On replay...

Grow!

God’s will isn’t simply for you to survive, but to thrive (see Psalm 35:27 NKJV). Satan will attack you, but he can’t separate you from God’s love or keep Him from blessing you. Satan will lie and say he can, but he can’t. Imagine his frustration over that! When you know God has promised you something, it gives you strength to overcome things others can’t. All the water in the sea won’t drown you as long as it doesn’t get into the boat. It’s what you allow in that hurts you! So guard your heart. Keep your vision alive and it will keep you alive. If you want the prize, be willing to pay the price. 

The reason many of us fail is because we trade what we want most for what we want now. No; the greater the challenge, the greater the reward that awaits you beyond it. Paul the apostle had his eye on the prize when he wrote, ‘Stand your ground. And don’t hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time’ (1 Corinthians 15:58 MSG). The only thing life owes you is an opportunity to grow. Moses walked away from a palace, Elisha walked away from a farm, and Luke walked away from a medical practice in order to follow God. It’s what you’re willing to walk away from that determines what God can entrust you with. So keep turning the pages, keep pushing ahead, tighten your grip on your God-given purpose. What you don’t have now can be yours in the future if you keep growing, stay focused, and remain faithful.

https://www.ucb.co.uk/word-for-today

Etiquettes & You!

Good manners we are taught by our parents mainly & then we learn in school as we go along. But when it comes to etiquettes, we MUST learn! And honestly I struggle with some of these in the list stated below and I thought to share. Its different when you are with mates but I always say to myself that if you must master a habit, you have to be intentional regardless of who you are with. As I type, I still remember an event that even though i was well dressed and very ladylike, I felt really inadequate when it came to using/placing my cutlery of the dinning table hahaha. We keep learning..... enjoy the read!

In fact, the basic rules of etiquette are pretty simple. It’s a culture of speech, common courtesy, neat appearance, and control over your emotions.

Bright Side presents you with the etiquette rules, which every self-respecting person should know.

• If you say, ’I invite you,’ that means you pay. You may say, ’Let’s go to a restaurant,’ and in this case, everyone pays for themselves. If a man offers to pay for a woman, she can agree.
• Never pay a visit without a calling first. If someone came to see you without warning, you might be wearing a bathrobe and hair curlers! One British lady liked to say that when uninvited guests showed up on her doorstep, she always put shoes on, and grabbed a hat and an umbrella. If she liked the person, she exclaimed, ’I just got home!’ If not, she sighed and said, ’Ah, what a pity, I was just on my way out.’

Photocredit:kamdora.com

• Don’t put your phone on the table in public. By doing so, you show how important a role this device plays in your life, how bored you are of what’s happening, and that at any moment you’re ready to stop a useless conversation and once again check your Instagram feed, answer an important call, or try new levels in Angry Birds.

• Don’t invite a girl on a date if you’re going to be texting all the evening.
• A man never carries a woman’s handbag. However, he can take her coat to carry it to the cloakroom.
• If you’re walking along with someone and your companion greets a person you don’t know, you should also greet them.
• Most people believe that the only proper way of eating sushi is using chopsticks. However, this really depends. Men, unlike women, can eat sushi with their hands.
• Your shoes should always be clean.
• Avoid meaningless talk on the phone. If you need someone to talk to, it’s better to meet with them in person.
• If someone offends you, you shouldn’t return the favor or raise your voice to the person who insulted you. Don’t sink to their level. Just smile and leave the ill-mannered company.
• A man should always walk on a woman’s left-hand side. Military men are the only exception, because they should be ready to salute.
• Drivers should remember that puddle-splashing of passers-by is an amoral behavior.
• Nine things should be kept secret: age, wealth, family quarrels, religion, medical problems, love affairs, gifts, honor, and disgrace.

• In the cinema, theatre, or concert hall, you should move to your seat facing those sitting. A man goes first.
• A man should never touch a woman without her permission. This means that it is unacceptable to: hold her hand, touch her during a conversation, and push her or take her hand above the elbow (unless a man is helping her to get into or out of a car, or cross the street).
• If someone calls to you rudely (’You there!’), you shouldn’t answer. Be a model of good etiquette and polite social manners.
• The golden rule when using perfume is moderation. If you can still smell your perfume in the evening, everyone else is already tired of it.
• A well-bred man will always show proper respect to a woman.
• In a woman’s presence, men may only smoke with her permission.
• Whoever you are — a company director, an academician, an elderly woman, or a student — when you enter a room you should be the first person to greet everyone there.
• Respect the privacy of correspondence. Parents shouldn’t read their children’s letters. Couples should show the same respect for each other. Сhecking someone’s pockets in search of love notes, letters, and other things is extremely rude.
• Don’t try to chase fashion. It’s better to wear nice, even if not fashionable, things than look awful in a brand-new suit.

• If you’re forgiven after you’ve apologized, don’t touch the offensive subject again just to say you’re sorry. You should try to avoid such mistakes in the future.
• Avoid laughing and talking too loudly, as well as staring at people — it’s insulting.
• Don’t forget to thank your loved ones, relatives, and friends. They help you not because they have to. It’s their desire. Appreciate them.

As Jack Nicholson, an American actor, said:

’I think much of decency. How to pass a plate. Not to shout from one room to another. Not to open a closed door without knocking. Let a lady pass. The aim of these endless simple rules is to make life better. I pay close attention to my manners. Etiquette matters. It’s a simple and comprehensible language of mutual respect.’

https://brightside.me/inspiration-tips-and-tricks/25-etiquette-rules-that-everyone-should-know-173305/

The Real MVP!!

I actually had goosebumps listening to her! So much passion! so much energy! Such strong lungs!!

Age is nothing! Go conquer your week!

God's grace is sufficient!

Elly's thoughts...

Stay prepared!

Keep moving! Keep dreaming...

I was watching dragons den a few days ago. Its a program in which start ups or existing businesses come to venture capitalist known as dragons with their ideas in a bid to convince them to invest in their business in return for a percentage of the business. What caught my attention on this particular day was the age of the man named Peter who needed funding from the venture capitalists. Peter is 67 and as he presented his ideas, the dragons grilled him with lots of questions regarding his alternative milk product and I could see him trying to come up with the right answers to convince the dragons but the more he tried, the more he lost their confidence in his innovation. At some point, one of the dragons goes "Peter, when do you plan to retire" to which Peter responded "When I die". At that point I screamed good man!(hahaha).

Now Peter did not get the funds he needed from the dragons but his parting words were "I am going to go & modify this product because I believe it is going to fill a gap in the market & I know it will be profitable".

Remember Peter is 67! However I saw in this man an indomitable & determined spirit regardless of his age! He got a NO! but he kept moving!!! He was focused!! He was unstoppable!! Regardless of what life throws at you & how unfavourable some outcomes might be, just don't stop! Keep moving! Keep dreaming!

Go take charge of the rest of your week!!

xx
Elly

Woman of the day! Stacey Cunningham

Sometime ago, I put up Angela Merkel as woman of the year on this blog because of what she stands for & the position & respect she holds amongst the EU member states and hows she's able to hold it all together.

Today was one of those tough days for me but as I put on the TV this evening as I got in & tune to BBC, on comes Sandra Cunningham president of the new York stock exchange. Now her profile got me smiling. First she studied engineering at uni, then after sometime in her career, she took out time to go culinary school (interesting right? 😊) before she later became president of NYSE.

But most importantly what got me was her choice of words as she was interviewed & her response style. She got me smiling from ear to ear. Sometimes the question demands a 'right' response not a 'candid' response. Note to self.... Always know the difference! That is wisdom!

Listen to the interview in the link below & see if you can pick out what I mean.... ):

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/business-46278758/ny-stock-exchange-president-a-man-wouldn-t-get-that-question

Photo: Fast company

Meanwhile shout out to all the women out there who are smashing the glass ceiling! She is the first female president of the NYSE in its 226 years of existence ! So proud!

On replay...

Emotional Intelligence

Quite a while back ago, I read this article which I found quite interesting and I saved it to post at an appropriate time but with all that's been happening, I have not been able to do it. It is by Dr Travis Bradberry & I read via Linked In last year.

 I felt like I was practically reading the bible at some point 😃 but come to think of it, the bible is the foundation for success(my opinion) so its not a surprise that a lot of success guidelines are linked back to the bible. The article has been modified slightly by me but nothing has been done to change his views... Hope you learn a thing or two...

Decades of research now point to emotional intelligence as being the critical factor that sets star performers apart from the rest of the pack. The connection is so strong that 90% of top performers have high emotional intelligence.

Emotional intelligence is the “something” in each of us that is a bit intangible. It affects how we manage behavior, navigate social complexities, and make personal decisions to achieve positive results.

Despite the significance of EQ, its intangible nature makes it very difficult to know how much you have and what you can do to improve if you’re lacking. These 15 signs however give an indication that you are emotionally intelligent;

You Have a Robust Emotional Vocabulary

All people experience emotions, but it is a select few who can accurately identify them as they occur. Our research shows that only 36% of people can do this, which is problematic because unlabeled emotions often go misunderstood, which leads to irrational choices and counterproductive actions.

People with high EQs master their emotions because they understand them, and they use an extensive vocabulary of feelings to do so. While many people might describe themselves as simply feeling “bad,” emotionally intelligent people can pinpoint whether they feel “irritable,” “frustrated,” “downtrodden,” or “anxious.” The more specific your word choice, the better insight you have into exactly how you are feeling, what caused it, and what you should do about it.

You’re Curious about People

It doesn’t matter if they’re introverted or extroverted, emotionally intelligent people are curious about everyone around them. This curiosity is the product of empathy, one of the most significant gateways to a high EQ. The more you care about other people and what they’re going through, the more curiosity you’re going to have about them.

You Embrace Change

Emotionally intelligent people are flexible and are constantly adapting. They know that fear of change is paralyzing and a major threat to their success and happiness. They look for change that is lurking just around the corner, and they form a plan of action should these changes occur.

You Know Your Strengths and Weaknesses

Emotionally intelligent people don’t just understand emotions; they know what they’re good at and what they’re terrible at. They also know who pushes their buttons and the environments (both situations and people) that enable them to succeed. Having a high EQ means you know your strengths and you know how to lean into them and use them to your full advantage while keeping your weaknesses from holding you back.

You’re a Good Judge of Character

Much of emotional intelligence comes down to social awareness; the ability to read other people, know what they’re about, and understand what they're going through. Over time, this skill makes you an exceptional judge of character. People are no mystery to you. You know what they’re all about and understand their motivations, even those that lie hidden beneath the surface.

You Are Difficult to Offend

If you have a firm grasp of whom you are, it’s difficult for someone to say or do something that gets your goat. Emotionally intelligent people are self-confident and open-minded, which creates a pretty thick skin. You may even poke fun at yourself or let other people make jokes about you because you are able to mentally draw the line between humor and degradation.

You Let Go of Mistakes

Emotionally intelligent people distance themselves from their mistakes, but do so without forgetting them. By keeping their mistakes at a safe distance, yet still handy enough to refer to, they are able to adapt and adjust for future success. It takes refined self-awareness to walk this tightrope between dwelling and remembering. Dwelling too long on your mistakes makes you anxious and gun shy, while forgetting about them completely makes you bound to repeat them. The key to balance lies in your ability to transform failures into nuggets of improvement. This creates the tendency to get right back up every time you fall down.

You Don’t Hold Grudges

The negative emotions that come with holding onto a grudge are actually a stress response. Just thinking about the event sends your body into fight-or-flight mode, a survival mechanism that forces you to stand up and fight or run for the hills when faced with a threat. When the threat is imminent, this reaction is essential to your survival, but when the threat is ancient history, holding onto that stress wreaks havoc on your body and can have devastating health consequences over time. In fact, researchers at Emory University have shown that holding onto stress contributes to high blood pressure and heart disease. Holding onto a grudge means you’re holding onto stress, and emotionally intelligent people know to avoid this at all costs. Letting go of a grudge not only makes you feel better now but can also improve your health.

You Neutralize Toxic People

Dealing with difficult people is frustrating and exhausting for most. High EQ individuals control their interactions with toxic people by keeping their feelings in check. When they need to confront a toxic person, they approach the situation rationally. They identify their own emotions and don’t allow anger or frustration to fuel the chaos. They also consider the difficult person’s standpoint and are able to find solutions and common ground. Even when things completely derail, emotionally intelligent people are able to take the toxic person with a grain of salt to avoid letting him or her bring them down.

You Don’t Seek Perfection

Emotionally intelligent people won’t set perfection as their target because they know that it doesn’t exist. Human beings, by our very nature, are fallible. When perfection is your goal, you’re always left with a nagging sense of failure that makes you want to give up or reduce your effort. You end up spending your time lamenting what you failed to accomplish and what you should have done differently instead of moving forward, excited about what you've achieved and what you will accomplish in the future.

You Disconnect

Taking regular time off the grid is a sign of a high EQ because it helps you to keep your stress under control and to live in the moment. When you make yourself available to your work 24/7, you expose yourself to a constant barrage of stressors. Forcing yourself offline and even—gulp!—turning off your phone gives your body and mind a break. Studies have shown that something as simple as an e-mail break can lower stress levels. Technology enables constant communication and the expectation that you should be available 24/7. It is extremely difficult to enjoy a stress-free moment outside of work when an e-mail that will change your train of thought and get you thinking (read: stressing) about work can drop onto your phone at any moment.

You Limit Your Caffeine Intake

Drinking excessive amounts of caffeine triggers the release of adrenaline, and adrenaline is the source of the fight-or-flight response. The fight-or-flight mechanism sidesteps rational thinking in favor of a faster response to ensure survival. This is great when a bear is chasing you, but not so great when you’re responding to a curt e-mail. When caffeine puts your brain and body into this hyper-aroused state of stress, your emotions overrun your behavior. Caffeine’s long half-life ensures you stay this way as it takes its sweet time working its way out of your body. High-EQ individuals know that caffeine is trouble, and they don’t let it get the better of them.

You Get Enough Sleep

It’s difficult to overstate the importance of sleep to increasing your emotional intelligence and managing your stress levels. When you sleep, your brain literally recharges, shuffling through the day’s memories and storing or discarding them (which causes dreams) so that you wake up alert and clearheaded. High-EQ individuals know that their self-control, attention, and memory are all reduced when they don’t get enough—or the right kind—of sleep. So, they make sleep a top priority.

You Stop Negative Self-Talk in Its Tracks

The more you ruminate on negative thoughts, the more power you give them. Most of our negative thoughts are just that—thoughts, not facts. When it feels like something always or never happens, this is just your brain’s natural tendency to perceive threats (inflating the frequency or severity of an event). Emotionally intelligent people separate their thoughts from the facts in order to escape the cycle of negativity and move toward a positive, new outlook.

You Won’t Let Anyone Limit Your Joy

When your sense of pleasure and satisfaction are derived from the opinions of other people, you are no longer the master of your own happiness. When emotionally intelligent people feel good about something that they’ve done, they won’t let anyone’s opinions or snide remarks take that away from them. While it’s impossible to turn off your reactions to what others think of you, you don’t have to compare yourself to others, and you can always take people’s opinions with a grain of salt. That way, no matter what other people are thinking or doing, your self-worth comes from within.

Bringing It All Together

Unlike your IQ, your EQ is highly malleable. As you train your brain by repeatedly practicing new emotionally intelligent behaviors, it builds the pathways needed to make them into habits. As your brain reinforces the use of these new behaviors, the connections supporting old, destructive behaviors die off. Before long, you begin responding to your surroundings with emotional intelligence without even having to think about it.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/15-signs-you-emotionally-intelligent-dr-travis-bradberry?trk=v-feed&lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_feed%3B0ovumRr1uelcmEKN8MRXLw%3D%3D

Ellyeleanor Foundation

As the year comes to an end, which charity have you supported? Whose life have you touched positively? Who can recount their joy this year & point to you as the reason why they still believe in miracles? Remember support does not have to  be a six figure amount... it can be as small as $5....

At www.ellyeleanor.org, we are changing lives for good... bringing hope in hopeless situations & securing the future of underprivileged children.

Thinking of supporting? Please check out our site to see how or drop us a mail:

 info@ellyeleanor.org

Today's thoughts...

When the only option is to pray...

crosswalk.com

God Is Looking For You

A lot of people mention God in their speeches because it seems fashionable.....

But do you really know God for yourself??

Many run in the race(the devil inclusive), but only one receives the crown....

Tough Skin & tender heart

I was listening to Sheryl Brady yesterday & she mentioned that these 2 components: A tough skin + A tender heart are essential to survive in this world.

Few days ago, I was talking with a friend about a situation & I made this comment "people are responsible for making other people seem really tough due to experiences". Sometimes you do a good deed & right before your very eyes because of how the person responds afterwards which is sometimes unbelievable, you regret even helping in the first place. If this happens again & again, the individual might shut down entirely and not be willing to help anymore regardless of the situation. Sometimes when you see individuals who are so unwilling to help, its as a result of very bitter past experiences. But the word for today is..... keep doing good, don't let the world harden you heart rather develop a tough skin when it comes to doing the right thing/pursuing your dreams no matter how unconventional it might seem! 

On replay...

Elly's thoughts...

You are your own brand.....always remember that!

Have a fabulous week!

xx

Elly

Elly's Thoughts...

I wrote this in reflection of a career decision. I am not someone who loves to remain in my comfort zone but again I love to know all the details before I take a leap which is in its self equally an obstacle to progression.

The word for you today is.. take that leap & have no regrets!

Entrepreneur minds- Feedback responses

When I was still in the banking sector, I can vividly remember one of the training's I had on managing complaints & customer feedback. I also observed a lot about how complaints were handled in M&S when I had a part time job while doing my masters degree. Now one of the differences between a good business & a 'not so good' business is the way they handle feedback/complaint especially when it is not a positive feedback. A good business uses the complaint to their advantage by the way they respond to it while a 'not so good' business ends up spiraling up the negative view of the customer  and exacerbating the already bad situation.

Its as little as your opening remark... start with a 'Thank you' for your feedback... we are sorry you feel this way..... however.... then at this point, you begin with clarification or better still you let the customer/client know you will be looking into the situation.



I am fortunate to seat at the board of a private school and on one day, I received a complaint from a parent & when I called my staff to notify them, they go " These parents' always complain"..... my response was "If we treat every complaint this way, we will never make amends because we are not taking responsibility but we are pushing the blame back to the parents. Our response should be we will look into it, and if we are justified that we are not in the wrong, even then we should still be careful in the response style we choose".

Many businesses struggle with handling complaint/feedback but if a business succeeds in this area, it takes the business to a very strong position with competitors.

So if you are an entrepreneur or thinking of becoming one, make sure you have this sorted!

On replay...

I read the book of Romans Chapter 8 on Thursday the 11th & on the 12th I stumbled on this song...

I don't believe in coincidences... Now that's me, you are entitled to your own opinion.

All the same, be blessed as you listen just like I was.

Don’t try to force it!

God speaks in many ways, through friends, family, strangers, the bible & even through this blog! Oh yes!!😀

Today look what He told me via my devotional, I am so blessed & hope it blesses you too?

‘See the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.’

Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT

Often life doesn’t go according to plan. A promotion doesn’t happen in time and your career plans get side-lined, or a relationship backfires and you spend every waking moment analysing what went wrong. The secret to real peace lies in seeing ‘the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end’, and accepting that He works according to His own timetable. Have you ever tried unlocking the door to your house when you’re rushing, weighed down with packages, and the phone is ringing? It’s the right key, but it won’t work because you’re forcing it. Once you relax, the door opens with no problem. One counsellor says: ‘Stop trying so hard. You’re sabotaging yourself. Once you decide a situation is good or bad, you put yourself in a position of having to do something about it. For example, if someone is “good” you start comparing yourself: am I better or worse? How do I need to improve? We’re exhausted before we begin! 

When the path is uphill...walk up the hill!

When the path is uphill – walk up the hill! When you have to go around an obstacle…go around it! Accept the path before you. The Bible says there’s “a proper time and procedure for every delight” (Ecclesiastes 8:6 NASB). Sometimes that means you don’t get what you want today, you get what you have today. Maybe something needs to happen first. Or there’s an important lesson God wants you to learn and you’re trying to avoid it. Or it’s just not time. Stop trying so hard to make things happen on your timetable. Do what you can do in peace, surrender the rest to God, and watch the “impossible” fall into place.’

https://www.ucb.co.uk/word-for-today

Clamped Recovery Van

2 days ago, on my way home from work, I drove pass a clamped recovery van! Yes you heard me right "a clamped recovery van".... like the rescuer needs rescuing 😆




However, I reflect a lot. I get inspiration from just about anything & any situation so at this point, I just started thinking of all the times we run to people for help but these 'go to' people also have flaws, they have hidden battles which we might never know of.

It is also the same with relationships we expect so much from partners both business partners and relationships. We expect them to jump at all our whims & caprices but we forget that these individuals are also flawed & most times equally need rescuing...

Yesterday a much older colleague asked how I was doing & I responded "okay", truth is that yesterday was actually a struggle & I think she could see through it because I am usually buzzing with so much energy and she goes "Elly... just okay"? And I responded "No, I'm a bit below okay" and I told her a concise version of what my triggers at the time were which lasted for about 90secs and afterwards she told me how she was feeling which lasted for about 5mins and as she spoke, she got upset & the tears began to flow from her & I began to encourage her......The irony of life is that I felt, she would be able to say a word or two to me but I ended up being the encourager. When the rescuer needs rescuing I call it... 

Bottom line is I've learnt that the holy spirit is the perfect one when it comes to needing a rescue. God sometimes uses people but when our expectations are solely on people, we end up worse off or having a large collection of flawed individuals who make up a larger pity party!

Anyways, I get so much healing from my alone time & I plan to do me this weekend.... my mum has promised to pay for a massage so its looking good already...😀😀

Hope you have a fab weekend..

xx

"Point of View"

Your perception might be the problem...

Try changing your point of view & see if it makes a difference.

This is not to say you should lose yourself but rather have a holistic approach before jumping into assumptions and making decisions based on just assumptions...





Hoping we all have a fab week

Grief Path- Life after...

Few months ago precisely on the 15th of April 2018, my dad passed on. Its amazing how a single phone call has the capability to change your life forever. Nothing prepares anyone for death &  from my experience, I have no words to describe exactly how I felt when I received that call and how I still feel... There are no right adjectives that will justify how I feel. They say time heals but I feel that's just cliche anyways in my case. Even as I write this, the tears still flow... 'oh dad'

However it has been a season of tremendous growth. My words have become few, my patience improved, my dependence on God solidified, I find myself displaying wisdom beyond my years thanks to the holy spirit, my determination to really live & not just exist has been heightened and my reflections have taken a different form. Honestly this growth has happened unconsciously not out of determination but just by the circumstances surrounding me. The only thing I have consciously & prayerfully made an attempt not to fall into is depression and not necessarily because of the fear of the end result but because of the assignments/projects ahead of me which are quite huge. I have also made a conscious effort to de-clutter my mind & focus on what is important.

Some days however if not most days, I miss 'me'... I miss the days before the 15th of April. I wish everything could just go back to the way things were before dad shut his eyes for the last time. But I don't have so much time to remain in la la land because right before me, another battle lies ahead of me. The past 2 weeks have been intense and the coming ones will need additional 'Grace'....

This thing called life.... it just never ends. I am however glad to have this platform, to inspire both you & myself... yes writing is actually therapeutic for me and I will be here for a very long time inspiring this generation as the holy spirit helps me. 

Thanks to everyone who has followed me and constantly logging for inspiration even during my long silence. I  have a project I am working on which I will be sharing with you all soon.. 😊 

Do you have tips on how you got through a difficult path in life? Please share 

On replay...

Elly's Thoughts

Most times we beat ourselves so much for not being good at various things. We are our own biggest critic! I speak for myself actually. When it comes to planning & execution, I want everything to be detailed, I actually don't mind the delivery being robotic, when I involve vendors, I want seamless service.

But you know what... this perfectionist mentality is the thief of joy and is at the core of ingratitude because it makes me expect so much from others and even more from myself & best is never good enough for me. But as I reflect, and listen to some mentors, what hit me hard today is "Elly you can't be good at everything"

If that is part of your struggle, please give yourself a break, focus on your strength, learn new skills but don't force all your fingers in your mouth.

On replay...

grief path... pain

Pain is the price we pay for love....

The deeper we love, the deeper the pain...

Dad... You would have waited a bit more, the void is deep!

Entrepreneur minds... PLAN!

Ndubuisi Ekekwe is one person I am glad I follow on Linked In & here's one of the reasons why... Read the following excerpt of what he shared yesterday. He mentioned Nigeria but it's practically applicable globally in my opinion.

As the wise man Solomon wrote many years ago, there is time for everything. You must know when to invest in your career and when to monetize your skills. Getting an extra degree is not a distraction. Getting a certification is not a distraction. Learning something new should never be a distraction. Always make sure you have a strategy with resilience to decouple your future from the decision of any man/woman. Fresh graduates, planning for the deep future may make you look stupid before peers who may not see beyond tomorrow. That first job is not for buying cars and expensive jewelry. It is to re-invest and INSURE your career with skills.

Image:Linked In

Accumulation of capabilities is a continuum. The nature of labour is changing; you must adjust.  If you have not noticed it, know that more than 80% of non-public workers in Nigeria see dwindling wages after 15 years. The banking sector, oil & gas and increasingly telecoms are brutal on this: they cut workers and those workers never recover to earn as much as their old wages. Nigeria is challenging - no matter how comfortable you feel about that job, do not be overconfident. To the CFO, you are likely a number (I am sorry for that but that is the reality). Have PLANS and Good Luck.

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6417711663855730688