie that got me hooked from start to finish. I couldn’t even skip the singing and dancing parts. It was just too good to be skipped. It wasn’t any shorter than usual (2hrs 51mins) but it was a perfect blend of the right ingredients needed to make a badass movie, and one of the few movies to earn a hundred percent on Rotten Tomatoes. But I’m not writing a movie review.

You see, most times, a lot of us journey through life, unconsciously using pressure as the compass, forgetting that life itself is one big “pressure” park. Just like we’ll select whether we’re using the Carousel, the Swing, the Bumper Car, or the Roller Coaster, we should also select the pressure we’re paying attention to, at different points in our lives. A couple of things go right, more go wrong, when pressure is applied.

That’s why sometimes I look around and realize a lot of us might just be the 4th idiot from the movie “3 Idiots”. A lot of people walk around, transferring aggression like Viru “Virus” Sahastrabudhhe, others like Raju Rastogi, totally dependent on spirituality to waddle through life’s pressures; others like Farhan “Fahrenheit”, forming “mans not hot” but burning and choking up deep inside.

Oh! Not also forgetting those of us like Chatur “Silencer” who’s reaction to pressure is simply “The End Justifies The Means”. Then of course, the “Rancho”, pressured into living other people’s lives. One thing that makes no sense is when people do what they hate just so they can be paid enough to afford the things they love. Which is the reason some people only smile at month ends. I’m serious.

A lot of “4th idiot” sports personalities, suiting up to the bank daily. “4th idiot” farmers, sitting in a cubicle, wearing headsets and robotically reciting “Thank you for calling XYZ telecoms. How may I help you today?”. “4th idiot” job seekers, searching for employment for 4 years, when their businesses should be celebrating its 4th anniversary. A lot of us are just living lives according to societal, cultural, financial, and emotional pressures around us.

Our words may be false, our actions may be deceptive, but pressure is a revealer. Give two people the same task. One who’s just there for the money you promised to pay at the end and another who’s not only skilled, but also passionate about that thing and see the contrast in their results. It’s time to stop being the “4th idiot” and exchange the “Pressure Compass” we’ve carried all these while for the “Passion Compass”.

“Follow your passion, for on that path lies the Joy of living a fulfilled life” 


Cheers!



PS: To fully understand this article, you might need to first watch the Indian movie “3 Idiots”.



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YOUR BIGGEST MOTIVATION

Wow! Is it really just 40-plus days to the end of the year already? Where’d all the days go? How many of the things we wrote out to accomplish before the end of the year, have we actually accomplished? How many of those things are already looking like they aren’t going to happen this year anymore? Why is it that sometimes, we dive into a challenge before our rational mind, famed for over-calculation can paralyse us?

Other times, we hesitate, calculate, plan, analyse and strategize. But guess what? I’ve noticed that we tend to see results on the first instance, while on the second instance, not quite. The question is “Why do we swing between these two scenarios from time to time?” Probably we weren’t spurred or motivated enough? Or we were sincerely motivated but just got cold feet?

Imagine how motivated you’ll be, if when you wake up in the morning, it’s to Eric Thomas’s audio, you then finish up a book by Zig Ziglar, and start another by Les Brown. On your way to work, you’re able to squeeze in a few YouTube minutes of Tony Robbins. Your head would figuratively be on fire, and you may even start plotting how to take over the world. I’m serious. Sure you know the power of motivation.

In all these, one thing I’ve noticed is that until your biggest motivation gives you that pep talk, every other motivational speech, be it from Jim Rohn, Nick Vujicic, Dr. Wayne Dyer, or anyone at that, wouldn’t amount to anything. Trust me, nothing would change. We can be so motivated, yet not motivated enough to take action. There a lot of people walking around who are “all motivation, no action”.

The voice of your biggest motivation is like a seal of approval, without which nothing can be done. So who/what is your biggest motivation? Don’t be quick to answer, before you start mentioning Success, Money, Family, and so on. All these is a means to achieving one purpose and that’s the FEELING of JOY attached to the achievement of any the means. We all are beings of emotion. Hence, your biggest motivation is YOU.

If the entire motivational speakers in the world were to come together and spend a day inspiring and motivating you, as long as you’ve not given yourself that “Mental Ginger” (in local parlance) trust me, every time you set foot on the ledge of action, you will not jump. No one else sees that picture you see when you close your eyes. Just you. No one else can give you that most important final push. Just you.

When the chips are down, you are left to either rejoice over opportunities you allowed yourself take, or regret the opportunities you allow yourself miss. No one else feels the full weight of the emotion; Just You. So every day you wake up, never forget to give yourself that pep talk. Give yourself valid reasons why you need to accomplish that feat. In other words, find your “WHY”. The most effective motivational speech ever is the one that comes from inside.

You Are Your Biggest Motivation.


Cheers!



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