KAMAL OYEDUNLE

Watch Out

2009-08-08T18:50:00.001+01:00

Am posting this from my phone after a very long absence from blogging. I have learnt some few things over the past months.
One of the things i av learnt is that its not everything that is important in life, as a matter of fact only a very few things are actually very important.
I have always thought that blogging is important but i didnt quite understand that it's pivotal to my purpose in life. I think i know better now.
So watch out for a more dedicated blogger, i intend to move from blogspot in the next few days to a more robust www.kamaloyedunle.com. Let's watch out together cos i can't even quite quantify what's in store for you myself.
Let's continue to work at being the very best we can be. It's doable!

Achieving Distribution Excellence

2008-06-04T10:35:00.000+01:00

Achieving Distribution Excellence

What Is Distribution?
Distribution is the function that moves items from their source through layers of diverging nodes to the point where they are purchased by the end users. An organisation may have an integrated supply chain, where the manufacturing and distribution functions are within the same business. Alternatively, the distribution function may be one or more separate businesses.

The mandate of distribution is to ensure that end users have what they one in the quantities they want, where they want it and when they want it. Unfortunately the clarity of the requirement is not matched by the effectiveness with which it is fulfilled.

Typical Distribution Blues
You go into a store to ask for a particular design of tiles. It is not available in stock. The store has lost a sale and you go away disappointed. Meanwhile that same store has several pieces of another item that they are unable to sell and might have to dump.

Talking of dumping, this is exactly what happens when fashion shops declare clearance sales when the new season's designs are being expected. When items are sold at deep discounts of up to 50% of their original price, you can be sure no profits are being made on them. These same stores will often proudly hang the label "Sold Out!" with respect to other items, without realising the implication that if they had had these items in stock, the store would have made a higher profit.

In geographically dispersed distribution chains, fast moving items in on region will usually be slow moving in others, so that there are shortages and surpluses of the same goods in different areas. An attempt is made to bridge the gap by transferring between regions. Transportation costs go up.

The Cadillac Miracle
Before 1999, the Cadillac distribution network suffered from all the "blues" outlined above. The case was particularly complex as they has on offer about 7.5 million legitimate vehicle configurations they could offer customers, each containing about eight thousand parts bought from about one thousand suppliers.

Of course no single dealer could hold anywhere near the total possible car configurations: the largest dealers might have about 200 cars on their lot, made up of say forty different configurations. The dealer could (usually reluctantly) get extra configurations from other dealers within a 500 mile radius - at extra transport cost and reduced profits. Even so, typically only about 1000 configurations would be available within the 500 mile radius.

If a buyer insisted on a configuration not held within the area, it had to be ordered straight from the plant. This might take three to four months to deliver. In forty percent of the cases, the car delivered did not conform to the customers specs!

In 1999 Cadillac implemented a radically different distribution system. The result is that in the last eight years delivery time for specially ordered configurations has shrunk from over three months to nineteen days or less! And their inventory within the whole supply chain reduced by as much as fifty percent. How did they do it?

The Distribution Conflict
The distribution function - whether it is a separate business or part of an integrated supply chain - is pulled in two opposite directions in its attempt to manage well.

In the first case, there is the desire to ensure no potential sales are lost. This means that stocks must cover maximum "foreseen" demand within the time it takes to replenish the stocks, plus an allowance for fluctuations in supplier reliability. Put briefly, in order to protect through put by selling all we can, we must hold large stocks.

On the other hand, we must control costs. Controlling costs (of storage, spoilage, and obsolescence) implies holding low stocks.

Just how do we go about improving availability to the customer while reducing inventory requirement? To repeat the question we asked before, how did Cadillac do it?

Rethinking Distribution
Obviously, the solution must involve a radical rethinking of distribution as a whole. To paraphrase Einstein - the significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level thinking that led to the problems in the first place.

Conventional wisdom and practice says that stocks should be held as close to the end user as possible. Most supply chains attempt to do just this. The result is the paradox of simultaneous product unavailability combined with excess inventory. Why?

Recall the rule (stated above) for deciding how much stock to hold. Part of it has to do with "foreseen" demand. How accurately can a store forecast sales of a particular item for a given period? So poorly as to make such forecasts meaningless. While forecasts for individual stores are highly unreliable, aggregate forecasts for several stores together have a far higher level of reliability. Mathematically, accuracy of forecast improves by the square root of the number of individual nodes aggregated. For example sales or demand forecasts for a wholesaler or regional warehouse supplying one hundred retail points is ten times as accurate as the forecast for any individual retail point.

What did this mean for Cadillac and what does it mean for your supply chain? It means rather than concentrate stocks at the points closest to consumption, they are better held at points of highest forecast accuracy. Then any items sold from any retail point are immediately replenished.

The same arrangement exist between the all the other layers in the distribution chain, back to the production plant. At the production plant, a plant warehouse forms the first layer in the chain. Production from the plant just replenishes items withdrawn from the plant warehouse and no more.

Conclusion
The radical improvements in Cadillac's distribution was achieved by applying approaches invented by Goldratt - the so called Theory of Constraints.

Hearing your Customer

2008-06-04T10:32:00.000+01:00

The Most Important Person in Your Business
It is helpful, when thinking of your customers, to be guided by the following statement on the subject by Mahatma Gandhi,
"A customer is the most important visitor on our premises, he is not dependent on us. We are dependent on him. He is not an interruption in our work. He is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider in our business. He is part of it. We are not doing him a favor by serving him. He is doing us a favor by giving us an opportunity to do so."

Peter Drucker's assertion that the purpose of a business is to create and keep a customer, directly supports this view.

Key Questions
If these statements are true, then it makes sense to do all you can to gain a deep understanding of your customers.

What are their concerns and motivations?
What needs are they meeting by using your products and services?
Would they readily recommend you to others?
What problems do they face in acquiring and using your offerings?
Which of their needs and expectations are you currently not meeting?
Who else should be using your products and services and why are they not doing so yet?
What unspoken needs of the customer can we identify?

You must have a system in place for answering these questions on an on-going basis, and for incorporating the insights obtained into your product, service and process design.

Tools for Hearing the Customer's Voice
The Six sigma process improvement methodology employs a number of tools for "capturing the Voice of the Customer".

While methods like surveys, focus groups and interviews are useful, they must be augmented by more advanced methods like observational and experiential methods that help capture items that the customer may not be able to articulate. Even the usual surveys can be enhanced by properly choosing the various customer requirements we want the customers to rate. These requirements can be as concrete as the speed of service at a restaurant, or as intangible as the satisfying sound of the closing door of a luxury vehicle.

The data is then analysed to develop the critical-to-quality parameters. Quality in this case goes beyond the product to encompass all of the customers experience in interacting with your offering.

The insight gained into the customer' preferences in this manner will not only help improve current products and services, but can also be used to re-position existing offerings as well as developing new ones.

Thus any attempt to improve operations must be closely attuned to the voice of the customer, or else efforts and resources may be focused on items which are of no value. That truly would be a waste.

What Is Your ETDBW Rating?

2008-06-03T10:39:00.000+01:00

Before I write anything else, I'd better define ETDBW. It's short for "Easy to Do Business With". Why would such a measure be necessary? Well, if you're like most people, you've probably interacted with organisations that seemed to go out of their way to make it difficult to do business with them. Two stories will illustrate the point.

A number of years ago (before electronic payments came to Nigeria) I ordered a hundred copies of a book from Amazon.com, the online bookstore. I arranged to mail a cheque to them via DHL. Someone at their end received the parcel. And then... And then it more or less vanished without a trace.

I began a series of online correspondences with customer service personnel to try and ascertain the whereabouts of the cheque to no avail. Twelve weeks, eleven mails (eliciting ever more evasive responses) and ten customer service staff later, there was still no clue as to where the cheque was. I then decided to take my case to a higher court. There was one small problem: nowhere on the Amazon.com website was there an email address to which I could write. I then got the bright idea picking names of top shots from their corporate page and coming up with possible email addresses and writing them to make my complaint.

Within a day, I got a mail from the customer service director apologising for the missing cheque and the evasive responses. She assured me the initial cheque was never cashed and suggested that I send a replacement if I still wanted to go ahead with the transaction. I did. Problem solved.

More recently, a well known Nigerian bank sent its representatives to market their services to Nigerians living abroad - the so-called diaspora. A friend of mine who has been in Canada for close to ten years, but who is beginning to hunger for some roots in his homeland, decided to take them up on their offer and open an account. So he downloaded the forms, printed them out, filled and signed them and mailed them to me to complete the process for him down here. As I happen to have an active account in the same bank, I expected it to be a breeze. I couldn't have been more wrong.

After jumping through a number of hurdles seemingly designed to discourage me from opening the account, I came to their major joker: my friend's international passport, which photocopy he had included for identification purposes, was too old. It had recently expired. Determined to go ahead, my friend he went through the process of obtaining a new Nigerian passport through the Nigerian embassy in Canada. He scanned and mailed it to me.

Triumphantly, I printed and took it to the bank, where I was told they must see the original passport. Original passport! The fellow lives in Canada! In any case, I was told, the passport was too new. Too new!

I finally tired of the whole process and wrote an email to the CEO of the bank. The very next day, I got a phone from the bank's head quarters. They apologised for the trouble I was going through, explained that they needed a definite identification of my friend and offered to go ahead and open the account if I agreed to endorse his application documents to show I knew him. I was only too happy to do so. Problem solved.

What lessons can we draw from these my experiences?

Your Employees Should Serve the Customer, Not Internal Procedures:
CEOs, business owners and top managers are usually alive to this need for customer focus. Witness the swift responses once my "cases" got to the top. Customer-facing employees must be educated as to what the true priorities are.

Your Employees Must Know the Whys of Your Policies and Procedures:
If the employees know why procedures were put in place, they are in a better position to judge when exceptions are appropriate and can suggest work-arounds that both ensure a pleasant experience for the customer while not violating the original purpose of the procedures.

Your People Must Be Empowered:
Employees must be able to correct errors without going through layers of approval. They must be able to compensate a customer who has been ill-served for some reason.

So, take a look at your own organisation and tell me truly, what is your ETDW rating?

Two Reasons Why Improvement Efforts Yield Little

2008-05-12T10:25:00.000+01:00

Often, companies begin improvement programmes with plenty of noise and fanfare, with promises of performance leaps designed to take them "to the next level". Almost ojust as often, these lofty dreams fail to materialise. There are two main reasons for this: failure to focus and failure to subordinate.

In a number of previous articles we have likened organisations to chains with several links representing the resources. The strength of the chain is determined by ....

Even without seeing the end of that last sentence, I am certain you knew the next words should have been "the strength of its weakest link". In most organisations, no identification of this "weakest link" - the resource that currently constrains the ability of the business to generate throughput. How do such organisations decide what needs improving?

In many cases, companies decide that everything and everywhere needs improving. The resources available for the improvement effort are thus spread thin across all the areas. This is link trying to strengthen the chain by strengthening ALL its links. How much of the effort is useful to the goal of making the chain stronger? Only that which makes the weakest link stronger! Everything else is wasted, as far as the goal of impacting organisational results is concerned.

In this scenario, results from the improvement programme, where they exist at all, are very slow in coming and of far less magnitude than could be the case, given the effort expended. Disillusion sets i, momentum slows and everything grinds to a halt. Until another attempt, applying a slightly different set of tools is made - with similar outcomes. It is no wonder that every new effort meets an increasingly cynical workforce.

Thus we must keep in mind Goldratt's first two rules for properly managing and improving operations, namely:

1. Identify the constraint

2. Exploit the constraint

Next to identifying and exploiting operational constraints, the next most important rule is to subordinate the rest of the organisation to the needs of the constraint. This means that everything else is managed to enable the constrainted resource operate as close to full capacity as possible, while ensuring it works only on the right things.

Managing operations with these rules leads to a situation where all effort is directed at the weakest link. This means that every effort counts. Results are thus quick and significant.

Balanced Production Operations - How Desirable?

2008-05-12T10:23:00.000+01:00

Imagine you are the production manager of a multimillion dollar factory. To avoid waste, all the machines that process materials from raw state to finished state, are designed such that their capacities are balanced. They have sufficient capacity to meet the demand placed on the factory by the market: no more. As a result of this equality of capacities, balanced by market demand, all the machines run at full capacity all the time. Your utilisation, productivity and efficiency charts are any production manager's dream - at a constant 100%.

What is wrong with this picture? The only thing wrong with this picture is that it ignores the implication two vital characteristics of real operations. Any production facility (indeed any organisation at all) has inherent dependencies. This means that what happens in one area or machine or function affects what happens in another and when. Two sources of dependency exist in production. These are structural or sequential dependency (as a result of the fact that one process must occur before another) and resource dependency (one resource is scheduled to do more than one task).

The second fact ignored by the balanced operations design is the reality and pervasiveness of Murphy's Law: uncertainty exists. Negative uncertainty manifests itself in the form of cancelled customer orders, machines downtimes, setups taking longer than scheduled, employee unavailability (due to illness or plain truancy) etc.

What is the impact of the combination of these two realities? Consider a balanced production line capable of producing either of two products, A or B. Let the line consist of four machines w, x, y, z. Assume we are currently producing A and are scheduled to change over to B when the planned quantity of A is done. If machine x develops a problem and it takes one hour to fix, then after resumption of production,
i. some wip would have accumulated in front of x
ii. y and z will initially have nothing to process
iii. this means there is a gap before the required quantity of A is completed
iv. and finally production of B cannot begin on schedule
The disruption caused by temporary unavailability of a resource inevitably leads to irrecoverable delays.
The resources propagate disruptions from one product to the next (unavailability of x caused delays in completing production of A and B). Conversely too, products also propagate disruptions from one resource to the other (assume A is input for producing some other item on some other machines, those machines cannot begin working until A is available).

Because of the two phenomena inherent in operations, balanced capacities are impossible. To operate smoothly, one or more resources will be forced to operate below capacity in order to have some protection against uncertainty.

The lesson here is that to focus on balancing capacities is to guarantee disruptions in delivery of products to your customers. Accumulation of WIP throughout the system is also guaranteed. By Little's Law, this translates to long production lead times.

Attention is better expended on maintaining undisrupted flow to the customer. For this, you must deliberately unbalance your resource capacities.

Fuel Scarcity in Nigeria- an NNC’s Perspective

2008-05-12T10:15:00.000+01:00

Nigeria of recent has been going through another round of fuel crisis with attendant queues at Petrol Stations across the country. The imminent cause remains in the realm of speculation; an apparent attempt by the government to hike the pump price of fuel, Pipe vandalization by vandals, port congestion, just to mention a few.

This issue of fuel crisis seems to have no end in Nigeria for it seems to be always going on in circles, in an undulating curve over time. But we still come to the question, what is the cause of this?

Fuel Scarcity in Nigeria seems to be an irony for us regarded as a land of abundant oil supplies. Nigeria is the 10^th country with the largest oil reserve after Libya which is in the ninth position in the world (Oil & Gas Journal, Vol. 103, No. 47 (Dec. 19, 2005). From: U.S. Energy Information Administration). That is, Nigeria ranks second in Africa after Libya in the countries with the highest oil reserves in Africa. Yet we have scarcity of this product. A serious irony you would say.

The question now is, have the dark days of the military regime returned again? Why, this is because a fuel queue is a major relic of the dark days of the military juntas that held sway in the country for about 30 years. Where hoarding of the product, black market selling, adulteration of the product was the order of the day. Perhaps it is better to say, it’s the hang over effects of the military that is still holding sway and rearing its ugly head every now and then. So we should ask then, what is the reason behind the fuel scarcity in Nigeria in this democratic dispensation? Oil officials adduce the reason to

a) Panic-buying, b) Petrol hoarding, c) Striking oil workers, d) Broken-down refineries, e) Fears of war in Iraq, f) World oil markets according to a BBC report. But there are other reasons as well. Of recent, inspection of the oil content being imported into the country by Department of Petroleum Resources showed it contained a high level of ethanol which damages engine of vehicles. The standard ethanol content acceptable in the country is 5% meanwhile that imported was between 20% - 25% which is quite high! Another reason is pipeline vandalisation with devastating loss of lives due to fire explosion by illegal scooping of the fuel by Nigerians in different parts of the country.

So what can we do to resolve this perennial fuel scarcity that haunts us like a faceless voice in the dark? That tears at the fiber of our development the way a Lion tears up its victims mercilessly.

Different attempts have actually been made by the government to solve this problem. In particular is the repair of the refineries in the country. Presently, the refineries operate at a combined 75% capacity with Port Harcourt refinery supplying the bulk of domestic needs. This means that the majority of the products come in via importation. The government is trying to bring the refineries up to full capacity by deregulation which to me seems not to be working.

Also, the government seems to be stepping up security at the various pipelines to forestall vandalisation, how long this will take and how efficient it will be is still a matter of time.

But it all seems not to be enough to tackle this problem or the government is overwhelmed by its many responsibilities to its citizens. So what actually is the way out.

A New Nigeria

A group off passionate young Nigerians have decided to come together to forge a common front for the development of our country Nigeria. Our prayer is enshrined in the second stanza of the national anthem of our country. So, what are we actually proposing?

We are proposing a situation in which the solution to this fuel scarcity would not be a perennial government headache or the government must proffer a solution way. We are saying that we can actually sit down and chart the course we want to follow for the solution to this problem.

One of the things we are proposing first and foremost is a reorientation of our value system. That is, we need to see value in our country and in ourselves. Change starts from within out. We need to see that together we can make our nation worthwhile for us.

To this fuel scarcity, we can actually talk to ourselves and say lets stop panic buying. When panic steps into a situation, all sense of reasoning is lost. Let’s look out for an alternate source of energy instead of fuel for our vehicles. We can actually sponsor a research into the use of solar energy for power and any other alternate source of energy. Nigeria happens to be a country overflowing with untapped resources. Water is there, solar is there, wind and let’s just name a few!

Okay, crude oil seems to be all we have for now, fine, let’s pool funds together and build a private refinery that would be working at 100% capacity and meeting local demands. Let the government privatize the refineries and let’s buy up a majority shares in it and inject a new life into the refineries. Let’s run them the way we would want to run our own personal companies which would be our only source of living. Let’s see it not as it is every bodies business and let see it as our responsibility. Our business.

So in effect, we are saying, fuel scarcity can be solved if we look inwards and develop other forms of resources around us, nurture our dreams and actually work towards achieving it and implementing it! Nigeria brims with potentials, we need only reflect deeply, and we are on the path of glory. Long live Nigeria! Long live the Nigerians! Long live NNC!

The New Face of Wealth

2008-04-14T17:46:00.000+01:00

What wealth is not?

It is neither money nor paychecks
It has nothing to do with acquisitions
Its neither riches nor possessions
It is not a university degree
It is neither carnal nor spiritual
It is not demonic

Think About these

What was the budget for creation?
How did Solomon become the richest man that ever lived?
Does a university or polytechnic degree guarantee wealth?

If God does not print pounds and dollars then He must have a medium of exchange!

The Trend

The agrarian economy – crop farming, livestock production, hunting etc.
The industrial revolution – manufacturing, food processing, machine fabrication, scientific inventions and discoveries etc.
Technological advancement – telecommunication, computers, software development, robots etc.

And now…

The skillful generation

God did not create stupid people
Every being has at least a skill
Men of skills rule the world
Wisdom, knowledge, understanding, abilities and understanding are embedded in skills

INFORMATION – The principal thing

The information era is such that every man has the capacity to learn and unlearn. It is a process that must continue if we must remain relevant in this generation. It takes hard work and diligence.

The worth of a man is what he knows and how he applies his knowledge to get wealth

The challenge is to learn, learn and learn

IT SHOULD BE NOTED HOWEVER THAT MEMORIZATION AND LEARNING AREN'T THE SAME.

Learning is a process of failing forward; affecting the physical, emotional and mental faculties.

Memorization affects only the mental faculty; keeping facts and figures and storing certain chosen data in our brains.

Practical applications

Learning

An eaglet learns to soar by jumping, falling and flapping of wings.
A baby learns to walk by falling and rising

(It affects the physical, emotional and mental faculties)

Memorization

When 2 plus 2 is not 4, you have failed. What next? Punishment!
When you graduate with a pass then you are termed a failure!

The Challenge

Information is readily available in this age and it takes diligence to search and acquire the desired knowledge coupled with hands-on experience required to process it into wealth.

Therefore,

seek knowledge
process knowledge
invest knowledge

Specimen - Daniel

Skillful in literature
Understood by books
Gave wise counsels by knowledge
Recommended based on excellence
Served four terms in office by the effective use of information
Projected into the future by information

Fuel Scarcity in Nigeria- an NNC’s Perspective

2008-04-10T17:19:00.000+01:00

So what can we do to resolve this perennial fuel scarcity that haunts us like a faceless voice in the dark? That tears at the fiber of our development the way a Lion tears up its victims mercilessly.

Also, the government seems to be stepping up security at the various pipelines to forestall vandalisation, how long this will take and how efficient it will be is still a matter of time.

But it all seems not to be enough to tackle this problem or the government is overwhelmed by its many responsibilities to its citizens. So what actually is the way out.

A New Nigeria

Two Reasons Why Improvement Efforts Yield Little

2008-04-08T19:27:00.000+01:00

1. Identify the constraint

A Better Way to Manage Projects: Guaranteed Scope, Due Date and Budget Performance

2008-03-09T00:13:00.000+01:00

Our last article explained the reasons for the prevalence of completion delays in the vast majority of projects.

To recap, we looked at the padded time estimates, Student's Syndrome, Parkinson's Law, Integration requirements and Multitasking all interacting with the heightened uncertainty (Murphy's Law) found project environments to more or less "guarantee" that projects will be late.

Local Versus Global Optimatisation
To explore an alternative project management approach, we must understand why time estimates are padded. It is to ensure that a project TASK is completed on time by protecting it against the impact of uncertainty. As we saw before, the combined effects of Student's Syndrome and Parkinson's Law then strip off the protection, exposing the project to delays.

What is our aim? Is it to finish a particular task on time or to complete the whole project on time? Of course it is to complete the whole project on time. If we aim to complete the project on time, we must relocate the protection (time paddings) from each task to the whole project. How do we do this?

Anyone with sufficient familiarity with project management knows that the determinants of the duration of a project are tasks on the so-called critical path. The critical path is defined as the path with the longest sequence of dependent tasks. To protect the whole project then, we must ensure we protect the critical path. This is done by stripping off the time pads on individual tasks so the time estimate for each task is reduced to half its original value. Half the stripped off protection is then added at the end of the critical path. Thus the new total estimate is at most 75% of the original. Why does this work?

Because individual tasks no longer have any slack, their performer is cured of Student's Syndrome because it is all he can do to complete it in the new allotted time. On the average because of uncertainty, half the tasks will finish late. Because of the complete absence of slack, the degree of lateness per task will be small. Some tasks will also finish slightly early. In this case the next person waiting to work on the subsequent task ensures that Parkinson's Law does not come into play.

Whatever delays remain (significantly less now because Student's Syndrome and Parkinson's Law have been eliminated) are absorbed by the accumulated protection at the end of the critical path. This protection is known as the project buffer. It is not under the control of individual project team members and so cannot be frittered away.

Critical Path or Critical Chain?
The critical path is defined in project management lexicon as the longest sequence of dependent tasks. In practice however, only structural dependence is explicitly accounted for. Structural dependence between tasks is dependence arising from the nature of the tasks themselves. For example in constructing a building, the foundation must be laid before pillars and beams are cast. Another source of dependence exists. This is resource dependence. This describes the fact that one project worker may need to perform tasks on more than one path in the project. While nothing in the nature of the tasks requires that they cannot be done in parallel, the fact that they are to be performed by the same individual implies it. Failure to explicitly consider resource dependence is responsible for the oft observed phenomenon where the critical path appears to jump from one path to another.

Because of resource dependence, tasks that determine the duration of the project may not necessarily lie on the same path. The name, critical chain was coined to reflect this reality.

Feeding Buffers
What about the non-critical paths? While they may not determine the duration of the whole project, their outcomes often need to be integrated with tasks on the critical chain. Thus delays in these non-critical paths will ultimately lead to the whole project being delayed. To prevent this from happening, each non-critical path that feeds the critical chain is protected in the same manner as described above for the critical chain: time estimates stripped to half their original estimate, with a 50% slack added at the end of the path.

Monitoring Project Progress
Project progress is monitored by assessing the percentage of tasks completed on the critical chain. As an additional measure of the amount of protection remaining, the percentage of buffer time consumed is compared with the percentage of critical tasks completed. Thus is 40% of tasks on the critical chain have been completed, while 55% of the buffer time has been consumed, the project is in danger of being late (no matter how far off the expected completion date).

These measures provide early signals to take extra measure to bring the project back on track.

Track Record (Data Obtained from Wikipedia)
Research shows that typically, projects are completed in 222% of their original planned durations at 189% of budgeted costs. In 70% of the cases, the scope is compromised. 30% are cancelled.

On the other hand, for projects that apply the ideas outlined here - collectively known as Critical Chain Project Management, 95% are delivered on time and within budget. Organisations implementing the method as their way of managing projects experience on average 69% percent reduction in lead time, 60% improvement in due date performance and 68% improvement in revenue.

Why 90% Of All Projects Finish Late

2008-03-08T22:10:00.000+01:00

Activities classed under the term "project" are so diverse that it is sometimes difficult to appreciate commonalities among them. For example, social activities like the organisation of parties, picnics or weddings are projects. Construction work like building a bridge, developing a housing estate, power plant construction, expansion of a fibre optic network also constitute projects. So do producing a movie, developing software, launching a marketing campaign for a new product, implementing an ERP system or the relocation of a family from one city to another.

For each of the examples mentioned above, the following hold true:

The objective is a unique, non-routine outcome.

The effort required to achieve the outcomes desired is temporary. That is to say projects have a start and finish date. This is in contrast to operations which are ongoing.

The non-routine nature of projects accentuates the impact of uncertainty.

In spite of the many unknowns, executors of the project must make three commitments at the outset. These are commitments as to content or scope, commitments as to delivery date and commitments as to cost.

In spite of these commitments, the existence of a rich and detailed body of knowledge on how to manage projects, and the availability of purpose-built project management software tools, almost no projects are delivered on time. Unless there are major trade-offs in content and/or cost. Why is this the case?

Enter the human factor.

Project Time Estimates

The uncertainties involved in projects mean that time estimates used for planning are just that, estimates. What does estimate mean? It means that the time given for each project task is an average number. But wait a minute. Using truly "average" figures for time estimates would mean that chances are fifty-fifty that the task will be completed early or late. No one will give an estimate that has a fifty percent chance of failing.

So what actually happens is that the estimates are padded to account for uncertainty. The level of padding depends on how badly the estimator has been burned in the past when he/she provided inadequate "cover".

In addition for padding provided by each task performer, there is also an overall padding by their boss. For example if three resource persons working on various tasks in a project estimate 5 days, 7 days, and 3 days as their respective task completion times, will their manager report an estimated completion time of 15 days to his own boss? Highly unlikely. He most probably will offer 20 days and only very reluctantly allow it to be negotiated down to 18 days minimum.

If as described above, project times are already padded from the start (through padding of each task and further padding at each level) how come most projects still end up finishing late?

There are two psychological mechanisms at work that thwart individual attempts to protect the project against uncertainty and cause all the safety provided to be wasted.

Student's Syndrome

At the conclusion of a lecture, a professor informs students that they will be taking a test on the material taught in one week from today. What is the typical reaction of students? They will protest that they are not ready, that the time is too short... If the professor relents and gives an extra two weeks for preparation, do students immediately begin to study for the test? They do not, if they are typical students - until the night before exam.

In projects, having padded the time estimates, resource persons will typically delay (probably busy working on things unrelated to the project) to the latest possible moment before commencing work on the project task. And while they're working Murphy strikes. Since the extra time was already consumed by Student's Syndrome, the task is finished late. The next dependent task is forced to start late.

Parkinson's Law

Parkinson's law states that work expands to fill the time available for it. What is the implication for completion times of project tasks? Assume that a particular task estimated to take 7 days actually is completed in four days, does the performer deliver it to the next resource person? Not likely.

Because the time estimates given are negotiated numbers, reporting an early finish of a task means that future estimate given by the project worker will be trimmed by the manager. To avoid this possibility, rather than report early task completion, the worker is likely to spend the extra time performing checks and adding nice to have "bells and whistles" not strictly required by the specifications.

Result? Extra time gained is wasted.

Integration Requirements

In most projects, the final stage is an integration of the outputs of several previous paths. Assume in a particular project that the final stage is the integration of the results five paths. Assume again that the time estimates for each of these five paths is such that there is an 80% chance of on time completion, what is the change that integration will commence on time?

For the integration to commence on time, all the five paths must be complete. The chance that one path is completed on time is 80%. The chance that two paths are finished on time is 80% X 80% which is 64%. The chance that four paths are finished in time for integration is 64% X 64% or about 40%. The probability of all five paths being finished in time for integration to commence is about 33%! More likely than not, integration will commence late.

Multi-Project Environments

A further killer of time in multi-project environments (software development companies, construction companies, engineering departments) where more than one project is going on simultaneously and resources have to be shared between the resources, is multitasking.

The resulting lack of focus, combined with constant "set up" requirements leads to late delivery of all the projects being worked on.

Conclusion

We have shown that original project time estimates are padded to protect against uncertainty. However, a combination of Student's Syndrome and Parkinson's Law lead to a frittering away of the enormous safeties embedded in the estimates.

In addition the need for integration in most projects, and the incidence of "bad" multitasking in multi project environments lead to added delays, virtually guarantee that projects are delivered late.

What is the way out? A different way to manage projects is needed.

How to Identify the Core Problem

2008-03-08T16:07:00.000+01:00

Whenever we are in a situation that we believe should be improved, the first relevant question is, "What do we need to change?" The choice of the word 'need' rather than 'want' is deliberate, because the latter will direct us to the most obvious undesirable aspects of the situation - namely the many problems that manifest.

As our last article showed however, there are two drawbacks with a direct attack on the obvious problems. The first is that they are too many and may require more resources (even if this is just management time) than we might be able to deploy. The second is that the obvious problems are merely symptoms of deeper underlying causes.

It is the underlying cause - the core problem - that we need to change, if we must impact the system as a whole.

The first step is to get a list of Undesirable Effects. Undesirable Effects or UDEs are conditions that in themselves are negative from the point of view of the business as a whole or from the perspective of individual members or units. They are the things people complain about or that reflect or create poor performance. For example a UDE might be that revenues are declining, scrap increasing, customer complaints or lead time going up. For an individual in the organisation, we might have loss of commission, poor relations with peers or loss of prestige as UDEs.

The list should be broad enough to capture all stakeholders.

The next step is to select the most pressing UDEs (five to ten) from this list and write them on movable cards or post-it notes using present tense wording. These are then inspected to determine if a cause effect relationship exists between any of the UDEs. Proposed causes are arranged below their corresponding effects. Cause and effect statements are connected using arrows.

Next we look at the cause statements and examine the broader initial list of UDEs to determine further cause effect.

All proposed cause-effect relationships must be verified by a set of logical tests - eight in all - known as the categories of legitimate reservations. These are Clarity, Existence, Causality, Cause Sufficiency, Additional Cause, Predicted Effects and Cause-Effect Reversal and Tautology.

Clarity: This determines that the UDE or other statement is clearly stated and reflects the meaning intended by the complainant.

Existence: A statement may be clear fail the existence test. This test examine whether the statement of the UDE is valid. To be valid it must have meaning in the experience of those to whom it is addressed.

"The cow jumped over the moon", a statement from a nursery rhyme, has no existence in most people's reality.

Causality: This test examines if a cause-effect relationship actually exists. That is we must be able to say that if the cause exists then the effect must exist.

Cause Sufficiency: This examines whether the cause(s) adduced are enough in themselves to create the observed effect. Otherwise, more causes must be found, which in combination with the already proposed ones, lead unavoidably to the observed effect.

For instance, saying that a spark led to a fire proposes an insufficient cause. Two other causes required in combination with the spark are the existence of combustible material and oxygen.

Additional Cause: This examines whether the effect could have resulted from a different independent cause of set of causes. The test here is to ask: If I eliminate the stated cause, is there any other circumstance under which I would observe the effect? If yes, then there is an additional cause.

Example:
Observed effect: The lady's temperature is slightly elevated
Proposed cause: She has an infection
Additional cause: She is pregnant

Cause-Effect Reversal: This test unravels the confusion between the cause and its evidence.

Predicted Effect: If the proposed cause-effect relationship exists, what other effects can we expect from the same cause? This is sometimes known as effect-cause-effect thinking. We observe an effect, for which we propose a cause. We then test our assumption by looking for other known effects of the cause.

Tautology: This refers to circular logic which offers the effect as the rationale for the cause.

Example:
Statement: The Super Eagles lost against Ghana because they played poorly.
Challenge: How do you know they played poorly?
Rationale: Because they lost the game!

Using these logical tests we are able to create a rigorous cause-effect diagram reflecting the current reality of the system or organisation under consideration. As we go deeper into the causes, we find fewer and fewer causes. When we reach a cause from which we can trace a significant majority of the UDEs, we have found our core problem. We have found what we need to change.

Meditate on these

2008-02-27T13:25:00.000+01:00

And the day came when the risk
to remain tight in a bud was more painful
than the risk it took to blossom.
-- Anais Nin

A life spent making mistakes is not only more
honorable but more useful than a life
spent doing nothing.

-- George Bernard Shaw

Expectations are premeditated resentments.

-- M. Scott Peck

Ours is a world where people don't know
what they want and are willing to go
through hell to get it.

-- Anonymous

Life just is. You have to flow with it.
Give yourself to the moment.
Let it happen.

-- Jerry Brown

Growing old is mandatory.
Growing up is optional.

-- Chili Davis, California Angels ballplayer

Pure logic is the ruin of the spirit.

-- Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Whatever you do may seem insignificant,
but it is most important that you do it.

-- M. Gandhi

One of the symptoms of an approaching
nervous breakdown is the belief that
one's work is terribly important.

-- Bertrand Russell (1872-1970)}

There is an Indian belief that everyone
is a house of four rooms: a physical,
a mental, an emotional and a spiritual room.
Most of us tend to live in one room most
of the time, but unless we go into every
room every day, even if only to keep it
aired, we are not complete.

-- Rumer Godden--House of Four Rooms

Thoughts for the day

2008-02-20T08:16:00.000+01:00

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." - Theodore Roosevelt, America's 26th President

There is a Science of getting Rich

2008-02-18T07:55:00.000+01:00

There is a science of getting rich, and it is an exact science,

like algebra or arithmetic. There are certain laws which

govern the process of acquiring riches, and once these laws

are learned and obeyed by anyone, that person will get rich with

mathematical certainty.

The ownership of money and property comes as a result of

doing things in a certain* way, and those who do things in this

certain way . whether on purpose or accidentally . get rich,

while those who do not do things in this certain way . no matter

how hard they work or how able they are . remain poor.

It is a natural law that like causes always produce like effects,

and, therefore, any man or woman who learns to do things in

this certain way will infallibly get rich.

That the above statement is true is shown by the following facts:

Getting rich is not a matter of environment, for if it were, all

the people in certain neighborhoods would become wealthy. The

people of one city would all be rich, while those of other towns

would all be poor, or all the inhabitants of one state would roll

in wealth, while those of an adjoining state would be in poverty.

But everywhere we see rich and poor living side by side, in

the same environment, and often engaged in the same vocations.

When two people are in the same locality and in the same business,

and one gets rich while the other remains poor, it shows

that getting rich is not primarily a matter of environment. Some

environments may be more favorable than others, but when two

people in the same business are in the same neighborhood and

one gets rich while the other fails, it indicates that getting rich is

the result of doing things in a certain way.

And further, the ability to do things in this certain way is not

due solely to the possession of talent, for many people who have

great talent remain poor, while others who have very little talent

get rich.

To be Continued!

The History of Valentine's Day

2008-02-14T21:38:00.000+01:00

Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentine's Day -- and its patron saint -- is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.

One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men -- his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.

According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl -- who may have been his jailor's daughter -- who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.

While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial -- which probably occurred around 270 A.D -- others claim that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to 'christianize' celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia festival. In ancient Rome, February was the official beginning of spring and was considered a time for purification. Houses were ritually cleansed by sweeping them out and then sprinkling salt and a type of wheat called spelt throughout their interiors. Lupercalia, which began at the ides of February, February 15, was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.

To begin the festival, members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, would gather at the sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. The priests would then sacrifice a goat, for fertility, and a dog, for purification.

The boys then sliced the goat's hide into strips, dipped them in the sacrificial blood and took to the streets, gently slapping both women and fields of crops with the goathide strips. Far from being fearful, Roman women welcomed being touched with the hides because it was believed the strips would make them more fertile in the coming year. Later in the day, according to legend, all the young women in the city would place their names in a big urn. The city's bachelors would then each choose a name out of the urn and become paired for the year with his chosen woman. These matches often ended in marriage. Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day around 498 A.D. The Roman 'lottery' system for romantic pairing was deemed un-Christian and outlawed. Later, during the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds' mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of February -- Valentine's Day -- should be a day for romance. The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. The greeting, which was written in 1415, is part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England. Several years later, it is believed that King Henry V hired a writer named John Lydgate to compose a valentine note to Catherine of Valois.

In Great Britain, Valentine's Day began to be popularly celebrated around the seventeenth century. By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was common for friends and lovers in all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. By the end of the century, printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expression of one's feelings was discouraged. Cheaper postage rates also contributed to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentine's Day greetings. Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s. In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began to sell the first mass-produced valentines in America.

According to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentine's Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. (An estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent for Christmas.)

Approximately 85 percent of all valentines are purchased by women. In addition to the United States, Valentine's Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia.

Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages (written Valentine's didn't begin to appear until after 1400), and the oldest known Valentine card is on display at the British Museum. The first commercial Valentine's Day greeting cards produced in the U.S. were created in the 1840s by Esther A. Howland. Howland, known as the Mother of the Valentine, made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as "scrap".

Culled

The Science Of getting Rich

2008-02-11T09:06:00.000+01:00

Hey! Am reading a book titled The Science Of Getting Rich, I believe it's not a book that's new to many people but I consider it a necessary manual for all daring to succeed.

Here I just want to share some excerpts of the book that I believe would be useful for you. Have a palatable read.

Ponder

2008-02-06T19:57:00.000+01:00

A few years ago, during the Para-Olympics

in Seattle, nine participants, all mentally

retarded or physically challenged, had aligned

themselves for the 100 meter hurdles.

     
Although at the given signal they didn't

start exactly at that moment, nor orderly, they

were determined to finish the race and thus win.

All they had to do in order to win the race was

to finish it.

All managed to finish it, except for a

young athlete that fell over the runway passage

of the first hedge. Because of the pain and of

the sorrow, he began to cry. The others hearing

his cry came back for him. They slowed down and

eventually they stopped.

In that day an unprecedented situation

occurred, eight out of the nine athletes

returned in order to help the ninth athlete,

which was in need of assistance. A girl with

the down syndrome came up to the wounded to

give him a kiss and to encourage him:

     "Do not worry, the pain will go away."

 
Although that day the world record was not

beaten from any point of view, but the race was

finished by all nice athletes which past the

finish line together, holding each other with

their arms.

The whole stadium stood up and cheered

them for several minutes. They were even more

enthusiastic in the presence of such a wonderful

gesture then when a record was beaten.

     Why was this possible?

Because we all know well, that basically,

the most important thing in this life is not

so much winning by yourself, but helping others

to win as well, even if you have to slow down

and maybe turn back to help others.

-----------------------------------------------

"Getting together is a beginning; staying

together is a step forward; working together

is a success."

 Henry Ford

PLS, ENJOY IT AND GIVE IT A THOUGHT.

2008-02-05T22:40:00.000+01:00

Death is certain but the Bible speaks about untimely death!

Make a personal reflection about this.....

Very interesting, read until the end.....
It is written in the Bible (Galatians 6:7):

'Be not deceived; God is not mocked:
for whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap.

Here are some men and women
who mocked God :

John Lennon (Singer):

Some years before, during his interview with an American Magazine, he said:

'Christianity will end, it will disappear.
I do not have to argue about
that. I am certain.

Jesus was ok, but his subjects were too simple, Today we are more famous than Him' (1966).

Lennon, after saying that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, was shot six times.

Tancredo Neves (President of Brazil ):
During the Presidential campaign, he said if he got 500,000 votes from his party, not even God would remove him from Presidency.

Sure he got the votes, but he got sick a day before being made President, then he died.

Cazuza (Bi-sexual Brazilian composer, singer and poet):

During A show in Canecio ( Rio de Janeiro ),

while smoking his cigarette, he puffed out some smoke into the air and said: 'God, that's for you.'

He died at the age of 32 of AIDS in a horrible manner.

The man who built the Titanic

After the construction of Titanic, a reporter asked him how safe the Titanic would be.

With an ironic tone he said:
'Not even God can sink it'

The result: I think you all know what happened to the Titanic .

Marilyn Monroe (Actress)

She was visited by Billy Graham during a presentation of a show.
He said the Spirit of God had sent him to preach to her.
After hearing what the Preacher had to say, she said:
'I don't need your Jesus'.

A week later, she was found dead in her apartment .

Bon Scott (Singer)
The ex-vocalist of the AC/DC. On one of his 1979 songs he sang:
'Don't stop me, I'm going down all the way, down the highway to hell'.

On the 19th of February 1980 , Bon Scott was found dead, he had been choked by his own vomit .

Campinas (IN 2005)
In Campinas, Brazil a group of friends, drunk, went to pick up a friend.....
The mother accompanied her to the car and was so worried about the drunkenness of her friends and she said to the daughter holding her hand, who was already seated in the car:

'My Daughter, Go With God And May He Protect You..'
She responded: 'Only If He (God) Travels In The Trunk, Cause Inside Here.....It's Already Full '

Hours later, news came by that they had been involved in a fatal accident, everyone had died,
the car could not be recognized what type of car it had been, but surprisingly, the trunk was intact.

The police said there was no way the trunk could have remained intact. To their surprise, inside the trunk was a crate of eggs, none was broken .

Christine Hewitt (Jamaican Journalist and entertainer) said the Bible (Word of God) was the worst book ever written.

In June 2006 she was found burnt beyond recognition in her motor vehicle .

Many more important people have forgotten that there is no other name that was given so much authority as the name of Jesus.

Many have died, but only Jesus died and rose again, and he is still alive .

'Jesus'

I have done my part, Jesus said

'If you are embarrassed about me,

I will also be embarrassed about you before my father.'

Life is single line walk

2008-01-28T19:08:00.000+01:00

Men walk in a single line on the face

of the earth.

 Each of them has a bag placed on his chest

and a bag on his back.

 In the first bag we place our qualities.

 In the second we place our shortcomings.

Each man has his own criteria for deciding

both shortcoming and advantages or qualities.

 During this long march that we call life,

We keep our eyes fixed on our front bag

We keep our eyes on our front bag, although

we aren't quite at our final destination,

but we feel we shall arrive there soon.

 During this time, on our backs we still

have the weight of our vices which hang

miserably.

 We pretend to ignore it, because we are

too busy,

  We consider our duty to reproach the

defect of our companions, people around us,

which are in front of us and we are free

to see that they have a bag of drawbacks.

 We consider that we are better than him,

forgetting that those who walk behind us

can also see our bag of drawbacks. Those

also consider us less deserving and do not

give us the respect we need.

---------------------------------------

 Isn't this the situation we live every day?

 This short text should remind us that our

position is relative among men: we are not

better or worst than others around us.

 We should give our companion the benefit

of doubt and give him the chance to change

for the better, without reproaching his

Shortcomings.

-----------------------------------------

"The biggest flaw of one is having a lot of

flaws and not trying to correct them. "

Confucius

It's Friday

2008-01-25T16:11:00.000+01:00

I must tell you that I don't feel like writing now but I must write, I sincerely wish that you have a palatable read of this potpourri

Friday means different different things to different people, to some it's time to unwind after a very busy week, to others it's the time when business really booms, whatever it means to you or whatever you do, there should be one thing paramount in every heart, show love!

Enjoy below a combination of different people's thoughts on love be it Agape, eros and fileo.

Winter Moonlight

The snow, so peaceful and serene,
caressed by the soft moonlight,
gave magical feelings to the night.

The soft blue glow,
the lovers' words that then did flow,
their lips closer and closer
until, locked in the throes
of a passionate embrace,
he decided to express his feelings,
to keep her safe.

He whispered softly,
his words like music to her ears,
"I Love You,"
and her response the same,
heard like the gentle breeze,
"And I, love you, forever."

That was the night they promised
to be together through everything,
each to care for the other when old and gray
A lovers' pact
the most likely to last.

- Krista J. Mikula -

You know you are in love
when you see the world in her eyes,
and her eyes everywhere in the world.

- David Levesque

Love is strong yet delicate.
It can be broken.
To truly love is to understand this.
To be in love is to respect this.

- Stephen Packer -

What Is It That I Love?

If asked why I love her I would say
It’s the sway in her hips,
the thickness in her thighs.
It’s the lust in her lips,
the love in her eyes.
It’s the softness of her skin,
the silk in her hair.
It’s the twist in her walk;
it’s the sweetness in her talk.
It’s the way she loves me
that makes me love her each day.
That is what I would say.

- Justin Hutchins -

The Magic Of Love

Love is like magic
And it always will be.
For love still remains
Life's sweet mystery!!
Love works in ways
That are wondrous and strange
And there's nothing in life
That love cannot change!!
Love can transform
The most commonplace
Into beauty and splendor
And sweetness and grace.
Love is unselfish,
Understanding and kind,
For it sees with its heart
And not with its mind!!
Love is the answer
That everyone seeks...
Love is the language,
That every heart speaks.
Love can't be bought,
It is priceless and free,
Love, like pure magic,
Is life's sweet mystery!!

- Helen Steiner Rice -

The Call that saved my life PT2

2008-01-23T20:21:00.000+01:00

I woke a day after my birthday and was preparing to go to church.......... I thought I should send text messages to the people who had taken time out to grace my birthday ceremony just before going to church, when I discovered I had no call credit. I decided to buy from a vendor a few meters away from my house, on my way downstairs I also took the fuel container to give to our Gate-Man to get some fuel for the generator since we'd run out of fuel, when I got downstairs I saw the guy was quite busy so I decided to go get the fuel myself.

I decided to go with the car since I will also be getting the fuel......I never knew that was God's formula for preserving my life. I didn't get down to buy the call credit where I should have bought it normally because I went with a car. Just as I was about coming back into the estate, I received a phone call from my younger brother at home to buy bread for him. I wasn't happy that I had to go back but I went back all the same.

After buying the bread, I faced the estate head-long but a couple of meters from the gate, we started hearing the sound of heavy gun-shots, the sound coming from the AK-47 guns was so scary that I had to hurriedly park the car and dash down the already deserted road with my friend. We eventually found cover in one dirty corner, but we were willing even to roll in the mud just to be safe. After 15 minutes of heavy shooting, we got out of our hiding.........It was then I discovered what had actually happened.

1. The shootings had come from armed robbers who had come to rob inside my estate........and not just inside my estate but a few meters from my house, in fact they had come to the house where I was to buy the call credit just before changing my mind
2. I would have met them if I had gone to buy the call credit, it would have been fatal as they killed the guy selling call credits.
3. After buying the fuel, I would have still fallen into their hands if not for that call to buy bread.
4. That call saved my life cos if I had met them on the road on their way out it would have been disastrous as they shot at anyone and anything on-sight.
5. For the records they killed the guy selling call credits, shot 2 Police-Men and people going to their different churches--------innocent passers -by.

What do you think would have been my story? what would have been the lot of my parents? what would have happened to the deposits of God on my inside........My best stories are not yet told, I have a song not yet released, what will happen to the many books I will write?

Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as a prey to their teeth

Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken and we are escaped.

Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 124 : 6-8

The Call that saved my life

2008-01-22T01:48:00.000+01:00

Guess what? Saturday was my birthday! I intend to make it a tradition to gather friends, foes, colleagues and well wishers together every January 19 to celebrate God's faithfulness, so I started this year. It was grand!
Anytime I delve into reminiscence and weigh the kind of favour and love God has showered on me, my jaw drops and my mouth hangs agape in testimony to the wonders of God. All through the waters, through the fiery fire. What would have happened when I fell into that deep well(this is not figurative)?, what would have happened when my tender body was badly crushed by that over-speeding car?

I have been through a lot and I mean a lot! the summary of all I have been through can only be properly captioned by the words of the psalmist

He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters
He delivered me from my strong enemy and from them which hated me
They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the lord was my stay
He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me because he delighted in me. Psalm 18:16-19

So on Saturday over sixty people gathered in my house just to thank God for his unfailing faithfulness towards me in the past years; I must also at this point thank all my buddies that made it happen for me.......the party was so grand, yet I only spent 20% of the total cost of the party.....my friends took responsibility for the remaining 80%. I am not naturally a party person but it's just common wisdom to appreciate the giver of life for the gift of life and I vow to continue this in different ways and places in the years to come.

In a very funny twist, on Sunday January 20, 2008 a strange occurrence happened......I woke a day after my birthday and was preparing to go to church.......... To be Continued.

Searching for the perfect Woman

2008-01-18T03:36:00.000+01:00

As I was preparing to wrap up the day, I received a mail from my Swiss Friend, Xtian. I was so blessed with the little article he sent to me that I feel it will be unfair if I don't share it with my online buddies.

Have a palatable read!

I have travelled the world in search
 Of the perfect woman.

   After 10 years of search, I
 Am determined to go home.
 
   My best friend asked me:
 
   -- So? You have finally met your
 Perfect woman?
 
   I told him
 
   -- To the south, yes, I found the most
 Beautiful woman. Her eyes were
 Embers, her hair was golden and
 Her body, similar to that of a goddess.
 
   My friend was enthusiastic:
   -- Oh my Lord! You have made her your wife?
   -- Unfortunately I couldn't, She turned out  not
 To be perfect, because she was very poor.
 
   So, I explored the North and I
 Met a woman who was more
 Rich that all women of the earth
 Combined! She did not even know
 How big was her fortune!
 
   -- So, it was the imbodiment of
 Perfection, right?

   -- No, I replied. The problem
 Was that it was the most ugly
 Creature I have ever set my eyes on during my life time.
 
   Finally, I fled to the east and only
 there, I met a
 Women that was beautiful, rich and intelligent.
 She trully  was perfect ...
 
   -- Well ... Have you married her?
 Asked my friend

   -- No. Because unfortunately,
 This woman was also perfect in
 Searching  for the perfect man!
 

 _________________________________
 
   When you search for perfection, it's
 Change that you will only find ...
 Disappointment. No one and nothing is perfect in
 This world. We need to be ready to search and
 Face imperfection, and sometimes
 We should be ready to renounce our demands.
 We ourselves are not perfect, why should
 We expect perfection from others?

 Better: don't we encouter perfection
 as soon as we stop searching?

 Finally, can we say that true beauty
 Is truly in these small issues,
 In these anomalies that make us
 Be even closer to each other, being more
 Similar, more worthy to love?
 
 
   "Look for success, not for
   Perfection. "

One day as Chairman

2008-01-17T20:34:00.000+01:00

Sobriety, humility and patience are some of the words that marked my 1day stay in the highest office in Generis Solutions.

I came quite early to the office but just couldn’t go into that sacred office until I was able to gather enough courage from my colleagues. The day turned out a Training session to me because I never had the time to get involved in some frivolities that I would have been involved in naturally. I talked less, ate less, did everything in moderation because I was conscious of the dignity that should be attached to that office.

I discovered another aspect of my personality today just because I was still, meeeeeeeeen silence is golden! I was also able to think through on so many thoughts that existed as just rough ideas in my mind. I had the privilege of meeting with the CEO of a company and I gave my best business presentation ever; she was tripped that she couldn’t hide it.

I have been asking myself this question “If 1 day could very productive just because I concentrated, then how would it be if I determine to live my life like this on a daily basis? Then I will be Unstoppable, truly Unlimited” How I wish to live my life as though the Camera and the Microphone were perpetually turned on; this helps me fall in line even when I would have derailed.

It’s 6.25pm, it’s been a full day wearing the crown, how I wish my colleagues know how heavy the crown weighs so that they can carry their crosses well before picking up this crown.

Preparation

2008-01-15T09:28:00.000+01:00

A very funny thing is happening in my office today, my MD came up with an idea of rotating his office among all employees of the company, which means, for a particular day Kamal will be the MD/CEO and another day Ola will call the shots, Felix, Mobolaji, Yemisi, Joy, Tola and all will eventually take their turns. In a funny twist of events, the lot fell on me to be the first "CHAIRMAN" as we refer to the CEO in my office.

Seated on the Chairman's seat, a lot of thoughts gushed through my heart all at once, I am wondering what my MD thought of before deciding to give all of us a run out of the highest office in the company, I am wondering now that if this truly happens and by a stroke of "luck" I find myself in this position if am prepared enough to put up a "Tour de Force"

A lot rise and fall on preparation, it doesn't matter if you have the talent for it, but if you are not prepared for it you can never be exceptional at it. While we earnestly look forward to that position we dream of , a question that should remain pertinent on our hearts is, how prepared are we? The office of a CEO is one I dream of and I know I will be one day but am I prepared for it? or at best am I preparing for it.

Preparation is all important because it prepares you for the burden of the crown. Unknown to many of us carrying the cross of preparation helps us stand strong enough to bear the weight of the crown because the crown is heavier than the cross. It takes more discipline, more and more of everything. The standard will never be lower because you are now in a higher office, so if you can not follow through the pains of preparations now, how will you be able to survive in that day?

I have said enough, let me go back to work, don't forget am the Chairman at least for today.

New Naija

2008-01-14T20:35:00.000+01:00

As I prepared to write this post, sequel posts came to mind. I just discovered that more than 50% of my posts on this blog have been about Nigeria; It's either I asked a question as in "Nigeria, How Far?" Or I give a clue into the prophetic destiny of my great country as in "The Nigeria Of My Dreams" and several other posts. One thing however has been the central theme of all these posts, I believe so much that this state called Naija will work, it doesn't matter how many things have gone wrong, Nigeria is not doomed! "God pass dem". I know we are so blessed yet so stressed, I know we can not guarantee an average Nigerian the basic things of life, I know that most Nigerian live below 1 dollar per day, does it matter? It really doesn't matter that the Power Holding Company Of Nigeria holds the the power more than necessary, Nigeria will work!

In my last post I hinted about an idea that would soon be hatched. It's no longer news that idea has not only be hatched, a new dawn is here for Nigerians and all the lovers of Nigeria; It has come in the mould of the New Naija Club.

The New Naija Club is an association of a group of people determined to always keep the vision of New Nigeria on the front burner.

The New Nigeria Dream : A Nigeria that is value driven and prosperous. A Nigeria that is one of the most desirable places to live on earth. A land of opportunity, of freedom and of hope. A Land where the strong help the weak, where everyone has the opportunity to be their best. A Nation that’s the envy of the world.

Watch out! a New Nigeria is emerging and all hands are on deck. We are joining resources, we are spreading a positive epidemic, we are constantly brainstorming on ideas, we are well aware that the New Nigeria Project will take so much from us, but we are not only ready to spend, we are ready to be spent for this cause.

Long Live New Naija Club!

Long Live Naija!!

Live In Dubai

2007-10-24T07:49:00.000+01:00

I have spent the last 9days in Dubai, in the comapny of colleagues and my Chairman. Those few days have not just been interesting and enjoyable, they have also been very revealing.

I had the privilege of visiting some historical sites in Dubai and it became all the more shocking for me when I discovered that these folks discovered Oil almost the same time like we did in Nigeria but the successive Leaders have been visionary enough to judiciously use the resources to build a city that stands today as a wonder to the whole world; the influx of people of all Race and Tribe can only further butress my point that Dubai is way ahead in terms of development.

There couldnt have been a better city for us to choose for the assignment we came for ( you will get the gist about that later, once the plans are hatched).

One of the resolutions I made during my trip to Dubai is to make sure to keep my blog current and up-to-date and also make sure that here alot of goodies will be continually served- so help me God.

P.S. I will do a complete post on my Dubai journey when I get to Nigeria- Lots of Pictures

ARSENAL, BUT WHY?

2007-06-24T16:41:00.000+01:00

Henry - It was the most difficult decision of my life

Arsenal Football Club today gave Thierry Henry the opportunity to speak to Arsenal supporters about his departure from the Club. What follows is the unedited transcript of the interview. The views expressed by Thierry Henry are not necessarily representative of Arsenal Football Club or its employees.

Thierry you have left Arsenal, can you tell the supporters your reasons for going?

“I have said it so many times. Before Mr Dein left, for whatever reason, I went to the boss and said I don’t want to leave. There had been a lot of speculation about me and I assured him that I did not want to leave. But after Mr Dein left that unsettled the team and the boss. Especially as at the moment he has not committed himself to the club. He said he will see out his contract but you cannot be sure if he is going to go or stay [at the end of next season]. Hopefully he is going to stay but I need to be certain and reassured of that. Everybody knows I am 30. The boss being unsettled, Mr Dein going, it did unsettle me a bit. After that I had thoughts of leaving the club.

“It is a difficult day for me to come here at Emirates Stadium and talk about this. But I want to come here explain why to the fans. I want to be certain of where the club was going and reassured in a way. I wasn’t and I have chosen to go."

How long did the decision take and how agonising was it?

“It was a long one but nobody knew what was happening to be honest. We were hearing some stuff in the press about what happened and what did not happen so you have to make your own mind up. It was the most difficult decision of my life.

“Beating the record of Wrighty, putting it at 226, playing for Arsenal, loving the club. It was and will remain the most difficult decision of my life. I will always love the club.”

Arsène Wenger has always said ‘Arsenal will be club of my life’ because he has spent the prime of his career here. Is that true for you too?

"I don’t know if I will play eight years more or where the future is so yes. I had a special relationship with the fans with the boss, Mr Dein and everybody who was attached to Arsenal. Arsenal will always be in my heart, my blood, my head. Everybody will. The press office, the chef, the girls at the training ground, the guys who made the pitch perfect at the training ground and at Emirates, the guys at stadium who help us perform at our best. I will miss everybody. The Arsenal fans who told me to step up my game or to carry on. It will be huge miss for me. I will take everybody in my head and my heart. Everybody who I trained with a worked with. Especially the boss and Mr Dein and the Arsenal fans who have been more than tremendous to me. It was unreal at times.

“I looked the schedule and already know when we, I mean you, are playing against Tottenham. I did it as a reflex. When fixtures came out I looked for Tottenham and I know it is pretty early on. When they play I will be watching and trying to be the first to know the result even though I know the fans will beat me. It is really special coming here [to Emirates Stadium] to talk about it. I will always have Arsenal in my blood I know some people will never accept the decision I just want to say to the fans that I always gave 100 per cent. Even the last year when I was injured I tried to perform. It was not the 30 goals you were used to but it was 17 games in the League and scored 10 so that was not a bad ratio. It was all about the heart and the commitment to win for Arsenal. I always, always, always, always gave 100 per cent.”

Let’s look back, what was your best goal?

“They were all amazing for me. I think I scored some good goals at Highbury and away but the one that stands out was my second against Liverpool when we went unbeaten in the League. I never heard Highbury going crazy like that. I thought the place was going to collapse and you could tell by my celebration that it was the right time and place to score that goal. I went a bit mental. The place was just too loud. Scoring goals for Arsenal gave me goosebumps but that was a stand-out goal and kept us in the title race. We stayed there until the end.”

Your best moment?

“I would say winning the League unbeaten but one that would top that is my last goal at Highbury when I kissed the ground. It was a special moment for me. But as well this particular day is one of the saddest of my career, leaving Highbury. I can’t say it was the best moment but it was a particular moment. I am still shaking talking about it now.”

The best Arsenal side you have played in?

“Difficult to say, some people came here and did not win anything but that does not mean they were not great players. If I go with the team that stayed unbeaten then that means I have to leave out David Seaman and a load of other players. But in terms of the results then staying unbeaten is something rather amazing. But then with the guys before, we had won the Double. Every time I wore an Arsenal shirt it was just amazing. When I stepped on that pitch even where I was not performing well whoever was playing with me at the time was the right guy for me."

As for the fans was there any moment that sums them up?

“I would say when we lost the Champions League Final against Barcelona in Paris. They all stayed afterwards and clapped us. That was a very special moment for the team. It is easy to stay there and cheer when you win but it is hard to clap your guys when you have just lost one of the titles you were waiting for.

“But as well I would say the first time I arrived here and people were giving me stick. The fans were always behind me and cool with me. I could go through whole eight years, it was crazy. I have had a really special relationship with them.”

How has Thierry Henry and Arsenal changed in the last eight years?

“I would like to think that when people talk about Arsenal they see the Boss has brought the ‘Arsenal touch’ and the ‘Arsenal way’, and I’m truly proud of being one of those guys to have helped play the way we have been. And I am sure it will carry on, because Arsenal was playing like that before me and they will be playing like that after me.

“Arsenal is a club that is now well known throughout Europe and that’s all down to the Boss. Also, the fans, they are never in trouble with fighting or disrespectful to other fans. The Arsenal fans have always made us proud.

“From a personal point of view, at Arsenal I have really become a man. This is thanks to the Boss, thanks to all the players, thanks to all the facilities at the Club and as I said before, thanks to all the people who made my life easier here, they have made me a man.”

Turning to the future of the Club, if you read the media at the moment it’s 'crisis at Arsenal' and 'the walls of Emirates Stadium are coming down'. Surely that’s not true, the players and the set-up are far too good?

“The set-up and the facilities are far too good and we still have a lot of the main people who are staying. As I have said so many times, the team here is growing and there is some amazing talent here and I do think this is the right time for Robin van Persie, Emmanuel Adebayor and Nicklas Bendtner who is coming back from Birmingham, to shine. Hopefully they will do it. As soon as you know they can do it, they will forget about me, that’s the way it is.

“When Patrick left everyone was devastated, including me and then after that a little guy came around called Cesc Fabregas and, although I didn’t agree with it, everyone started saying ‘who needs Patrick Vieira?’ For me the guys we have here are amazing, but you always need Patrick Vieira.

“I don’t believe what everybody is saying about the Club collapsing, having a lack of players and everyone leaving. I think it is untrue. Cesc Fabregas is a world class player, Robin van Persie is a world class player, hopefully Adebayor will become a world class player, Tomas Rosicky is a world class player, Jens Lehmann is a world class player, Toure and Gallas are world class players. You can go through the whole squad like that.

“As I said to you, I will now become now an Arsenal fan and will be looking at every result and I’m sure the team will be successful.”

How did you tell the Boss you wanted to go?

“To be honest, I have a great relationship with the Boss. I’ve told you the reasons why I wanted to go and I told him exactly the same reasons. That’s how it is, I talked to the Boss about private stuff and non-private stuff. A bit of everything.

“But as I said to you, today is a very sad day for me. Whatever people are going to talk or read or see into it, it is a very sad for me.

“One thing that I forgot to say earlier was about the pride to play for the shirt and the team. In France we don’t have that. When I was young I used to support Bordeaux, but when they lost I went to support Marseille. But here you really learn the importance and the value of the shirt and the club. Arsenal is like that, an English family.

“Although I have had disagreements with the press over here, they have been tremendous to me, keeping me on my toes. But everyone has been great, the fans, playing away, getting booed, getting cheered, getting standing ovations. I will always, always remember that. And Arsenal gave me that, the way we were playing, getting standing ovations from away fans was just out of this world. It’s hard to understand because in France they are just not like that. If you play well at home [in France] you get a standing ovation, if you play well away from home, well, you play well away from home, that’s it.

“Getting a standing ovation away from home with Arsenal is something I will never forget, because you know a lot of people are really appreciating what you are doing as a team and it’s outstanding.

“As I have said before, I just want to thank everyone at the Club, the girls who work at the training ground, the girls who wash the kits, the masseurs, the staff at the Club, the staff at the stadium, the staff who work on the pitch at the stadium, the staff who work on the pitches at the training ground, the press office, the coach driver, everybody. Everybody here, I would just like to thank everybody here.

“Also to all the teams I have played against here, all the battles I have had against the players here, some of the fans away, the press and the refs, it’s been a great time. Everyone has just made it special and I would just like to thank everybody, but especially to all the people involved at Arsenal.

“It’s important to me to come to the Club today and say something properly because the fans have given me so much and I hope I gave a lot back to them. I want to keep my box here and I want to come back and watch some games, if they let me in! But it’s been a very weird day.”

Arsène Wenger has said he will stay on at least until his contract finishes next summer. We hope he stays on. If he does would you regret your decision?

“I don’t regret what I do. Playing for Arsenal was an honour for me. And I will say that until the day I die. When Patrick Vieira left the team had to move on and we came close to winning the Champions League. But this type of guy we were already missing.

“Not having Arsène around anymore — and everybody at the Club — will be ‘missing’ for me. It is a fact but it won’t be a regret. When Patrick left, I was devastated I missed the guy and I still miss the guy even though I see him with the national team. But I was devastated because he was a good guy to be around on the pitch or off the pitch. It goes beyond sport. That is why I won’t go with the regret word but more ‘missing’.

If you left Arsenal was it always going to be Barcelona. Is there some thing special about them?

“There is something special here at Arsenal too. I left Arsenal to go to Barcelona because, no disrespect to any other team, but there are only two teams in the world who play football the way I like it. That is the way the people here like it — the Arsenal way. That is how we play football here and ‘we’ play football there. If I can say that is one of the is the main reasons for Barcelona. The football they play is attractive to watch.”

Finally, your last Arsenal.com question as a Arsenal player, do you have a message for the fans?

“Well, I would to say you have been tremendous for me I really do appreciate it. I am shaking as I say this. I will always remember you. I will have you in my head and my heart. I wanted to reassure you that I always gave 100 per cent here. I know some people said some other stuff but I always gave 100 per cent. I hope you appreciate what I did here because I appreciate what you did for me. I grew as a man and became a better football player. I will always take that with me no matter what happens.

“Arsenal will be in my blood aswell as my heart. I will always, always, always remember you guys. I said I was going to be a Gunner for life and I did not lie because when you are a Gunner you will always be a Gunner. The Club is in my heart and will remain in my heart forever.

Nigeria- How far?

2007-05-29T21:58:00.000+01:00

Today is a very important day in the history of my dear country-Nigeria. This will be the first time ever that there will be a Civilian to Civilian transition, while we relish this monumental milestone, the Nigerian story leaves people like me with so much questions than the answers i could garner. It pains my heart that we had only very little to do about what "they" have done for us; they rigged the elections, they killed innocent people, they looted our treasury with reckless abandon, all because they wanted to perpetuate themselves in power. Not to talk of their PARTING GIFT to us; a litter of Petrol now sells for N75. When I look at all what they have done and the pains that my people are continuously exposed to I weep from within.

Nigeria is not doomed, we will not forever be at their mercies, Nigeria is a nation destined for true greatness and she shall be great!

Sorry

2007-04-30T15:11:00.000+01:00

I know this site would have become so boring to so many people by now. Am so sorry for that, am just taking my time to put some things in place, I will soon come out with a bang.

The Lessons I learnt at the Abeokuta Stadium

2007-03-29T12:10:00.000+01:00

Don't think my blog has suddenly become a football (Soccer) blog, last weekend I decided to chill out and relax a bit, knowing that Saturday was Nigeria's crunchy match against the Cranes of Uganda. I saw it also has an opportunity to see my Parents and siblings since the match was taking place at Abeokuta where my Parents stay.
Before setting out, I had called Zico (my younger brother, a 400Level Law Student of the prestigious OAU) to get the ticket for me, since I wasn't ready for any hassles. Before I left Lagos for Abeokuta, he called me that he already got the ticket, so I took my journey down to the city under the rock.
I discovered when I got to Abeokuta that Zico had bought the ticket for the so called "Popular Side" I decided to just stay there and enjoy the match, especially because the tickets had gone out of sale. But the experience I had watching the match at the popular side, informed this piece.
I endured the most cruel 90 minutes of my life watching that match, aside the lackluster performance of the Super Eagles; watching a football match from the popular side is an experience I wouldn't pray for again. I entered dry and neat into the stadium but left wet and dirty; no thanks to the missiles thrown at will by the fans. The reason is not far-fetched, the popular side was so filled up, that there was no space at all.
In the midst of all these, I had several thoughts running through my mind.

To be continued.

Life Without Henry

2007-03-12T15:47:00.000+01:00

As Arsenal trudged off the pitch against PSV, and out of their third competition in 11 days, one image made its way across the newspapers and TV screens from the Emirates Stadium. That of Arsenal captain and talisman Thierry Henry on his knees again, injured in pursuit of glory.

GettyImages

Thierry Henry limps off injured after the PSV game.

'This game is killing me,' the Frenchman apparently shouted as he made his way down the tunnel past the interviewers. However, it was his revelation that he has not played a game since October without being in pain that will shock the Gunners' faithful. Without the striker for long periods already this season, Arsenal have shown they can cope. Beating Manchester United at Old Trafford with an exceptional performance, Arsene Wenger has relied on Emmanuel Adebayor to lead the line more than the Frenchman, who has not managed to reach his usual top scorer accolade - that honour falling to Robin Van Persie. That said, Henry's stats are pretty impressive, having scored 12 times in 24 games and he continues to be a psychological threat to the opposition, even if physically he has been found wanting. To sell Henry in the summer would not be a good move for Wenger. Amid speculation over interest from Barcelona and a possible swap deal with Cameroonian hitman Samuel Eto'o, there are many who believe Henry's contribution to the side so far this year would warrant a quick sale. Despite entering the final few years of his career, a £30million price tag is unlikely to put off potential suitors given his undoubted pedigree; yet he is simply too important for Arsenal to consider letting him go. His influence on the youngsters, most notably Theo Walcott and Adebayor, is key in their development and Arsenal rely on his experience to guide them, particularly in Europe. This season however, Henry's injury situation has proved to be a gamble too far. Under the cloud of a sciatica problem that is the root cause of his back and hamstring troubles, the Frenchman should not consider coming back before the end of the season and, instead, should concentrate on getting fully fit for next term. With no silverware on offer now and the prospect of claiming a Champions League place with Wenger's array of talented youngsters still looking good, Henry is not needed in the short term. Next August should be his deadline, as Arsenal will need their striker in flying form if they are to mount a serious title challenge in 2007/08. Another trophyless season next campaign will not be greeted with as much sympathy as this one. A further change in the Arsenal hierarchy should come, diplomatically, in the installation of Gilberto Silva as club skipper. The Brazilian is not under the same pressure as Henry and, in his capacity as midfield enforcer, is more suited to the organisational part of captaincy. Allowing Henry to continue in his responsibility as role-model to Arsenal's young guns, but without the weight of the captain's armband, could be the key to his rediscovery of the form that has seen him average almost 50 goals a season in all competitions since his arrival in 2001/02. There is an argument that Arsenal's 'fortnight from hell' would have been significantly eased by better injury news. Robin Van Persie was an important goal-scoring threat before a metatarsal injury ruled him out, Tomas Rosicky was the club's most in-form player before he injured his thigh and William Gallas' on-off hamstring troubles have also disrupted the Gunners' defence; yet it is Henry's nightmare that has hurt the club the most and become the scapegoat for their failure to succeed this season. Yet it was Wenger's choice to introduce the Frenchman against PSV, when Arsenal were in the ascendancy and the striker was obviously struggling. A symptom of the manager's unfaltering belief in his captain, yet probably the reason that the Gunners' attacking instincts were blunted in the final third. When Henry is fully fit and full of confidence, he is one of the best strikers in the world. Holding on the shoulder of the last defender, using his exceptional pace and trickery to create openings for himself and his team-mates, he is unstoppable and has been an ever-present in the Player of the Year ballots for the past five years. Yet we have seen a different Henry this season. Often dropping deep to pick up possession, he has been crowded out by defenders and when he does break free into a one-on-one situation he is restrained from beating the player by his injuries.

GettyImages

Henry will be important in the futures of Arsenal's young players like Fabregas.

It's almost as if there's a conscious thought that he may pull his hamstring if he unleashes his pace. As a result he sits in the Dennis Bergkamp role and gets involved in the build-up play, when he should be the one benefiting from the passes of Cesc Fabregas and Arsenal's other creative midfielders. The charismatic World Cup winner still has a lot to offer the side, and is worth his weight in gold on the training pitch, developing the talents of Denilson, Walcott and Abou Diaby. Yet on the pitch, and for the rest of this season at least, Wenger would be better off letting him focus on his recovery. Unencumbered by injuries, the thought of Henry flying at defenders again is a mouth-watering prospect for Arsenal fans. If he can get fully fit again then the future of Arsenal's youngsters is in good hands. The problem comes if he continues to struggle with injuries again at the start of next season, or Arsenal are forced to play him again too soon. The Gunners should have enough strength in depth to cope without him, but the reality is that Wenger will most likely turn to his talisman again (as he did against PSV) if the club's situation deteriorates. Focusing on pre-season is surely the best way to deal with Henry's injury nightmare. They may lose him for the rest of the season, but another trophyless campaign like this one next term and the summer of 2008 could spell the end of Henry's love-affair with Arsenal.

Culled from www.soccernet.com

What is your greatest fear?

2007-03-10T02:15:00.000+01:00

I will finish up with the concluding part of Rejoice! later on but since it's Friday, I would like to shout my 'TGIF' by sharing a thought with you.
The words I will be sharing with you were words I read several years ago but didn't make any sense to me. I would later come across this words again when I was employed by Generis, where at a time it was mandatory for all to know it by heart. I also came across these powerful words again while watching a film by Samuel L. Jackson.
The words have wrongly attributed to Nelson Mandela as his 1994 Inaugural speech, the greatest impact the words however had on me was when I heard it again in Samuel L Jackson's Coach Carter.
I believe it will do you a lot of good as you go about enjoying the weekend.

Our Greatest Fear

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light , not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of god. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make and manifest the glory of god that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

-Marianne Williamson
“Our Greatest Fear” from her book “A Return To Love”

Rejoice! Part 2

2007-03-02T08:43:00.000+01:00

..................... Yea! cold jitters were sent down our spines as news began to filter in, that some Corps Members coming to State Capital from Warri had been involved in an accident, before long, we got the wind that this was not only true but that two graduating Corps Members had lost their lives. What a calamity! This particular incidence left me with several questions which have helped pattern the way I react to situations and circumstances. Let me share some of those questions with you: 1. Why didn't these guys die when they were born, when they were in secondary schools or probably when they were in the University, why should it be now?
2. Does it mean that God must be so cruel to have allowed this at this point?
3. Why do bad things happen to good people ?

Many more questions.

Rejoice! Part 1

2007-03-01T16:23:00.000+01:00

I will like to share 3 grueling experiences with you, though they are not things that happened to me, but these incidences have shaped my outlook towards life. Here they are:

1. It's exactly One year and one month today; I was still serving my fatherland in far away Delta State. 1st February will forever remain fresh in my memories, that was the day Batch A 2005 Corps Members passed out. Prior to that day, there was a lot of merry making in the air, people rejoicing; it was such a wonderful experience.
These guys had reasons to rejoice ; they have served Nigeria for 12 Months and its now time for them to serve themselves, make money and live large. Though I was not passing out on that,but, I was at the Arcade Ground along Nnebisi Road, Asaba the venue of the Passing -out -Parade.
Youth Corps Members from all Local Government Areas in the state began to troop in and it was a happy reunion for many as they didn't see in the space of those 12 months; embraces, kisses, hugs characterized the setting for the day, but all of a sudden cold jitters were sent down our spines....................... To be continued.

Hold on!

2007-02-21T23:00:00.000+01:00

"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win"

Mahatma Gandhi

Ibikunle just sent me this thought of the great Legend some minutes back and it sparked a series of thought in my mind that I decided to blog about it.

Those words played back some very bad experiences I have had; ignored, battered, scorned, endless battles etc. Those words also reminds me of the words of the Psalmist that says " they have ridden over us and scorned at us, but you have brought us into a large place".

Jesus the Christ carried the solutions to all of man's miseries yet He was scorned, abused and mocked. It's possible that you are the hope of a people and the expectation of a generation and it doesnt quite look any inch like it, because of your present circumstances.

If you hold on a bit, if you refuse to lose your head, if you allow the ultimate vision to guide your responses to the things you are experiencing..................................... You will exceed your own very thoughts.

IT'S ALL ABOUT DONATION

2007-02-18T22:41:00.000+01:00

The weekend has been productive for me. Yesterday, myself and some of my very good friends had a meeting in a restaurant that has become a favorite for me and my fiance. The subject of our discussion? A thought that has been on my thought and that actually influenced my last post.

We spent quality time talking about how we can become agents of change, how we can positively affect this nation, the continent and the world. We talked about how we can burst out hunger from this land (of course we met at Hungerbusters). Our position was upon the fact that we believe that the reason why GOD IS BLESSING US IS NOT BECAUSE OF US.

"Life is not about duration but donation"
JOHN MASON

We have made up our minds that even if it will take the last drop of our bloods, we will continully use all God's resources available at our disposal to make positive impacts.

Impacting the lives of others

2007-02-14T19:13:00.000+01:00

" What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you"

Mike Murdock

It's been quite a while since I updated my blog, no thanks to the bad networks at the cybercafes where I have twice tried to do so, added to this is the change that has been happening to me. This change saw me moving from my former company to my new job, sorry I didnt keep you informed of all these changes.
I think it would be very unfair if I refuse to blog on a day like this, when love is been shared all over the world; so I will like to use this medium to extend my love to all of you who have made my sojourn on the checkered pavement of mortality worth a fruitful voyage. This valentine day, I will like to share a secret that can take you to the top ten times faster than you ever thought.
Making contributions into the lives of others is a secret so many people have failed to explore, we live in a world that tends to make you self- centred; you hear stuffs like " my car, my phone, my house etc. Not so many people take time out to know what's up with their neighbours and fellow beings, yet I have come to know that the sole reason why God blesses us is not because of us but because of His kingdom and because of humanity. When you make enough contributions towards the development of others then life automatically places you on a high pedestal- it's automatic!
As we go about, in the spirit of the season and as we go through life, let's seek the ultimate good of others and before you know it, you would have achieved and surpassed your personal goals.
P.S. Yejide, you make my world complete and am not ashamed or afraid to shout it on the rooftop that I LOVE YOU

Gratitude Matters

2007-01-27T06:35:00.000+01:00

Thank God it's Friday! As we go to enjoy the weekend, I have my good buddy (Ugonna) by my side; he came in today all the way from the Garden city, I just thought about gratitude and felt like blogging about it.
I know that you are not yet what you are supposed to be, but, have you also noted that you are not what you used to be? There will be many reasons for you to count as small, the various tender mercies of God but dont be deceived. Gratitude prepares you to receive more, it's an acknowledgement that you are actually being helped by the big Boss upstairs.
As you go about this weekend, I encourage you to think about how you have been saved from a disaster, healed of a disease and more. This morning while going to work, I would have had an accident, but He kept me, He deserves the praise.
What do you think?

My many questions for Nigerian leaders 2

2007-01-25T02:07:00.000+01:00

5. When will the long queues disappear from our gas stations?
6. When will poverty stop driving noble citizens to barbaric acts? Imagine the recent pipeline expolsion.
7. When will our educational institutions stop being war colleges? No thanks to cultism
8. When will supposed honorable men stop engaging in ignoble acts, like keeping voters registration machine in the house and taking the mace away from the sacred national assembly?
9. When will extortion stop being a part of the Nigerian Police's Curriculum?
10. When will the Niger Delta youths stop their unrest, because they have been unfairly treated?
As I continue to write, I discover that there are more questions than answers, it therefore behoves the individual that will be seeking an elective office come 2007 to count the cost. Enough of making the Nigerian state a big contract where everyone just come to take his own share.
We are standing up to our responsibility!

My many qestions for Nigerian Leaders Pt 1

2007-01-16T19:20:00.000+01:00

As we begin a new year and prepare for the forthcoming elections, methinks this is the best time to ask our incumbent and aspiring leaders some pertinent questions; so that the latter will come to terms with enormous taks ahead of him and the former will check the scorecard and know how well he has fared.
It never ceases to bother me why a nation as blessed as my dear nation could still be so stressed and except our leaders and indeed all Nigerians answer the following questions, our dream of a better Nigeria could be one step further. Does this mean that I have lost confidence in the Nigeria State? Obviously No! I believe so much in this country that I even blogged about the "Nigeria of my dreams", but a stitch in time they say saves nine. Our leaders have sown to the wind and we are now reaping the whirlwind of all sorts of menace, it has grown so bad that the"son of a butcher, who should have access to all sorts of meats is now left with the only option of eating bones" ( Native Nigerian adage).
1. When will the average Nigerian be proud that he is from this country?
2. When will power outage and shortage be a thing of the past?
3. When will Nigerians stop rejoicing and dancing all about because they have what should naturally be theirs?
4. When will holding elective offices, stop being a route to syphoning our collective funds?

Why?
These and many other quetions are boiling in my heart.

When Silence is golden

2007-01-15T18:30:00.000+01:00

Well, may I saw a happy new year first? This is my first appearance on the blogsphere for this year, the reason is not the lack of ideas, but there are times when speech is silver and silence is golden!
There are times when you allow your good ideas go through a process so that they become better ideas and you give room for personal stretch. These are not the times to blow your trumpet or scream about how much you know; they are times to assess yourself if you have really fared well and possibly refill for the great tasks ahead.
I think I have had my time doing these and I now have the impetus to fly. To those who have really made this blog a home, I promise there will never be a dull moment in 2007.
If you are ready, then let's fly together!
Increase is here!

.............and the world keeps coming......

2006-12-22T18:00:00.000+01:00

My company is closing for the year today,so I consider today a unique opportunity to take stocks for the year. I discovered that one of the greatest goods that happened to me this year is that of being introduced to blogging. I remembered when I started with no experience, I decided to make my voice heard all over the world.
It's been just four months, but, am a very happy man today because my dream is on its way to fruition. My blog without had enjoyed viewership from all the continents of the world..........my voice is truly been heard. My thoughts no doubt has influenced someone as close Ghana, Uganda and South Africa to someone as far as India, China and Australia; and it's good to know that the journey had just begun.
I intend to devote a larger chunk of my time and energy to blogging in 2007, I intend to help the people and the nations; bringing timely words of encouragement and comfort to them. On a final note I wish to congratulate all Nigerian blogger s and indeed all bloggers of the world, urging us to take the creative plane next year.
Aloha!

HOW I INTEND TO USE CONSULTING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN NIGERIA

2006-12-20T18:32:00.000+01:00

While growing up, I often heard that the” greatest problem in Nigeria and indeed all black Nations is that of leadership” and ever since I had resolved in my mind to choose a career path that will help in building the leadership capacity of my dear country. I discovered also that the opportunity to actualize my dreams can be found in consulting where you have the opportunity of being a leader’s leader.

I intend to make a difference in Nigeria via consulting by providing creative and innovative solutions for people and organisations, as they face unprecedented challenges, fierce intra-industry competition, overwhelming governmental policies and regulations, technological advancements, multicultural diversity in the workforce, customer expectations and retention, and micro and macro economic unpredictability; this I intend to do using a blend of coaching, workshops, Role Plays etc. By so doing I would have provided them with information and advice which leads to real and lasting solution of a problem.

I will constantly think, analyze, brainstorm, cajole and challenge good organizations to become even better by adopting new ideas. I also intend to tread the path of great consultants by being able to step into ambiguous, sometimes hostile situations and sense what changes need to be made, driven by ideas and a strong desire to have a positive impact on clients.

By doing all these I would have increased my bandwidth and shifted my paradigm, which would have made me a better person, I also believe that “Repetition is the mother of skills” as I do these repeatedly I become exceptionally good and skillful at my work.

Thanks For Making My Year.

2006-12-15T19:21:00.000+01:00

Kamal and Rev Mrs Dele George( founder Little Saints Orphanage)

Recently, I was just thinking about those who have made my 2006 very memorable, am talking about those who have divided my pains and multipied my joy. To me, 2006 was very testy, there were times I cried (yes!), there were times I was hit below the belt, there were times when situations and circumstances threatened to impeach the veracity of God's Precious Promises for me, I lost some things but gained several other things.
I will like to make a quick list of all those who have touched my life with their act of kindness, some went into the over- drive just to save my face, some endured inconveniences because they thought they owe God a responsibility of taking care of me. To all of you, I will like to say a very big thank you, peradventure I forget to make mention of your name here, forgive me , you know we are humans? Here I go!

The Divine Members Of The Trinity- I dont know what life would have been without the undying love of the Father of all lights, the comfort of His Spirit and His word. Thank you dear father.
Prince & Mrs Oyedunle- My dear parents, your understanding has been second to none, I pray for good health for you both, you will enjoy the fruits of your laour.

Alo Y.C- I lack words to say, but more will be said later, you mean so much to me.

Adeolu Akinyemi- I will live to thank God for the privilege of meeting this genius, Chairman, thanks for investing your time and resources in my development. Your type is uncommon, any time I think about the rarity of your ingenuity, I just conclude in my heart that "some mothers do have them"

NCCF DELTA- Thanks for the opportunity to serve, though things went wrong, but I believe there are sweeter memories. I cant begin to mention all your names, but you are all in my heart.

Ali Obaje- My Papa, your words were vital at my decision making hour, thanks for being a true leader, I believe we will meet and celebrate together soon.

Adeyemi Omolade- hhm! Many thanks to you, I met you at a time I was about losing focus of the ultimate vision and you helped re-aligned my focus, thanks for introducing me to that small book; it made all the difference.

Oshunkeye Oluwatobiloba- Brother, dont mind the fact that I disappointed you in a way but, I believe we still have alot to do together. Recently, I was thinking about the person that will give the toast on my wedding day and you scored a point more than Ugonna, I pray we'll see that day come. I know you didnt forget our escapades together at Saipem.

David-Bernard Ugonna- Prayoo-Rugged, you were always on my neck, we laughed , fought, prayed and did so many things togther, cant wait to have you and Chi as family friends.

Bro. Gbile Akanni- That small book introduced to me by Omolade made all the difference, I was about leaving the service year hopeless, when I got my courage fired up by reading through the pages of " Why sit we here till we die". Though Unknown to you, you have helped a destiny. Olaoye Johnson- Saino, thanks for furnishing me with those details; they helped in my decision. I love you.

Ajo Martin- You have touched me deeply with your kind heartedness, you touched my life when it mattered most.

Generis Solution- A family of some sort, hope you will forgive for not mentioning names, but a big thanks to everyone for continously setting one another on the professional edge.

Omolola Ajibola- Thanks for sharing 4 memorable years with me, thanks for your love and care, I believe God for you as you step into another phase of your life.

Nyebe Simon, Oyinlola Oke and Ifebajo Yetunde- I know it will be said of us that we did our best. You guys are simply the best I have seen arround, many times you left Agbor, Ogwashi-Uku and Akwukwu-Igbo respectively to Asaba, just to make your life count,and you sure did. Thanks a million. Very soon, I forsee a us dining together, in celebration of our successes.

Let me take a break for now, I will surely make another post soon to thank more and more people, for how could I forget Ola Daramola, Sarah Miller, Fadeyi Akeem et al.

My Brief Interview With Celia

2006-12-11T10:59:00.001+01:00

--- Picture of some of Celia Materials.

Today's Monday (at least here in Nigeria), I want to believe you had a very nice weekend. I want us to start the week on a high, so am delving into a little bit of business, especially at this time of the year when the kind of business I want to talk about is very lucrative.
I had a very brief chat with Celia, a young lady from the Peoples Republic of China, enjoy.

Can you introduce yourself, your name, where you live and what you do?

Celia-only chat for business:
my name is Celia, I am living in Guangdong City, Guangdong province, China and I am a sales person

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE:
good!
OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE:
can you tell me a bit about your growing up?
Celia-only chat for business:
my family was poor when I was little, I must thank for your parents, they supported me to living and go to school.
OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE:
can you tell me more? How did your parents go about it?
Celia-only chat for business:
it's very hard to use words to express
OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE:
i understand!

Tell us about your business and the business opportunities in China
Celia-only chat for business:
our factory main produce crystal decorations, we are main do export and also do domestic market, we have good quality and price
OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE:
any opportunities for any body willing to do business with you?
Celia-only chat for business:
there are a lot of business opportunities in China, if you will
OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE:
how can someone contact you?
Celia-only chat for business:
via skype or msn or email box or telephone.

To contact Celia and to know more about her products and the possibility of doing business with her, send me a mail and you are hooked for good!

Rules of the garage

2006-12-09T01:00:00.000+01:00

Just before you say Thank God It's Friday!, take a look at this, Biola just forwarded a mail to me now, I found the content a good source of inspiration for Team building and effectiveness. I would advice that you just digest the little doses, sleep with the words over the weekend and go to work on monday with a renewed sense of a team player. Have a blessed and fun filled weekend.

Believe you can

change the world

Work quickly

keep the tools unlocked

work whenever.

Know when to work alone

and when to work together

Share tools,

share ideas,

trust your colleagues

No politics,

no bureaucracy,

these are ridiculous

in the garage

The customer

defines a job well done,

radical ideas

are not bad ideas

Invent different ways of working

make a contribution everyday

If it does not contribute,

it does not leave the garage

Believe that together

we can do anything

Invent

INTERVIEW WITH SARAH MILLER

2006-12-06T15:15:00.000+01:00

I have met so many people lately on Skype; one of such is Sarah Miller ( a young Missionary domiciled in Maringa, Brazil). I found her particularly interesting, she's been helpful in furnishing with details of some things I needed to know. She's also a prayer partner.
I decided to interview her and post on my blog, she generously accepted; below is the unedited interview with this beautiful Missionary.

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE:

Good day Sarah, for the benefit of those visiting this blog, may I meet you?

Sarah Miller:

Yes. I'm Sarah Miller, an American currently working as a missionary with Youth With A Mission (www.ywam.org) in Maringa, Brazil.

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE: 18:56:30

Can you tell me about growing up, I mean your early years?

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE: 19:02:32

Sarah Miller:

I grew up as a missionary kid, known to us as MK. When I was 7 my parents started by doing their Discipleship Training School (DTS) with YWAM in Montana of the United States. Their outreach was 2 months in Australia. From there we spent 3 years in the state of Texas, 1 year in Nicaragua, Central America...1 1/2 years on a ship called the Anastasias that traveled to Africa and Europe...then 3 more months in Texas. I was 14 when my family returned home from missions and stopped for the time being.

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE:

Cool!

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE:

Am taken aback that such a young, beautiful lady like you can be given over to missionary works, how has it been?

Sarah Miller:

I can't say it's difficult, Kamal....because to me it's not. Everything that I've prayed for in life, I currently have. I have lots of friends, also missionaries with me in YWAM here in Maringa, Brazil. I have a family (thousands of miles away) that loves and supports me emotionally in missions...I am healthy

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE: 19:09:52

Sounds interesting

Sarah Miller: 19:09:54

I suffered from Tendonitis, a back injury, Tuberculosis, Lyme Disease, and other diseases that doctors were never able to discover...during years of my life...and God has healed me of all of it. I just thank God, really. I always wanted to be a missionary in another continent serving God. He answered those prayers and here I am. So for me, it's the most natural, easiest thing to do-. I might not be Brazilian by blood, but my heart doesn't know the difference.

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE: 19:10:34

Apart from mission work, what else do you do or are you completely sold out to the work?

Sarah Miller: 19:13:33

Honestly, it's not work....it's a complete LIFE. There are office hours, sure, but it doesn't stop there. And all of us do everything--even our base director will clean toilets just to serve someone. I personally do everything from international contact, Mission Adventures (one of our ministries that deals with church groups) Representative, Portuguese/English translator, nurse....or I cook, mop the floor, and talk with people that God sends at will who need lifted up

Sarah Miller:

Usually I'll do all of that in a day....work day, weekend....I think of it like this: if we're not here to serve (in and out of work hours), then why are we here? I'm not interested in PAY. All YWAM volunteers pay to do what we do. We're here for lives--souls--and nothing less. And you know what? To us, it's fun. I actually enjoy washing dishes for God!

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE:

You talked about YWAM; can you tell us more about YWAM?

Sarah Miller:

YWAM--stands for Youth With A Mission. It's an international, interdenominational Christian organization that has bases located in over 165 countries of the world

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE:

Good

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE:

What is your advice for youths willing to tow the path you have chosen?

Sarah Miller:

What the ministries offered differ base per base, as sometimes one base/country/location has more staff members and can therefore get more involved, others have different resources and talents...

Sarah Miller: 15:30:34

My advice for youth: always seek out, listen to, and then obey the Holy Spirit

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE: 15:30:51

Good

Sarah Miller: 15:30:57

YWAM is a wonderful organization, Kamal, but it is only ONE of the millions of tools that God uses worldwide

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE: 15:31:03

What are short term plans?

Sarah Miller: 15:31:21

Particular to YWAM, our base, or my life?

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE: 15:32:15

generally, if you wouldn’t mind, this might encourage out there to get more serious with his/her life

Sarah Miller: 15:33:28

Well, with YWAM worldwide, there are always new things: every single day.

Sarah Miller: 15:33:52

www.ywam.org is the international website that might help someone looking for something in specific.

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE: 15:34:03

Sarah Miller: 15:34:59

My dad was a car mechanic in Africa twice--as a YWAMer, there are people that blow fire out of their mouths as an evangelism technique, there are translators, soccer coaches, preachers, construction workers, cowboys and bull riders....you name it, there's a place for it!

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE: 15:35:40

Interesting!

Sarah Miller: 15:36:58

Specific to Brazil, I would encourage someone to contact me as I am an international English-speaking contact-person with YWAM here on the base of Maringa, Brazil. I will help in any and every way possible. My email address is: newnurse8@yahoo.com and one of my websites with some information, as well as a link to do online-donation by credit/debit card is: http://www.myspace.com/sarahmiller

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE: 15:37:39

Good

Sarah Miller: 15:37:41

And if anyone is interested also in pictures of our base and some of our projects, they are free to contact me and I will happily give them a link to some pictures.

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE: 15:38:04

Thank you my dear friend

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE: 15:39:20

With your tight schedule do you have time for recreation?

Sarah Miller: 15:41:54

Recreation, yes--I hang out with my friends, some Christians and some not...but I never leave my passion in the office when I leave: I always carry with me the desire to impact lives....on the bus going downtown, on the street, playing games, fishing....there's always someone asking God to send someone their way! :-)

OYEDUNLE, KAMAL BABATUNDE: 15:42:42

Sarah it’s been a pleasure talking to you, thank you for your time

Sarah Miller: 15:40:18

Kamal--it's been my pleasure talking to you and I would love to help you or anyone else in any way possible. May God continue to bless you!
A prazer foi meu e eu gustaria muito ajudar você ou qualquer otra pessoa precisando. Deuscontinua te abençoando! (Portuguese)

THE NIGERIA OF MY DREAMS.

2006-12-06T02:30:00.000+01:00

1st October 1960, rings a bell in the mind of the average Nigerian more than the most

popular nursery rhyme; the reason is not far fetched, that was the day Nigeria attained

Independence, my dear Nation was declared free from the hands of her task masters.

Inspite of the foregoing truth, a question never ceases to bother my heart, is Nigeria

truly free?

Time and space would restrain me from giving a detailed picture of how well our dear

nation has fared in the last 46 years of her independence, but, Wouldn’t fail to chronicle

some really mind bogging events and happenings that shook Nigeria to her foundation;

I will do that just to refresh our memories and also to lay a very good foundation for my

the joy of our dear Nation was cut short; no thanks to the dastardly military incursion

That led to the death of several notable Nigerian.

An occurrence that will forever linger in the memory of every Nigerian, is the civil war

which was engendered by the threats of a particular region to secede from the blessed

Whole-Nigeria. What was left after the war could only be captioned by the popular phrase

sorrow, tears and blood, and what a huge relief it was when the war ended early 1970,

with the feuding parties declaring, " No victor, No vanquished"

Many had thought that the Civil war had nailed the coffin of all that is called within the

Nigerian entity, but, as the military continued to wield power at will, the situation worsened.

A brief democratic stint, could do nothing to improve the lot of our dear country, what

many had thought would be the grapevine was tagged Hope 93; Nigerians went to the

Polls in what was regarded as the freest and fairest election to have held in the country.

Just as the National Electoral Commission( NEC) was about announcing the results of

the election, a monster hijacked the ballot boxes and went into the wilderness with them,

the Philanthropist that won the election was denied! All the that happened are now history

but it's difficult to forget the lessons we learnt, before our Maradonic General stepped

aside with all gorgeous pomp.

The Interim National Government, the government of the late General, the short stay of

the now thickly bearded man from the power state, all left us with more questions than

answers. The present dispensation, now in its seventh year has done some things, but,

how well have we fared as a nation? Our leaders have sown to the wind and we are now

reaping the whirl wind of collapsed buildings, air crashes, killings and murders, rebellious

attacks and a great economic down turn, but, is Nigeria forever doomed?

I belong to the breed of Nigerians who can see far and well through the eyes of faith;

Nigeria is never doomed. Our financial fortune that has turned upside down is so

positioned, so that it can turn right side up. I see the transition of the present Nigeria

into that we've long dreamt of , I see a Nigeria where the Pound Sterling will be at par with

the Naira as it was at a time. I see a Nigeria that will receive standing ovations among the

comity of nations and as such become the cynosure of all eyes and the centre of attract

ion. I see a Nigeria where foreigners would be refused entry visas due to high influx of

people from all race; a Ngeria that will require some of the Oyinbos to do some of the

menial jobs around.

You had better sound a note of warning to the US-the economic might, please tell Japan-

the technological might to watch out for the emergence of a new Nigeria from the crucible

of divine process. As we await the glorious arrival of the Nigeria of our dreams, lets

continue to lend prayers for its actualization. It will surely happen!

My Sweetheart

2006-12-05T19:27:00.000+01:00

I think I am atoning for 40 days absence, because I had already posted 2 articles today alone. Still at work, I had been so quiet today for most of the time but thinking about my fiancee ( did I hear you say what?); yea! I have been thinking so much about her that I made up my mind to blog about her. May be it was the article I read on Chairman's blog earlier in the day that was responsible for setting me on a romantic tune, I dont know, I just know am thinking about the one I have chosen to call MT.
I may not share details of how we met and all that with you now, but I promise to blog about that very soon, just stay glued to this blog. I have always believed that a prudent wife is from God and my darling is not an exception (though we are not married), her good deeds trail her and her overwhelming virtues are apparent to all.
Ebunoluwafunmi( the name I have chosen to call her, because she is indeed a gift from God), am blessed to have you as mine. I cant wait to have you in my house!

STRETCHED BEYOND LIMITS?

2006-12-05T09:57:00.001+01:00

It's possible you have often heard that " a rubber band comes into its full potential when stretched" that's been my story in the last 40 days, it was so bad that I couldnt even post an article on my blog since then.
During this period, the thoughts of quitting had flashed through my mind a million times and more, I had sincerely felt like leaving the uncertain for the certain, even though I know that the future lies in the "uncertain"; I had been stretched beyond limits.
Even though it looked like the world would come to an abrupt end , but, I found solace. I took solace in the word of God, and in the word of wise men, one of such men is Obafemi Awolowo.
He said " blessed be sorrows, blessed be hardships and trials, for all these make a man" I have found this to be true in many respect, because every title must be defended and woe to you if you are not strong enough on the day of the battle (sounds strange?).
Thank God, am back blogging, hope to give you some gists and encouragement about my experiences in due time. On a lighter note I saw the blog of Donald Duke , Governor of Cross River state and was very impressed, it shows that blogging is fast becoming accepted in Nigeria, your Excellency Sir, keep Blogging!

Generis Solutions- A very happy Family

2006-10-20T21:26:00.001+01:00

I presently work in a budding HR firm situated right in the heart of Lagos Nigeria called Generis Solutions; we are into business and organizational development, one of our key competencies is Training, with world class trainers who have seen it all. In a nut shell, in Generis we partner with people and businesses to succeed.
Am so crazy about my company because I believe we live true to our name " SUI GENERI-IN A WORLD OF IT'S OWN" But much more than this, there is something that always makes me happy about Generis and that's the fact that we are one happy family. Today one of us had her birthday and this love came to the fore in the way we all celeberated as a family. If you are tired of your work or just unmotivated, that means you need the Generis touch.
I will like to introduce you to some of us in Generis

Yemisi ( www.freedom-untitled.blogspot.com) Ola( oladaramola.blogspot) Kunle IT(kunleadediji.blogspot.com) Kunle tall ( ibikunle.blogspot.com)
I will introduce you to the others later, but if you would like to know more about us and what we do check us out on www.generissolutions.com

I would like to share some of Yemisi's birthday pictures with you.

THAT INNER DRIVE

2006-10-17T17:27:00.000+01:00

Today happens to be one of those days when motivation is on the low side, nothing on the external seem to motivate and life looks like an awful song. But long ago, I have made adequate preparations for days like today, I have come to know over time and through experience that a man's life does not consist of the things he posseses externally.
I know without doubt that "what lies behind us and before us are tiny matters compared with what lies inside of us" So, anytime am confronted with such feelings as I feel today, I just remind myself of the person that I am. It's not about a very fat bank account, it's not about anything on the external; without doubt I know that I am more than it appears presently. I might just be getting by now, but, in the real sense of it greatness shall soon pay me obeisance.
That belief that keeps me going in moments like this is what I have called that inner drive, it's the 6th sense that makes me see the invisible and feel the intangible, it gives life to my belief and increases the life span of my patience, while I hope for the fulfilment of my loftiest dream.

What is the stature of your dreams? conclusion

2006-10-16T18:45:00.000+01:00

In the course of my journey on this checkered pavement of mortality, I have come to discover that there exists a very strong reason why there is so much inequality amongst men- The size of their dreams. The few days I stayed back at home afforded me a rare but rich opportunity to think, meditate and ponder on this subject matter again.
A man that will not exercise his imaginative muscles, is a man thet will not go too far, all good things of life exist because good men saw well ahead of time and brought them into being. In my circle, it is a common saying that a future you can not picture, you can not feature.
This is an attempt to nudge you to dream again, your future lies in the pictures you paint in your heart today. While am in the support of the fact that you dream, another thing that determines how far you go is the stature of your dreams. Give wings to your dream- No holds barred! dream wild, for it was wild that metals can fly and defer gravitational pull, but, Orville and Wilbur dreamt, thank God, Edison, Ford, Faraday et.al were wild enough in their dreams.
Civilizatiion is hinged upon the wild dreams of men, so, look beyond the Ozone of the natural, see far and well enough, for then will you discover the power to turn dreams into realities.
I see you making it!!!!!!!!!!!!
Aloha!

What is the stature of your dreams? Pt1

2006-10-13T14:45:00.000+01:00

What’s the stature of your dreams?

I was away from work for 3 days; no thanks to a bout of fever that threatened to snuff life out of me, but, all thanks to God the sustainer of every life on this side of the divide. Those 3 days where days when my physical strength was really at a low, but, what I lacked in physical strength, I made up for by fully utilizing my mental strength had enough time to think, dream, take stocks and evaluate and I will like to share one of my thoughts with you.

When growing up in primary and early secondary school, I was taught that there are 8 basic characteristics of all living things, captured by the acronym MR NIGER D, which is

M for Movement

R for Respiration

N for Nutrition

I for Irritability

G for Growth

E for Excretion

R for Reproduction

D for Death

Over the years, I have heard of additions, modifications and all, but, one thing still holds true- all living things share basic characteristics. But have you ever come to ask yourself this question? If all living things share common characteristics, why the difference in status, civilization and development?

Don't bother your head with why human beings are not on the same pedestal with animals, though they share common characteristics, rather ponder on the fact that all human beings share common characteristics and from the same descent, yet, inequality exists in every tribe, tongue and race. Why this Inequality? why do men differ? (To be continued.)

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I JUST LOVE THIS COUNTRY

2006-10-01T14:02:00.000+01:00

I JUST LOVE THIS COUNTRY

October 3rd, 2006

I have had juicy offers of travelling abroad a couple of times, but, something wouldnt just allow me - my passion for my country. While it’s fashionable to run away from our country, I am still of the opinion that the best is yet to come. I wouldnt like to cumber you with stories today that Nigeria is celeberating her independence but I will like to leave with you the following words- engrave them on the tablets of your heart and be rest assured that it will happen one day very soon. THE NIGERIA OF MY DREAMS I have a dream, a dream so strong that it brings with it a conviction deep down, I see a new Nigeria, a Nigeria where the Pound Sterling will be at par with the Naira, I see Nigeria roads void of destitute and urchins. I see a Nigeria where it will be unpopular to have electricity for 365 days, I see, I see, Yes I see. That Nigeria will be great again is not a cliche. My dream makes me pray for my country daily, if you believe with me that Nigeria will be great again, there is no better time for us to pray, esppecially as the petulant politicians begin to jostle for the 2007 elections. I see my dreams coming true very soon.