Breaking Free from Mediocrity: Why Nigeria Needs a New Way of Thinking
On December 30, 2022, I took a walk with my wife. Along the way, we met an elderly man using a walking aid who should be in his 70s. "Excuse me, please I'm looking for the underground station," he said as he turned to me. Instinctively, I put my hands inside the pocket of my trousers and...
Authentic Leadership: Paving the Way for Others to Shine
I wanted to break the good news to him. He was my professional mentor and I knew he would be glad to hear the news. I had just picked up my offer and I had levelled up with him. I didn't even think about it when I called him. His response was what I expected and even more. He burst into...
4 Ways to Get Raw, Honest Feedback from Your Team (Without Relying on Surveys)
"Oga, don't you know what we used to call you? We called you Oloro", she said. "Oloro" is a moniker for someone perceived as tough, terrible or wicked. I thought I didn't hear well. This lady had worked with me in two different organisations and her words that day were like someone putting a...
The ‘Best Man’ Principle: How to Achieve Greatness by Serving from the Sidelines
I've always wondered why Jesus gave him that exceptional accolade. Of all men ever born by women, he is the greatest. Why would the greatest person who ever lived call him the greatest person who was ever born? Really? He never performed a single miracle. He was even weird by all standards....
Don’t Let a Miss Define You. Even the Best Players Miss Goals
At Mexico 70, Pele was at his best, but he infamously missed a goal after literarily dribbling and undressing the keeper during the semi-final match against Uruguay. Roberto Baggio still remains one of Italy's best players, but during USA 94, he missed the very last penalty during the final...
Money Reveals Your True Character
I once had a driver who had a big ego. Many usually thought he was the owner of the car because I sit in front, on the passenger's seat. You'll never catch me sitting at the 'owner's corner'—a habit I picked up during my Standard Trust Bank days. Many times, we've had policemen stop us, and they...
10 Ways to Maximize the Power of Words and Thoughts for Your Advancement in Life and Career
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. (Proverbs 25:11) What you say and how you say it will have far-reaching implications for your professional or business advancement. Your words have the power to lift you high or set you back. Some people attribute their problem to...
The Leadership Template of Jesus
On my way to work on June 29, 2021, I reflected on how Jesus chose his 12 disciples. Knowing full well He had an uncommon assignment which also depended to a very large extent on the team He chose, I believe so much went into choosing that first team. He had to carefully lay the foundation because...
Maximize Your Limited Time to Achieve Your Goals
You won't have all the time in the world to do everything you want to do. I met a colleague on a beautiful Friday morning in February 2022 and in the course of our conversation, he reminded me of something I told him a few years earlier. At that time, he had wondered aloud how I was able to cope...
Bruce Lee: Lessons on Discipline and Clarity of Purpose from a Childhood Hero
One of the best movies I saw during my childhood was Fists of Fury starring Bruce Lee. That was circa 1985 and my dad had just bought a Video Cassette Recorder. I recall that he was the first to buy one in our neighbourhood and we used to have many people visit to watch movies on video cassettes....