Turning Potential Energy Into Kinetic Energy

Everyone is born with an innate ability and capacity to do with absolute dexterity what others struggle to even give a try. You have yours and if you do a thorough check inwardly and stop being a shadow and alter ego someone else. Yes, you are bound to discover them. Having discovered yours, you have to learn to make maximal use of them. And how do you do that? By developing them after identifying them. Enrolling for a course, acquisition or skills, going to a Bible School, etc. All geared at sharpening honing up this latent gifts and endowments.

Then can you set out to fully use the skills you now have to profit yourself and others. Yeah, to do for others what they can't do themselves and get paid for it. For example a vehicle mechanic does for you what you can't do for yourself on your car and get paid for a job well done. As you trade your potentials, you add value to and improve the quality of your whole life and the lives of others. And of course the economy and social life of your city is better off for it.

For example again, if trading your gifts involves you engaging extra hands who also get paid for their services, then you have reduced unemployment rate in city. And as you pay tax from your profits, you increase and improve the revenue base of the governing authority. Time to set an action plan at the discovery of your potentials. Potential energy when put in motion becomes kinetic energy. Time to wake up and look inward and act appropriately.

Purposeful Profitting In Any City

To think business, talk business and do business is not just because of the money involved but above all, for the thrill of getting an idea to work out and work out well. Thereby contributing to a the economy of our immediate and impacting lives. Also accomplishing a feat, business, economic or otherwise could be more fulfilling, and satisfying than the money it entails. Especially if it involes something you have a deep passion for. For instance a client taking looking at my job when I take delivery of it and saying "I like this" thrills me more than the money involved. I am into graphics and prints. This is the acid test of a man truly called to do business. Many do business just to put body and soul together, they call it "to eke out a living" Others because it is an avenue for making money and making it big. Any whose this is his sole focus may not go as far as the one have a calling and vision to do business. Especially in a field he or she has a passion for. It is called doing what you like and liking what you are doing.

If it is just for making money and living big, business is not the only route. A well paid job with a mega salary and a jumbo package and perks of office will see to that. Some even do it because it is the the "easiest way to make money" Now they must have known better having burnt their fingers in some transactions that went awry, that it is not that cheap and easy. Those of us who have been in the rugged terrain of business knew better. We are still staying at it and maintaining the staying power because of passion for it. A passion that is far above cash. Otherwise, I have certificates and a civil service experience that can fix me a well paid job an NGO in Abuja or any of it's evirons or neighbouring states nearby! Any wonder many who went into business for the "cheap and easy bucks" then beat a hasty retreat and got themselves jobs which they are better at anyway. Afterall what they are looking for are the "fast bucks" hang any other consideration. Now that the bucks are not forth coming "fast" as they envisaged, of what use is it wasting their their time and and energy then? These among many other reasons business is and will still remain a calling. Just like a call to ministry.

Even ministry which some out of ignorance have narrowed the definition as a calling to The Vineyard of The Lord solely, but has been clearly defined by men of of wisdom and excellence - the likes of Bishop David Oyedepo; as a calling to undertake a particular specific assignment in life. An assignment that goes beyond ministerial work but can cut across any career or profession or vocation in life. Be it from selling iron rods to engineering, oceanography, air plane piloting, creative arts, politics, statemanship, administration etc. etc. Myles Munroe of blessed memory gave us a hint to identify life assignment as potentials. That it is in the discovery of your potentials that you you define your purpose in life. Having got this far, we can all now agree tha business is a calling. Business is for people who are called to do it not just for any Tom, Dick and Harry. And one of the things those who are called to do business discover in themselves and which other discerning men close to them, discover in them and affirm is a rugged, tenacious never take no for an answer enterpreneurial spirit.
For those who are called to do business, no matter the challenges they encounter, ranging from cash crunch to erratic cash flow, temporal business losses, just name them, they will stay at it. WHY? Because their baseline is not money.

Their focus is not on money but on the quality and the impact of their products and services on the consumer community and the lives they are touching, plus the contributions they are making the city and into the lives of others through their businesses. And of course the thrills they get out of it, which comes first before the profit they they are making. Be it in cash or kind. They are more result driven and have an insantiable passion for excellence. Also, they have a deep understanding and conviction that profits are not only in cash but also in recommendations and referrals. These are men and women who will last in business no matter how the chips are down. Planted and deeply rooted within them is an irrepressible come back capacity. A come back capacity that is ready to start all over again from the sratch, if need be.

A Legend's Business Secret

I am not related to him though we share the same surname neither have we ever seen or met eye ball to eye ball. He may be dark complexioned or light, tall or short, fat or thin, I only see his pictures but have not met him in person to confirm. But there is one of the managers of this legendary entrepreneur of our time I relate with as a son relates to his father who knows this business and finance legend and shares some of his both business, finance even personal secrets with me anytime we are together. The personal, I would rather keep, because that is his privacy but the business and finance, I will publicly share.

And that will be just one out of many of his business secrets I will share publicly. Yes a business secret of this ageless business and finance legend and icon, Dr Lawrence Omole, a renown and wealthy entrepreneur, I will dare to share publicly. Just one only. The very one that made him a business and finance legend and collosus of his time. According to this former manager of his, Dr Omole always give something a try. Lawrence slogan has always been "let us try it and see how it goes" It could be an idea, that a friend all the way from Ijebuland - the motor tyre icon, Chief Jimoh Odutola brought, or a staff about a new prospect, his reply has always been "lets give it a try and see how it works out"

Knowing that what it is going to be involved is sinking lots of money, he will say "let us try it" And at the end of the day most of them has always worked out. Even ending him up smiling to the bank with the proceeds. Of course the International Breweries, Ilesa that is still churning out good brand after brands into Nigeria market, long after other bigger ones have washed their nets, parked their boats and headed home, is a testimony of this icon's secret of success -"let us try it and see if it works" Or else how can one think of locating a brewery - a heavy capital intensive project at that - in a town that is not even a state capital. "Lets try it and see" Is the answer. As it turns out later, Ilesa may not be a state capital but it is a centre of trade and commerce and of course of entertainment and parties especially on weekends. More of an annex of Lagos when it comes to that.

Someone said the reason why it seems impossible is because you have not tried it, I agree with him. Yes, is there any harm in trial? I am not surprised the man made it in life as a successful businessman and ended up stupendously wealthy. He was said to have jokingly told this same manager that, if he is given 100 million naira and a professor is given the same amount, while the professor is still busy with "feasibility studies" he would have turned his own 100 million Naira into 150 million in a matter of 6 months! Because it is a matter "lets try it on this and see" So while the professor takes cover under the bunker of "feasibility studies" Lawrence Omole plunges headlong into a venture or investment and multiplies the 100 million naira he has been given, just like the man given 5 talents the Bible. Meanwhile the one given one talent did a feasibility study even of the Master who gave him the talent then concluded hiding the talent is the best bet. Which is not anyway. But the ones with 2 and 5 talents "gave it a try" and doubled what they were given by the Great Master. Now before you blame everything on the economic recession, what have you tried? Have you tried anything at all? And if you have tried but faced challenges have you tried again? Or are you just taking cover under the guise of excuses, both tenable and not tenable, all in the name of playing safe? How many opportunities have passed many by, all because they contained some element of risk and challenge?

Of course a ship is safer berthed in the harbour. But that is not what a ship is designed for. A ship is designed to sail on high seas and weather storms. Time move the ship out of harbour and set sail. Time to give it a try. Growing Abuja's economy through the orgamised private sector may not work nor materialise by playing safe. Time to launch out into the high seas of entrepreneurship. Welcome on board.

A Shot To Business Leaders And Investors

One thing is having money, another thing is knowing what to do with the money. Having money and not knowing what to do with it has been achiles heel of the haves of yesterdays and who today are now have nots. On this platform, we will learn from their mistakes and aldo learn from one another, so we don’t repeat same, lest we experience what befell them.

And as many as have made that mistake, we help them to learn from it and create in them a new hope of better days ahead. We are all in for a good time. I can assure you all, that you are in safe hands. Again welcome on board.

Abuja: The Stone The Builders Rejected

Night time in Abuja

For years Abuja was much of a politicised hub to the extent that a leading Nigerian Fuji musician was so scared when rumor mongers associated him with it, that he denied, denied and denied any relationship between him and the city. Especially when it was insinuated in the rumour mill that he collected a contract in Abuja!

That was how much the fear of ostracism hunts any who relates with the city then. Because then in the early 80s when a political party took over the centre everything about Abuja was associated with cesspools of corruption and waste. A place where politicians feather their nests by crook and means. So only few want to be associated with city. No not with a city with an anathema of corruption - yeah organised corruption by 2nd Republic political elites. Thus, any mention of Abuja relates and connect you with these odious politicians.

Corporate Affairs Commission edifice in Abuja

Not even the Fuji musician himself. So he sang and sang until his voice went hoarse that he has nothing to do with Abuja. 

It was that serious. 

And since as of early 80s the seat of power was yet to be moved there not until 1991 by General Ibrahim Babangida, not many paid much attention to the city. 

So it was only Lagos that things were happening then. Being then both the administrative and commercial capital of Nigeria. Who cares then about a city under construction in the jungle of Savannah! A city no one knows when the seat of power will be moved there. All eyes were on Lagos!

It got so bad that choice plots in the now Kubwa, Gwagwalada, Gwarinpa etc were being dashed out to those who have interest in farming, animal husbandry and what have you. Since no one knows when an arid jungle city called a capital will be moved into, only few pay attention to landed properties there. Not even expert property developers and speculators.

Well laid out drains to complement Abuja highways.

Stories I heard in Gwagwalada sometimes in 2012 there about, among some new friends has it that even some few years after the movement of the nation's capital to the city, people were being begged to be allocated lands.

But many years after Babangida moved the seat of power over, the paradigm shifted 360 degrees! The stone the builders rejected suddenly become the head of the house. The head of the house to business men and investors especially those who are into properties.  And the rest is history.

Eggs In Many Baskets

We need not put our eggs in one basket as we go about growing Abuja the Federal Capital Territory Economy. I mean in one basket of government patronage and contracts. We must not build an economy solely dependent on government resources. 

Especially not in a season when government at the centre is groaning under heavy financial loads. Why won't it be the case? A government that caters for 36 states monthly plus the FCT in monthly allocations, pays the Army, the Navy, Arforce and police personnel. Plus salaries of civil servants, maintenance of public utilities, subvention to federal agencies and parastatals, you can keep naming them. 

And the last straw of payment of remunerations that runs to billions monthly to federal law makers both in red and green chamber. Why won't such government resort to borrowing to meet up? 

In does not matter what political party is in power the story will still be the same. So sheath your sword of criticisms. Again wait, this not a policy or political platform to rain opinions and counter opinions.

We are only giving tenable reasons why we must grow nurture and develop the private sector of Abuja  economy. A private sector economy that will be independent of government but that will look inwardly to productive activities that generate incomes.

A private sector economy that will raise and encourage workforce of entrepreneurs that contribute and not be consumers alone. A workforce that will be exchanging ideas and supporting one another.

Therefore this platform for all men of ethnic diversities, irrespective of their religious and political affiliations. Men that will by their economic and productive activities showcase to the world that Abuja is truly the Centre Of Unity.

Political or religious opinions will have to be kept private between you and your conscience and God for you to join this train. As our activities on this platform will purely social and economic.