THE QUOTES OF LIFE

All your dreams can come true
if you have the courage to pursue them
- Walt Disney [Disney is the creator of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. He grew up living on a farm and studying how Animals behave. This habit became his talisman. One of his legacies is The Disney World in Florida, USA.]

The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.
- Walt Disney

There are plenty of ways to get ahead. The first is so basic I'm almost embarrassed to say it: Spend less than you earn.
- Paul Clitheroe [ May God grant us the ability to spend wisely]

Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Accordingly, a genius is often merely a talented person who has done all of his or her homework.
- Thomas Edison [ Hardwork Matters, Folks ]

Think not of yourself as the architect of your career but as the sculptor.Expect to have to do a lot of hard hammering and chiseling and scraping and polishing.
- Bc Forbes [ Nice quote, but remember that your life does not belong to you. It belongs to God ]

I have no Napoleonic dream. I'm just hardworking and pragmatic.
- Roman Abramovich [ No wonder Chelsea FC is becoming one of the best clubs on earth]

I wish it grew on trees, but it takes hardwork to make money.
- Paul Clitheroe [ True, you know. However, money can't buy you love and happiness]

You have put in many, many, tiny efforts that nobody sees or appreciates before you achieve anything worthwhile.
- Brian Tracy [ Nobody knew Jimoh Ibrahim when he was swotting to earn his Masters degree in the university. I bet they are confounded with his achievements now]

I love quotes a lot. I feel those that produce quotes are very intelligent people who know how to express themselves pointedly. I hope you can pick a thing or two from these quotes. I tagged them '' The Quotes of Life ''

I am a writer- Journalist, folks.

Just trying to remind you again.

And how was your day?

CHANGING THE NIGERIAN MENTALITY

I sometimes wonder what would happen to my country, Nigeria, if most of her citizens could think creatively. At the moment, it is only a tiny fraction of the Nigerian population that is thinking differently. There seems to be this general haste to acquire wealth at the expense of the common good. There is this battle to outdo one another when it comes to material possession. Personally, I do not see anything wrong in trying to be successful financially. What I do not subscribe to is when we hurt others due to our failure to see the Big Picture.

As Nigerians, we need to change the current pervasive mentality that acquires the general pot of gold for private ends. I am not talking about corrupt politicians alone. We are all guilty in one way or the other, and we must do something fast to haul Nigeria back to her feet as the Giant of Africa. We sometimes blame the rich in our society for being selfish, but are we prepared to make a difference when we eventually make it? What are we doing at our present level to change our sorroundings? Have we handled our current leadership positions effectively by being creative in our thinking?

Nigerians need to adopt a new mentality in this information age. We need to adopt an attitude that values knowledge. We need to do away with envy that eats deep into our soul. That envy that has denied us many opportunities to put the ideas of our gifted ones into practice. We need to embrace innovation and encourage research. We need to appreciate our geniuses for who and what they are. For a genius that is appreciated can design a product that will lead to the employment of thousands of Nigerians. Nigerians need to realize that stashing up the common wealth for private use, will only prolong the enslavement of the country to the Western powers.

We need to adopt a mentality that sees religion as a tool for development, and not as a device to enrich ouselves. We need to adopt a mentality that treasures books. For in books, we can see how great leaders and businessmen left their footprints in the sands of time. And by reading these books, we can emulate them. We need to adopt a mentality of social welfare. We need to be concerned about how the other person is doing. We need to share in this environment that continues to promote selfishness. We need to honour those that have brought glory to our nation, by taking care of them and ensuring that they live the rest of their lives in prosperity.This is the challenge before us in this new year and I pray the good lord will give us the power to start thinking differently and creatively.Amen.

OBAMA'S AUDACITY OF HOPE.

In July 2004, Barack Obama gave an address that spoke to Americans across the Political spectrum at the National Democratic Convention. The speech was titled '' The Audacity of Hope ''. Obama later released a book of the same title that became the number three bestseller on the New York Times nonfiction list as of October 2006. He is now campaigning to become the President of the United States of America. A black man? , you might say.

I admire Barack Obama for daring to fulfil his vision for his life. He is not sitting down moaning about the obstacles before him. He is striving to achieve his dreams. We need to share Obama's audacity of Hope.

I know I can with God on my side.

And how are you doing?

DEADLINES AND TARGETS.

I have been trying to meet up with my writing schedule in the last three days. As a writer, My life is measured by deadlines and targets. There is always a story to be completed or an article to be written. Sometimes, there comes the occasional phone call or text from my Editor telling me to speed up work on my stories. I know I have to meet the deadlines if I hope to get paid. However, it is a life I enjoy living. I do not have any regrets whatsoever.

I also believe that life should also be lived with deadlines and targets in sight. The Bible says there is a time for everything. We need to give deadlines to some projects that we have embarked on, or we will never complete them. We also need to target the audience or the segment of the society that we want the Project to benefit or reap profit from. We must not just exist, but we must live for something. There should be an idea or purpose we must live for. Deadlines and targets are good for us because they act as guideposts in the rocky path of destiny.

Readers, don't just do things like that. With a wave of the hand. Do things with the end in your sight. Picture where you want to be or what you want to achieve someday. Then work towards it. With God on your side, your dreams will come to pass. Have you set a goal today?

Sitting still and wishing makes no one great,
the good lord sets the fishing-
but you must dig the bait.

And how was your day?

HOLD ON TO YOUR DREAMS.

I have always been a dreamer. I have been dreaming since I was 6 years old. When I talk about dreams, I am not referring to those supernatural encounters we have when we are asleep. I am talking about the goals and aspirations that we have towards an expected end. I have always dreamed of publishing my own Magazine and writing a bestselling novel. This dream has been my driving force in all that I do. I went to Journalism School to polish up my writing skills [ though I know I'm a natural], and attended the University of Ibadan to study History. I am still on my journey to stardom. I am not going to run ahead of my creator in the bid to make it in life. I've learnt from reading the books of John Maxwell, that success is not a destination but a journey where you learn to impact the world positively.

I've faced a lot of challenges in my journey towards God's expected end. I have faced rejection from people that I tried to sell my ideas to. Since then, I have learnt not to look up to people for appraisals concerning my creativity.This is the cold truth: The world is full of people who don't know what they want exactly from life. Telling your dreams to them is like you're hurting them. So they mostly end up as obstacles to the future you dream of. I am not saying you should be a snob, but you've got to be focused and be able to discern those who try to discourage you.

I don't know about you, but I desire to make an impact in and on my generation. With God, I believe I can go the long haul.I usually ask myself this question. What do you hope to achieve before you're 40? I am also asking you this question at this moment. What are your goals at this moment? What project have you been working on in the last 6 months? What are you striving towards in life? You need to lay your hands on something and get started.Don't be idle or the hours, days, months and years will pass you by. Don't forget to commit your goals and dreams into the hands of God. As I write this piece, I am thinking of my immediate plans and how I am going to accomplish something worthwhile. That is the mentality of a winner.

I celebrated my birthday yesterday and I thanked the lord for sparing my life up to this moment. I was able to see beyond the food and goodies, and I spent the afternoon reflecting. Though the celebrations matter a lot, I've promised to hold on to my dreams.Hold on to your dreams.The problems and circumstances around us cannot be compared with the gifts that lie in us. And how was your day?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TOLU IHIDERO.

I remember when I clocked 10. I was still in primary school then. I remember that lovely day in 1988. It was a Saturday and my mother [ too bad that she left my Father when I needed her most ] ,took me to a shoe shop somewhere in Ikeja where she bought me a nice pair of shoes. A suit had been sown for me some weeks before in anticipation of my great day. The day went well and I can still remember that someone gave me a birthday present that changed my life.

The birthday present was given to me by Chief Jaja, one of my father's friends, who happened to be the husband of my mother's sister. I believe in giving and that gift remains the best I've ever received. It was a very unique gift and it was three fold. The first part of it was a metal tin of biscuits. The second phase of the gift were two story books which were shipped in from the United States of America. The books were Walt Disney books and I can only imagine how much they will cost today. One of the books was titled ''The Fox and the Hound'', and the other was about some fairies living in a far away land. The third part of the gift inspired the creativity that still lies in me. It was a carefully designed briefcase that had pencils, pens, markers, crayons, and wax of all colours in it. I later found out it was manufactured by Crayola.

The briefcase remained with me for some time before I outgrew it. Lesson learnt? Always deposit goodness in the lives of people you meet. That was what the chief did to me. May his soul rest in perfect peace. Tomorrow, January 22, 2008 is my birthday. It will be a day of deep reflections for me. It will also be a day for me to pray to God for help. I definately need his help to forge through the year. My life is definately in his hands. If you get to read this post, I will appreciate it if you say a prayer for me. Thanks.

If you happen to be an Aquarian just as I am, then I want to wish you Happy Birthday as well. I also pray that someone will deposit a'' box of crayons '' into your life before the year runs out. And how are you doing?

LOVING AND GIVING

Hi There, How was the service today? I could not attend church today because I followed my sister in law to Abbeywood, London, to do some housekeeping for her Mum, who is due to return to the UK from her trip to Nigeria. As we drove back home, guess the song that was played on radio?

Bryan Adams is a star anyday, and his song- '' Everything I do, I do it for you'' was played on one of London's FM Stations. This is a year for us to love and give with the help of Jesus Christ. Bryan Adams said it himself on December 26, 2007.He said: '' Let your Happy New Year depend on what you do for others''. So I will be leaving you with lyrics of his song at this hour. Remember that love is a gift from God, and you are given the ability to love, so as to make the world a better place for us all to live in. You can print or copy out this song for your loved ones. Cheers.

Look into my eyes- you will see

What you mean to me

Search your heart- search your soul

And when you find me there you'll search no more.

Don't tell me it's not worth trying for

You can't tell me its not worth dying for

You know it's true

Everything I do- I do it for you.

Look into your heart- you will find

There's nothing there to hide

Take me as I am- take my life

I would give it all- I would sacrifice

Don't tell me it's not worth fighting for

I can't help it- there's nothing I want more

You know it's true

Everything I do- I do it for you

There's no love- like your love

And no other- could give more love

There's nowhere- unless you're there

All the time- all the way

Oh- you can't tell me it's not worth trying for

I can't help it- there's nothing I want more

I would fight for you, I'd lie for you

Walk the wire for you- yeah I'd die for you.

You know it's true

Everything I do- I do it for you.

So that's the song. Have a great day.