Risk

To laugh is to risk appearing a fool
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental
To reach out for another is to risk involvement
To expose feelings is to risk rejection
To place your dreams before a crowd is to risk ridicule
To love is to risk not being loved in return
To go forward in the face of overwhelming odds
is to risk failure
But risks must be taken
because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing
does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrows,
but he cannot learn, feel, change, grow, or love.
Chained by his certitudes, he is a slave -he has forfeited his freedom.
Only a person who takes risks is free.

You Are The Solution: A Proactive Approach To Problem Solving

When you hear the word problem, what comes to your mind and how do you feel? It’s amazing the multiplicity of problems compared to the scarcity of solution. However, in this unique mix of problem and solution, problem is the norm, not solution.

But the real issue here is with the term problem which most people see as negative. As a matter of fact problems are believed to be negative. Contrary to popular belief problems are actually positive. Though we see problem as an evil designed to halt us on our stride to success. In other fields problems are literally the process to achieving a goal. So when we say, here’s the problem. We are literally saying, here’s the progress plan or platform to progress. But that’s not where I’m heading at. I only brought that concept to illustrate the amazing power people have to make negative out of normal. Because how we see a thing, what we believe about it affects how we act towards it or react to it. Such false representations and interpretations could actually deprive you of the advantage you stand to gain in the face of great opportunity in disguise of problems. To correct these false impressions, here are some points to consider.

• When you see problem think solution. You begin to flounder when you think one without the other. We actually call it worry. The truth is, there’s no problem without a solution, it’s like light and darkness. You can’t know one without the other (at least here on earth). The real problem as I see it is that we focus too much on the problem.

• Think you can, believe only in possibility. If only what you believe is possibility, then you leave no room and time in your creative mind impossible thoughts to be nurtured. There are two kinds of people, those who encounter problems and are discouraged and those who are turned on when they meet challenges. Yes most things are difficult but you must rid yourself of that negative power of turning difficult situations into impossible ones. Don’t coil in when you hear impossible rather come to life.

• Associate more with people who think solution when they hear problem. We are influenced by the relationships we keep and the books we read. Associate more with people who come to life at every difficulty and less with those who die by it.

On becoming a solution, I have one word for you which encapsulate the whole matter. Nobody is better positioned or more qualified to solve a problem than the one who discovered it (at least in the beginning). Most people identify problems and begin to promote it. You don’t solve a problem by focusing on it nor do you by generating attention to it. If you do, you increase the problem. The reason is because you then attract more people into the problem. Is that not right you ask? Well no, guess what most people are willing to readily share, their problems. So what do you do? When you identify a problem, take good note of it and forget it. Yes, just forget it (in the literal sense).

Now begin to focus on the solution. Such that you only think and talk of the solution. When you eventually get people involved, you are not inviting them into the problem, you are now involving them in the solution. Isn’t that interesting? It’s important how people get into the matter than the fact that they are just in it. For instance you have some nice looking, well dressed persons in your parlor and someone begins to point out who came in through the window, and who came through the door. Wouldn’t you begin to doubt their presence and appearance?

So you want to get people into the matter from the angle of its solution not the problem. Here are some steps that could help.

1. Understand that you are the seed of the solution to a problem you identify
2. Never neglect a problem no matter how little until you assign a solution to it by writing and then document it please.
3. It takes higher thought and effort to solve a problem than it took to create it.
4. Ideas are key to creative problem solving. Never neglect one no matter how silly or little it seems.
5. Share the solution not the problem, you must have come up with something near the solution at least before you even take the identification out. That way you prove that you are committed to a solution.

There are problems everywhere and that’s absolutely normal, it’s not going to change. But this is far from the last to be said on this subject. 

“If you are not part of the solution, then you are part of the problem”. - Anonymous

SEED OF THE DAY: EVERYTHING IS RISKY

Everything is risky, if you look at the problems you see difficulty, if you focus on the possibilities you will find opportunity.

Risk of Losing The Gain

Beware of the statement, ‘You have nothing to lose’. That statement is highly questionable. One who has nothing to lose in pursuit of what he wants is really poor. Because one rule of getting is giving, which may come most times as loss. If nothing is lost, in most cases nothing can be gained. Therefore I question the popular belief ‘you have nothing to lose but all to gain’. No no, I say that’s robbery. If you really have nothing to lose, then you are really poor, in fact you should be avoided because you are dangerous. Nothing to lose? Not family, not personality, not character, not comfort?
If you put in nothing you can only take out nothing. If nothing is lost, nothing can be gained. Be careful with this statement however. Because most people think it the other way round, for them to gain, some other must lose. Not true. The loss is not from another but a sacrifice you pay to gain the good you seek. You may lose comfort, some privileges and in most cases some valuables in pursuit of what you want. Living in such denial does no good to the gain. Don’t be faked out with the claim that you have nothing to lose. Such denial will only lead to greater loses. But the key is knowing that which you have, your values and valuables and to treat them as such. So you don’t stand the risk of losing the greater good for lesser gains.
The quickest way to lose your valuables is not to know that you have one.
The only set of people in our beautiful earth who really have nothing to lose lay fast at rest; even when clad with the most gorgeous clothing or adorned with costly pearls they really don’t care. They alone really have nothing to lose. But until the living attain the inevitable, we all have something to lose.

Seed of the Day

D is for Decision.
Let your decision determine your actions and reactions, thus your destiny, not your condition. Let your decision decide, not your condition.

Quote of the Day

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
                           Mahatma Gandhi

Seed of the Day

F is for Focus.
If you focus on your need alone, you will get it. But that doesn't make you any bigger. If you fashion your activity to meet the need of many, you can have more than you ordinarily need.

Seed of the Day

A is for Accountability: Knowing what comes in, what goes out, how it does and why. Accountability is arguably the first port of call for every leader. For some it's with resources, it may be money or even people. Whatever the case may be for you, take the responsibility to see that by your care and effort, you can account for them all.
Don't allow negligence rob you of the good you stand to gain. You can't take that risk in leadership, it's too costly.

Attitude is Everything: How a Simple Change in Attitude Can Change Your Life

We look with our eyes but see through our mind. 

– Chidi Ejikeugwu

 

Have you ever wondered why same thing happen to a different individuals and one person seem to respond different from the other?. The simple answer is attitude. The reason is because in life, it is not what happens to you or what does not happen to you that determines how you fare. You will realize that attitude does not just affect our relationship with the people and things around us, it goes far to determine how we look at life and how we respond to it. No saying how many opportunities have been missed, how many relationships dented as a result of wrong attitude. The most significant point to note about attitude is that it can shape the way we think. And we know pretty well that our life goes in the direction of our thought. But here is the sad thing, most people don’t recognize the wrong attitudes which they exhibit, they see it as a part of their personality, so they believe that’s the way they are. No that’s not who you are. Personality may be fixed but attitude puts a color on it.

You may not easily observe the day to day effects of a negative attitude until one of those defining moments when accumulated cause takes effect or is expressed, when things happen to us or otherwise. To really see a person’s attitude about life, things, work, people, see them on one of those days when the wind blows against their direction. “your attitude does not only shape your response to life but it also shapes how you experience life”. Here are some you must watch out for.

Complaining attitude: you can't complain and create at the same time; and we all are creators for we were made in that image. Complaining can deal your chances a surreptitious blow because it allows you to focus only on the things that are wrong so that you can’t notice what is right. Complaining does not allow you to see the opportunity to change and create. And some people mature in such a way that they always find something to complain about everything. What a poor way to live. If you are dealing with people and every time you relate with them, you always fond something to complain about, you are destroying them (or in a polite way, their self image). No matter how well you mean for them, the picture you are painting by your constant complaining attitude does not in any way attract them to the better intentions you may have for them.

Scarcity attitude: A few doze of this one would run any economy down in no time. Not believing that there could be enough for everyone, even if there’s not enough, this attitude keep most people from setting out to create more to satisfy the need – we are creators by design, most people choose to benefit only then making themselves consumers. People with the scarcity attitude tend to hold on to what they have as well as grab all they can at the slightest opportunity. What a small way to live. Two of such kind can run the company down. Don’t build your life and live on what is available, rather think of what is possible and pursue it. There is no limit to what is possible.

Yes it’s possible you can change, for change is one of the greatest human abilities. We pick up attitudes from when we were young, we continually change and reinforce them as we grow. No matter how long you have exhibited a certain kind of attitude, the moment you realize how it’s affecting you, you work, life, relationship and you decide it’s not what you want, you can begin to change it.

However, identifying a negative attitude does not solve the problem. You must not only decide to stop it, you must exert yourself to take on new habits and attitudes which replace the negative one. It’s like pouring clean water into a glass of dirty water UNTIL the dirty one runs out. But you must continue to focus on the clean one and using it long enough to replace the old one. So here are some of such graceful attitudes that can begin to change your perception and experience consequently your life.

Gratitude : an attitude of appreciation puts a whole new look on life. The reason is because, “anything you appreciate tends to appreciate.” Begin to be grateful for the things you have or care about. Be grateful for life, be grateful for small things as much as the big ones, be grateful for family and friends, be grateful for what you have no matter how little because “what you have is really all you need to get what you want”. And if you keep complaining about how small or insufficient the thing is, I promise you can't make much good out of it because you have not been able to see any good in it. He that does not have the little he has will be taken from him. So you have to see it (even when it is little) to ever have it – and that by gratitude. “The best things in life are still free, like air and ideas”. Be grateful for the past, be hopeful for the future and be thankful for the moment.

Giving attitude: Living is giving. To live is to give, give love, give hope, give happiness, for the greatest thing you can give… is yourself. And we are all giving it, every day of our lives, with every action, with every interaction. We daily give a piece of who we are when we talk, when we act. So rid the idea that those who give are those who have, for we all have little in the least. Nobody has more advantage than the giver because a vacuum is created on his side which must be filled. It’s a natural law of the universe. Put yourself in my shoe and feel what great good I gain by pouring out these few lines of lessons that have changed my life, and by sharing it with you hoping that you find some inspiration and ideas, I empty my self of content ready to reach for higher knowledge and ideals waiting to be filled by them again. Imagine enjoying this experience every other day. The beautiful part is when I get those lovely comments like “thank you for sharing this post”, it makes up any down day. I have learned to be hungry and remain so, and I wish that for you. That’s the only way you get to fill up. So the key is always be hungry. Why? Because you want to be filled again so that you may have something to give. Holding on to what you have or know is the surest way to the never grow syndrome.

Attitude is key.

Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.
John F. Kennedy