MATURE MINDS TALK

Warning:

The following story you’re about to read is not in any way fictitious. This is a true life account of the writer. Names, Characters, Places, and so on are NOT the work of the writer’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is pure reality.

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I wasn’t sure if I was running or levitating. The adrenalin injection must’ve switched off my brain and allowed my legs do all the thinking. Sh!t had hit the ceiling and it was about to go down! The wind was apparently blowing against my body and I could feel it flap against my ears. It assured me my ears were still stuck to my head and I had not outrun them. There was no one to calculate my speed but surely Usain Bolt could’ve been watching and taking notes.

It was a matter of life and death and I was running like a mad man. “God! How did it come to this?!”

The second leg of my slippers went up in the air. Now I was running completely barefooted. The compassionate part of me wanted to look back to check the fate of my accomplice but I just couldn’t. I could hear running footsteps closely behind me. “If I can get back into my hostel unharmed lord, I won’t wait till the chapel prefects came to chase us to the chapel on Sunday.”

I heard one loud swoosh closely behind me and with one last frantic grunt, I accelerated!

********15 Minutes Earlier********

“Elijah!... Elijah, wake up!” Someone whispered loudly into my right ear

“Wuyi… What are you doing awake?” I tried to keep my voice down.

“There’s water at hand-pump. Let’s go fetch.” Wuyi pulled out my bucket from under my bed.

“Are you crazy?!” I checked my watch and saw 1:20am “You know those ‘Eboode’ guys would be out by now; right?”

Adewuyi had resilience written all over his face. I must’ve over-pumped confidence into him from our conversation earlier in the afternoon. We were in JSS1, and Wuyi was the last person you’d expect to take these kind of risks but desperate times called for desperate measures.

It was the dry season in Federal Government College; Ikirun. Water hadn’t really been our best resource and dry seasons only made things worse. Junior students practically dug up the soil to get water in a valley we called “Stream” (it was actually just a reservoir). Those who could, travelled with two buckets. Why? Simply because seniors had their buckets strategically placed along your way back and through your donations, you could easily leave the stream with a full bucket of water, and return to the hostel with an empty bucket.

Two days had passed since I last had my bath and trust me, I was among the few lucky ones. Some had gone a week. To drink water, we would simply collect “any” water in the typical 5-litres keg, place a clean white singlet over the mouth of the keg and drink up (You’d always see a brown circle on the piece of clothing when you’re done). A bush animal had died inside the reservoir for about a week now, but rather than thirst to death, boys drank with faith.

We had had it up to here, and I told Wuyi that if not for the Vigilantes that patrolled the wide school premises at night, ensuring that we observed “Lights Out” I would’ve gone to fetch water in the dead of the night. I wasn’t sure which one students were more afraid of – The evil Bush-Babies famed for carrying a magic mat and hypnotizing students to do their bidding, or the evil Vigilantes (or “Eboode” as we called them), famed for carrying about, a long charmed whip. Some students have reported firsthand that one lash, and you could go crazy for a couple of minutes.

I and Wuyi fed off each other’s energy, as the water filled our buckets. We heard Bush-Baby cries afar off but they were the least of our concerns. Everywhere was dead quiet and pitch black, you could hardly see what was in front of you. Just as soon as we had lifted the handleless buckets unto our heads, two dark figures emerged from the bush behind the massive water tanks (I wonder why we called that place “hand-pump” anyway).

My heart sunk in my stomach.

I would gladly chose to be hypnotized by a Bush-Baby, than confront an “Eboode!” any time, any day. Here we were, hosting not one, but two them. The thick black figured, giant looking, whip-hungry things approached us slowly. “Jesus! Isn’t rapture overdue already?” The testimonies I’d heard from various Eboode’s victims, replayed in my head. I realized I was shivering – The bucket was still on my head. Barely.

“So you guys don’t know that it’s a punishable offence to disobey Lights Out?” The one facing us asked (in Yoruba).

“We’re sorry sir!” We chorused.

“So you’re more desperate for water than others abi?” He was slowly moving closer.

“We’re sorry sir!”

It was so dark, all I could see was the yellow bucket on Wuyi’s head. Adrenalin was gradually shutting my brain down and flowing to my feet. In one instant, I saw the Eboode raise his whip and before my rational mind could weigh options, I bolted like a mad man. I wasn’t sure if they chased us but I was sure I completed a 200m distance in approximately 9 seconds. That’s a mad man’s record – Beat it!

A few seconds later, Wuyi bursted into the Juniors’ hostel and for a second we looked at each other, panting like wild dogs. Without saying a word to each other. We simply retired to our beds and called it a night.

Mature Minds Talk

Florence looked into thin air, head slightly bent down, one thumb rubbing aimlessly on her other thumb. I know her outward appearance was nothing compared to what she was feeling deep inside. She finally cleared her throat, and continued our conversation.

“I’m studying Industrial Chemistry presently but I don’t have an iota of passion for it. I love to write and writing is the number one thing that gives me joy. Sometimes, I lock myself away from the world and write away for hours. Nothing else can take that much of my time. I’m single now though, so I don’t know how it’ll be when I have a partner, since he’ll also need a portion of my time and attention.”

“That’s great!” I replied “As a writer myself, I love it when young minds say these things. It means there are still solid go-getters in the creative space.”

For the first time during our conversation, she looked me in the eyes. Her eyes looked forlorn, and they were full of questions.

“But I don’t think I want to write anymore. My friends are telling me to be serious and realistic with my life. They say writing is not a lucrative field and I can’t be as financially comfortable as I want to be. They said even though I’m a good writer, while my mates are working in banks, oil and gas firms, building & construction companies, health, insurance, and the rest, I’ll be scribbling words that people may not even read. Also they said…”

She went on and on, pouring out all she had held up inside and I sat there attentively, patiently waiting for her to finish her very valid epistle. It was a very long epistle of someone with skepticism in the efficacy of her passion.

“Florence, if what you studied in school should solely and strictly determine how rich you become, would you have studied Industrial Chemistry?”

“I don’t think so”

“What then would you have studied?” I asked, resting back in my seat.

“Banking and Finance… Maybe” She replied with a slight giggle.

“Excellent reply. But do you know why bankers aren’t the richest people in the world?”

“Err… Why?”

“Simply because according to my personal stat and from close interaction and observation, 80% of bankers don’t even know how they ended up there, what they’re still doing there, or when they’ll leave there. Cash isn’t money to them but tools of the trade. Just the same way a lot of people, due to pressure have turned themselves into professional robots, dying slowly from the routine, living solely for month end.

We live in a world where a lot of fishes are up in the sky with borrowed wings, praying and yearning for water; and a lot of birds are deep down in the waters, drowning and gasping for air. A wise man once told me – You don’t want to get to the top of your career ladder, only to realize it has been placed against the wrong wall.

Florence, your friends, just like the society have lied! Look at people like John Grisham, Stephen King, James Patterson and “Mummy” J.K. Rowling and see the truth. Exactly what makes you tick, should make you rich. Fan that little fire of your passion. Fan it so hard and make the whole world feel the heat. Hope that answers your question”

To every Florence out there – Go and build a business around your passion, so you understand how it feels, being paid to do “nothing”.

Mature Minds Talk.

In an electrifying atmosphere at Wembley, for the home team, it was just a case of stepping onto the pitch, trying to get a grasp of their raging hearts, as Tony Britten’s 1992 “Champions League” anthem filled the stadium, transcending what would have just been 22 players, running on semi synthetic grass, kicking the round leather beauty… To gladiators in an arena, trying not make eye contact with the “Mighty Galacticos”.

They knew better than to be deceived by the handshakes. The arena would soon be soaked damp with the sweat of the gladiators. 11 of them hungry to right the wrongs of a fortnight ago, that made the lowly Spurs pick the Galacticos’ pockets and escape with a point at the Bernabue. Worse still, in front of 81,044 onlookers. Tonight is a night for redemption.

Oh you gotta be ready! The reigning champions, unbeaten in their previous 30 (Champions League) battles are paying you an unfriendly visit. If you like matters worse, the gladiator, who some believe is not from Portugal, but a Greek demigod from the lineage of Zeus, also has his feet down on your front yard. Oh you gotta be ready. It could quickly become a Halloween party in the blink of an eye.

There was just one question on everyone’s mind – “Can they pick the Galacticos’ pockets for a point and escape again?”

With the match still in its infancy, it began to become clearer that the lowly Spurs understood the fact that they somewhat had nothing to lose. They had lost their last two domestic games, and if they made it a hat-trick of loses here, everyone would’ve gone “It’s Real Madrid. They had a slim chance of winning in the first place”. It became clear that Dele “David” Alli brought a few stones to test on the visiting Spanish Goliath.

You bet it was an end-to-end affair. A clash that left many wide-eyed. While the visiting team tried to boss around the pitch, the home side stuck their guts to discipline, rode on the back of belief and were determined to “die put” (pardon my French). Oh well, by the 66th minute of the game, the lowly Spurs were having a party. Rather than show the “Mighty Galacticos” around their home, they had simply taken them to the laundry room.

Dele Alli and his brothers-in-arms, had ensured the defending champions had a really quiet flight back to Spain, after suffering their biggest aggregate defeat in a competition they’ve won more times than any other team. A look at the team stats and you’ll understand that football can never be judged on paper. The only thing the home team had done more was “Fouls”. Throughout the span of 90minutes, they had just “One Corner” (Don’t you dare sing!).

I think having sights like these is a privilege for football lovers with a deeper sense of absorption. Anything is possible, and any record is breakable. Belief is key! A proud night it was for Tottenham Hotspur and especially for the Englishman – Dele Alli, who’ll like you to explain in the comment section below, exactly why you don’t like football.

Mature Minds Talk.

Yup! You read that right.

Call me crazy, but this year alone, it’s the eleventh time everyone is going on and on, wishing everyone (probably except themselves) a happy new month. Statuses are flying like missiles here and there – “Happy New Month”; “November to Remember”; “New Month, New Me” (heck! You said that last month. Are you practicing to be a chameleon or something?).

At the end of every month, I take a reflective look at the month just before its expiration and not only do I realize, but I note the couple of occasions where I took the easy option. I note where I could’ve done more, and count things I never got around to do. After this, I shift my focus to what I was able to get done, and fill my spirit with extreme gratitude.

It’s a new month but I’d rather not get too caught up in the euphoria of the new month and forget how to make the month new. I’d rather change the errors of last month, than change my WhatsApp status, and I’d rather tell us to go make it an actual “New” month, than to “Wish” us a “Happy New Month”. If we don’t make the month different from the last, then what’s happy about the (new) month?

Now, it’s time to rethink, recalibrate, and re-strategize. It’s time to stop procrastinating on those plans since the beginning of the year, and do it afraid. It’s time to take the leap off the cliff and develop wings, mid-air. It’s time to stop with the over-analysis that only leads to paralysis. Dam, it’s time to expose ourselves to uncomfortable but productive behavioural conditions.

Every month comes bearing fresh opportunities. It’s our job to recognize them and seize them. The previous month is gone and gone forever. Reminiscing on what we “Should’ve”, “Would’ve”, “Could’ve” done, wouldn’t take us back in time. Let’s take the new month with gratitude and fortitude, ensuring that this month actually is a new month.

Applying a different approach to the hustle, grinding like we’ve been promised the whole of Wall Street, staying woke like a hungry tiger, and praying like it’s the only thing needed to see results. If we float through the month without making intentional decisions and taking productive actions, we’d realize at the end that there was nothing new about the month after all.

Wishing you a super-productive month.

Let’s go make big things happen.

Yes We Can!

Happy New Month! (oh well).

Mature Minds Talk

MAN – Such beings of curiosity!

Man; always questioning, always searching. From the beginning of time, after curiosity became the undoing of man and he fell short of the divine expectations; amongst a few other consequences, Man was stripped of the gift of IMMORTALITY. A gift which for many years to come would continually be sought with sorrow, tears, grit and blood.

Words have flown around of a hidden place in Africa where water springs from an undiscoverable source. Water, which when drank can make you invisible to the Grim Reaper. Water called the “Fountain of Youth”. Noah, Sarah, or whoever is reading this note. Pay attention! I think I may have found the secret to immortality, and this secret stands independent of CURIOSITY.

I have studied the lives of a number of mortals who have walked on this same earth as we presently do, and breathed the same air. I have written about a few of them and I have made a shocking discovery! I think these mortals have something in common. I couldn’t quite understand it at first but the more I gave in to my curiosity, allowing it do my head in, the more it became clearer to me – These mortals did find the secret to IMMORTALITY.

At this point, understand that “death” isn’t necessarily when the cells of your flesh reach their regeneration limit and you have to step out of it. No! That is merely but a transition. Death is simply the absence of life. So what is LIFE? One of the meanings you’ll find in your dictionary is this – “A Worthwhile Existence”. That pretty much sums it all up, and explains why some mortals have their cells still regenerating, but are DEAD.

When you find what makes your existence worthwhile and you give everything you have to the fulfillment of that thing, then you are fully living. I mean when your existence ceases to be just about you. Understand that this is exactly what I found that those “IMMORTALS” have in common. They found what made their existence worthwhile, and DEATH became just another word to them. They lived, transitioned, and came back to LIFE.

Noah, Sarah, or whoever is reading this note. The secret I have found is to pour a portion of your life into as many other lives as you can. You also do not have all day, so you have to do that as fast as you can. Find what makes your existence worthwhile. You will know, when your existence ceases to be just about you. Don’t just pass through life; No, those people I studied didn’t take that path. They lived for others. They found what made it all WORTHWHILE.

Do the same and watch how you live from generations to generations. Guess what, I just had a conversation with Mahatma Gandhi and I’ll tell you what he told me. He said “Jay, live as though you will die tomorrow, and learn as though you will live forever.” Mother Theresa then smiled and said she thought you’d like to know that “You alone cannot change the world, but you can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples.” Another friend told me “When a man has done what he considers to be his duty to his people (and his country), he can rest in PEACE”.

MLK saw the how overwhelmed I was, thinking of how to take this path of IMMORTALITY, the same path I want you, reading this, to take and with a pat on my left shoulder, he said – “See Jay, life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?”

And then it hit me – “If you want to live forever; live for OTHERS”. That is the secret to IMMORTALITY.

Mature Minds Talk.

I took one last look at the head pastor from the church gate, he was already attending to other “brethren”. I shook my head and dusted my shoes (figuratively). I’m not stepping foot in this church ever again. But the question that kept coming to my mind was – Why are Christians like this? Why do we think the highest level of favour you can do for me is to pray for me? Why do you think prayer is what everyone needs?

Please don’t pray for me.

Just the same morning, as I was about entering the church premises, a little kid walked up to me. His short was torn, I wasn’t sure if to call what he was wearing a shirt. There were little kids like that in the area. They were called furoti man’na (meaning Street Kids). I brought out my offering and handed it over to him as that was all I had on me to give and somehow, I felt God himself must've looked down at me with a bright smile and a pat on the back.

If anything, his prayer for breakfast has been answered. What he needed right there and then, even though I was going into the house of prayer wasn’t my prayers. He needed something in his tummy. Most people in this part of the world, Christians especially, are only experts in praying for others. Someone is hungry and you’re telling him the Lord is in control. But the Lord has not controlled you to give him that small change in your pocket; I guess.

Keep your prayers.

There’s a sister in church who has been looking for a job for three years, and your firm recruits bi-annually. Instead of announcing it in church, so people would send in their CVs. (Maybe you might just be the answer to her prayers), you’ll rather tell her the Lord will provide the best. Yea right, not just from your company.

We should pray for another as Christians of course, but why pray when you can help? As I walked into the church, I overheard the head pastor telling another pastor that he’ll need a business admin to manage his budding water company. I was extra joyful during service ‘cos that is my field. I walked up to the head pastor and told him how I’ve been jobless since the beginning of the year and my experiences as a business admin.

I was sincerely expecting him to see me as the answer to his prayers but instead told me to kneel down for prayers. After the prayers, I kept walking away slowly, all the while looking back. Nothing. Giving is every individual’s prerogative but we can’t always deny that as Christians we know that it is better to give than to receive (and sometimes to pray). Even though prayer is the key, a lot of people still die at the door.

Not because they don’t have the key but they don’t have the strength to turn the key and even walk through the door. Don’t pray like the Pharisees; save it for needs that can’t be met immediately. If you can meet someone’s needs, don’t pray for him. Meet his needs and let him go. If you sincerely can’t, pray he finds someone who can.

If everyone resorted to just praying for the victims of the floods around the world, without rendering immediate help, then what exactly is the essence of the prayer. Don’t remind me about Joel Osteen (I’m not going to point fingers).

Just have it at the back of your mind whenever I ask you for help, and it’s within your capacity, then help me. Don’t pray for me.

Shalom.

Mature Minds Talk

“Women don’t have sense! Seriously, no iota of sense is in their heads. They make their stupidity get the best of them, then they play the victim.”

I kept my gaze fixed on Rotimi (“The Cool G” as close pals called him), as I sat in his office and I could see the fire in his eyes. Whatever his wife had done this time, really got to him. But even at that, I could also see someone who needed help and needed it fast. I cleared my throat to speak.

“But you can’t just say women don’t have sense. That’s a wild generalization” I said, shifting a bit in my seat. “Even your wife who’s acting up now, would soon come around and everything will be fine. You know if…”

“Ok, what exactly is my offence?” He cut in quickly “I’ve thought and thought about this whole thing and can’t seem to find where my fault is. See o… I set up two businesses for my darling wife; both crashed. I didn’t complain. I set up the third and that’s my sin. I’ve been the one cheering her on,

every step of the way. I’m not claiming to be a saint, but I’ve never disrespected my wife in any way.

If anything happens now, everyone will start shouting Domestic Violence, DV, Men are scum and all sorts. See Jay, let me tell you something. For the past three days, I’ve not gone home straight after leaving work. I buy Boli and fish with Suya on my way home, then I park three streets away, eat and sleep. I set my alarm for 1am, then I wake up and go home. Oh! You’re surprise abi

Please tell me what I’m supposed to do when my wife has married her business and left me to return to bachelorhood? Tell me na. She leaves for work around 7am, and returns around 11pm. She has staff o. At first I felt like ok, she was just trying to reward my efforts and trust by ensuring this business survives and I was keeping up with it.

But then, when I began to feel really lonely, I called her and told her that we we’re losing touch, and asked her if anything was the matter. I told she might want to take her foot off the pedal a bit on her business. Just so she can see other things going on around her. She didn’t act as if what I said just made her realize anything. She just said “Ok” and nothing changed. I’ve called her and spoken to her on several occasions after then but each time she makes me regret it.

She talks back at me and tells me to stop disturbing her life. That she’s a driven career person. Imagine! Now, it has escalated to exchange of words and verbal abuse. I wonder why all those Feminists idiots don’t shine enough light on verbal abuse and its psychological effect. My madam has said some words to me that even my parents have never said to me. Anytime she does that, I’ll just pick up my car keys and drive off.

I’ve promised myself never to talk to her about this issue again. I know she’s pushing me outside, but I respect my vows to the last drop of blood in my veins. The one I’ll not take is someone talking to my mother. We had a heated argument day before yesterday and she said something and mentioned my mum. I didn’t hear it clearly and I asked her to repeat herself. God just saved her that she didn’t, ‘cos all hells and heavens would have been let loose. If we ever argue and she mentions my mum... My mum… The kind of slap I’ll give her ehn, I swear, her mum will feel it.

I’ll never support any form of violence but God help the person that tries to call my mum with their stupid mouth. Those idiotic activists would just be talking as if their brains have been replaced with noodles. Saying there’s nothing a woman can do that warrants a man hitting her. When she was in the bank, could she talk like that to her boss? Or can she talk like that to a bus conductor if they’ll not blacken her eye?

See Jay, everyone has elastic limit and the moment…”

“I gotta get back to work Rotimi” I quickly chipped in (I’ve heard people who have issues in their marriages can rant for hours).

“No wahala bro… We’ll see after work.”

“See for another round of rant? Just bundle your wife and go see a counsellor instead please” I thought to myself as I made my way out of his office.

“Alright na. Later” I said, shutting the door behind me.

Mature Minds Talk.

I WAS AFRAID

I was young and naïve; big dreams in my small head

I knew where I was headed; colourful future in my monochrome mind

I saw just the destination; not any swerve, not any bend

I heard motivational speakers say I have to leave the past behind

I was afraid...

I didn’t really pay attention; I thought I deserved the bed of roses

I quickly learnt what life taught; nobody owes me nothing

I stared right at my red sea; I had to become my Moses

Going back isn’t an option when your dreams start calling

I was afraid...

I held on tightly to the mental picture, forging through the storm

I was shocked; Belief, Determination, and focus weren’t enough

I lost, I cried, I learnt, and almost forgot where I was coming from

I realized and remembered the saying “When the going gets tough...”

I was afraid...

I came to the world a prince, but I learnt to swing the sword

I always wanted more; so I couldn’t, when others stopped

I can achieve it, if my mind can conceive it; and that was the word

I heard that and knew one day I’ll be standing at the top

I was(n’t) afraid...

I steadied my sling and picked up some skills

I was ready to either overcome my fears or die trying

I locked myself with my Goliaths, and adrenalin replaced the chills

I took them down one after the other, that Spartan feeling

I AM NOT AFRAID!!!

- Jaybee (2017)

Mature Minds Talk.

As much as I know, even though I might not know much, no boxing match has stirred more controversy than today’s match between Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr and Connor “Notorious” McGregor aka "THE MONEY FIGHT". I’ll try to watch this fight, and I think if you can, you should watch it too. Let me tell you why.

This fight features Floyd Mayweather, a professional undefeated boxing mastermind over the course of 49 boxing matches, against someone who’ll be making his professional boxing debut, coming from boxing’s more brutal “cousin” – UFC. But before you hiss and ask what he was thinking when he decided to step into the boxing ring with Mayweather, let me give you a hint.

If fights are won by polls, we can all just declare Connor the winner already, as he’s presently leading Mayweather on Google Polls, 44% – 56% from about 200,000 votes and sports bookers claim a large percentage of people are putting their money on Connor (crazy right?). So what makes this fight interesting after all these?... More like why do I think you should watch it?

1. History

For decades to come, people will make reference to this fight and tell their (grand) children “I remember in 2017 when a guy without any boxing experience stepped into the ring with an undefeated boxing champion. You should’ve seen it. It was epic and then they’ll use the result of the fight to conclude the rest of the talk. This is not just a fight, this is history in the making.

2. Morale Boosting

If you ever think Connor “Notorious” McGregor is insane for accepting this challenge, you’re not alone. But what you can boost your morale with is the fact that in life, you have to recognize that sometimes, when you lose, you still win. If Usain Bolt decides to play tennis against Rafael Nadal and loses, the fact that he played alone is a win in a loss. You get?

3. Challenge Yourself

A lot of people think Connor would win this fight and I guess it’s simply because he accepted to fight in the first place. If he goes on to win, then you have one more reason to ask yourself what you mean by “I’m not sure I can do this” whenever you want to embark on a new challenge. Watch the fight with mindset of challenging yourself.

4. Life Lessons

I’m not much of a boxing fan (I’ll rather watch F1 or even Long Jump), but I watch it from time to time. One thing I that intrigues me is the life lessons I draw out from boxing. One important lesson I’ve learnt from boxing is that sometimes to beat your opponent (competition), you have to think like them, understand them, and (literally) beat them (thanks to Mohammed Ali).

5. Relax

Watching two people burst their faces with energetic punches might not be the best way to relax, but oh well, any excuse to return to the front of the TV eh?... So enjoy the match and relax with a cold drink. The blows wouldn’t affect you, money also wouldn’t. But the lessons should.

Cheers!

Mature Minds Talk

Let’s quickly paint a picture. Ready?

Assume you’re walking down a lonely road and someone walks up to behind you from nowhere, and then whispers “Your money or your life” we both can guess what your first reaction would be, even without looking back. Have you ever asked yourself this “Jamb Question”: “Who was the first person to use that phrase?” Or you think thieves had a meeting and a long time ago, and they brainstormed on what to say to announce their presence, and then came up with that phrase? I personally don’t think so.

The point here is, the moment you hear that phrase, without much strings attached to your thoughts, you know it’s most likely time for “business”(don’t mind me), except someone is messing around. The same way, the moment you hear or see some other words or features, you automatically know what they stand for. The reason this is, is simply because those brands have found what makes them unique. So the question here is – What Makes Your Brand Unique (and Relatable)?

What makes your tribe bubble and come alive when it’s said or shown? Churches especially understand this principle and sometimes, through what some members say, through how they appear, or maybe a phrase that replaces a greeting, you can almost immediately tell which church they belong to. It’s a principle of rapport which can be applied to your business. Believe it or not, it can invariable cause a boost in your brand presence, but more importantly profit margin.

If we were to play a game of “First Thing That Comes To Mind”, when I mention Football, I’m sure you’ll probably blurt out Messi or Ronaldo. When I mention online shopping in Nigeria, you’ll probably blurt out Jumia or Konga. When I mention TV stations in Nigeria, you’ll probably blurt out Channels or Silverbird. When I mention bleaching cream, you’ll probably… never mind (that answer might be ‘risky’) but you get the drift.

That is a milestone we should all be looking to cross in business and trust me, we should selfishly be aiming to make our brand names, the first name that comes to mind, when the goods and/or services we offer are mentioned; such that even by just our slogans, our brand names will be known. Hate it or love it, when I say “everywhere you go” you know what I’m talking about (especially because those guys don’t go anywhere.. Lol!).

As a business person, if you haven’t started thinking that big, you had better. If your brand is there already, don’t forget us in your kingdom.

Thank you for your time. Cheers!

Mature Minds Talk.

A writer’s nightmare, a tunnel that has turned into an abyss for many a few writers who innocently lacked the right information on the exact thing to do to unwind themselves from the feeling of being trapped in their own heads – the frustrating and depressing feeling of the Writer’s Block. There is no experienced writer anywhere in the world who does not know what writer’s block is, just that you might have experienced it without knowing what to call what you’re experiencing. But as a writer, writer’s block at some point is as sure as breathing in oxygen whether you’re awake or asleep.

There are various kinds of Writer’s Block, ranging from you not being able to come up with any idea, just staring blankly at your computer or notepad to having the ideas in your head not being able to write it down or not feeling you have the right words to convey the message, to getting stuck in the middle of a project. But as it’s rightly said, lack of information could leave you in a state of deformation. Hence, this vital piece of information on how to navigate your way out of Writer’s Block and be rest assured that these seven tips does work.

1. Take a break – Your brain might be bored without you even knowing it and this could cause a jam in your thought-flow. Reading and Writing are one of the few things that bore the brain easily and one of the best ways this can be tackled is changing your activity. Stare at the ceiling, watch some videos, take a walk, make some phone calls, and so on.

2. Write something else – Take a break from your main project, and just pick up a pen and begin scribbling things down. No forethoughts, no grammar, no structure, probably not even punctuations and paragraphs. Just give it a free-flow or freestyle. This clears your jam while not totally taking you out of the zone. This works most times when you feel your work load is more than you.

3. Task your mind – Similar to doing something else, task your mind or do something creative. Paint a picture, edit some photos either on your photo editor or photoshop, do some knitting, repair some stuffs, Work in the garage, play games. This personally works for me. Doing this helps you jump the road block just in front of the creative areas of your mind.

4. Sleep in thought – Creative thinking at bedtime also helps in overcoming writer’s block. “Think before you sleep” is a technique I’ve successfully used on a number of occasions. Thinking about what your project entails just as you’re about to doze off definitely works, especially if your project is a story. Personalize the characters; you could even put yourself in the plot and so on. That moment before bedtime is one of the best times to do that.

5. Early bird technique – Believe it or not, your writing flows better in the morning. I mean around 4am – 8am. At that time, your brain is still in some charged up level and you explore your imaginative areas more just after you wake up. This is just a fact you personally might not agree with but test it over time and you’ll realize what I call “the early bird” technique is actually very real.

6. Edit some write-ups – Editing some of your old write-ups, definitely helps overcome Writer’s Block. Skim through the pages and change the words, the structure/plot or both. Something like examining yourself. This method I must say doesn’t work for every writer and doesn’t work all the time, from my personal experience.

7. Don’t force it – This is arguably the most important step. Don’t force working on a project you feel jammed on. You could be doing more harm than good by flogging your brain to work. You don’t want to experience the pathetic sabbatical effect of the aftermath of forcing a project out of your Writer’s Block. It’s really one of the worst nightmares a writer could face.

Writer’s block, though isn’t funny but once you can master your zone, you can easily wriggle your way out of it in no time at all and implementing these tips would hopefully also help in pulling you out of it… But remember, don’t force it.

Thanks for your time.

Mature Minds Talk

Reading through the story of Mark Pollock, just made me remember that there was something I almost forgot I was going to share here and let me use this medium to apologise for going AWOL for such a long while. Back to the story, Google is your friend if you don’t know who Mark Pollock is. (Lol!).

Did you watch last year's Paralympics? I can say I’ve never really paid much attention to the Paralympics sports like I did the last one, last year. For some reason beyond me, I got almost as fascinated to the Paralympics as the Olympics. You just sometimes have to admire these ‘special’ athletes and how much work they’ve put into competing at such level. Oh… and yes, Nigeria had more medals in at the last Paralympics than the only medal we won at the Olympics *shade* (Lol!)

The thing that struck me most about the Paralympics is the sight of the blind athletes. ‘sight of the blind athletes?’ (that’s no typo). Let me explain – The 100 meters, 200 meters and general track and fields was a sight to behold. Of course, you could easily detect that there was something about the athletes but how exactly does a blind runner dips his head forward at the finish line of a race? If you think I’m kidding, check out any Paralympics race on YouTube. Only one answer does it for me – PRACTICE.

The same way as you’ll jog up a flight of stairs in the dark in your house, the same flight of stairs that would require a visitor to use both hands and feet to climb is the same way those guys automatically know where the finish line is. They’ve practiced over and over till their disability turned to ‘this-ability’ (the Paralympics theme). What are your own weaknesses? How many times have you allowed distractions stop you from working on these weaknesses? If you can work and groom that particular ‘disability’, you’ll eventually over time, turn it to a ‘this-ability’.

By reading the in-depth stories of some famous inventors, I’ve realized that you are impermissible to distractions when your focus is top notch. Thomas Edison, the famous inventor, is partially deaf; a condition he developed since about 11 years old, and died with. When asked about why he didn’t seek medical aid (after all, he could very well afford it), he said he had not thought about seeking a cure to it, since he enjoyed it. “Being deaf allows me to fully focus on my research” he replied.

Maximum concentration can never be attained when distractions are present.

Let’s check around us for side attractions because when you hear the word ‘side attractions’ just immediately understand that it’s a fancy word for ‘distractions’. You can’t afford to divert your focus, thoughts and energy from your goals to ‘side attractions’. They don’t only have the potential of making you end up with much less than you deserve, they have the potential of making you end up with nothing – don’t forget the saying about the rolling stone.

While distractions create a disability, Focus creates a ‘this-ability’.

Focus makes you blind – you become blind to distractions and become unable to compromise. Focus makes you deaf – you become deaf to the side talks and negative words of discouragement around you.

Focus paralyses you – you become unable to willingly move in the direction of an alternative path – inability to compromise.

Focus makes you numb – you become numb to the pain, the setbacks, the challenges, the sweat and the many hours of practice and sacrifice.

I could go on and on but I’ll just say, without Focus, you can’t ever be really good at anything. Focus is an amplifier – the more you focus on something (practice), the more the chances of you being the master of that thing. When focus is present, it is not over until your desired outcome is reached; hence failure is never an option.

The importance of the ‘this-ability’ of FOCUS cannot be over-emphasized. You know when your mind is out of focus, even your eyes would deceive you.

Have a nice day.

Cheers!

Mature Minds Talk

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7 TIPS TO OVERCOME WRITER'S BLOCK

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